Montgomery in Kane County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Gray-Watkins Mill

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 26, 2025

1. Gray-Watkins Mill Marker

Inscription. This old stone grist mill, completed in 1853, was among the first businesses to flourish in Montgomery, then known as Graystown. It was erected by one of Montgomery's founding fathers, Daniel S. Gray, and his son-in-law, Vine A. Watkins.

Erected 1975 by the Village of Montgomery and the Aurora Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 41° 43.777′ N, 88° 20.398′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Illinois, in Kane County. It is on West Mill Street near North River Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is to the left of the doorway to the mill. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 North River Street, Montgomery IL 60538, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Montgomery and the Fox River: A Shared History (within shouting distance of this marker); Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); V.F.W. Montgomery Memorial Post 7452 (about 400 feet away); Settler's Cottage (about 400 feet away); Montgomery Veterans Memorial / Service Above Self (about 500 feet away); Samuel Bedrosian, PhD (approx. 1.4 miles away); Glacial Boulder from Mendota College (approx. 1.8 miles away); Remember Oklahoma City (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.

More about this marker. The marker was covered with vines when visited in April 2025, and could potentially be hard to read when the leaves grow.

Another plaque, placed by the Aurora Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is immediately

Gray-Watkins Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 26, 2025

2. Gray-Watkins Mill

to the left of the historical marker.

Regarding Gray-Watkins Mill. Daniel Gray was born and raised in Stone Arabia, New York. After his brother moved to this region in the 1830s, Daniel followed him in 1836 and settled in a home here along the Fox River, near the border of Kane and Kendall counties. While the settlement was originally called Graystown, Gray himself convinced the area's settlers to officially incorporate as Montgomery, named after Montgomery County, New York, the county that he and and several other settlers had come from. (Montgomery County is named after Revolutionary War hero Richard Montgomery, a general who died in the Battle of Quebec.) Gray was about 60 years old when he died in 1855; he is buried in nearby Riverside Cemetery, which was originally founded on land that Gray had given for a burial ground.

The mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. According to the building's NRHP application, the dam powering the mill was destroyed by ice in 1916. Electricity was installed and the mill was used until closing in 1922. After being empty for more than 20 years, in 1945 a motor parts

Gray-Watkins Mill image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 26, 2025

3. Gray-Watkins Mill

The mill, along the Fox River in Montgeromy, today houses a restaurant and event space. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Click for more information.

manufacturer moved in, and stayed there until closing in 1971. The building was acquired for restoration in 1976; today the building is used as a restaurant and events space.

Also see . . .
1. Gray's Mill Estate official site. The mill today is a restaurant and event space along the Fox River. (Submitted on April 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Gray's Mill, 1853. A brief history of the mill from Enjoy Aurora. (Submitted on April 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 26, 2025

4. Gray-Watkins Mill Marker

A marker to the left was erected by the Aurora Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1983. The text says:Gray-Watkins Grist Mill
1853
Historic marker placed by
Aurora Chapter NSDAR
1983

Montgomery and the Fox River: A Shared History Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 26, 2025

5. Montgomery and the Fox River: A Shared History Marker

The Gray-Watkins Mill is south of this historical marker in Montgomery Park. The Fox River is on the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.