Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	SH-215
Corporate Name:	S. L. Wilkins Lumber Company
Local Name:
Owner Name:	S. L. Wilkins
Location:	Choice, a mile north of Neuville and eight miles south of Center
County:	Shelby
Years in Operation:	5 years
Start Year:	1906
End Year:	1910
Decades:	1910-1919
Period of Operation:	1906 to 1910
Town:	Choice
Company Town:	1
Peak Town Size:	Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Lumber and cotton Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	Steam boiler and engine 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:	Two cotton gins, one cotton press, and a circular sawmill. A 54-inch Gagne circular saw with 60 teeth.
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe
Historicial Development:	Besides his plant at Center, S. L. Wilkins had another plant on the railroad a mile above Neuville and about eight miles south of Center. On the land of John Wall near Choice, he operated not only the sawmill but also two cotton gins and a press. His sawmill utilized a 54-inch Gagne circular saw. He did his own logging with at least two yoke (sixteen oxen) and two wagons. In the 1910 census records, he was enumerated as a sawmiller with twenty-one employees. According to San Augustine county records, S. L. Wilkins mortgaged to J. I. King for $3299 , for the use of the firm of Plance and Holt all the pine lumber, twenty oxen, five mules, located on the mill yard of Wilkins, and mortgaged to Jeff Owens for $190 all the pine lumber on his yard, two oxen teams, and two wagons.
Research Date:	LT 08-17-93, MCJ 03-02-96
Prepared By:	L Turner, M Johnson