'Twas Busy Place Century Ago

A photo of the Ruins was placed below the above title

Once Busy Mill in Ruins
Timbers Finally Give Way on Structure
Built 110 Years Ago

Half way between Orville and Jamesville, on the east side of the road, are the ruins of the King mill built in 1820. It stood until this year, and then its old timbers gave way.

March 19, 1819, Luther Willard sold 104 acres, including the mill site, to Magdalen King and William M. King of Salisbury, Litchfield county, Conn. Magdalen was the father. He had eight sons, Milton, William, Enos, James, Amos, Hiram, George and John King.

Magdalen King died September 27, 1849, when 86 years old, and his wife, Sarah Boles King, daughter of Amos Boles, died August 4, 1852, when 72.

Magdalen King's father came from Wales. The Kings were iron workers or iron miners in Connecticut before coming to Onondaga. They bought the mill site on Butternut creek in 1819, and part of the family came on from Connecticut, with others following. The mill was built and for many years was one of the largest in the section. The area was then in the town of Manlius(?), but became part of Dewitt with creation of that town in 1835.

The mill ground grain, and in connection with it there was a part for manufacture of plaster and cement. It was taken over in 1869 by the son, Amos B. King, and was rebuilt. It passed out of the family after some years, and the property has been owned since 1909 by C. Ralph Brown, who also has an orange grove in Florida.

Amos King was born in 1824 and died in 1883. He married Maria Young, daughter of Rev. Seth Young. William M. King died in Oregon. His children included Mary Harrower, William King, Roselia Reillay, Eliza Johnson, John A. King and Daniel O. King.

Hiram King was born February 16, 1815, and died October 25, 1886. He married Eunice Eason, who was born November 2, 1816, and who died November 27, 1890.

The King family was once one of the largest in that part of the town of Dewitt, but has entirely disappeared from that section. Few who drive over the Jamesville road and notice the ruins of the mill, its timbers fallen, know that it was at one time an important place of industry.