Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	RR-78
Corporate Name:	Obadiah Stephens
Local Name:
Owner Name:	Obadiah Stephens
Location:	Stephensboro
County:	Red River
Years in Operation:	14 years
Start Year:	1864
End Year:	1877
Decades:	1860-1869,1870-1879
Period of Operation:	1864 to the 1870s
Town:	Stephensboro
Company Town:	1
Peak Town Size:	Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Pine lumber Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	40-horsepower steam engine Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:
Capacity Comments:	500,000 feet during the reporting period of the Census of 1870
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	Sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	None in 1864
Historicial Development:	According to Pat B. Clark, Obadiah Stephens built a large sawmill at Stephensboro in 1864. It was a sawmill town with a commissary. According to the Census of 1870, O. Stephens' mill, valued at $8,000, employed twelve men who earned $4,000 total in ten months. Raw materials included 5,200 logs and slabs worth $2,000. It produced 500,000 feet of pine lumber valued at $10,000.
Research Date:	MCJ 04-05-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson