William Q. Parker and his new bride, Mary, came to Washtenaw County in 1861 from England. After two years in Lodi Township, Mary purchased 61 acres between Geddes Road and the Huron River. Here, in 1873, on the ruins of the old Fleming sawmill, William Parker constructed a small grist mill to produce corn feed for the family farm. The Cider Mill building was added in 1887, but was soon closed due to a severe apple blight. In 1910, after William's death, son George took over the operation of the mill, expanding it into a commercial flour mill. Products produced at the mill included pancake mix, graham flour, buckwheat flour, corn meal, and cracked wheat breakfast cereal. The mill ceased operations in 1959, three years after George Parker's death.
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