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.
this page online
Marker Sign #4
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. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
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
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. Tragedy on the Chippewa River. Postcard History website entry (Submitted on September 4, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. CStPM&O & CNW. Holcombe, Wisconsin. (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 September 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,850 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 2, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
