E. C. Test, veterinarian, Rural Route 1, Cambridge City, whose ancestors were active in the woolen mill industry of Wayne County, had submitted an article written and read by his father, Samuel E. Test, before the Wayne County Historical Society, Oct. 22, 1925.

The article describes the White Branch Woolen mill in northwestern Wayne county. Along with the article, Dr. Test sent the "Card Book" in which the mill owners entered the amount of wool which their customers left with them to be spun into fabric. In the manufacture of wool, the process of carding disentangles and collects together all the fibers of whatever length. The name "Card Book" probably was derived from this process. The book contains the names of many pioneer residents of north-western Wayne County, eastern Henry and adjacent counties. There are entries, however, indicating that the firm did an extensive business with people living in other Indiana counties. The book also served as a ledger. Samuel E. Test was a nephew of Dr. Erastus Test, several of whose letters have appeared in preceding articles in this series. Samuel E. Test was the son of Josiah Test, one of the Wayne county pioneers. The death of Samuel E. Test occurred in Spiceland, Mar. 5, at the age of 82.

The mill history, which he wrote, is in two installments of which this is the first.

What was known as the White Branch Woolen mill was located just over the line in Wayne County, three miles north from Hagerstown and 12 miles northeast from New Castle, but in its days of prosperity it was well known and patronized by many good farmers and citizens from Henry and adjoining counties.

Surrounding the factory and to the south was a settlement of conscientious and industrious German Baptists or Dunkards, while to the north was one of Friends or Quakers and the county sheriff found but little demand for his official services in that part of the county. The original factory building was erected by Daniel Ulrich who for a few years did carding and spinning, exchanging the woolen roots and battens with the farmers, who at that date did their own weaving and much of their spinning.

In 1854 the Test brothers of Richmond, bought the White Branch factory, and J. and W. Test, brothers, from that date became the proprietors. The original building was about 40 x 40 feet and four stories in height, with water from White branch for power, using a 28-foot overshot wooden wheel.

With the change in ownership came power looms and from that date, yarns, flannels, all wool and a yard wide blankets, jeans and satinets were manufactured on an extensive scale and found a ready market with the country stores and the many customers from surrounding counties.

The business soon had outgrown its water power and an engine and boiler with a two-story brick building 20 x 32 feet were added, also a dye house and bleaching room and after a few years a two-story building 30 x 50 feet for office and the retail trade and the storage of wool. The farmer of that day could hardly be understood should he not possess a flock of sheep of large or small proportions owing to his available acres for pasture. Thus the family was clothed.

The women and girls wearing the linen and calico in summer and flannels in winter, while the men knew of nothing for underwear but flannel, and jeans for everyday wear, and factory satinet for a dress suit. In fact the writer knew of nothing like a ready made suit until quite a young man.

Flour and saw mills and carding machines were very frequent at this early date but power looms for weaving were not so often found, the factory at Hillsboro being the nearest competitor. The business with the approaching Civil War continued to increase until it became necessary to use a night force to meet the growing demand for yarns and goods being manufactured at that time, wool commanding $1 per pound.

Neither was the business limited to wools and woolens, hundreds of cords of four-foot wood were consumed and barrels of grease for oiling the wool; also barrels and barrels of homemade lye soap were bought from the farmers for scouring wool, yarn and goods.

And as memory now carries me back to the scenes of my childhood, in one corner of the lower story I can see a large wooden tank for holding the soap; then near by the rolls and vat for scouring the woven flannels and other goods; then the large metal tank and heater for scouring the unwashed wool. Then in another corner the stove for heating the iron plates for pressing the finished goods, while at one side was the 28-foot water wheel, ever faithful but never able to complete its endless task.

One step in the process must not be forgotten. Burrs and wool should never be allowed by the careless herdsman to mix. The most perfect machine will fail to remove each particle of the burr and before the cloth can be scoured, some one with good eyesight and much patience must go over each foot of the goods with a pair of small narrow pointed pickers and carefully burl each roll of cloth.

This all takes time and costs the manufacturer good money, than if for no other reason they are useless and unsightly. The one small spinning machine referred to on the third floor was not equal to the task of spinning the yarn for so many looms, with the yarn twister, so as we ascend to the fourth floor we find the whole space taken by one larger spinner, singing away early and late, to keep the shuttles constantly flying as the women weavers day after day keep in place the filled bobbins and watch with careful eyes her particular loom for any mishaps or defects that might develop in warp or wool.

To me as one of the many youngsters of the community boating, fishing and bathing in the old mill pond had many fascinations, with the ice for sliding and skating in winter. Moving pictures were in evidence each day. Yes, the right kind of movies. Oh! The joys that came from such a life.