G. F. Ashford and a Mr. Lewis were operating a sawmill in Shelby County in 1907. They mortgaged to A. E. Herrington for a 15-horsepower gasoline engine that powered an American Standard #2 sawmill. Later that year G. F. Ashford mortgaged to First National Bank of Center for $470 “all the timber and lumber made from 114 acres of the B. Estes Survey, also one engine and 1 sawmill & all fixtures.”