The James Mill, according to a the Texas Big Sandy Project map, was located in Wood County in 1854 about three miles east of F. Well's tanyard on the Belzoria Road. The James-Greer-Shamburger operation was a multi-combination of sawmill, grist mill, flour mill, and cotton gin and operated until 1884. Periods of ownership were: William R. James (about 1852 to 1860); the Widow James (1860); Gaines W. Greer (ca. 1855 to September 3, 1867); Edwin and J. M. Shamburger (September 3, 1867 to February 1, 1873); and Edwin Shamburger (February 1, 1873 to May 5, 1884). The census of 1870 enumerates the Sharrburger & Bro in Precinct 5 of Wood County. The capital investment of the sawmill was d to be $3,000. In ten months of operations, seven men were employed at a total wage of $3,300 and the grist mill for eight months. Raw materials included 3,000 logs ($2,000) and 2,000 bushels ($2,000). The sawmill manufactured 600,000 feet of lumber valued at $12,000. The grist mill produced cornmeal valued at $3,000.
On 1 August 1882 Ed Shamburger mortgaged with J. A. Stuart of Dallas the former's 10-inch by 16-inch stationary steam engine along with a 25-horsepower locomotive fixed-box boiler, 52-inch and a 40-inch circular saws, a No. 1 Double Empire sawmill, and acreage in the following surveys: 137 acres in the A. J. Sharp; 240 acres in the H. M. McKnight; plus various other land in the county.
In 1883 Shamburger mortgaged the same items he mortgaged the year before, but this time to Sam M. Flournoy of Wood County. Items included a Stearnes stationary engine and the locomotive fixed-box boiler, the Double Empire sawmill and saws plus the land.