Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: HA-126
Corporate Name: William Forsland
Local Name:
Owner Name: William Forsland (Forslund). S. M. Russell
Location: Marshall
County: Harrison
Years in Operation: 23 years
Start Year: 1884
End Year: 1906
Decades: 1880-1889,1890-1899,1900-1909
Period of Operation: 1884 to 1906
Town: Marshall
Company Town: 2
Peak Town Size: Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Lumber, shingles, weatherboarding, ceiling material, flooring joists, posts, scantlings
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, planing equipment, and shingle machinery
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: Texas & Pacific, Texas Southern (later Marshall & East Texas)
Historicial Development: The S. M. Russell sawmill was listed in an 1884 railroad directory. By 1897, Russell had added shingle machinery and planing equipment. That latter year, he mortgaged for $1800 the planing equipment, including the boiler, the engine, the planer, and other items, as well as finished products, such as weatherboarding, ceiling material, flooring joists, posts, scantlings, and 100,000 heart and sap shingles. The sawmill continued operating until William Forsland bought it 1906, according to Harrison County records. Since Forsland was listed at Marshall in the 1905 LCA rating and Russell was not, it is possible that Forsland had leased the sawmill from Russell before 1905. Property in the 1906 sale included the sawmill, steam machinery, a Mississippi planer, moulder, ripsaw, mules, wagons, all located at S. M. Russell's sawmill in Marshall. The mill was listed in the 1907 credit rating.
Research Date: MCJ 02-05-96
Prepared By: M. Johnson