Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	MA-62
Corporate Name:	W. G. Ragley Sawmill and Planing Mill
Local Name:
Owner Name:	W. G. Ragley Sawmill and Planing Mill
Location:	Jefferson, about a mile southwest of the post office next to the railroad tracks
County:	Marion
Years in Operation:	7 years
Start Year:	1885
End Year:	1891
Decades:	1880-1889,1890-1899
Period of Operation:	1880s to 1891
Town:	Jefferson
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Rough and finished lumber Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	80-horsepower steam engine Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:	20000: 1890
Capacity Comments:	Estimated about 20,000 feet of lumber daily
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	Sawmill and planing mill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Texas & Pacific
Historicial Development:	W. G. Ragley had a circular sawmill located in Jefferson in 1885, according to the map collections of the East Texas Research Center. The plant was located about a mile southwest of the post office, bounded by the Big Cypress Bayou to the west and the Texas & Pacific railroad tracks to the east. The plant included a sawmill and planing mill powered by an 80-horsepower steam engine. It is not clear whether or not the company had its own company town. Ragley must have used a boom to hold sawtimber in the Bayou. Ragley was superintendent of the Jefferson Lumber Company in 1892, indicating that his own mill closed.
Research Date:	MCJ 05-04-96
Prepared By:	M Johnson