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Editor News:

Leaving Cane Valley, on Friday I nosed about Milltown for a few hours. I found the merchants hovering over good fires, telling jokes, etc. The yeomen who had come in to make purchases, were discussing the weather and lamenting because they could not proceed with much needed work.

Mr. J.R. Tutt, who has been a merchant at this place for many years, takes everything easy. The weather, of course, interferes with his business, but the Lord has been good to him. He has prospered from the time he started out for a living and is conscientiously opposed to persons complaining of the doings of God Almighty. He takes the position that the father above knows best what to send his earthly children, and he is satisfied.

There is much tobacco talk here and many growers have already, in their minds, sowed their beds, and set out from five to fifteen acres.

Milltown has been a good hog market for a number of years. We were told that Mr. G.B. Cheatham was handsomely paid for the stock he has handled in the last few months.

Jim and Albert Mercer and W.C. Hindman are active business men of this locality and they are all making money, so I was informed.

Upon inquiry we learned that Milltown was the oldest settlement in Adair county, aside from the county seat. It took its name from a water mill that was established at this point many years before the civil war. The mill was erected, so we were told, either by a man named Townsend, the father of the late Jim Will Townsend, or by Chapman Dohoney, the latter at the time being one of Adair county's wealthiest men. (See note below. s/Cyrus.)

I found the denizen of Milltown embraced many of the best men of the county, men who are industrious and doing everything in their power to better the conditions of the community. Men who love home and its surroundings are generally contented, and as time flies, the Good Master prospers them.

As I have to ride over to Gradyville I will close.

On the Road

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1. County and Circuit Court Clerk William Caldwell, $16,950, the equivalent of about $375,000 in 2006


2. Chapman Dohoney, $12,000, about $265,000 today


3. and the praying sheriff, Clayton Miller, $10,000, about $220,000 today.