Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	AG-178
Corporate Name:	William M. Perkins
Local Name:
Owner Name:	William M. Perkins. George Massengill. Dickie White.
Location:	On Mill Creek north of Redland, several miles north of Lufkin
County:	Angelina
Years in Operation:	10 years
Start Year:	1846
End Year:	1855
Decades:	1840-1849,1850-1859
Period of Operation:	From about 1846 to before the Civil War
Town:	West on Mill Creek from its crossing of Highway 59 south of Redland
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Lumber and cornmeal Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	Water 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 grist mill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	None
Historicial Development:	The first sawmill and grist mill in Angelina County history is called “the Dickie White mill.” It was located about one hundred yards west of the Mill Creek crossing of Highway 59. Matthews wrote that it was built in 1853, but the records of the Angelina County Commissioners Court reveal that it was functioning as early as 1846. for in that year a petition before the court, requesting the amending of the boundaries of Beat One, reads that “Beginning at the mouth of Durasno (Peach Creek [an early name for Mill Creek]), running up said creek to George Massengill Mill; thence along toward the Neches . . “. The mill, in fact, was owned by George Massengill, who worked it with Dickie White and Berry Roberts, White's slave. Massengill sold the mill to William M. Perkins, who operated it before the Civil War with White and Roberts.
Research Date:	MCJ 01-17-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson