John Parmelee was the first white settler in Warren County. He came to Iowa in 1840 as an agent of a company of traders in furs. He also registered the first land in Warren County, Palmyra Township, August 1, 1848. He operated the Parmelee Mill in 1843 which was originally built to furnish lumber for the buildingof the Des Moines barracks. It became a grist mill for grinding corn and wheat in 1847. (Source: History of Warren County 1879)