Rogers in Benton County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
War Eagle Mill
1832 ~ 1838 ~ 1873 ~ 1973
Photographed by Michael Kindig, October 13, 2008
1. War Eagle Mill Marker
Inscription.
In 1832, Sylvanus Blackburn left Tennessee with a wagon and four oxen, and came to the War Eagle River valley in Arkansas. He spent the winter building a log home and clearing the land of his homestead. He brought his wife from Tennessee the next year. One of Sylvanus' first projects was a water-powered grist mill. In 1838, a flood on War Eagle destroyed the mill. A second mill, four stories tall, was soon erected. Five of Blackburn's sons joined the Confederate Army and the rest of the family went to Texas. The retreating Confederate Army burned the mill on War Eagle to prevent its use by Federal troops. Sylvanus' sixth son, James Austin Cameron Blackburn, built the third mill in 1873. The village of War Eagle grew around the grist mill. There was a sawmill, carpentry shop, and a blacksmith shop, but the grist mill was the center of activities -- socializing, square dancing, and weddings. In 1924, once again the mill burned. For nearly 50 years only the dam and raceway remained. In 1973, centennial year of the original mill, Jewell A., Leta Medlin and Zoe Medlin Caywood built the existing fourth mill on the same foundation
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as an authentic reproduction of the first mill to preserve the history of grist milling.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 36° 16.029′ N, 93° 56.588′ W. Marker is in Rogers, Arkansas, in Benton County. It is at the intersection of War Eagle Road (County Route 98) and Bettis Hill Road (County Route 1059), on the left when traveling west on War Eagle Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1104 War Eagle Road, Rogers AR 72756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northwest Arkansas, on the Ozark Plateau, in the Cherokee Heritage Region, and in Osage Territory. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Ozarks. 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, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,144 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 10, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
