James E. Homans, editor

“ At the end of the two years he abandoned the brewing business, because, as he expressed it, he felt that a brewer “often becomes his own best customer.” For the next year he was employed on a farm, where he received $13.00 a month. Meanwhile the farm in the old country had been sold, and the proceeds were divided among the children, Mr. Weyerhaeuser, now grown to manhood, receiving his portion. This enabled him to escape from the drudgery of the farm work, and to look about him for some better opportunity. ”

“ The increase in the demand for lumber was now rapidly developing the lumber industry along the Mississippi, and some of the mill owners began to consider the advisability of purchasing timber lands among the white pine forests in the North. Among these was Mr. Weyerhaeuser, who held that a successful business must be backed by a sure and extensive source of supply. Therefore, in 1868, the firm began to invest in pine timber lands on the Chippewa River. Other lumbermen had been doing likewise and great quantities of logs were being floated down the river. ”

“ Weyerhaeuser, who had been the leading spirit in the movement, was elected president in 1872. In 1881 the company gained control of the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company, at Chippewa Falls, and soon after was organized the Chippewa Logging Company, more popularly known as “the pool.” The purpose of this new company was to buy sawn logs for its stockholders, to buy timber lands and timber and to carry on a general logging business. During the twenty years of its existence it handled over ten billion feet of saw logs. ”