Weston, Abijah Adams (1822-1898).per
Dublin Core
Title
Weston, Abijah Adams (1822-1898).per
Description
Portrait recreated from a painting in this photo.
Abijah Adams Weston was the son of James Douglas and Lela Adams Weston. Abijah married Janet MacLaren on November 16, 1847 in Luzerne, Warren, New York, they had nine known children: Marion Weston, James Douglas, Jr. Ella "Ellen" Weston, Charles Weton, Kate Weston, Fred Weston, Walter Weston, Carolyn Weston and May Weston. Abijah Weston's grandfather Abijah Adams served in the Revolutionary War in the capacity of an ensign in the Continental Army. Abijah Adams Weston age 40 served in the Civil War, New York 27th Congressional District Class 2 as a Lumberman.
"The North American introduction of the logging railroad in 1852 is credited to A.J. Fox, Abijah Weston and William C. Bronson, who built a logging railway to the Tioga River, near the town of Lindley, Steuben County, New York. It was constructed of wooden rails, with platform cars and a steam locomotive named “Bull of the Woods.” This railroad was not used as a substitute for log driving, but for hauling logs to the bank of the Tioga River, whence they were driven to the large gang mills, at Painted Post.
The first thing he did was cut down every tree in town, knowing the danger of fire (Manistique).
"Development of the area [Manistique] began in 1872 when Abijah Weston bought the Chicago Lumber company and brought it to Manistique. Manistique was ideally situated to take advantage of the timber industry boom from the 1880s through the 1920s. As a lumber transfer town, timber that was cut further north was sent down the Manistique River, sorted at Manistique and then sent by boats across Lake Michigan to towns for processing. The use of water transportation was vital for the survival of the community" - Rep. Stupak, Congressional record
"Abijah Weston founded the Manistique Iron Company in 1887, and in 1890, he built the Weston Furnace Company. Wood was loaded into kilns to produce charcoal, which was then used to smelt iron ore pellets into pig iron. The tar from the smoke was refined to produce several products including wood alcohol, acetate, and acetone. These two industrial companies were located on the north end of North Cedar Street."- Schoolcraft County Historical Society's Post. Another feature on these firms.
"Realizing the vast profit potential to be made in satiating Chicago's need for lumber after the great fire, and the natural delivery system represented by the Manistique watershed, Abijah Weston and his associates arrived in Manistique in 1872 ready to reap the bounty of the areas seemingly limitless forest. Within a year, the river mouth served as the receiving point for millions of logs floated down the river from remote wilderness camps, and the twin sawmills of the Chicago Lumbering Company and the Weston Lumber Company were working overtime to serve the endless parade of lumber hookers and schooners tied-up at the lumber-stacked wharves, waiting to carry their cargoes to the bustling cities growing at the foot of the lake.
"In order to protect the mouth of the river from silting, the lumber interests erected a pair of short timber crib piers at the river mouth in the late 1870's and maintained lens lanterns suspended from poles at their outer ends to assist captains making their way into the harbor.
"Seeing the potential for a rail line connecting Manistique to lake Superior, Weston formed the Manistique and Northwestern Railway Company in 1891 with the lines northern terminus at Negaunee. With an expected increase in maritime traffic entering the river, Ninth Lighthouse District Engineer Major Milton B. Adams requested an appropriation of $32,000 for the establishment of a coast light and fog signal at the harbor entrance in his annual report for 1892. While the act of February 15, 1893 gave Congressional approval to the project, no appropriation was forthcoming, and without funding, the project was stalled. Although the Lighthouse Board reiterated the request for the following three years, the matter was dropped by the Board in its annual reports after 1895." - https://www.terrypepper.com/
Canadian interests
Son Charles lived at 293 Goundry (afterward, De Kleist home), and married a DeGraff across the street.
ABIJAH WESTON IS DEAD Man Who was Heavily Interested In Northern Michigan Timber Land Detroit, Mich., June 6 1898 --
Abijah Weston, one of the largest dealers and owners of Michigan lumber in the United States is dead at Tonawanda, N.Y. Mr. Weston was a partner of Alanson J. Fox of this city, with whom he has been associated for many years. His home was at Painted Post, N.Y., and at the time of his death he was on his way home from a business trip to Manistique, Mich. He was 75 years old and embarked in the lumber business in 1872. At the time of his death he was president of the Chicago Lumber Company, the Weston Lumber Company of Manistique, and the A. Weston Lumber Company of Weston's Mills, N.Y., the Manistique & Northwestern Railway Company of Manistique, and the Weston Furnace Company of Manistique. He was also largely interested in lumber operations in New York, Pennsylvania and Canada, and had amassed a considerable fortune. Alanson J. Fox was secretary and treasurer of the companies of which Mr. Weston was president, and together they organized the company which afterwards became the firm of Alger, Smith & Co., in Manistique. Source: Milwaukee Weekly Wisconsin, Sat., June 11, 1898, Page 8
Online Source: http://genealogytrails.com/mich/schoolcraft/milltown.html
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/17506125/person/110166554598/facts?_phsrc=sOb1653&_phstart=successSource
Abijah Adams Weston was the son of James Douglas and Lela Adams Weston. Abijah married Janet MacLaren on November 16, 1847 in Luzerne, Warren, New York, they had nine known children: Marion Weston, James Douglas, Jr. Ella "Ellen" Weston, Charles Weton, Kate Weston, Fred Weston, Walter Weston, Carolyn Weston and May Weston. Abijah Weston's grandfather Abijah Adams served in the Revolutionary War in the capacity of an ensign in the Continental Army. Abijah Adams Weston age 40 served in the Civil War, New York 27th Congressional District Class 2 as a Lumberman.
"The North American introduction of the logging railroad in 1852 is credited to A.J. Fox, Abijah Weston and William C. Bronson, who built a logging railway to the Tioga River, near the town of Lindley, Steuben County, New York. It was constructed of wooden rails, with platform cars and a steam locomotive named “Bull of the Woods.” This railroad was not used as a substitute for log driving, but for hauling logs to the bank of the Tioga River, whence they were driven to the large gang mills, at Painted Post.
In Ontario, during the mid 1860’s Henry F. Bronson, along with the same Abijah Weston, were logging along the York River near Bancroft, to supply logs to their mills at Ottawa." - History of Logging and Lumber Railways in Ontario, Brian Westhouse, Old Time Trains
Story of him quietly whittling with a Swede, Charles Ekberg (who emigrated to New York, was recruited by a Weston agent, boxcar'd to Tonawanda, and also found his way to Manistique, MI).The first thing he did was cut down every tree in town, knowing the danger of fire (Manistique).
"Development of the area [Manistique] began in 1872 when Abijah Weston bought the Chicago Lumber company and brought it to Manistique. Manistique was ideally situated to take advantage of the timber industry boom from the 1880s through the 1920s. As a lumber transfer town, timber that was cut further north was sent down the Manistique River, sorted at Manistique and then sent by boats across Lake Michigan to towns for processing. The use of water transportation was vital for the survival of the community" - Rep. Stupak, Congressional record
"Abijah Weston founded the Manistique Iron Company in 1887, and in 1890, he built the Weston Furnace Company. Wood was loaded into kilns to produce charcoal, which was then used to smelt iron ore pellets into pig iron. The tar from the smoke was refined to produce several products including wood alcohol, acetate, and acetone. These two industrial companies were located on the north end of North Cedar Street."- Schoolcraft County Historical Society's Post. Another feature on these firms.
"Realizing the vast profit potential to be made in satiating Chicago's need for lumber after the great fire, and the natural delivery system represented by the Manistique watershed, Abijah Weston and his associates arrived in Manistique in 1872 ready to reap the bounty of the areas seemingly limitless forest. Within a year, the river mouth served as the receiving point for millions of logs floated down the river from remote wilderness camps, and the twin sawmills of the Chicago Lumbering Company and the Weston Lumber Company were working overtime to serve the endless parade of lumber hookers and schooners tied-up at the lumber-stacked wharves, waiting to carry their cargoes to the bustling cities growing at the foot of the lake.
"In order to protect the mouth of the river from silting, the lumber interests erected a pair of short timber crib piers at the river mouth in the late 1870's and maintained lens lanterns suspended from poles at their outer ends to assist captains making their way into the harbor.
"Seeing the potential for a rail line connecting Manistique to lake Superior, Weston formed the Manistique and Northwestern Railway Company in 1891 with the lines northern terminus at Negaunee. With an expected increase in maritime traffic entering the river, Ninth Lighthouse District Engineer Major Milton B. Adams requested an appropriation of $32,000 for the establishment of a coast light and fog signal at the harbor entrance in his annual report for 1892. While the act of February 15, 1893 gave Congressional approval to the project, no appropriation was forthcoming, and without funding, the project was stalled. Although the Lighthouse Board reiterated the request for the following three years, the matter was dropped by the Board in its annual reports after 1895." - https://www.terrypepper.com/
Canadian interests
"Henry Franklin Bronson, lumber manufacturer (b at Moreau Twp, Saratoga County, NY 24 Feb 1817; d at Ottawa 7 Dec 1889). In 1852 Bronson and his partner John Harris moved to Bytown [Ottawa] to exploit the timber reserves of the Ottawa Valley, bringing his family the following year.
Utilizing modern mills, Bronson and Harris were among the first to ship lumber from Ottawa to American markets. Abijah Weston replaced Harris, and the Bronsons and Weston Lumber Co became one of the largest in Canada." The Canadian Encyclopedia
Son Charles lived at 293 Goundry (afterward, De Kleist home), and married a DeGraff across the street.
ABIJAH WESTON IS DEAD Man Who was Heavily Interested In Northern Michigan Timber Land Detroit, Mich., June 6 1898 --
Abijah Weston, one of the largest dealers and owners of Michigan lumber in the United States is dead at Tonawanda, N.Y. Mr. Weston was a partner of Alanson J. Fox of this city, with whom he has been associated for many years. His home was at Painted Post, N.Y., and at the time of his death he was on his way home from a business trip to Manistique, Mich. He was 75 years old and embarked in the lumber business in 1872. At the time of his death he was president of the Chicago Lumber Company, the Weston Lumber Company of Manistique, and the A. Weston Lumber Company of Weston's Mills, N.Y., the Manistique & Northwestern Railway Company of Manistique, and the Weston Furnace Company of Manistique. He was also largely interested in lumber operations in New York, Pennsylvania and Canada, and had amassed a considerable fortune. Alanson J. Fox was secretary and treasurer of the companies of which Mr. Weston was president, and together they organized the company which afterwards became the firm of Alger, Smith & Co., in Manistique. Source: Milwaukee Weekly Wisconsin, Sat., June 11, 1898, Page 8
Online Source: http://genealogytrails.com/mich/schoolcraft/milltown.html
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/17506125/person/110166554598/facts?_phsrc=sOb1653&_phstart=successSource
Date
1822
Collection
Citation
“Weston, Abijah Adams (1822-1898).per,” North Tonawanda History, accessed November 9, 2026, https://nthistory.com/items/show/5065.