McWilliams, Wells & Pearson Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, -lb rail

Headquarters

Mill Location: Grafton, MS (Greene County)

Mill Capacity: 0,000 ft/day

Years of Operation: 1918-1921

Miles Operated

Locomotives Owned: 1

Equipment:

 

Click Map for Larger Version

History by Gil Hoffman:

On February 18, 1918, J. W. McWilliams, of the J. W. McWilliams Lumber Company, with a wholesale lumber office in Mobile, Alabama, and Z. W. Wells, of Poplarville, Mississippi, purchased a block of the Blodgett timber near Grafton, Greene County, for $280,000, and formed a partnership to engage in the sawmill business. Later that year Frederick S. Pearson was taken into the business as a partner. The partners then bought the mill of P. M. Ikeler, at Moselle, Jones County, and moved it to Grafton on the Gulf Mobile & Northern Blodgett Branch, about 20 miles north of McLain. This mill began cutting in November 1918. Grafton was the railroad name, but Walley was the name of the community. On January 7, 1920, Wells sold his interest in the mill to McWilliams for $34,275.94. 

In December 1921, the sawmill, timber and logging railroad at Grafton were sold to L. A. Cowan & Sons, of Mobile, Alabama, and operated by the sons of L. A. Cowan as the Cowan Brothers Lumber Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: 

 

 

Road No.

 

Type

 

Builder

 

C.N.

 

Date

 

Cyls.

 

Dri. Dia.

 

Engine

Wt.

 

Previous Ownership

 

Disposition

 

2

 

42-2

Shay

 

Lima

 

3122

 

10/1920

 

3-10x12

 

29½

 

84000

 

New for McWilliams & Pearson.

 

 

Cowan Brothers Lumber Co. #2, Grafton, MS,

on 12/15/1921.       

Coxheath Lumber Co. #4, Coxheath, AL, in 6/1925.

 

 

 

 

 

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For more information contact Tony Howe at howe6818@bellsouth.net or David S. Price at dsprice46@bellsouth.net