William M. Perkins
The first sawmill and grist mill in Angelina County history is called “the Dickie White mill.” It was located about one hundred yards west of the Mill Creek crossing of Highway 59. Matthews wrote that it was built in 1853, but the records of the Angelina County Commissioners Court reveal that it was functioning as early as 1846. for in that year a petition before the court, requesting the amending of the boundaries of Beat One, reads that “Beginning at the mouth of Durasno (Peach Creek [an early name for Mill Creek]), running up said creek to George Massengill Mill; thence along toward the Neches . . “. The mill, in fact, was owned by George Massengill, who worked it with Dickie White and Berry Roberts, White's slave. Massengill sold the mill to William M. Perkins, who operated it before the Civil War with White and Roberts.
Mill Details
Alpha Numeric Key:
AG
Owner Name
William M. Perkins. George Massengill. Dickie White.
Location
On Mill Creek north of Redland, several miles north of Lufkin
County
Angelina
Years in Operation:
10
Start Year:
1846
End Year:
1855
Decades:
1840-1849,1850-1859
Period of Operation:
From about 1846 to before the Civil War
Town:
West on Mill Creek from its crossing of Highway 59 south of Redland
Company Town:
2
Peak Town Size:
Unknown
Mill Pond:
2