Ontonagon Lumber Company, Ontonagon, MI

The Ontonagon Lumber Company was formed in 1881 by Chicago capitalists for the purpose of harvesting pine in the Ontonagon river valley and shipping it to Chicago for sale. The company owned 13,000 acres of pine land and had a mill capacity of 200,000 feet of lumber and 300,000 shingles per day. [DMG-2024-0817]

Image info: This steam locomotive, No. 3, was originally owned by the Ontonagon Lumber Company. After the company closed, No. 3 worked at the Ontonagon Lumber Mill. It was photographed in the 1930's. [Tom Sullivan collection]

In the photo above, Tom Sullivan notes that his grandfather, Joseph Chopp is standing on the step of the locomotive in front of the tender and that he worked as the engineer. He later worked as a hoist engineer in Painesdale, and later in the Butte, Montana copper mines.

Notes

This company was likely purchased by the Diamond Match Company after the pine was exhausted.

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