Roberts mortgaged his mill in the sum of $150 to John MacKechney on April 9, 1885. He twice more mortgaged the mill to MacKechney in order to obtain a steam engine and boiler and other goods. The early sawmillers of San Augustine County often performed multi-milling operations (corn, cotton, and lumber) with the same engines and boilers running all equipment. On 20 January, 1887, P. W. Barron bought the mill for $550 from John MacKechney, the noteholder on Roberts' mill.
Early the following year, P. W. Barron would buy Jack Garrett's mill in San Augustine County (see entry).