Recent efforts to locate properties once owned by members of the Axsom family that settled in Surry County, N.C., have produced a surprising discovery in regard to a mill once owned by Joseph Axsom, Jr.  The 1880 Census for Surry County, N.C., listed Joseph Axsom,  P.O. Rusk, Marsh Township, as owning a grist and flour mill located on Mitchel’s River.  However, recent research has revealed that the mill once owned by Joseph Axsom was actually located on Snow Creek, a tributary of Mitchel’s River (Mitchell River).

There is an old mill still standing on the banks of Snow Creek that is called the Joe Layne Mill.  A short history of the Joe Layne Mill is presented in an article included in the book Simple Treasures: Architectural Legacy of Surry County.   According to the article,  Joe Layne purchased a farm on Snow Creek in 1897 and three years later purchased a water mill on the creek.  The article further states that the mill was originally built by the Roberts family and was later owned by members of the Dobson family.  There is no mention of the Axsom family as ever owning the mill. But, there is now evidence that the Joe Layne Mill is the same mill that was once owned by Joseph Axsom.  In fact, the mill was owned by the Axsom family from 1860 until the year following Joseph’s death in 1888. The property was sold as part of Joseph’s estate.  The following evidence has been gleaned from various records including tax lists, deeds, settlements of accounts, and court petitions:

• 03 March 1860:  Joseph Axsom purchased from S. W. Roberts ½ interest in land located on Snow Creek that included “the mill seat where the old mill now stands.”
• 1862 Tax List - Marshes District:   Roberts and Axom were listed as joint owners of 50 acres.  The location was Snow Creek. The same tax list showed Joseph as owning an additional 325 acres. The location of the 325 acres was also Snow Creek. (It is unclear as to whether the location given on the 1862 Tax List  meant that the property was actually located on Snow Creek or if Snow Creek was a subdivision of Marshes District.)
• 31 August 1879:  Joseph Axsom purchased from S. W. Roberts ½ interest in a parcel of land on Snow Creek described as being bounded on the bank of the mill dam (obviously the remaining ½ interest in the mill property).
• 04 December 1888:  Joseph Axsom died on 14 September 1888.  A court proceeding involving the settlement of Joseph’s estate listed real estate owned by Joseph at the time of his death.  At the time of his death, Joseph owned a tract of land known as the home tract, a tract known as the mill tract, and a tract of land adjoining the mill tract. The mill was referred to as one formerly known as the Roberts Mill on Snow Creek.  This same proceeding ordered a portion of Joseph’s land to be set apart as dower for his widow, Mary.
• 25 January 1889:  In another court proceeding dated 25 January 1889 involving the settlement of Joseph’s estate,  it was ordered that a Writ of Dower be issued and a jury be summoned to set apart as dower 1/3 the value of Joseph’s total land holdings.  The land that was not covered by Mary’s dower was to be partitioned into lots and sold after advertising in 4 public places.  The sale was to take place on the premises of the Axom mill.  J.E. Burch was appointed Commissioner in the case for the purpose of overseeing the sale of the property and reporting the results to the Court.
• 26 January 1889:  A Writ of Dower was issued to the Sheriff of Surry County in Mary’s behalf.  The Writ commanded that one-third of the lands owned by Joseph Axsom, “including the dwelling house, and all offices, out-houses, buildings and improvements thereon…,” be allotted to Mary. The mill tract known as the Roberts Mill was included in the list of property owned by Joseph.
• 29 January 1889:  A jury allotted Mary Axsom her dower as required by law.  The land awarded Mary was described as containing 180 acres, more or less.
• 02 March 1889: A sale of three parcels of land was held (the remaining land after Mary’s dower was set apart). The sale took place at the mill.
• 04 March 1889: Commissioner Burch submitted to the Court a report in which he recorded the results of the sale. The report listed Sandy Dodson as the purchaser of the mill tract for the price of $365.00.  Commissioner Burch also stated the opinion that none of the land brought a fair price and recommended that the land be resold about 01 November 1889.
• 05 March 1889:  In response to the report by Commissioner Burch, the Court set aside the sale of 04 March and ordered Commissioner Burch to resale the lands on or about 01 November 1889.
• 04 November 1889:   A report of the November sale listed L.J. Bray as the purchaser of a lot known as the Axsom mill tract at the price of $563.00.  Commissioner Burch stated in the report that all the land sold brought a fair price and asked the Court to confirm the sale.
• 03 December 1889:  The case involving the report filed by Commissioner Burch regarding the November sale was brought before the Court.  The Court was satisfied with the report and the sale was confirmed.
• 23 January 1891:  L.J. Bray and wife sold A.F. Dodson and wife ½ interest in mill property owned by Bray and Mosely.  The mill was described as the Joseph Axsom Mill.
• 19 January 1899:  An agreement was made between J.S. Layne and wife, T.T. Layne, and J.J. Wallace in which the Laynes contracted Wallace to “rebuild and  repair and put in good running order the mill herein often described.…known as the Axsom old mill.”  The agreement was satisfied on 09 January 1902. (J.S. Layne married T.T. [Jones] Dodson  on 25 September 1898.)
• 24 April 1912:  L.P. Dodson of the state of Montana sold one fifth individual interest in six tracts of land located along Snow Creek to J.S. Layne. The fifth tract included the “mill, mill site, and all privileges and appurtenances….”  The sale of all lands described in the deed was “subject to the life estate of T.T. Dodson now Layne.”