On the banks of Euharlee Creek — 14 -Becoming Acquainted with John M. Ganus

Sitting on the banks the beautiful Euharlee Creek is Hightower’s Mill. Located at the base of the Appalachian Mountains and a short distance from Cedartown, Georgia, the mill was built about 1843 by Elias Dorsey Hightower and was largely a grist and woolen mill. Apparently, John Monroe Ganus and his sons spent some time there because Elder Murphy and John M. Ganus visited John’s oldest son and my great grandfather, William Franklin Ganus, there early in the fall of 1886.

Ancestry, Ancestors, genealogy, family history, Cedartown, Hightower Mill, Euharlee Creek, Appalachian Mountains, Ganus

Hightower Mills today

Used by permission from Hightower Falls Facility Owners

“Sept. Thursday 9, 1886 Bro. [John] Ganis and I went to Mr. Hightowers mill to see his son Franklin Ganus. I had a good time with him. While Bro. [John] Ganus and his 3 sons, John, Rody and Boby made shingles and hauled them to Mr. Hightowers mill. I met with two of old John Waldrops sons. . . . After knight Boby Ganus and myself walked home, 6 miles to Bro. J. Ganus. TIRED

Sept. Friday 10, 1886……..about noon Bro. [John] Ganus and the boys come from the mill. They laughed at me about not stoping at the mill all knight. I told them that I had got tired of living or lying on the soft side of a board during the war. Stayed all knight at Bro. Ganus.”

According to Elder Murphy’s journal entry written on July 17, 1886, John lived about five miles from Cedartown and about six miles from Hightower Mill. (Mill location is indicated by the Green marker with the Star. )

An additional entry in the Murphy journal indicates that Frank had some interest in working in a mill as the Ganus family prepared to leave and that Utah was initially a possibility for these Georgians’ relocation.

“Sept. Sunday 11, 1886 Saturday I spent the day at Ganuses wrote a letter to Bro. D.H. Peery of Ogden concerning W.F. Ganus getting a job with him in the mill.“

Hightower Mill

Used with permission from

The Georgia Department of Archives

and History

In reading about D.H. Peery of Ogden, I learned that he owned the Weber Grist Mill in Ogden, Utah, which leads me to believe that Frank likely was familiar with Grist mill work and possibly worked within the grist mill portion of the Hightower Mill. I had hoped to find a clue in census records, but of course, 1890 is non-existent and on the 1880 US Federal Census, Frank (William on that particular census) is listed as a farmer, so the census does not provide any additional clues to what Frank may have done within the mill. In addition, the above journal entry creates a new question. Why were John and his boys all coming from the mill on Friday? Did they all work there? All census records seem to indicate that John and his boys farmed.

Hightower Mills today

Used by permission from Hightower Falls Facility Owners

Today the ruins of the mill still stand. The present day owners purchased the property back in 1996 and, realizing the importance of the historical site, they made the property available for special activities such as weddings and family reunions. Standing on 100 acres, there are 12 camping cabins, pavilions and picnic areas and facilities. To see more pictures of the present day site and read about the history of the area, visit Hightower Falls.

The area has been beautifully preserved and although the purpose of the site has changed over the years, the ruins stand as a reminder of an earlier day when it was a bustling mill and served the surrounding communities. As I look at the pictures of the mill above, I can almost imagine John and his boys leaving through the arched stone door, laughing and talking to each other, but tired and eager to get home at the end of a long day.

Copyright © Michelle G. Taggart 2017, All rights reserved

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2 thoughts on “On the banks of Euharlee Creek — 14 -Becoming Acquainted with John M. Ganus”

Wendy says:

October 12, 2017 at 7:15 am

I'm woefully behind in my reading. Maybe you will answer this in an upcoming post, but I wonder if the Ganus men were learning a new trade in preparation for the move. It is also possible they were simply assisting the miller with the milling of grain or whatever from their own farm. Isn't it amazing and wonderful to see the buildings where your ancestors walked!

Michelle Ganus Taggart says:

October 12, 2017 at 7:30 am

I am really not sure Wendy, but that is probably a good possibility. I had someone else commented on Facebook that their mother remembers taking the grain from their fields to be milled and that is something I had not even considered before, but it makes total sense to me.