Milan

Milan was originally called Camden Mills. After the watch factory was built on VanDruff's Island, Milan residents decided to change the name of their town to Milan,

because it sounded more European, more classy.

                       Map found in the home of my Aunt Winifred Brandenburg, William Dickson's great grand daughter

When white settlers first arrived here, the famous Sac village of Black Hawk stood on the opposite side of the river. A colony of Kickapoos

occupied the south shore below the town.

In 1828 Rinnah Wells came here and settled among the Indians, who did not leave their village till 1831. Joshua Vandruff

came the year following. For two or three years these pioneers and Indians lived together, and had their friendly intercourse and their

disputes and quarrels. Mr. Vandruff built where Sears' Mill now is, and lived there until he built his house on the island which

bears his name, and where he died and was buried about 1859. His remains were afterwards taken up and removed to Chippiannock

Cemetery . Mr. Wells died suddenly in 1852, being found dead in his buggy on the road.

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