Chester and Martha (Eastman) Starks arrived in Laona circa 1900. Other members of the Starks family moved to the Laona area between 1899 and 1905. Chester was involved in farming, surveying and logging in Langlade County and continued with these activities after moving to Laona. He operated his own logging operations circa 1900-1912 and for a brief time during that period he had a saw mill in Starks Settlement. Some of Chester’s old records show that he had business dealings with Sargent’s Blacksmith Shop, Casterson’s Store, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and the Connor Company along with lumber sales to the Sargent family. The following is some information taken from those records. Please note that some of the records were difficult to read and there may be spelling errors associated with the names listed.
Some of the workers listed in Chester’s monthly time book for the period 1902-1907.
William AndersonJake EdgnerParker OrrAdolph Barnes Charles Eggebrecht Artie PottsEarnest Barnes Joe Flitcraft Sam PottsRoy Barnes Hugh Tramer Ed SnowLewis Barts William Holmes Elihue Snow George Brewer John Indian Alvin SpencerWilliam Brandt Chet Irish John Starks and teamAlfred Broag Pete KimbleLevi Starks Clifford Broag William Konrad Tim SullivanErnest Champagne Ed LaurenceJohn TrainerOliver Champagne Sam McHugh Matt TyptonSam Champagne Art Maloney Boon TyraFred Davis Tom MineauJim TyraGeorge Eastman Henry OlsenDell WarnerFrank Eastman Lonie Olsen Leon Webb Included in a ledger of Chester’s were many purchases from Casterson’s store.
1 pound lard = $.12 25 pounds sugar = $.6027 apples = $.12 5 1/2 pounds pork = $.552 pounds pears = $.24 2 pounds pork sausage = $.2821 tomatoes = $.15 2 pounds mutton = $.282 pounds butter = $.46 2 pounds coffee = $.303 pecks potatoes = $.25 2 dozen eggs = $.441 plug tobacco = $.10 5 gallons cooking oil = $.70 1 pair mittens = $.50 3 each, 6 inch files = $.351 pair rubber boots - $2.25 1 skein yarn = $.251 pair pants = $3.50 1 sweater = $1.301 pair wool socks = $.75 1 jack knife = $.50Below is a listing of some of the logs shipped on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.
C&NW car #4164550 logs scaled at 5,310 board feetC&NW car #4206736 birch logs scaled at 4,632 board feetC&NW car #4224358 logs scaled at 4,480 board feetC&NW car #4338765 logs scaled at 4,330 board feet C&NW car #4379761 logs scaled at 4,315 board feetC&NW car #4540956 birch logs scaled at 5,644 board feetC&NW car #4563131 logs scaled at 2,289 board feetC&NW car #5019565 logs scaled at 5,370 board feetC&NW car #5052359 logs scaled at 4,523 board feetC&NW car #5089771 logs scaled at 3,845 board feetC&NW car #5158168 logs scaled at 4,633 board feetC&NW car #5160565 maple logs scaled at 4,412 board feetC&NW car #5194174 logs scaled at 4,133 board feetC&NW car #5212155 logs scaled at 4,633 board feetC&NW car #5220569 logs scaled at 6,700 board feetC&NW car #5245169 logs scaled at 4,550 board feetC&NW car #5256168 logs scaled at 4,578 board feet C&NW car #5260763 logs scaled at 4,110 board feet C&NW car #5286156 maple logs scaled at 5,179 board feetC&NW car #53169__ logs scaled at 4,167 board feetC&NW car #5354972 logs scaled at 6,750 board feetC&NW car #5346356 elm logs scaled at 4,626 board feet Click here for more information
about the Starks Family
Chester Starks Logging and Mill circa 1900-1912
by John C. Irish (great-great grandson)
