In 1795, Darius and Joseph Mead, sons of Darius, came from the Mead Settlement, now Meadville, Pennsylvania, into the wilderness of the Brokenstraw Valley. One mile west on the banks of Brokenstraw Creek, they built the first grist mill in Warren County. Later, three nephews, William, John, and Joseph, followed and assisted them. The development of the Brokenstraw Valley was largely through the vision and enterprise of these Mead pioneers.