Miscellaneous posts from other researchers regarding Bailey's Mill.
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"It is quite certain, from the best evidence at hand at this late day, that
the first mill within Shelby county was that built by John Walker on Blue
River, at the present site of the Shelby Mills. This was a small frame mill,
erected and running early in 1823. Nathan Johnson was the millwright.
During the same year, Abel Summers built a mill in Marion which stood where
later was built the Marion Flouring Mills. About the same time, possibly a
trifle later, was built the Ira Bailey Mill, on Blue River in the town of
Freeport; this was managed by Lathrop Francis. This mill is still in an
excellent state of preservation with stone piers, stone dam and stone race
and flume and a high grade of flour is made there." Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, by Edward H. Chadwick, B.A., assisted by well known local talent, B.F. Bowen & Co, Publishers: Indianapolis, IN, 1909.
Copied by Melinda Moore Weaver.
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Piercy Kitchell, mentioned as the J.P. signing on the sale for Ira Bailey, was a neighbor and good friend of Ira. Ira was the executor of Piercy's will.
Piercy Kitchell also was a owner of a flour mill in Warren Co, Ohio, in 1806,
before he migrated, first to Franklin Co, and then to Shelby Co.
No one seems to know the name of the first wife of P. Kitchell, some saying
she could have been Elizabeth Westly/Westley. I have wondered if there was
some relationship, somewhere, between Piercy and Ira Bailey. Carleen Carnivale
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Marilyn Campbell has transcribed several letters found in her family's Parke estate reagarding the 1863 sale of Bailey's Mill.
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The following was taken from the History of Shelby County written in 1882. The information has been slightly modified, but the original intent left intact. There are paragraphs following updating the information. Freeport was laid out by Ira Bailey, Alexander Rittenhouse and John McCormick, March 17 1836. Surveyed by Joseph B. Nickel, County Surveyor March 17 1836. Also acknowledged by Hopkins Harris "as far as his land comes into the said plat, and wishes the same to go to the record," April 25 1836. On the line between Sections 14 and 15, Township 14 North, Range 7 East, Shelby County Indiana. There were twenty-eight lots laid off. Main Street, located on the public road running north and south on the said section line 40 feet wide, variation 5° 45´.
Bailey's Addition to Freeport by Ira Bailey May 7 1838. Surveyed by Joseph B. Nickel, County Surveyor. Thirteen lots laid off "south of the original town plat, on the east side of the section line, and reading from the east side of Main Street to the Blue River. Laid out to the south line of said Section 14." The location of Bailey's mill at the present site of Freeport, early in the 1920's, brought many people there for bread stuff and made it a desirable point for the location of a store, which was done a few years later by John Corell, who it is claimed was its first merchant.
This however is disputed by others who claim to know, saying John McCormick deserves the credit of being the first merchant in Freeport. Nathan Prince, Alexander Rittenhouse and Judge Bailey were also early merchants. The present business of the town consists of a flower mill, owned by Alexander Mellis and a general store by A. F. Kinsley.
In the year 2000, there are no merchants in the town of Freeport, and Bailey's Mill, has long since fell into ruin. All that is left of the old mill are the foundation stones and the dam. There are approximately 50 homes in the area, which has been bypassed by the more-growing Morristown, which is close by across the Blue River. Chris Anderson. For further details, see his website.
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