Embedded Files
A Brief History of Nankin Mills, and a few other nearby mills in Wayne County, Michigan during the 19th century.
Nankin Mills is located at 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, in Westland, Michigan.
Coordinates: 42°20′55″N 83°22′10″W
Nankin Mills was owned by members of the Dean and Joy family from the 1840's to the 1880's and I am seeking any and all references to the Mill prior to 1885. If you have any information to add or notice any errors, please contact me.
Michigan Historical Marker
Registered Site L0068
Erected 1977
Two grist mills have occupied this site. The first was built between 1835 and 1842: the present was constructed soon after the Civil War. In 1918 Henry Ford purchased it as part of a plan to develop village mill industries along the Rouge and other small rivers. Equipped with a turbine generator, Nankin Mills produced engravings, carburetor parts, rivets, and bearings. Ford believed that farmers working in an atmosphere of cleanliness and tranquility would restore a proper balance between the industrialized city and rural communities. Although his experiment intrigued American and European planners, it proved unprofitable. After World War II, the mills closed. The Wayne County Road Commission acquired Nankin Mills and in 1956 it was given new life as a nature center.
In July 1819, James Parmalee bought land from Henry Hunt in order to build a mill. Those holdings were sold to General John E. Schwartz in 1831.
"In 1831, General John E. Schwartz, who owned 80 acres west of Hunt's property that later became the town of Schwartzburg, purchased James Parmalee's property to build a gristmill." [Interpretive sign at Nankin Mills - 1831 Land Sold]
This house "was home to milling families who owned and operated Nankin Mills during its gristmill heyday, from 1842 to 1918. Its Greek Revival style was popular when it was built in 1834..." [Interpretive sign at Nankin Mills outside the building - "It was a short walk to work"]
Who built this house? It sounds like General John E. Schwartz was the property owner in 1834 and that he later hired someone to build Nankin Mills close by but South of the present day mill location. Reference to this having been built by Gen. Schwartz?
“In 1835 Nankin was divided, the south half retaining the name and the north received the name of Livonia...” Nankin Mill remained in the southern half - 'Nankin township' near the northern boarder with Livonia township to the north. Nankin Mills is located in Section 3, T.2 S., R.9 E. "In 1835, Noah Hull, agent for General John E. Schwartz, commenced to build a flouring mill on the present site of Nankin Mills. He hewed the timber and raised part of the frame, but after a few weeks the work was abandoned. The work was again resumed in 1841 under the superintendence of Rufus Swift, of St. Clair and the mill was started I think in February 1842." [Historical Collections; Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society; Annual Meeting of 1889, (Lansing:1890), v.14, p.448] "Schwartz hired Noah Hull to construct the mill. Using a crosscut saw, broadaze, adze and planes, Hull hand cut giant sycamore logs to make the 12" timbers and beams for the frame. He raised part of it and then abandoned the project. [Interpretive sign at Nankin Mills - 1835 Timber Frame is Raised]
"Rufus Swift supervised the completion of the mill construction. The first mill is said to have been south of the current building." [Interpretive sign at Nankin Mills - 1841 Construction Resumed]
In 1842 Luther Dean's brother, Jonathan Dean, was employed to to give expertise regarding the recent wool carding and cloth dressing machinery that had been added to the Perrin Mill located in Section 2 of Nankin Twp. on the river Rouge downstream from present day Nankin Mills.[7] Jonathan Dean had been apprenticed to the Buffalo Woolen Manufacturing Company from 1810-1814 and later was a Miller in Canada and New York before moving to Michigan. No doubt there must have been much talk about Mills at the Dean house while Jonathan was there.
[Historical Collections; Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society; Annual Meeting of 1889, (Lansing:1890), v.14, p.474]
"While the exact date is unknown, it is thought that the first mill burned down around the same time the house of local abolitionist Marcus Swift burned, in August 1843. Both fires were said to have been set due to Swift's and the mill's connections with the Underground Railroad." [Interpretive sign at Nankin Mills - 1843 First Mill Burns Down]
Nankin Mill may have been destroyed by fire about 1843. An apocryphal story relates that the first mill was burned down due to its use as part of the Underground Railroad. Local abolitionist, Marcus Swift, had his house burned down in August of 1843, and the mill was said to have burned down around the same time. I am unaware of any documentation of these events.
Erastus Hussey who lived in Plymouth Township in the 1820's-1830's and was a chief conductor of an Underground Railroad line later said that Plymouth was an important station on the Central Michigan line of the Underground Railroad and that the route from Michigan Central left for Plymouth as did the route from Ann Arbor, both followed the River Rouge to Detroit. Hussey estimated to have helped about 2,000 slaves escape to Canada.
NOTE: The pro-abolition Liberty Party held an annual convention at Perrin's Mill in Nankin in 1845, 1846 and 1847.
October 25, 1845: The annual Convention of the Liberty party of Wayne county held the Wayne Liberty Convention at Perrin's Mill in Nankin on Thursday 25 October 1845. The convention was organized by calling to the chair, the Rev. Marcus Swift of Nankin.....[Signal of Liberty, October 06, 1845]
October 6, 1846: "Wayne County Convention at Perrin's Mills, in the Town of Nankin, Tuesday, Oct. 6..." [Signal of Liberty, September 26, 1846]
October 12, 1847: A meeting of the friends of Liberty will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 12th, at ... "the town of Nankin, Perrin's Mills, for the purpose of nominating six Representatives, and other County Officers, to be supported by the Liberty Party at the ensuing election..." [Signal of Liberty, October 02, 1847, ]
[Interpretive sign at Nankin Mills - 1842
Milling Begins]
This locality, about the middle of the extreme north part to the township, is said to have received its name from the fact that a man named Sheperd, from Pike's Peak, erected a mill here. It contains a general store, blacksmith shop and water grist mill, the latter built in 1848 by Samuel Hardenberg, and since owned by I. M. Lewis.
[History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan; A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol 2, by Silas Farmer City Historiographer, Township and Biographical Edition, pub. by Silas Farmer & Co. for Munsell & Co., New York, 1890]
NOTE: Samuel Hardenbergh's name appears on Deeds for the purchase of the Mill with partner Luther Dean in 1849.
In 1846 Gen. John E. Schwartz sold Nankin Mill to Henry Dwight on August 31. [BA]
["Schwartz sold the mill to partners Luther Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh, who began milling in February 1842. Luther came to Michigan in 1832 from New York."
Assuming that the first completed mill was destroyed in a fire c.1843. It may have been sold after the fire and the new owners may have begun construction of a second mill about 1848.
On April 30, 1849 Nankin Mills was purchased by Luther Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh. They bought the mill from Henry Dwight for $4,000. This is the fist mention of Dean and Hardenbergh on Nankin Mill deeds and both names are on the deed [BA]
April 30, 1849, Warranty Deed $4,000, Henry Dwight to Luther Dean and Samuel Hardenburgh (sic, Hardenbergh), west ½ of NW ¼ of Sec 3, T2S, R9E, containing 39 acres (sic, 3.9 acres?). First mention of Dean or Hardenbergh in Burton Abstracts. Both names are on the Deed. Mortgage, $4,000, Luther Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh to Henry Dwight. Dwight assigns mortgage to Abel Patchin. [CC]
Luther Dean
Luther Dean
Luther Dean was a successful local farmer who had settled less than a mile west of the Nankin Mill site on the Ann Arbor Trail, just east of Newburgh in 1832. Luther Dean was born September 13, 1803 in Canandaigua, Ontario Co., New York
Luther Dean was a son of Revolutionary War Veteran David Dean (1763-1838) who is buried in Newburgh Cemetery.
Luther Dean settled just east of Newburgh, Michigan in 1832.
Luther Dean had four brothers who also settled in Wayne County, Michigan though two of them didn't remain in the county.
Luther Dean was president and charter member of the Newburgh Cemetery Society when if formed in November 1832.
Luther Dean made a number of land purchases in the 1830's (I have not had a chance to look these up yet.)
Luther Dean served Livonia Township as Assessor in 1840
Luther Dean served Livonia Township as Supervisor from 1842-1843
Luther Dean served Livonia Township as a Local School Patron
Luther Dean served Livonia Township as Constable from 1845-1849
Luther Dean was said to have been a Wayne County sheriff deputy who was "instrumental in arresting and breaking up a gang of horse thieves and counterfeits who infested eastern Michigan and Ohio" though this may refer to something that happened during his years as a township Constable.
Samuel Hardenbergh
Samuel Hardenbergh
Samuel Hardenbergh prior to December 1850:
Born in Ulster County, New York in 1820
A son of John Hardenbergh (1795-1872) who was buried in Mount Hazel Cemetery, Redford, Michigan
Abergh was almost 17 years younger than Luther Dean
Married sometime between 1844-1847 to Miss Julia Joy. Julia's father, Bennett Joy, and Samuel's father, John Hardenbergh, both lived in Redford Township. It seems likely that Samuel and Julia met and married in Redford, north of Nankin Mill (their first known child, Silas W. Hardenbergh, was born about 1848).
Samuel Hardenbergh was said to have built the Mill at Nankin Mills c.1848.
ot listed on any lists of Township officers.
May have owned land in Section 3 of Nankin Township that bordered one acre of land owned by Luther Dean (I have not verified yet)
Samuel Hardenbergh became a half owner of Nankin Mill in 1849.
Luther Dean's son, William D. Dean, was employed at Nankin Mills by August 1, 1849 fencing and doing other labor. By August 17, 1850 William Dean was living in the home of Samuel Hardenbergh while working at the mill. His occupation on the 1850 census is listed as 'miller'. [3]
"Samuel Hardenbergh and William Day Dean (son of Luther Dean) began construction of a second mill on this site, the current building, in 1848 according to some sources. Dean family records also indicate mill construction during the years 1862-1863. Luther Dean died in 1850. His son William was a miller at Nankin 1849-1852, and again from 1860 to 1866."
[Nankin Mills interpretive sign - 1848 Second Mill Construction Begins]
NOTE:
William D. Dean was a Miller at Nankin from 1840's to 1852 and then from 1860-c.1884.
Samuel Hardenbergh was a Miller at Nankin as early as 1848 but moved to Plymouth by 1855 where he operated other mills and lived the remainder of his life. He was still a partial owner of Nankin Mills until at least 1864.
I don't have a reference to indicate mill construction during the years 1862-1863 (The Mill was in operation in August 1860 under the name "DEAN & HARDENBERGH" and paid taxes as a 'Retail Dealer' under the name "DEAN & HARDENBERGH" in October 1862 and in May 1864.
On August 21, 1850 Luther Dean was enumerated at his farm in Livonia Township less than a mile upstream of Nankin Mill along the Ann Arbor Trail listed as a farmer with real estate valued at $4,000.
Luther's farm was on the South half of SE quarter of the SE Quarter of Section 32 between Newburgh Cemetery and Nankin Mill. The house and barn would have been on the South side of Ann Arbor Trail near present day Parent Street.
1850 U.S. Federal Census: Livonia Twp., Wayne Co., Michigan; August 21, Dwelling #9, Family #9
Dean, Luther, 46, M, Farmer, $4,000, NY
-------, Ruth, 44, F, NY
-------, Marion L., 16, F, Mich, In School
-------, Harriett D., 14, F, Mich, In School
-------, James R., 11, M, Mich, In School
-------, Elizabeth, 7, F, Mich, In School
Haywood, Henry, 19, M, Farmer, Mich, In School
On August 17, 1850 Samuel Hardenbergh was enumerated in Nankin Township as a Miller with real estate valued at $4,000.
1850 U.S. Federal Census: Nankin Twp., Wayne Co., Michigan, August 17, 1850; Dwelling #281, Family #282
Hardenburgh, Samuel, 30, M, Miller, $4,000, NY
-----------, Julia, 26, F, NY
-----------, Silas Hardenburgh, 2, M, MI
-----------, Peter Hardenburgh, 26, M, Miller, NY
Dean, William, 22, M, Miller, NY
Joy, Lydia, 13, F, NY [next house is William Dean's brother Thomas J. Dean who returned in 1849 from his schooling in the South.]
On Christmas Day, 1850, Luther Dean died at the age of 47 and was buried in nearby Newburgh Cemetery. Luther died intestate and over the next two years much of his property was sold off to pay his debts, including his 'undivided half of the Nankin Mill property' which was then valued at $1,140.00.[2] Luther Dean's Probate Files (1851-1852; Probate Packet #1775, Luther Dean, Wayne Co., Michigan) provide some references to the Nankin Mills property and to other local land owners at in 1850.
A portion of the Inventory of the estate of Luther Dean defines his "Home Farm" of 78+4 acres in Section 32, T.1.S, R.9.E. and 80 acres in Sec. 5, T.2.S, R.9.E appraised at $18 per acre $2916.00 These two parcels were divided the by Highway (present day Ann Arbor Trail) and other properties: ...in Sec. 34, T.1S, R.9E...20 acres...$500.00 ...in Sec. 34, T.1S, R.9E...timbered land....$400.00 ...in Sec. 11 T.3S., R.9E..... $130.00 ...in Sec. 22, T.4S, R.10E..40ac...belongs to an heir of G Nor[kers?]...$130.00 "Also the possession of one acre of land subject to a mortgage of which the Estate have a [quet?] claim deed Bounded N & E by J. E. Schwarz land and S by Ann Arbor road W by a lot occupied by Samuel Hardenburg. Apr[oximate value] $10.00" [per] abstract of the estate being und....ed half, on & about the inam.... "Beginning at a point on the West line of the West half of the NW 1/4 of Sec. 3 Situate 10 chains & 50 links Northerly on Said line from the 1/4 Section Stake on the W Side of Sec. 3 thence North on Said West line 9 Chains & 75 links to the Center of the Highway [today's Ann Arbor Trail] thence S.E.49˚ 7 chains & 10 links along the Center of the [?] Highway, thence along the Center of the highway 1 chain 50 links thence S.W. 30˚ 1 chain 40 7/10 links to the S W Conrer of John Coh..n lot 60 by 40 foot lot thence W 60˚ 6 chains & 22 links containing about three acres and 90/100 of land in Town 2 S.R.9E commonly called the Nankin Mill Property." $1140.00 Here are a few inventory/payment items that relate to the Mill property: Claimant: Samuel Hardenburgh, act, $3.52
[this is a long list that totals] $714.04
inventory:
To old timber sold to S. Hardenburgh $5.25
One [?] [of?] [Deans?] } the undivided half $75.00
One [?] horse harnes } the undivided half $8.00
One " horse wagon } the undivided half $25.00
Accounts [note: much of my copy are too poor to read]
Sept. 1851 By Paid Samuel Hardenburgh a/c [rect in] file $83.82
Sept. 3, 1851 By cash [Rid?] at Nankin Mill $75.00
Sept. 5, 1851 Do Do $48.40
A receipt in the Estate folder of Luther Dean reads:
"Mr. George Dean
Sir pleas to pay to Dean & Hardenburg Eight Dollars and this shal be your Discharge On the Demand I hold against L Deans Estate for horse Servis July 21, 1851.
[signed] Luther Neuman
Received of Dean & Hardenburg Eight Dollars
July 21th 1851
[signed] Luther Neuman"
Note: this may refer to Luther Dean's son George who later moved to Sacramento, California where he worked as a contractor specializing in building bridges. George would have been 20 years old at the time of this receipt.
William D. Dean inherited 1 acre of land next to Nankin Mills and bordering the east side of land owned by Samuel Hardenbergh.
"To William D. Dean as his share $373.57 cts each as received of Thomas J. Dean administrator and of the real estate one acre of land known and described as follows: Bounded N and E by John E. chivary, south by Ambler road, W by [S] Hardenburg on Sec. 3 T 2. R 9 E."
1852 March 23: William Dean mortgaged for $2,000 to Samuel Hardenbergh (for half of Nankin Mill?) [BA]
NOTE: I am not sure about this yet. William couldn't have mortgaged his half of the mill if he didn't own half yet but may have written the paper work knowing that his proxy would attempt to make the purchase while William was away in California
William Dean worked at Nankin Mills from 1st day of August 1849 - Spring 1852 when he travelled to California. "County of Wayne Probate Court In the Matter of the Estate of Luther Dean Deceased The Said Estate To William D. Dean For Labor & Fences rendered to deceased in & about his grist mill in Nankin called Nankin Mills Since 1st day of August 1849 - & also for work & labor on said Mill for said estate to this day. The above is in lieu of a verbal contract made with deceased with me & in full discharge thereof. [signed] Wm. D. Dean The undersigned administrators consider the above account just & correct & Consent that the same be allowed against estate. [signed] Thos J Dean [signed] Ruth DeanDetroit March 9th 1852 I do hereby allow the above claim of $970.75 against the above entitled Estate [signed] Cornelius O. Flynn, Judge of Probate" William Dean also inherited land and some other money from his father's estate and continued to work at the mill until later in the Spring of 1852.
"Recd. of the Estate of L Dean $83.82 in full of my acct this 24 April 1852" [signed] Samuel Hardenbergh
After being paid the back wages owed him for previous work at Nankin Mills on March 9, 1852, William Dean set out for California during the California Gold Rush; he was 23 years old and had possibly been wanting to go to California for a couple of years.
William Dean's son later wrote that William drove a team across the plains to Sacramento. I suspect that William Dean traveled to Sacramento with a group of local adventurers that probably included his fiancé Lydia Joy's father and brother--Bennett Joy Sr. and Bennett Joy Jr. as well as others. The calotype photographs on the right are of Bennett Joy Sr and Bennett Joy Jr. taken in Detroit c.1852 before they left for California. Bennett Joy Sr. of Redford twp., Michigan was the father of Julia Joy Hardenbergh, Lydia Joy Dean, Asa Wood Joy, Samuel Joy, James K. Joy and others including a Warren Joy who settled near Portland, Oregon.
Photos are mounted, oval-shaped, sepia-toned calotype photographic prints depicting Bennett Joy Sr & Bennett Joy Jr.
”Randall, Fisher Block, Detroit, Mich. Negative Preserved. Randall’s Circassian Cream Wash, for removing Freckles, Moth, Pimples, Salt Rheum, and all diseases of the Skin. For sale by Druggists generally” printed on verso.
On October 18, 1852 William Dean's widowed mother petitioned to have real estate from the family farm set off as part of her dower. The citation is addressed to: Joseph Wilder & William D. Dean or Samuel Hardenburg his agent....
While William Dean was in the West, the following notice advertising an administrators sale was published on October 18, 1852 in the Detroit Free Press:
"ADMINISTRATORS' SALE"
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE -- Estate of Luther Dean, deceased.--Notice is hereby given, that, in pursuance of license and authority granted in the above Estate, to the undersigned, Administrators of said Estate, by the Hon. Judge of Probate of the County of Wayne, in the State of Michigan, on the thirtieth day of August, A.D. 1852, there will be sold at Public Auction, to the highest bidder, at the "Nankin Mills," in the Town of Nankin, in said County, on Saturday, the twenty-third day of October next, at two o'clock in the afternoon of that day, all the right, title and interest of said deceased, in and to the following described parcels of land, situated in the County of Wayne, viz: ...[other properties]...Also one undivided half of the Nankin Mill and lot bounded as follows: beginning at a point on the west line of the west half of the north west quarter of section three in town two south of Range nine East, situated ten chains and fifty links northwardly on said line of or from the quarter section stake in the west side of section three; thence north on said west line, nine chains & seventy five links to the center of the highway; thence south east forty nine degrees seven chains & ten links along the center of the highway; thence along the centre of the highway one chain and fifty links; thence south west thirty degrees one chain & forty links to the south west corner of John Chovin's sixty by forty feet lot; thence south west sixty degrees six chains and twenty two links to the place of beginning Containing about three 90/100 acres in section three, town two, south of Range nine East....[2]
[The newspaper clipping is from the Detroit Free Press, October 11, 1852]
William Dean had arranged for someone to bid on his behalf [possibly Samuel Hardenbergh as agent for William Dean] at the auction while he was in California. Luther Dean's "undivided half of the Nankin Mill" property was sold at the auction on October 23, 1852 to his son, William Day Dean for $1,502.00. The Estate administrators informed the Probate Court of the sale and described the land as, "...one undivided half of the Nankin Mill and lot..." Though William Dean was a new owner of half of Nankin Mills, he was a couple thousand miles away in California and would be away for another year and a half.
Deed recorded on October 26, 1852 transferred one half of Nankin Mill from Thomas J. Dean and Ruth Dean, administrators of Estate of Luther Dean deceased to William D. Dean. Samuel Hardenbergh owner of other half. [BA]
NOTE: I have not seen this yet
On March 28, 1853 Samuel Hardenbergh bought the mill pond property in Section 4 from John L. Schoolcraft for $1,800. Schoolcraft had acquired the Mill pond property from John E. and Catherine Schwartz on February 16, 1846. [BA]
On June 10, 1853, William D. Dean mortgaged his half of Nankin Mills to Bennett Joy, the “undivided half of a Flouring and Grist mill and known as the Nankin Mills together with all the grounds belonging to said mills supposed to be about 6 acres, and more particularly described and set forth in a deed of conveyance from Henry Dwight to said William D. Dean (sic, was Luther) and Samuel Herdenbergh (sic)…” Mortgage was executed in El Dorado County, California on June 10, 1853 and filed in Wayne County, Michigan when they returned on December 6, 1853.
On July 24, 1853--Samuel and Julia (Joy) Hardenbergh's 5 year old son Silas W. Hardenbergh drowned and was buried at the Plymouth Village Cemetery. About September 7, 1853--Daughter Agnes L. Hardenbergh was born to Samuel and Julia (Joy) Hardenbergh. December 24, 1853 --2 year old daughter Hattie L. Hardenbergh died and was buried at the Plymouth Village Cemetery.
Between June-December 1853 William Dean returned from California. On the return voyage he sailed from San Francisco to New York, via Panama, and then returned to Nankin. At least one of the party did not return -- Bennett Joy Jr. died January 23, 1853 during the expedition.
On December 6, 1853 William D. Dean had returned from California and filed a Mortgage of $1,000 on his half of Nankin Mills. The mortgage was written in El Dorado County, California the previous June.
On February 20, 1854 William Dean sold his half of Nankin Mill to Samuel Hardenbergh for $3,000 making Samuel Hardenbergh sole owner of Nankin Mills. Subject to payment of two mortgages, one to Henry Dwight and one to Bennett Joy. Hardenbergh became the sole owner of Nankin Mills now.
May 17, 1854, Warranty Deed, $800, Samuel Hardenbergh to Henry J. Dean (cousin of William D Dean) West ½ of NE ¼ of Sec 4, T2S, R9E, 81.96 acres of land and also 5 acres along the west border of the mill pond, reserving privilege to take dirt or earth on 5 acre lot to repair dam, and water privilege.
On September 14, 1854 William Day Dean and Lydia Joy (sister of Julia Joy Hardenbergh) were married at the Hardenbergh home "at Nankin". "MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. STATE OF MICHIGAN. Wayne County. I certify that on the 14 day of September A.D. 1854 at Mr. S. Hardenbergh ...I joined in marriage Mr. W. D. Dean of Nankin in the State of Michigan...and Lidia Joy of Wayne in the State of Michigan....Dated at Nankin....Rev W. B. G..." William Dean settled in Plymouth shortly after his marriage where he remained until the summer of 1860 when he moved back to Nankin Mills.
On February 14, 1855 Samuel and wife Julia Hardenbergh sold Nankin Mills and the Mill Pond for $10,000 to John B. Reed. [BA] A Mortgage of $5,950 by John B. Reed to Hardenbergh & Hardenbergh assigned $3,467 mortgage to Julius A. Austin on August 27, 1855 [CC]
February 14, 1855, Warranty Deed, $10,000, Samuel and Julia Hardenbergh to John B. Reed, Hardenbergh sells Nankin Mills, Mill Pond property (east half of NE ¼ of Sec 4, T2S, R9E, 81.96 acres. He had sold the west ½ of this parcel to Henry Dean in May 1854) and a parcel of land in Village of Schwarzburg to John B. Reed. Mortgage of $5,950, John B. Reed to Samuel Hardenbergh. Mortgage Deed stipulates “with the mill buildings thereon” the 3.9 acre site. Does this include Miller’s house? Mill building is present at this time. Hardenbergh assigned $3,467 mortgage to Julius A. Austin on August 27, 1855. BA
Samuel Hardenbergh appears to have moved to Plymouth in the mid 1850's and lived there the rest of his life.
Both William Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh were living in Plymouth Village between 1855-1860.
Samuel Hardenbergh is said to have built a Greek Revival House in Plymouth at the corner of Holbrook and Hardenbergh where he operated the Plymouth Mill (located on Wilcox Lake) from 1855-1870. The original property included 320 acres, a wood mill and a grist mill.
In 1855 Samuel and Julia Joy Hardenbergh's daughter Agnes L Hardenbergh died and was buried at the Plymouth Village Cemetery. Her headstone says she died on Aug. 4, 1855 at the age of 17 yr 10 mo 27 ds.
1855 Map of part of Wayne County Michigan. The River Rogue flows from near Plymouth across the approximate boarder of Livonia and Nankin townships down to Dearborn
After their marriage, William & Lydia Dean lived in or near the Village of Plymouth. On August 17, 1855 Lydia Joy Dean gave birth to a still born child that they buried in the Dean family plot at the Plymouth Village Cemetery next to the Hardenbergh family plot.
November 25, 1856, Release of mortgage from Abel Patchin to Luther Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh. BA
In 1856 William D. Dean served a one year term as a Livonia Township Constable.
History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan; A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol 2, by Silas Farmer City Historiographer, Township and Biographical Edition, pub. by Silas Farmer & Co. for Munsell & Co., New York, 1890
A son, Victor Deforest Dean, was born in Plymouth on August 6, 1857. On November 27, 1858 their son Herbert Day Dean was born there and about 18 days later on December 11, 1858 young Victor Deforest Dean died at the age of 16 months. Victor was buried in the Plymouth Village Cemetery.
[Note: Photo on the right is an older photo of the headstone of Victor Deforest Dean. When I visited the Dean and Hardenbergh family graves at the old Plymouth Village Cemetery in September 2012, there was no longer a marker present for Victor Deforest Dean.
Receipt from Estate file of David S. Dean (uncle of William Day Dean):Nankin Mills Feb. 28th 1857Received [from] Wm W. Dean Eighteen Dollars & seventy cts in full of all Demands on the Estate of D. S. Dean Deceased18.70 signed J.B. Reed By T. M. Cady [NOTE: William Warren Dean was executor of his father's estate. He was a cousin of William Day Dean]
On November 11, 1858: Lawsuit John L. Schoolcraft vs. Samuel Hardenbergh, John B. Reed, Thomas Stringer, Julius A. Austin; foreclosure of mortgage dated March 28, 1853 for Mill pond property. [BA] Note: Julius Austin died January 11, 1857 with $1,191.17 remaining on this morgage. His probate packet is 2859 filed with Wayne County probate records.
NOTE: I haven't read his probate file, it is rather large but if you would like to read through it and find references to Nankin Mills CLICK HERE It runs from Image 1089 to 1253 in Wayne County, Michigan Probate packets 1857-1858 no 2835-2859
On December 18, 1858 A foreclosure on mortgage was executed by John B. Reed to Samuel Hardenbergh dating back to February 14, 1855 for the sale of Nankin Mill and the Mill property pond. [BA]
January 26, 1859: John B Reed acquired (or lost on a mortgage?) Nankin Mills and Mill Pond property, possibly after a lawsuit. [BA] (CC was not clear on this and I haven't seen reference yet.)
1859, July 12: Quit claim deed, $1,000, John B. Reed to Thomas J. Dean (William’s older brother), Nankin mill and mill pond property, parcel in Schwarzburg also. (Reed selling mill back to Dean family?) (BA)
Index to Wayne County Deeds Grantees shows that William D. Dean et. al. bought land from ----- Schwartz in 1859. Recorded in Book 100, Page 316
Samuel Hardenbergh left Nankin township before 1860 (as early as 1855) and moved to Plymouth to run a grist mill and a lumber mill there.
"In 1860, Samuel Hardenberg, who lived in the house at the corner of Holbrook and Hardenberg [in Plymouth], later occupied by the Wilcox family... was the proprietor of the mill ['Hardenburgh's Grist Mill' also known as 'Plymouth Mills' and later the 'Wilcox Mill']. He lost the business on a mortgage, and the next owner, John Winemaster, lost it the same way. The next owner, a Mr. Peters, mortgaged the mill to C. H. Bennett, who later acquired it at a sheriff's sale...Bennett...sold it, in 1879 to David Wilcox...." [Northville -- the First 100 Years, by Jack W. Hoffman, 1976, p.60] The Wilcox Mill (present day Hines Drive and Wilcox Road) ....[was the] site of the old Hardenburgh grist mill build around 1850. Photo: Samuel Hardenbergh, the miller in Plymouth. [daughter-in-law] Belle Hardenbergh wrote 'Samuel Hardenbergh' on the back. Stamped on the back is 'JJ Randall Fisher Block Detroit.It is not dated. He was born in 1820. It is on photo paper and in good condition.[photo courtesy of Tom Hardenbergh]:
1860 Property Map--Nankin Township:
(I still need to find this one)
1860 Property Map--Livonia Township
1860 U.S. Federal Census: Town of Plymouth, Wayne Co., Michigan, Plymouth Post Office, June 1st, p.465
Dwelling 43, Family 42
Miller, John, 55, Miller, $2740, $150, England, cannot read/write
-----, Elisebeth, 52, F, H, Keeping House, England
Heven, John, 16, M, School, England, in School
-----, Wyn, 14, M, England, in school
Dwelling 45, Family 44
Hardenburgh, Samuel, 39, Miller, $15000, $5000 NY
-----------, Julia, 33, F, H Keeper, NY
-----------, Iness, 2, F, Mich.
Joy, Asa, 20, M, H. Man, Mich., attended school
Lockwell [Stockwell], Warren, 10, M, Mich, attended school
Dwelling 51, Family 49
Dean, Wm D., 32, M, Teamster, $700, $300, NY
----, Lydia, 23, F, H. Keeper, --, --, NY
----, Hurbert, 1, M, --, --, --, MI
Joy, James, 15, F, Laborer, --, --, MI
NOTE: I searched all of Nankin Township in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census enumerated on June 25 and the only person listed as a miller was 22 year old Cortland Ball though it doesn't say which mill he was working at.
Was Nankin Mill in full operation in June 1860 when the above census was enumerated? William paid $1500 for his half of Nankin Mill in 1854 (it was appraised then at about $1,400) but in 1860 his real estate was valued at only $700. Also, in June he was living in Plymouth as a teamster. Perhaps he took out a mortgage on his Nankin Mill property to be able to purchase supplies to build a new mill. His family was apparently living in Plymouth during this time. William may have been working at the Hardenbergh saw mill in Plymouth and hauling new timber to the Nankin Mill property in preparation for the construction of the new mill that would open a few years later.
1860, July 30: Calvin Austin bought Nankin Mill, Mill pond from Thomas Stringer estate sale? (I may be missing some deed transactions?) Calvin is son of Julius Austin who Hardenbergh had assigned mortgage to when he sold mill to John Reed in 1855. Calvin lives in Vermont. (BA)
1860 U.S. Federal Census: Town of Plymouth, Wayne Co., Michigan, Plymouth Post Office, June 1st, p.465
R. Dean -- James Roe Dean: N half of NE quarter of SE Quater of Sec. 34 & N half of NW quater of SW quarter of Section 35
T. Dean -- Thomas J. Dean: S half NE quatter of SE quarter of Sec. 34 & S half of NW quarter of SW quater of Sec. 35
Dean--No 1st name listed on map--this is Luther’s estate held in dower for widow Ruth. South half of SE quarter of SE Quarter of Section 32-- shows two structures on the property near newburgh Cemetery and Nankin Mill. South side of Ann Arbor Trail near present day Parent Street.
NOTE: Roe and Thomas Dean are brothers of William D. Dean and the unnamed Dean is his mother's property.
On June 1st, 1860 William Day Dean was enumerated in the village of Plymouth near the Plymouth Post Office as a Teamster with Real Estate valued at $700. Also living at William's home was his brother-in-law, James Joy. On the same census page Samuel Hardenbergh was living in the town of Plymouth near the Plymouth Post Office and his real estate was valued at $15,000. Living in the Hardenbergh home in addition to his wife and daughter were his brother-in-law, Asa Joy, and wife's nephew, Warren Stockwell.
William Day Dean appears to have moved back to Nankin Mills from Plymouth about the summer of 1860. The first receipt for sale of grinding wheat is dated August 27, 1860. According to William Dean's son, Herbert, William moved the family from the Village of Plymouth to Nankin Mills a few years after Herbert's birth in 1858 [c.1860-1861] and that was where Herbert grew up.[6] These receipts show that Nankin Mill was operating on August 27, 1860 (receipt #1) and doing business as "DEAN & HARDENBERGH".
No. 1
Nankin, Aug 27th 1860
Received of E Begelow
by self
Thirty Nine 25/100 Bushels Wheat
No. 2
Nankin, Aug 9th 1860
Received of J. W. Armstrong
by Self
Forty Three 49/100 Bushels Wheat
No. 3
Nankin, Sept 1st 1860
Received of E Bigelow
by Self
Forty Six 15/100 Bushels Wheat
No. 4
Nankin Sept 3d 1860
Received of E Begelow
by [C.A.?] [Keanne.?]
Forty 47 lbs Bushels Wheat
No. 5
Nankin, Sept 15th 1860
Received of S. Dains
by Self
Twenty Two 15/100 Bushels Wheat
1861, March 28: William D. Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh purchase Nankin mill, mill pond properties from Calvin Austin for $5,456. (BA) It appears that William Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh owned/operated Nankin Mills until 1867. During this time William probably lived at Nankin Mill and Samuel lived at Plymouth.
William & Lydia Joy Dean's son, Ernest Asa Dean, was born at Nankin Mill on April 24, 1862.
[This receipt book was passed from William Day Dean to his son Herbert Day Dean to Herbert's daughter Dorothy Dean who gave the book to her cousin.]
Full Page of unused receipts from a Dean & Hardenbergh receipt book from the 1860's.
In 1862 'Dean & Hardenbergh' at Nankin Mills paid $10 in taxes and Samuel Hardenbergh paid $50 in taxes on his mill in Plymouth: October 9, 1862: Hardenburgh Samuel, Plymouth, Wholesale dealer, Amount of Tax: $50, Total Tax Due: $50 October 1862: Dean & Hardenburgh, Nankin, Retail Dealer, Amount of tax: $10, Total Tax Due: $10U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918
State: Michigan
Tax Year: 1862
Roll Title: District 1; Annual, Monthly and Special Lists, Sept 1862-Dec 1863
NARA Series: M773
NARA Roll: 1
The Joy brothers, Asa, Samuel & James, were brothers-in-law to both William Day Dean and Samuel Hardenbergh since William and Samuel married Joy sisters. Both Asa and Samuel were in the 24th Michigan Infantry and badly wounded at the Battle of Gettysburgh. Asa's obituary from an unknown Plymouth area newspaper, 1915, reads: "...He was mustered out of service on August 1, 1863. Upon his return to Michigan he engaged in the trade of a miller, following this work for many years, and in later years maintaining his interest in it...."
During the Civil War years of 1862 and 1863 work at Nankin Mills is said to have focused on the construction of the mill building which can still be seen today. This second Nankin Mill was said to have opened the same day that Lincoln gave his Gettysburgh address on November 19, 1863.
NOTE: Need a reference to this construction. It seems more likely that construction would have occured in the late 1850's and milling began in August 1860.
Samuel Hardenbergh probably sold his half of Nankin Mill after the Civil War, possibly to one or both of his brother-in-laws, Samuel and/or Asa Joy. There are references to Samuel Joy working at Nankin Mills in the 1870's when the business was known as "DEAN AND JOY". During this time, Asa Joy, was working at mills in Plymouth.
U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 District 1; Annual Lists May 1864 Tax for Mill in Nankin Mills [p.85] Dean & Hardenburg, Nankin, Retail Dealers; $10, C; 56; $10.00; Total Amount Due $10.00 Tax for Mill in Plymouth [p.86] Hardenburg, S, Plymouth, Wholesale Dealer $50,000 under; $25; Class B; 64; $25; Total Due: $25
William Dean's son, George Brundage Dean, was born at Nankin Mills on February 3, 1866.
In 1867 William D. Dean and W. Edmonds served the Nankin Township office of Justice of the Peace.
[History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan; A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol 2, by Silas Farmer City Historiographer, Township and Biographical Edition, pub. by Silas Farmer & Co. for Munsell & Co., New York, 1890]
September 20, 1867: William & Lydia (Joy) Dean and Samuel & Julia (Joy) Hardenbergh sold Nankin Mill and the Mill Pond properties to Asa Joy and Samuel Joy for $9,000. [BA]
William D. Dean bought land from Asa Joy, recorded in Book 137, page 175, year 1868.
Recorded in Deed Book 137, Page 175, Year 1868, Wayne County, Michigan.
[Need to view this]
About 1868 (perhaps beginning in late 1867) William Day Dean operated a grocery in the nearby town of Wayne for about one year. On March 28, 1868 William & Lydia's son, Bennett Luther Dean, was born at Wayne. Baby Bennett was named after his two grandfathers: Bennett Joy and Luther Dean.
February 6, 1869: Asa & Helen Joy sold their undivided half of nankin Milss and a 3/4 acre parcel (Miller's House?) back to William & Lydia (Joy) Dean for $4,000 [BA] Samuel Joy owned the other undivided half and it was probably at this time that the Mill began operating as "Dean and Joy".
After about one year in Wayne, William Day Dean returned to Nankin Mill in 1868/69 where he ran Nankin Mill "as owner for the next 15 years" (c.1868-1883/4).[4] It is believed that William Dean and his family lived at the Millers house on the Mill property during this interval.
A young woman named Harriet Melvina Herr "met a good looking young man at Nankin Mill and later married him [on February 22, 1870]. His name was James K. Joy, son of Bennett Joy, whose home was at Grand River and Telegraph Rd...." "When he and Melvina married, he bought a farm on Plymouth Road, two miles east of the city of Plymouth...."
NOTE: Melvina's father owned a farm very close to Nankin Mills, just down the Ann Arbor trail. James K. Joy (born 1845) was a brother of Lydia (Joy) Dean, Julia (Joy) Hardenbergh, Asa W. Joy, and Samuel Joy that were all involved with Nankin Mills. James Joy was living in his brother-in-law William's Dean's household in Plymouth in 1860.
[Harriet Melvina Herr Story; Whatever It Takes! Memories of Harriet Melvina Herr (1852 -1938), By Dorothy Joy Liscum, posted http://www.oensbachherr.com/?p=30#comment-803 and tagged Feature, Herr on July 31, 2007]
William and Lydia Dean's son, Bennett Luther Dean, was born during the year that William D. Dean ran a grocery store in Wayne in 1868. Bennett lived at Nankin Mills before he turned 1 year old until he was about 15/16 years old. Here he is about 1870 while living at Nankin Mills.
Dwelling 524, Family 514
Lawson, Achman, 30, M, W, Works in Grist Mill, --, 100, Michigan
----, Alice, 22, F, W, Keeping House, Michigan [daughter of William D. Dean's cousin Henry J Dean who died in Civil War]
----, Wm, 6/12, M, W, ---, Michigan, born in December
Dwelling #526, Family #516 [probably the Millers house at Nankin Mill]
Dean, Wm Day 43 M W Miller $6000 $1400 NY
----, Lydia 32 F W Keeping House -- -- NY
----, Herbert 11 M W Attending School -- -- MI
----, Ernest 7 M W -- -- -- MI
----, George 5 M W -- -- -- MI
----, Bennett 2 M W -- -- -- MI
Davenport, Lucinda 48 F W Domestic Servent -- -- MI
Dwelling 523, Family 513
Joy, Samuel, 28, M, W, Miller, $6600, 1400, Michigan [brother-in-law of Wm Dean & Sam Hardenbergh]
----, Olivia, 24, F, W, Keeping House, Michigan
----, Mertie, 2, F, W, ----, Michigan
1870 U.S. Federal Census: Township of Nankin, Wayne Co., Michigan, enumerated June 29, 1870, Wayne Post Office
William D. Dean bought land from Samuel Joy
Recorded in Deed Book 168, Page 412, Year 1872, Wayne County, Michigan. [Need to view this]
"A small, unincorporated village called Pike's Peak grew up around Nankin Mills in the mid-1800s". In addition to the mill, Pike's Peak boasted a blascksmith's shop, printing sop, general store, and post office.
Daryl Alan Bailey; Sherrye Louise Huggins Bailey (2004), Westland, Arcadia Publishing, p. 9
By 1873 Nankin Mills operated under the name "Dean & Joy"
PERKINSVILLE [sic]
A village in Nankin township, Wayne county, 18 miles west of Detroit, and 2 miles south of McKinney
s station, on the D. L. & L. M. R. R. Population about 250. It contains a flouring mill, a saw mill, a stave adn shingle factory, and several stores and mechanics' shops. The country around is rolling, and produces grain, onions, potatoes, broom corn, and fruit. The shipments consist in large part of onions and brooms. It has a tri-weekly mail. Thomas R. Lathers, postmaster
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
...Dean & Joy, proprietors Nankin Mills...
[Michigan State Gazetteer, 1873, pp.521-522]
1873 Business Directory:
NANKIN (Perrinsville P. O.), Wayne County.
Dean & Joy.......Nankin Mills CC
[Bradstreet's Reports of the State of Michigan, vol.33, New York; Bradstreet Press, 1873, p.271]
1873 closeup of Wayne County Michgian showing Rogue River between Plymouth and Perrinsville. Nankin Mills would be located near "Pikes Peak" in the lower right quarter
William Dean's wife Lydia Joy Dean gave birth at Nankin Mills (presumably at the Miller's house) on February 16, 1873 to their last child, a daughter they named Helen 'Edna' Dean.
June 30, 1873: Samuel & Olivia Joy sold their undivided half of Nankin Mills to William Dean for $6,000, making William D. Dean sole owner of Nankin Mills. Samuel and Olivia Joy purchased 8 acres east of the mill pond from William & Lydia for $1,000 [BA]
This painting of the Mill, barn and Miller's House hangs today at Nankin Mills Interpretive Center. It may have been painted in the mid to late 1870's and this is how I imagine things looking in the 1870's when the business was operating as "Dean and Joy". There is a young girl dressed in pink under a tree outside the house - Could she be Helen 'Edna' Dean born February 1873.
This pounce pot (ink sander) may have also been used at Nankin Mill. It once belonged to William Day Dean and may actually have belonged to his father before him. It most likely was in the possession of William when he was living in the Millers house and may have been in his home office. It was passed down to his grandson who gave it to his grandson (me).
Death of Samuel Hardenbergh, 1/4/1874 at Plymouth
Samuel Hardenbergh died of consumption in Plymouth on January 4, 1874. [GENDIS says that he was married, 53 years of age, born NY, a Miller, parents names not recorded.] "The funeral services of Samuel Hardenberg, took place at the Baptist Church, at 10:30 A.M. Jan. 6th., Rev. J. M. Gelston officiating. A large concourse of people assembled, to pay the last tribute of respect to one, who has long been known, and respected as a business man, and a citizen. He was buried under the auspices of the 'Odd Fellow Fraternity.'" [Northville Record, 1/17/1874]
Samuel Hardenbergh and family were buried in the York Street [AKA Old Village, Old Baptist, etc.] cemetery in Plymouth, Michigan.
In 1874 William D. Dean served the Nankin Township office of Justice of the Peace and Samuel Joy served as Nankin Township Treasurer.
[History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan; A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol 2, by Silas Farmer City Historiographer, Township and Biographical Edition, pub. by Silas Farmer & Co. for Munsell & Co., New York, 1890]
In 1875 Samuel Joy served a second year as Nankin Township Treasurer.
[History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan; A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol 2, by Silas Farmer City Historiographer, Township and Biographical Edition, pub. by Silas Farmer & Co. for Munsell & Co., New York, 1890]
PERRINSVILLE
"A village of about 250 inhabitants in Nankin township, in the northwest part of Wayne county, 18 miles west of Detroit, on the river Rouge, and two miles south of McKinney's station on the D. L. & L. M. R. R. Goods are shipped via Livonia. The surrounding country is rolling. The leading productions are grain, onions, potatoes, broom-corn and fruit, all of which are shipped. It has a tri-weekly mail. David Barrows, postmaster."
BUSINESS DIRTECTORY:
Dean, Wm D., Flouring Mill [Perrinsville P.O. -- Nankin Mills]
Joy, S[amuel], Miller [Perrinsville P.O. -- Nankin Mills]
Asa Joy, flouring mill [Plymouth]
Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, By Charles F. Clark, Henry H. Chapin, James Edmund Scripps, Ralph L. Polk, Detroit, The Tribune Printing Co, 1875
Not really related to Nankin Mills History but Nankin Mill is mentioned in this book as Alvah Wilkinson died at his home near Nankin Mill October 12, 1875 and was buried at Newbugh Cemetery, Livonia, Mich. [Michigan Historical Collections - Annual Meeting of 1889, Volume 14 - Page 471,]
About 1875 William D. Dean may have bought his partner Samuel Joy's half of Nankin Mill. Samuel Joy moved to Plymouth about this time to farm and work with his brother Asa Joy.
1876 Patrons Directory
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the county of Wayne, Michgian, H. Belden & Co., Detroit, Michigan, 1876page 78
Patron’s Directory of Wayne County
NANKIN TOWNSHIP
Dean, William D.; [Sec.] --, Nankin Mills; New York; 1832
Wayne County Michigan Atlas Maps & History & Patron's Directory, Published by H. Belden & Co., Detroit Michigan, 1876
Dean, William D., [Section] Nankin, [Residence] Nankin, [Business] Nankin Mills, [Nativity] New York, [Settled] 1832
[NOTE: no Hardenbergh listed]
This 1876 property map of Livonia Township shows William D Dean owning 70 acres of land to the West of Nankin Mill and the town of 'Pikes Peak' which was mostly across the street from the mill. William's property crosses from section 4 into section 3 and probably includes all of the Nankin Mill lot. The small triangle of land that crossed into section 3 contains the Miller's House and the right-of-way of the water that flowed down from a reservoir upstream.
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the county of Wayne, Michgian, H. Belden & Co., Detroit, Michigan, 1876
[Note: No joy or Hardenbergh listed.]
Dean, J…..[Section] 15
Dean, W.D….. [Section] 04
Landowners Name & Section
Township of Nankin
Wayne County, Michigan:
1876
[On display at Nankin Mills Interpretive Center]
In 1878 William D. Dean served as Nankin Township Justice of the Peace.
History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan; A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol 2, by Silas Farmer City Historiographer, Township and Biographical Edition, pub. by Silas Farmer & Co. for Munsell & Co., New York, 1890
March 2, 1880: William & Lydia Dean mortgaged Nankin Mill property except 8 acres sold to Samuel Joy from Stephen and Mary Andrews. (BA)
1880 U.S. Federal Census: Nankin, Wayne County, Michigan, June 7
Dwelling #101, Family #108
Dean, William Day, W, M, 51, head, Married, Miller, NY, NY, NY
----, Lydia, W, F, 48, wife, House Keeper, NY, MA, MA
----, Herbert D., W, M, 21, son, Miller, MI, NY, NY
----, Ernest A., W, M, 18, son, Farm Laborer MI, NY, NY
----, George B., W, M, 14, son, Single, MI, NY, NY, In School
----, Bennett, W, M, 12, son, Single, MI, NY, NY, in school
----, Helen E., W, F, 7, daughter, Single, MI, NY, NY
----, Bessie E. Clifford, W F, 1, daughter-adopted, Single, MI, NY, MI
William's son, Herbert, was working at Nankin Mills in the 1870's-1880. In a note found in the Dean Family Archives, Herbert wrote that he was born "in Plymouth, Mich, November 1858. My folks moved to Nankin Mills a few years later so my younger days were passed there.
I went to district school for the usual time. Afterwards to Wayne High one season, then to Plymouth high for a few months. Later went through a Bryant & Stallon Business College in Detroit and between times I was learning the Miller’s trade.
About 1880 Ed Bogart’s Grandfather, Ed Dimonds, came to get me to run his mill and that brought me to Northville..."
On January 11, 1882, Ruth Brundage Dean, widow of Luther Dean and mother of William D. Dean died. She was buried in Newburgh Cemetery beside her husband.
I don't know where Ruth died. In 1880 she was living with a niece in Ohio. I once wrote to both the Ohio and Michigan vital statistics offices and neither was able to locate a death certificate. She was buried in Newburgh Cemetery beside her husband Luther.
March 11, 1882: William & Lydia (Joy) Dean sold 5 acres of land east of mill pond to Mary Graeffe (NW corner of E half of NE ¼ of Sec 4, T2S, R9E. Is this the miller’s house? (BA)
December 26, 1882: William and Lydia Dean sold the Nankin Mill property, mill pond and about 65 acres, to Stephen Andrews, excluding the 8 acres sold to Samuel Joy, for $4,000, Warranty deed. (BA)
William left Nankin mill and moved his family to Northville where the family spent the next 3 years and where his wife Lydia purchased [sold?] property in 1885.
An 1883 property map of Plate 021 - Nankin Township.. from the Atlas: Wayne County 1883 with Detroit, by W. C. Sauer 1883 shows William Day Dean's 80 acres was then owned by M. Lewis and the property line dividing section 4 and section 3 is distinct and no longer crosses over to the Mill property.
William Dean lived in the following locations after leaving Nankin Mills:
c.1884- c.1887 - Northville, Mich., 3 yrs
c.1887-c.1890 The Fisher Farm near Plymouth, 3 yrs
c.1890 - 18xx Detroit
18xx -1900 Farm near South Lyon
1900 - 1903 Detroit
1903 - c.1907 Northville again
c.1907 - 1914 Plymouth
Wm D Dean and Lydia Joy Dean standing on far side of carriage.
Lyida Joy Dean
Wm D Dean (left) Asa Joy (right) Isaac N Dickerson (center)
Lydia Joy Dean
with grandson
Wm D Dean
Lydia Joy Dean
Wm D Dean
at son Bennett's home
W. D. Dean death certificate
1886, December 8: Stephen and Mary Andrews sell Nankin Mill property to Isaac M. Lewis, excluding 8 acres owned by Samuel Joy. No records of Andrews milling here, and he may not have paid his mortgage. (BA)
William Day Dean died in Plymouth in 1914. The following is from the personal diary of William's son, Bennett Luther Dean: "Tuesday April 28 [1914] ....Father died today at 4 P.M....What changes in the country and all things he has seen. Born in York State in 1828 he came with his father's family to Michigan in 1832 when the country was entirely new and crude. The family settled on a farm at Newberg. Woods were every where and Detroit was only a village. I have heard him tell of teaming to Detroit when he was a young man and the trouble with awful roads and conditions then. Indians were still in this country and I have heard him say that he had hunted with them. In 1852 he, with a party, teamed it to California over the plains and the journey took 3 months. He started on the steam cars as far as they went, which was not quite to Chicago, and at the end of the line they and their goods were thrown off in the woods. And that was as far as the rail roads went in those days, Chicago was only a few houses. He went to Sacramento, Cal. and I guess was there about 2 years and came back mostly by water, but I do not think he went around the horn. He married Lydia Joy [daughter of Bennett JOY & Sally WOOD] who was a York Stater too. He ran a grocery store at Wayne, Mich. where I was born in 1868 and when I was a year old he came back and as owner, run the Nankin Mills for 15 years. Then to Northville, Mich. for 3 years and on the Fisher Farm near Plymouth for 3 years. Then to Det. and back on a farm near South Lyons, then back to Det. and Northville again, and finally to Plymouth, 5 or 6 years ago. He was not a soldier and was a Democrat all his life. Was Justice of the Peace for many years at Nankin. Was a very good man, kind and loyal to his family. I do not think he ever joined a church but was a Free Mason and believed in a God. And today ends all of that life of 86 years. ...."[4]
York Street Cemetery, AKA Old Plymouth Village Cemetery/Old Baptist Cemetery etc.
The Dean and Hardenbergh families are buried in adjoining plots:
I took these photos September 14, 2012
Grave of Samuel Hardenbergh (far left), his children are the next few markers out.
William Day Dean and wife Lydia are buried on the far side of the monument on the right.
Dean Family plots
Grave of William Day Dean
Grave of Lydia Joy Dean
Asa Wood Joy died October 13, 1915 at Plymouth Obit clipping found his his nephew B. L. Dean’s diary: “He entered the great battle of Gettysburgh, only to be severely wounded on the first day.... All day he lay upon the field, suffering from wounds that cost him a limb and one finger. Upon his return to Mich. he engaged in the trade of a miller, following this work for many years.... Buying a farm in Kansas he removed there. After a number of years there he removed to Spring Lake, MI to work a fruit farm. Fourteen yars ago he retuned to Plymouth to spend the last days of his earthly life. In 1865 he united with the First Presbyterian church.... He was honored by being elected to the highest office in the church that it is possible for a layman to occupy, that of ruling Elder. For several years he was secretary of the Board of Elders....” Member of the Board of trustees of State Soldier’s Home at Grand Rapids, appointed by Gov. Ferris. Commander of Eddy Post, G.A.R. and secretary of Business Men’s Club.
x Samuel Joy died December 10, 1915 at Salina, Kansas and was buried in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina, Saline Co., KS. Samuel was born on November 24, 1842 in Redford Township, Wayne County, Michigan to Bennett Joy and Sally (Wood) Joy. His mother died in 1848 and his father remarried. On 9 Aug 1862 Samuel enlisted in Co. C, 24 Mich. Infantry (Iron Brigade) for 3 yrs. Mustered 15 Aug 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, PA 1 Jul 1863. Sgt. Transferred to Invalid corps. 15 Feb 1864. Samuel married on December 25, 1866 to Olivia Brown in Livonia, Michigan. By 1873 Samuel was living at Nankin Mills while the Mill operated as "Dean & Joy". He served as Nankin Township Treasurer from 1874-75. Samuel left Nankin Mills sometime between 1875-1880 and moved to Plymouth where he worked as a Miller and Farmer. He was likely involved with a mill with his brother Asa, either a mill of their own or possibly a mill that had formerly been owned by brother-in-law Samuel Hardenbergh. Samuel Joy moved to Dorrance, Kansas about 1901/1902 and was living with his son there in 1910 and 1915.
George Middleton owned the Nankin Mill from 1915 to 1917 and sold it to Floyd Bassett. In 1918 Henry Ford bought it from Bassett and remodeled the mill in the 1920's to be used as a factory and a source of electricity.
After the Dean Family:
Lewis family lived and milled here until 1915
Middleton family owned Nankin Mills 1915 – 1917, not sure how much milling they did.
Floyd Bassett owned/milled at Nankin mills 1917 and sold mill to Henry Ford in 1918
Ford renovated building and operated a machine shop Village Industry at Nankin 1921 – 1948 (he died April 1947)
Clara Ford , Henry’s widow, deeded Nankin Mills to Wayne County Road Commission in 1948
Wayne County Naturalist Mary Ellsworth operated a Nature Center in the building 1957 – 1979.
Nature Center was forced to close due to Wayne County funding problems, 1979.
Wayne County park administrative offices moved into the building in late 1980s.
Wayne County hired Naturalist Carol Clements to re-open Nankin Mills as an Interpretive Center in 1997, for interpretive programming and installing exhibits about the natural and cultural history of the site, which continues today (2013).
Ford bought the Miller’s house from the last farmer on the site, George Barnes, in 1922
Edward Cutler, Ford’s architect who built Greenfield Village, renovated and moved into Miller’s house 1924 – 1936
Frank Davison, Ford’s superintendent at Nankin Village Industry, moved into Miller’s house 1937 - 1947
Wayne County rented the house, not sure what years. It came to be called the “Tenant House”
Westland Historic Commission had offices in the Miller’s House in the 1970,s. They fixed it up.
The Miller’s house was used as a shelter for battered women in the 1980’s, known as “First Step”.
Park Administrators had offices in the house during the Mill additions/renovations 1993 – 95.
The Miller’s house continues to be used for interpretive programs and park offices (2013).
Dean Family Photos of Nankin Mills taken in 1925.
The photo to the left shows William D. Dean's daughter-in-law, Anna (Clarkson) Dean, with her daughters Louise and June in front of the mill.
Dean Family Photos of Nankin Mills taken in 1925.
William Day Dean's grandchildren at Nankin Mill in 1925, June & Louise Dean outside the generator room that Henry Ford had built [left],
William Day Dean's grandson, Howard Dean, [Right] at Nankin Mills in 1925 on the knoll near the Miller's house.
Photos here are from a 1925 Joy Family Reunion. Where? At Nankin Mills or nearby? Perhaps Mark Joy farm
NOTE: Howard, Louise, June and Anna Dean appear to be wearing the same outfits in the photos taken at Nankin Mills above as in the reunion photos below. Perhaps the reunion was at a home near Nankin Mills and the Dean family stopped at the Mill and took the above photos on their way to the reunion. Does anyone recognize the house in the back of the group photos below?
Here are the Men.
Photo Number: DEAN_137 in my archives
DEAN_137
Back (Left to Right):
1. Howard Dean
2. Roy H Hardenbergh, 36 years old
3. Samuel Joy Hardenbergh, 60 years old
4.
5. Alan Elmer Hardenbergh, 2 1/2 years old
6. Elmer Joy Hardenbergh, 29 years old
7. Herbert D. Dean
8.
9. Laurence C Dean
10.
11. Bennett L. Dean
12. [possibly Clarence Mason - husband of Edna Dean]
Front 3 boys
13. Richard Hardenbergh, 5 years old
14. Clayton Hardenbergh, 7 years old
15. Roger Hardenbergh, 10 years old
Photos here are from a 1925 Joy Family Reunion. Where? At Nankin Mill or nearby?
NOTE: Howard, Louise, June and Anna Dean appear to be wearing the same outfits in the photos taken at Nankin Mills above as in the reunion photos below. Perhaps the reunion was at a home near Nankin Mills and the Dean family stopped at the Mill and took the above photos on their way to the reunion. Does anyone recognize the house in the back of the group photos below?
Here are the women. Photo Number: DEAN_138 in my archives
DEAN_138
Back Row Left to Right:
1. Louise Dean
2. Dorothy Dean
3. Mrs Jim Joy [Ella Beckhiold Joy]
4. Mrs Elmer Hardenbergh [Mary Hortense Zimmerman Hardenbergh]
5. Anna Clarkson Dean
6. 'mother' [May Johnson Dean]
7. Aunt Edna [H. Edna Dean Mason]
8. Mrs Sam Hardenbergh (Belle)
9. Mrs Maggie Joy Dickerson
10. Aunt Vina Joy
11. Lydia Joy McNabb
12. Mrs Ostraander [probably mother of Bertha Ostrander Joy]
Front Row:
13. June Dean
14. Lydia Joy
15. Maggie Joy's girl
16. Joy McNabb
17. Mrs Roy Hardenbergh [Nellie V. Griffin Hardenbergh]
18. Mrs Mark Joy [Bertha Ostrander Joy]
Clara Ford deeded the mill over to the Wayne County Road Commissioners to be incorporated into Hines Park in the 1940's. Here is a 1945 Advertisement. This page from Time magazine[?] has been in our family archives since before I was born.
More recently, Nankin Mills Nature Center has served the public as a Natural History Museum.
Note and brochure sent to Betty Joy (Dean) Schmidt from a cousin in Michigan (Barbara?) about Nankin Mills in the early 1980's.
"Betty Joy - your Father's Grandfather [William D. Dean] built this mill & when Howard & family visited there a few summers ago, he was able to give the courier in charge much information about it. He also sent them some papers, etc. after they returned home to be kept there. Dorothy Dean [daughter of Herbert D. Dean] (Wash. State) upon learning of this mill being kept for Historical purposes also sent the old set of bookkeeping books and a lot of old bills, etc., that her father had had....".
[NOTE: As of Summer 2013--It appears the set of bookkeeping books mentioned in this note were never sent to the Mill. I have tracked down one of them to a cousin's attic and he will be trying to find it soon to see exactly what it contains. Another cousin says she has some things from the Mill and I will try to find exactly what this year.]
The Mill building was reopened in January 2001 as a Museum and interpretive center.
Me with my cousin John Dean, September 15, 2012
IN PLYMOUTH & NORTHVILLE
On July 24, 1853--Samuel and Julia Joy Hardenbergh's 5 year old son Silas W. Hardenbergh drowned and was buried at the Plymouth Village Cemetery. About September 7, 1853--Daughter Agnes L. Hardenbergh was born to Samuel and Julia (Joy) Hardenbergh. December 24, 1853 --2 year old daughter Hattie L. Hardenbergh died and was buried at the Plymouth Village Cemetery.
Samuel Hardenbergh left 'Nankin' before 1860 (as early as 1855) and moved to Plymouth to run a grist mill and a lumber mill there.
"In 1860, Samuel Hardenberg, who lived in the house at the corner of Holbrook and Hardenberg [in Plymouth], later occupied by the Wilcox family... was the proprietor of the mill ['Hardenburgh's Grist Mill' also known as 'Plymouth Mills' and later the 'Wilcox Mill']. He lost the business on a mortgage, and the next owner, John Winemaster, lost it the same way. The next owner, a Mr. Peters, mortgaged the mill to C. H. Bennett, who later acquired it at a sheriff's sale...Bennett...sold it, in 1879 to David Wilcox...." [Northville -- the First 100 Years, by Jack W. Hoffman, 1976, p.60] The Wilcox Mill (present day Hines Drive and Wilcox Road) ....[was the] site of the old Hardenburgh grist mill build around 1850.
Dwelling 51, Family 49
Dean, Wm D., 32, M, Teamster, $700, $300, NY
----, Lydia, 23, F, H. Keeper, --, --, NY
----, Hurbert, 1, M, --, --, --, MI
Joy, James, 15, F, Laborer, --, --, MI
Dwelling 45, Family 44
Hardenburgh, Samuel, 39, Miller, $15000, $5000 NY
-----------, Julia, 33, F, H Keeper, NY
-----------, Iness, 2, F, Mich.
Joy, Asa, 20, M, H. Man, Mich., attended school
Lockwell [Stockwell], Warren, 10, M, Mich, attended school
Dwelling 43, Family 42
Miller, John, 55, M, Miller, $2740, $150, England, cannot read/write
----, Elisebeth, 52, F, H. Keeping, England
Heven, John, 16, M, School, England, in school
-----, Wm, 14, M, England, in school
On June 1st, 1860 William Day Dean was enumerated in the village of Plymouth near the Plymouth Post Office as a Teamster with Real Estate valued at $700. Also living at William's home was his brother-in-law, James Joy. On the same census page Samuel Hardenbergh was living in the town of Plymouth near the Plymouth Post Office and his real estate was valued at $15,000. Living in the Hardenbergh home in addition to his wife and daughter were his brother-in-law, Asa Joy, and wife's nephew, Warren Stockwell.
1860 U.S. Federal Census: Town of Plymouth, Wayne Co., Michigan, Plymouth Post Office, June 1st, p.465
In Plymouth, Samuel and Julia Joy Hardenbergh had a son, Freddie Hardenbergh. Freddie was born on December 24, 1962 and died on January 13, 1863 and was buried in Plymouth.
On June 20, 1865 Samuel and Julia Joy Hardenbergh had a son, Samuel Joy Hardenbergh. He would be the only Hardenbergh child to survive to adulthood. The seven year old daughter of Samuel and Julia Joy Hardenberth, Inez M. Hardenbergh, died on October 1, 1865 and was buried in the Hardenbergh plot at the Village Cemetery in Plymouth.
Tax Assessment List
District 1; Monthly and Special Lists, Jan-Dec 1866
[p.348] Hardenburg, Samuel, Plymouth, Plymouth P.O.; Cooperage, 44, 38, 67; $220; $220
[p.348] Hardenburg, Saml & Co., Plymouth, Plymouth P.O.; Safes; 89; 210; $12.60; $12.60
The town of Plymouth was incorporated in 1867. "The first village election held in Plymouth..., March 25, 1867. One hundred and twenty-nine votes were cast...Samuel Hardenburgh... [was elected a] trustee...." [Northville -- the First 100 Years, by Jack W. Hoffman, 1976, p.138]
In 1867 Samuel Hardenbergh was living in Plymouth near the Plymouth Mill: "Plymouth Virtual Tour 1867--If you were traveling through the Plymouth area in 1867, and decided to visit a church, you might have gone to the First Methodist Episcopal, then located next to the old High School, run by Pastor James F. Davidson, it was opened in 1826. Across the street you might have attended Second Presbyterian Church whose pastor was B.F. Murden, it was opened in 1833. The old Presbyterian Cemetery, adjacent to the property, has stones dated back to 1828. If you were Baptist, you might have gone to the corner of Spring and Mill Streets to the Baptist Church, at the north end of the village.....Walking south on Main Street, and passing the John Fuller residence (now the Mayflower Hotel) you would find that suddenly you are no longer on Main Street, but South Street, which takes you to the furthest point south in town....If you had turned north on Main Street, you'd bypass the Presbyterian Church, the High School, and ended at Plymouth Plank Road. Just beyond there, was Mill Street, as you are heading toward Detroit, and running north, Main Street. Confused, you look again, yes, a second Main Street, which appears today as Holbrook, however, perhaps the north end of town, not to be outdone by the Kellogg Park section, had a Main Street of its own. Proceeding north, you'd find yourself in Public Square where the fire station stands today, and eventually you would reach the residence of Samuel Hardenburgh, and finally Plymouth Mill which stood at the south end of what is now Wilcox Pond....
"Hartenburg's Mills" [Northville Record 9/25/1869; This is a newspaper article that I have not seen yet. If you have access to the Northville Record on microfilm and would be willing to look this up -- please let me know]
photo--"Hardenbugh's Grist Mill,
later Wilcox Mill..."
Photo: Samuel Hardenbergh, the miller in Plymouth.
[daughter-in-law] Belle Hardenbergh wrote 'Samuel Hardenbergh' on the back. Stamped on the back is 'JJ Randall Fisher Block Detroit.It is not dated. He was born in 1820. It is on photo paper and in good condition.[photo courtesy of Tom Hardenbergh]
[from The Story of Plymouth Michigan, S. Hudson, 1976]
From 1868-1869 Samuel Hardenbergh served as a Plymouth Township Trustee. Asa Joy served as a Plymouth Township Trustee in 1870.
History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan; A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol 2, by Silas Farmer City Historiographer, Township and Biographical Edition, pub. by Silas Farmer & Co. for Munsell & Co., New York, 1890
1870 Fire -- "A Fire in Plymouth. A fire took place in lower Plymouth village Saturday June 4th., by which Mr. S. Hardenburgh, the miller lost three barns, considerable hay, and some farming utensils among which were three reapers and mowers. One horse and buggy, belonging to a friend visiting, was also consumed. The fire originated from some little boys putting lighted matches to the hay, and then attempting to put it out, in which for a while they were successful. A dwelilng house 12 feet distant was with difficulty saved by the strenuous efforts of the citizens, among the number, Mr. Pooler and Mr. Mathews who are deserving of much credit, having stood between the dwelling and barns when the heat was so intense, that ever alternate pail of water had to be poured over them. Loss $2,000. Insured for $300." [Northville Record 6/11/1870, p.3]
In 1870, Hardenbergh sold his Greek revival style house in Plymouth and the Plymouth Mill to Henry Peters.
1870 U.S. Federal Census: Plymouth Township, Wayne Co., Michigan, enumerated July 11, 1870, Wayne Post Office
Dwelling 203, Family 212 Fisher, George, 67, M, W, Cooper, 1000, 200, Wurtemberg ------, Hannah, 47, F, W, Keeping House, Wurtemberg Family 213 Reicheld, Henry, 28, M, W, Works in Grist Mill, Prussia ---------, Sophia, 22, F, W, Keeping House, Wurtemberg ---------, Clara, 1, F, W, Michigan Dwelling 204, Family 214 Joy, Asa, 30, M, W, works in Grist Mill, $3500, 1500, Mich ---, Helen, 24, F, W, Keepig House, Mich ---, Eva, 3, F, W, Mich ---, Mary, 5 months [Feb], F, W, Mich Dwelling 220, Family 229 Pool, Hiram, 44, M, W, Works in Grist Mill, 1000, 300, New York ------, Deliliah, 45, F, W, Keeping House, New York ------, Florence, 22, F, W, At Home, New York
------, Anna, 14, F, W, Attending School, New York, in school
Dwelling 222, Family 231 [presumably in the town of Plymouth]
Hardenbergh, Sam'l, 50, M, W, Manufacturer of Flour, $50,000, $16,160, NY
------------------, Julia, 44, F, W, Keeping House, NY
------------------, Samuel, 5, M, W, -, Mich
Seharina, Anna, 12, F, W, Attending School, Mich
Starkwell, Warren, 19, M, W, Book Keeper, -, 100, Mich
Brincley, Ida 18, F, W, Domestic Servent, Canada
Dwelling 223, Famil 232
Brightman, Milo, 26, M, W, Works in Grist Mill, NY, married in July
--------------, Mary, 26, F, W, Keep House, Michigan, married in July
Northville Record, Friday July 23, 1870
Mr. James Shackelton, the present proprietor of the Argo mill, comes also before the public with an advertisement. He sells mill produce as low as can be bought elsewhere and attends promptly to custom work. Give him a call. A man that is enterprising enough to advertise, thereby helping himself and giving support to his home paper, is worthy the patronage of our citizens.
[advert on same page]
Flour ! Flour !
An extra quality of white wheat Flour, and Corn meal. Also Bran, Midlings etc. Custom work done promptly. Give me a call at the
Argo Mills.
26-2 11 J. SHACKELTON
[Sam Hardenbergh] "Bought land from D. E. Mathews and building Mill"
HARDENBURGH, S. - (PAST OWNER OF BUSINESS) [Northville Record 4/15/1871 -04-03]
Samuel Hardenbergh was apparently was building/rebuilding a Mill at/near Plymouth in 1870, as he "bought land from D. E. Mathews and building Mill" [Northville Record 4/15/1871]
[This appears to be a different mill than the Plymouth Mill which Samuel was operating in the 1860's. Was this the 'Matthew's Mill' that was later known as the 'Phoenix Mill'? When did Samuel lose the Hardenbergh Flouring Mill/Plymouth Mills to a mortgage? What happened to Samuel's ownership of the Nankin Mill?]
[Northville Record 4/15/1871; This is a newspaper article that I have not seen yet. If you have access to the Northville Record on microfilm and would be willing to look this up -- please let me know]
That Samuel Hardenbergh owned the Phoenix Mill property in 1871 along with his brother-in-law, Asa Joy, is mentioned in an article in the Northville Record on August 14, 1896. The article describes the Phoenix Mill property being sold at public auction due to foreclosure--"....All that piece of land lying and being situate in the town of Plymouth, in the county of Wayne and state of Michigan and described as follows, to wit: known as the Phoenix Mill property beginning....to a point at or near the center of the highway ...known as the Plymouth Plank Road leading from the Plymouth village to Northville....thence along the bank of said mill pond...all the rights and privileges relating to the water power and the rise of water for mill purposes as on November 21st, 1871 were held and enjoyed by Asa Joy and Samuel Hardenburgh and as conveyed to said grantors by John L. Andrews by deed recorded in Book 188, Page 34.....
In January 1872, the Plymouth/Hardenbergh Flouring Mill that Samuel Hardenbergh appears to have sold in 1870 was sold to Homer H. Peter by H. E. Peter: "Changed Hands -- The old Hardenbergh Flouring Mill, in lower Plymouth, of late conducted by H. E. Peters & Sons, changed hands on New Year's day, coming into possession of Homer H. Peters. The new proprietor has hitherto had the business management of the Mill, and although apparently young for such a responsibility, has got the go-a-head spirit in him, which combined with experience, will ensure prosperity in this enterprise. We wish our young friend every manner of success." [Northville Record, January 13, 1872, p.3]
"While on the D. L. & L. M. road to Detroit last week, we were pleased to come across our old subscriber Mr. Samuel Hardenburgh, of Plymouth. He has had a severe time of it since being prostrated by sickness. Though he is looking quite thin he is able to be out of doors and thinks himself improving gradually. His new Mill, lately built on the site of the Mathew's Mill, is a noble looking structure and cost in its erection over $14,000." [Northville Record 4/27/1872]
Death of Samuel Hardenbergh 1/4/1874 at Plymouth, Michigan.
Samuel Hardenbergh died of consumption in Plymouth on January 4, 1874. [GENDIS says that he was married, 53 years of age, born NY, a Miller, parents names not recorded.] "The funeral services of Samuel Hardenberg, took place at the Baptist Church, at 10:30 A.M. Jan. 6th., Rev. J. M. Gelston officiating. A large concourse of people assembled, to pay the last tribute of respect to one, who has long been known, and respected as a business man, and a citizen. He was buried under the auspices of the 'Odd Fellow Fraternity.'" [Northville Record, 1/17/1874] Samuel Hardenbergh and family were buried in the York Street [AKA Old Village, Old Baptist, etc.] cemetery in Plymouth, Michigan.
William Day Dean and family are buried in the adjoining plot in the same cemetery.
PLYMOUTH -- "C.H. Bennett, who purchased the Hardenburgh mill, has already made a great change in its appearance." [Northville Record 9/21/1878, p.3, c.3]
Plymouth Items, PLYMOUTH, Nov., 28th, 1878 -- C. H. Bennett is pu....e work on his mi...The engine house, ra...and ...are completed. Af... machinery will be...and of ........ [Northville Record 11/30/1878, p.3, c.3]
In 1879, Samuel Hardenbergh's former house in Plymouth and the Plymouth Mill were acquired by Charles H. Bennett, owner of the Daisy Air Rifle Plant, when Peters failed to pay the mortgage. Bennett sold the house and flour mill to David B. Wilcox for $20,000. Wilcox ran the mill until he died in 1902.
According to the "Northville Record", 5/3/1879--"The Joy Bros. have put a patent puritor in their mill, and are now prepared to make the best quality of patent process flour." -- Does this refer to Asa and Samuel? Does it refer to Nankin Mill, Phoenix Mill or other Mill? Probably not Nankin Mills but something in Northville or Plymouth.
1880 U.S. Federal Census: Plymouth, Wayne County, Michigan, June 9
p.303D, LDS Film #1254610
Dwelling 69, Family 70
Joy, Samuel, W, M, 37, Self, Married, Miller & Farmer, MI, MA, NY
---, Olivia L., W, F, 34, Wife, Married, Keeping House, MI, VT, VT
---, Mary M., W, F, 13, Daughter, Single, At School MI, MI, MI, in school
---, Fred D., W, M, 6, Son, Single, MI, MI, MI, in school
Dwelling 70, Family 71
Joy, Asa, W, M, 40, Married, Miller, MI, MI, MI
---, Helen, W, F, 37, Wife, Married, Keeping House, MI, CT, CT
---, Eva S., W, F, 13, Daughter, Single, at School, MI, MI, MI, In School
---, Mary, W, F, 8, Daughter, Single, MI, MI, MI, In School
---, Maggie, W, F, 2, Daughter, Single, MI, MI, MI
South 1/2 Plymouth, June 9
Dwelling 65, Family 66 [Applolos is a newphew of William Dean, Samuel Hardenbergh, Samuel Joy, Bennett Joy, etc]
Cudworth, Appolos, W, M, 21, Self, Married, Miller, MI, MI, NY
-----------, Hattie, W, F, 21, Wife, Married, Keeping House, MI, MI, NY
-----------, Earl, W, M, 4/12, born Feb, Son, Single, MI, MI, MI
South 1/2 of Plymouth, June 23, National Archives Film T9-0610, Page 314A
Dwelling 317, Family 327
Reichelt, Henry, W, M, 40, Self, Married, Miller, Prussia, Prussia, Prussia
--------, Sofhia, W, F, 32, Wife, Married, Keeping House, Germany, Germany, Germany
--------, Clara, W, F, 11, Daughter, Single, MI, Prussia, Germany
--------, Etta, W, F, 5, Daughter, Single, MI, Prussia, Germany
Dwelling 320, Family 330 Samuel Hardenbergh's widow
Hardenbery [Hardenbergh], Julia A., W, F, 53, Self, Widow, Keeping House, NY, MA, MA
------------------------------, Samuel J. , W, M, 15, Son, Single, At School MI, NY, NY
Northville Record, Friday, July 23, 1886
Flour $5.00
Northville Mills, Full Roller Flour will be sold by me for $5.00 a bbl in sacks.
The 2d grade of the same for $4.00 per bbl in sacks.
E. SIMONDS, NORTHVILLE ROLLER MILLS
Feed of all Kinds. Corn Meal $20 per ton. Corn and Oats $1.00 per hundred. Cob crushing and grinding.
Samuel Hardenbergh's son, Samuel Joy Hardenbergh, sold a mill to Isaac Lewis in 1887. [Does this refer to the Mill his father was building on the site of the Mathew's Mill in 1872, that was described as "a noble looking structure and cost over $14,000 to erect".] Mr. Lewis replaced the water wheel with a turbine. In 1897 Isaac Lewis sold the mill to his son Ransom Lewis, who installed rollers to replace the mill stones. The dam washed out in 1904 and the mill was closed until 1909.
"Meads Mills News -- ...Corrections...in the history of Waterford which was printed in the Record of last week....The second [mill] W. McRobert uses as a barn, and the Phoenix mill that was built by Mathews was burned and Samuel Hardenburg built the present one...." [Northville Record 4/21/1899]
Dean Family Photo c.1890's of nearby Phoenix Mill which burned in 1905
Links:
Friends of Nankin Mills Facebook page
Nankin Mills Historical Marker
Descendants of David Dean (1763-1838)
Samuel Hardenbergh Family, by Troy Schmidt
Bad Links:
Nankin Mills Interpretive Center
References:
1. Pioneer Collections Report of the Pioneer Society of the State Of Michigan. Together with Reports of County, Town and District Pioneer Societies, Lansing" W.S George & Co., Printers and Binders 1877, v.14, p.448
2. Probate Packet #1775, Luther Dean, Wayne Co., MI
3. 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Wayne Co., Michigan
4. Bennett L. Dean, Journal entry for 28 April 1914
5. Note to Betty Joy (Dean) Schmidt accompanying brochure about Nankin Mills from ?, reads: "Betty Joy - your Father's Grandfather [William D. Dean] built this mill & when Howard & family visited there a few summers ago, he was able to give the courier in charge much information about it. He also sent them some papers, etc. after they returned home to be kept there. Dorothy Dean [daughter of Herbert D. Dean] (Wash. State) upon learning of this mill being kept for Historical purposes also sent the old set of bookkeeping books and a lot of old bills, etc., that her father had had...."., see photo above.
6. Biographical excerpt written by Herbert Day Dean (1858-1947), 136 E. Cady St., Northville, MI, c.1936, Document D-123, Dean File, possession of Troy Schmidt
7. Historical Collections; Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society; Annual Meeting
of 1889, (Lansing:1890), v.14, p.474
Troy D. Schmidt is the creator and coordinator of this site. If you have old photos or postcards of Nankin Mills, especially pre-1900, for sale, trade or to copy, please let me know.
BA. Burton Abstract and Title Company (Deeds of Sale) sent to me from Carol Clements, Nankin Mills Naturalist/Historian.
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