Custom Windmills
Franzen Brothers Windmill
(unknown location)
Gridley, IL 61744
Status
Destroyed
Sail Span
70'
Constructed
(1869 - ?) Original
(1872 - 1874) Reconstruction
Millwrights
George Sauer (Original)
Martin (Reconstruction)
Owners
George Sauer (1869 - 1872)
Franzen Brothers (1872 - ?)
History
There are two interesting histories that the author assumes are about
the same windmill. The first comes from the Livingston County
History: “To supply the deficiency of water-mills in the township, and
make the item of milling more convenient, about 1869 a wind-mill was
built on the farm of Geo. Sauer [Nebraska Township]. It remained
in running order and was a ‘thing of great convenience to the residents
of this locality, until its removal in 1872 to Gridley, McLean County.”
The McLean County history reads: “One of the seven wonders of Gridley is
the wind-mill built in 1874 by Mr. Martin, of Peoria, for the Franzen
Bros.” It goes on to read that it is a Dutch windmill with three
run-of-stone, lacking a “fan-tail,” that the entire mill is constructed
of wood, uses a governor to tenter the stones, and that the owners are
installing a 30-horsepower engine to turn the mill on calm days.
Since the dates line up perfectly, it is highly likely that this
windmill was first constructed in Nebraska Township. Its run there
was short lived, as it was dismantled, relocated, and reassembled in
Gridley, where it enjoyed a long and prosperous business until its
destruction.
Sources
-Le Baron Jr., William. The History of Livingston County,
Illinois. Chicago: William Le Baron, Jr. & Co., 1878.
-Le Baron Jr., William. The History of McLean County, Illinois.
Chicago: William Le Baron, Jr. & Co., 1879.
