George Beck, his wife Betsy, and their seven children migrated from North Carolina to this place and built the first mill on this site in 1808. They were among the first settlers in this part of Indiana Territory. George was a Revolutionary War soldier and later a Major in the Harrison County Militia during the War of 1812. He was present at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. The first mill was only 15x15 feet and built of stone and logs. It was replaced in the 1820s by a larger frame structure, which was destroyed by fire in 1863. The present mill was built by George Beck, Jr. and his son David and opened in 1864. George Beck died in 1847 and Betsy died earlier the same year; both are laid to rest in the Beck Cemetery.