Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	PA-50
Corporate Name:	Geo & Martin Gillespie
Local Name:
Owner Name:	Geo & Martin Gillespie. Possibly the J. W. Davis sawmill at Midyett.
Location:	Midyett
County:	Panola
Years in Operation:	11 years
Start Year:	1905
End Year:	1915
Decades:	1900-1909,1910-1919
Period of Operation:	1905 to about 1915
Town:	Possibly Midyett
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	98 in 1905. 115 in 1915.
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Lumber Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	Probably 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
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Texas, Sabine Valley & Northwestern, became Texas & Gulf in 1905, at Carthage
Historicial Development:	Geo & Martin Gillespie mortgaged with A. H. Davis, Jr., for “one saw mill complete” on January 29, 1907. This may have been the J. W. Davis sawmill is listed in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, for 1905 but not in the LCA listing in 1907. J. W. Davis was the president of the State Line Lumber Company and had to sell off its major sawmill north of De Berry in the Spring of 1907. Several days later, A. H. Davis mortgaged his sawmill, steam engine and boiler, and two yoke of oxen for $900 with Pruitt & Biggs, Panola County sawmillers. This is probably the sawmill that Webb refers to in his Handbook. In 1910, Midyett had a school district, a store, and a sawmill. Its population was 115 in 1915 with a new post office. By 1930, the sawmill, the post office, and the store were gone.
Research Date:	MCJ 02-08-96
Prepared By:	M Johnson