Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 23 Oct 2004

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The manufacturing interests of the township are naturally very limited, owing, principally, to the absence of large water-courses, as before noticed, and consequent lack of water-power. In early times, Clear Creek furnished ample power for mills; but, as the country became improved, it gradually dwindled away, until it was a mere wet-weather stream. The only water-power in use in the township at present is at Springboro. It is furnished by some fine never-failing springs (from which Springboro derived its name) situated a little northwest of town.

We think we may safely assert that the first mill in the township was built on the stream flowing from these springs, and near where the Lower, or Baird's Mill, now stands. It was a log building and was erected about the year 1801 or 1802 by a Mr. Lawrence. We are told that a dam was built across the stream near its source, and the water conducted from there to the mill in large troughs, which were made by hollowing out logs.

This mill was replaced, in 1813, by a brick mill. In the meantime, however, a Mr. Caldwell had built a mill a short distance south, on Clear Creek In 1816, a woolen factory was built on the above-mentioned spring stream, a short distance above the mill, and, in 1831 or 1832, another mill was built, known as the Upper Mill, and, apropos of this, Dr. Aaron Wright says that a few years since he cleaned out the mill-pond and put in a new fore-bay, and the cost was almost as great as the original cost of building both pond and mill,