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1. SUBJECT:

Paul’s Mill

2. LOCATION:

9 miles west of Dayton, Virginia, at Ottobine, on Beaver Creek, State Route #257, south on route #11 from Dayton, thence west on State Route #257.

3. DATE:

About 1822

4. OWNERS:

Captain Peter Paul.

Captain John Paul, now Judge of the United States Court in the Western District.

5. DESCRIPTION:

The mill was remodeled about ten years ago, but the architecture was not spoiled. The material is mostly good white pine. When remodeled rollers replace the old burrs and a steel turbine water wheel replaced the old wooden one.

See form 3686.

6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

English immigrants who constitute a very small minority of pioneer settlers came through the Blue Ridge passes and established homes along the Shenandoah River. The majority of our first inhabitants came later with the German Migration, following the close of the French and Indian War. These pioneers followed the streams in Linville Creek and North Mountain Valleys to their sources and southward until they met the English and Scotch settlers in August County.

The first work of these settlers was to erect mills for grinding grain. Another early colonial industry that has gone into the discard is a long list of "Still Houses" located along this historic old "Mountain Road". Every settler planted a small orchard to supply fruit for house consumption. After storing his cellar the remainder was hauled to his local distiller and converted into "Apple Jack".

Most all the land was grants or patents from King George II or early colonial Governors. The large estates were owned by gentlemen of leisure, and were operated by plain labor. Under an overseer, but the major part of the land was operated by its thrifty German owners. Each colonial house was an absolutely independent unit in civic life, as the owner produced everything, food, clothing, heat and light on his own plantation. On rare occasions the fire on his hearth would go out and he would race to his neighbor (often miles distant) to borrow fire.

Captain Peter Paul and a place near this Mill where they brought deserters during the War Between the States. He kept them and trained them to march and then sent them back to their company.

This estate consisting of about seven hundred acres belonged to Abraham Paul until January 12, 1937, when he died at the age of ninety-one, and the estate was left to his nephew, Captain Judge John Paul.

7. ART:
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION;