There were three Joseph Edwards in Greenville in the early 1800s: father, son, and grandson. According to tradition, Edwards Mill was built in the 1790's on Mountain Creek of the Enoree River by Joseph Edwards, the father. Tradition also says that Joseph Edwards built the mill on land sold to him by Isaac Green. Recent research indicates that Isaac Green never sold any land to a Joseph Edwards and that no Joseph Edwards owned land on Mountain Creek until 1818.

However, in 1852 experienced gristmill operator, Joseph Edwards, the grandson, announced that some new mills had been built on Mountain Creek on land that formerly belonged to his father and grandfather. There is no documentation that these mills were the first ones built by a Joseph Edwards or if these mills were built over the burned ruins of Joseph Edwards, the father's mill.

There is no primary documentation that the mill known today as Edwards Mill was in fact built by Joseph Edwards, the father or son. In June 1898, this third Joseph Edwards gave his mill tract to his son B. Perry Edwards.

Directions:
Depart from Heritage Green Place. Turn left onto Buncombe St. The name will change to East North St. Proceed to Church St (Hwy 29) and turn left onto Church St. Church St. will run into Wade Hampton Blvd (still Hwy 29). Proceed to Taylors. Turn left onto Edwards Rd. (there will be a shopping center on the left and a traffic light). Mill will be approximately 1/2 mile on the left. It sits near the road behind a number of trees and may be difficult to see.

Batson, Mann. Water Powered Gristmills and Owners: Upper Part of Greenville County South Carolina. Taylors, South Carolina: Faith Printing Co., 1996.

Greenville County Grantee Index.

Greenville Deed p-49.