Morningstar Mill - John DeCou's Falls and Mills

Morningstar Mill - John DeCou's Falls and Mills. . Decew Falls is named after John DeCou, an early landowner who settled in the Townships of Thorold and Grantham in about 1788. John DeCou was the son of a United Empire Loyalist and "purchased one man's right to a hundred acres for an axe and an Indian blanket, and another hundred acres for a gold doubloon". By 1792, he had built a log cabin and a saw mill on the Beaverdams Creek about two-thirds of a mile above Decew Falls. He also operated an oil mill for processing flax seed. In 1812, John DeCou purcased the property along the top of the escparment from his newly built stone house to Decew Falls. , During the War of 18 12, DeCou served as a Lieutenant in the Second Regiment of the Lincoln Militia. His home was used by the British has a headquarters, and it was to his home that Laura brought news of an impending American attack in June 1813. , With the return of peace, DeCou reworked his land, repaired his mills and built a stone grist mill with an overshot waterwheel at Decew Falls. DeCou's business endeavours prospered, and the area became known as Decew Town. The small community had a school, church and a blacksmith shop. The construction of the First Welland Canal, however, left the mills without an adequate water supply, which prompted DeCou to sell his home and property in 1834 and move the the Township of North Cayuga. , The history of DeCou's mill from 1837, when an advertisement for its sale was placed, until 1860 is unknown. It may have operated successfully for a few years, however, the construction of the Second Welland Canal would have adversely affected its water supply. On August 20, 1860, 19th century historian, writer, engraver and traveler, Benjamin Lossing made an entry in his journal which included sketches of the DeCou house and the Falls. In his description of Decew Falls, he makes a passing reference to "the remains of an old mill" at the top of the falls.