Down by the Old Mill Stream

Down by the Old Mill Stream,
where I first met you,
with your eyes of blue,
dressed in gingham too,
It was there I knew,
that you loved me true,
You were sixteen,
my village queen,
by the old mill stream,
Down by the stream.

Music by Tell Taylor --1910

Down by the Old Mill Stream Sung by the Fort Findlay 
Sesquicentennial Chorus
1962
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On the flip side of the 45 vinyl recording by the Fort Findlay Sesquicentennial Chorus is a song called
The Pioneers (in mp3)
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Postcard courtesy of the Hancock Historical Society c. 193?

The Forster Music Publishers, Inc,. 216 South Wabash Ave., Chicago, took over the publishing of Taylor's songs. His last song "On the banks of the Old Mill Stream" was finished four days before his death.

Ohio Composers and Musical Authors by Mary Hubbell Osburn (F. J. Heer Printing Company Columbus, Ohio) copyright 1942

Republican-Courier, Wednesday Morning, November 24, 1937

TAYLOR, TELL Vanlue, Hancock County, Ohio, October 14, 1876- November 24, 1937

Comedy actor, and composer of more than twenty sentimental songs, the best known of which is "Down by the Old Mill Stream". The song, words and music, was written and published about 1910 while Taylor was teaching rural school, and was made popular by the vaudeville team, "The Orpheus Comedy Four" who first used it in that year. More than 5,000,000 copies have been sold. (Recorded by the "Capital City Four", Victor).

Taylor was born on a farm five miles east of Findlay. The Blanchard River which he swam as a boy was the original "Mill Stream". The old Misamore Mill at the bridge is gone but the site is still visible. As a young man Tell sang in church choirs in Findlay and was often called to neighborhing towns to give programs. While singing at the Pan American Exposition at Buffalo he was engaged for a musical comedy which began his long vaudeville career. He established the Tell Taylor Music Publishing House at 177 North State Street, Chicago, where he made his headquarters and lived some years; then returned to Findlay to live the last ten years of his life. At the time of his death he was enroute to Los Angeles to assist in the production of a moving picture based on his famous song, was stricken by a heart attack in Chicago, and buried in Van Horn Cemetery at Findlay. (Ohio Cemeteries/Ohio Genealogical Society: Hancock County: Amanda Township: Van Horn: NE 1/4, S12, T1S, R11E. At CR 169 and TR190, 2 1/4 miles west of Vanlue)