The S. M. Russell sawmill was listed in an 1884 railroad directory. By 1897, Russell had added shingle machinery and planing equipment. That latter year, he mortgaged for $1800 the planing equipment, including the boiler, the engine, the planer, and other items, as well as finished products, such as weatherboarding, ceiling material, flooring joists, posts, scantlings, and 100,000 heart and sap shingles. The sawmill continued operating until William Forsland bought it 1906, according to Harrison County records. Since Forsland was listed at Marshall in the 1905 LCA rating and Russell was not, it is possible that Forsland had leased the sawmill from Russell before 1905.
Property in the 1906 sale included the sawmill, steam machinery, a Mississippi planer, moulder, ripsaw, mules, wagons, all located at S. M. Russell's sawmill in Marshall.
The mill was listed in the 1907 credit rating.