Capt. Lewis Sawmill 1839

In an 1839 agreement with William Barton, Captian Lewis obtained the rights to build a water powered sawmill near the main spring on Barton Creek. The agreement stated he would supply all of the Barton family with lumber, never build or operate a gristmill, and would also prevent the water level from rising in Barton Springs.

Morman Springs Mill 1845-47

Mormon Springs derived its name from the Mormon colony that established a grist- and lumber mill there in the mid-1840s. Under the leadership of Lyman Wight, a dissenting faction of the Mormon faith arrived in eastern Travis County in 1846 and pitched their tents briefly at Webberville. Moving westward soon, they settled on the Colorado River a few hundred yards below Mount Bonnell. The group included a number of artisans and tradesmen, who were later awarded the contract to erect Austin's first jail.

The mill was destroyed by a flood in 1847. When attempts to rebuild it failed, the Mormons moved again, first to the Pedernales River near Fredericksburg, and later to Hamilton Creek near Burnet, where they built another mill. Beset by financial difficulties, they sold the mill to Noah Smithwick in 1853, when the members scattered. A few remained with Wight until his death in 1858. Others reunited with the major Mormon colony that had settled in Salt Lake City with Brigham Young.

From the City of Austin website
http://www.austinlibrary.com/ahc/outside/northwest.htm

Lyman Wight

Lower Waller Creek Mill 1840

This mill was located in central Austin on Waller Creek somewhere downstream of 15th street and above the Colorado river. Only one reference to this mill exists. 1840 is given as the date. It is not known if Edwin Waller was the builder. The following is from the Texas handbook online

"In April 1839 President Mirabeau B. Lamar sent Edwin Waller, in charge of a company of workmen, to the site chosen for the capital with instructions to lay out the city and construct temporary quarters for government offices. By October the work had been completed. There is general agreement that Waller, who became Austin's first mayor, carried out his assignment with distinction. Waller Creek was so named, it is surmised, by one of his surveyors."
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rbw11

Abstract

This blog's intent to catalog all water driven milling operations located within Travis County Texas
Here is a brief list that includes the builder, the date established and the location.

• 1839-1840, Lewis Capt, Sawmill, North bank Barton Creek near Main Spring
• 1840, Unknown builder, near 15th St. Lower Waller Creek Austin Tx
• 1846-1847 Lyman Wight Near Mt Bonnell East bank Colorado River
• T.F. McKinney 1849 SH 71 and Terry Ln. South bank of the Colorado River.
• 1853, Sherman Case, 6200 Manor Rd. Austin, Southwest bank of Little Walnut Creek
• 1860, Thomas Anderson, 13974 FM 2769 Volente TX, West bank of Cypress Creek
• Prior to 1870 James Ray (owner/operator?) Cotton Gin, Grist Mill, Flour Mill, Sawmill, Travis Co.  
• 1870, Michael Paggi, Grist Mill, Ice Production, Barton Creek, Old Mill Springs
• 1870 William Clements (owner), Travis County, Specific location unknown
• 1875, Michael English, Robert English, E.R. Dorr, Flour Mill, South Bank Barton Creek