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Pearson / Fisher Gristmill
Pearson-Fisher Gristmill
December 1,2004
Prepared for South Yadkin Power Co.
By Aubrey Wensil
Preface
The purpose of this study is to determine where the location of die "Pearson/Fisher gristmill" was imtil 1900.
A recent study by Wake Forest University Archeology Laboratories was published August 15,2001. This study
was made to determine where the Pearson/ Fisher gristmill was located.
The WFU report stated the Pearson / Fisher Gristmill was located on the present day race.
After researching the subject with an open mind and the documents I found, the Pearson/ Fisher Gristmill did
not exist after the early 1850's.
In this report you will find pictures, m^, articles firom the Salsibury Post, The Carolina Watchman and the
Davie Record news papers.
This research was done at Duke University, UNO at Ch^el Hill, Rowan Library, and Davie Library.
Richmond Pearson
Richmond Pearson arrived in the "Forks of the Yadkin" (now Davie Co.) at the age of
19. It is not known if he had money when he arrived but he became very wealthy before
he died.
The first house we know as his was on Anthcmy's Run Branch. ( see map Figure l)It
was a five or six room two story house overlooking the meadow below. In the late
1960's the late E.C.Tatum and I were at the location andMr. Tatum pointed out the
old chimney and pillows which the house sat upon. A couple years ago with my metal
detector I found a candle snuffer, (one that cuts the wick so the candle will not smoke)
also a chard of a plate which Wake Forest Archaeology Dept. said was pattern of the
year 1753 these were just a few of the artifacts found. The family graveyard is about 100
yards east and has been restored. The grave markers still remain. ( see m^ Figurel)
A short distance above this house on the branch is the remains of an old dam, probably
his first mill dam. This could have been one which he bought firom Frohock. He also had
a Ham and mill in the forks of Third Creek (now called Fourth Creek) and the So.
Yadkin and later a dam and mill at the Shoals and this is the one that was in question
until now. ( see map Figure 1)
The next house known to be his was called "The Pearson Mansion." It stood on the
hill above the present dam. (see picture of The Old and the New ( Figure 2 )
In 2001 Wake Forest University Archaeology Dept. did a study for South Yadkin
Power Co. to determine if the old roller mill which was on the present mill race, was
"The Pearson-Fisher Gristmill." Their report stated it was. They did not have a picture of
this flour mill but there is one in this report. ( see Figure 3) .
This flour mill was ran by J.N.Ledford who later ran the Company Store on Main St.
He also committed suicide by drowning himself at the flour mill, in the race.
In the picture of "The Old and the New," ( figure 2) you will see there was a gristmill
on the wooden dam. This picture was taken around 1900. The flour mill which the
WFU report claimed was the Pearson / Fisher gristmill wasn't built until after that
picture was taken.
The following pages and news paper articles will leave no doubt as to where the
Pearson /
Fisher Gristmill was.
3
Pearson Gristmill Mill at the Shoals
The best description of this site was given in 1835, 16 years after Richmond died,
his son Giles Pearson decided to sell the property his father had bought from
Frohock. In an add in the "Carolina Watchman " news paper he claimed,.. The
greatest value ofsaid property consist of the immensity of its water power and of the
great convenience of commanding it. At the celebrated Falls of the South Yadkin
River, an 18 feet fall can be had in a distance of 100 yards and a firm rock foundation
forfactory and mill seats. Grist and saw mill of cast-iron machinery at the end ofa
race of three auarters of a mile Ions. The dam which is at the head of the falls is
pinned down to solid rock bottom with iron balls and considered impregnable.
Anyone at a single view must say that more power can be here brought into use than
any other place in the Southern Country. It is especially and confidently
recommended to persons wishing to engage in the business of manufacturing." (see
news paper article figure 4)
Several men who worked in the Cooleemee MiU shop, at the time the mill closed in
1969 stated to me, "When the water in the dam was drawn down for the purpose of
cleaning the gates of the dam and the race, the remains of the Old Wooden Dam
could be seen and was about 90 -100 feet above the present dam."
As stated above, the race was three quarters of a mile long (3960 feet) and a saw
and gristmill of cast-iron machinery at the end of it. This would put the Pearson /
Fisher Gristmill where the Cooleemee Cotton Mill turbines are today.
The flour mill, ( see figure 3) which Wake Forest University report stated as being
the Pearson ? Fisher Gristmill, was only 600-800 feet below the old wooden and
present dams. The Carolina Watchman stated it as being at the end of a three
quarter mile long race with the dam at the head of it. (see article in figure 4)
Charles Fisher - Samuel Lemley
Two years after Giles Pearson advertised the sale of the property, it was sold. The Carolina
Watchman in 1837 heralded the transaction thusly:
"We learn a company of two in Salsibury have purchased the celebrated water power on the South
Yadkin River called Pearson's Falls with the view of establishing a Cotton Factory there. We would
rather have a factory there than any other place we ever saw or heard of.... Provisions and labor
quite cheap; in a very rich section of country. The raw material as conveniently had as need be
desired cmd the powers sufficient to build up a Lowell. ( a large city up north^ We know of no
property more desirable in this country."
Two years after the purchase. Fisher advertised in the Watchman he had completed a large iron
foundry at the mill. Apparently he had dropped his plans for a cotton mill and went into foundry work
instead. But while serving in Ihe state legislature and as a trustee for the Literary Fund, Fisher and
other trustees pledged their support of a $50,000 investment of state funds in a Mississippi land
speculatioa It failed and Fisher had to mortgage his properties to cover the debt. He left Salisbury
1842 for Mississippi to attempt to recoup his fortunes and he died in Hillsboro there in 1847. His
partner, Samuel Lemley, had preceded him westward to better his fortunes. Apparently, the foundry
was not an overwhelming success.
What effect his absence and death had on the fortunes of the mill is not known. In any event, the
mill, active or not, had a short future. Torrential rains came into the area in August, 1852 or1850. ITie
force of flow was such that not a bridge remained on the South Yadkin River. Among the mills lost to
the waters was the Fisher and Lemlev foundrv. ( Now referred to as the Pearson - Fisher GristmilD
(see Figure 5 for Salsibury Post article)
As you can see, the Pearson / Fisher Gristmill no longer existed.
In Ebenezer Emmons's Geological Report of the JVlidland Counties of North Carolina published in
1856, Emmons describes this site as follows: (He has been writing about the big Yadkin and its mills
which are operating and possible mill sites) The South Yadkin is one of its principal branches. It joins
the Yadkin in Davie County. It is analogous to the Little Catawba, and like that, has a very important
water-power some five or six miles above itsjunction. This branch is navigable to the falls and about
twelve miles above them. The actual descent orfall is twenty-two feet. This mill site becomes
important bothfrom the amount of water which may be employed and the quantity of iron ore in its
immediate yicinity, and its easy access by land and water. In certain respects, this fall has advantages
over others; those particularly which have been enumerated Both sides are adapted to use, and hence
its full power may be employed We can scarcely estimate the advantages which would be conferred
upon this part of the State by the occupation of this powerfor manufacturing purposes. It has all the
advantages of the great bend so far as cheapness of living is concerned, being situated in a fine
agricultural region, (see figure 6)
You would have to be familiar with this part of the River but, one interesting point
is; in order to get twenty two feet of fall at this site, the race would have had to be
three quarters of a mile long from the dam.
Emmons's visit to the site was several years after the waters had washed the Pear
son/Fisher Mill away and he made no mention of the mill or the dam being there.
Building The Cotton Mill and the Present Dam
The land had been purchased by the investors and the work was started early 1899. the land
had to be cleared for the mill and houses. I am sure the timber from the land on this side of
the river as well as the other side was used in the building the mill and houses. The late Dorry
Pierce said he was told, (the logs were four feet across.)
When The man taking the 1900 census came to the mill, his census sheet stated at the top
of page,( Here I commence at Cooleemee Cotton Mill.) There were two hundred eleven men
working. There was a Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Bookkeeper, House Carpenters, Painters,
Stone Masons, Stone Cutters, Stone Derrick Operators, Rock Quarry Men, Brick Masons,
Haulers, Mortar Men, Common Labors and may more.
The Stone Masons were working on the Mill and Dam at the same time. Also the Mill
Race was being dug.
(See The Davie Record Articles next two pages, 8 & 9)
BuUding of the Cotton Mill and Dam ( The Davie Record Newapapei
J. T. Prnd^ Eaq who has the
femtmct? Rii" Aghg a lot of escsira-
dSng fw lhe new (tofton mil) at the
jffiftSjft came- In ftom Oreensboiu
l^emb^ nipfbt and 'wr«t down tO
we Shoals today to ook after h e
l^Countg News.
Cotton Min Hewa
Mr. C. Hehane^ manage at /tbe
l^oala has beoi right unwell for
theii^ ihw ilaysy hntlB mnrii liet>
terwe aiei^d to atato.
Twohriek neaeldttteiibif ntiSing
bride tor the new mill ^ espe^
ed this wepRi B. BedgeoMb,
iltoixcsfiitdiaitadOtiw wiB ran one^
and aebntiactortoomBpaTtansbaig
8.0. the dher. miingei will tnitn
whedaBgetetoBtitoteBdl
Idhioi MoiwBrd & Oompany bave
(mened a gnofty store and rtofaa^
hear the new cotlxm mSl.; They
hove diridirated thdr fifa£d*'Back.
TTrfffrte.** Ohe Btore to just
below Jtoher's (m the Davie
ride ol the riveroldse to the river
on the Moiris lands. ^ Ton can getalmo^ anything in the grocery lip,
also 'M i@nnnade, milk ebakes^ toeereamysoda.water, .eto.- Itls nice-:
ly located ahd they wiU he glaA to
have the iMide trf the people. Bv-
eiy tUhgsOld ^eap.fctf cash; Bice
beer's breadj boiled bam and fried
chlekdioabaBd SatordayairiSan-
day to toed the bnngry. l«mon'
ado, ice eream: and milk shakes on
Wttws an ta» tiBie» iTon can Jgel a
nice oool drink whraever.yon wfish.
Go aroandwhiW^yonl'Viri.t Gpoleo
stoO odtonioifiBaiidgrii » xefirtoh-^
ing'drink, dohtt BowanV thecan-.
dy iaalto,vritt|dT0s ftee candy
tr^t next ftilnrday evening at the
etoxO to hto ciortioineis. Go and see
hiTrt jdtokeiV and gd some of his
ttlfy.
CMstonrMin
Mr. O. keSwno, manaefflr ^ tt«
Bhoato has bean ris^t nnw^ tor
the past few dayei, botto bet>
ter we aite i^ad to Btatb.
Two bride raadaiMMtor ntoStog
Iwick tor Ibe itown^l ^ ospe^
ed this weefc Mk W. Hedgeooeib,
the piesSht eombradnr will ran one,and a WffltfadtofftomSpatW
8. €. tiib otbitf. Things will hTrin
* n n n ■* ontv
May 24,1899
June 14,1899 '
June?, 1899
\ June?, 1899 July 19,1899
Ctatton lyOs JTem
JSoweori & Co. at BccKb^
Hrigbts beep aomcftlng sdce to
eatsmd drink on band au the Mute.
They give a firee candy treat on~ itnTray ^ evenings. arimiid
td seeutem. Ton win be txeatod
rig^ht.
Dk wi interview in Winston Bafr
nrday; Bfr. Mehane stated that betbon^ tote xaiU at Cooleemee
weiua bewsnpleted by Vofv. ist.
€hpt. Ck Mfiiiaxu^ 1^baabfiimtm the Ilst^ Idt forGreensboro Satiurday. Bie will beabsent two or direeda^. .
Theeraqpaoy In baxning brashl^t wed^ lost 60 or 76 cords of
wood from the fire,
The work Is progioesing nicely
aadwben-tbe twobriok madbineashurt iqp'wbidi axe daily expected^
a bnder plaoe will be bard to .find;Theeompaay to anxiotts to ]^aabtote work to ounple^on at as cariy
a day as possible.
Good bauto wanted, and toirprices paid;;down al^''tot'of'.nraJtoana
Miond^^Bw to paying 80 .ooils aday
apply xit the worics. Dror^
and idtans not wanted;
Go downandsee wJtot a big eor-poidtoncaa'do in
and realize that oapital to , einen-taal to the devdopm^ of ocr conn*:try, toad that tipee who are tonr.ric^ waging ww> en ckhcporathnto
are thefffwrnlm of conntiyiObep^ypto.wlU open. tbeic^^a while and oease to be :boodwi^-^ by the Jolm'' d^ag^-
ues who have tons fo grind.
COOLEGSIBE N£WS.
A Raise in tVagea^Evcrytbing
Booining.
Mr. A. Taaoer. one of the brick
contractom. made the hearts of hismen glad Saturday evening >y giving
them an advance in their wages.AViU Boyd, the negro who-was shot
in the breast and the ball being tak- ien outfrf the back^ 1-r up ami aboutagain.
Both brick machines arc now ra n*,ring, and forty-live or fifty thousand
bricks are being turned out daily.
Contractd for the building of fouh-dations and chimneys for quite a number of cottages have'becn let.. .
One of the contractors says that hehas never seen so' many visitors as
ire.. : He must remember that
still has a warm place in
:at''r'.liafl'
CtftX. 7. T. Pruden who has the con-'tract for excavating for. the founda'!titoihasabont cdmi^et^ it. - j
Davie Record Newspaper
Moers. AVillaid nud Hampton
Jinrc completed the atone 'foundii-
tioD tbr the lirnt ImildiiiK: Its a
spleudiil piece of wtirkiuaiiship.
TlicyRrcsidcndid iscntlciiicn luitl
iluc'workuien' They arc luiw work
ing on the dam.
UleaarM Tanner and iredgeock,
brick c-outractors, are gettingalong
nicely; Tbe^lltaret^okilnflofthe
machine.brlok. np : and; burning,
over 200,000 in the two.. - ^ 'Laying
brick will b^in In about .10 daya.
The Shoals, as it la .finhUimrly
called, &a 'scene of meat, activity.
Wwk Mi tbehoasefi IB progre^n^
slowly on aoeount of the carpenl^
rnnuing short of Inmber. ^ '
S. J. Tbtmn Is rnnning hia saw
mill 6\'ery day except Sunday,u>id
is turubfo^rot ».h^fJnmber. ^Ile'
JjmnspiifciirR pTuiucraitd ^wlKin
he fiimishing dried and di^ctl!
lumber. ' ' " I
TTncle Oh. fki^is, familiarl:-' call-:;
ed *'l>tllsbV Is presridliig Jit tlm;
new jeiTy and will beglnd ; b»^- 5^ci^:
yna when you wish toms^ IheJ-iv^;;
er. ' :
Two horse teams for hauling'nu'il !
woofl and for other pn^is«<'^ : ni-c j
wanted. n Thrmem who ' have'IWid .;
by thoif crops and can npii're? tiiiH*]
can get work. Only workers niv j
wanted. •' !
. - I. II. Bait.Vj of ronroi-d, iinH mov-1
- ed his family.tc K<K>ldan<t Heights. '■
July 26,1899
■^Work on the GooLeemee oottozi
inUl hffi been ntaidtd by theweather, hot ftt piesibit they arernshiii^ the work/ eoT4!^iig^^ t^^Febraaiy 7,1900 buildiiSgy digging the kaoO^ Uastr
ihg ^d otiher vork on the
March 14,1900
August 29,1900
November 28,1900
November 21,1900
I Hr. A. Thimer who has had
oharge of the fiictoiy . building at
Ckraleemeehassettled lip and re-
turned to Spjurtanbiiig B, C.
Wide Awake.
The firm of WiUatd and Hamp-
> .ion who hate been doing the etpne'wprkB nt Ccwjleeinee cotton millshaBCcmpleted theirjobnndmoyed.
sir. Juuks m Avhois working with
Messrs; Williard-utl Haatptonat
Cooleemee Mills^ ' gave us a eidlyestefdsy cm bis way to Bparto-
btffg S. O. Mr. Jackson is satfering
with rbmunatiSBi and has gone
hikae to rest up. He says die dam
will be complete this week.
Wehcatd Ital the edtbni
msMetiitnplioediiy et
.Alaqp.BBi^
The rain of the past few days buHmade crojis Ifiok np. yn'c; know"the iiirmciw hre ghul to s«f it'.; :
Mrs. Ijconnrd, of Stiilcsvill^. Isvisitinghop daughter. Mrs.-
Swaim.
Hfpssis .Ti T. PrudcM mid V. Mrolinson spent ye^crday i(i^1n.si(m;
l-Sal^.' • i
.-I
November 28,1900
i| t^leiBmcefkdtoslMill liiriiedwti
I the water lael weeik, 'aiMl icalettthe machine^'. \ We bw tnat
work -wdl cOmnieBce In enruesi
veiy 6000; This la one of the fl ncat
mllhiio the Mate, ami we wish it a
pioBpeioiUi ^t(^
- Ctee of the negro hands working I *111 the race at the new cotton mill
diopp^ dead pttie day last week: {<
j
October 18, !899
r—-« rapidly on itill I fil^'iiiiiftT Odtbn Mills- They |have : wofk^ oh tho f bird i^ory, and if .weather ctintihaes |good the biick work will he completed by the*; new year. .T1»e car-pcmters are moving along nicely j
with their work. If mokes one feel igo^ to see each work In old Davie.May we have mhfe' of it.
November 15,1899
lycrlnraiare putdng the locrf
poem seethni ^ the coMim atCMdecB^ the tiridc-w(^ is hear-
iy ei»Dpk^ on the odier aeMion.
* December 20,1899
7
Crwroadi
iji
i
ff
t
1. Pearson's first mill (earth dam and race remains are stiil visible)
2. Pearson's first house (bricks fi*om chimney and cellar still remains)
3. Pearson Cemetery about 200 feet East and behind house.
4. Pearson gristmill on Third Creek, later became Correll's mill.
5. Frohock,s gristmill, (the race and mill stone still remains)
6. Old Wooden Dam and the remains can still be seen when water is drawn down fi-om present dam.
(see picture of The Old and New)
7. The Old Pearson Mansion (see picture of The Old and New)
8. Location Of Pearson / Fisher Gristmill was 3/4 mile fi"om Old Wooden Dam.
9. The present day dam. (see picture of The Old and New)
Figure 1
The new dam was built around 1906 when Erwin bought the Cooleemee
Cotton Mills. The mill was powered by one single and three double water
wheels, most of which are still in use today.
This Picture Was Published In The Erwin Mill's Paper,
The Erwin Chatter in April, 1953
Men who worked in the maintenance department at the mill before it shut down say, "when the water was
drawn down out of the dam, you could still see remains of the old wooden dam." They say it was about 100
feet above the present dam.
Notice the men standing on the frozen water. They were cutting ice and loading it on their wagons in the
back ground. They had ice pits dug in the ground at home to store the ice for the coming summer. You can
see the gristmill on the right side of dam.
The old Pearson Mansion on the hill was getting in bad shape at the time the picture was taken. The Pear
sons had been gone 50 or 60 years. The white objects in back of house appears to be laundry on a line.
This is the flour mill which the Wake Forest report referred to as being the Pearson /
Fisher Gristmill. The dam was only 600-800 feet above it. You are looking toward the
dam. This flour mill was on the present day race. It burned down in the late 1940's.
Figure 3
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m
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e
is
no
w
in
a
tr
a
n
s
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
st
a
g
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af
t
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r
th
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cl
o
s
i
n
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of
it
s
-
b
i
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to
w
n
of
th
e
ce
n
t
u
r
y
te
x
t
i
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ih
i
l
l
.
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e
wa
t
e
r
po
w
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r
th
a
t
a
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l
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se
t
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r
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p
o
w
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r
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a
se
r
i
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s
of
mi
l
l
s
fo
r
ab
o
u
t
10
0
ye
a
r
s
wa
s
no
lo
n
g
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d
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af
t
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r
mo
r
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f
i
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so
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c
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s
of
po
w
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r
we
r
e
de
v
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l
o
p
e
d
.
.
To
d
a
y
a
da
m
th
a
t
cr
e
a
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d
a
po
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e
r
po
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d
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d
a
ra
c
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th
a
t
le
d
th
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wa
t
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r
to
a:
ge
n
e
r
a
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l
s
be
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h
th
e
pl
a
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t
a
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no
lo
n
g
e
r
ne
e
d
e
d
.
.
Be
f
o
r
e
el
e
c
t
r
i
c
i
t
y
wa
s
ha
r
ne
s
s
e
d
an
d
it
s
ge
n
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
by
st
e
a
m
wa
s
.
d
e
v
i
s
e
d
,
po
w
e
r
wa
s
th
e
pr
o
d
uc
t
of
fa
s
t
-
f
a
l
l
i
n
g
wa
t
e
r
.
Un
d
e
r
st
o
o
d
by
an
c
i
e
n
t
m
a
n
,
th
e
wa
t
e
r
mi
l
l
wa
s
al
m
o
s
t
al
w
a
y
s
;
th
e
^
fi
r
s
t
in
d
u
s
t
r
y
of
ne
w
l
y
se
t
t
l
i
n
g
pe
o
p
l
e
.
Er
e
c
t
i
n
g
mi
l
l
On
No
v
.
4,
17
7
7
,
th
e
Ro
w
a
n
Co
u
n
t
y
co
u
r
t
au
t
h
o
r
i
z
e
d
'
Wi
l
l
i
a
m
Fr
o
h
o
c
k
to
bu
i
l
d
a
mi
l
l
"o
n
or
ne
a
r
"
th
e
Sh
o
a
l
s
of
th
e
So
^
Ya
d
k
i
n
"o
n
th
e
.
r
o
a
d
.t
o
hi
s
mi
l
l
on
:
Be
a
r
Gr
e
e
k
.
"
Th
i
s
mi
l
l
,
by
ho
me
a
n
s
th
e
fi
r
s
t
in
th
e
ar
e
a
,
wa
s
to
oc
c
u
p
y
th
e
sa
m
e
si
t
e
la
t
e
r
ch
o
s
e
n
fo
r
wh
a
t
be
c
a
m
e
th
e
Er
w
i
n
Mi
l
l
s
ar
o
u
n
d
19
0
0
.
In
bo
t
h
ca
s
e
s
,
th
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pl
e
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t
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of
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r
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r
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at
t
r
a
c
t
i
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n
.
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e
be
s
t
de
s
r
i
p
t
i
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of
th
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,
al
l
o
w
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fo
r
so
m
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re
a
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es
t
a
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I
«,
wa
s
gi
v
e
n
in
18
3
5
wh
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to
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pr
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p
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t
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th
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e
a
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s
o
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s
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d
bo
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h
t
fr
o
m
Fr
o
h
o
c
k
.
In
an
ad
in
th
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Ca
r
o
l
i
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a
Wa
t
c
h
ma
n
,
he
cl
a
i
m
e
d
:
".
.
.
th
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gr
e
a
t
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s
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va
l
u
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,
of
sa
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d
pr
o
p
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t
y
co
n
s
i
s
t
s
of
th
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im
m
e
n
s
i
t
y
of
it
s
wa
t
e
r
po
w
e
r
an
d
th
e
gr
e
a
t
co
n
v
e
n
i
e
n
c
e
of
co
m
m
a
n
d
i
n
g
it
.
At
th
e
ce
l
e
b
r
a
t
e
d
Fa
l
l
s
of
th
e
So
u
t
h
Ya
d
k
i
n
Ri
v
e
r
,
'
an
18
fe
e
t
fa
l
l
ca
n
be
ha
d
in
a
di
s
t
a
n
c
e
of
; 10
0
ya
r
d
s
an
d
a
fi
r
m
,
ro
c
k
fo
u
n
d
a
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i
o
n
,
fo
r
fa
c
t
o
r
y
an
d
.
mi
l
l
se
a
t
s
;
;
Gr
i
s
t
;
v
a
i
j
d
;
:
s
a
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of
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a
t
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eg
^
f
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i
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a
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i
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a
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he
a
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of
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l
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s
is
pi
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d
do
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to
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s
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t
t
o
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t
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o
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l
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is
co
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s
i
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e
r
e
d
ii
u
p
r
e
g
n
a
b
i
e
.
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y
on
e
at
a
si
n
g
l
e
vi
e
w
mu
s
t
sa
y
th
a
t
mo
r
e
po
w
e
r
, ca
n
'
be
.
li
e
r
e
br
o
u
g
h
t
in
t
o
us
e
th
a
n
at
an
y
ot
h
e
r
pl
a
c
e
in
th
e
So
u
t
h
h
m
co
u
n
t
r
y
,
it
is
es
pe
c
i
a
l
l
y
"r
a
n
d
co
n
f
i
d
e
n
t
l
y
re
c
om
m
e
n
d
e
d
to
pe
r
s
o
n
s
wi
s
h
i
n
g
to
en
g
a
g
e
in
th
e
bu
s
i
n
e
s
s
of
ma
n
u
f
a
c
tu
r
i
n
g
.
"
Fa
m
i
l
y
fo
r
t
u
n
e
s
Th
e
fo
r
t
u
n
e
s
of
.
th
e
we
a
l
t
h
y
Fr
o
h
o
c
k
fa
m
i
y
ha
d
lo
n
g
si
n
c
e
de
c
l
i
n
e
d
wh
i
l
e
th
o
s
e
of
th
e
Pe
a
r
s
o
n
fa
m
i
l
y
we
r
e
ri
s
i
n
g
.
; By
17
8
8
or
.
17
9
1
—
hi
s
t
o
r
i
a
n
s
-
d
i
s
a
g
r
e
e
—
th
e
Pe
a
r
s
o
n
s
ha
d
a
gr
i
s
t
mi
l
l
in
op
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
at
th
e
Sh
^
s
as
an
im
p
o
r
t
a
n
t
pa
r
t
,
of
th
e
i
r
ex
t
e
n
s
i
v
e
pl
a
n
t
a
t
i
o
n
,
.
Ri
c
h
m
o
n
d
HU
L
By
th
e
18
S
0
s
,
ho
w
e
v
e
r
,
th
e
Pe
a
r
s
o
n
fo
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t
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n
e
s
we
r
e
,
in
tu
r
n
,
on
th
e
de
c
l
i
n
e
.
De
a
t
h
s
an
d
fi
n
a
n
c
i
a
l
se
t
ba
c
k
s
ha
d
hi
t
th
e
m
.
Th
e
bu
y
e
r
s
of
th
e
Pe
a
r
s
o
n
mi
l
l
we
r
e
a.
co
u
p
l
e
of
pr
o
m
i
n
e
n
t
Sa
l
i
s
b
u
r
y
me
n
,
Ch
a
r
l
e
s
Fi
s
h
e
r
an
d
Sa
m
u
e
l
Le
m
l
e
y
.
Fi
s
h
e
r
wa
s
(m
e
of
th
e
mo
s
t
^i
m
p
o
r
t
a
n
t
po
l
i
t
i
c
a
l
fi
g
ur
e
s
in
th
e
Pi
e
d
m
o
n
t
an
d
Lm
l
y
wa
s
an
d
ou
t
s
t
a
n
d
i
n
g
bu
i
l
d
e
r
.
k
Se
e
Pa
s
t
,
Pa
g
e
2B
Fi
g
u
r
e
4
Salsibury Post Thursday June 1,1989 By George Raynor
> From Page IB
tte Cait>ilna Watchinan in 1837
heralded the transactkni thiisly:
' "We learn a company of two in
Salisbury have pun^ai^ the
ebrated water power oh the South
Vadkin River called Pearl's
Falls with the view of establishing
a Cotton Factory there. We would
rather have a factory there than
any oth» place we ever saw or
heard of Provisions and labor
quite dieap; in a very rich section
of country. The raw material as
conveni^ly had as need be de
sired, and the powiers sufficient tO
huUd up a Lowell. We know of no
property more desirable in this
country."
iron foundry
Two years after the purchase^
Fisher advertised In tte Watch
man he had completed a large iron
foundry at the niill. Apparently he■had dro|^>^ his plans for a cotton
mill and went into foundry workinstead. But while serving in thestate legislature and as a trustee
^ I [oners let 'a contract withf<nr the Idterary Fund* Fisher and .—other trustees pledged their-sup* j(the noted, builder, Samuel Lohiley,
port of a 850,000 Investment of
state funds in a Mississippi land
speculation. It failed and Fisher
had to mortgage his propertl^ to
cover the debt. He left Salibury in
1842 for Mississippi to attempt torecoup his fortunes and he di^ in
Hillsboro there In 1847. His part
ner, Samuel Lemley, had preceded
him westward to better his fortunes! Apparently, the foundry wos
not an overwhelming success.^.,;
What effect his abimnce ami
death had on the fortune of the
mill is not known. In any event, the
futiire.Tonentia] ra ins came^rntf|e area in
The force of How was slich that not
a brtdge remained oh the South
ver. Amoug the millslost to tly waters was the Fisli^
and Lemley foundry. . . • .
South River bridge . : •
In 1824. the Rowan; County
- to buQd a 20b-foot bridge across the <i South River at The Shoals. It would 1
^be 16 feet wide, of heart of pine and .•^covered. The building would be in \
the style of the noted bridge ir archltc^. Town, whose strncture \
! at .Chmw-. was rWidely^a^sired. ^- The Western CaroUhian hcrt^r^ j•vShoals bridge would be "equal, to \• any other in . use for beauty and ]Vdqrabilityiito any bridge inithe'jfsquthern states, not even except-jting the one at Cheraw, wMch is so :: generally > admired. Mr., Town's -jiplan, .^whiekeever it' is known, is ]|adnutt^ to be equal, if not jIsnperhv, to: any othpjr in use."^y
^^t IhdLbimty wio suffer the same fate as that'
which Newberry Halt bad or would
build down the river at South
River. Both were swept away by
the ternble freshet of 1863.
Friday: Tte Point
Figure 5
mam gaholiha
(;EOiil)UI{V\L
SURVEY.
GEOLOGICAL EEPORT
UJDLAKD COUNTIES
NORTH CAROLINA.
KBENEZER EMMONS:
wilk
N*KW VDBKj
(IKOKOE P. Pl'TNAM * CO.
IlALBtOU:
H sa B r O. TU BNX B.
IS56.
Ebenezer Emmons
* 7 The South Yadkin is one of its principal branches. It joins the Yadkin
in Davie county. It is analogous to the Little Catawba, and like that, h^^a
very important water-power some five or six miles above its Junction. This
branch is navigable to the falls and about twelve miles above them. The
actual descent or fall is twenty-two feet. This mill site becomes important
both from the amount of water which may be employed, and the quantity
of iron ore in its immediate vicinity, and its easy access by land and water.
In certain respects, this fall has advantages over others; those particularly
which have been enumerated. Both sides are adapted to use, and hence
its full power may be employed. We can scarcely estimate the advantages
which would be conferred upon this part of the State by the occupation of
this power for manufacturing purposes. It has all the advantages
Page 15
of the great bend so far as cheapness of living Is concerned, being
situated in a fine agricultural region-
Geological Report of the Midland Counties of North Carolina:
Electronic Edition.
Emmons, Ebenezer, 1799-1863
Figure 6
. r *
: -.M .;.iv\'
m
Above is the mill pond side of Pearsons first gristmill dam on Anthony's
Run Branch which is running through the dam. Below is back side of dam.
(see map on page 10)
iiSsiAA^KP^''
'I
^ ^ i:.<*y ■'■•* '•■•■''» < ■••. -v •• ,*-' ■■Mi£L'' *? 'j;. •'.'»-v'■
•SL.
Above is picture of the race. The diagram below shows the way it would have been origiiially. There aren't any visi
ble remains of the mill. The dam is an earthen dam and still about twenty feet tall on the back side. From looking at the
landscape, the water impoundment would have covered ten-fifteen acres. The branch is about ten feet wide where it
fl ows through the dam. Folklore has it, "Pearson threw a wagon load of British and or Tory muskets into the pond
here." Pearson was a patriot Capt. In the Revolutionary War and there was a prison in "The Forks of the Yadkin Riv
ers." (see map on page 10)
Above is where the Frohock Gristmill sat. The stones for the foundation are
still there. The dam was about 1000 feet North, on the other side of Jimction
Rd. On Bear Creek, Davie Co. ( See map on page 10 )
Below is the remains of the race. It is in the background of the picture above
Above and below is tbe only mill stone Left.
( See map on page 10)
I
^ -.M
AKdre^fs Ohuroh.- " ' "
poek 35 page 134s On Sept« CWlos B.Pearsen %
^«o!lth^:side^'of;ThlrdvCPeek'o:h'-tIie-'i^lEi,'i*bM'^-'^'^^
j^arsoi's fpr. |liOO| proved hy Tlio^as y,iOaviS:^
iill'dfyHcMtond Pe^ page 13) made ii 1810 ^ prob'^t'^^
|n.Aug. 1819. Wife Sliza & ®ili on Soutb taclkin ^), Sons?
:Jes3^'Ai/ JosDi)h/ HicImiPM "but Ms heirs ei-e ^ hJ^ye Buclmer's sill
,Charles R. & HlcIiHond M. (imder age, to have Third Creek Mill on South ladidn)
Ciles Willias & John Stoekes Pearson. Son George is deceased but if his ;
child is aliye—-Daughters! Sar^ A. & M.Eliza Pearson are to have 1000
acres, in Stokes/garter* Jessie.-A. & daughter|Sarab^^
'?6.F.auiiPoi^-&-j^es PicMSrV' n j
(Miss Jennie Sullivan says her ancestress, Eliza Pearson (who married;Wyatt
: Ford & Robert Bradshaw) was a sister of the above Ricmond Pearson Sr.—
& that the Ford*s erected a mpnument for one of the Pearson bougins;in the
Pearson family plot. This Eliza Pearson is said to have married a frenchman
Boyger or something like thiSj & had him change his name to peapsoBy then
she married the Ford & &*adshaw menj
Book 33 page 291: tarch 20 1834, Charles R.Pearson or ^raup Co-Georgia—no wire 5igr*3—
: lets.RlchEoni ll.Pearson or Rowan Oo-li.C., have his er.^ire land as willed by hia father,,
y on South .Tadkin & Third Greek (excepting what he has sold to Daniel Lyerlyi,.for ^,200. n
I 'OO, witnessed & proved by Giles W.Pearson in iug. 1834.
The document above is a record of land transfer obtained from Rowan Li
brary.
1- Take note in the first paragraph, Pearson's Mill on Third Cr.. (see figure 1)
2- The second paragraph, mentions the Mansion and Mill on the So. Yadkin Riven (see
picture of The Old and New on page 11)
Summary
My main objective in this study was to determine the where the Pearson / Fisher gristmill was.
The Wake Forest University Archeology Laboratories Report was well done but incorrect. The same pictures
I used came from the CHA five years ago. The picture of The Old and New Dams came from their archives of
The Erwin Chatter. The picture of The Flour Mill on the race also came from there. The articles, I feel sure
could have been obtained there also. Mine came from the Rowan Library.
I think WFU was misled intentionally and someone owes them an apology!
Aubrey Wensil
f
aiSjAW
Pearson / Fisher Gristmill