It all began when Henry Corby, a 26 year old baker from England, arrived in Belleville in 1832. Henry was energetic, ambitious and adventurous. After operating a bakery for several years, he purchased a steamer and spent the next four years travelling up and down the shores of Lake Ontario, working as a grain merchant. By 1857 he was ready to settle down and take up a new trade. With his background as a baker and his knowledge of the grain industry, a new grist mill seemed to be the ideal choice.