THE old grist-mill that stood on the north side of the mill-race and immediately north of the elevators, was built by Goldsmith C. Gilbert in 1829. It was a two-and-a-half-story frame building, with an attic. The first buhr that was put in was a corn-cracker, and was manufactured from a "nigger-head," and hauled from near Hagerstown, Wayne County, Ind. This old buhr is still among the debris of the old mill, and, it was the first mill-stone brought to Delaware County, it should be taken out and preserved as a valuable relic of the past.

Immediately to the east and adjoining this mill was the old saw-mill built also by Mr. Gilbert, and run by him. The saw-mill was one of the old style, or sash saw-mills, operated by the McConnell water-wheel generally in use in those days; the grist-mill was propelled also by one of these wheels. All of the lumber used in the construction of the early dwellings and other buildings in Muncie, as well as in the surrounding country, was manufactured at this mill. People from the village from the country--some with logs to be sawed into lumber for finishing cabins, others with their peck of corn or bushel of wheat (after the additional buhr had been put in)--came to these mills as their only opportunity of procuring those necessary means of subsistence and comfort in the new purchase.

In 1840, or about that time, Mr. Gilbert leased the old mill to James Frazell for a period of five years; but, at the end of about three years, some difference of opinion having arisen between the two parties to the lease, a change in the management took place on the 1st of March 1843. At that time, Henry Wysor, who had previously commenced the mercantile business in Muncie, having, in November, 1842, lost a portion of his stock by fire, traded the remainder of it to Mr. Frazell for the unexpired term of his lease, and took charge of the mills and operated them successfully to the end of the term, in 1845, when James L. Russey and John Jack, with Mr. Wysor, purchased the mill machinery and privileges, and commenced business under the firm name of Russey, Jack & Co. After making some needed repairs and generally overhauling the establishment, the grinding and sawing operations were prosecuted vigorously for a series of years, with the most satisfactory results. The firm of Russey, Jack & Co. continued unchanged until 1850, when Mr. Russey being dead, his interest was absorbed by the surviving partners, the new firm taking the name of Wysor & Jack. In the meantime, Wysor having been in California since 1849, returned in 1852, and in March, 1853, he and Mr. Jack purchased upward of five hundred acres of the Hackley Reserve. During the autumn of 1854, they put up the of the present grist-mill, sawing all of the lumber necessary in the old sawmill. In the fall of 1855, they started up with two run of stone, but, in the following fall, when the mill was otherwise fully completed, they put in two more, making four in all. The old grist-mill was then vacated, all the machinery, etc., having been removed from it, but the saw-mill was kept in active operation until 1860.

When the new mill was erected, in 1856, five central-discharge wheels, with a combined power equal to about seventy-five-horse power, were brought into requisition for the propulsion of the machinery. The race was continued down from the old mill to the new, and was properly bridged at the then State road, which crossed tile race about where the elevators stand, perhaps a little east of them. The mill is 50x60 feet, a frame, five stories high, with four floors, including the basement. Steam motive power was added in 1858, and two more buhrs put in. The engine now in use is a forty-five-horse power. In May of the same year, W. B. Kline became associated with the firm, when the business name was changed to Wysor, Jack & Kline. Mr. Jack died in 1859. and the business was continued by Messrs. Wysor and Kline until July, 1875, at which time Wallace Hibbets purchased the interest of Mr. Jack's estate therein, and the firm of Wysor, Kline & Co. was formed. Two of the old wheels were removed in 1868, and two Dayton turbines were substituted. A further improvement was introduced in August, 1879, by changing the old process of grading and bolting, and the new used instead.

These mills employ, on an average, six men, and manufacture a very superior brand of flour, known as the "Muncie Mills;" also, the "Harvest Queen," another popular brand. The maximum capacity in twenty-four hours is 100 barrels. The original cost of this mill was about $18,000; the steam power, since added, about $4,000 more, which, with the improvements made from time to time raised thc cost to near $26,000. The total value at this time is estimated to be $30,000. These mills are located on the west side of Walnut street, north of North street, and the head of water over the wheels is fourteen feet.

In the fall of 1878, the company built, immediately to the east and on the east side of Walnut street, on the bank of the race, a large and complete elevator, with a storage capacity of 15,000 bushels of shelled grain, and from 6,000 to 7,000 bushels of corn in the ear. It contains a patent power-sheller, operated by an endless wire cable from the mill, and has a shelling capacity of 3,000 bushels per day.

The freight side-track of the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad runs immediately south of the elvators, and the mills also, as well as the freight house, thus affording all needed facilities for shipments.

GRIST-MILLS AND ELEVATORS.

In 1832, Lloyd Wilcoxon came to Delaware County from Portsmouth, Ohio, and located in the county outside of Muncie, where he remained until 1853, when he came and settled inside the present limits of the city, and entered into partnership with Joseph Martin. They built a frame house 30x30 feet, on the present site of the office and grist-mill, at the corner of Walnut street and the Bee Line Railroad. This partnership continued for one year, at the end of which time Mr. Martin retired, and Mr. Wilcoxon kept up the business alone. In 1858, Mr. Wilcoxon erected the present mills, at the same time moving the old building a few yards to the east, where it still remains, and adding a building 30x60 feet for a grain warehouse, two stories high. The mill building is three stories high, 40x30 feet in dimensions, and contained only two run of buhrs. In 1562, however, it was remodeled and new buhrs added. About four years later, it was again remodeled and additional grinding capacity given, with corresponding changes in the machinery and facilities. Finally, in 1879, the whole structure was remodeled. A new engine having been put in in 1876, a new set of buhrs was added in 1879, and the mill was put in best repair, the new process of manufacturing flour being introduced also. The engine is a 12x24, and was built in Muncie. At this time, the maximum capacity of these mills is seventy-five barrels in twenty-four hours, employing six hands.
At the second remodeling of the mill, an additional story was put on, and with it an enlarged capacity for elevating and storing grain. Now the mill is furnished with a corn-sheller, with a capacity for shelling 2,000 bushels per day.

For about six months in 1854, the firm was composed of Mr. Wilcoxon and James Hodge. Mr. Hodge retired after six months, and Mr. Wilcoxon managed the business alone until 1858, when Milton Moore took an interest; the partnership then became Wilcoxon & Moore, and so continued until 1862, when, his son-in-law, J. M. Long, becoming a partner, the firm was known as L. Wilcoxon & Co. This partnership continued for about five years, during which time Mr. Long, having charge of the agricultural warerooms, and Mr. Wilcoxon the mills. The agricultural department was moved, in 1865, to Main street south of the public square.

The brands of flour manufactured at these mills are "The Straight Grade Family Flour" and the "New Process Flour." The old brands were "Family" and "Superfine."

The first old building cost about $l,000. When the mill was added, the entire machinery and all cost about $6,000; the intermediate improvement about $1,000, and the last about $5,000.

The buildings are located on the east side of Walnut street, immediately south of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad.

TRUITT'S MILL.

The saw-mill of Joshua Truitt, familiarly kmown as "Truitt's Mill," is located on Lot 6 of Willard's Heirs' Partition Addition, immediately south of the Bee Line Depot. Mr. Truitt commenced business in Harrison Township of this county, in 18570, where he operated a mill for about one year, after which he moved the mill to Madison County and again engaged in the milling business, remaining there about two years. At the end of that time, he returned to Delaware County and settled in Muncie, and built a saw-mill on the above named site. This mill was a portable one, with a circular saw of fifty-six inches diameter, and an engine of twenty-horse power. About this mill, he employed an average of six men. His stock was purchased from wagons and by contract. Improvements were made from time to time, and the business was thus successfully conducted until the spring of 1880, when important and radical changes were made. New buildings and new machinery were added, including a fifty-horse-power engine, built by Messrs. Wysor, Haines & Co. He now runs a sixty-inch circular saw and a thirty-two inch top saw, together with a small mill, in connection with which is a forty-two-inch saw, two rip and two cut-off saws. He employs a Sinker & Davis log-turning machine, and a patent dog of Croney's manufacture. In all its appointments, the mill is first-class and thoroughly equipped; has a maximum capacity of 12,000 feet per day of ten hours; employs an average of fifteen men, and disburses about $600 per month, as wages to the employes at the mill. The old or first mill cost about $2,650, and the present change an additional sum of about $2,500.

SAW-MILL.

In 1850, John S. Reid built a saw-mill on the site of his present factory, east side of Plumb street, north of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. This mill went into operation in 1851, and was among the first, if not the very first, steam improvements started in Muncie. The saw-mill was operated for a time, but finally, about four years ago, he put up the present building and remodeled the old one, both of which are frame and two stories high.

Some time during the late war, Mr. Reid began the manufacture of cider vinegar, which he has continued successfully ever since. The apples are ground, but not pressed. They are then left standing, the cider dripping from them into a vat or tank prepared for its reception. This vinegar, being perfectly pure, finds a ready sale in Muneie and surrounding cities and towns, netting the proprietor a fair profit.

Durng the winter of 1880-81, he furnished his establishment with the necessary machines for the manufacture of hubs and spokes, consisting of cross-cut saw, boring machines, hub rougher, etc. These goods are sold in all parts of the United States. He employs from fifteen to twenty hands at the mill, according to the requirements of the business.

EMERSON'S SAW-MILL.

W. C. Emerson built the present saw mill in 1872, which, was originally intended as a stave factory, and was run as such for a period of four years; afterward, putting in the saw-mill machinery, he converted the whole into a saw-mill. The original cost of the stave-mill was about $2,000. He employed eight hands, and turned out from half a million to 800,000 staves per year. In 1876, he put in the saw-mill and a fifty-six-inch saw, using the old engine, which is a twenty-five-horse power. the cost of the change was about $600. He employs now an average of seven men, and turns out about five thousand feet per day. Mr. Emerson came here from Marion, Ind., in 1872, and built the mill on Lot 7 of Kirby's Sixth Addition to Muncie, immediately south of the porkpacking house. He has recently added a band saw, edging and cut-off saw, and makes a specialty of the manugfacture of plow materials.

WELLER'S ORGAN FACTORY AND SAW-MILL

This saw-mill is located on the north side of East Main street, at the head of Grant, and was erected in the spring of 1866, by Charles and Isaac Case, who together operated the mill for a period of two years. At that time, the mill was sold to J. C. and L.L. Weller, who, as Weller Bros., operated the mill until 1873, when J. C. Weller retired, and the business was continued by L. L. Weller. Previously, however in 1868, Weller Bros. put in a planing-mill in addition to the other machinery, fitting it up with a surface planer and various saws and lathers, now in use.

The saw-mill was first fitted up with a saw and circular saw (the latter a fifty-two-inch), and a forty-inch top-saw, a 9x20 engine furnishing the power for their propulsion. The mill has a capacity of about four thousand feet per day, and employs an average of four men per day, and runs a team with an additional man.

In connection with the saw and planing mill is an organ factory, which was built in 1878, by L. L. Weller, who now manufactures what is known as the "Weller Organ," and finds ready sale for them throughout the country. This enterprise was at first commenced in a small building contiguous to the other works, but were moved in a short time into a more spacious two-story building, a little way east of the daw-mill. These factories are all located on the same square.

THE "D" SHOVEL-HANDLE FACTORY.

This is a newly established enterprise among the manufactories of Muncie, and as yet has nothing of a history; but is is operated by men of industry and sagacity, and will doubtless soon take its place among the leading industrial establishments of this city.

The building is a frame structure, 30x60 feet, and is situated at the east end of Washington, immediately east of the flax-mill. It was erected in January of the present year (1881), by Messrs. Secton and Boyce, by whom it is now operated. The work in hand is the manufacture of the "D" shovel-handle, and, for the successful accomplishment of its purpose, the establishment is supplied with a full quota of machinery, consisting of a boiler and engine, turning-lathe, backer, jointer, punch, cut-off saw, auger, and minor accessories. From ten to twelve hands are employed in and about the factory.