Chenault and McGehee began lumber milling operations in 1866, probably near the Sabine River. Chenault bought out McGehee and converted the mill to shingle making. It was the first mill in the southwest to attempt to cut shingles from cypress timber. He installed first a Muzzy upright shingle machine, which cut 20,000 shingles daily. Then Chenault installed a Burt 14-block rotary machine, which could cut 80,000. When Chenault died in 1870, the mill went out of business.
However, the Beaumont Neches Valley News of July 27, 1882, reported that “Business” at Orange “ is generally dull here, although the mills are all in operation, with the exception of that of Mr. Chenault, which has been stopped for some time in consequence of the depression in the shingle market. There is at present in the yard of the above mill about three million shingles held back for an advance in price.