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.

                                     HOME                                              ABOUT  US                                              LINKS           

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