Neenah at that time was a major flour milling center, and Wisconsin was a leading wheat growing state.

The most desirable part of a wheat berry is the endosperm, a protein-rich nutrient whose natural purpose (like all fruits) is to give nutrition to the seed when it is planted.

In the mid 19th Century stones generally came from France, and were cut and dressed to have grooves in them, so that they both gently cracked the wheat and ground bits and pieces that mixed into the flour.

Stevens surmised that Oborn's process did less crushing of the outer shell, but instead gently cracked the berry open and dumped out the endosperm.

In order to prove the point, Stevens needed an actual device and he had some difficulty finding a machine shop who could manufacture steel rolls that had sufficient length and diameter, eventually employing the firm of Farrell and Sons in Ansonia, Connecticut.

[9] Almost immediately the mill began benefiting financially from the new process, which Stevens and his associates attempted to keep secret but which was copied by rivals nevertheless, as they learned about it through various subterfuge.

The claims of this patent were: These claims covered most of the important aspects of the invention (differential speed, plane surfaces at fixed distance to optimally crack the berry, crossed grooves), but was not sufficient to protect all he had done, so subsequently, Stevens applied for several other additional patents, to cover the aspect of continuous reduction (re-crushing of the bran) and separation.

This was due to the fact that the new process was much more well-suited to milling of spring wheat which could be grown cheaply on the plains and prairies of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Another major effect on the economy of northern Wisconsin came when a consortium of the newly-wealthy Minneapolis millers formed the Soo line railroad for the purpose of shipping their flour products more directly to the east coast and Europe.

In the hey day of the logging industry, the Soo Line provided a cheaper, faster and more direct means for lumberjacks and suppliers to reach the lumber camps.

Previously these employees and supplies would have to be taken long distances over rough tote roads by wagon, sleigh or on foot.