Several mills came into existence in the county at an early date, and it is difficult to decide the question of priority. The first in the western part was a steel mill, turned by hand, brought by John Baker. People from this section had previously been obliged to go to mill thirty miles away, on War Eagle Creek.

William Wood built a small water mill with the assistance of his neighbors in 1837-38. It was on Osage, and the land is now owned by Richard Walker.

Henry Klinginbeard owned a small corn mill a short distance farther down the Osage, in 1838.

The first mill on Yocum Creek was built by John Yocum about 1835. It was within a mile of Green Forest. It was a log building about 14×16 feet, and stood on four posts, one of which is yet to be seen. The dam was made of logs and brush, and was constantly being repaired. It was renewed after every freshet. The water was conducted by a chute over a tub wheel, communicating by shafting with the single 'runner.' The bed stone was stationary. This mill had a capacity of four bushels a day.

Lassiter and Crawford built a mill on a branch of Osage several years later, and Thomas H. Clarke built another on the Osage River farther up about the same time. Both of these mills were in Liberty Township.

John Boyd built a mill on Long Creek about 1836, and another was built by Malachi Reeves on the same stream, near Denver Post Office, at an equally early date.

One Patton built the first mill on Dry Fork, and two or three others followed it in close succession.

John Denny built the first mill on King's River so far as known.

Steam mills have come into existence since the war, during which nearly all the old water mills were burned.

A Mr. James built the first saw-mill in 1843 on Dry Fork, and Joel Blair built another on the same stream in 1844.

B. H. Hobbs and Co. erected the first steam saw-mill nine miles northwest of Berryville in 1857.