Just across from the Benton Park there had been a mill dam and traces of the mill race could still be found in 1929, according to William Heacock. The mill race lead down to the Parvin Masters shingle mill. (This mill was erected in 1870 as a planing mill and furniture factory.) It later bacame a buhr process flour mill under the direction of A. W. Wilkinson and John P. Chapin.
In 1898 John Kimble and John J. Mather bought the property and changed it to a 50-barrel roller mill. C. L. Kimble was born in Benton in March of 1875. His father was a miller and having been born in the business he pursued it all his life. He worked in Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Spokane, Wash., where he had charge of flowing, arranging and installing mills of various capacities throughout the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Nevada. He also remodeled mills In the Southwest and South.In 1904 they installed another unit for buckwheat flour and that same year Mr. Mather became the sole owner.
John J. Mather continued operations until his death in 1928, when he was succeeded by his father, R. Bruce Mather who operated it until his death. His widow operated the mill until son John took over.
The Benton Roller Mills got its power from a dam in Fishing Creek. There was a substantial retaining wall and a steel reinforced dam breast and gate-heads built in 1936, all on mill property. The average daily flow of 550 cubic yards of creek water operated two 24" turbines. An auxiliary 24" turbine and a 65 H.P. Diesel Engine were installed for emergencies.
Both the mill and the dam were rebuilt several times.
There were three mills in one building fully equipped for production of wheat and buckwheat flour and feed. The entire mill could be converted to wheat flour production.
An interior view of the Benton Roller Mills.
Photo courtest of Lee and Carolyn Remley
when owned by John Mather
A visit to either the Bowman Mill before the early 1960s or the Benton Roller Mills after that time would find Jim Boudman, known as "Red" or "Stretch." He had those nicknames because of his red hair and his height of over 6'4". Jim started working for John Mather at the Benton Roller Mills in the late 50's or early 60's as a delivery man, and later helped with the daily operation and sometimes was acting manager. He would deliver feed to the various feed mills, farms all over the tri-county area and flour to pretzel factors in the Lancaster.. He had a quick wit and friendly manner and customers looked forward to his visits. He would always bring interesting items home to share with his family, especially the cookies from Yorks bakery! Jim worked every day even when suffering with lung cancer in 1977 and continued even at the worst of his disease. He died on October 15, 1978.
This picture of Jim was taken when he was 19.
Some readers know Jim and Miriam's son, Martin—also known by a nickname, in this case "Butch."
