H. G. Lane was listed on the 1883 county tax roll. He possessed $1,800 in manufacturing tools for his sawmill.
In 1884, Lane accepted a Deed of Trust from W. B. Spencer in the sum of $3,200 for his Ferguson sawmill on the Antonio Chevans Survey. The sale included a log cart, a log wagon, three yoke of oxen, with the lumber to be delivered at Lane's Switch. Apparently, Spencer was unable to afford the sawmill, for H. G. Lane sold “Lane's Sawmill” in 1886 to E. A. and W. F. Ferguson. It was still located on the Antonio Chevans Survey. Property included two hundred acres, the sawmill, three yoke of oxen, one yoke of steers, three mules, and a log cart.
In 1887 and 1888, Ferguson & Co had mortgaged various aspects of the plant with T. H. Williams of the Allen & Williams Lumber Company at Corrigan and with E. P. and H. V. McMickle of E. P. McMickle and Brother, assignee James D. Gann.