According to Dr. William M. Reser, "Grist Mills of Tippecanoe County, Indiana,"
(1945; new ed. Lafayette, IN: Tippecanoe County Historical Association,
1988), 108 pp. :
Star City Mill, or the "Lower" mill, was opened in Lafayette early in 1840,
located between the Wabash and Erie Canal and the Wabash River, about a
block south of where Alabama street would have been if it had been extended
west to the Wabash. Reser says it was a flouring mill built by Daniel
Yandes. To get to the mill, you crossed a bridge over the canal at the foot
of South Street and turned south down the tow path and over the mill race
to the mill on the west bank of the canal. In 1852 it was purchased by Fred
Geiger, who soon enlarged it to a full three stories plus a cupola. During
the civil war, Geiger paid wages to six of his employees while they were
away at the front and donated mill products to other local families whose
men were in uniform. After the canal closed, expenses rose. The mill closed
in 1884, and Geiger took over the operation of a flour mill in Clinton
County, although he continued to live in Lafayette. You might look at
Clinton County for Hominy Mills. I don't see it in Geiger's book.
I've paraphrased Reser. There is a little more information in the book itself.
Susan Y. Clawson clawsons(a)purdue.edu
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