The Houston Morning Star reported in 1840 that “Messers Croft & James have erected a water-powered saw and grist mill on Spring Creek, Harris County.” The Democratic Telegraph & Texas Register in 1848 noted that Croft was located a mile above Houston and that the mill employed a Hotchkiss water wheel. According to census records for the year ending June 1, 1850, Jacob Croft's water-powered sawmill and grist mill produced 600,000 feet of lumber and 1,200 bushels of corn meal during the census year. Raw materials included 600 logs at $1,800 and 1,000 bushels of corn at $1,000. Croft employed four men, each averaging $25 monthly, during that time, and d the mill's value at $3000. The d value of the lumber produced was $9000, and the d value of the meal was $1500.