Raised December 8, 2011
“Mill Wheel,” Owners, Craig and Sheri Wood, 1660 Fords Mill, Nonesuch, KY VC 37̊56’38.83”N-84̊44’42.40”W The Owners chose the Mill Wheel in honor of the grist mill that stood on their property. The foundation of it is still visible today to the left of the barn behind a clump of trees. It’s close to Clear Creek.
Legend has it that the first grist mill in the county was built on this property in the late 1700’s by Thomas Metcalfe, who had a reputation as a good stone builder. Thomas Metcalfe went on to become governor of the state of Kentucky. He served four terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives. In the War of 1812, he commanded a company in the defense of Fort Meigs. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms. In an election decided by 709 votes, Metcalfe defeated William T. Barry in the gubernatorial election of 1828. His political opponents nicknamed him “Old Stone Hammer.”
This home was built in 1853 by James P. Ford, whose father migrated to Woodford County after the Revolutionary War from Virginia. History states, “In 1865 Mr. Ford was elected a member of the Legislature, was re-elected in 1869, and has also been elected magistrate on the Democratic ticket. He is a farmer and the owner of 398 acres of good land.” Fords Mill Road is named for James P. Ford.