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Meek Brother’s Grist Mill at Bonaparte. Courtesy of the State The mill is a three-story Meek and his family played a central role in the
Historical Society, Des Moines. Published with permission. structure built on a lime- town development for generations. William built
stone foundation immedi- a flour mill in 1841, a woolen mill in 1853, and
locally milled grain. Trains could transport wheat ately adjacent to the Des a saw mill in 1860. These businesses made him
to the mills and distribute the flour to customers Moines River. It had an the largest employer in the community. His son,
quickly and cheaply, and these centers quickly American waterwheel, Robert, carried on the businesses, rebuilding
eclipsed the local mills (Soike 1989:3–4). powered by a nine foot the flour mill in 1878. He also served as county
fall in the river level. The commissioner from 1842 through 1848 and
The Meeks Flour Mill, Bonaparte waterwheel produced the as state legislator in 1855 and 1856. Another
equivalent of 69 horse- descendant, Isaiah Meek was a member of the
Meek’s Flour Mill in Bonaparte was built in 1878. power and ran the mill committee of acceptance for the new 1878
It is a well-preserved and very fine example of and other operations. The bridge at Bonaparte, and was an incorporator of
the water-powered grist mills that were once mill operated year round, the Bonaparte Academy Association (Jacobsen
common in river towns throughout much of a feature that was very im- 1982:3).
Iowa during the 19th century. The original mill portant to local farmers,
was built by William Meek in 1844. This original and had a daily capacity The Meek mill defied the westward trend of the
structure was destroyed by a fire and replaced in of 300 bushels. During wheat industry and was still in operation in the
1878 by his son Robert. the year ending in May beginning of the 20th century. By 1900 it was
of 1880, 13,000 barrels of wheat flour, 2,700 operated by Grant C. Scott and Stephen Black-
barrels of buckwheat flour, 1,500,000 pounds of burn and was the community’s largest employer.
corn meal and 1,000,000 pounds of feed were Daniel Cresap was the last miller, operating
processed (Jacobsen 1982:3). the mill until floodwaters destroyed the dam in
1903–1905 (Jacobsen 1982:3). After that, the
William Meek arrived from Michigan in 1837 mill building served a variety of uses but was
looking for a site for milling purposes. He restored in 1977 and is operated as a restaurant
decided on the area around Honey Creek (also and gift shop today. It was nominated to the
known as Coates Creek), near the present NRHP in 1982. It is also included as part of the
Bonaparte City Park. Meek received one of the Bonaparte Historic Riverfront District along with
original authorizations to build a dam on the Des Meek’s three mills, associated commercial build-
Moines River to provide power for three mills. ings, the Bonaparte Pottery, a band shell, a stone
He and Dr. R.N. Cresap laid out the original gateway and wall, and River Lock #29 (Naumann
town, then called Meek’s Mills, in 1837. Meek 1989).
built his mills and Cresap built a hotel (Naumann
1989:7).
40 A River of Unrivaled Advantages—Life Along the Lower Des Moines River
