| Alpha-Numeric Key: | CK-329 |
| Corporate Name: | Robert Sowers & Wells |
| Local Name: | Sowers & Wells sawmill |
| Owner Name: | Robert Sowers and Mr. Wells |
| Location: | At or near present-day Alto |
| County: | Cherokee |
| Years in Operation: | 26 years |
| Start Year: | 1855 |
| End Year: | 1880 |
| Decades: | 1850-1859,1860-1869,1870-1879,1880-1889 |
| Period of Operation: | About1855 to early 1880s |
| Town: | At or near Alto |
| Company Town: | 2 |
| Peak Town Size: | Unknown |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Sheathing, planking, rough dimension, fencing, cotton
 Sawmill |
 Pine Sawmill |
Hardwood Sawmill |
Cypress Sawmill |
| Planer |
Planer Only |
Shingle |
Paper |
| Plywood |
Cotton |
Grist |
Unknown |
| Other |
|
|
|
|
| Power Source: | Steam
| Horse |
Mule |
Oxen |
Water |
| Water Overshot |
Water Turbine |
Diesel |
Unknown |
| Pit |
Steam |
Steam Circular |
Steam Band |
| Gas |
Electricity |
Other |
|
|
| Maximum Capacity: | |
| Capacity Comments: | Unknown |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | Sawmill and cotton mill |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | None |
| Historicial Development: | Robert Sowers, with family and business connections in Chicot County, Arkansas, was a slaveholder, businessman, and steam mill operator in Cherokee County from before the Civil War until his death in 1887. The Sowers-Campbell Family Papers document that the Sowers-Wells operations milled lumber and ginned cotton, with business connections as far away as New Orleans and Arkansas. The sawmill produced sheathing, planking, rough dimension, and fencing. The law firm of Bonner & Bonner, at Rusk, often handled Sowers' business affairs. |
| Research Date: | MCJ 01-30-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson |