Source: John Scott, "The
Indiana Gazetteer, or Topographical Dictionary; containing a description of the several counties, towns, villages, settlements, roads, lakes, rivers, creeks, and springs, in the State of
Indiana," Second Edition (Indianapolis:
Douglass and
Maguire, 1833).
Pg. 71:
"Fourteen Mile
Creek, a large and valuable mill stream, the sources of which are in
Jefferson and Scott counties, whence it runs in a southerly direction, and empties into the
Ohio river in
Clark county, fourteen miles above the falls, from which circumstance it derives its name. On this creek are several valuable mills; particualrly that known by the name of 'Industry mills,' erected by Mr. John Work, near Charlestown."
Pg. 48, continuing the section on
Clark county:
"Such signs of salt water were seen on Fourteen Mile
Creek, as induced some of the citizens several years ago to dig for salt water, with the intention of erecting works for the manufacturing of salt, but discovering that the quantity and quality of the water would not justify the enterprise, they abandoned the design: it was said, however, that in penetrating the rock, they passed through a bed of gypsum, which may, at some future day, be made profitable. On the same creek, and near to a valuable mill, there is a quarry of the water-limestone; and in the same neighborhood, a species of marble has been discovered, which has been cut into slabs and scantling, suitable for benches, tables, sills, posts, or lintels and other appendages to buildings, by a saw connected with the mill, and propelled by water power. Mr. John Work, from
Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, settled on this creek in 1804, and finding a bend answering his purpose, he perforated a solid limestone rock 314 feet, making a horizontal race of six feet deep and five feet wide, passing through a ridge, ninety-four feet below its summit, by which he gained a fall of twenty-seven feet. This work was performed by five men, in two years and a half, in which they consumed 650 pounds of gun powder. The whole expense to the owner was about three thousand three hundred dollars. On this mill seat, besides an excellent saw mill, and the marble saw already mentioned, there is a merchant mill, running three pair of stones, with
Evans and Ellicott's Machinery capable of maufacturing fifty barrels of flour per day. These works are about three and a half miles from Charlestown, and are known by the appellation of 'Industry
Mills.'"
Note: The entries for Charlestown and Jeffersonville do not mention the Work family, and there is no entry for "Industry
Mills." In 1833 I'm quite sure they were well aware of the fact that John Work came from
Fayette Co. PA in 1804, but it didn't seem that you folks were aware of that -- so I hope this will be of some help....
