About 1829, Jacob Garrard erected a grist mill on Oak Run, a little above where Roberts' mill is now located. This mill was constructed from hewed logs, and was run by water-power. Soon after he erected a small distillery connected with the mill; these he run till about 1840, when he sold the grist mill to Charles Roberts, who refused to purchase the distillery, and it then went into disuse and decay. Soon after the mill came into Mr. Roberts' ownership, he erected a new mill on the present site of the Roberts' Mill. This mill has been run by Mr. Roberts and his heirs ever since its erection, or at least has been run under their ownership, and at one time it did quite an extensive business for that day.
Carding Mill.-- About 1840, Henry Zinn erected a carding mill, with a saw mill attached, on Oak Run, about one mile north of London, run by water-power. He continued business there about five years, when he sold the property to C. K. Slagle, who continued the business about four years, when he erected a new building, two stories, 30x50 feet, attached to the old building in which he placed machinery for the manufacture of all kinds of woolen goods. This machinery he ran by steam power, and in 1850 had it in full operation, when he rented the property to William Fish, who was a practical manufacturer. Mr. Slagle then erected a tannery near the woolen mills. Mr. Fish, after conducting business two years, associated with himself Mr. Dennis Clark, and thus continued two years, when Mr. Fish retired, Mr. Clark purchasing his interest and continuing the business till June 28, 1864, when the whole property was destroyed by fire, caused by sparks falling on the roof from the chimney. This fire also destroyed Mr. Slagle's tannery and all his property. They never rebuilt the mill.
In about 1829, a grist-mill was erected on Oak run a little above where Roberts' mill was later located, by Jacob Garrard. This mill was built of hewed logs and the power was supplied by the stream. Soon afterward he erected a small distillery connected with the mill; these he ran until about 1840, when he sold the grist-mill to Charles Roberts, who refused to purchase the distillery, and it then went into disuse and decay. Soon after the mill came into Mr. Roberts' possession, he erected a new mill on the site referred to above.
Henry Inn, in about 1840, erected a carding-mill, with a saw-mill attached, on Oak run, about one mile north of London, run by water-power. He continued the business there about five years, when he sold the property to C. K. Slagle, who continued the business for four years, when he erected a new building, two stories high, thirty by fifty feet, attached to the old building, in which he placed machinery for the manufacture of all kinds of woolen goods. This machinery he ran by steam power, and in 1850 had it in full operation, when he rented the property to William Fish, who was a practical manufacturer. Mr. Slagle then erected a tannery near the woolen mills. Mr. Fish, after conducting the business two years, associated himself with Dennis Clark and thus continued two years. Then Mr. Fish retired, Mr. Clark purchasing his interest and continuing the business until June 28, 1864, when the whole property was destroyed by fire, caused by sparks falling on the roof from the chimney. This fire also destroyed Mr. Slagle's tannery and all his property. The mill was never rebuilt.