In 1870, the capital investment of the Perry sawmill, according to that year's Census Products of Industry Schedule for Wood County, Texas, was d to be $4,500. In eight months of operations, eight men were employed at a total wage of $1,800 Raw materials included 6,000 logs ($3,000) and 2,000 bushels ($2,000). The sawmill manufactured 1,200,000 feet of lumber valued at $12,000.
Perryville was a community located in northeastern Wood County, about ten miles southeast of Winnsboro. According to Webb, the town was named after a local sawmiller. In 1900, the town was the site of sawmills, churches, and a school.