In addition, I have an article on Soper's Mill published in 1987 by Ames Heritage Associaiton, Inc. that I will gladly photocopy for you. There is a two page article on the history of Soper's Mill owned by T. K. Soper in 1859, which also has a photo of the mill taken about 1900 and a woodcut drawing of the Mill in 1875. If you are interested in a copy of this article, please let me know and send me your mailing address, and I'll mail that out to you.
My father used to live in the old farm house (no longer in existence) just up the hill from Soper's Mill, and I still have family who live within a mile or so of where the Mill used to be. Just a side-note:
young people in the 1950s enjoyed "skinny-dipping" in the Skunk River at the old mill spot. :)
Sincerely,
Lorna Frechette
Story Co., IA Look-Up Volunteer
From AT THE SQUAW AND THE SKUNK, by Gladys H. Meads
Published serially in the Ames Daily Tribune in 1954
In book form December, 1955
Two Kinds of Mills (p. 6)
Wherever pioneers settled two kinds of mills at once sprung up. There had to be grist mills or there was no meal for Johnny-cake — and there had to be saw mills to make lumber for the rude shelters that had to be put together for the cabins and lean-tos. These mills became abundant in the county. There were about 18 in all scattered about the neighborhood. One of the first of these was established in 1850 by one Jairus Chandler. This one was near what is now known as Cambridge. Another, situated on the Skunk river about 8 miles east of what is now Ames, was called Hughes Mill. This later became Soper’s Mill, and, as so many had dreamed of doing, the site of this mill was to develop into a town. It was a saw mill and when Soper got the water powered spot he tore down the old saw mill and erected a grist mill. I suppose the immediate need at that time must have been for flour, not boards. The tale is related that Soper’s Mill became strongly welded into the early history of the county and town. A passerby now would scarcely notice the solitary foundation of the old mill (which is still there as this is written, giving evidence of fascinating early history). There is an old fashioned bridge across the meandering Skunk at this point and an old farmhouse stands on a nearby hillside. Stories of the old mill and this secluded spot within short driving distance these days furnish material for much idle fancy and reminiscence. Soper’s Superlative (p. 6) A man named J. G. Yelton ran it for almost ten years. He was the first miller and it was then that the hum of the busy millwheel lulled the drowsy fishermen who sat on the banks of the millpond during warm summer days. It was not uncommon to bring products to the mill from 30 to 40 miles away to make flour from corn and to make buckwheat meal. During prosperous times the daily receipts often ran as high as $40 to $50 a day, an enormous amount for those days. The mill changed hands in about 1871 and a firm manufactured a brand of buckwheat flour known as "Sopers Superlative." At one time a total of nine tons of meal and chop feed was turned out for a farmer named James Dodds. There have been farming Dodds located in this town for many years. I wonder which branch this man might have started. Popular Resort (p. 7) The old mill dam was partially reconstructed in 1894 but the water supply gave out and the mill could not be run except at certain seasons when the water was high. So the old mill, like other oldtimers, finally fell into disuse and the enormous mill wheel was at last quiet. The lapse of time wove a network of sentiment about this historic spot and thus it naturally became a popular resort for picnics, reunions and celebrations, particularly in the horse and buggy days of the Gay ‘90’s. The narrow, rickety old staircase of the mill that was now used as a barn would creak and sway as some curious visitor would attempt to climb into the dingy loft of the mammoth old structure, peopling it with the ghosts of sturdy pioneers with the vivid imagination that all of us have, and the wish to recreate the past in the same way that we peer into the future. Sentimental Reminiscences (p. 7) At such times the peaceful quiet would be broken by the flight of a swift mud swallow as it flew out of the broken window of the old mill and the soul of the old building would sigh with its memories as the soft spring winds blew through the panes and cracks. As late as 1945 the place known as Soper Mill was used as a recreation and picnic grounds though there was no sight of the old mill. In about 1947 the location was closed to the public and the last time I drove out a closed gate greeted me at the entrance. Did I imagine it or did the trees around the site wave beckoning fingers of invitation and farewell to a generation of sturdy Story county farmers and picnickers. I am sure the faint sweet breath of molding and dusty flour still hung about the old mill. ______Page 26: The class of 1885 began to show the increase in numbers so characteristic of Ames graduation lists over the years. To these names on the Alumni list were added their place of residence in 1906 which may interest some: Eva Starr, deceased. Earl Granger, doctor, Randolph, Mass. Roscoe Miller, plumber, Escondido, Calif. Frank Haverly, teacher, Somers, Iowa. Bernice Sheldon, bank cashier, Ames. Hattie (Weld) Sargent, Boone. Effie (Thomas) Stuart, Cedar Bluffs, Neb. Bertha (Soper) Costello, Chicago. Mary (Wynn) Nourse, Tacoma, Wash. Lulu (Wright) Ringheim, Nevada, Iowa. Clara (West) Manning, Ames. Jennie Parkhill, dressmaker, Ames. Jessie (Parkhill) Hamilton, Cedar Rapids. Florence (Parkhill) Kuhl, Willamett, Ill. ______
Page 27: You will recognize several of the class of ‘88:
Hattie (Cristman) Dodds, Mrs. Guy lives in Ames today at 618 Carroll. Frank Meridith, collecting agent, Des Moines. Harriet (Fitchpatrick) Wright. Lynn (Chevalier) Adams — mother of the Adams boys of Ames. Lillian (Paxton) Marston. Ella (Dodds) Norris. Minnie (Adams) Potter, Jay and Jim Adams’ sister. Ruth (Duncan) Tilden, Mrs. L. C. of Ames. Jessie (Maxwell) Freelan. Blanch Soper, deceased. ______
Jazz Was Rage (p. 172, 173)
Dr. Earl Bush organized a medical corps company made up of Ames boys and we watched them off with special feelings for they were all our very own. There were Bernice Ricketts, Loyal Thomas, Ramie Jones, Walter Harriman, Harold Nowlin, Don Soper, Walter Judge, Doug Waitley, Atlee Hart, Dwight Britton, Jay Elliot, Paul McNeil, Les Hoo[?], Ross Rutherford, Bernice Posegate, Tom Sloss, Bill Rickett, Roy Stewart, Ernest Risly, Winfred Crabb and Joe Anderson. It wasn’t till 1919 that we saw them all again. Then they paraded past in the homecoming celebration that was held for them, bigger and more browned — but still OUR boys. ______
Directory of Ames (p. 178)
C. M. Soper, insurance, 1887 ======
From AMES COMMUNITY HISTORY AMES CENTENNIAL, INC. 1864-1964 Issued by the Revenue Division of Ames Centenial Inc., with John Greenwood as chairman. Page 43: We used to buy potatoes at 60c and sell them for $1.00 per bushel; kerosene oil costs us 60c and we retailed it for $1.00. A very fair profit was made on sugar, granulated and pulverized cost 18c and retailed at 25c; "A" sugar cost 16c and retailed for 30c. "O. G. Java" coffee cost 38c and sold for 50c per pound, and a good Rio cost 28c and sold for 3 lbs. for $1.00. Out scale of prices was about the same as others in the county, so far as we knew. T. K. Soper’s flour, which came from his mill seven miles northeast of Ames, and flour from Boone, was consigned to us to sell on commission, paying 25c per sack for handling. ______
1877
Quotes From The Intelligencer (p. 51)
Sixteen boxes of matches for $1.00 at Soper Thomas, Soper & Sons, Six 2 # cans of fruit for $1.00 at S. T. & S. ______
Ames Dental Study Club (p. 99)
The Ames Dental Study Club was formed in 1922 by Drs. Soper, Snyder, Rice, Walters, Feldman, and Wilson. The purpose of the club was to further their professional study, and this was done by each member taking his turn at a monthly meeting presentation. In addition to these seminars, good fellowship and cooperation was established and this has been maintained till the present time. In the early depression years a school clinic was set up to care for indigent children. With the help of Miss Henrietta Gronlid, the school nurse, and the school board, a dental office was placed in the high school for that purpose. Each dentist donated whatever time was needed, and this project has contributed through the years but now is done in the individual dental offices. The study club was a prime mover in the fluoridation of the Ames city water supply, and its preventive effect on dental decay is already apparent. Although its membership is now county wide, its purpose remains the same. — by W. M. Buck, D.D.S. ______
Page 129: Local sportsmen and conservationists build a dam and recreation area near Soper’s Mill. Farmers give permits, rock is contributed, and many hours of work given, both in construction and repair after storms.