Business: Feed Grinding Services

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ingham, Bizjak, Zagozen, Auman, Musich

----Source: Family Scrapbook

When E.J. Ingham retired from grinding feed at his grist-mill, it was a problem, as grain production was on the increase and many small farm type or size grinders were being set-up around the Willard area. August Bizjak, who lived about 2 1/2 miles northwest of Willard, bought a mill and a ten horsepower single cylinder engine (stationary) from the Fairbanks Morse Co. That family took in grain to grind, many times working late at night to get it done.

John Zagozen (our good neighbor) also had a mill that he powered with all sorts of homemade power plants, including a Model "T" Ford engine, a Dodge engine and a few more. These all had to be converted from car engines to something that would turn a mill at an even and accurate speed with power dependability. These mills ran from morning to evening most of the winter months.

Others in this business were Frank Auman, who used a one-cylinder engine for power and Musich Brothers east of Willard. It was important to have these mills close by as the feed and grain were all transported by horse and sleigh. As the farms developed and more grain was produced, and also roads were plowed, the stores in Willard saw a need for larger mills and feed mixers to accommodate their customers, so they gradually took over the grinding business and the small country mills were gradually closed out.