The sawmill of Miles Morris in Wood County is one of very few in East Texas history to survive from before the Civil War and continue manufacturing lumber continually for parts of four decades.
This sawmill operation, according to the 1860 Census Products of Industry Schedule, was d to be a capital investment of $19,150, with $2,500 invested in 5,000 sawlogs. Nine men were employed at a total monthly wage of $225. The sawmill manufactured 750,000 feet of pine lumber valued at $7,500.
In 1870, the capital investment, according to that year's Census Products of Industry Schedule, was d to be $1,000, with $234 invested in mill supplies and 2,000 bushels of all grains. In two months of operations, three men were employed at a total wage of $300. The sawmill manufactured 104,000 feet of lumber valued at $2,080. The grist mill produced cornmeal valued at $3,500.
In 1880, the capital investment was $3,500. Twelve men worked at peak production and eight normally. They received $1.00 for unskilled labor, working eleven-hour shifts in the summer and nine-hour shifts in the winter. Morris paid a total of $1,400 in wages. From $3,850 in supplies and sawlogs, the sawmill manufactured 700,000 feet of lumber worth $7,000.