Timothy Sasse tsasse@hotmail.com 370 Ash Lane #106 Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 United States
Wisconsin Logging Railroads
The purpose of this page is to provide information on an often overlooked aspect of railroadi ng. While not as thrilling as their western counterparts, logging railroads in the State of W isconsin still hold much interest. After all, it is the state where both Frederick Weyerhause r and Edward Hines got their start. What I will attempt to do is to provide a master list o f all Wisconsin logging railroads including basic information such as dates of operation, (wh en known) location, and guage. I will then attempt to have some individual pages for some o f the more interesting operations. If anybody has any comments, questions or ideas feel fre e to contact me. Any information would be helpful. Last updated 1/5/00
Trying to go to a new more "user friendly" and easier to read format. Bayfield County (North ) edited and converted to new format.
In the Future: I plan to add a page listing rod locomotives used on Wisconsin Logging Railroa ds. This is progressing rathers slowly. I'm not sure how I want to so this. It is also a bi g mess:
Marinette County See Florence County for the following railroads that also had trackage in Marinette County. Q uinnesec Logging Co., Holmes & Son Railroad, Sawyer-Goodman Lumber Company, Goodman Lumber Co mpany and Dunbar & Wausaukee Railroad.
1.) Wisconsin & Northwestern Railroad. This railroad began operation in 1889 as the private r oad of the Bird & Wells Lumber Company of Wausaukee. Bird & Wells operated in the area just w est of Wausaukee. In 1892 B&W sold 2.78 miles of track to the Milwaukee. It was the southmos t portion of the MILW branch that ran northwest from Wausaukee through Athelstane and connect ed with the Dunbar & Wausaukee at Girard Junction. Bird & Wells maintained rights on their fo rmer line, and also on the Milwaukee branch to a connection with the Dunbar & Wausaukee. Seve ral spurs were built off of the south end of the D&W for Bird & Wells logging. Holmes & Son w ere also active in the Phillipsburg area as well. In 1903 Bird & Wells Lumber became the J. W . Wells Lumber Company. The following year a18 mile line was constructed westerly from Philli psburg on the D&W west about 18 miles. Part of this line was constructed on former rights o f way from old D&W and Girard Lbr Co spurs. Wells incorporated the Wisconsin & Northwestern 0 n July 21, 1906 as a common carrier. The common carrier portion of the line connected with th e Dunbar & Wausaukee at Phillipsburg about a mile north of its Girard Junction connection wit h the Milwaukee. W&NW had trackage rights over the D&W and the MILW throughout its lifetime s o that log trains could reach the mill. The W&NW ran almost due west from Phillipsburg endin g in east central Forest County. The common carrier portion of the line ended at Taylor Rapid s on the Peshtigo River in section 10 of tn 35N r 17E. In 1918 when the Dunbar & Wausaukee wa s abandoned, the portion of its line between Girard Jct and Phillipsburg became a part of th e W&NW. The Wisconsin & Northwestern was abandoned in 1921.
2.) Wisconsin & Michigan Railway. The first predecessor of the Wisconsin & Michigan was a nar row guage logging railroad running five miles west from Fisher to Ingalls Mi. (on the Menomin ee River) In 1894 the W&M was incorporated and 54.1 miles of track were laid between Bagele y Jct in Marinette Co. and Faithorn Jct(reached in 1895) where the W&M met the SOO. (This inc luded the logging railroad at Ingalls whose guage was standardized. It became a branchline wh ich was abandoned about 1902.) Trackage rights were obtained on the eight miles of Milwauke e track between Bageley Jct. and Marinette. On Sept 1,1895 the W&M took over the private rai l line of the Peshtigo Lumber Company. Called the Peshtigo Harbor Railroad it consisted of ab out eight miles of track between Peshtigo Lumber Company's mill and a harbor on Lake Michigan . Constructed in 1862 and 1863, its purpose was to haul finished lumber to the harbor for loa ding onto ships. The Peshtigo Harbor was originally laid with strap iron on wooden rails, bu t was converted to regular rail in 1869-70. Its early construction date makes the Peshtigo Ha rbor the first track laid in the state of Wisconsin north of Green Bay!! The W&M extended it s line south from Bageley Jct to Peshtigo to connect with this line. W&M wanted it because th ey wanted car ferry connections, and were unable to get land in Marinette or Menominee. The f erry was only a limited success and was abandoned in 1905. Peshtigo Lumber was the largest cu stomer of the W&M and Peshtigo was the company's headquarters. The W&M had a large shop build ing there which repaired locomotives for other logging operators as well as taking care of th e W&M's needs. Iron ore would be the next major draw as the line was extended north to Cund y Jct. (about a mile north of Quinnesec Mi) in 1901. Trackage rights were obtained on the Mil waukee allowing the railroad to extend service to Iron Mountain. In 1905 a 5.5 mile branch wa s built from Aragon Jct to the Aragon Mine at Norway. The iron mines along the W&M went bus t in about 1910. On June 11, 1904 the W&M expanded by purchasing the Holmes & Son Railroad (s ee Florence Co) A track was built to link the W&M main with the Holmes & Son track at Miscaun o Island. The W&M tried to break into the resort buisiness by building a hotel on Miscauno Is land and hauling passengers there. This too was a buisiness failure. In 1905 the W&M rebuil t the Holmes line five miles to connect with the Dunbar & Wausaukee at Constine on the Floren ce-Marinette county line. In 1902 a branch was begun westward off of the main to the area aro und Lake Noquebay. It was extended again in 1905, and 1910. This branch was built to serve in terests of the Peshtigo Lumber Co. (PEshtigo Lbr had looked into building their own railroad , but decided instead to contract the W&M to haul their logs.) Log trains between Lake Noqueb ay and Peshtigo soon became the W&M's chief source of revenue. Not to be outdone the Milwauke e built a branch to Lake Noquebay from the west as well. In 1914 logging was complete and th e Lake Noquebay branch was abandoned. Without its chief source of revenue the W&M went bankru pt in 1918. In its reorganization, the former Peshtigo Harbor line was torn up and the forme r Holmes & Son line was sold to the Sawyer-Goodman Lumber Company. (see Florence Co page) Th e lines between Bageley Jct and Peshtigo, and north of Faithorn Jct. were torn up as well. W& M attained land at Menominee Mi and set up its headquarters there. For the next 30 years th e W&M concentrated on being a bridge carrier betweeeen the Ann Arbor and the SOO Twin Cities- Sault Ste Marie main at Faithorn Jct. The track north of Faithorn Jct was relaid in 1925 incl uding the branch to Norway. For a time the W&M was again prosperous, but the depression kille d it in 1938.
3.)Fence River Logging Co. The Fence River Logging Co, in 1900, built a two mile spur off o f the Milwaukee just north of Pembine. Fence River went out of buisiness in December of 1902 .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oconto County 1.) Holt Lumber Company. From 1903 until 1934 Holt operated trains in various blocks of timbe r located in the northern third of the county. Operations were initially centered about Towns end. Several spurs were built east from here eventually reaching into the far southeast corne r of Forest Co. These lines connected with the C&NW at Bennett's Spur about 1 mile north of T ownsend. In 1909 Holt built what was called the Thunder River Railroad. It connected with th e C&NW Lakewood Spur about 2 miles east of that station. This line ran easterly into the Thun der River basin, and also to the Crooked Lake and Waupee Flowage area. Service on the Thunde r River RR ended about 1927. At the same time as the Thunder River operations Holt operated w hat was called Wheeler Spur which ran a few miles south from Townsend. There was also a smal l spur connecting with the C&NW about 2 miles south of Lakewood. In 1930 Holt operated off o f the main line of the C&NW Lindquist Line. (Connected with the main at Bonita and ran west i nto the southeast portion of Langlade Co.) Final operations lasting until 1934 were off of th e C&NW Flanders Spur which ran southwest from a connection with the C&NW main about half a mi le south of the Forest County line. Holt's own track off of Flanders Spur extended west int o the northeast corner of Langlade County. Holt also operated railroads in the Upper Peninsul a of Michigan until 1938.
2.) Oconto Co. This company had two major operations based in this county. One was connecte d to the C&NW Lindquist Line (see Langlade Co for details) and one connected with the C&NW a t Flanders Spur about half a mile south of the Forest Co line. This operation was also primar ily in Langlade Co and details of it are covered in that page. Oconto also had several mino r operations in the area. In the far northwestern part of the county were some tracks of th e former Miner Brothers operation purchased by Oconto in 1920. (see Forest Co page) In the 10 's there was an operation that ran north from a connection with the C&NW Lakewood Spur into t he John and Wheeler Lakes area. Oconto had a small spur that connected with the C&NW a mile o r so north of Mountain. A large spur, callled Bateman's Spur ran westerly off of the C&NW mai n connecting about 5 miles south of Lakewood. There was another small spur connecting with th e CNW about 1 mile south of Lakewood. Oconto's final rail operations were in 1941.
Florence County 1.) Quinnesec Logging Co. This company was a contractor for the Menominee River Lumber Co. o f Menominee Michigan. It began constructing a 15 mile narrow guage on Nov 1, 1891 that starte d at a landing on the Menominee River in Aurora Township, just across from Iron Mountain. Th e line extended southwesterly into the south central region of the county, and also north cen tral Marinette County. Quinnesac's headquarters camp and 2 stall enginehouse were located i n section 33 of town 38N R18E. Even though it was never a common carrier it was listed by th e Wisconsin Railroad Commisssion as having 14 miles of track in 1900. All logs were dumped of f rail cars into the Menominee River and floated to their final destination. Operations ende d in early 1903. The track was removed in May of that year.
2.) Wm Holmes and Sons. The history of this line is very complex and the whole thing is conta ined in a couple of different spots. Holmes began construction in 1894 of a line that extende d northwesterly from a landing on the Menominee River at Miscauno Island. (sec 36 tn 36N R21E ) The line crossed the Milwaukee at Holmes Jct about 3 miles south of Pembine, and crossed th e SOO about 3 miles west of Pembine. The main line crossed the D&W at Constine, on the Floren ce-Marineete County line, and ended near Lund Lake in south central Florence Co. Holmes' lin e connected with the Dunbar & Wausaukee at Constine and had trackage rights south through Dun bar to reach stands of timber along the D&W. Around 1898 the portion of the main line west o f sec 24 of Tn 37N R19E was abandoned and removed. This included the connection to the D&W an d trackage rights on its lines. In 1900 a large branch was built southwest from that point (s ec 24) to log off a large swath of land between Dunbar and Goodman. Headquarters for the roa d was located at Walton in sec 24 of Tn 37N R19E. Holmes never owned a sawmill and was onl y a logging contractor for the N. Ludington Co. Logs were dumped into the Menominee River an d floated to mills in Menominee and Marinette. Holmes & Son was also a common carrier railroa d. It interchanged cars of forest products with the MILW at Holmes Jct. On June 11, 1904 th e line was sold to the Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad. (see Marinette County for history of th e W&M.) In 1905 the W&M reconstructed the main to Constine in order to gain a connection wit h the Dunbar 7 Wausaukee. The W&M went bankrupt in 1918 and this line (except the 6 miles o r so closest to the Menominee River) was sold to the Sawyer-Goodman Lumber Company. (see Sawy er-Goodman Lumber Company entry for details.)
3.) Sawyer-Goodman Lumber Company. This company had a mill located in Menominee Michigan an d had extensive trackage throughout the area. Operations began in 1909 concurrent with thos e of the Goodman Lumber Company. (see Goodman Lumber Company entry for information.) One oper ation was on a spur that extended north from the SOO main about two miles east of Goodman. Al so there was a spur that ran easterly off the MILW about 3.5 miles north of Amberg. Sawyer-Go odman also operated several spurs running both east and west off of the MILW about 2 miles no rth of Pembine. Sawyer-Goodman's operating headquarters was at Wrenn on the Wisconsin & Michi gan, (former Holmes & Son) in section 11 of Tn 37N R19E and this was the focal point of Sawye r-Goodman's main operations. From 1909 until 1919 S-G built several spurs along the W&M line . In 1919 Sawyer-Goodman purchased the former Holmes & Son line outright from the Wisconsi n & Michigan Railroad which was bankrupt at the time. The portion of the line east of Holme s Jct was abandoned in 1920, while the remainder of the line remained in service until 1926 . It seems that equipment floated freely between the Sawyer-Goodman and Goodman Lumber Compan ies. After S-G ended operations its equipment seems to have all went to its neighbor.
4.) Goodman Lumber Company. In 1909 Goodman Lumber Company began operations out of its namesa ke town of Goodman. This company had very extensive operations in Forest,Florence, and Marine tte Counties, not including those of the affiliated Sawyer-Goodman Lumber Company. It seems t hat early operations were conducted south of Goodman. In the early 20's a line was constructe d that extended north into the north central area of Florence County. This was the last lin e operated by Goodman. Operations were discontinued in 1939 after Goodman Lumber tried unsucc essfully to cooridinate railroad operations with selective cut logging.
5.) Sever Anderson Logging Co (See Forest County page)
6.) Connor Land & Lumber Company (for both Lindel's Spur and Newald operations see Forest Cou nty page.)
7.) Tipler-Grossman Lumber Company In 1916 this company built a line extending southeasterl y from Tipler into the east central portion of the county near Lost and Grub Hoe Lakes. Tiple r-Grossman was succeeded by the Tipler Lbr Co and later by the Patten Paper Co. In October o f 1928 the sawmill at Tipler was closed, and railroad operations were transfered to Patten' s Upper Michigan holdings.
8.) Von Platen-Fox Lumber Company. The Company's mill was located in Iron Mountain Mich, bu t it had extensive timber holdings and rail lines in Northwestern Florence County. In 1912 th e Godfrey Von Platen Lumber Co built its first line extending northeasterly from a connectio n with the C&NW about one mile south of Tipler. This line was about 5 miles long. The compan y operated a small chunk of trackage around Duck Lake in the far northwestern corner of the c ounty as well. In about 1920 operations were shifted to Mc Govern Spur on the C&NW about 5 mi les west of the station of Stager. A line was constructed south across the state line into th e north central portion of the county. Somewhere along the way the company became the Von Pla ten-Fox Lumber Co. Operations on this line continued until 1928. Von Platen-Fox had other ope rations in Upper Michigan which remained in service until 1936.
9.) Menominee Bay Shore Lumber Company. This company based in Wabeno operated a logging railr oad there until 1930. (see Forest County page Wabeno Otter Lake & Eastern RR entry.) In tha t year operations were moved north to Quinlan spur located on the CNW about 2 miles south o f Long Lake. A railroad was constructed east and north from here into the Halsey and Fay Lake s area. Operations ended in 1937. This line was one of the last railroads constructed in th e area and came at the end of the logging railroad era.
10.) Dunbar & Wausaukee Railroad. This line was built and operated by the Girard Lumber Compa ny of Dunbar. Operations began in 1892. The line extending south from Dunbar that connected a t Girard Junction with the MILW (about 10 miles northwest of Wausaukee) was a common carrie r line with daily mixed train service. It gave Girard Lbr a second outlet for its products a s well as hauling passengers. The original reason for construction of the line is that Girar d Lumber Company felt that the SOO Line wasn't giving good service. The D&W's original line r an under the SOO a couple of miles east of town to avoid a grade crossing. Later when relatio ns with the SOO were patched up a grade crossing was laid and the original line was abandoned . Several private logging lines were constructed north and northwest out of Dunbar, and als o off of the main line south of town. The longest one, ending on the Florence-Forest County l ine about 5 miles northwest of Armstrong Creek, was some 30 miles in length. After 1903 the W isconsin & Northwestern (see Marinette County page) connected with the D&W main at Phillipsbu rg (part of the W&NW main was constructed on grades of what had been earlier D&W spurs) abou t a mile north of Girard Jct. W&NW had trackage rights on the line between those two points . J.W. Wells who owned the W&NW was also president of the D&W so relations between the two li nes were always close. At one time during a rate war J.W. Wells had logs from the W&NW shippe d to his mill in Menomonee Mich shipped north on the D&W and then on the Wis & Mich in orde r to avoid the Milwaukee. The D&W ceased to exist as a common carrier in 1918. The section o f the line the the Wisconsin & Northwestern had trackage rights on became a portion of that r oad.
Beginnings as the Wisconsin Central Railway The Wisconsin Central name originated on the Wisconsin Central Railway (WCR), a land-grant ro ute chartered in 1871 to build from Menasha, Wis., to Ashland on Lake Superior. Constructio n proceeded well, with the WCR reaching Stevens Point (60 miles west of Menasha) in 90 days t hat summer; Ashland and Portage by 1876, St. Paul, MN in 1884, and Chicago in 1886. Followin g the Northern Pacific's lease of the property (1890-1893), the road continued construction t o the north, and reached Superior, WI by 1906. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Oconto County Reporter May ?? 1921
PIONEER OF COUNTY DIES AT STILES Edwin Bigelow, [contributor's note: should have been printed Edward James] one of the pioneer s of Oconto county, passed away at his home at Stiles Sunday morning, May 15, 1921. Mr. Bigel ow was born in St. Albans, Maine, Feb 19, 1861, and came to Wisconsin in 1882 and did railroa d work at Florence and later in 1884 came to Stiles, and was married to Annie Tappa. He conti nued railroading up to the time he was taken sick; and for the past 26 year has resided o n a farm out of Stiles."
NOTE:Name: Ethel M Bigelow Marriage Date: 14 Jun 1805 County: Ocon Volume: 02 Page: 0363 County: Oco Volume: N Sequence: 06501 Name: Minnie Bigelow Marriage Date: 31 Oct 1806 County: Ocon Volume: 02 Page: 0414 County: Oco Volume: N Sequence: 06516 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Source : National Archive Files 1890 M123 roll #6 338165 Maine Veteran List Somerset Cty, Ma ine 1 Edward St Albans, Maine. Need to get copy of record.??? CAN'T FIND REFERENCE TO HIM THIS TIME MAYBE A MISTAKE ON MY PART!!!! Wilson and Melvin Bigelow were in 1890 Maine Veterans List. Don't know if they are related.
Source: Family Member Mary Bigelow in Milwaukee, WI 2 Said to have talked to " Abbie" Bigelow, Abbie said her father's name was Edward. Said to have been buried around Oconto Falls. As told to her by her father, Edward had come from the East but left because he had committe d some type of crime. What it was no one knows. Or if someone did know they just didn't tal k about it. Mary double checked with her Dad Kingford Bigelow and his grandfather's name was diffinatel y Edward James.
Source 1850 Census Somerset Co., Maine Edward James not listed Source 1860 Census Somerset Co., Maine Edward James not listed Source 1870 Census Somerset Co., Maine Edward James not listed Source 1880 Census Somerset Co., Maine Edward James not listed Source 1980 Veteran's Schedule for Somerset Co., Maine Edward James not listed Source 1900 Census Stiles Town, Oconto, WI Source 1910 Census: Listed as Farmer Source 1920 Census:
Source Mary Bigelow granddaughter of Harry Bigelow, story goes that Louis Tappa was driving o n the road and saw Edward James Bigelow and picked him up and took him home. He then met Anna Tappa. He notified his wealthy family for money and bought the farm next to the Tappa's.
Source: Mary Bigelow marriage of Edward James Bigelow and Annie Tappa was 1884.
Source Mary Bigelow granddaughter of Harry Bigelow, talked to IIya her father's oldest sister , she said Edward was from St. Albans and that years ago they went there but the last cous n had died and they could not visit but went to cemetary and many Bigelows were there, and that the first Bigelow was married in 1634 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She could not remember his name but her name was Mary. And that there is a Bigelow Mountain in northerm Maine. The story goes that Benedict Arnold (when he was still a good guy) was trying to take Quebec City and sent a scout ahead to climb this mountain to see if he could see Quebec City. The scout went ahead and was never heard from again. His name was Bigelow, hence the mountain's name.
Source Dawn Bigelow Ingram death date of 1921???
Source Mary Bigelow trip to Oconto,WI Edward's grave was found in Stiles Cemetery on a hill . Marked on the headstone was"1867 to 1921."
Oconto Co., Wisconsin Obit: Edward James Bigelow
SUBJECT: Edward James Bigelow Obit SUBMITTER: Lynne Robison EMAIL: Lynmarr@aol.com DATE: Nov 05, 1999
SURNAMES: Bigelow Pioneer of County Dies at Stiles "Oconto County Reporter Enterprise"; May 26, 1921
"Edwin Bigelow, one of the pioneers of Oconto County, passed away at his home at Stiles Sunday morning, May 15, 1921. Mr. Bigelow was born in St. Albans, Maine, Feb. 19, 1861, and came to Wisconsin in 1882 and did railroad work at Florence and later in 1884 came to Stiles and was married to Annia Tappa. He continued railroading up to the time he was taken sick; and for the past 26 years has resided on a farm out of Stiles."
More About Edward James Bigelow: Date born 2: St. Albans, Somerset, Maine.1 Burial: Unknown, Stiles Twnshp, Oconto, WI@Stiles-Abrams Cemetery.1 Died 2: May 15, 1921, Stiles, Oconto, WI.1 Obituary Notice: May 26, 1921, "Oconto Co Reporter Enterprise", Oconto, WI.1 Occupation: Abt. 1882, WI; Occupation: Railroad Worker.1 Record Change: July 16, 20011
More About Edward James Bigelow and Anna Tapin-Tappa: Marriage: 1884
Children of Edward James Bigelow and Anna Tapin-Tappa are:
+Harry Bigelow, b. July 22, 1892, Stiles, Oconto, WI1, 2, d. January 27, 1978, Iron Mountain, Iron, Mi3, 4.
+Mabel Estella Bigelow, b. August 24, 1899, Stiles Junction, Oconto, WI5, d. June 12, 1966, Oconto, Oconto, WI5.
+Edward James Bigelow, Jr, b. April 05, 1889, Stiles, Oconto, WI5, d. July 12, 1948, Oconto Falls, Oconto, WI5.
Edward James Bigelow (b. 1867, d. May 15, 1921)
Notes for Edward James Bigelow: