Charlevoix county herald., 1912-04-13
THE WARD ESTATE
BEING DIVIDED.
Passing OF Great Timber Pro,
perty.


igan Investor is OF particular interest
TO the citizens of this locality.
The recently ANNOUNCED purchase
! by the Kneela nd. Bigelow Company OF
Bay City or 3,<40 acres OF timber land
In Otsago county, from the estate 0f
David Ward. calls attention to the
fact that what has been the largest
body OF timber land held by an indi-
vidual ia the lower peninsula Of N ich-
igan is being sold of piece meal and
the residue not disposed of 10 short
time is To be divided up among the
heirs. 4f@S
Some 90 years ago David Ward,
pioneer Michigan lumtermau, who
operated on Pine river In the Saginaw
valley, apd' was also an experienced
"land CRUISER" as we'll as careful es-
tlmator OF pine timber, acquired
about 10000 acres of land. chiefly in
one body, located in Otsego. Antrim
and CharlevoiX counties. Mr.. Ward,
while eugaged in numbering in the
valley, held the body "f timber in
question many years As an invest
ment. Some time before he died he
that secliUn aggregated some 00,000,-
600 TO SOC, ,Ob0,G0 feel of standing tim
Der. A considerable portion Of IL was
pine, and the remainder hemlock and
hard wood. Some 20 years ago he con-
structed9a standard gauge railroad
from Frederic, a point on the Macki-
nav division OF tue Michigan Central
railroads; west to East Jordan, dis
tance Of Al. miles. This road was
built as snhs tattiaI as any commercial
road In the country by Mr.. Ward at
his own expense. although primarily
il was intended largely TO furnish an
outlet 10 the tim Der on this vast tract
OF land.
When. Mr. Ward died this BODY Of
land was one Of his principal assets.
A trusteestlip Was formed which VAS
Co ADMINISTER tie property twelve
years. IL Is understood this trrnin-
a'es under the terms Of the agreement
AL the residue OF the property uudis-
posed ol is to be divided among the
remaining heirs.
The administration OF the estate
some years ago erected large saw
mill plant at Deward, twelve miles
west Of Fred erie, and it, has been oper-
ated continuously until few days
ago, when IL was shut down, H. OuL OF
commission aud is to BE- sold. This
mill has manufactured a. high as 37,-
OO0, 900 feet OF lumber in single year
Last year 1t manufactured 1900. 900
feet Of pine, 2.300 900 feet OF hemlock
and 3. 10000 feet of hardwood um5er,
a total OF l9,00O,JO0 feet; also, 1900 900
pieces st lath and 10000 shingles.
The railroad. known as The Detroit
S. Charievox raifuad. was taken over
two years ago blythe Michigan Gen.
trail, aud is now,beiag operated 10y the
latter. 49, -r.s"
burftdsj tNo yCdiS biC Chbdbc'
has disposed 96f;; large timber holdings
t0 SaliiUg- Hanson co. Gof Gtayling;
the KneeIands Bjeelow Co. OF Bay City
Buckley &c Dunglas Co.. or Manistee;
StearnS Lumber Co, z of Ludington:
Anderson Co.. Williams Bros, OF Cad
lilac, apd Others. -
The Knapp 81 Scott saw mill in
BAY City mas been stocked from this
timber the last few years and is still
getting supplies OF saw logs from that
source; cutting lum ber for the Hanson
Ward Compapy, incorporates a large
veneer. and flooring plant 10 Bay CITY.
A lum herman in;close touch with
the estate says he should estimate
there rs still some go, 900 acres of the
tract, How much of this will be dis
. posed Of before the close Of the admin
istratton OF the estate cannot be stat
ed. The lumber camps, are being
brokeaup aud the camp eguipage,
horse etc, are being disFosed of and
every effort is, being made TO close up
what yas the pride and ampition OF
the Original owner and which has
Welded millions Of dollars in land aud
lumber property To the estate.