Keese and Tomlinson was a firm involved in lumbering and milling based in Keeseville headed by Oliver Keese and Thomas A. Tomlinson in the mid-1800s. An early list of Keeseville businesses lists them as "Manufacturers of Flour and Lumber".
In 1847 they were involved in developing the sawmill at Franklin Falls. Paul Smith was involved in the Franklin Falls area at the same time, and it is possible that he interested them in the Lower St. Regis Lake area. In any case, in 1851 they bought land for lumbering in the area, and built a sawmill at the outlet of Lower St. Regis Lake on the St. Regis River at Keese Mills.
There is no indication that Keese or Tomlinson ever lived in the area; the mill was run by Tom O'Neil.
Source: Research by Betty Pratt, in the Adirondack Research Room, Saranac Lake Free Library.
