The W.E. Mayes saw and planing mills appeared in a 1880 Chicago lumber publication. The mills were apparently located in or around Crockett. Mayes also had separate saw, planing, and shingle mills around Grapeland at this time.
At least one of Maye's sawmills operated a sawmill in Houston County during the enumeration period of the Census of 1880. The mill was capitalized at $2,000. Work required six male employees, none of whom were children under the age of sixteen. Mayes paid his workers $1.00 to $1.50 per day depending upon skill level and spent $800 total in wages during the twelve months of half-time mill operations. Employees worked ten-hour days. The power plant consisted of a two boilers and two steam engines. Cutting equipment included a two circular saws. From raw materials and mill supplies worth $2,200, Mayes' mill produced 400,000 feet of lumber and 1,500,00 for a gross value of $4000. Mayes did his own logging near the mill.