Early Settlements

By 1820 the area which is now called Butler was populous and new businesses began to move in. One of the first businessmen to come was Zeke Smith, who built a grist mill on the bank of Roan Creek. A community grew around the mill was named Smith's Mill.

      By 1840 the town of Taylorsville had grown to approximately 150 people. Johnson County's population in 1850 was 2,658. Settlements were established in Doe, Laurel, Roan Creek, and Shady Valley by this time.
 

Warden Mill in Laurel Bloomery

Old Silver Lake Mill in Laurel Bloomery

Worley Mill and Electric Plant in the Neva Communtiy

Photos taken by Frank Young (Lasting Impressions - Boone, NC).

Unlike most mills that are fueled by water pressure of a creek or river the mill at Silver Lake is is powered by a spring. The spring is located between two small mountains. An earthen dam was built causing a lake to form. The Silver Lake Mill was built by Alexander Doran and later purchased by Nat Wills. The original mill burned down and the present one was rebuilt at the same site.

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