Merrillville in Lake County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
John Wood
1800 - 1883
⎯⎯⎯
Hannah Pattee Wood
1802 - 1873
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025
1. John WoodHannah Pattee Wood Marker
Entered claim and built log cabin 1835.
Brought family in 1836.
Erected first grist mill in Lake County 1838
Set aside this Commons and planted elms.
Advocated and practiced honesty, morality, temperance, liberal religion and industry.
Charter member of Masonic lodges at Valparaiso, Crown Point and Wheeler.
Reared their family, died here, buried in Cemetery established by them in 1836.
Erected by descendants in 1924.
Erected 1924 by descendants of John and Hannah Pattee Wood.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.
Location. 41° 28.562′ N, 87° 13.352′ W. Marker is in Merrillville, Indiana, in Lake County. It is on Old Lincoln Highway 0.1 miles west of County Line Road, on the right when traveling west. The marker is at the entrance of the Wood's Historic Mill and Visitor Center area of Deep River County Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9410 Old Lincoln Hwy, Hobart IN 46342, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hobart (Indiana) Patriotic Honor Rolls (approx. 3.9 miles away); The Joseph E. Meyer Memorial Pavilion (approx. 4.1 miles away); Karl Bapst Memorial Rose Garden (approx. 4.2 miles away); Coal Mine (approx. 4.3 miles away); The Prairie (approx. 4.3 miles away); Building the Railroad (approx. 4.4 miles away); Civil War (approx. 4.4 miles away); Logging (approx. 4.4 miles away).
Regarding John Wood / Hannah Pattee Wood. Statement of Significance from the National Register of Historic Places application:
In 1837, John Wood, who had come from Massachusetts just one year before, constructed the first mill and probably the first industry in Porter and Lake counties. Mr. Wood then continued
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025
2. John WoodHannah Pattee Wood Marker in context
The family church (now the visitor center) and grist mill are in the background.
John Wood visited the forested land of Northern Indiana and made a land claim in 1835. One year later, he returned with his family only to find that General (John) Tipton, a United States Senator from Terre Haute had laid a "float" on his plans in the name of Quash-man, a Potowatami chief who had been given the land by the government in 1832. Wood had hoped to pay the government $200 for the quarter section but ended up buying the land directly from Quash-ma for $1,000. The grist mill which was constructed in 1838 along with a saw mill built the previous year became a very prosperous business for the Wood family.
In the early 1900's the mill was equiped with a steam engine in case the water power failed. As late as the 1950's the mill was intact, but by 1954 the mill was stripped of all the machinery and conveyor belts.
This site also contains the family
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025
3. Wood's Historic Grist Mill
The National Register of Historic Places plaque can be seen to the right of the door. The Lake County Parks dedication plaque is on the rock below the door.
In its prime Wood's Mill, properly called Woodvale, was a thriving small community which John Wood had built with the adventurous pioneer spirit and hard work that was so much a part of early Indiana history.
This mill is significant as a good example of mill construction, typical in design and fenestration of many across Indiana that are most often of wood construction. This is especially significant because of its association with early settlement in Lake County and as the center of a village.
(Contributer's note: The mill was restored in 1976 and opened to the public in 1977.)
Also see . . .
1. Wood's Grist Mill—Lake County's First Industry. Lake County Parks & Rec A 10 minute video discussing the history of the Wood family and the mill, how Lake County Parks acquired the mill, and how the mill works. (Submitted on April 20, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)
2. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025
4. Wood's Mill National Register of Historic Places plaque
This mill has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of Interior on October 10, 1975.
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025
5. Lake County Parks dedication plaque
John Wood Old Mill
Dedicated: October 10, 1976
Lake County Parks & Recreation Board
Paul Wharton, President
Cleo C. Duncan, Vice-President
William Fifield
Harold W. Holmes
Rolland Beckham
Steve S. Gersack
Louis M. Casale Attorney
Larry L. Rose Superintendent
George Hall & Associates, Architect
Tonn & Blank, Inc. and Eibel & Son, Inc., General Contractors
Dedicated: October 10, 1976
Lake County Parks & Recreation Board
Paul Wharton, President
Cleo C. Duncan, Vice-President
William Fifield
Harold W. Holmes
Rolland Beckham
Steve S. Gersack
Louis M. Casale Attorney
Larry L. Rose Superintendent
George Hall & Associates, Architect
Tonn & Blank, Inc. and Eibel & Son, Inc., General Contractors
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025
6. The family church building
Today it is the visitor center and gift shop.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 20, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
