JEFFERSON — James Hamilton, of Lenox Township, is a fourth-generation farmer in the Hamilton family who has remained loyal to the Jefferson Milling Co., 168 E. Jefferson St.

“I get everything from dog and cat food, chicken feed, mineral blocks for our cattle, fencing supplies, garden seeds, new chicks in the spring, all our twine during hay season; everything,” Hamilton said.

His father, Bill Hamilton, of Lenox Township, has utilized the Jefferson Mill over the years, as well as his father and grandfather.

“Today we buy sulfur, water softener, cat food, mulch; when we used to grow corn we had it ground there,” Bill said.

The Jefferson Milling Co. building was originally constructed around 1875 and was owned by E. E. Jones as a flour mill until around 1900, said Alan Beckwith, who manages the mill with his brother Roger Beckwith.

“Our grandfather, A. R. “Bay” Beckwith, was one of five farmers who used the mill, and then in 1911, at the advice of a lawyer, they incorporated to protect themselves, Alan said.

Since 1911, almost 100 years, the Jefferson Milling Co., has been incorporated and is owned by a group of stockholders, Alan and Roger said.

“Our father, A. R. “Bob” Beckwith, was drafted into the army in 1941 and fought in World War II, when he returned, he got involved here and then passed the duties onto us,” Alan said. “My son, Adam, now works here along with us and I am very proud of him; it is nice to have a young strong man here to do the heavy work, while we sit in here and reminisce.”

Alan and Roger have many great stories of the old days they enjoy telling while sitting around the old pot belly stove.

“Our favorite story that we heard over and over again growing up is about the day this pot belly stove arrived on a hot August day, in the early 1930s, from a foundry in Alabama. It came by rail right here to Jefferson, the original stove had broken, we still have it here out back,” Roger said. “A regular here, Bernie Greening, brought the new stove over and put it all together. It came in a wooden crate and he wanted to see if it worked, so he filled it with the wood from the crate and lit it.”

“What he didn’t realize was that the stove parts were full of packing oil and made such a horrible stink, it drove everyone out of the mill,” he said. “But, I guess it worked just fine, it is more than 70 years old now.”

Until the late 1970s or early 1980s, area farmers would bring their grains to the mill and get it ground for feed for their stock, and while they were waiting they would visit with the other men who were there and catch up on the latest news.

“People didn’t come to town very often back then, so they would also do all of their errands while they waited for their grain to be done,” Roger said.

As times changed and farming became less prevalent in Ashtabula County, the Jefferson Milling Co. also had to change with the times.

“We still grind for a few farmers, but not as much. Today we make our own feed mix to sell retail for chickens, pigs, horses and cows,” Alan said. “We just started making a deer feed that has been well received by the hunters.”

Today, the mill also offers lawn and garden products, refills for propane cylinders, horse bedding and stall mats, bird seed and pet foods, and a huge variety of farming hardware.

“We are into our third-generation of loyal customers, our company has been able to survive because of our customer base,” Alan and Roger agreed.

Roger’s daughter Mary Beckwith, remembers growing up around the mill.

“As kids we would always have adventures in the mill, it was a great place to play hide-and-go-seek,” she said.

Even though times have changed, local young farmers like James Hamilton still enjoy the camaraderie at the Jefferson Mill.

“Alan and Roger are great guys, they have been there my whole life,” James said. “I get the news around town there, and they are good guys to get advice from.”