Jalapa in Grant County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Conner's Mill

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, October 23, 2022

1. Conner's Mill Marker

Inscription. After 1838 land on this side of the river was in the Mississinewa Reservation and Indian land Smith Gilbert established a trading post at the ford. Now seen as smooth rock bottom, in 1823. The year 1849 saw much white activity across the river: Jalapa was founded by Jacob Specher. A gristmill/sawmill were built by Lorenzo Jacobs. Wooden dams, one damaged by the flood of 1913, provided water for a mill race with a pond extending up river for two miles. The mill was operated for many years by William and Nelson Conner, becoming known as Conner's Mill. The mill was owned by Harry Charles at the time operation was discontinued in 1921.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 40° 37.728′ N, 85° 44.148′ W. Marker is in Jalapa, Indiana, in Grant County. It is on County Road 380 West 0.8 miles south of County Road W600N, on the left when traveling south. There is a pull off to view the marker. You only see the back of the one sided marker from the road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 380 County Rd 380 W, Marion IN 46952, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana.

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 territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured

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as the crow flies: Here on December 17-18, 1812 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mississinewa Battlefield (about 500 feet away); The Battle Of Mississinewa (approx. 0.4 miles away); Miami Indian Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); Chief Meshingomesia (approx. 0.9 miles away); Miami Indian Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Metocinyah's Village (approx. 2.2 miles away); La Fontaine Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jalapa.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Mississinewa (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Additional commentary.
1. Memory of the Mill
My great-grandfather Ivan Loer was born in 1895 and raised in this area. Later in life, he wrote his memories for his grandchildren. This is what he wrote about Conner's Mill:

Conner’s Mill was just beyond the Indian Village. Many times Father would take me in the big wagons with a load of corn or wheat to the mill to get it ground into corn meal or flour. While he was busy at the mill, I would fish in the river from the bridge, or just watch the big wheel go around, turned by the water in the mill race. Just over the hill from Conner’s Mill was the little town of Jalapa, where Father
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first taught school. All of the old houses in this area had small, high windows, so you could walk under them without getting shot with an arrow.

— Submitted July 14, 2025, by Katherine Newman of Roseburg, Oregon.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2022, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. This page has been viewed 1,097 times since then and 99 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 23, 2022, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.