Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: GG-24
Corporate Name: Cooper, Hardin, & Co
Local Name: Monkey Lake Mill or Neal Mill
Owner Name: Cooper, Hardin, & Co. F. J. McCord and John M. Duncan. William Keechle. P. E. King. Jacob Mauthe.
Location: Offices at Gladewater with mill at Merrill Lake, eight miles west of Longview
County: Gregg
Years in Operation: 3 years
Start Year: 1878
End Year: 1880
Decades: 1870-1879,1880-1889
Period of Operation: 1878 to 1880
Town: Eight miles west of Longview at Merrill Lake
Company Town: 1
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: 
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 & Pacific
Historicial Development: Jacob Mauthe had two steam sawmills located in Gregg County in the latter 1870s. The Monkey Lake Mill, or Neal Mill, was located about eight miles west of Longview on the Alvice tract of land at Merrill Lake. The second was a portable sawmill identified as the “Mauthe Mill No. 2,” and it was situated at the International & Great Northern crossing over the Sabine River. Mauthe sold both mills to William Keechle for $2,500. The sale also included forty oxen and five log wagons. These mills were transferred from Wm Keechle to Cooper, Hardin & Co (John W. Cooper, A. H. S. Hardin, and French Cooper). They sold both mills and 1,650 acres to F. J. McCord and John M. Duncan for $19,500. Ownership of the mills becomes confusing. A railroad directory in 1880 lists both Jacob Mauthe and Hardin, Cooper & Co at Gladewater but not McCord and Duncan.
Research Date: MCJ 04-19-96
Prepared By: M. Johnson