A year after arriving in Montgomery County, in 1829, Joel built the township's first grist and saw mill along the banks of Sugar Creek.

[3] It was called Deer's Mill, and that small corner of Montgomery County retains that name to this day.

The original millhouse was of log construction with common stones, and primarily ground wheat and corn.

Deer's Mill, however, did a thriving business, and in 1839, Joel replaced the original log structure with one made of frame construction.

[4] The Deer's Mill bridge was built in 1878 by J. J. Daniels and spans 275 feet (84 m) across Sugar Creek.