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HISTORY
OF GREENE COUNTY |
POWDER MILL About the year 1846, a powder mill was erected on the Little Miami, near the site of the old scythe factory, by three men named Austin, who immediately began the manufacture of gun powder, under the firm name of Austin Brothers, and continued until 1852, when the firm changed to Austin, King & Co., by the purchase of an interest by J. W. King. About 1855, the Austin interest was purchased, and the enterprise was incorporated under the name of Miami Powder Company. At that time, the country being comparatively new, the business was carried on in a relatively small scale. The company by industry and economy, however, built up a good and prosperous business, adding in the mean time new machinery, and increasing its capacity as well as capital. Until about 1871, when it attained its present condition, consisting of five mills, for incorporating the material called wheel, or incorporating mills, with sufficiency of other mills, successfully to handle the material. The water power proving inadequate, a heavy steam engine was substituted, which has continued in operation, ever since. |
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