John Lane Buell's Trip up the Menominee River
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MENOMINEE RANGE HISTORY – EARLY EXPLORATIONS – JOHN LANE BUELL’S TRIP UP THE MENOMINEE RIVER – 1876 [Compiled and Transcribed by William John Cummings] lieutenant in the United States regular army during the civil war. Col. Buell is seventy years old and next year his pension will be increased to twelve dollars per month. Iron Mountain Press, Iron Mountain, Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 21, Number 38 [Thursday, October 26, 1916], page 1, columns 1-2 A PIONEER PASSES _____ VENERABLE JOHN LANE BUELL DIED AT QUINNESEC LAST TUESDAY. _____ He Discovered the First Mine on the Menominee Range and Was the Founder of Quinnesec. JOHN LANE BUELL [October 12, 1835 – October 24, 1916] John Lane Buell, a pioneer and highly respected resident of the Iron Mountain Press, Iron Mountain, Menominee range, died at his home in Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume Quinnesec, [sic] last Tuesday morning, 9, Number 28 [Thursday, December after a lingering illness, aged eighty-one 1, 1904], page 5, column 2 years, three months and eighteen days. John Lane Buell was a pioneer QUINNESEC ITEMS. explorer of the Menominee range and _____ founder of Quinnesec. He was a son of George P. Buell, and was born October th Col. John L. Buell received notice 12 , 1835, in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn last Sunday that he had been allowed a county, Indiana. His paternal pension of ten dollars per month on the grandfather, Salmon A. Buell, the son of age basis, account of service as first- a revolutionary soldier, was born and reared in Budington, Vermont. The 1 MENOMINEE RANGE HISTORY – EARLY EXPLORATIONS – JOHN LANE BUELL’S TRIP UP THE MENOMINEE RIVER – 1876 [Compiled and Transcribed by William John Cummings] father, George P. Buell, was born in Fourth United States Infantry, 1801, in Scipio, N.Y.; married to Ann stationed at Fort Columbus, New York. Lane, to whom were born Salmon A., Subsequently given charge of the North George P., John Lane, (subject of this Carolina and Maryland prisoners, having sketch), Joana, Ann and Julius. the charge of Mason and Slidell. [sic] He Having completed his early studies in took them to Fort Warren, Boston, the public schools at Lawrenceburg, John from where they were released and put Lane Buell took a scientific course at the aboard a British man of war. Norwich Military Institute in Norwich, Mr. Buell then went to Washington Indiana. Going to Kansas in 1857, he where he was appointed regimental spent a year in Leavenworth, and on quartermaster and commissary. During October 20th, 1858, was one of a small McClellan’s advance he had charge of band of venturesome youths that started the baggage and supply train of the Third overland to Colorado, being the first to Brigade. After again joining his make the trip from that place. command he took part in the battle of On December 20th, 1858, the Bull Run, and at Antietam had charge company arrived at Cherry Creek, the of the second company of skirmishers. site of the present city of Denver. In His father being ill, Mr. Buell resigned 1859, Mr. Buell surveyed and platted from the army after the battle of the present city of Boulder, and in 1859 Antietam and returned home to and 1860 worked in Central City, Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He subsequently Colorado. He engaged in mining in served as aid-de-camp to General John Leadville for six months in 1860, and at Lore, who operated against the forces of the Pine Altos mine in New Mexico for John Morgan, the daring rebel leader. a time in the same year. In the spring of Entering Harvard College in 1863, Mr. 1861, Mr. Buell started for the Gulf of Buell studied law for six months, Mexico, going via El Paso and San afterwards returning to Lawrenceburg Antonio to Fort Davis. By this time where he engaged in farming until Texas had seceded and General Triggs August, 1866. had surrendered the federal troops. At that time, on account of ill health, Traveling by night in order to escape Mr. Buell decided to try an entire change capture, Mr. Buell finally reached the of climate. He came to Menominee, gulf and secured passage on a vessel used Michigan, and in 1867 put the in transporting paroled soldiers and on machinery into the Jones mill on the bay May 2nd, 1861, landed in New York. shore, operating the mill for two years, in He entered the commissary the meantime carrying on general department as clerk and in August, 1861, farming, publishing the Menominee was appointed second lieutenant in the 2 MENOMINEE RANGE HISTORY – EARLY EXPLORATIONS – JOHN LANE BUELL’S TRIP UP THE MENOMINEE RIVER – 1876 [Compiled and Transcribed by William John Cummings] Journal, and as opportunity occurred, as first sheriff of that county. Her father, practicing law. Stephen Ludlow, was born May 5th, In 1871 Mr. Buell paid his first visit 1790, in Morris county, New Jersey, and to the Menominee range, and on his was subsequently a pioneer settler of second visit in May, 1873, commenced Lawrenceberg [sic – Lawrenceburg], exploring and laid bare the first Indiana. In 1820 he was one of the merchantable ore ever discovered on the commissioners appointed by the range, finding it in the southeast quarter, legislature to select four sections of land township thirty-nine north, range thirty, granted by the United States as a site for and naming it the Quinnesec mine. the capital, which in June, 1820, was The same year Mr. Buell took up a located at Indianapolis. At seventy homestead claim, and in 1876 platted years of age Mr. Ludlow accepted the the village of Quinnesec, which was the position of assistant United States terminus of the Chicago & North- surveyor, and was active in that work Western railway from 1877 to 1880. until his death at a venerable age at Since coming to the upper peninsula Mr. Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Buell has been deeply interested in The funeral services will be held at everything pertaining to its development the Quinnesec Catholic church at 10 and advancement, and has been o’clock to-morrow [sic – tomorrow] prominent and influential in public (Friday) morning, Rev. James Corcoran affairs. Elected to the state legislature officiating. The interment will be at in 1872, he became an active member of cemetery park. that body, and had the distinction of introducing the first ten-hour labor bill Iron Mountain Press, Iron Mountain, ever submitted to the legislature. He also Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume also [sic] introduced the first log lien XX, Number XX [Thursday, May 27, bill. In 1876 Mr. Buell built the first 1920], page XX, column XX wagon road made between Twin Falls and the New York farm, and Mrs. Buell Is Dead. superintended the construction of the iron bridges at Twin Falls and at Iron Mrs. Ruth Buell, relict [widow] of Mountain. the late John L. Buell, died last Friday On December 31st, 1863, Mr. Buell noon at the family home in Quinnesec married Ruth B. Ludlow, who was born after a short illness. Mrs. Buell about six of Stephen Ludlow. Her grandfather, weeks ago returned from Lawrenceberg John Ludlow, came to the Northwest [sic – Lawrenceburg], Indiana, where Territory in 1810, locating in what was she had spent the winter months with afterwards Hamilton county, and served relatives, and was taken ill a few days 3 MENOMINEE RANGE HISTORY – EARLY EXPLORATIONS – JOHN LANE BUELL’S TRIP UP THE MENOMINEE RIVER – 1876 [Compiled and Transcribed by William John Cummings] later. Mrs. Buel [sic – Buell] was about corrections has decided that the building seventy-eight years of age and a native of at present used for a county hospital is Indiana. With Mr. Buell, she came to the unsuited for the purposes and has ordered upper peninsula about fifty years ago, the supervisors to provide new quarters first residing at Menominee, and forty- forthwith. An agent of the state board five years ago removing to Quinnesec, will attend the next meeting of the where she had resided ever since. She is supervisors and he will be consulted survived by two brothers, Homer and relative to the Buell property. Stephen, and two nephews, Percy and Frank Ludlow, and a niece, Miss Laura Iron Mountain Press, Iron Mountain, Ludlow, of Lawrenceburg. The funeral Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume was held on Tuesday from St. Mary’s 25, Number 16 [Thursday, September church at Quinnesec, with Rev. John 2, 1920], page 1, column 5 Mockler in charge of the services, with interment at Cemetery Park. Mrs. Buell Buell Place Sold. was a notable figure in the history of Quinnesec. Her acts of substantial The Buell place at Quinnesec, which charity were many and she was ever the county anticipated purchasing for a thoughtful of the welfare of her hospital, has been sold to Joseph neighbors. During the past several years Mongrain. The place contains seven Mrs. Buell has lead a retired life. acres, a large twelve-room residence and fine barn. Mr. Mongrain’s deal includes Iron Mountain Press, Iron Mountain, the furniture in the home and all the Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume tools, etc., and the consideration was 25, Number 12 [Thursday, August 5, $6,500. 1920], page 1, column 6 Diary of John Lane Buell’s Trip Option Buell Home. from the Mouth of the Menominee River North to the The county poor commissioners have instructed Prosecuting Attorney Knight Pine River, Brule River and Paint to secure an option upon the residence River and Down the Menominee property of the late John L. Buell at River to the Mouth Quinnesec, and will recommend that the same be purchased for county hospital Saturday, August 26 to Tuesday, purposes.