James R. and Moses Lee
This sawmill site was located on the east bank of Caney Creek, about three miles northwest of Bonwier. In 1871 the community was known as Livonia. The Windham Bros built a combination gristmill and sawmill there in 1871. James R. Lee, with Moses Lee, bought the mill in 1879, and the name of the community changed to Lee's Mill.
James Lee's mill was noted in the edition of 1884 of the Rand, McNally and Company's Directory and Shipping Guide of Lumber Mills and Lumber Dealers. Population grew as high as 200 before 1905, according to Webb. When the Jasper & Eastern railroad built through in 1905, south of Lee's Mill, the town began to decline.
Mill Details
Alpha Numeric Key:
NE
Owner Name
James R. and Moses Lee. Windham Brothers
Location
Livonia or Lee's Mill, on Caney Creek, three miles northwest of Bonwier
County
Newton
Years in Operation:
35
Start Year:
1871
End Year:
1905
Decades:
1870-1879,1880-1889,1890-1899,1900-1909
Period of Operation:
1871 to about 1905
Town:
Livonia or Lee's Mill
Company Town:
2
Peak Town Size:
200 before 1905
Mill Pond:
2