Alabama's First Peanut Oil Mill
On this site stood the Henry County Peanut Oil Mill, the first
of its kind in Alabama. It was built in July 1916 by two
entrepreneurial Abbeville businessmen-Robert Newman and Mike
Sachar, a Russian Jewish immigrant.Owners of the new Abbeville mill were Robert Newman, W.T. Dawkins, and Mike Sachar, who also served as manager and operator. By 1918, the mill was producing an excellent grade of peanut oil and peanut meal. With the need for expansion, the mill's leaders partnered with the wealthiest man in the Wiregrass. Abbeville's M.V. Capps, who became its largest shareholder.
The mill changed its name in 1918 to the Pioneer Peanut Oil Mill. Robert Newman remained president and Mike Sachar as head of mill operations. M.V. Capps died in 1921. Three months later, a fire destroyed the $75,000 mill.
Thereafter Robert Newman built a peanut-crushing mill south of Abbeville called the Southeastern Peanut Company. In failing health, he later moved to Tampa, Florida, where he died in 1926. Mike Sachar worked at the F&M Bank in Headland and at Dothan's Peanut Oil Mill Company. Among the last surviving pioneers of the southeastern
this page online
Erected by the Henry County Historical Group, Steve Hardwick,
great-grandson of Mike Sachar, and the Henry County
Farmers Federation.
Erected 2018 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1916.
Location. 31° 33.041′ N, 85° 17.332′ W. Marker is in Abbeville, Alabama, in Henry County. Marker is on Alabama Route 27, 0.2 miles west of U.S. 431, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 299 AL-27, Abbeville AL 36310, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Liberty Enlightening the World (approx. 2.3 miles away); Liberty Oak (approx. 2.4 miles away); Abbeville Southern Railroad / Pelham House (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Southeast Alabama Agricultural School / First Free Secondary School in Alabama (approx. 2˝ miles away); Henry County Training School (approx. 2˝ miles away); The Bethune-Kennedy House (approx. 2˝ miles away); The First Baptist Church of Abbeville/Abbeville Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 2.6 miles away); Nordan's (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Abbeville.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2021, by James L.Whitman of Eufaula, Alabama. This page has been viewed 297 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 5, 2021, by James L.Whitman of Eufaula, Alabama. 2. submitted on June 6, 2021, by James L.Whitman of Eufaula, Alabama. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
