The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 109, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, June 25, 2004 Page: 24 of 108
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Clifton Record and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Nellie Pederson Civic Library.
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4
THE CLIFTON RECORD — BOSQUE COUNTY, U.S.A.
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2004
The Old Mill Significant Part Of Clifton’s History
By Elizabeth Torrence
BOSQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION
CLIFTON — Although the Old
Mill was torn down in 1915, 89 years
ago, it is still remembered as one
of the outstanding landmarks of
Clifton.
Memories of this stately rock
structure have been preserved
down through the generations by
numerous photographs and trea-
sured paintings. In 2002, the Clifton
Sesquicentennial Committee se-
lected 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 Survey.
The land was deeded to Grant by
Samuel and Frances Locker, the
first family to settle in the area.
In February 1859, the administra-
tors of the Estate of R.G. Grant sold
the mill to J.H. Stinnett, the father
of Mrs. William Kemp (the Kemps
were early pioneer settlers of
Clifton).
During the Civil War, the mill
ceased its operation, and the old
mill building was used as a commis-
sary where supplies for the Confed-
erate 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
supplied flour and meal to the great
West and the frontier towns of
Brownwood, Fort Concho, and forts
at McKavett, Mason, San Saba,
Griffin, and Chadbourne.
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 dan-
ger of Indian attacks was always
possible. 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 afternoon 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 paint-
ings.
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 Clif-
ton Steam and Water Mill. B.M.
Boyd, Sam C. Anderson, J.C.
Richardson, and E.B. Harrold
— 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
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 de-
scribed the mill as follows: “On the
North Bosque River, at Clifton,
Bosque County, T.O. 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 186i, at a cost of $5,000. The wa-
ter is backed up the river for one
mile. The power is generated by
two Leffel turbines of 30-1/2 inches
diameter, and when running at
three-fourths gate opening, can de-
velop 35 horsepower. To guard
against dry seasons and low stages
of the river, an auxiliary steam
plant of 30 horsepower has been
installed. The Bosque near Waco is
subject to sudden and great fluctua-
tions in flow. In very dry 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 con-
verted 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 va-
cant 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 build-
ing was demolished in 1915. This
brought to an end the picturesque
old rock mill that had stood for
nearly 40 years — a true landmark
of Clifton.
(The history of the Old Mill was
researched and documented-by
Elizabeth Torrence, chairman of
the Bosque County Historical
Commission and director of the
Bosque County Collection. For
more information, contact the
Bosque County Collection,
Lumpkin Building, Meridian, at
(254) 435-6182)
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Smith, W. Leon. The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 109, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, June 25, 2004, newspaper, June 25, 2004; Clifton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth791129/m1/24/?rotate=270: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Nellie Pederson Civic Library.