tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098246906338279953.post5634552411666406895..comments2024-01-26T15:20:49.568-06:00Comments on Itawamba History Review: The Itawamba Historical Society: Bull Mountain Creek Revealed Antebellum Mill House RuinsBob Frankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06044933010329922610noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098246906338279953.post-16885242109602056222008-06-11T06:39:00.000-05:002008-06-11T06:39:00.000-05:00I think that would have been Elijah Spearman who c...I think that would have been Elijah Spearman who came to Itawamba County during the late 1830's. He was a planter and one of the largest slaveholders in the county during antebellum times. His property consisted of around 2,000 acres of land east of the old Oakland school along Bull Mountain Creek. If I am not mistaken the original old mill was on the old Cotton Gin Road north of Tremont east of present-day Highway 23 near where the state historical marker for Oakland College is located. I would suspect there were subsequent mills built in this area at later dates.Bob Frankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06044933010329922610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2098246906338279953.post-80624164909636965662008-06-09T20:44:00.000-05:002008-06-09T20:44:00.000-05:00I have in my possession a document entitled "Histo...I have in my possession a document entitled "History of Oakland Community, Itawamba County, MS" compiled in Oct 1978 by Dorothy Holley, Secretary, Oakland R.C.D.C.<BR/><BR/>Therein she states, "In 1837, J. Spearman settled 160 acres of land on Bull Mountain Creek about one mile from where the old Oakland School building now stands. Later a water mill was built on this block of land on the creek. It was built by Rich Holley for John Spearman and was one of the largest operations in this part of the country. It consisted of a grist mill, cotton gin, and a sawmill. These were all powered by water. These were operated at one time by the late John Pitts and was last operated by L.M. Grady.... The old mill has been gone for many years, but some of the old foundation remains as evidence of by-gone days. Not many people are living who remember the old water mill. However, people all around remember the old mill pond, which was used for swimming and baptizing for many summers. It is still a favorite spot for some on hot summer days and is known as Pitts Mill Pond."<BR/><BR/>Now, this particular mill was on Bull Mountain Creek, but apparently ten miles or so north of the one at Jones Crossing.<BR/><BR/>Does anyone know anything about the old mill on Bull Mountain Creek near Oakland-- especially when it was actually built. I believe that the "Rich" Holley, builder of this second mill, could possibly be my third<BR/>great grandfather, for whom we have been searching for many years.<BR/><BR/>Robert Holley<BR/>Miami, Florida<BR/>bob@fiu.edu<BR/><BR/>great grandson of Joseph Thomas Elijah Holley, co-founder of the Oakland Normal School.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com