AUGER VALLEY LUMBER COMPANY
Thompson Valley
June 25, 1909: “It is the intention of Bert Gowdy, Neal Egli, of this place and Zed Harris of Summer Lake to erect a saw mill above Silver Lake in Thompson valley. In conversation with one of the interested parties, he informed us that the machinery for the mill would be ordered at once, and as soon as the machinery for this mill would be begun on the building and site, and the mill be in readiness to saw lumber yet this fall.” (Silver Lake Leader)
July 2, 1909: "C. S. Benefiel has sold his sawmill plant to Bert Gowdy, Zed Harris, and Neil Egli. Mr. Benefiel will continue to run he mill at its present location at the lower end of Summer Lake until about the first of September, when it will be moved by the purchasers above Silver Lake, about ten mile to Thompson valley, at which time the new proprietors will have their mill building ready to put the machinery in. Dad Willey, an old saw mill man has been engaged to run the mill. A better man could not have been secured." (Silver Lake Leader)
September 3, 1909: "Messrs. Egli, Gowdy, and Zed Harris, are making active preparations to move the saw mill purchased by them some time since of Ves Benefiel at Summer Lake, to Thompson valley, just above this place. They intend to get the mill in operation as soon as men and money can do it." (Silver Lake Leader)
September 10, 1909: "Sunday evening marked a scene of unusual activity upon our streets one might have thought that a circus had struck town but it only was the return of the Auger Valley Lumber Co.'s teams with the saw mill recently purchased of C. S. Benefiel. The big boiler was in the lead followed by five wagons on which the engine, smokestack, saw carriage, saws, shaftings, edger table, saw arbor and appurtenances pertaining thereto were loaded and aggregating a combined weight of nearly 40,000 pounds and drawn by 22 head of horses. E. J. Egli one of the members of the firm informed our reporter that they expected to have the mill in active operation in about 10 days, but he could not state how long it would be before they would have any lumber for sale. This is the second sawmill in this locality Embody Lumber Company will soon be sawing again but are now able to fill any ordinary bill from the yard with dry lumber." (Silver Lake Leader)
December 3, 1909: "Guy Martin came down from the Auger valley saw mill and spent Thanksgiving with his parents." (Silver Lake Leader)
December 24, 1909: "Dad Willey was down from the Auger Valley saw mill and spent last week in Silver Lake. This was Dad's first visit here since he went to work at the mill some four months ago, and every body was glad to see him." (Silver Lake Leader)
November 20, 1913: "Egli & Gowdy, of Silver Lake, whose sawmill is located in Auger Valley." (Lake County Examiner)
May 13, 1920: "E. J. Egli, made the sale of his sawmill and large steam tractor this week to a gentleman named McKinley, from Bend. The outfit was taken out on Wednesday where it will be installed on the Arnold ditch, south of that city. Mr. McKinley already has two small sawmills in operation, and is cutting lumber on contract for the Brooks-Scanlon Co. He will use the tractor for logging." (Silver Lake Leader and Lake County Tribune)