Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	CK-401
Corporate Name:	W. S. Mercer
Local Name:
Owner Name:	W. S. Mercer
Location:	Alto
County:	Cherokee
Years in Operation:	4 years
Start Year:	1907
End Year:	1910
Decades:	1900-1909,1910-1919
Period of Operation:	1907 to 1910
Town:	Alto
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	576 in 1905
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Shingles and lumber and cornmeal Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	Unknown 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:	Shingle mill and sawmill and gristmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Pacific Express
Historicial Development:	W. S. Mercer was not listed in the 1905 edition of Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1907 but was listed in the 1907 edition as a manufacturer of shingles. Mercer also had a sawmill, for he mortgaged “20,000 feet of lumber & entire output of sawmill” to Farmers & Merchant State Bank for $250 in 1907. By, 1910, Mercer had a grist mill, for on January 15, he, from Blanton Bros, mortgaged for $300 on January 15, 1910, a boiler, a steam engine, sawmill and gin machinery.
Research Date:	MCJ 01-31-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson