Part #6 This post includes the surnames of MEBANE, MOREHEAD, PATRICK, MARRIOTT, CUTLAR, CUMMINGS, WADE, BOYD, CUNNINGHAM, KING, HAYNES Mill Sites in Simpsonville Township Rockingham Co. NC IRON WORKS Mill (site) is located on Troublesome Creek, NC State Road 2423, approximately 1.5 miles north of Monroeton. In operation as early as 1770. ************************************************************ James T. MOREHEAD died in 1875, his heirs made no settlement concerning the Iron Works property. In 1882 the four children of the late James Dillon PATRICK filed a petition to sell the property. The petition, dated 7 Sept 1882 states that Henry W. PATRICK, James D. PATRICK, Mary B. PATRICK (who married Frederick MARRIOTT Jr), and Florence I. PATRICK (who married Roger CUTLAR) were entitled to one-fourth undivided interest in the Iron Works property, and that they resided in California and "owing to the condition of said land and the ruined state of the mill and building, the same was unproductive and unprofitable...and they desired to sell the land and divide the proceeds". On 2 Dec 1882 DuBrutz CUTLAR, a Wilmington, NC lawyer and the court appointed commissioner and brother of Roger CUTLAR, sold the 603 acre Iron Works tract to Michael P. CUMMINGS for $4,259. In 1870 the mill was grinding flour with stones but sometime during CUMMINGS' ownership, the mill was converted to a roller mill. Michael P. CUMMINGS (1844-1893) a prominent merchant who lived and operated a store in the Midway area, did a large volume of business in the Reconstruction period, invested his profits in land, and became one of the largest property owners in Rockingham County.In 1884 one source listed only four merchant mills in Simpsonville Township: CUMMINGS', CUNNINGHAM's, WADE's and BOYD's. However several small mills were doing custom grinding for a toll. Iron Works mill pond furnished the mill customers excellent fishing and was famous for its "white pike, black perch, and silver perch". On 20 Nov 1889, the Reidsville Review, stated that "Jake KING caught at Iron Works seven pike with hook averaging over 19 inches." For several years prior to 1888, John L. HAYNES, was employed at the mill from 1883 to 1888. CUMMINGS' home and old store building are still standing, located about two miles west of the intersection of NC #158 and NC #1001. Sources: Rockingham Deeds 3dS page 592 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River 1660-1916 by James Sprunt, pages 71,316,566 Dates from M.P. Cummings tombstone, Midway Methodist Church Cemetry. Sketch of Simpsonville Township by W.N. Mebane The Leaksville Gazette, 1884 page 14 Greensborough Daily News, June 11, 1938 Rockingham Co. Census 1870-1880