Help with Token? Dug Today in SC

If this isn’t allowed let me know, I didn’t know where to place it.

It says “CAMP CREEK MILL CO.” “J.W. REAVES, PROP.” what looks like “WHIG TENN.” and on the back says “GOOD FOR 100 LBS BRAN.” I can’t make out all of the edge, but what I can read I believe says “VOID IF LOSS OF MILL BY FIRE OR WATER.”

Is this some sort of early insurance token for mills? Maybe they were a supplier and the buyers were given discounts for buying tokens, predicting events like this would happen?

 

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Cool piece, other than "Camp Creek" is a real stream in Tennessee, I can't find anything about it. Maybe @ZoidMeister will chime in.

 

Here is a link to several similar. Looks like the "good for" side was used on other tokens but no listings for that town.

http://tokencatalog.com/display_rec...ingAnyWord=&HomePageSearch=&view=All+Listings

 

I checked a map. "WHIG" could be an abbreviation for Whitesburg, which is VERY close to Camp Creek. It's near Greeneville. East of Knoxville.

 

Check out this screen grab from Google Maps. Crossing Camp Creek is "Reaves Mill Road". I'll bet a dollar it's the same Mill and Reaves referenced on your token.
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Thank you for the help!! How did it wind up in Newberry County, SC on a creek bank is my question? It was next to old mill land, but I wouldn’t think it would say Tennessee?

 

We'll never know, LOL. Nice find.

 

Camp Creek is also a parkway near the Atlanta area airport.

Otherwise I have nothing.

Z

 

Neat find Sc.

 

Just a theory - Reaves moved his mill to SC or started a new one. My 17th/early 18th century ancestors in PA established a mill in one place, then moved to another place and started another mill there, on and on. A quick search found this - coincidence? You might find that the Reaves "mill operative" in 1915 Newberry is directly related to the J.W. Reaves mill in TN. Fun to speculate.

http://genealogytrails.com/scar/newberry/observer/1878-1905Ra.htm
"Reaves, Lola Rebia female, white, delivered by John B. Setzler M. D., on 8/23/1915. Parents are Malcolm Reaves, mill operative, born in Newberry Co. SC, and Lola Rivers Reeves, born in Lexington Co. SC, living in Newberry City. Return of Births in the City of Newberry SC. 8/19/1885 to 12/15/1918 kept in the Newberry Co. Library."

 

That list has a W.H. Reaves, owner of Farmer's Ideal Roller Mill in Pate's Hill, TN. More evidence of a family connection with these mills.

I wonder if WHIG TENN is a reference to the Tennessee Whigs, and not a town name.

 

All good theories posted above. If there is a historical society in the area, they may have more info, if you're inclined to inquire.

 

I wouldn't doubt the Whig theory, But just to find out I would have to make a trip to the adjoining roads and creek area to find out if I could find another. Are you too far for the road trip?. If I was in Tenn. I would meet you there.

 

Heck, I am thirty miles away. I’ll put some fresh batteries in my Garrett and we can have us a party!

 

I think someone should check. I wish I was close enough.

 

Pretty cool token being tied to the original location. So if the mill isn't there anymore, was it lost by fire or water? If by water, did this warning precede its demise?

 

Good thought @messydesk maybe search down stream.

 

I once metal detected a elongated cent that was made at an aquarium in Alaska.. I dug it in NYC.
It just travels until someone loses it.