Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	TY-55
Corporate Name:	Robert P. Snelling
Local Name:
Owner Name:	Robert P. Snelling
Location:	Seneca, also known as Milton, southeast of Woodville
County:	Tyler
Years in Operation:	4 years
Start Year:	1887
End Year:	1890
Decades:	1880-1889,1890-1899
Period of Operation:	1887 to at least 1890
Town:	Seneca, also known as Milton
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	Unknown
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:	Steam Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:	40000: 1890
Capacity Comments:	40,000 feet daily in 1890
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 & New Orleans
Historicial Development:	After his sawmilling experience at Sunset (Olive), Robert W. Snelling was appointed as postmaster of Seneca, just outside of Woodville. Because postmasterships often went to the leading sawmiller in an East Texas town, it is quite possible that Snelling owned a sawmill at Seneca before moving on to Midline Switch in the 1890s. W. T. Block believes that this sawmill was one belonging to Robert P. Snelling & Co., which built at Seneca in 1887 after the hurricane that totally destroyed the R. P. Snelling mill the previous October at Kountze. Walter Webb noted in his Handbook of Texas that Milton, Texas, in Tyler County had earlier been called Seneca. He reported that a sawmill had operated for several years at Seneca after 1884.
Research Date:	MCJ 02-1-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson