L. R. Bagwell operated a mill for some years southeast of Center, three miles west of Neuville. In March 1905, Bagwell to Farmers Bank one 36-inch by 10-ft Atlas boiler, one Atlas 9-inch by 12-inch steam engine, one edger, all belting, and all pulleys at his sawmill. A year later he mortgaged to J. B. Cotton for $800 the steam boiler, the steam engine, a sawmill and carriage, an edger, and one dust chain. In 1908, Bagwell mortgaged to Farmers Bank of Center all the lumber-268,000 feet- near his mill (located near the W. D. George residence).
In December 1909, for $1,200, they mortgaged to Lynch & Potts a Curtis sawmill and edger, one cutoff saw, one 11-inch by 12-inch Ames steam engine, one 45-horsepower boiler, and the mill sheds. Shelby County Chattel Mortgage Register entry #13058 indicates, however, that Potts and Collins bought their mill.
Nonetheless, in 1912, Pickering mortgaged Bagwell & Hurst to saw Pickering trees at their mill for all lumber and lumber products manufactured at the Bagwell & Hurst mill. Perhaps Bagwell & Hurst continued to lease the mill from Potts and Collins.
The 1910 census records reveal that Lawrence R. Bagwell, born in Georgia, lived at residence 58, in Precinct 2 (Shelbyville) and owned a sawmill. Lawrence Bagwell, born in Georgia, of residence 103, Precinct 3 (Neuville), was a sawmill manager. The Bagwells were probably family relations, possibly cousins.
J. W. Hurst operated a lumber retail business in Shelbyville in 1907.
The Handbook of Texas noted that Neuville, founded in 1904, was named for a family that had lived in the area since the 1840s.