Holcombe in Chippewa County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Holcombe Logging Disaster
Photographed By Keith L, July 21, 2011
1. Holcombe Logging Disaster Marker
The following eleven men drowned:
Oscar Barquest - Cadott Max Billard - Drywood Saul Brackett - Eau Claire Henry Bryon Furgeson - Chippewa Falls Louis Gokey - Flambeau Andrew Gonyea - Jim Falls Ole Horne - Chippewa Falls Burt Larry - Anson Paddy Leyden - Drywood Joe Peloquin - Drywood Adolph Toutant - Cadott
These five men miraculously survived:
John Dressel - Chippewa Falls George Kaiser - Chippewa Falls Eddie Martin - Chippewa Falls William Smith - Drywood Emil Toutant - Cadott
Dressel, Kaiser, and Smith jumped onto the log jam itself when the boat struck it. Martin and Toutant were swept through the rapids and were picked up later a mile down the river nearly exhausted. Sixty other loggers of the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company witnessed the accident from the shore and quickly launched another batteau to attempt rescue.
Marker
this page online
Erected by the Chippewa County Historical Society. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.
Location. 45° 13.366′ N, 91° 7.068′ W. Marker is in Holcombe, Wisconsin, in Chippewa County. Marker is at the intersection of 275th Street (Main Street) and 262nd Avenue (Spooner Avenue), on the left when traveling south on 275th Street (Main Street). Marker is in Holcombe Town Hall Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 26179 275th Street, Holcombe WI 54745, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Holcombe Indian (here, next to this marker); Jean Brunet (approx. 4.3 miles away); Pulpwood Stacker (approx. 4.3 miles away); Ezra Cornell (approx. 4.3 miles away); Cornell Pulpwood Stacker (approx. 4.4 miles away); Cornell Women's Club Tablet (approx. 4.8 miles away); The Cobban Bridge (approx. 9.2 miles away); Bohemian National Cemetery (approx. 12.4 miles away).
More about this marker. The Chippewa Falls Daily Independent newspaper listed the missing men in this order and with these spellings:
Saul Bracket - Eau
Photographed By Keith L, July 21, 2011
2. Holcombe Logging Disaster Marker
Later, the newspaper changed Ferguson's name from Henry to Byron.
[source: link #1]
Also see . . .
1. McMillan Library. Lumberman on the Chippewa; Tragedy at Little Falls. "A log jam had developed below the Little Falls Dam (Holcombe) and seventy or more drivers were recruited in Chippewa Falls to break it up. William Irvine, general manager for Chippewa Lumber & Boom Company, told Andrew Gonyea, a driving foreman, to round up as many men as he could find and get them to Little Falls on the morning train." (Submitted on August 2, 2011.)
2. CStPM&O & CNW. Holcombe, Wisconsin. (Submitted on August 2, 2011.)
3. History Of Lake Holcombe. (Submitted on August 2, 2011.)
Photographed By Keith L, July 21, 2011
3. Holcombe Logging Disaster Marker
Photographed By Keith L, July 21, 2011
4. Tablet at Flag Pole
Holcombe
Est. March 16, 1905
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,358 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 2, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
