James Cordell, Sr., and James Cordell, Jr., were combination multi-millers of cornmeal, cotton, and lumber in Garrison. Their mills are mentioned in the edition of 1905 in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association as well as the Southern Industrial and Lumber Review and a Nacogdoches newspaper. Each Cordell managed one of the two sawmills above mentioned.
Researchers have not been able to pin down the exact location of the sawmills nor a description of the equipment used. However, the Nacogdoches County deed records reveal that in 1903 the gin, grist mill, with steam machinery and engines were located on Lots 13 through 24 in Block 9 of Garrison. The following year two separate transactions by the Cordells delivered into their possession Lots 1 through 12 in Block 10 of Garrison, adjacent to the site of their gin and grist mill operations. The two sawmills were probably located in Block 10.