H. Schumacher Oil Works. Henry Schumacher (1832-1901), a native of Germany, opened one of the first cottonseed oil mills in this region in 1873, assembling the machinery with only the aid of an old encyclopedia. The oil works produced cottonseed oil, meal, and cake, and processed about 1500 tons of seed per year. Schumacher was honored for his contributions to the cottonseed oil industry about 1883 with a dinner at the White House given by President Chester A. Arthur. The first mill burned in 1910, but was soon rebuilt, complete with modern machinery. The oil works ceased operation in 1954. #8615