The Willis Lumber Company contracted, on April 8, 1910, with Big Tree Lumber Company to sell it all its manufactured lumber and transport it to the Big Tree Lumber Company sawmilling operation, run by Pine Grove Lumber Company, at Alonzo. By 1919, the owners could be identified as W. J. Williams and J. H. Berryman. In November of that year, W. J. Williams sold his half-interest in the sawmill to J. W. Thomason for $2,500. Thomason turned around and three days later sold it to a lumber dealer from Houston, T. E. Johnson. Johnson and Berryman contracted that Johnson would provide the capital for running the mill and be responsible for sales and receipts while Berryman operated the sawmill for $25 weekly. Profits would be split.