History of Sharps Fork Mill
The Anicama/Robb farm is situated on land once owned by Mr. Thomas Sharp who built a two story grist mill where the Retreat Inn presently sits. The creek, which currently flows along the South side of the bottom land, once ran next to the Inn with an overshot wheel fed by the creek waters which were damned up with head waters regulated based upon the mill,s daily power requirements. The mill was erected in 1876. Thomas Sharp was the first Justice of the Peace when Columbia Township, Meigs County was organized in 1820.
Sometime in the 1880,s, the mill was shut down with the timbers salvaged and used for the erection of a small two story house complete with large fireplace made of the local sandstone quarried from the hill to the rear of the farm.
It is believed that the farm was originally deeded to Jacob Swett who came from Massachusetts, a rope maker and Revolutionary War Soldier and was awarded an 80 tract of land, his musket and muel by George Washington in 1816. Jacob,s first home was in Salem Township.
Jacob Swett Jr. became a medical doctor and had his practice there at the farm at the site of Sharps Creek Mill. Isaac Connor Swett, also an MD lived and maintained his medical practice there as did his son Isaac Marion Swett. Chester Parker Swett and Chester P. Swett, Jr. also became medical country doctors and practiced at the farm home and former grist mill thus giving Jacob Swett five generations of country doctors originating form the Sharps Creek Mill and farm. (See article entitled "Dr. Isaac Connor Swett, Rural Physician," in the Ohio State Medical Journal of August, 1956.
Currently, Dr. Giovanna M. Robb looks forward to opening her medical practice there upon the farm, a continuance of the Sharps Mill history of down to earth country and now Peruvian medicine and wellness.
Sometime in the 1880,s, the mill was shut down with the timbers salvaged and used for the erection of a small two story house complete with large fireplace made of the local sandstone quarried from the hill to the rear of the farm.
It is believed that the farm was originally deeded to Jacob Swett who came from Massachusetts, a rope maker and Revolutionary War Soldier and was awarded an 80 tract of land, his musket and muel by George Washington in 1816. Jacob,s first home was in Salem Township.
Jacob Swett Jr. became a medical doctor and had his practice there at the farm at the site of Sharps Creek Mill. Isaac Connor Swett, also an MD lived and maintained his medical practice there as did his son Isaac Marion Swett. Chester Parker Swett and Chester P. Swett, Jr. also became medical country doctors and practiced at the farm home and former grist mill thus giving Jacob Swett five generations of country doctors originating form the Sharps Creek Mill and farm. (See article entitled "Dr. Isaac Connor Swett, Rural Physician," in the Ohio State Medical Journal of August, 1956.
Currently, Dr. Giovanna M. Robb looks forward to opening her medical practice there upon the farm, a continuance of the Sharps Mill history of down to earth country and now Peruvian medicine and wellness.