The Nacogdoches newspaper noted in August 1902 that “A new saw mill run by the Mangham Bros. is in working order now. They ginned a new bolt of cotton yesterday for Mr. Will Mangham.” D. G. Price, in 1905, contracted with Mangham, Mangham, and Seale to supply sawtimber for their mill on the J. M. Mora Grant near Melrose. Price would provide sawtimber twelve inches in diameter and up and obtained the right to put in a “log way” from the pinery to the mill. The profits of the milled lumber would be split evenly between the parties of the first and second parts.
In 1908, the mill was sold to O. H. Buckner and H. M. Seale. They contracted to have a Mr. Matthews do the logging for the mill. Matthews was to deliver no less than 25,000 feet per week and no more than 50,000 feet per week.