From History of Madison County, Ohio, Chester E. Bryan, Supervising Editor, B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis (1915)
We have already seen how Uri Beach built the first saw-mill in Canaan township about 1820, on what was then known as Finch run. This mill was situated on the south bank, west of the Plain City pike, on the brow of the hill. Traces of the old mill race can still be seen, but of the mill itself the last vestige has long since been removed. This mill sawed all the lumber for the first frame buildings in this portion of the county and for the bridges across Big and Little Darby creeks on the National road. This saw-mill and the one later built further below on the Darby at the grist-mill by Isaac Fuller have been the principal water-power saw-mills of the township; since their time, there have been several portable steam-mills that have, as occasion demanded it, been transported to various portions of the township.
In about 1814-15 Isaac Fuller, having located on the east bank of the Big Darby, about two miles South of Amity, erected a grist-mill which was one of the first in this part of the country, right opposite on the west bank of the stream. Mr. Fuller ran this mill for over thirty years, when he was succeeded by Mr. Byers; he died and was followed by John Acton in the ownership of the mill.
A little below the Beach saw-mill, spoken of above, the same Uri Beach, soon after erecting his Saw-mill, built a large, two-story frame building, with a basement, which was quite an imposing structure for the day. The basement was where the power for driving the machinery was placed. The power made use of was unique and the wonder of the age; though very cumbersome, it fully met the owner's expectations. It consisted of what was called "tread power." A large tread-wheel was placed in a horizontal position, or rather at an angle or incline of about ten degrees, and this, by its revolutions, communicated motion to a smaller cog-wheel fitting into it, which, by an upright, communicated motion to the machinery above. Then, upon this inclined tread-wheel were placed a yoke of oxen, which were tied in position and, the wheel tending to move downward by the weight of the oxen, to the lowest point of the wheel, the oxen were made to keep walking up the incline of the wheel, which kept it in motion. The stopping of the machinery, at the will of the operator, was effected by means of a heavy friction brake, let down by lever power upon the tread wheel. The entire arrangement was a curious devise, but, nevertheless, effectual and powerful, propelling a large amount of machinery. This factory was in use for about fifteen years, employed about forty hands, and was a great benefit to the people of the then new settlement. It was succeeded by a mill built by his three brothers just below Amity. As has already been pointed out, this was declared a public nuisance a few years later, and the dam was torn away and the mill became useless.