Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	HO-78
Corporate Name:	Jesse T. Ratcliff
Local Name:
Owner Name:	J. T. Ratcliff
Location:	Coltharp, two miles south of Ratcliff
County:	Houston
Years in Operation:	21 years
Start Year:	1880
End Year:	1900
Decades:	1880-1889,1890-1899,1900-1909
Period of Operation:	Before 1880 until after 1900
Town:	Coltharp, south of Ratcliff
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	121 in 1905
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Rough and dressed lumber, shingles 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, shingle mill, and planing mill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	International & Great Northern at Crockett
Historicial Development:	Jesse T. Ratcliff's sawmill in Houston County appeared in an 1880 Chicago lumber publication. By 1884, Ratcliff added a shingle mill and planing mill, and all three mills were listed in Rand McNally and Company's 1884 directory of lumber mills. The mills were situated in the town known as Coltharp. (J. M. Smith also owned a sawmill at Coltharp during this time). Bob Bowman recorded that Jesse Ratcliff came to Houston County in 1875 from Georgia. Ratcliff's daughter married Gary Mahoney, a local mercantile owner. She recalled that her father sold the land to 4-C for its mill at Kennard, and that his small mill continued to cut lumber for 4-C for some time after the erection of the large mill.
Research Date:	JKG 11-17-93, MCJ 02-20-96
Prepared By:	J. Gerland, M. Johnson