Geneva Milling Co.

The history of Geneva Milling Co. began May 25, 1887 when Geneva Roller Mills, was organized and incorporated by a group of farmers and businessmen.
It was one of Geneva’s first industries and is still in operation today.
The first officers of the enterprise were A. O. Taylor, President; J. Jensen, Treasurer; and F. H. Briggs, Secretary. Jacob Pflug, E. K. Cobb, and G. W. Smith were members of the stock company that began with $10,000.00. There were 29 investors/incorporators.
In the early years of the company, there were several managers and head millers. Frank Briggs, A. Z. Peck, L. M. Sargent, Charles Jarvis to name a few.
The location of the original building was on property that was purchased from Austin Knowler which he had bought from the railroad in 1872. It was a four-story building 36 x 62 with an engine room 20 x 36.
100 barrels of flour and almost 500 bushels of feed could be produced daily.
In 1888 a new 25,000 bushel elevator was constructed.
John Templeton and David I. Guthrie Sr. of Superior leased the mill in 1896.
The mill had contracts for their product with the Nebraska penitentiary, hospital for the insane at Lincoln and the Industrial School at Geneva.

After the retirement of John Templeton in 1898, the name of the business was changed to Guthrie & Co. Members of the firm were brothers James W. Guthrie and David Guthrie Sr., and David Guthrie Jr. son of David Sr., all of Superior, Nebraska.
In the following years the mill building was remodeled, improvements were made and connected to electricity.
For some time David I. Guthrie Jr. worked as head miller for Guthrie & Co.
James W. Guthrie a brother of David I. Guthrie Sr., had been head miller, but became the proprietor of the mill when he purchased it in 1907. The building and site was owned by Dr. H. L. Smith.

By 1912 the mill was producing pancake flour and breakfast food.
On September 18, 1915 James Guthrie was just finishing his work at the mill when a customer happened to stop for some wheat to feed his chickens. Mr. Guthrie gave the customer a needle and thread to mend a whole in his feed sack. Moments later the customer turned to find that James had fallen to the floor. Help was summoned, but they were not able to revive him. He was about 52 years old. Burial was in Superior.
In December 1915 the wife of James, (Mrs. Josie E. Guthrie) sold the mill business to John A. Johnston of Superior.
Mr. Johnston’s son-in-law Henry R. Cellar and wife Mildred Johnston Cellar moved to Geneva to take over management of the mill. Helen Johnston, daughter of John A. was also employed at the mill. In 1917 Helen married Percy Bedford at York.
The new business was called Cellar Milling Co.
In 1917, Cellar Milling Co. installed a complete new line of milling machinery for use in their business. At this time the name of the firm was changed to The Geneva Milling Co. There was no change in ownership of the business, the members of the firm desired to link their business more closely associated with Geneva.
GEMCO (Geneva Milling Company) was a new brand of flour that was being produced and sold in Geneva stores for the first time in 1917.
The new equipment allowed the company to expand their products to include two grades of flour, Gemco, (formerly Cellar’s Best) and Better Bread, white and yellow corn meal, graham flour, self rising pancake flour, whole wheat flour, sterilized bran and wheat hearts.
In 1926, the mill suspended grinding operations because the wheat crop in the area failed. For three years the mill was idle.

The mill was sold and traded a few times during those years, but in 1929 it was sold at auction to two brothers of Dorchester. The name of the firm was Grothe Brothers and was owned and operated by John J. Grothe and William H. Grothe.
In 1932, William H. retired and sold his interest in the business to his brother John J. Grothe. John’s son Charles A. then joined the firm and the proprietors were known as John Grothe & Son, but operated the business as Geneva Milling Co.
In January, fire destroyed the mill. It was replaced with a modern feed mill only.

John J. Grothe retired from active work and Charles A. Grothe became the sole owner.
In 1991 Charles A. announced his retirement and the business was turned over to his son Charles F. Grothe.
The Geneva Grain building at 600 F Street was purchased in 1993.
In 2002 Charles F. Grothe retired and passed the business on to his son Michael F. Grothe.
A new mill office was built in 2008 at 210 South 7th Street.

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