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Flour Mills in Winfield
July 9, 2002
Dear Bill,
In a sense Kay already had this figured out. But he drove me “mad” trying to figure out what he was saying. I ran into the same problem this time. He used the name “Dunn” at one stage of the “Tunnel Mill” controversy when he should have said “Holmes.” Luckily, I made penciled notes at the time on the stuff he typed up and have been able to change Dunn to Holmes. Even so, if someone should tell me that we are all wrong about the history of that horrible “Tunnel Mill,” I would be the first to agree that it was a BLOODY NIGHTMARE!
Kay put most of the important data relative to Tunnel Mill [cannot for the life of me figure out why “Tunnel Mills” was so often used] in the “Winfield Leaders Wallace Family” file.
After studying the various files, feel that a recap should suffice for each.
Am starting off with the one you are most interested in: the changes in owners of the mill that John P. Baden eventually owned...BLISS AND BLANDIN, ETC.
Bliss and Blandin [C. A. Bliss and Joseph C. Blandin] - Started mill circa 1872.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 26, 1873.
Joseph C. Blandin has purchased a half interest in the mill of Koehler & Covert. [This was the “Tunnel Mill.”]
1873: The flouring mill of C. A. Bliss & Co., at Winfield, is a large stone structure three or four stories high, running two pair of burrs, with power and room for six to seven more.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 7, 1873.
C. A. Bliss vs. J. C. Blandin: order to Receiver to sell the property.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 21, 1873.
The suit of Chas. A. Bliss vs. Joseph C. Blandin that has been pending in the District Court for some months has at last been amicably settled, Mr. Bliss purchasing Mr. Blandin’s interest in the mill.
In time, the Bliss’ mill was called “Winfield City Mills”...
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
C. A. Bliss & Co. have sent us from the Winfield City Mills a bag of flour marked “Our best, from the cream of the wheat.” There are no X’s on the bag, for it would take too many to express the superior quality of this flour. Our wife has tried it, has tried a great deal of other flour, is familiar with the best St. Louis Brands, and says that Bliss’ “Our best,” is equal to the best she has ever tried.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
The new firm of Bliss & Co. consists of C. A. Bliss, E. S. Bliss, and E. H. Bliss. It is in the merchandise business only. C. A. Bliss alone is the proprietor of the flouring mill.
[SALE OF BLISS MILL.]
Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.
AN IMPORTANT SALE: Last week Mr. C. A. Bliss sold his mill to Messrs. Wood, Wolf & Williams, of Ohio, for $25,000. The purchasers will make large additions to the property in new machinery, etc. The arrangements for the sale have been completed, but the money is not yet paid over.
Winfield Courier, May 20, 1880.
We last week visited the Bliss mills now under the new management. We found Mr. Oscar Jettinger, one of the partners, in charge, and everything running as smoothly as it did under the old administration. Mr. Jettinger is a pleasant, agreeable gentleman, and will no doubt make the Winfield City Mills, as it is now called, one of the most popular institutions in the county.
Winfield Courier, November 25, 1880.
We regret that we have to record the failure of the dry goods and grocery firm of Williams & Jettinger, who have occupied the building vacated by Lynn & Loose. They opened up about three months ago, and were apparently doing a good business until Monday morning, when the goods were turned over to Mr. E. P. Kinne on behalf of the creditors. Mr. Jettinger is also partner in the old Bliss mill. The liabilities of the firm, we understand, were very heavy. It is not yet known what effect this break will have upon the mill firm. Mr. Kinne still has charge of the stock, amounting to about ten or twelve thousand dollars, and will dispose of it to the best advantage for the creditors.
BLISS & WOOD...
Winfield Courier, December 9, 1880.
As we predicted, C. A. Bliss has gone into business again. A man who has been in active business for many years cannot keep out of it. He has bought an interest in his old mill again and now he will buy wheat and sell flour. The new firm is styled Bliss & Wood.
Winfield Courier, May 5, 1881.
C. A. BLISS,
of Bliss & Wood, Winfield City Mills. This mill is a large, substantial structure on the Walnut river at Winfield, built of stone. The fall of water is eight feet, and there is plenty of power except at rare seasons, when we use steam power, having a 100 horsepower engine. We can make 24,000 pounds of flour a day, doing more than we did a year ago. I think there is plenty of wheat in the county to keep the mills going until another crop is brought in. Prices are about the same as a year ago. We ship most of our flour to Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. We can ship three carloads a week besides supply our home demand, which is considerably larger than it was last year.
Old mill burned down. Built a new one...
Arkansas City Traveler, August 16, 1882.
On Sunday morning last at 4 o’clock, Bliss’ mill was almost entirely destroyed by fire. When first discovered the fire was well underway in several places; the safe had been rifled, and it is supposed the mill had been set on fire. The loss will reach about $45,000.
Winfield Courier, November 9, 1882.
The fourth and last story is now being put on Bliss & Wood’s magnificent new mill, which occupies the site of the old one. It is of sawed stone and built in the most substantial manner. The machinery will be much better than before. The proprietors hope to have it running by January 1st, and if things go on at the rate they are at present, they will succeed.
Winfield Courier, February 22, 1883.
A great concourse of people filled the Winfield Mill of Bliss & Wood last Tuesday to see the splendid new machinery put in motion.
Now referred to as “Winfield Roller Mill of Bliss & Wood”...
Winfield Courier, April 3, 1884.
Among the institutions which are doing much for the material interests of Winfield and Cowley County, the Roller Mill of Bliss & Wood is the most important.
C. A. Bliss, the head of the firm, is one of our keenest, shrewdest businessmen. He exercises a general supervision over the affairs of the mill, in all its details. Mr. B. F. Wood, the junior member, handles the grain buying.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 5, 1885.
THE WINFIELD ROLLER MILLS.
Actual Daily Capacity:
SIX HUNDRED BARRELS.
BLISS & WOOD, Proprietors.
And now, Bill, we come to the period of time not covered by newspapers...
Next items refer to J. P. Baden taking over mill...
From RKW...
Joseph C. Blandin had already founded and owned a “flour and grist mill” on the Walnut at the west end of Eighth Avenue. In 1872 he sold this mill to C. A. Bliss and Co. C. A. Bliss was a Winfield merchant. He named the mill the “Winfield Roller Mills.” In 1880 Bliss sold his flour mill to B. F. Wood; later he bought back a half interest.
After the death of C. A. Bliss, the “Winfield Roller Mills” was sold to J. P. Baden. Baden later renamed the mill the “Consolidated Flour Mill.”
From Heritage, Page 128.
[Item submitted by Dan L. Wortman.] (I have no idea who this Wortman is!)
C. A. Bliss, son of James and Anna Bliss, was born in 1831 in Sarasota Springs, New York. He married Julia M. Tuttle, daughter of Chauncy and Amy Tuttle, in 1854 in Beloit, Wisconsin. They moved to Winfield in 1870 and established the first general merchandise store, called “Bliss and Tousey.” In 1872 he founded a flour mill (Winfield Roller Mills) at 8th Street, which was powered by water from the Walnut River. The mill and dam were built by J. W. Millspaugh. In 1880 C. A. Bliss sold the mill to B. F. Wood and later bought back a half-interest. This mill burnt to the ground August 13, 1882, and was rebuilt and back in operation on February 20, 1883. Julia Tuttle Bliss died in 1882. C. A. Bliss died October 15, 1893. They had one daughter, Blanche. C. A. Bliss had two nephews in New York who moved to Winfield: E. S. Bliss and E. H. Bliss.
Eugene Spencer Bliss, born March 13, 1847, in Hume, New York, came to Columbus, Kansas, in 1868 and then moved to Winfield. He married Mina Millspaugh Hawkins March 1, 1874. (She was the sister of J. W. Millspaugh, the man who built the Winfield Roller Mills for C. A. Bliss in 1872.) They had five children, but by 1917 only one (Porter E.) had survived. Eugene Spencer Bliss spent his working career traveling for the Winfield Roller Mills and The Bliss and Wood Flour Mills. He died December 25, 1917, in Strassburg, Missouri. Mrs. Mina Bliss died October 8, 1928, in Winfield.
Elbert Herman Bliss was born December 9, 1849, in Wyoming City, New York. He came to Winfield in 1877, where his uncle. C. A. Bliss, owned and operated the Winfield Roller Mill. On January 15, 1881, he married Nancy Catherine Burr, who was born May 13, 1850, in Angelica, New York. She died April 26, 1916, in Winfield. They had three children.
Miss Julia Bliss, daughter of Elbert Herman Bliss, was born September 28, 1884, in Winfield, Kansas. She had two brothers who preceded her in death: Herman Spencer Bliss and John Lawrence Bliss. Julia Bliss served her adult life as a librarian. She was employed in 1927 as assistant librarian at the Winfield Public Library. In November 1935 she became Head Librarian and remained in that position until she resigned in 1943. In 1959 she was appointed assistant librarian at Wichita Public Library and held that position until her death September 11, 1969, in Wichita, Kansas.
So: After death of C. A. Bliss, October 15, 1893, J. P. Baden took over as owner...
[THE GALVESTON DAILY NEWS, MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1896.]
(Penned in at top: “See editorial other side.”)
AN EXPORT COMPANY.
An Exporting House Should Be Established at Galveston.
Kansas Will Take Stock.
OUR SURPLUS PRODUCTS
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Could Be Held at Galveston Until Shipped.
Kansas Millers Would Send Drummers to Europe.
Winfield, Kan., Aug. 1.—To the News: The most interesting character in Kansas commercial circles is J. P. Baden of Winfield. During the last three years of hard times and general depression this man has done a business aggregating almost $2,000,000, or exceeding $600,000 annually, in a city whose population does not exceed 5000 people.
Mr. Baden owns and operates one of the largest and finest flour mills in the entire west and he is an advocate of the idea that a stock company should be organized with headquarters in Galveston to export the surplus product of the Kansas mills, but farther on I will give his ideas.
Mr. Baden owns the Winfield roller mills, with a daily capacity of 600 barrels. He owns the ice plant, the most elaborate and complete poultry, game, eggs and butter packing house in the west, the creamery and a great double store.
We visited the mills, and they are an ideal plant, using part water and part steam power. They cost $100,000, but their builder failed and Mr. Baden bought them for considerably less than half that amount, and refused $85,000 for the mills a few months after.
[Source Unknown. “1912" penned in at top of article.]
John P. Baden.
By Hon. G. H. Buckman.
While we see to some extent his success, very few of us know his sacrifices and the long hours of unremitting toil necessary for the success of the undertakings in which he was engaged. As an instance of his foresight and confidence in business, I might cite the purchase of the mill property here in Winfield.
At the time of that purchase, Mr. Baden knew nothing of the milling business. He had never had any experience in that line, but that business judgment which he possessed far in excess of other men showed him there was a great field in the milling business. Success followed his efforts, and for the first time, Winfield had a place upon the map of the great milling world.
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And now we come to the second mill, so to speak, the “Tunnel Mill.”
At the age of 44 in 1872, A. J. Covert and his partner, Andrew Koehler, built the “Tunnel Mill” in Winfield, expending about $14,000. The mill had two burrs driven by the water of the Walnut flowing through a tunnel, 130 feet in length, constructed beneath a narrow peninsula about a quarter of a mile west of Winfield and a half mile south of the bridge that was built one year later across the Walnut river. The mill was contained in a three-story frame building, 24 by 36 feet, in addition to a basement. In June 1873 Covert’s interest in Tunnel Mill was sold to Joseph C. Blandin. A. J. Covert was sued on numerous occasions over his ownership in the mill. In February 1874 A. J. Covert sold his half interest in the mill to Ira E. Moore and departed from Winfield. By 1876 I. E. Moore was proprietor of the Tunnel Mill, now valued at $16,000. In April 1877 the Harter Brothers and C. C. Harris purchased Tunnel Mill.
The following are notes taken by RKW re “Tunnel Mill.”
Tunnel Mill Park is now a single tract of land that is owned by the city of Winfield, Kansas. It was, at first, a portion of each of two 160-acre tracts consisting of homesteads which adjoined each other.
One homestead was known as a tract in the northeast quarter of Section 33, Township 32 South, Range 4 East of the 6th principal meridian. (For brevity this is generally written NE 1/4-33-32-4.) This tract was known as “the Peninsula,” site of Tunnel Mill and Tunnel Mill Dam. The first official record was made December 12, 1871. This was a receipt for $200 paid to the receiver of the U. S. land office at Augusta by Robert B. Cultra.
Another homestead was established on the northwest quarter of Section 33, Township 33 South, Range 4 East of the 6th principal meridian. (For brevity this is generally written NW 1/4-33-33-4.) This tract was homesteaded by Andrew J. Covert and his wife, Mary Covert. The west edge of this homestead adjoined the east edge of the Cultra homestead.
RKW commented: This is confusing. Remember that the road to the Tunnel Mill Dam and the neck of the peninsula is on land originally owned by Covert while both ends of the dam and the west end of the peninsula is on land originally owned by Cultra.
Deputy County Surveyor Wirt W. Walton surveyed Andrew Covert’s tract for the purpose of using it as a mill site on May 28, 1872.
Andrew J. Covert sold a one-half interest in the parcel of land that led to the peninsula to Joseph C. Blandin. This sale took place June 23, 1873.
Joseph C. Blandin had already founded and owned a “flour and grist mill” on the Walnut at the west end of Eighth Avenue. In 1872 he sold this mill to C. A. Bliss and Co.
[RKW added the fact that “Blandin” was the original name of the street now known as “Thirteenth Avenue.”]
Blandin conveyed his half interest in Tunnel mill to Ira E. Moore on February 19, 1874. Blandin’s connection with the Bliss and Wood mill is indicated in a statement in this deed. It reads: “Together with all the right of said Blandin to raise the waters of said river above the stone mill of C. A. Bliss and Co.” (This clause was the source of litigation in later years when the owners of the stone mill (at Eighth street) went to court to keep the Tunnel mill from backing water against the wheel-pits of the stone mill of Bliss. According to the records, the stone mill finally won.
It would seem that Covert was selling something he did not own, but evidently he had filed on his claim before making the deed inasmuch as he received a patent to the quarter (dated November 1, 1873) for a consideration of $200. The filing of the Covert patent in the county office was not made until May 13, 1877. [RKW commented: Delayed filings seem to have been an old pioneer custom; filing the patent meant going on the tax rolls. This proves that thrift was not unknown in those ancient days.]
RKW was of the opinion that Covert obtained purchase money for the patent through a mortgage to Samuel D. Pryor for $212.50 on May 4, 1872. Furthermore, this mortgage appears to have been discharged by another mortgage to Pryor for $250.00 on October 5, 1872. The second mortgage was released on October 21, 1873. For some reason, the first mortgage was not released until July 17, 1891.
Covert mortgaged the west one-half of the northwest quarter to Francis Black for $2,100 on November 23, 1872. Black assigned the mortgage to Soranus L. Brettun on May 13, 1873. Brettun assigned the mortgage back to Francis Black on March 3, 1874, for $2,163.
Again, before the patent came, Joseph C. Blandin and his wife, Frances, together with Andrew J. Covert and his wife, Mary, mortgaged the mill on July 20, 1873, for $2,577.72 to Stillwell and Bierce, who had furnished materials and machinery for the mill. This mortgage was included and satisfied in a judgment of foreclosure and a Sheriff’s sale, which was held on June 1, 1877.
A new owner, Ira E. Moore, appeared in the record in a deed from Covert on February 19, 1874, for $500, for the quarter section except the mill; and on the same date a deed was made to Moore for Covert’s half interest in the mill in the amount of $7,610. This let Covert out of the mill ownership entirely. In this deed is the first reference to the mill as a going concern, although Walton’s survey and other documents show the mill was built or being built early in 1872.
The reference is in the statement: “Being a portion of the quarter section—set aside, reserved and used and applied for a mill site, and upon which said mentioned ground as a mill-site, there is erected a grist and flouring mill, now in running order, together with an undivided one-half interest in said grist and flouring mill as erected . . . .”
Cultra sold his quarter of land to Signor S. Copple on December 20, 1875.
Winfield Courier, December 28, 1876.
TUNNEL MILLS. P. STUMP & CO., Proprietors. (Successor to I. E. Moore.)
WINFIELD, KANSAS.
The above named firm are now proprietors of the Tunnel Mills, and will guarantee satisfaction in all their work.
Winfield Courier, April 12, 1877.
The Harter Brothers and C. C. Harris, having purchased the Tunnel mills a few days since, will take possession of the same about the first of June.
According to RKW notes Ira Moore still owned the Tunnel Mill...
Ira Moore sold the tunnel mill property to Lewis Harter and Christopher C. Harris for $10,000 on March 31, 1877.
[Announcement that Harter, Harris, and Harter will take over Tunnel Mills.]
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1877.
The double quarter column ad. of Harter, Harris & Harter in this week’s issue scarcely needs a notice—it speaks for itself. The Tunnel Mills under the new management is daily growing in public favor and it will not be long until it stands at the head of the list in the southwest. The flour turned out cannot be excelled, and as for gentlemanly and fair dealing men, the boys have no superiors in the Walnut Valley.
Item from RKW:
C. C. Harris leased his half interest in 1879 to Lewis Harter and Virgil Harter for $1,500 per year. Lewis Harter mortgaged his half interest and on July 24, 1883, this mortgage was foreclosed and A. W. Goodell became the new owner of this half interest.
Winfield Courier, January 9, 1879.
C. C. Harris has leased his interest in the Tunnel Mills to the Harter Bros. Mr. Harris is now a “gentleman of leisure” and will spend his time doctoring his ears, which he had the misfortune to freeze one day last week.
Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.
The Tunnel Mills has had another change in its management, Virgil Harter having traded his interest in it to his father for town property in Burlington, Kansas, where he will soon remove. We will be sorry to lose Mr. Harter, as he is one of our best men.
[THE TUNNEL MILLS.]
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.
J. L. Horning has leased a half interest in the above mill, and it will hereafter be run under the firm name of Harter & Horning. Mr. Horning came here about one year ago and engaged in the grocery business.
Harter & Horning...
Winfield Courier, May 5, 1881.
HARTER & HORNING,
Tunnel Water Mills: We are making 20,000 pounds of flour per day, which is about the same amount we were making a year ago. There are six flouring mills running in the county while only five were running a year ago. There is plenty of wheat in the county to keep the mills running until the next crop. There is much less wheat being shipped from this county than a year ago. I suppose about 1,200 bushels has been shipped within the last thirty days.
Cowley County Courant, February 2, 1882.
M. G. Troup, James McDermott, and J. R. Bryan have been chosen arbitrators to adjust the Tunnel Mills difficulty between Harter and Harris. No better men could have been chosen for this work.
Cowley County Courant, March 23, 1882.
The arbitrators in the Harter and Harris mill case have, after a long and tedious siege of work, arrived at a decision, in which they find that Lewis Harter is indebted to C. C. Harris in the sum of $1,835.62, due for rent of mill property. The arbitration has passed off smoothly, and the decision is satisfactory. The costs amount to $176. This is a good deal cheaper, more expeditious, and leaves a better feeling than a case in the courts. Arbitration is the best thing in the world for those persons who desire only exact justice.
Winfield Courier, August 17, 1882.
B. F. Cox has leased a half interest in the Tunnel Mills and Lou Harter started for the east Tuesday to purchase a lot of new machinery. The boys are bound to keep our citizens supplied with flour.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
Ben Cox has sold his interest in the Tunnel Mill to Phillip Stump, and has retired from the milling business. He is once more a gentleman of leisure. Indicative of this fact, we notice that he has just received a fine pointer pup from Lexington, Kentucky, and will devote his spare moments to training it. It is easier to steal a dog than to train one.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
The Tunnel Mills will hereafter be run by Messrs. Jennings & Crippen. They will put in at once a full set of rolls and discard the burrs.
[Note: First article states Elem Harter; second article states Elam Harter.]
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.
Mr. Elem Harter is now in charge of the Tunnel Mills and ready to please all customers.
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1884.
Mr. Holmes has purchased C. C. Harris’ interest in the Tunnel Mills and Elam Harter has purchased Lou Harter’s interest. The mill will hereafter be run by Holmes & Harter, and will be re-fitted and fixed up to do first-class work.
RKW had the following items...
Christopher C. Harris sold his half interest August 6, 1884, to Ira and Charles Holmes for $4,000. (The Holmes had a wholesale and retail meat business and a packing plant at 1101 Main, Winfield, Kansas.)
A. W. Goodell made a deed to his half interest to Elam and Cynthia Harter on August 2, 1884, for $2,000. On the same date the Harters mortgaged their interest to C. L. Harter for $2,500. On October 29, 1886, the mortgage was foreclosed and title passed to C. L. Harter.
[RKW stated that at this point the mill was owned by the following: C. L. Harter [½], Copple [1/4], and Holmes [1/4]. Holmes sold his 1/4 interest to Copple on February 25, 1887, for $2,000. On August 26, 1889, Copple and Harter sold the mill to Ira and Charles Holmes for $5,000. MAW]
In July 1899 the Holmes’ families sold the mill to Adam Braik for $6,000.
On August 31, 1899, Braik deeded the property to John Clarkson for $8,000.
For some years after the sale to John Clarkson, Tunnel Mill appeared to be operating normally. John and Matt Clarkson, brothers, ran the business as the Clarkson Brothers Milling Company. Additions and improvements were made, including steam power to supplement the water power. The water power, at its best, is said to have been not over 75 horsepower. Fluctuations in the river made this power uncertain. The mill became known as the “Tunnel Roller Mills.”
Now it really gets interesting...
Mrs. James Kirk was the sister of Matthew Alexander, who with James Kirk (her husband) started the mill I mentioned earlier [Mill No. 3]. Mrs. Kirk was the aunt of John and Matt Clarkson, who after the death of Mr. Kirk, became partners in the Alexander Milling Company. The purchase of “Tunnel Mill” by John Clarkson was as a partner, the records show, of the Alexander Milling Company. The two mills [Tunnel Mill and Alexander Mill] were run jointly by the partnership. Dissatisfaction arose, resulting in a suit for dissolution of partnership and distribution of the property. The suit was brought by Matthew Alexander on June 30, 1904.
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Comments by RKW:
While Tunnel mill was making its slow history, another milling enterprise had built up in Winfield: the Kirk and Alexander Milling Company. Kirk was a brother-in-law of Matthew Alexander. The mill started at first as a feed mill on West Eighth at the alley corner back of J. B. Lynn’s store (now Lindley TV). The enterprise grew into a flouring mill and ultimately covered the quarter block occupied by Jack Lane Motor Co. (Now Jarvis Auto Parts).
Mill No. 3. James Kirk.
James Kirk started a blacksmith shop in Winfield in May 1871, located at the north end of main street on the west side.
In March 1883 James Kirk became proprietor of “Winfield Corn & Feed Mills,” located on eight avenue, west of Lynn’s Store.
In September 1883 he started a mill that ground corn, referred to as “Kirk’s Steam Mills,” west of Lynn’s Store, Winfield, Kansas.
In April 1884 James Kirk put another story on his grist mill back of Lynn’s and put in the machinery by which he could grind wheat as well as corn.
Kirk’s Mill. A Flourishing Institution.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 1, 1885.
About a year and a half ago Mr. James Kirk established a corn meal and feed mill on West 8th Avenue. Though small to start with, it has rapidly come to the front and is now a very healthy and paying institution. It started with only a corn burr, but additions and improvements have been made until the mill is one of no small proportions. A few months ago Mr. Kirk added a second story to the building, put in burr stones for flour, and started a regular custom mill. A very fine fifty-horse Westinghouse engine furnishes the power. The first floor of the mill contains a network of shafts and belts, two burr stones for flour, and one for meal and chopped feed. The second floor contains the purifiers, bolting chests, fans, etc. The grade of flour is first-class and is receiving merited praise from lovers of a purely wholesome article.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 7, 1885.
Mr. James Kirk has commenced valuable improvements to his Eighth avenue flouring mill. He will put on substantial additions and put in the roller system. Mr. Kirk proposes to keep in front of the procession. His mill started with small pretensions and has gradually spread until it is now one of our foremost manufactories. Still we boom!
Kirk & Alexander...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 4, 1885.
Messrs. Kirk & Alexander placed their order today with the Richmond City Mill Works, of Richmond, Indiana, for a full roller mill of seventy-five barrels capacity, through their agent, J. W. Heck.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 11, 1885.
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Alexander, of Rockford, Illinois, have located in Winfield. Mrs. Alexander was long familiar to Winfield people as Miss Anna Service, and her many deeds of charity and faithful christian character endeared her to all. Mr. Alexander has gone into the flouring mill of James Kirk, as a partner, and is a gentleman of means and experience.
KIRK & ALEXANDER’S MILL.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 22, 1885.
This new mill started yesterday under full steam. The firm is composed of James Kirk, well and favorably known to Winfield and vicinity, and Matthew Alexander, a brother-in-law of Mr. Kirk and a first-class businessman. They have secured the services of James Gillespie, who was formerly superintendent of the Anchor mills, St. Louis, and is a miller of known ability. The addition built on makes the building 38 x 40, with two stories and a basement. The latest and best improved machinery has been procured. They have a full roller process with a capacity of seventy-five barrels every twenty-four hours. The contract of building this mill was let to the Richmond City mill works, Richmond, Indiana. The superintendent in charge of construction was J. W. Heck. This new mill contains a full bolting system—Smith purifiers, Smith’s centrifugal reels, one Eureka wheat scourer, one Brush smutter, one Richmond Brown duster, Barnor & Lee separator, five double stone Rickerson roller, mills 6 x 20. This new firm will do a big business, and add one more to Winfield’s manufactories.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 22, 1885.
Our new mill is now in operation. We have a fine set of rollers and everything is new and first-class. Flour, corn meal, hominy, and bran always on hand ready for exchange. We guarantee to give you honest measure and first-class goods.
KIRK & ALEXANDER, west 8th Ave.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 29, 1885.
The reporter mounting a steed sallied forth early Friday morning to take an inventory of the improvements and new buildings which have gone up since the season opened, and the ones under construction at the present time. Being rushed, we are satisfied many have been overlooked. The valuation given is below the market value rather than above. The following list we know will surprise our own citizens.
Alexander & Kirk mill: $12,000.00.
CITY ROLLER MILLS.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, December 31, 1885.
Having got our mill fitted up with the most approved machinery and operated by a miller of large experience, we are making a first-class flour. Having fitted up for the purpose of doing an exchange trade, and being centrally located for the convenience of farmers who may have business in Winfield, we invite all to give us a trial and they will find at the top both for the quantity and quality of flour for good wheat. Always on hand for sale or exchange, Flour, Graham Flour, Corn Meal, Hominy, Grain Feed and Ship Stuffs.
Kirk & Alexander, 8th avenue, west of Lynn’s store.
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The decline of the Tunnel Mills...
Statements from RKW:
With demurrers, replies, demurrers to replies and amendments to petitions and replies, the case [Alexander against Clarkson] dragged on for years. J. Mack Love, of Arkansas City, was appointed referee. On his report, the court rendered judgment June 30, 1913, finding that the Alexander Milling Company partnership formed in July 1893 provided that Matt Clarkson should have 2/12, John Clarkson should have 3/12, and M. Alexander should have 7/12 of the proceeds. Sale of the mill to Charles M. Wallace for $2,900 was concluded September 30, 1913.
New owners: Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Wallace.
On November 24, 1922, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Wallace deeded the mill property to Joshua N. Wallace for $3,500. By this time the mill building, reduced to a skeleton, was empty and dismantled. Tempests and floods had got in their work. In 1923 or there about, a start was made toward its repair and use as a custom mill. But another big flood came along, and another and another. So the enterprise languished. Sometime in the late fall of 1938 the building was torn down and the land became a rubbish dump.
In the summer of 1940 the city of Winfield bought the mill ground from Josh Wallace, and also the west end of the Peninsula from C. A. Kitch. From Kitch was also bought the right to maintain a dam on the Kitch land west of the middle of the river, to which line the city owns the property. The purpose of acquiring this property and rebuilding the dam was to provide an ample supply of water for the condensers at the municipal power plant. Bob Kitch, who was living on the Kitch property at the time, states the dam was strengthened and increased in height at that time. The underground tunnel was walled off, after a near tragedy, so that water could no longer flow through. The playground and boating facilities were incidental.
Perhaps someone can add more details to this story. RKW intended to do more research on the Tunnel Mills but he never got back to it. MAW
