- Allen
- Auglaize
- Crawford
- Darke
- Defiance
- Erie
- Fulton
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Henry
- Huron
- Logan
- Lorain
- Lucas
- Mercer
- Morrow
- Ottawa
- Paulding
- Putnam
- Richland
- Sandusky
- Seneca
- Shelby
- Van Wert
- Williams
- Wood
- Wyandot
Upper Sandusky
After the dust settled from the War of 1812, what was left of the Wyandot Nation gathered along the Sandusky River headwaters and began what would become a dramatic change in their culture. They had long relied on various types of farming, but in this period they studied English farming practices and quickly adopted these techniques. They also took on many European cultural practices including stone house construction. Schools were built, they converted to Christianity and even built a Methodist church to serve as a meeting house for spiritual enrichment and community fellowship.
As the Wyandot community grew it began to see the possibilities of expanding their community. In 1820, based on repeated pleas, the federal government consented to building a mill along the Sandusky River that could handle both lumber and various grains. The mill was the government's token way of thanking the Wyandots that had remained loyal to the Americans during the 1812 War.
That mill was a one story operation that was operated by the Wyandots and remained under their control until the early 1840s when the government forced the Wyandots out of Ohio and re-moved them west of the Mississippi River.
The 3-story mill that now stands where the Wyandot grist mill was located was constructed in the 1860s by Lewis Rummel. It used a new technology known as American Double Turbine developed by James Leffel. Over the years the mill has had numerous owners until it was purchased by the Ohio Historical Society in 1968.
The Wyandot Transformation
In the early European development and settlement of North America there were numerous wars between two major European powers: English and French. Once the French were defeated in the French and Indian Wars, then it became the English and the American Colonists that found themselves in not just one war, but two: the American Revolution and the War of 1812, when Britain tried once again to regain the lands lost during the Revolution.
During this time the Wyandot Indian Nation who were spread up and down the Sandusky River in the late 1700s, having been previously forced out of Canada by the Iroquois, found themselves aligning with different powers depending on who paid them the most and which side they considered to be most likely to win. From the French in the early trading wars to the British then back to the French during the French and Indian War and then back once again to the British during the American Revolution. And In the War of 1812 half of the Wyandots sided with the American forces against the British and the other half sided with the British.
When the War of 1812 ended, the Wyandots settled down, concentrating their nation near where Upper Sandusky is today. Also finding refuse in their group of villages was a group of African-Americans. This group was comprised of both free blacks and escaped slaves. Together they lived in a somewhat harmonious manner. The Wyandots who had always been farmers, worked with the blacks. Part of this intermingling led to some of the Wyandots accepting Christianity and abandoning many of their cultural traditions. This in turn led to limited perks granted by the federal government one of which was enough money to build a mill.
In 1820 a damn was constructed across the Sandusky River and a-story mill was constructed that could both grind wheat and cut timber for lumber.. This mill provided important services for the Wyandot farmers and the blacks living in the area. They were able to process their harvests and turn logs into lumber for home building.
The overall success of the mill and farming did not go unnoticed by local settlers that were rapidly increasing over the next few years. As more white settlers arrived they began to realize that the land set aside for the Wyandots was actually quite valuable farming land. Over the next decade or so, pressure from these settlers began to be felt in Washington, which eventually led to the federal government finally deciding to permanently remove the Wyandots out of Ohio.
When the last Wyandots left the area, the settlers destroyed most of their cultural icons, including their houses, churches, even going so far as to destroy the headstones in their cemeteries.
The mill fell into disrepair and was abandoned. Some years later, the flour mill was re-built on the present site by Lewis Rummel. He used 3 Leffel turbines in his new mill. The turbines were manufactured by James Leffel and were a new innovation to milling. The mill has been owned my various people over the years and was purchased by the Ohio Historical Society in 1968.
Today, the Indian Mill is our Nations first educational museum dedicated to the milling process. Through education and demonstrations the ways of milling from prehistoric times to present day methods are presented.
Indian Mill can be found 3 miles northeast of Upper Sandusky, along County Road 47 along the Sandusky River. While visiting the museum be sure to walk across the old iron bridge and enjoy a picnic in the shaded park. Listening to the waterfall, enjoying a cool summer breeze while viewing the scenic mill from across the river is just relaxing and well worth the trip.
Memorial Day through October (closed during winter months)
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 1pm to 6pm
(419) 294-3349
James Leffel was a second generation miller from Virginia. He settled in Springfield Ohio and continued his search for improving milling production. He added a machine shop and foundry to his mill. In his foundry he began making stoves and was thus the first stove maker in Ohio. With the Civil War an increase in flour production was needed. In 1862 Mr. Leffel introduced the American Double Turbine. Gristmills using his turbines were able to double their production. The Leffel Company still operates today producing hydraulic turbines in Springfield Ohio.
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