Smithville in Wayne County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Historic John Mishler Weaving Mill

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 4, 2019

1. Historic John Mishler Weaving Mill Marker

Inscription. Johann Mischler (changed to John Mishler), 1852-1930, and his wife Rosina Beyeler Mischler, 1852-1927, were born in Switzerland and came to the United States in 1882. They moved to Smithville in 1887 where John, a weaver by trade, built a mill to produce rugs and carpets on a hand operated timber framed barn bean loom. Three belt-driven looms were added in the early 1900s powered by steam and later diesel. About 1915, the weaving mill became the first business in Smithville to be operated by electricity. The mill wove cloth for fruit Presses and dishcloths and towels and was the only producer of cheesecloth in the United States for the Swiss cheese industry. It produced 40,000 pounds of cloth per year. John’s son Daniel took over the mill in 1930 and moved it a block away to its present location. Charles Norris purchased the mill in 1983. Ten years later, it was purchased and restored by the Smithville Community Historical Society.

Erected 2002 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Smithville Community Historical Society, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 2-85.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in

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the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 40° 51.934′ N, 81° 51.345′ W. Marker is in Smithville, Ohio, in Wayne County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street (Ohio Route 585) and East Prospect Street, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street. It is at the mill. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 383 E Main St, Smithville OH 44677, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Amish Country

and in Greater Cleveland.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Charles W. Follis (approx. 5.3 miles away); General Reasin Beall Homestead / Wayne County Historical Society (approx. 5.8 miles away); Harvey Howard House / Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (approx. 6.3 miles away); First House Built in Wooster (approx. 6.3 miles away); War Savings Stamps (approx. 6.4 miles away); Wayne County Soldier’s Monument (approx. 6.4 miles away); Twenty Pounder Parrott Guns (approx. 6.4 miles away); United States Of America • Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient (approx. 6.4 miles away).

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 4, 2019

2. Historic John Mishler Weaving Mill Marker

John Mishler Weaving Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 4, 2019

3. John Mishler Weaving Mill

“John Mishler, Manufacturer and Dealer in Carpets, Rugs and Cider Press Cloth”

Historic John Mishler Weaving Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 23, 2025

4. Historic John Mishler Weaving Mill

The mill at sunset, with a carriage in tow.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,042 times since then and 99 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on June 13, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.