Lee's water-powered mill was one of a very few to survive the Civil War. In 1860, he manufactured only pine lumber; by 1870, he had expanded his milling operation to producing cornmeal. In 1860, valuing his mill at $1,000, Lee produced 80,000 feet of pine lumber valued at $800. He employed three men at a total monthly wage of $45. The mill had raw materials valued at $200. In 1870, although adding grist-mill equipment, Lee depreciated his capital investment to $900. Raw materials included $1,500 bushels of all grains valued at $1,000, and pine logs at $25. It produced 190,000 feet of lumber valued at $1,900 and ground meal valued at $1,500. In ten months of operations, three men earned a total of $400.