Morning everyone! This is the last segment of the history of the Lumber Interests in Eau Claire Co., so lets get right to it. In 1868 a small rotary sawmill was built on an island above the Dells, three miles and a half from Eau Claire, but within the city limits, by Prescott, Burditt & Co., with a daily capacity of nearly 40,000 feet. A few years afterward, 1873-74, this mill was torn down and replaced with a gang and rotary mill having a daily capacity of 100,000 feet. It was operated until and including the year 1889, cutting from 10,000,000 to 16,000,000 feet of lumber each season. The business was organized in 1879 as a corporation under the name of the Dells Lumber Company, with a capital of $100,000. A gang and rotary mill was built by R. F. Wilson, of the west side of the Chippewa River, a short distance north of the Madison street bridge, in about 1878, but was burned down two years later. It was rebuilt by the Pioneer Lumber Company, which operated for a time, then it remained idle for about four years and was then sold to the Dells Lumber Company. Arthur M. and John S. Sherman settled in Eau Claire in the winter of 1856-57, and in 1860 commenced the erection of a mill at Big Eddy, later known as the Eddy Mill. It was sold by them to Ingram & Kennedy in 1869. The brothers then engaged in the logging business and bought an interest in what was known as the Boyd mill, which went out with the flood of 1880 and was landed in a completely demoralized condition seven miles down the river. In the fall of 1880 they began the erection of the Sherman mill on the east side of Half Moon lake, which was completed in July, 1881. After operating about one year it was burned down. It was then rebuilt by the owners, who sold a controlling interest in it to the Chippewa Logging Company. The logging company then purchased the interest of the Sherman brothers. After running the mill for several years under the name of the Sherman Lumber Company, it was shut down. It was next sold to John S. Owen and R. E. Rust, who associated themselves together and organized the West Eau Claire Mill Company in 1887, with a capital of $42,000. The Sherman mill thus became merged in this company. The Westville Lumber Company was incorporated in 1882, with a capital of $100,000, for the manufacture and marketing of lumber, and operated a mill at Shawtown on or near the site of the Alexander Boyd mill hereafter referred to. The Rust-Owen Lumber Company was incorporated in April 1882, with a capital of $300,000, with the mills at Drummond, Bayfield county, Wis. The principal office was at Eau Claire. The Davis & Starr Lumber Company was organized in June 1886, with a capital of $100,000, which was increased to $250,000. The corporation owned and operated a small mill at Little Black, Taylor county, on the Ashland division of the Wisconsin Central, now the Soo Railroad. This mill was burned down in t he spring of 1889, and a new plant with the latest improvements was erected the same year. The main office was at Eau Claire. The Montreal Lumber Company was incorporated, with its principal office at Eau Claire, in August 1887, with a capital of $500,000. The works were at Gile, a suburb of Hurley, on the Montreal river, Ashland county, Wis. The Sterling Lumber Company was incorporated in March, 1888, with a capital of $100,000, with main offices in Eau Claire. The mill was located at Sterling, Clark county, Wis., on the Wisconsin Central Railway. At an early date, the exact date not being remembered, a mill was constructed near the entrance of the canal into Half Moon lake by Stephen Marston. This mill was abandoned a few years later. Mr. Marston came from Maine and was among the early settlers of Eau Claire. He engaged in the mercantile business which he carried on successfully. He died many years ago. Mead and Angel operated a mill on Half Moon lake in 1867 and 1868 and prior thereto. Wilcox and Parker also operated a shingle mill on t he lake during the same time. Wilson and Foster in 1867 and prior thereto operated a mill near the entrance of the canal and adjacent to the Pinkum mill. It was not a success financially and was finally abandoned. Porter and Moon operated a mill at or near the outlet to Wheaton Springs for some years. This firm also had an extensive mill located at Portersville, in the town of Brunswick, particular mention being made where that town is considered. It purchased from the Mississippi River Logging Company the interest they purchased from the Eau Claire Lumber Company and operated the mills until within a few years. Also their extensive mill and interest at Stanley, the principal office being at Eau Claire, the name of all the concerns here being changed to that of the Northwestern Lumber Company. The Northwestern Lumber Company is found in the industries of Eau Claire. Alexander Boyd owned and operated a mill at Shawtown as early as 1866. Also W. B. Estabrook. McGuire and McRae owned and operated a mill in the town of Union, located on the west side of the Chippewa River a few miles south of Eau Claire. There was also another mill called the Gordon mill located a short distance from the mill last named. ++++++++++ That's the story and I'm sticking to it! :~) Tomorrow's story? "The Reign of Terror in Eau Claire!" See you then! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net