Downtown in Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Millstone from mill owned by William and Sarah Bowman

Knox County

— Gift of Patricia F. and Reuben A. Hunter —

Millstone from mill owned by William and Sarah Bowman Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2024

1. Millstone from mill owned by William and Sarah Bowman Marker

Inscription. In 1884, William Elbert Bowman bought property in what is now known as Bowman Hollow, on the north side of Copper Ridge, near Heiskell. Close to their home, on a stream referred to as either Mill Creek or Burnett Branch, the Bowmans built a gristmill, complete with a milldam, millrace, and millhouse. A 14-foot water wheel powered rotating millstones like this one.

Sarah Ellen Bowman, William's wife, oversaw the mill's operation from at least 1895 until 1925, when she died from an allergic reaction to a wasp sting. The mill never ran again.

By the 1950s, the mill had fallen into disrepair, and Reuben Hunter, one of William and Sarah's grandchildren, salvaged this millstone.

[Captions:]
Banner, Detail of Image Above: Bowman family at their mill, c. 1918. From left to right: Daughters Nora Louise, Maggie Ellen, and Sarah Gustava; father William Elbert in front of the wheel; and sons Joseph William and Ernest Jesse on the millrace.
On Stand: Bowman family, c. 1918. Front, seated: Sarah Ellen (Purkey) and William Elbert. Children, left to right: Sarah Gustava, Maggie Ellen, Nora Louise, Joseph William, and Ernest Jesse. Children not pictured: Nan, Pearl, and Martelia.

Gratitude is extended to Merit Construction and Marvin House for relocating this millstone.

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 35° 57.848′ N, 83° 55.074′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of Clinch Avenue and South Gay Street, on the left when traveling west on Clinch Avenue. Marker is located at the East Tennessee History Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Clinch Avenue, Knoxville TN 37902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gen. John Sevier, 1745-1815 (a few steps from this marker); Tennessee Ernie Ford (within shouting distance of this marker); Roger Hoffman Howell (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Christopher Krutch (within shouting distance of this marker); Creation of the Southeastern Conference (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Blount College (within shouting distance of this marker); Tennessee Theater (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of John H. Crozier Home (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2024

2. Millstone from mill owned by William and Sarah Bowman Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2024

3. Millstone from mill owned by William and Sarah Bowman Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.