The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
In the fall of 1835 William Rankin joined his brothers in the area of Walnut Grove precinct settling on Ellison Creek northeast of where the Walnut Grove church once stood.
With brothers Hugh and Joseph he erected a sawmill using water power from the creek.
Afterward he added burrs and then ground corn for his neighbors.
(These burrs changed the pioneer's life as much as computers have bettered ours.
No longer did the frontier woman have to crack her corn between two rocks.
No longer was the cornbread a coarse conglomeration, but fine textured.
It was not real white bread but vastly improved what had been before.)
1882 History of Henderson County