J. L. Barr was a mechanic who worked on the steam machinery of the East and West Texas Lumber Company, headquartered at Gilmer. The company had mills at Gilmer and about four miles northwest of Gilmer. The Gilmer mill on Block 26 operated a Kingsland and Ferguson 12-inch by 20-inch steam engine. Mill No. 3 was located on Little Cypress Bayou; it had an Owens Lane and Dyer 12-inch by 20-inch steam engine.