Dailey's Mill
In the 1830s, the adventurous couple John Dailey and Mary Salina Cox Dailey embarked on a pioneering journey, settling in the northern expanse of Henry County. Mr. Dailey, driven by entrepreneurial spirit, established a mill on the banks of Little Cotton Indian Creek in this burgeoning region. The mill thrived, proving to be a lucrative venture for the Dailey family, particularly flourishing in the years leading up to the Civil War.
During this time, the landscape around the mill became home to families like the Knights, Selfridges, and, of course, the Daileys themselves. These families worked the land, cultivating it into prosperous farmland that sustained the community. However, as the nation was engulfed in the turmoil of the Civil War, the mill changed hands and eventually passed out of the Dailey family's ownership.
While the mill's physical structure has faded into the annals of history, the enduring testament to the past lies in the family cemeteries that still stand proudly. The final resting places of the Knights, Selfridge, and Dailey families provide a poignant link to the community's roots and the individuals who played a pivotal role in shaping its history.
Though the community has evolved and the name Dailey's Mill may have given way to new nomenclature, the spirit of this vibrant area endures. The land, once tilled by the Dailey family and their neighbors, remains the backdrop for an active and thriving community, weaving together the threads of the past and the present in a tapestry that tells the story of a resilient and enduring place.