Abstract: Papers of Ludington, a Milwaukee businessman and Republican, who was mayor of that city, 1871-1876, and governor of Wisconsin, 1876-1878. The collection relates only to Ludington's business activities, particularly to his partnership with Daniel Wells, Jr., of Milwaukee and Anthony Van Schaick of Chicago in the lumber industry. Included are many letters from Van Schaick concerning the land investments and lumber production of the Ludington, Wells and Van Schaick Company which operated near Menominee, Michigan. An additional group of papers concerns Ludington's financial responsibilities as executor of the estate of his early mercantile partner in Milwaukee, Harvey Birchard, and as guardian of Birchard's two minor heirs.