SAWMILLS
Thanks to the Texas Historical Commission for this information.
Corporate Name: A. H. and E. A. Bryan
Owner/Company Affiliation: A. H. and E. A. Bryan
Location: Two and a half miles northwest of Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1894
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Northwest of Gladewater
Historical Development: According to Gregg County records, A. H. and
E. A. Bryan contracted to sell lumber to Stallings & Bryan from their
sawmill in Upshur County, located two and a half miles northwest of Gladewater.
Corporate Name: A. J. Wood
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. R. Wood. A. J. Wood. Castle & Phillips.
Location: (Big Sandy) Ferguson's Switch: MP and Cotton Belt (St. Louis
Southwestern) tracks
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893 to 1923
Capacity Comments: 20,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber and shingles
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Saw and shingle mill. 1923: Huntsville steam engine and
boiler, all the machinery, including belts and pulleys, four horses, two
mules, one 8-wheel wagon, and one 4-wheel wagon
City/Town: Gladewater (Big Sandy)
Historical Development: J. R. Wood was listed at Gladewater in 1893
as cutting 20,000 feet daily in 1893, and again as a sawmiller in the Reference
Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association credit ratings for 1905 and
1907. This may be the same J. R. Wood who was sawmilling at Big Sandy in
Upshur County in 1907. According to county deed of trust records, J. R.
Wood sold the mill to A. J. Wood after it had been operated by Castle &
Phillips. The record of 1923 reveals that equipment and animals included
one Huntsville steam engine and boiler, all the machinery, including belts
and pulleys, four horses, two mules, one 8-wheel wagon, and one 4-wheel
wagon.
Corporate Name: A. L. Morgan
Owner/Company Affiliation: A. L. Morgan. A. P. Phillips. J. Q. Holman.
Location: 200 acres on Wilson Palmer headright survey eight miles south
of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1906 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill and planing mill
City/Town: On Wilson Palmer headright survey
Historical Development: A. P. Phillips earlier leased a site on which
J. Q. Holman had built a sawmill. Phillips in 1907 leased the 200 acres
of the land, located on Wilson Palmer, to A. L. Morgan with an option for
Morgan to either lease the mill and mill site or to erect a new mill. The
improvements and site would revert to Phillips in five years. Seven days
later Morgan took a timber deed with W. M. Dunagan on sixty acres of timber.
J. Q. Holman sold for $1490 his sawmill plant located eight miles south
of Gilmer to A. L. Morgan in October 1907, including the mill, shed, planer,
mill houses, and the edger.
Corporate Name: A. S. Murrell
Owner/Company Affiliation: A. S. Murrell
Location: Coffeeville
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Sash
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sash factory
City/Town: Coffeeville
Historical Development: The A. S. Murrell sash factory at Coffeeville
was listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: Adair & Merrill
Owner/Company Affiliation: Adair & Merrill
Location: Ashland
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Ashland
Historical Development: Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association,
January 1907 listed Adair & Merrill of Ashland. It was not listed in
the 1905 edition.
Corporate Name: Amos and Amos
Owner/Company Affiliation: D. W. and W. B. Amos
Location: About six miles east of Gilmer in the Samuel McCollough headright
survey
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: East of Gilmer
Historical Development: D. W. and W. B. Amos owned a small sawmill
about six miles east of Gilmer in 1907. That year they contracted their
cut to Progressive Lumber Company of Camp, Texas.
Corporate Name: Amos & Hamilton
Owner/Company Affiliation: Amos & Hamilton
Location: Bettie, about six miles north of Gilmer on the Cotton Belt
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: According to the Lumbermen's Credit Association
this firm operated a saw mill at Bettie in January 1905.
Corporate Name: Anderson & Moore
Owner/Company Affiliation: Anderson & Moore. J. W. Whitt and T.
J. Still.
Location: Rosewood, about ten miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas Southern
Railroad
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rosewood, ten miles northwest of Gilmer
Historical Development: Anderson & Moore were listed in the 1907
records at Rosewood. Anderson and Junius Moore gave a timber deed to J.
W. Whitt and T. J. Still in 1907, located near their mill about ten miles
northwest of Gilmer. Anderson & Moore apparently contracted Whitt and
Still to log the land.
Corporate Name: Arch Moore
Owner/Company Affiliation: Arch Moore. Joseph William Ogburn Lumber
Co
Location: Near Shady Grove
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1915 to the late 1920s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Near Shady Grove
Historical Development: Joseph William Ogburn Lumber Co had a sawmill
south of Winnsboro, according to "This Everlasting Sand Bed": Cultural
Resources Investigations at the Texas Big Sandy Project, Wood and Upshur
Counties, Texas. It operated from about 1915 to the later 1920s. Arch Moore
bought the mill and moved it to the south of Hawkins.
Corporate Name: B. F. Eitch
Owner/Company Affiliation: B. F. Eitch
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: The B. F. Eitch sawmill was listed in an 1880
Chicago lumberman directory.
Corporate Name: B. F. Phillips
Owner/Company Affiliation: B. F. Phillips
Location: Near Ferguson's Switch
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1923
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Finished lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Planing mill
City/Town: Ferguson's switch
Historical Development: According to county deed of trust records,
this mill was located "in the angle formed by the Texas & Pacific Railway
and the cotton Belt Railway, being the same land on which the planing mill
of B. F. Phillips is now situated," according to deed of trust records.
Corporate Name: Barton and Smith
Owner/Company Affiliation: Barton and Smith
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1900 to 1912
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: Barton and Smith were reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
The newspaper, in 1968, reported that the area "became such an important
lumber shipping point that a thriving town grew up there including several
stores, hotels, bank, cotton yard, gin, drug store, barber ship, livery
stables, pottery, saloons, market and many other enterprises. After the
timber was all cut the mills closed down and the railroad closed down too
in 1917." This was probably the sawmill noted in the county records. D.
F. Smith took a timber deed and a right-of-way from Ann Early on January
12, 1907, on land located about nine miles east of Gilmer. The timber was
post oak.
Corporate Name: Beavers & Meek
Owner/Company Affiliation: Beavers & Meek
Location: Rhonesboro
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1910
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: At or near Rhonesboro
Historical Development: The Gilmer Mirror reported that Beavers and
Meeks had a mill near Rhonesboro in Upshur County after the turn of the
century. Beavers & Meek were listed as sawmilling 20,000 feet daily
of yellow pine lumber in 1915 at Hawkins.
Corporate Name: Big Sandy Crate Manufacturing Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Big Sandy Crate Manufacturing Company, also
the Big Sandy Crate and Basket Manufacturing Company. H. S. Cobb.
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber, boxes, and crates
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Sawmill and box factory
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: Big Sandy Crate Manufacturing Company appeared
in the January 1907 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association
as manufacturers of boxes, crates, and lumber. Smith County records note
that the company was buying land and sawtimber in Upshur County in 1905.
In 1907, it mortgaged 1,800 acres. That same year Judge D. E. Bryant of
the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Texas,
at Tyler, adjudged the Big Sandy Crate and Basket Company to be bankrupt.
The company was sold by the Trustee, J. G. Reaves, to H. S. Cobb in July
1907. It was located on twenty acres of the John Carson headright survey
in Upshur County. Buildings included two and a half story (50-feet by 100-feet)
factory; a metal-roofed 100-foot by 16-foot platform adjoining the factory;
a 30-foot by 60-foot metal-roofed veneer shed with a 30-foot by 16-foot
by 2-foot steam vat; a 20-foot by 30-foot boiler house; a metal tank and
various platforms; a half-roofed 50-foot by 30-foot sawmill shed; an 80-foot
by 30.5-foot drying shed; a 20-foot by 30-foot barn; and two Arkansas dry
kilns.
Corporate Name: Bradley & Moore
Owner/Company Affiliation: Bradley & Moore
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: Bradley & Moore appeared in the January
1907 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as a sawmill.
Corporate Name: Brunson L. Lee
Owner/Company Affiliation: Brunson L. Lee
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 10,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Red and white oak, black and red gum, shortleaf yellow
pine
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Circular sawmill, planing mill, edgers, trimmers
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: B. L. Lee had a sawmill and planing mill at
Gilmer in 1928. Lee was one of the few mills to make it at Gilmer during
the Depression. This may have evolved into the W. H. Lee sawmill, which
was greatly damaged by fire in 1947.
Corporate Name: Buie- Simpson Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Buie- Simpson Lumber Company
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber and shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and shingle mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: This lumber operation was listed a sawmiller
in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1905
but not for 1907.
Corporate Name: C. A. Magrill
Owner/Company Affiliation: C. A. Magrill
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 20,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Shortleaf yellow pine and hardwoods; timbers and vehicle
dimension stock
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Circular sawmill, planing mill, trimmers, edgers
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: Glezen Lumber Company was listed in 1928 as
operating a sawmill, planing mill, edgers, trimmers, and a commissary at
Gladewater.
Corporate Name: C. B. Johnson
Owner/Company Affiliation: C. B. Johnson
Location: Calloway
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle mill
City/Town: Calloway
Historical Development: The C. B. Johnson shingle mill at Calloway
was listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: C. L. Bray
Owner/Company Affiliation: C. L. Bray
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1902
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Short leaf yellow pine lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: According to Gregg County records, C. L. Bray
had a sawmill at Gladewater. He sold some short leaf yellow pine mill-run
to R. B. Godley of Dallas through J. H. Ingells.
Corporate Name: C. R. Davis
Owner/Company Affiliation: S. K. Elms. W. C. Barnwell. C. R. Davis
Location: One and a quarter miles from Gilmer on the C. R. Davis land
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough and finished lumber
Power Source: Steam engine and boiler
Equipment: Sawmill, planer, boiler, engine, mules, wagons, buildings,
sheds, corrals
City/Town: Outside of Gilmer
Historical Development: S. K. Elms sold to W. C. Barnwell a sawmill
plant for $5,750 on 30 August 1907. The sale included the following property:
the sawmill and its machinery, a planer, a boiler, an engine, ten mules,
four wagons, various buildings, sheds, and corrals. The plant was located
on C. R. Davis land about one and a quarter miles from Gilmer. W. C. Barnwell
sold his sawmill site to C. R. Davis at the end of 1907 for $1,600. The
site was probably located about one and three-quarters mile south of Gilmer
on C. R. Davis land, which had once belonged to S. K. Elms. Also leased
was timber ten inches and up on land about two miles south of Gilmer. Property
included the sale was the sawmill, the boiler, engine, planer, twelve mules,
and four wagons (two road, two log).
Corporate Name: Carter Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Carter Lumber Company. Mrs. J. W. Carter
Location: Bettie, about six miles north of Gilmer on the Cotton Belt
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: According to the Lumbermen's Credit Association,
Mrs. J. W. Carter operated a saw mill at Bettie in January 1905. By 1907,
the company was known as the Carter Lumber Company.
Corporate Name: Castleberry & Lawrence
Owner/Company Affiliation: Castleberry & Lawrence
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Yellow pine lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: Listed in the 1905 and the 1907 Reference Book
of the Lumbermen's Credit Association ratings at Longview, the sawmill
firm of Castleberry & Lawrence had expanded to Gladewater by 1907.
Charles C. Coppedge
Corporate Name: Charles C. Coppedge
Owner/Company Affiliation: Charles C. Coppedge
Location: Box 23, Ore City
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1943 to 1957
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Pine and hardwood lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Ore City
Historical Development: Charles C. Coppedge sawmill at Ore City appeared
in the 1957 edition of Nelson T. Samson's Directory of Wood-Using and Related
Industries in East Texas. The Directory of Texas Manufacturers 1956-1958
reported that Coppedge's plant opened in 1943. He employed more than twenty-five
workers in manufacturing pine and hardwood lumber.
Corporate Name: Charles Shaw
Owner/Company Affiliation: Charles Shaw
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The Charles Shaw shingle mill at Gilmer in
Upshur County were listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: Commercial Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Commercial Lumber Company. A. L. Clark,
president; John A. Bonner, general manager.
Location: Gilmer: Titus and Walker streets
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1892 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Estimated 50,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Lumber and shingles
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill and shingle mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: This sawmill company was established before
1892 and was engaged it building tram lines to its various county mills.
The Texas Southern bought up the tram lines of Commercial and operated
rail traffic in Upshur and Harrison counties. This lumber operation was
listed as a sawmill in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association,
January 1905 and for 1907. In 1907, a fire wiped out the mill. Clark et
al. closed operations and moved to Arkansas, where they operated the A.
L. Clark Lumber Company. Many of the mill hands, white and black, moved
with Clark to Glenwood, Arkansas. This was the first time in the area that
African-Americans had lived amongst the whites. Racial antagonism was so
bad that company guards kept watch at night while the black mill hands
and their families slept in the commissary at night for protection. Its
logging tram extended from Gilmer for sixteen miles to Ashland. It was
bought by the Texas Southern Railway Company in 1892. Doyal Loyd noted
in his work that the large Gilmer mill contracted at least ten smaller
mills in the county to keep it supplied with rough lumber.
Corporate Name: Cone and Watkins
Owner/Company Affiliation: Cone and Watkins
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: Early as the 1880s to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: Cone and Watkins were reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
G. H. Baird noted in his work A Brief History of Upshur County that a Cone
operated a sawmill near Grice (Hamils Chapel) near the Big Woods during
the 1880s. The earlier mill was probably the precursor to the Cone and
Watkins operation.
Corporate Name: Couch & Henderson
Owner/Company Affiliation: Couch & Henderson. Possibly H. M. Couch
of James. Both of the Couch mills were on the PBIO
Location: Ore City
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 15,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Shortleaf yellow pine and a variety of hardwoods
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Circular sawmill, edgers, trimmers
City/Town: Ore City
Historical Development: H. M. Couch was sawing shortleaf yellow pine
and hardwoods at Ore City in 1928. This may be the Henderson Bros sawmill
in Upshur County that burned, according to Fred McKenzie.
Corporate Name: Cypress Creek Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Cypress Creek Lumber Company
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Finished lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Planing mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The Cypress Creek Lumber Company planing mill
was listed in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association,
January 1907.
Corporate Name: D. W. Seay & Son
Owner/Company Affiliation: D. W. Seay & Son
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle mill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: The D. W. Seay & Son shingle mill at Gladewater
was listed in the 1907 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association.
Corporate Name: Dacus
Owner/Company Affiliation: Dacus
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named Dacus was reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
Corporate Name: Davis Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Davis Lumber Company
Location: near Bettie
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1900
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: near Bettie
Historical Development: According to The Gilmer Mirror, the Davis Lumber
Company had extensive milling and logging interests in Upshur County at
and after the turn of the century.
Corporate Name: Davis, Davis, and Brogden
Owner/Company Affiliation: Davis, Davis, and Brogden, before 1887.
E. E. Elder, 1883 to 1887. George W. Crow, before 1865 to before 1883.
Location: Rhonesboro area, on the Wood County line
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: Before 1865 to at least 1886. Sawmill
beginning about 1880.
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Before 1865: cotton and cornmeal. 1883: lumber, cornmeal,
and cotton.
Power Source: Animal at first, later steam.
Equipment: Before 1865: cotton gin and gristmill. 1883: sawmill, gristmill,
and cotton gin.
City/Town: Rhonesboro area
Historical Development: "This Everlasting Sand Bed": Cultural Resources
Investigations at the Texas Big Sandy Project, Wood and Upshur Counties,
Texas reported that a sawmill existed in the border area near Rhonesboro
on the Wood and Upshur County lines. The original mill was a combination
cotton gin and grist mill powered by animals. By 1883, E. E. Elder, the
new owner of the mill, installed a sawmill as well. The final owners were
Davis, Davis and Brogden, who stopped milling by 1887.
Corporate Name: Dedman-Williams Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. L. Dedman and Buck Williams
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928 to 1934
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Planing mill and later sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: Dedman & Williams Lumber Company was the
only lumber mill at Elmer in 1934.. Five others had gone out of business
by then. Later Nacogdoches County records reveal that these men were J.
L. Dedman and Buck Williams. The name "Dedman" is misspelled as "Denman"
in some documents. Denman Lumber Company had a planing mill in 1928 at
Gilmer and a sawmill at Pittsburg. Denman Lumber appeared on the Accounts
Receivables (December 31, 1929) for Texas Fence Company.
Corporate Name: Dixon & (?) Saw and Grist Mill
Owner/Company Affiliation: Dixon & (?) Saw and Grist Mill
Location: Unknown
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1869 to 1870
Capacity Comments: 225,000 feet of pine lumber during the reporting
period of the Census
Type of Mill: Lumber and cornmeal
Power Source: 20-horsepower steam engine
Equipment: Sawmill and grist mill
City/Town: Unknown
Historical Development: The Dixon (handwriting on the manuscript is
almost illegible) sawmill was declared a capital investment of $1,000,
according to the census of 1870. Raw materials included $2,725 worth of
wood and pine logs, and $15,600 worth of 15,600 bushels of unmilled corn.
Eight men were employed for twelve months at a total wage of $2,000. The
operation manufactured 225,000 feet of lumber valued at $4,500, and milled
$18,200 worth of cornmeal.
Corporate Name: Dolinski, Davis, Greer, Horsell
Owner/Company Affiliation: H. D. Knight. Phillip Dolinski, C. G. Davis,
and J. B. Greer, P. W. T. Horsell.
Location: About fourteen miles from east of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1904 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough and finished lumber
Power Source: A 12-inch by 14-inch Atlas 50-horsepower Atlas steam
engine
Equipment: Fisher and Davis sawmill, a 3-saw Dixie edger, a Hall &
Brown 12-inch planer-molder, two gummers, a shingle machine, three log
wagons, houses, sheds
City/Town: East of Gilmer
Historical Development: H. D. Knight, according to Upshur County deed
records, had been timber leases in Upshur County since 1904. Timber stands
included areas in the I. W. Hathcox, William Britton, and Dickson Parker
surveys. A deed record filed in 1907 reflects that Knight's mill was then
in operation, and located about fourteen miles east from Gilmer. H. D.
Knight sold his sawmill plant to Phillip Dolinski, C. G. Davis, and J.
B. Greer, P. W. T. Horsell on 6 February 1907 for $16,800. The plant and
property included 515 acres of pine timber, a shingle mill, a Fisher and
Davis sawmill, a 12-inch by 14-inch Atlas 50-horsepower Atlas boiler, a
3-saw Dixie edger, a Hall & Brown 12-inch planer-molder, two gummers,
a shingle machine, three log wagons, houses, sheds, and 250,000 feet of
lumber.
Corporate Name: Durham & (?) Sawmill
Owner/Company Affiliation: Durham & (?) Sawmill
Location: Unknown
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1869 to 1870
Capacity Comments: 120,000 feet of pine lumber during the reporting
period of the Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: 26-horsepower steam engine
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Unknown
Historical Development: The Durham sawmill was declared a capital investment
of $3,500, according to the Census of 1870. Raw materials included $200
worth of logs Six men were employed in the sawmill for two months at a
total wage of $480. The operation manufactured 120,000 feet of pine lumber
valued at $1,800.
Corporate Name: E. B. West
Owner/Company Affiliation: E. B. West. T. C. Mitchell. T. C. Mitchell
and C. E. McClelland.
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough and finished yellow pine lumber
Power Source: 11-inch by 14-inch Atlas steam engine
Equipment: Fisher and Davis sawmill, a 48-inch by 12-inch Atlas steam
boiler, a Curtis edger, a #522 Franks planer, eight mules, two log wagons,
and a Fisher & Davis pony surfacer
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit
Association, January 1907 reported that E. B. West had a planing mill at
Gilmer in 1907. The T. C. Mitchell sawmill at Gilmer was sold to E. B.
West in September 1907 for $7,000, according to Upshur County records.
Property included the sawmill plant, sawtimber contracts, and the land
on ten acres leased from J. O. Reynolds, which in included a Fisher and
Davis sawmill, an 11-inch by 14-inch Atlas steam engine, a 48-inch by 12-inch
Atlas steam boiler, a Curtis edger, a #522 Franks planer, eight mules,
two log wagons, and a Fisher & Davis pony surfacer. The site earlier
belonged to T. C. Mitchell and C. E. McClelland.
Corporate Name: E. L. Lawrence
Owner/Company Affiliation: E. L. Lawrence
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 10,000 feet daily in 1928
Type of Mill: Red and white oak, shortleaf yellow pine; timbers.
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Circular sawmill, planing mill, edgers, trimmers, rotary
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: According to the Southern Lumberman's Directory
of American Saw Mills and Planing Mills, E. L. Lawrence had a sawmill and
planing mill at Gilmer in 1928, but it apparently did not survive the Great
Depression.
Corporate Name: East and West Texas Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: East and West Texas Lumber Company
Location: Block 26 of Gilmer on a spur from the railroad tracks
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1888
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Kingsland and Ferguson 12-inch by 20-inch steam engine
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: J. L. Barr was a mechanic who worked on the
steam machinery of the East and West Texas Lumber Company, headquartered
at Gilmer. The company had mills at Gilmer and about four miles northwest
of Gilmer. The Gilmer mill on Block 26 operated a Kingsland and Ferguson
12-inch by 20-inch steam engine. Mill No. 3 was located on Little Cypress
Bayou; it had an Owens Lane and Dyer 12-inch by 20-inch steam engine.
Corporate Name: East and West Texas Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: East and West Texas Lumber Company
Location: On Little Cypress Bayou four miles northwest of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1888
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Owens Lane and Dyer 12-inch by 20-inch steam engine
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Northwest of Gilmer
Historical Development: J. L. Barr was a mechanic who worked on the
steam machinery of the East and West Texas Lumber Company, headquartered
at Gilmer. The company had mills at Gilmer and about four miles northwest
of Gilmer. The Gilmer mill on Block 26 operated a Kingsland and Ferguson
12-inch by 20-inch steam engine. Mill No. 3 was located on Little Cypress
Bayou; it had an Owens Lane and Dyer 12-inch by 20-inch steam engine.
Corporate Name: East Texas Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: East Texas Lumber Company
Location: Four miles northwest of Gladewater and twelve miles south
of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: The East Texas Lumber Company appeared in the
January 1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association. The
only mill at Poerville in 1907 was the Iowa Lumber Company operation. The
East Texas Lumber Company of Longview was a creditor of Langford Lumber
Company, an Angelina County Lumber Company concern, in 1935. It first appeared
in a credit listing in 1905 with a mill at Poerville in Bowie County. The
Poerville mill was not listed in the 1907 edition under East Texas Lumber
but rather under the Iowa Lumber Company. The Beckville mill appeared only
in the 1907 edition. The Gladewater plant of A. M. Phillips was bought
by East Texas Lumber Company in 1907, plus a lease was negotiated for standing
timber eleven inches and up. The plant was four miles northwest of Gladewater
and twelve miles south of Gilmer.
Corporate Name: Edward (Edd) Horn Steam Saw and Grist Mill
Owner/Company Affiliation: Edward (Edd) Horn
Location: Near Rhonesboro, one-half mile from dam and lake
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1869 to 1870
Capacity Comments: 1,565,000 feet during the reporting period of the
Census
Type of Mill: Lumber and cornmeal
Power Source: 15-horsepower steam engine
Equipment: Sawmill and grist mill. Two saws, one stone.
City/Town: Near Rhonesboro
Historical Development: Edd Horn's sawmill near Rhonesboro is mentioned
in Loyd's A History of Upshur County, Texas. It was located about a half-mile
from the dam and lake. Horn built a trace to bring water to his plant.
The Census of 1870 noted that this sawmill was declared a capital investment
of $1,000. Raw materials included $5,000 worth of logs and $4,000 worth
in in 5,000 bushels of unmilled grain. Three men were employed for twelve
months at a total wage of $1,000. The operation manufactured 1,565,000
feet of lumber valued at $22,475, and milled $5,000 worth of grain.
Corporate Name: Ely Seago Sawmill
Owner/Company Affiliation: Ely Seago Sawmill
Location: Unknown
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1869 to 1870
Capacity Comments: 40,000 feet during the reporting period of the Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: 30-horsepower water wheel
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Unknown
Historical Development: According to the Census of 1870, the Ely Seago
sawmill was declared a capital investment of $3,875. Raw materials included
$200 worth in 800 pine logs at $2,000. Two men were employed in the sawmill
for twelve months at a total wage of $500. The operation manufactured 40,000
feet of pine lumber valued at $1,000.
Corporate Name: F. G. Carlock
Owner/Company Affiliation: F. G. Carlock
Location: Diana
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Diana
Historical Development: The F. G. Carlock sawmill operation at Diana
is noted in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: Foreman & Brother
Owner/Company Affiliation: Foreman & Brother. Forman & Co.
Location: U. S. 80 and the Missouri Pacific at Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880s to 1890s
Capacity Comments: 50,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: Foreman & Brother were reported to be cutting
50,000 feet daily at Big Sandy in 1893. County records reveal that Foreman
& Brother was the operation of John M. Forman, who operated before
1893 Forman & Co. One example from 1892 is a deed from the Fyffe family,
who sold to Forman all the sawtimber on the waters of the Big Sandy in
the Smith survey.
Corporate Name: Fred Eastwood
Owner/Company Affiliation: Fred Eastwood
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Three steam boilers and two engines,
Equipment: Sawmill, two saws, two edgers, a resaw, a Hoyt planer, a
log car, four log wagons, three road wagons
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The firm of Fred Eastwood appeared in the January
1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association and the 1907
listing. He may have bought out R. J. Freeman at La Fayette. In 1907, Eastwood
mortgaged with W. C. Barnwell, for $6,000, his sawmill property. This included
578 acres, three boilers, two engines, two saws, two edgers, a resaw, a
Hoyt planer, a log car, four log wagons, three road wagons, etc. The location
of the sawmill was not identified.
Corporate Name: G. A. Gunstream
Owner/Company Affiliation: G. A. Gunstream
Location: Near Shady Grove
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: During the 1890s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: 20-horsepower 9-inch by 18-inch steam engine with a 40-inch
by 11.5-inch boiler, both portable.
Equipment: Double circular sawmill with a 52-inch saw
City/Town: Near Shady Grove
Historical Development: The G. A. Gunstream sawmill, according to "This
Everlasting Sand Bed": Cultural Resources Investigations at the Texas Big
Sandy Project, Wood and Upshur Counties, Texas, was a classic example of
a "peckerwood mill." The sawmill, boiler, blacksmithing tools, and engine
were portable.
Corporate Name: G. C. Williams
Owner/Company Affiliation: G. C. Williams. Gentry-Hillis Lumber Company.
Location: Ashland
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill, planing mill, 21 mules, 1 Milburn log wagons, 1
Owensboro log wagon, 1 Espenchied log wagon, 5 tenant houses, carriage,
sawmill husk, 3-saw edger, Glencoe planer, saw gummer, saw swage
City/Town: Ashland
Historical Development: Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association,
January 1907 listed J. C. Williams of Ashland as owning a sawmill. He apparently
also owned a planing mill. In September 1907, Williams sold the mill and
his logging outfit (including twenty-one mules, two Milburn log wagons,
one Owensboro log wagon, one Espenchied log wagon, five tenant houses,
a carriage, a sawmill husk, a three-saw edger, a Glencoe planer, a saw
gummer, and a saw swage) to D. W. Hills, E. G. Gentry and D. S. Shelburne
for $15,175.87. A specific sawmill is not listed in the document recorded
in the county records about the sale; it is possible that the sawmill either
burned or Williams kept it for himself. The price of the sale as well as
the extensive and expensive inventory of physical and material items indicate
that Williams sold the entire plant to Hills et al.
Corporate Name: Gaffney, Mundy & Co.
Owner/Company Affiliation: Gaffney, Mundy & Co.
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The Gaffney, Mundy & Co. shingle mill at
Gilmer in Upshur County was listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: Gentry-Hillis Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Gentry-Hillis Lumber Company
Location: Ashland
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Ashland
Historical Development: Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association,
January 1907 listed Gentry-Hillis Lumber Company of Ashland. It was not
listed in the 1905 edition.
Corporate Name: George H. Baird and James M. Davis
Owner/Company Affiliation: George H. Baird and James M. Davis
Location: Pulvador grant, near Shady Grove
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1909 (intermediate date)
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber and shingles
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill and shingle mill
City/Town: Near Shady Grove
Historical Development: According to "This Everlasting Sand Bed": Cultural
Resources Investigations at the Texas Big Sandy Project, Wood and Upshur
Counties, Texas, George H. Baird and James M. Davis owned a sawmill near
the Shady Grove area in 1909.
Corporate Name: George Upchurch
Owner/Company Affiliation: George Upchurch
Location: Northwest of Rhonesboro and south of Winnsboro
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1900 to the 1930s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: West of Rhonesboro
Historical Development: George Upchurch had a sawmill south of Winnsboro,
according to "This Everlasting Sand Bed": Cultural Resources Investigations
at the Texas Big Sandy Project, Wood and Upshur Counties, Texas. It operated
from about 1900 to the 1930s.
Corporate Name: Gilmer Crate and Basket Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Gilmer Crate and Basket Company
Location: One-half mile north of courthouse, due north of Gilmer Ice
& Light Plant
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1914
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Crates, baskets
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Crate and basket factory
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: A mechanic lien filed by Denman-Massey Lumber
Company against Gilmer Crate & Basket Company in 1914 revealed that
the latter was located one-half mile north of the county courthouse in
Gilmer and immediately north of the Gilmer Ice & Light Plant.
Corporate Name: Gilmer Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Gilmer Lumber Company. Fred Eastwood, A.
L. Mattox, R. W. Taylor
Location: On five acres just north and west of the Marshall and East
Texas Railway
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1908
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Finished lumber
Power Source: W. K. Henderson boiler (12-foot by 42-inch) and a steam
engine
Equipment: Planing mill: trimmer, a Fay an Eagan moulder, one Center
Crank Skinner steam engine, a Hall & Brown edger, a Hoyt planer, a
resaw, one blower, three lumber trucks.
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: A deed of trust filed at Upshur County courthouse
in 1908 noted that Gilmer Lumber Company had come under the management
of R. W. Taylor of Harrison County. Taylor had received this mill and the
Eastwood sawmill plant near Harleton that year in order to rid Eastwood
of crippling debt. The planing mill was located just to the north and west
of the Marshall & East Texas Railway depot in Gilmer. Equipment included
an E. B. Hayes trimmer, a Fay an Eagan moulder, one Center Crank Skinner
steam engine, a Hall & Brown edger, a Hoyt planer, a resaw, one blower,
a W. K. Henderson boiler (12-foot by 42-inch), three lumber trucks, and
all the lumber on the yard.
Corporate Name: Gladewater Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Gladewater Lumber Company
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1915
Capacity Comments: 10,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Yellow pine timbers
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: Gladewater Lumber Company was listed in 1915
as cutting 10,000 feet daily of yellow pine timber.
Corporate Name: Glezen Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Glezen Lumber Company
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 15,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Shortleaf yellow pine and hardwoods; timbers and vehicle
dimension stock
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Circular sawmill, edgers
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: Glezen Lumber Company was listed in 1928 as
operating a sawmill and a commissary at Gladewater.
Corporate Name: H. C. Williams
Owner/Company Affiliation: H. C. Williams
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928 to 1934
Capacity Comments: 15,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Shortleaf yellow pine
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Circular sawmill, planing mill, edgers, trimmers
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: H. C. Williams had a sawmill and planing mill
at Gilmer in 1928. He was one of two mills among seven at Gilmer that survived
the Great Depression.
Corporate Name: H. Lowry
Owner/Company Affiliation: H. Lowry
Location: Western District, 1860 U.S. Census
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1859 to 1860
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Water
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Western District, 1860 U.S. Census
Historical Development: According to records for that census year,
the H. Lowry water-powered sawmill had $200 in pine logs. It produced $2,000
worth of lumber. He employed three men.
Corporate Name: H. M. Couch
Owner/Company Affiliation: H. M. Couch
Location: James
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 5,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Shortleaf yellow pine
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Circular sawmill
City/Town: James
Historical Development: H. M. Couch was sawing shortleaf yellow pine
at James in 1928.
Corporate Name: Harrison and Son
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. W. (or W. J.) Harrison and Son
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1904 to 1909
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle Mill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The firm of Harrison and Son appeared in the
January 1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association (Chicago)
and a 1909 roster of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas, Manufacturers.
Their shingle mill was located at La Fayette, Upshur County.
Corporate Name: Hoffman Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Hoffman Lumber Company
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893
Capacity Comments: 15,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: Hoffman Lumber Company was reported to be cutting
15,000 feet daily at Gladewater in 1893.
Corporate Name: J. A. Drennon Sawmill
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. A. Drennon
Location: Unknown
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1869 to 1870
Capacity Comments: 400,000 feet during the reporting period of the
Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: 20-horsepower steam engine
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Unknown
Historical Development: The Drennon sawmill was declared a capital
investment of $1,000. Raw materials included $1,000 worth of wood. Four
men were employed in the sawmill for ten months at a total wage of $1,000.
The operation manufactured 400,000 feet of pine lumber valued at $4,000.
Corporate Name: J. B. Nuby
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. B. Nuby
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The firm of J. B. Nuby appeared in the January
1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association (Chicago) and
the 1907 listing. He may have bought out R. J. Freeman.
Corporate Name: J. C. Ginn
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. C. Ginn
Location: Coffeeville
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Sash
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sash factory
City/Town: Coffeeville
Historical Development: The J. C. Ginn sash factory at Coffeeville
was listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: J. C. Miller
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. C. Miller
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1897 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The firm of J. C. Miller appeared in the January
1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association (Chicago) and
the 1907 listing. He later operated a sawmill at or near Gilmer.
Corporate Name: J. C. Miller
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. C. Miller
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The firm of J. C. Miller appeared in the January
1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association (Chicago) and
the 1907 listing. He later operated a sawmill at or near Gilmer.
Corporate Name: J. D. White
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. D. White
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: J. D. White appeared in the January 1907 Reference
Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as a sawmiller.
Corporate Name: J. F. Vickers
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. F. Vickers
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber and shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and shingle mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The J. F. Vickers was listed in the Reference
Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1907.
Corporate Name: J. H. Cude & Brothers
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. H. Cude & Brothers
Location: Kelsey
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Kelsey
Historical Development: This operation was listed in the Reference
Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1907.
Corporate Name: J. I. Morgan
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. I. Morgan
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 10,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Shortleaf yellow pine and red and white oak
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Circular sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: J. I. Morgan was listed in 1928 as operating
a sawmill at Gladewater.
Corporate Name: J. L. Chronister
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. L. Chronister
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle mill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: J. L. Chronister appeared in the January 1907
Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as shingle manufacturer.
Corporate Name: J. L. Goodwin.
Owner/Company Affiliation: A. L. Beene. J. L. and T. E. Goodwin. Charlie
Graves.
Location: On the old C. P. Graves place seven miles northeast of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1906 to 1913
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: On the old C. P. Graves place seven miles northeast of Gilmer
Historical Development: In 1907 A. L. Beene owned and operated a sawmill
on the old C. P. Graves homestead in Upshur County. That year Beene contracted
with J. L. and T. E. Goodwin to have the latter log and supply his mill
with sawtimber. Goodwin apparently took over the mill from Beene, for on
22 December 1906 Charlie Graves contracted to continue the lease on his
sawmill located on his land, about seven miles northeast of Gilmer until
1 January 1913.
Corporate Name: J. M. Hooper
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. M. Hooper
Location: Western District
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1859 to 1860
Capacity Comments: 500,000 feet of lumber during the reporting period
of the Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Western District
Historical Development: According to records for the census of 1860,
this steam-powered sawmill had $1,250 in pine logs. It produce 500,000
feet of pine plank valued at $6,000. He employed six men during that time
at a total monthly wage of $150, and declared the mill's value at $4,500.
Corporate Name: J. N. Hooton
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. N. Hooton
Location: Graceton, east of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber and cotton and cornmeal
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and grist mill and cotton gin
City/Town: Graceton
Historical Development: G. H. Baird noted in his work that J. N. Hooton
operated a cotton gin, sawmill, and grist mill at Graceton during the 1880s.
Corporate Name: J. O. Byrne
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. O. Byrne
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough and finished lumber, general store
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and planing mill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: The J. O. Byrne lumber operation was listed
at Gladewater as a sawmiller in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit
Association, January 1905 but not in the 1907 listing.
Corporate Name: J. P. Davis
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. P. Davis
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1957
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: The J. P. Davis sawmill service appeared in
the 1957 edition of Nelson T. Samson's Directory of Wood-Using and Related
Industries in East Texas.
Corporate Name: J. R. Marham & Co.
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. R. Marham & Co. William McKay J.
S. Barnwell and F. S. Eberhart
Location: From four to six miles north of Gilmer on William King headright
survey
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1906
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Pine and hardwood (gum and oak) lumber
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Potential Sawmill
City/Town: North of Gilmer
Historical Development: William McKay gave a four year lease to J.
R. Marham & Co to cut pine, oak, and gum ten inches in diameter at
the stump on land located about four and a half miles north of Gilmer.
The company had the right to erect a sawmill and housing on the land, but
when the company quit the land it would have to leave the buildings in
place. J. L. Marham & Co. took a four-year lease from J. S. Barnwell
and F. S. Eberhart on standing pine, gum and oak timber located about six
miles north of Gilmer on the William King headright survey. The company
had an option to build a mill; all improvements, however, would revert
to Barnwell and Eberhart at the end of the lease.
Corporate Name: J. R. Todd
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. R. Todd
Location: Bettie
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle mill
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: The J. R. Todd shingle mill at Bettie was listed
in an 1884 railroad directory. A John Todd was also listed as having a
shingle mill at La Fayette, Upshur County, in the same directory.
Corporate Name: J. R. Wood
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. R. Wood
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: J. R. Wood appeared in the January 1907 Reference
Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as a sawmiller. This may be
the same J. R. Wood who was sawmilling at Gladewater in Gregg County.
Corporate Name: J. W. Cooper and and W. C. Hodges
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. W. Cooper and and W. C. Hodges. J. W.
Moody, Jr.
Location: Two miles northeast of Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1875
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: North of Gladewater
Historical Development: According to Gregg County records, J. W. Moody,
Jr. had a steam sawmill two miles northeast of Gladewater known as the
"Swamp Rabbit." The county sheriff sold it to J. W. Cooper and and W. C.
Hodges for $26.00 in 1877. Cooper had been doing lumber work in the area
since 1875. Jno Cooper provided lumber and labor for Edward Dewey's boarding
house and hotel on the tracks of the Texas & Pacific depot at Gladewater.
This may have become the Cooper Hardin & Co mill listed at Gladewater
in an 1880 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: J. W. Ferguson
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. W. Ferguson
Location: Ore City
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1934
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Pine lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Ore City
Historical Development: J. W. Ferguson was manufacturing pine lumber
at Ore City in 1934. He may have bought out Couch and Henderson, who had
been sawmilling there in 1928.
Corporate Name: J. W. Harrison & Brother
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. W. Harrison & Brother
Location: Bettie: FM 2088 and St Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) tracks
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893
Capacity Comments: 25,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: J. W. Harrison & Brother were cutting 25,000
feet daily at Bettie in 1893. This may be the same Harrison Brothers that
were running a mill at Pittsburgh.
Corporate Name: J. W. Wallace
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. W. Wallace
Location: Rosewood, about ten miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas Southern
Railroad
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rosewood
Historical Development: J. W. Wallace's sawmill at Rosewood appeared
in the January 1907 published records of the Lumbermen's Credit Association.
Corporate Name: Jacob Mauthe
Owner/Company Affiliation: Jacob Mauthe
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: This sawmill was listed in an 1880 Chicago
lumberman directory. Jacob Mauthe had other sawmilling interests in Gregg
and Harrison counties.
Corporate Name: James
Owner/Company Affiliation: James
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1908 to 1915
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named James was reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
Corporate Name: James Brown Steam Saw and Grist Mill
Owner/Company Affiliation: James Brown Steam Saw and Grist Mill
Location: Coffeeville
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1869 to 1884
Capacity Comments: 1,750,000 feet during the reporting period of the
Census of 1870
Type of Mill: 1870: Lumber and grain 1884: lumber, shingles
Power Source: 30-horsepower steam engine
Equipment: Sawmill and grist mill
City/Town: Coffeeville
Historical Development: This sawmill was declared a capital investment
of $1,000. Raw materials included $6,000 worth of logs and $3,000 worth
in unmilled grain. Ten men were employed in the sawmill for twelve months
at a total wage of $3,000, and two men were employed in the grist mill
for twelve months at a total wage of $1,000. The operation manufactured
1,750,000 feet of lumber valued at $23,000, and milled $5,000 worth of
grain. This operation was listed in an 1884 railroad directory. It was
then a sawmill and shingle mill.
Corporate Name: James Storrie, T. W. McFarland, Dan Downey
Owner/Company Affiliation: James Storrie, T. W. McFarland, Dan Downey.
D. T. Colquitt
Location: 303 acres in the William Whittaker survey
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough lumber
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: William Whittaker survey
Historical Development: D.T. Colquitt, a sawmiller in Upshur County,
gave a timber deed and a right-of-way in 1907 to James Storrie, T. W. McFarland,
Dan Downey with the additional right to erect a sawmill on 303 acres located
in the William Whittaker survey.
Corporate Name: Jeff Dowell
Owner/Company Affiliation: Jeff Dowell. G. A. McKnight.
Location: Two miles east of Smith at Pine
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1903 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Pine
Historical Development: G. A. McKnight sold his sawmill, mill shed,
and houses to Jeff Dowell. The plant was located two miles east of Smith
in Upshur County on the N. W. Presnell survey. J. A. Knowles filed a mechanic's
lien against McKnight after the latter sold the plant to Dowell. Dowell
contracted his shingle cut to J. E. Efurd in May 1907.
Corporate Name: Joe Ingram
Owner/Company Affiliation: Joe Ingram
Location: Near Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Near Big Sandy
Historical Development: G. H. Baird notes in A Brief History of Upshur
County that Joe Ingram operated a sawmill near Big Sandy during the 1880s.
Ingram also owned a saloon in town.
Corporate Name: John A. Mathis
Owner/Company Affiliation: John A. Mathis. J. A. Graham, J. A. Mathis,
and J. T. Baird
Location: Pinacle, near Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough yellow pine lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Pinacle
Historical Development: The John A. Mathis sawmill was listed in the
Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1907. J.
A. Graham, J. T. Baird, and J. A. Mathis, the owners of a new sawmill located
at Pinacle on the St Louis Southwestern, contracted in 1907 to sell the
sawmill cut to Mathis.
Corporate Name: John O'Byrne
Owner/Company Affiliation: John O'Byrne
Location: O'Byrne's Switch: Spruce Road and Highway 155
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893 to 1907
Capacity Comments: 30,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber, cornmeal
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill and grist mill
City/Town: O'Byrne's Switch
Historical Development: G. H. Baird's A Brief History of Upshur County
notes that John O'Byrne operated a large sawmill with many workers several
miles east of Union Grove during the 1880s and 1890s. A Galveston newspaper
reported that O'Byrne was cutting 30,000 feet daily at Gladewater, in Gregg
County, in 1893. The Saga of Cherokee County reports that John O'Byrne
built a home in 1883 in what is now considered the Union Grove community.
O'Byrne farmed, and operated a sawmill, a grist mill, and a commissary.
Corporate Name: John Todd
Owner/Company Affiliation: John Todd
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Shingle mill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The John Todd shingle mill at La Fayette was
listed in an 1884 railroad directory. A J. R. Todd was also listed as having
a shingle mill at Bettie, Upshur County, in the same directory.
Corporate Name: John Wiggins
Owner/Company Affiliation: John Wiggins
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Pine rough and dressed lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and planing mill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: The John Wiggins sawmill and planing mill at
Big Sandy was listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: Judge Lowe
Owner/Company Affiliation: Judge Lowe
Location: Bettie
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: According to G. H. Baird, Judge Lowe was operating
a sawmill at Bettie during the 1880s. It is not known if Judge Lowe was
T. J. Lowe, who owned sawmills near Gilmer and Gladewater during this decade.
Corporate Name: L. B. McCasland
Owner/Company Affiliation: L. B. McCasland
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The firm of L. B. McCasland appeared in the
January 1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association (Chicago)
and the 1907 listing.
Corporate Name: L. J. Green
Owner/Company Affiliation: L. J. Green
Location: Gilmer: Duncan Street and Railroad Avenue
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893
Capacity Comments: 35,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: L. J. Green was cutting 35,000 feet daily at
Gilmer in 1893.
Corporate Name: Lark Carrington
Owner/Company Affiliation: Lark Carrington. L. A. Latch and C. J. Chronister
Location: Latch: Latch Road and FM 2793
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893 to 1900
Capacity Comments: 20,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Atlas 12-inch by 14-inch steam engine, 42-inch by 14-foot
boiler of 40-horsepower, an 11-inch by 18-inch 35-horsepower steam engine,
a steam pump, an 28-foot steamboat boiler
Equipment: Sawmill, a 42-inch by 14-foot boiler of 40-horsepower, an
11-inch by 18-inch 35-horsepower steam engine, a steam pump, a 3-saw Kentucky
gang edger, a Hoyt Bros No. 14 planer with an and 28-foot steamboat boiler,
eight horses and mules, twenty-six work oxen, two Espenschied wagons, and
fifty hogs
City/Town: Northeast of Shady Grove
Historical Development: L. A. Latch was cutting 20,000 feet daily at
Big Sandy in 1893, according to a Galveston newspaper. The Latch mill was
located some miles northeast of Shady Grove during the 1890s and early
1900s. Lark Carrington operated the complex after Latch. Latch was partners
with C. J. Chronister during the 1890s. He gave a deed of trust to Chronister
on 26 August 1895. Equipment transferred included the sawmill, a 42-inch
by 14-foot boiler of 40-horsepower, an 11-inch by 18-inch 35-horsepower
steam engine, a steam pump, a 3-saw Kentucky gang edger, a Hoyt Bros No.
14 planer with an Atlas 12-inch by 14-inch steam engine and 28-foot steamboat
boiler, eight horses and mules, twenty-six work oxen, two Espenschied wagons,
and fifty hogs. The boiler and engine were manufactured by the state penitentiary
at Huntsville.
Corporate Name: M. M. Denson
Owner/Company Affiliation: M. M. Denson
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1875 to 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough and dressed lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and planing mill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The Denson sawmill and planing mill at La Fayette
was listed in an 1884 railroad directory. He later relocated to Pittsburgh.
Denson was sawmilling as early as 1875 for that year he sold some lumber
to G. W. Baird for the building of a box "dwelling."
Corporate Name: Mabry & Mabry
Owner/Company Affiliation: Mabry & Mabry
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: The Mabry & Mabry sawmill at Gladewater
was listed in an 1880 Chicago lumberman directory.
Corporate Name: Mack and F. C. Florence
Owner/Company Affiliation: Mack and F. C. Florence
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named Mack and his partner F. C. Florence
were reported by The Gilmer Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro
after the turn of the century.
Corporate Name: Mason Moseley
Owner/Company Affiliation: Mason Moseley
Location: Upshur district, 1850 U.S. Census
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1849 to 1850
Capacity Comments: 100,000 feet during the reporting period of the
Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Water
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Upshur district
Historical Development: According to census records for the year ending
June 1, 1850, Mason Moseley's water-powered sawmill cut 600 logs (value
of $150) to produce 100,000 feet of lumber valued at $1,000. Moseley employed
three men during that time at a total monthly wage of $45, and declared
the mill's value at $1200.
Corporate Name: McLaine Brothers
Owner/Company Affiliation: McLaine Brothers
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The McLaine Bros sawmill was listed in an 1884
railroad directory at Gilmer.
Corporate Name: McWhorter
Owner/Company Affiliation: McWhorter
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Probably steam.
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named McWhorter was reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
Corporate Name: Morgan Bros
Owner/Company Affiliation: Morgan Bros. T. C. and J. H. Morgan
Location: Big Sandy: St Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) and U. S.
80
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893 to 1894
Capacity Comments: 30,000 daily
Type of Mill: Rough and finished lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and planing mill
City/Town: Southwest of Big Sandy
Historical Development: T. C. and J. H. Morgan of Hunt County operated
the sawmill firm of Morgan Brothers at Big Sandy, Upshur County, during
the 1890s. County records note that the sawmill and planing mill were located
about one-half mile southwest of Big Sandy on leased land between the Cotton
Belt and Texas & Pacific railroads. The brothers provided tenant housing
and a commissary. Logging was done with fifty-two oxen. Timber was shipped
over a seven-mile tram; rolling stock consisted of a shay engine, thirteen
logging cars, a box car, and two hand cars. The Galveston Weekly News reported
in 1893 that the mill was cutting 30,000 feet daily.
Corporate Name: Morgan Brothers
Owner/Company Affiliation: S. C. and J. C. Morgan. A. L. Morgan and
C. L. Rogers. Morgan Brothers.
Location: Unknown
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1906 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill, commissary
City/Town: Unknown
Historical Development: A. L. Morgan and C. L. Rogers had sold their
sawmill to S. C. and J. I. Morgan, who operated as Morgan Brothers in Upshur
County. This was on land that A. L. Morgan had leased from A. J. Hollins
and built a mill. When he sold the mill, etc., to Morgan Brothers he contracted
to live in the commissary and would continue to log and haul for the new
owners. In 1907 Morgan Brothers contracted with Yothers-Gibson Lumber company
to sell the latter their sawmill cut for the year. That same year they
contracted with Mrs. L. J. Boyd for timber rights and a right-of-way on
land located about five miles southeast of Gilmer.
Corporate Name: N A Matthews Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: N A Matthews Lumber Company
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber and shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and shingle mill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: The N A Matthews Lumber Company lumber operation
was listed at Gladewater as a sawmiller in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's
Credit Association, January 1905 and again in 1907. It also had a lumber
mill at Will's Point, Van Zandt County.
Corporate Name: Newby, Hargis, Christian, Ervin and Ervin
Owner/Company Affiliation: J. B. Newby, Henry Hargis, R. B. Christian,
Kake and Will Ervin
Location: Near Bettie with a rail switch at Bettie
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Near Bettie
Historical Development: Henry Hargis, R. B. Christian, Kake and Will
Ervin operated a steam sawmill on leased land from Sam Ervin and Henry
Fluellen, with a rail switch at Bettie. In March 1907 the partners sold
a one-half interest in the operation to J. B. Newby.
Corporate Name: Nolan
Owner/Company Affiliation: Nolan
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named Nolan was reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
Corporate Name: O. J. Bruce
Owner/Company Affiliation: O. J. Bruce
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: O. J. Bruce appeared in the January 1907 Reference
Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as a sawmill.
Corporate Name: Oscar W. Glasco
Owner/Company Affiliation: Oscar W. Glasco
Location: Sand Hill, five miles northeast of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Sand Hill, east of Gilmer
Historical Development: This operation was listed in the Reference
Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1907. This operation
is probably the one G. H. Baird referred to in his work as the Glasco &
Glasco sawmill at Sand Hill.
Corporate Name: P. K. Williams
Owner/Company Affiliation: P. K. Williams
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: No listing for 1928
Type of Mill: Yellow pine and hardwoods
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Circular sawmill and planing mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: P. K. Williams had a sawmill and planing mill
at Gilmer in 1928. P. K. Williams was one of five mills among seven at
Gilmer do not survive the Great Depression. He earlier had mills near Rosewood
and Rhonesboro before after World War I, where he was promoted to Captain.
Corporate Name: P. K. Williams
Owner/Company Affiliation: P. K. Williams
Location: Near Rhonesboro
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1920s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: P. K. Williams had a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro,
beginning about 1920. He had an earlier mill at or near Rosewood, had served
in the American armed forces during World War I, returning from France
as a captain. He continued sawmilling at Rosewood until he was burned out.
He next opened a mill near Rhonesboro and a later mill at Gilmer in 1928.
Corporate Name: P. K. Williams
Owner/Company Affiliation: P. K. Williams
Location: Near Rosewood
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1907 to the early 1920s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rosewood
Historical Development: P. K. Williams had a sawmill at Rosewood, beginning
about 1907. He served in the American armed forces during World War I,
returning from France as a captain. He continued sawmilling until he was
burned out. He next opened a mill near Rhonesboro and a later mill at Gilmer
in 1928.
Corporate Name: Patterson and Miller Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Patterson and Miller Lumber Company. J.
M. Smith
Location: About seven miles south of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam engine and boiler
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: South of Gilmer
Historical Development: R. M. Halcroft leased his mill and mill site
on his land to J. M. Smith in March 1907. Smith apparently bought the mill
for he sold it the next day to Patterson and Miller Lumber Company. Located
about seven miles south of Gilmer, the site equipment included the sawmill,
the engine, boiler, lumber logs, all mules, horses, harness, wagons, etc.
Corporate Name: Patterson and Miller Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Patterson and Miller Lumber Company. L.
E. Tillman and W. T. McPeak.
Location: Five miles northwest of Gilmer on the Winnsboro and Gilmer
public road
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907 to 1908
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber and cotton
Power Source: Steam engine and boiler
Equipment: Sawmill, cotton gin, steam machinery, corrals, six oxen,
two log wagons, saw rig, belting
City/Town: Northwest of Gilmer
Historical Development: L. E. Tillman and W. T. McPeak had a sawmill
and cotton gin located on the public road from Winnsboro to Gilmer. The
Patterson and Miller Lumber Company bought the Tillman-McPeak sawmill plant,
excluding the gin, on 18 March 1907. Included in the sale were the sawmill
and steam machinery, six oxen plus the corrals, and two log wagons. Patterson
and Miller Lumber voided the contract with a quit claim deed to Tillman
and McPeak on 12 June 1907. Patterson and Miller Lumber Company of Pittsburg,
Camp County, sold its sawmill No. 9, located about five miles west of Gilmer
on the Gilmer-Winnsboro public road, along with its steam machinery and
land to McPeak-Tillman for $1,400.
Corporate Name: R. E. McNair
Owner/Company Affiliation: R. E. McNair
Location: Wilkins with post office at Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1934
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Wilkins
Historical Development: R. E. McNair, according to the The Lumbermen's
Credit Rating Book, October 1934, operated a sawmill at Wilkins in 1934.
Corporate Name: R. H. Wilson
Owner/Company Affiliation: Owen S. Davis. William B. Cox. Edwin Shamburger.
R. H. Wilson.
Location: Paint Rock, on Gin Creek, south of Shady Grove
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1863 to at least 1881
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: 1850s: agricultural crops and cotton. Before 1863: cotton
and lumber.
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: 1850s: cotton gin. By 1863: cotton gin and sawmill.
City/Town: Paint Rock, south of Shady Grove
Historical Development: William B. Cox had established a farm and cotton
gin on his property near Paint Rock in Wood County in the early 1850s.
By 1863, Owen S. Davis, who settled in the area in 1845, acquired the gin
on Gin Creek and added sawmill. Edwin Shamburger had the sawmill by 1879,
and R. H. Wilson acquired it in 1881. When the mill closed is uncertain.
Shamburger also owned a mill to the west in Wood County during the same
time period.
Corporate Name: R. J. Freeman
Owner/Company Affiliation: R. J. Freeman
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The firm of R. J. Freeman appeared in the January
1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association but not in the
1907 listing. He may have been later bought out by Fred Eastwood or J.
B. Nuby.
Corporate Name: R. M. Isbell
Owner/Company Affiliation: R. M. Isbell
Location: Coffeeville
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Coffeeville
Historical Development: The R. M. Isbell sawmill at Coffeeville was
listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: Roberts Brothers
Owner/Company Affiliation: Roberts Brothers
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Pine and hardwood dressed and rough lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill and planing mill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The Roberts Brothers planing mill and sawmill
were listed in an 1884 railroad directory at Gilmer.
Corporate Name: Robertson Logging
Owner/Company Affiliation: William and Susan Robertson
Location: Ore City
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1967 to 1996
Capacity Comments: 1500 to 2400 tons weekly
Type of Mill: Sawtimber and sawlogs
Power Source: Diesel, gasoline, electric
Equipment: Barko 775 with Koehring 20-inch sawhead feller-buncher
City/Town: Ore City
Historical Development: Robertson Logging is a private logging contractor
located at Ore City in Upshur County. William Robertson began, in 1967,
by cutting and yarding timber. He expanded into hauling in 1972 with a
truck and a knuckle-boom loader. His first new truck was a R600 Mack, which
he bought in 1976. The company operates currently two Ranger skidders (a
666 and a F67), the Barko 775 and a Barko 160 loader mounted trailer. Normally,
William Robertson operates the 775 and his son Bill the F67. Trimming and
topping is done with Husqvarna and Jonsered saws. Susan Robertson, William's
wife, takes care of the paperwork and bookkeeping for the ten-man crew.
Pine sawlogs normally go to Snyder Industries, Dean Lumber, and the International
Paper plant at Henderson. International Paper at Texarkana takes pulpwood,
pine and hardwood. Hardwood sawlogs go to Peebles Lumber at Ore City or
Production Lumber at Hallsville.
Corporate Name: Roger and J. O. Schrum
Owner/Company Affiliation: Roger and J. O. Schrum
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: Roger and J. O. Schrum were reported by The
Gilmer Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of
the century.
Corporate Name: S. C. Morgan
Owner/Company Affiliation: S. C. Morgan
Location: Bettie: FM 2088 and St Louis Southwestern tracks
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893
Capacity Comments: 30,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: S.C. Morgan was cutting 30,000 feet daily at
Bettie in 1893 reported the Galveston Weekly News. This was the same year
that the Morgan Bros were noted by "This Everlasting Sand Bed": Cultural
Resources Investigations at the Texas Big Sandy Project, Wood and Upshur
Counties, Texas to be operating a sawmill in the southwestern part of the
county.
Corporate Name: S. R. Morgan
Owner/Company Affiliation: S. R. Morgan
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1893
Capacity Comments: 10,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: S. R. Morgan was reported to be cutting 10,000
feet daily at Gladewater in 1893.
Corporate Name: S. W. Booth
Owner/Company Affiliation: S. W. Booth
Location: Diana
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Diana
Historical Development: S. W. Booth sawmill operation at Diana is noted
in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: Seago Box Manufacturing Co.
Owner/Company Affiliation: Hoover Brothers. Hoover-Seago. Colonel Eli
M. Seago. Alvin K. Seago. Seago Box Manufacturing Co.
Location: On the Seago Crossing of Big Sandy Creek across from Chilton
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: Hoover, 1849 to 1866. E. M. Seago,
1866 to about 1880. Alvin K. Seago, 1880 to about 1903. Seago Box Mfg Co.,
1903 to ???
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber, flour, cornmeal
Power Source: Water
Equipment: Sawmill, grist mill, and flour mill
City/Town: Near Chilton
Historical Development: The Hoover Brothers mill (also known as the
Hoover-Seago mill, according to a Texas Big Sandy Project map), was located
in Upshur County in 1854 just across the Big Sandy Creek from Chilton on
the Seago Crossing. The water-powered mill was established as early as
1848 or 1849. This sawmill and grist mill operation, enumerated as "Hoever
and Hoever" during the 1860 census, was declared a capital investment of
$4,000, with $1,000 invested in the sawmill and $3,000 in the grist mill.
Raw materials included $250 worth of logs, $7,800 worth of corn and $2,600
worth of wheat. Two men were employed in the sawmill at a total monthly
wage of $40 and one man in the grist mill at $20 monthly. The operation
manufactured 300,000 feet of lumber valued at $3,000, and milled 7,800
bushels of cornmeal valued at $7,800 and 520 bushels of flour worth $2,860.
By 1866, Colonel Eli M. Seago controlled the sawmill as an adjunct to his
store. He was succeeded by Alvin Seago no later than 1880. In 1903, the
operation was known as the Seago Box Manufacturing Co. A mechanic lien
filed against Seago Box Manufacturing company that year revealed that it
was located about three miles from Big Sandy on the south side of Big Sandy
Creek.
Corporate Name: Seago Box Manufacturing Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: A. K. Seago. Earlier A. K. Seago & Company
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1905 to 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Boxes
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Box factory
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: The A.K. Seago and Company appeared in the
January 1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as manufacturers
of boxes.
Corporate Name: Smith & Kennard
Owner/Company Affiliation: Smith and Kennard
Location: Western District, 1860 U.S. Census
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1859 to 1860
Capacity Comments: 200,000 feet of plank during the reporting period
of the Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Water
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Western District, 1860 U.S. Census
Historical Development: According to records for that census year,
Smith & Kennard water-powered sawmill had $200 in raw materials. It
produce 200,000 feet of pine plank valued at $3,000. They employed two
men during that time at a total monthly wage of $50, and declared the mill's
value at $1000.
Corporate Name: Smith's Mill
Owner/Company Affiliation: Smith's Mill
Location: Smith's Mill, later Smith, in northern part of the county
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Smith's Mill, later Smith
Historical Development: The Handbook of Texas reports that the origin
of Smith in Upshur County dates to the 1880s. The settlement was known
as Smith's Mill at that time. It had been established as site for preparing
lumber for transit on the St Louis Southwestern.
Corporate Name: Swann
Owner/Company Affiliation: Swann
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named Swann was reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
Corporate Name: T. C. Mitchell
Owner/Company Affiliation: T. C. Mitchell
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1915 to about 1925
Capacity Comments: 20,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Yellow pine timbers
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The T. C. Mitchell Lumber Company was reported
to be cutting 20,000 feet of yellow pine timbers daily in 1915 at Gilmer.
Corporate Name: T. F. Patterson, Jr.
Owner/Company Affiliation: T. F. Patterson, Jr. First National Bank
of Pittsburg. Patterson and Miller Lumber Company.
Location: Near Rosewood and about seven miles west of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907 to 1908
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough and finished lumber
Power Source: Steam engine and boiler
Equipment: Sawmill, planer, wagons, mules
City/Town: Near Rosewood
Historical Development: T. F. Patterson, Jr., and his wife had to resell
to the First National Bank at Pittsburg their sawmill plant at Rosewood
for $3,200 in indebtedness. The plant included the sawmill, the planer,
steam machinery, nineteen mules, and six wagons (four logging and two road).
Patterson may have been the namesake of T. F. Patterson, who with John
Miller, owned the Patterson and Miller Lumber Company of Pittsburg, Camp
County.
Corporate Name: T. J. Arnold
Owner/Company Affiliation: T. J. Arnold
Location: Coffeeville
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Sash
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sash factory
City/Town: Coffeeville
Historical Development: The T. J. Arnold sawmill at Coffeeville was
listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: T. J. Lowe
Owner/Company Affiliation: T. J. Lowe
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The T. J. Lowe sawmill was listed in an 1884
railroad directory at Gilmer. In 1877, he had bought a sawmill near Gladewater.
Corporate Name: T. J. Lowe
Owner/Company Affiliation: T. J. Lowe. I. S. McCutcheon. D. S. Moore
and W. S. Hodge.
Location: On the Griffith and Wedge patent about two miles north of
Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1877
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: North of Gladewater
Historical Development: According to Gregg County records, I. S. McCutcheon
sold his sawmill in Upshur, located on the Griffith and Wedge patent about
two miles north of Gladewater, to D. S. Moore and W. S. Hodge, who defaulted.
T. J. Lowe, through G. V. Fairbanks, the trustee, bought a two-third's
interest in the sawmill.
Corporate Name: Texas & Oklahoma Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Texas & Oklahoma Lumber Company - E.C.
Williams and S. N. Mingo
Location: East of Bettie at intersection of Bluebonnet Road and Lilly
Creek
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1889 to 1893
Capacity Comments: 35,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: East of Bettie
Historical Development: Texas and Oklahoma Lumber Company, chartered
at Tyler, Texas, bought the mills of E. C. Williams and S. J. Mingo on
22 June 1889. Equipment included Mill No. 1: the sawmill, a 12-inch by
20-inch Kingsland and Ferguson steam engine, a 60-foot flue boiler and
#3 rival pumps, carriage, headblocks, and gang edger; Mill No.2: a 12-inch
by 20-inch Kingsland and Ferguson steam engine, two boilers, etc; other
12-inch by 20-inch and 12-inch by 24-inch steam engines; and thirty-seven
work oxen. D. L. Neal gave Texas and Oklahoma Lumber Company in 1889 a
right of way across his land located between the company mill at the fork
of Lilly and Cypress Creeks and the Cotton Belt tracks at Roberts Switch.
Texas & Oklahoma Lumber Company was cutting 35,000 feet daily at Gilmer
in 1893.
Corporate Name: The Rose Bud sawmill
Owner/Company Affiliation: Unknown
Location: Bettie
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1880s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: According to G. H. Baird, a sawmill known as
the Rose Bud was operating at Bettie in the 1880s. It was not the Judge
Lowe operation in town.
Corporate Name: Todd Brothers
Owner/Company Affiliation: Todd Brothers. R. M. Bradshaw.
Location: O'Byrne's Switch: Spruce Road and Highway 155
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1888 to 1894
Capacity Comments: 20,000 feet daily in 1893
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: O'Byrne's Switch
Historical Development: Todd Brothers were reported by a Galveston
newspaper to be cutting 20,000 feet daily at Gladewater in 1893. Gregg
County records note in 1888 that W. S. and S. R. Todd, for $2,000, bought
the sawmill of R. M. Bradshaw, located at O'Byrne's Switch on the Texas
& Pacific. Property transferred included the sawmill, the steam machinery,
twenty-six oxen, three log wagons, five mules, four road wagons. J. E.
Robinson sold lumber to L. J. Everett that he had received from the "Todd
Bros" sawmill.
Corporate Name: Tyler Star Lumber Company
Owner/Company Affiliation: Tyler Star Lumber Company
Location: Unknown
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1891 to 1895
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber and flooring
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill and a Fay & Egan flooring machine and a planer
City/Town: Unknown
Historical Development: According to The Gilmer Mirror, the Tyler Star
Lumber Company had extensive milling and logging interests in Upshur County
before the turn of the century. Smith County Deed Records note that the
company went into receivership in 1895. Its offices were located in Tyler
with its property at Gilmer, adjacent to the M. J. Camp and A. D. Floyd
houses. Mechanic liens filed by various companies noted that the lumber
company had a dry kiln shed with an abestos roof that covered eight furnaces
and a Fay & Egan flooring machine.
Corporate Name: W. A. Montz
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. A. Montz
Location: La Fayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: La Fayette
Historical Development: The Denson Montz sawmill at La Fayette was
listed in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: W. A. Philips & Brothers
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. A. Philips & Brothers
Location: Indian Rock, five miles southeast of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1890s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Indian Rock
Historical Development: G. H. Baird noted in his work that W. A. Philips
& Brothers operated a sawmill at Indian Rock, about five miles southeast
of Gilmer.
Corporate Name: W. A. Stamps
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. A. Stamps
Location: Stamps, three miles northwest of Graceton
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: Early 1900s
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough and finished, sugar, canned goods
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill, planing mill, cane mill, canning factory
City/Town: Stamps
Historical Development: According to G. H. Baird, W. A. Stamps operated
a large company town at Stamps at the turn of the century. Besides a sawmill
and planing mill, Stamps also directed the operations of a cane mill and
a canning factory.
Corporate Name: W. E. Crosby
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. E. Crosby. C. W. Waller. H. W. Stracener
and J. L. Barr. Ben Wilson and McKnight & Son.
Location: Six acres of C. W. Waller, about nine miles northwest of
Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1906
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Unknown
Historical Development: Ben Wilson had leased earlier a sawmill site
to McKnight & Son in Upshur County. The mill site was located about
nine miles northwest of Gilmer. H. W. Stracener and J. L. Barr later operated
the mill. Sometime before 1907, according to Upshur County records, Stracener
became bankrupt and T. H. Briggs acquired Stracener's property. In 1906
C. F. Waller was living at the mill site and owned the plant. He sold it
that year to W. E. Crosby.
Corporate Name: W. F. Stanley
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. F. Stanley
Location: James
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1934
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: James
Historical Development: W. F. Stanley was sawing shortleaf yellow pine
at James in 1934.
Corporate Name: W. G. Connally
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. G. Connally
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern, near Peach
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber, possibly shingles
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Near Peach, close to Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named Connally was reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
Webb's Handbook of Texas notes that W. G. Connally had a shingle mill that
shipped milled pine timber from a location just across the Wood County
line, near Rhonesboro about 1910, from a place known as Peach.
Corporate Name: W. H. Bolling
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. H. Bolling
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: 15,000 feet daily
Type of Mill: Shortleaf yellow pine lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Circular sawmill with edgers and trimmers
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: W. H. Bolling had a sawmill in 1928 at Gilmer,
but it did not survive the Great Depression.
Corporate Name: W. H. Marshall
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. H. Marshall
Location: Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1907
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Rough lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Gilmer
Historical Development: The W. H. Marshall sawmill was listed in the
Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1907. It
did not have a yard.
Corporate Name: W. J. Bledsoe
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. J. Bledsoe
Location: Glenwood
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1904 to 1910
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Glenwood
Historical Development: G. H. Baird noted in his work that W. J. Bledsoe
operated a sawmill at Glenwood from about 1904 to 1910.
Corporate Name: W. J. Morgan
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. J. Morgan
Location: Western District, 1860 U.S. Census
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1859 to 1860
Capacity Comments: 400,000 feet of plank lumber during the reporting
period of the Census
Type of Mill: Lumber, plank, and grain
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill and grist mill
City/Town: Western District, 1860 U.S. Census
Historical Development: According to records for that census year,
the W. J. Morgan steam-powered mill had $1,000 in pine logs and probably
more than $3,000 in unmilled corn. It produced 400,000 feet of plank valued
at $4,000 and milled 3,700 bushels of cornmeal valued at $3,700. He employed
five men in the sawmill at a total monthly wage of $125 and one man in
the grist mill at $25 monthly. The declared value of the mill was declared
at $1,000 in the sawmill and $1,200 in the grist mill.
Corporate Name: W. M. Parish
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. M. Parish
Location: Bettie: FM 2088 and St Louis Southwestern tracks
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928 to 1934
Capacity Comments: 30,000 feet daily in 1928
Type of Mill: Hardwood and shortleaf yellow pine products
Power Source: Probably steam
Equipment: Circular sawmill, planing mill, edgers, and trimmers.
City/Town: Bettie
Historical Development: W. M. Parish was sawmilling in the 1920s and
1930s at Bettie.
Corporate Name: W. McMarnes
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. McMarnes
Location: Calloway
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Calloway
Historical Development: The W. McMarnes sawmill at Calloway was listed
in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: W. V. Whitt
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. V. Whitt. G. L. Merrill and W. V. Whitt.
W. B. Hogg. Patterson and Miller Lumber Company
Location: On Melling [Medlin] Creek on Aaron Jackson headright survey
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1906 to 1908
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill, two log wagons, a two-horse wagon, sixteen work
cattle, and two mules
City/Town: On Melling Creek
Historical Development: Patterson and Miller Lumber Company bought
for $14,921.39 the sawmill plant of G. L. Merrill and W. V. Whitt in December
1906, which had earlier been owned by W. B. Hogg. Located on Melling Creek
on the Aaron Jackson survey, property included the sawmill, tenant houses,
steam machinery, two log wagons, a two-horse wagon, sixteen work cattle,
and two mules. The company sold the old mill site back to Merrill and Whitt
on 6 February 1908; the creek was noted as 'Medlin' rather than 'Melling.'
Whitt and Merrill would sell milled lumber to Patterson and Miller at $5.00
per thousand feet. G. L. Merrill sold out his share in the sawmill plant
for $4200 to W. V. Whitt.
Corporate Name: W. W. Bradley
Owner/Company Affiliation: W. W. Bradley
Location: Gladewater
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1928
Capacity Comments: No listing for 1928
Type of Mill: Yellow pine and hardwoods
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Circular sawmill
City/Town: Gladewater
Historical Development: W. W. Bradley was listed in 1928 as operating
a sawmill at Gladewater.
Corporate Name: Walker and Bunt
Owner/Company Affiliation: Walker and Bunt
Location: Indian Rock, five miles southeast of Gilmer
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1900 to 1921
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Indian Rock
Historical Development: Wilton Bunt joined his brothers-in-law Bud
Walker, Lige Walker, and Tom Walker to form a sawmill firm named Walker
and Bunt about 1900. They milled in various places in Upshur County, including
Coffeeville, Lafayette, and Indian Rock until 1921. Most of the timber
had been exhausted by then. The firm followed the policy of "cut out and
get out."
Corporate Name: Walker and Bunt
Owner/Company Affiliation: Walker and Bunt
Location: Coffeeville
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1900 to 1921
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Coffeeville
Historical Development: Wilton Bunt joined his brothers-in-law Bud
Walker, Lige Walker, and Tom Walker forming a sawmill firm named Walker
and Bunt about 1900. The milled in various places in Upshur County, including
Coffeeville, Lafayette, and Indian Rock until 1921. Most of the timber
had been exhausted by then. The firm followed the policy of "cut out and
get out."
Corporate Name: Walker and Bunt
Owner/Company Affiliation: Walker and Bunt
Location: Lafayette
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1900 to 1921
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Steam
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Lafayette
Historical Development: Wilton Bunt joined his brothers-in-law Bud
Walker, Lige Walker, and Tom Walker forming a sawmill firm named Walker
and Bunt about 1900. The milled in various places in Upshur County, including
Coffeeville, Lafayette, and Indian Rock until 1921. Most of the timber
had been exhausted by then. The firm followed the policy of "cut out and
get out."
Corporate Name: Will Green
Owner/Company Affiliation: Bullock & Green. Will Green.
Location: Big Sandy
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1934
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Hardwood and pine plumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Big Sandy
Historical Development: W. D. Green, known as Will, operated sawmills
throughout Upshur County for years before settling down in Big Sandy in
1932 on Pearl Street. Bullock & Green were listed as sawmilling at
Big Sandy in 1934. In 1934 he built a larger mill at the north end of town.
The W. D. Green Lumber Company lost its planer in a fire at Big Sandy on
September 2, 1949, according to The Gulf Coast Lumberman. His firm was
still being listed in trade publications in 1957 at Big Sandy.
Corporate Name: William A. Eakin
Owner/Company Affiliation: William A. Eakin
Location: Upshur district, 1850 U.S. Census
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1840s to 1850s
Capacity Comments: 80,000 feet during the reporting period of the Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Water
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Upshur district, 1850 U.S. Census
Historical Development: According to census records for the year ending
June 1, 1850, Eakin's water-powered sawmill cut 400 logs (value of $100)
to produce 80,000 feet of lumber valued at $800. He employed four men during
that time at a total monthly wage of $40, and declared the mill's value
at $1200.
Corporate Name: William Ellison
Owner/Company Affiliation: William Ellison
Location: Upshur district, 1850 U.S. Census
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1840s to 1850s
Capacity Comments: 100,000 feet during the reporting period of the
Census
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Water
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Upshur district, 1850 U.S. Census
Historical Development: According to census records for the year ending
June 1, 1850, Ellison's water-powered sawmill cut 600 logs (value of $150)
to produce 100,000 feet of lumber valued at $1,000. Ellison employed three
men during that time at a total monthly wage of $30, and declared the mill's
value at $1200.
Corporate Name: William H. Jones
Owner/Company Affiliation: William H. Hones
Location: Diana
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: 1884
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Diana
Historical Development: The William H. Jones sawmill operation at Diana
is noted in an 1884 railroad directory.
Corporate Name: William Rhone
Owner/Company Affiliation: William Rhone
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: About 1900 to 1910
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: W. Rhone appeared in the January 1905 published
records of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as sawmillers at Rhonesboro,
Upshur County but not in 1907.
Corporate Name: Witter
Owner/Company Affiliation: Witter
Location: Rhonesboro, about twelve miles west of Gilmer, on the Texas
Southern RR
County: Upshur
Comment on Periods of Operation: After 1907 to about 1917
Capacity Comments: Unknown
Type of Mill: Lumber
Power Source: Unknown
Equipment: Sawmill
City/Town: Rhonesboro
Historical Development: A man named Witter was reported by The Gilmer
Mirror to have a sawmill at or near Rhonesboro after the turn of the century.
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