The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, June 23, 2006 Page: 37 of 110
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THE CLIFTON RECORD — BOSQUE COUNTY, U.S.A.
FRIDAY, JUNE 23,2006
19
The Old Mill Significant Part Of Clifton’s History
By Elizabeth Torrence
BOSQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION
CLIFTON — Although the Old Mill
was tom down in 1915,89 years ago, it is
still remembered as one of the outstand-
ing landmarks of Clifton.
Memories of this stately rock structure
have been preserved down through the
generations by numerous photographs
and treasured paintings. In 2002, the Clif-
ton Sesquicentennial Committee selected
a picture of the old mill as its logo.
The first mill, a wooden structure built
of logs and lumber was erected by R.G.
Grant of Coryell County in 1857. Known
as Grant’s Mill, it was located on the
west bank of the Bosque River on five
acres of land out of the W.H. King Sur-
vey. The land was deeded to Grant by
Samuel and Frances Locker, the first
family to settle in the area.
In February 1859, the administrators
of the Estate of R.G. Grant sold the mill
to J.H. Stinnett, the father of Mrs. Will-
iam Kemp (the Kemps were early pio-
neer settlers of Clifton).
During the Civil War, the mill ceased
its operation, and the old mill building
was used as a commissary where sup-
plies for the Confederate Army were
stored.
In 1867, J.M. and George Stinnett sold
their interest in the mill to Wm. L. Kemp.
The old wooden mill, which had served
as a storehouse during the war, was torn
down and Kemp built a rock mill upon
the site of the old wooden one.
During the years, the Clifton mill sup-
plied flour and meal to the great West
and the frontier towns of Brownwood,
Fort Concho, and forts at McKavett,
Mason, San Saba, Griffin, and
Chadboume.
Before the days of railroads, ox carts,
traveling in trains or groups of four or five
wagons, carried the flour and meal to the
fringes of western civilization where the
danger of Indian attacks was always pos-
sible. One incident of an Indian attack on
five wagons carrying flour from Clifton to
Fort Griffin took place in 1870.
The wagons were attacked late one af-
ternoon and the battle lasted nearly all
night.
Richard Coke, former governor of
Texas, had an interest in the Clifton Mill
from 1878 to 1883. It was in the later part
of 1992, or the early part of 1883, that the
mill was renovated with the familiar roof
style seen in most of the photographs
and paintings.
In April 1993, Richard Coke, along with
his partners, G.W. Clark and W.B. Trice,
sold their interest in the mill to Warren R
Gilbert.
During the period from 1890 to 1901,
the mill was operated by a partnership
under the name of Clifton Steam and
Water Mill. B.M. Boyd, Sam C. Ander-
son, J.C. Richardson, and E.B. Harrold
owned an interest in this company a part
of the time. T.O. Swenson, son-in-law of
B.M. Boyd, bought the mill in 1901 and
operated in until 1905.
In his book, “The Water Powers of
Texas,” published in 1904, on page 77,
Thomas U. Taylor described the mill as
follows. “On the North Bosque River, at
Clifton, Bosque County, TO. Swenson
owns and operates a flour and corn mill
that derives its power, except in dry
times, from the water of the Bosque. The
dam is of stone, 195 feet long, 10 feet
high, and was built in 1867, at a cost of
$5,000. The water is backed up the river
for one mile. The power is generated by
two Leffel turbines of 30-1/2 inches di-
ameter, and when running at three-
fourths gate opening, can develop 35
horsepower. To guard against dry sea-
sons and low stages of the river, an aux-
iliary steam plant of 30 horsepower has
been installed. The Bosque near Waco is
subject to sudden and great fluctuations
in flow. In veryjcfry years it ceases to flow
near its junction with the Brazos.”
Swenson sold the mill to L.B. Thornton
in 1905. It was purchased in 1909 by the
Clifton Electric Light Company and the
building was converted to an electric
power plant.
A.K. and R.O. Bass purchased the
plant and operated if from 1911 to 1912.
The old mill building stood vacant until
1915, when it was bought by E.S. Parks
from the Santa Fe Railroad.
The old stone structure was in a sad
state of repair, and Parks paid the Santa
Fe $125 for the building, only. It was his
intention to tear down the structure and
use the stone for other improvements.
E.S. Parks offered the building to the
city of Clifton for the purchase price;
however, they failed to come up with the
money, and the building was demolished
in 1915. This brought to an end the pic-
turesque old rock mill that had stood for
nearly 40 years — a true landmark of
Clifton.
(The history of the Old Mill was re-
searched and documented by Elisabeth
Torrence, chairman of the Bosque
County Historical Commission and di-
rector of the Bosque County Collection.
For more information, contact the
Bosque County Collection, Lumpkin
Building, Meridian, at (254) 435-6182)
— Photo Courtesy The Bosque County Collection
The Old Mill — Circa 1903-04
— Photo Courtesy The Bosque County Collection
The Old Mill, Circa 1883
The
Old
Mill,
Front View
— Photo Courtesy The Bosque County Collection
, Clifton Civic
Jnvpwvemmt Society.
since 1907
• Support Library
• Renovated hall in Civic Center
and painted.
• Don’t miss our major fundraiser,
Harvest Dinner, in October at
the Clifton Civic Center.
“Working for the betterment of Bosque County”
For over 80 years, we’ve been
helping people find the way to
invest in land for farming.
ranching, recreation, or a
country home. We are your
local loan experts, specializing
in all types of rural financing
with multiple interest rate plans.
“Serving All Your Rural Financing Needs”
• Small or large acreage • Purchase or refinance
• Home construction • Farm and ranch operating loans
For more information call Carol Fields, Vice President / Loan Officer
or Kim Bevels, Office Assistant at the
Clifton office (1 -254-675-8698) Toll Free: 1 -866-845-4036
or visit our website at www.capitalfarmcredit.com
Acap
CAPITAL
FARM CREDIT
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Smith, W. Leon. The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, June 23, 2006, newspaper, June 23, 2006; Clifton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth790015/m1/37/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nellie Pederson Civic Library.