Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: HO-52
Corporate Name: Henry Payne
Local Name:
Owner Name: Henry W. Payne
Location: Enumeration District 25 (probably east of Kennard)
County: Houston
Years in Operation: 2 years
Start Year: 1879
End Year: 1880
Decades: 1870-1879,1880-1889
Period of Operation: 1879 to 1880
Town: Enumeration District 25
Company Town: 2
Peak Town Size: Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Lumber and shingles
Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill
Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper
Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown
Other
Power Source: 20-horsepower steam engine
Horse Mule Oxen Water
Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown
Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band
Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity: 
Capacity Comments: 100,000 feet of lumber and 200,000 shingles during the reporting period of the Census
Produced:
Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers
Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading
Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board
Treated Other
Equipment: Sawmill and shingle mill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: Unknown
Historicial Development: Henry W. Payne operated a sawmill in Houston County during the enumeration period of the Census of 1880. The mill was capitalized at $3,000. Work required six male employees, two of whom were children under the age of sixteen. Payne paid his workers fifty cents per each ten-hour day, spending $500 total in wages during the period. The power plant consisted of a 20-horsepower steam engine with a boiler. Cutting equipment included a circular saw and two shingle band saws. From raw materials and mill supplies worth $1,700, Payne's mill produced 100,000 feet of lumber and 200,000 shingles for a gross value of $3,000. The mill did no remanufacturing. Payne did his own logging and shipped logs and lumber on Cochino Bayou. The heavy production of shingles to lumber, combined with the probable location of the mill somewhere to the east of Kennard, strongly indicates that, in the absence of local rail connections, the products of this mill were for local consumption.
Research Date: MCJ 02-20-96
Prepared By: M. Johnson