Edward Bonney's Vision

Edward Bonney came to the Bristol, Indiana area from New York State in 1833 hoping to establish a community or business center along the Little Elkhart River where lumber could be sawed and grain could be ground. One of the critical factors for the success of his venture was the routing of a canal through the area. However, the canal never came, certain debts were defaulted, and Edward Bonney was forced to look for other forms of income.

In 1842 he was arrested for counterfeiting but appears to have escaped before his trial and fled west to Nauvoo, Illinois, where the Mormons had settled before they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Eventually, Bonney worked his way toward Chicago and in 1863 enlisted in the 127th Illinois Infantry to fight for the Union Army in the American Civil War. His military duty, engaging his bounty hunting skills, was to locate and return soldiers who had deserted. He received a disability discharge in December 1863 and died two months later in February 1864.

The Mill's Operation

Bonneyville Mill operates using traditional water-powered grinding stones, just as it did in the 1800s. The mill race channels water from the Little Elkhart River to power the mill's machinery. The mill has four floors, each serving a specific function in the grain grinding process. Visitors can observe the entire process, from the water wheel to the grinding stones that reduce grain to flour and corn meal.

The mill continues to produce corn meal, wheat flour, and buckwheat using the same methods that were employed when Edward Bonney first built the structure. This continuity makes Bonneyville Mill not just a historic site, but a living demonstration of 19th-century milling technology.

Bonneyville Mill County Park

Bonneyville Mill is located within Bonneyville Mill County Park, which preserves not only the mill but also the surrounding landscape that Edward Bonney envisioned for his community. The park offers visitors the opportunity to experience the mill in all four seasons, with beautiful scenery along the river, flower gardens, and aerial perspectives that showcase the area's natural beauty.

The mill serves as an important educational resource, teaching visitors about the role mills played in farming communities and demonstrating traditional methods of food production that predate modern industrial processing. For visiting information, mill products, and the documentary about the mill, see the official Bonneyville Mill website.

Legacy and Significance

Bonneyville Mill stands as a testament to Edward Bonney's entrepreneurial spirit and vision, even though his original plan for a bustling city never fully materialized. The mill's designation as the oldest continuously operating grist mill in Indiana by the Indiana State Historical Society recognizes its historical importance and ongoing contribution to preserving traditional milling practices.

While Edward Bonney's life took many unexpected turns—from city planner to counterfeiter, from Mormon aide-de-camp to detective, from bounty hunter to Civil War soldier—the mill he built remains a constant, continuing to serve its original purpose nearly two centuries after its construction.

Read More: Biography of Edward William Bonney | Family History Timeline

Visit: Official Bonneyville Mill Website - Information about visiting, purchasing mill products, and viewing the documentary

Sources: Indiana State Historical Society; Bonneyville Mill County Park; Historical records from Elkhart County, Indiana; The Bonney Family by Charles L. Bonney (1898).