Wells in Delta County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Isaac Stephenson

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 18, 2019

1. Isaac Stephenson Marker

Inscription.
In 1846, the Smith Brothers sold the lower mill on the Escanaba River to Jefferson Sinclair, a Maine lumberman, and Daniel Wells, Jr., a Milwaukee lumberman, after whom the Village of Wells was named. In 1847, Isaac Stephenson of New Brunswick, Canada arrived to skid logs for Sinclair and Wells with a team of six oxen and continued as foreman and timber cruiser until 1854. After timber cruising and contract logging for Holt and Mason for the mill at Masonville, Stephenson bought an interest in the lower mill on the Escanaba and in other sawmills in the area. By 1902, Isaac Stephenson owned 140,000 acres and was a millionaire. In 1912, the Escanaba Pulp and Paper Company built at the site viewed through the trees, now Mead Corporation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.

Location. 45° 47.838′ N, 87° 4.609′ W. Marker is in Wells, Michigan, in Delta County. It can be reached from Mead Road north of US Highway 2/US Highway 41/Michigan Highway 35. Marker is on a nature/historical trail behind the parking lot at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Escanaba Forest Management Unit. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6833 Hwy 2 41 & M-35, Wells MI 49894, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of

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this marker, measured as the crow flies: Forest Management (here, next to this marker); Waterpowered Sawmills (a few steps from this marker); Escanaba River (within shouting distance of this marker); Lumberjacks (within shouting distance of this marker); River Drives (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bill Bonifas (about 500 feet away); First Public Schoolhouse in Escanaba (approx. 3.8 miles away); Ludington Hotel (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wells.

Also see . . .
1. Isaac Stephenson. Wikipedia article that also tells of Stephenson's political career in Wisconsin. (Submitted on September 9, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

2. The Decline of Manufacturing in America: A Case Study. Article on the Naked Capitalism website that mentions that the Mead Corporation merged with WestVaco to form MeadWestVaco in 2002. In 2005, Cerberus purchased five MeadWestVaco mills, including the Escanaba mill, and formed NewPage. (Submitted on September 9, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 18, 2019

2. Isaac Stephenson Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 447 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.