In the fall of 1867-68, Niels Peter Hjorth built a molasses mill in the east field of what is now the Howard J. Fuhriman Ranch northwest of Nibley, the first mill of its kind in Cache Valley. Settlers raised sorghum, or sugar cane, and brought it there to have its sweet juice extracted into a dark, rich brown, very thick syrup or molasses. The mill was powered by water from the West Millville Irrigation Ditch, operated for about two years, and then was sold when Hjorth moved to Fairview, Sanpete, Utah. Neighborhood growers were paid for their cane in molasses, and later Hjorth and Hogan Aaronson built a horse-powered press. Aaronson raised the last sugar cane of record in the locality in 1885. Hjorth also owned and operated the first blacksmith shop in Millville, which was later sold to Peter Winborg. Molasses mills were an important part of the Cache Valley economy before and after the coming of the railroad, and until sugar from beets was manufactured at the end of the century, molasses largely took the place of sugar, though some honey was produced in the valley in the late 1870's and 80's. These mills used rollers to squeeze juice from grain sorghum and sugar cane grown in special plots, and mills also operated at Hyrum and Richmond, Utah, using hand-cranked rollers or larger systems powered by horses, mules, oxen, or water. Esaias Edwards, whose sawmill and gristmill gave Millville its name, also operated a molasses mill and a distillery where "Valley Tan" whiskey was made and sold to traveling Gentiles. The juice was boiled in large iron vats until it reached the consistency and flavor of good southern molasses, barrels were made for winter storage, and yields could reach as much as one hundred gallons per acre. Although the mills of the 1860's were legally private property, they generally did not function as private enterprises, but were established through calls of the Mormon priesthood, served their communities under priesthood scrutiny, often received community help in being established and sustained, and were opened with solemn dedication ceremonies that asked divine protection for their role in the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God.