James Hand

Standard gauge, 16 to 25-lb rail Headquarters: Purvis, MS Mill Location: Purvis, MS (Lamar County) Mill Capacity: 0,000 ft/day  Years of Operation: 1891-1914 Miles Operated: 3 miles in 1903 Locomotives Owned:	Equipment: 3 log cars	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: On July 6, 1891 James Hand began his sawmilling career in partnership with his brother with the purchase of the sawmill and timber holdings of June Poitevent, near Purvis, Marion County. This mill was operated under the name "James Hand & Brother" and had a cutting capacity of 20,000 feet per day. The main product was car sills cut from longleaf yellow pine. The Poitevent mill was located on the east side of the New Orleans & Northeastern about a mile north of Purvis. On June 1, 1893 a second mill was purchased from J. T. and C. W. Carley. The Carley mill was in Purvis on the banks of Beaverdam Branch, about half a mile west of the county courthouse.  In 1901, Fred A. Jordan, brother-in-law of James Hand, became a partner. That same year, Hand & Jordan built a new sawmill at Purvis with a cutting capacity of 40,000 feet per day. This mill incorporated the machinery of the Poitevent & Staples mill at Hillsdale which James Hand had bought. In February 1901 a contract was signed with the New Orleans & Northeastern to build a side track to this mill. Also in 1901, a standard gauge tram road was built to log the mill. By March 1903 the timber holdings amounted to over 5,500 acres, extending from Purvis southward for about four miles on both sides of the New Orleans & Northeastern. F. A. Jordan died in October 1902, and on March 16, 1903, his widow sold her inherited half interest in the business to James Hand.  On April 24, 1908 a destructive tornado swept through Purvis completely destroying the Hand sawmill and much of the town of Purvis. Rebuilding of the mill began almost immediately.   In May 1914 the mill closed permanently and in July 1914 was dismantled and moved to Hanford, 2 miles south of Purvis. For a detailed history of this operation see: Steam Whistles in the Piney Woods Volume 2, by Gilbert H. Hoffman
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:        Road No.   Type   Builder   C.N.   Date   Cyls.   Dri. Dia.   Engine Wt.   Previous Ownership   Disposition   ?   11-2 Shay   Lima   162   12/1886   2-8x8   26   28000   Camp & Hinton Brothers, Lumberton, MS Camp & Hinton, Lumberton, MS, on 1/25/1890. Marion Brick & Tile Co., Lumberton, MS, in 1890. J. J. White, Lumberton, MS, on 5/29/1895. Camp & Hinton Co., Lumberton, MS, on 6/9/1899. James Hand, by 10/1902.   American Supply Co., Mobile, AL (dealer) Bynum Lumber Co., Bynum, MS, on 10/13/1905.   ?   0-4-0T   Porter                       Unknown. James Hand, after 3/1903.   Coat Lumber Co., Coat, MS, by 6/1905.   ?   0-4-4TB   Baldwin   7105   1/1884   14x22   45   66000   North Chicago Rolling Mill Co. #10, Chicago, IL Illinois Steel Co. 1st #10, Chicago, IL, on 5/2/1889. Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. M. D. Tate, McNeill, MS, in 1903. James Hand, by 6/1905. Baldwin class 8-22_ C 6   Unknown.

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