J. K. Graves' sawmill at Buncomb, located near Clayton, appeared in the editions of the 1905 and 1907 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association. Graves also ran a general store at Buncomb.
In October, 1906, the Panola County records note that the Philers mortgaged with J. K. Graves for a sawmill that had once belonged to J. N. Morris. A close perusal of the records indicates that Graves had earlier bought the mill from Morris. Equipment mortgaged included the sawmill, two horses, six mules, a Snyder log wagon, a Bender log wagon, chains, and other materials. The sawmill had originally been at Murvaul, several miles to the east of Buncomb. Panola County records document that J. N. Morris in April of 1906 had hired J. N. Barton to build him a steam-powered sawmill at Murvaul.
In 1908, the Philers mortgaged for $825 with Walter Connally & Company their sawmill and cotton gin.