Claim: The Rail Car Grand Isle was one of a group of rail cars owned by Dr. William Seward Webb, president of the Wagner Palace Car Company that also constructed the Ellsmere in 1888 and the Mariquita which was later turned into his personal conveyance for his trips with family and friends between California and Alaska in 1888-89.
Evidence: The Wagner Palace Car Company fabricated the rail car Grand Isle in April 1899 for Dr. William Seward Webb, president of the company from 1885 to 1899. Grand Isle was one of a group of rail cars owned by Webb. Among them, others made by Wagner included the Ellsmere, constructed in 1888, and the Mariquita, converted to a nursery car for a trip with family and friends between California and Alaska in 1888-89.