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Knapp, Stout, & Company mill. On June 22, 1855, Ebenezer Thompson began a mill here, cutting a short ditch across a bend in the Red Cedar River to form a mill race. In a short time high water enlarged the ditch until it became a main channel. Februrary 24, 1858, Mr. Thompson deeded the interest to Capt. B. B. Downs who made such improvements as the dam, and enlarging the operation. The town grew up almost solely around the sawmill and was consequently named after Downs. At sometime between 1858 and 1883 the mill was sold to Knapp, Stout, & Company, the date of sale not being recorded, but the Dunn County history does mention that after a big flood of 1883, Knapp, Stout, & Company asked Capt. Downs to return to town and see if he could rebuild the dam for them, which he did.
Knapp, Stout, & Company also built a boarding house and company store for the mill workers. The mill was closed in 1900 and then torn down soon after.
