Abandoned Level 2 Ghost Town Discovered in Ohio County, Indiana, Watts Mill, Bear Branch

Bear Branch, Indiana is one of those very small Indiana towns that you may have heard of but probably have never been to. It’s not a “Ghost Town” but it definitely was a much busier town in the past.
Original settler George French died in 1857 and is buried on a local farm. His two sons, Peter & John French are buried at the Olive Branch Cemetery just South of town.
Bear Branch and Pike Township are still very rural but over the years the township has been home to several general stores, a casket maker, several blacksmith shops, a telephone exchange, a flour and feed mill, two churches and at least 4 school houses.
Here’s what I’ve been able to find out...
A fairly large general stored last owned by Robert Turner stood at the Northeast corner of the Bear Branch intersection. It served as a grocery store, dry goods store, hardware store, telephone exchange and living quarters. A barber shop and pool table was located on the second floor. The store burned down in 1951. After the fire the Chevrolet dealership across the road was purchased and remodeled into a store. That store ran until the early 2000s and then sat vacant for years. It has recently been purchased but is no longer in use as a store.
The Kammon General Store was built on the south side of Bear Creek along Bear Creek Road by the Kammon Family. Word has it that this establishment held the first tavern license in the State of Indiana although it was and is so far out in the middle of nowhere, I’m not sure how the state even knew this place existed. The store carried groceries, dry goods, hardware and farm tools. Supplies were hauled in by wagon from the railroad that ran through Dearborn County. They also ran a horse drawn huckster wagon throughout the community selling groceries and delivering the mail. Business continued here until 1917 when the Kammon Family moved to Cross Plains, Indiana and purchased a flour mill built in 1906 and which still stands today. Once vacated the Kammon Store was used by many different families over the years as a private residence. The house still stands although the barn has collapsed.
Around 1846 a grist mill was operated in the area by Hugh Anderson. Later a flour and feed mill was run by Albert Pate. A saw mill was operated by Jack Rimstidt about 1/2 mile north of Bear Branch until the mid 1940s.
In 2024 the Bear Branch Supply Feed Mill is the only business in town and employs 6 people. It began in 1953 by Harry Althoff and Howard Wiesman and was named the AW Feed Mill. These 2 men operated the mill until 1998.
Prior to the feed mill John French made caskets at this site. Caskets were not made until after a death and then the casket would be constructed overnight to be ready the next morning.
Over the years at least three blacksmiths operated in the Bear Branch area. One by Will Selmeyer in 1920, John Althoff had a blacksmith shop across from the Freedom School and Henry Althoff also had a blacksmith shop at the north end of Cutter Road around 1950. This was the last blacksmith shop in the area.
A Good Templars Grange Hall stood at the northwest corner of Aberdeen Road and Cutter Road. Unfortunately it’s long gone now.
Albert Pate operated a flour and feed mill next to the current firehouse. This was originally a 3 story building cutdown to 1 story for use as a garage.
Two Cream Stations operated in the Bear Branch area in the 1950s by Mary Elder and Bertha Althoff.
The softball diamond was established in 1950 with organized leagues playing until 1983.
There were also 2 doctors in the Bear Branch area, Doctor Fuller and Doctor John Elder.
A Ghost Town
The Watts & Hart Families moved into the norther tip of Pike Township along Laughery Creek in the early 1800s. A small village soon formed at this location called Watts Mill. At this site there were 13 houses, the Bear Creek Baptist Church, a mill, a trading post, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a cooper shop and a broom maker. There were two cemeteries for the town, the Watts-Hart Cemetery and the Bear Creek Cemetery. In 1867 a church fire destroyed the Bear Creek Baptist Church. The town is completely gone but the mill race along the creek is still visible.

[@bubster2517]

This is amazing. Im only 16 and didnt know a lot about the area I lived, but now I know where a lot of the old buildings and history of the area is/ was. This is truly priceless information and history, with an entertaining video to showcase it. Absolutely amazing!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@JoMcAllister-bu4hc]

Love this video. My grandmother and great aunt were born on Milton-Bear Branch road. My great grandparents last name were Neinheiser. There home was south of town past the firehouse. John amd Eleanor Neinheiser was their name. They raised 3 children . Loren, Leona, and Ethelena. Leona was grandmother. My aunt Ethelena married Raymond Berkemeyer and bought the family home and lived their entire lives there. She and my grandma would’ve loved this video and would have jumped at the chance to talk about their beloved Bear Branch. ❤️

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked the video!

[@mttaylor4402]

Ethelena was the sweetest. I loved growing up near her.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Love the old cemeteries. So nice to see that some of the buildings and homes have been preserved. Beautiful area all around.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Yes it is.

[@musclecarmitch908]

Awesome story on Bear Branch and Watts Mill! Beautiful place! Great interviews and history! Love seeing the old photos from the past! Thanks for sharing it and its history with us!👍

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I've been familiar with that area for 30 years but didn't know a thing about Watts Mill until I started working on this video project.

[@aaronschulte3207]

Thank you Satolli ❤

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You are most welcome!

[@wiscpoi]

Very interesting. Thank you for showing this! ❤

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked it!

[@jeffs5093]

Amazing video, awesome history of that area

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

There is a lot of history in that area.

[@resqfreedom9308]

I found a picture in the attic of an old house we are remodeling here in New Castle Indiana. It's The Indiana high School Press Association assembled delegate to the 4th annual convention dated October 23rd 1925 in Franklin Indiana! It's 42" x10" and it's still in the frame with the glass! The only bad thing is the roof must have had a small leak in it. It's got a little bit of water damage but it's numbered and sugned and dated on the back in pencil written in cursive! I can't make out what all it says on the back but it's absolutely beautiful to me. Thanks for another great video! Still here waiting to take you to see the old interurban bridge. But take your time getting here and "Stop Often"😜✌️🙏

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Which interurban bridge is that???

[@resqfreedom9308]

It's in the Wilbur wright wildlife preserve. There's a lot of interesting things in those woods. Right at the edge of town. Where the old state hospital was now the prison. We discussed this last year I believe it was!

[@jackwalsh1468]

Satolli, another awesome historical documentary. Very educational and entertaining. Cheers, Mate.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It took a while but I got it done! :)

[@SMOKETHATBUCK]

Your video is very informative and nice to see the history. There were only three families that resided at the old Kammon store. We are the third. Please take heed of the no trespassing signs on the property. They are there for a reason. We do not want trespassers on our property to investigate. The store (stagecoach inn) is falling and we do not want anyone to get hurt. Sad but true, many trespassers have stolen MANY items from our house and barns and along with that, is the history. We are a private family and don't wish to have visitors trying to tour our property. Thank you.( The Ankenbauer's )

[@johnswigler6512]

🧢🇺🇸🇺🇸 Great job, Satolli.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks John! Glad you liked it.

[@jasonsommer9484]

Grew up there. Earl Sommer was my grandfather! I was there when they removed that boulder from our woods!!

[@jasonsommer9484]

I believe you talked to my aunt when you were filming the cemetery by iceberg road!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@jasonsommer9484 I spoke with a woman but didn't get her name. Were there any other boulders like that back in the woods? Just curious.

[@jasonsommer9484]

I don’t recall there were any nearly that size! I climbed on that boulder as a kid. It was pulled out of the woods on South Fork Rd not far from that church!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@jasonsommer9484 That's highly unusual to have a boulder in that area.

[@joeanderson9852]

👍👍

[@resqfreedom9308]

Tgat old store that burned is typical of what I recall from my Mamma's hometown of Albany, Kentucky! A one stop shop for all your needs. And I mean ALL OF YOUR NEEDS! You can go in and get gas a bologna sandwich with cheese cut fresh as you shop for groceries, guns ammo, new tires and pickled bologna and deviled eggs straight from the jar 🫙 Thanks for the memories my friend and GOD BLESS 🙏❤️✌️

[@amyheltonwalker]

My great grandparents ran a mercantile store in our small community. It had everything needed to make it without having to travel to a town, which could take all day to several days round trip back then.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked it!