Part 1 (Mss 984): Original Collection, 1874-1977
Physical Description: 2.5 cubic feet (6 archives boxes and 1 volume) 
Scope and Content Note

The records of the Northern Chief Iron Company contain a wealth of material pertaining to the company's involvement in the iron ore mining industry on the Gogebic range and span from 1874 to 1977. The collection is divided into three series: Administrative Records, Mining Companies, and Financial Records. The Administrative Records provide documentation on the development of the company, its relationship with mining and railroad companies, and land purchases and disputes. The Mining Companies series includes leases, agreements, monthly reports, and correspondence that document communication between Northern Chief and mining companies, mostly Montreal Mining Co. and Odanah Iron Co., and traces the development and production of the mines. The Financial Records provide a glimpse into the financial history of the company as well as documenting lands owned and leased to individuals.

The ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS consist of Correspondence; Deeds, Patents, and Quit Claims; Railroad Quit Claims and Mine Tracks; and records from Court Cases concerning land disputes. The correspondence files document the beginnings of the company as well as its progression over the years. Correspondence between Gile, the first treasurer, and Plumer, the first president, focuses on negotiations with current and prospective iron companies concerning leases, reports on mining operations, and the company's financial situation. General Correspondence (1895-1896) contains letters from mining companies concerning existing contracts and negotiations with those interested in leasing properties as well as the climate of the mining industry. Mine Reports from Robert King, on-site caretaker, provide a wealth of information on the conditions of the Cary, Windsor, Superior, Germania, and Minnewawa mines, including number of men employed, amount of ore hoisted, repairs and developments, and equipment used. The correspondence of Thomas Bardon and A. J. and F. W. McKay, all directors, discuss the value of ore, determination of royalties, payments of dividends, decisions made at director meetings, and mine strikes and the climate of the mining industry. Correspondence of Hugh Roberts, mining geologist and independent consultant from Duluth, and Clyde Holmberg, mining engineer from Ironwood, Michigan, deal with estimates of remaining ore, mine visits to Cary and Montreal mines, and shipments and production.

The Deeds, Patents, and Quit Claims document the purchasing of lands from 1874 to 1886 during the land rush on the Gogebic iron range. There are also a few records from the 1920s. The Railroad Quit Claims and Mine Tracks document how Northern Chief Iron Company transferred property claims to railroads to provide transport for the ore, demonstrating the co-dependence of the iron ore industry with the northward expansion of the railroad. The Court Cases concern land disputes and include litigation on the clearing of titles to ore lands. In the 1880s some titles and land deeds held by Northern Chief were lost through tax sales and fraud.

The MINING COMPANIES series consists of Mining Company Leases and Agreements and Mine Reports made for Northern Chief from various mining companies, principally the Montreal Mining Company and the Odanah Iron Company. The Mining Company Leases and Agreements record the financial terms of the lease and provide the location of land leased. The Mine Reports contains reports submitted to the company. The ledger (1896-1900) lists ore contracts, report of sales, shipments, railway reports, analysis of ore, and statement of royalties for Germania, Cary, Windsor, Minnewawa, and Pence mines. The monthly reports, written by Clyde Holmberg, give an account of development work being done at the mines, the levels being mined, and include detailed dimensions and locations. The annual reports, written by Clyde Holmberg and Hugh Roberts, document production, shipments, estimated remaining ore, analysis of ore, tons in stockpile, and exploration. The reports are most extensive for the Montreal Mining Company and the Odanah Iron Company. These reports consist of statements of shipment including type of ore, tonnage, who the ore was shipped to and by which railroad, selling price, and royalty statements.

The FINANCIAL RECORDS consist of Income and Tax Information, Stockholder Information, Hurley Sales and Tax Deeds, and Correspondence. The Income and Tax Information documents the companies earnings from 1917 to 1936. The Stockholder Information contains limited information on stockholders and dividends paid out. The records in Hurley Sales and Tax Deeds list the plot, who the plot was sold or deeded to, and the present owner. The Correspondence files include Tax Certificate Correspondence that consists of letters from M. F. Reid and E. H. Reid, lawyers in Hurley, dealing with tax certificates and lots held by the Northern Chief Iron Co. and leased to individuals. Many of the letters include narratives describing the circumstances of lessees. Financial Correspondence is mostly letters from stockholders but includes a financial report from 1943 and a 1968 Annual Meeting Report announcing partial liquidation of the company. Correspondence with the IRS also deals with the 1968 partial liquidation as well as questions on determination of tax.

Series: Administrative Records

Subseries: Correspondence

Gile to Hurley, 1887

Memorandum from Gile, 1889

Gile to Plumer, 1892-1897

Gile to Plumer: Inventory of Tools and Equipment at Germania Mine, 1895

General Correspondence, 1895-1896

Mine Reports from Robert King, 1895-1897

Hayes Brothers, 1895-1896

Hasselton, 1895-1896

Scheisinger, 1895-1896

General Correspondence, 1902-1929, 1937-1977

Michael A. Hurley, 1912

A. J. and F. W. McKay, 1919-1925, 1943

Minneapolis, St. Paul, & Sault St. Marie Railway Co., 1919-1924

Thomas Bardon, Jr., 1933-1948, 1961-1964

Hugh M. Roberts, 1948-1965

Address, 1949

Memorial Information, 1965

Clyde L. Holmberg, 1950-1961

Subseries: Deeds, Patents, and Quit Claims

Certificate of Location F111, 1874

Deed: Chipman, Hosmer, and Gilmore to Nathaniel Wilson, 1877

Patent: E1/2 SE1/4-32-46-2 to Nathaniel Moore, 1875

Patent: Lot 1-36-45-3 to Thora Thompson, 1875

Patent: W1/2 SE1/4-32-46-2E to Thomas Guy, 1875

Patent to Daniel Plumer, 1884

U.S. to Nathaniel Moore and Thomas Mitchell, 1895

U.S. to N. D. Moore and John W. Clark, 1895

U.S. to George Silverthorn and Daniel Plumer, 1895

U.S. Patent to N. Moore and T. Mitchell, 1895

U.S. to N. P. Chipman, 1895

Quit Claim Deed

Daniel Plumer to D. L. Quan & S.H. Alban, 1875

Nathaniel Wilson to Charles Gilmore, 1880

Warranty Deed: John McKay & Charles Augie to James Macdonald & Nathaniel Moore, 1881

Quit Claim Deed

Silverthorn to Plumer, 1882

Alban to Plumer, 1882

Silverthorn to Plumer, 1882

Gile to Plumer, 1883

Quan to Plumer, 1883

Green to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1884

Gile to Plumer, 1884

Silverthorn to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1884

N. D. Moore to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1884

McKay to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1884

Hurley to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1884

Macdonald to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1884

Giles to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1886

Plumer to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1886

Chipman to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1886

Mitchell to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1886

Wausau Title Co., 1919

John. F. Sullivan, 1920

Jones to Northern Chief Iron Co., 1920

Surveyor General's Certificate - David Bohannon, 1886

Department of Interior General Land Office, 1886

Subseries: Railroad Quit Claims and Mine Tracks

Agreement between Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western Railway Co. & Northern Chief Iron Co. to build Railway Station, 1885

Quit Claim to Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western Railway Co., 1886

Indenture Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western Railway Co., 1886

Quit Claim to Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western Railway Co., 1887-1893

Mine Tracks to Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western Railway Co., 1886-1890

Deed to Wisconsin Central Railroad Co., 1890

Quit Claim to Wisconsin Central Railroad Co., 1891-1905

Quit Claim to Penokee Railroad Co., 1887

List of Quit Claim Deeds to Railroad Companies, undated

Indenture between Montreal Mining Co., Northern Chief Iron Co., Wisconsin Central Railway Co., & Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault St. Marie Railway, 1916

Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault St. Marie Railway Co. Indenture, 1942

Subseries: Court Proceedings

Eau Claire County Circuit Court: Amanda Hosmer vs. Charles and Mary Gilmore, 1878

List of Lands deeded to C. D. Gilmore by Amanda S. Hosmer, undated

U.S. Supreme Court: Gilmore vs. Chipman, et al., 1878-1879

J. Tarbell to Thomas Bardon, 1887

Circuit Court for Milwaukee County Northern Chief Iron Co. vs. Hosmer & others, undated

Dane County Circuit Court: Vern Willard vs. John Camstock, Brief, undated

Series: Mining Companies

Subseries: Mining Company Leases and Agreements

Caledonia Iron Mining Co. Lease, 1886

Republic Iron & Steel Co.

Plumer Mine

Stockpile Agreement, 1920-1922

Agreement to hoist ore - Plumer Shaft, 1921

Permission to mine Kennan Forty, 1921

Stockpile Agreement, 1922

Waiver of Royalty, 1924-1929

Waiver of Minimum, 1932, June 30

Pence Mine

Extension of Option for Mining Lease, 1917-1935, June 30

Subseries: Mine Reports

General Ledger, 1896-1900

Montreal and Cary Mines, 1950, 1953

Monthly Reports on Cary Mine, 1957-1961

Annual Report on Cary and Montreal Mines, 1951, 1959, 1960

Cary and Montreal Mine estimated reserves and shipments, 1944-1951

Montreal Mining Co. (Montreal/Ottawa Mine)

Monthly and Quarterly Reports, 1946-1951

Oglebay Norton Co. Monthly and Quarterly Reports, 1958

Royalty Receipts, 1953-1954

Correspondence, 1919-1929, 1932-1955

Odanah Iron Co. (Cary/Windsor/Tilden Mine)

Monthly Reports

1916-1927

1933-1936

1942-1951

1958

Ore Contracts, 1919

Cary-Tilden Development Work, 1938-1947

Statement of Royalties paid, 1913-1922

Cary Royalty Adjustment Letters, 1940-1941

Royalty Receipts, 1953-1954

Pickands, Mather, and Co. Correspondence, 1942-1944, 1950-1962

Amended Lease Cary and Windsor Mines, 1958

Series: Financial Records

Income and Tax Information

Capital Stock Tax Return, 1917-1926

Corporation Income Tax Return, 1917-1936

Annual Information Return, 1916-1919, 1936

Audit Reports, 1955, 1958

Stockholder Information

Dividends to Stockholders, 1885-1891

List of Stockholders, 1924

Hurley Sales and Tax Deeds

Village of Hurley, Original Plat, Year of Sale, 1887-1902

Tax Deeds issued against lots in NCIC's Addition to Village of Hurley, 1888-1895

Northern Chief's Addition to Hurley, Year of Sale, 1896-1911

Village of Hurley, Original Plat, Year of Sale, 1904-1911

List of Tax Certificates purchased by Northern Chief, 1927

List of Lots Tax Deeded and Owners of Mineral Rights, undated

6th Addition Leases and Sales, 1973-1974

Correspondence

Tax Certificate Correspondence, 1919-1934, 1947-1955

Financial Correspondence, 1919-1929, 1936-1968

Correspondence with IRS, 1917-1969

Part 2 (M2003-010): Additions, 1891-1966,
Physical Description: 3.2 cubic feet (3 flat boxes and 6 oversize folders) 
Scope and Content Note: Blueprints and drawings.

Atlantic/Iron Belt, undated

German Atlas, Wahlerhof : photocopy, 1966

Godman’s World Atlas, Guttenbrann : photocopy, undated

City of Hurley, Wisconsin, undated

Map of City of Hurley, Wisconsin, undated

Hurley, Wisconsin (Northern Chief), “Proposed Lot Layout”, 1921

Hurley, Wisconsin, Exhibit “A”, undated

Hurley, Wisconsin, Proposed relocation of S.T.H. 77, undated

City of Ironwood Michigan, undated

Town of Pence, Supplemental water supplies : photocopy, undated

Town of Pence, Town of Pence, undated

Hennepin Snyder and Pence Mines, undated

Pence-Hennepin, undated
Physical Description: 2 items 

Pence and Father Hennepin Mines, 1891

Pence Mine, 1892

Hennepin Shaft, 1901

Northern Chief Iron, Plan of No.3 Hennepin and New Pence Shafts, 1901
Physical Description: 2 items 

Hennepin Pence Mine, Pence #2 mine, 1907

Iron Belt/Montreal, Plat, Right of Way, Division job no. 7031, undated

Iron County, Wisconsin (Northern Chief), untitled, undated

Iron County, Wisconsin (Northern Chief), Cary Mine, 1960

Superior and Cary Mine Longitudinal, 1900

Superior and Cary Mines, 1900

Northern Chief Iron Co., Ottawa Mine surface map, 1963

Ottawa Mine

undated

6th level, 1908

6th level continuation, 1908

6th-8th levels, 1908

7th level, 1908

East-West Vertical Projection of Foortwall, 1908

Northern Chief Iron Co., Montreal Mine, undated

Montreal, Wisconsin (Northern Chief), Surface Map, 1964

Asteroid, Mikado, Plymouth, Wakefield Iron Co., undated

Synder, Pence-Hennepin, Montreal, plummer, Daylight,Moore Jupiter, Bourne,Ottawa, Superior, West Cary, Cary, Windsor, Germania, Minnewawa, undated

Odanah Iron Co.

Cary Mine

Exploration, 1921

19th level, 1920

19th level, 1921

19th level, 1923

19th level, 1923

19th level, 1924

19th level, East Subs, 1921

21st level, 1921

21st level, 1925

22nd level, 1923

22nd level, 1924

23rd level, 1925

Windsor Mine

5th and sub levels, 1919

5th and sub levels, 1920

10th level, 1920

10th level, 1921

Cary-Windsor Mine

Longitudinal and Cross Section, undated

Longitudinal Projection, 1930

21st and 22nd levels, 1944

25th level, 1944

27th level, 1944

31st level, 1944

Republic Iron and Steel Co.

Exploration: holes 103, 1918

Exploration: holes 113; 114; 123, 1919

Exploration: holes 129, 130, 1920

Exploration, 1924

Untitled (section 4050W), 1920

Gogebic Range Properties, 1921
Physical Description: 2 items 

Plumer Mine

Plumer Mine, 5th, 11h, and 13th levels, 1920

Plumer Mine, 15th level and sublevels, 1921

Plumer Mine, 15th level and sublevels, 1922

Plumer Mine, 15th level and sublevels, 1922

Plumer Mine, 15th and 19th levels, 1923

Plumer Mine, 15th and 19th levels, 1924

Plumer Mine, 15th, 19th, 23rd levels, 1924

Plumer Mine, sublevels, 1924

Plumer Mine, Composite, 1924

Harmony Iron Co.

Germania cross section, 1923

Germania 24th level, 1924

Germania 24th level, 1925

Germania Minnewawa 24th level, 1924

Germania Minnewawa, 24th level, 1925

Minnewawa cross section, 1923

Minnewawa cross section, 1925

Hayes Mining Co.

Ashland Mine

20th level, 1923

24th level: records of raises, 1923

24th level: records of raises, 1924

24th level: record of raises, 1924

24th level: records of raises, 1925

24th level: cross sections, 1924

24th level: cross sections, 1924

24th level: cross sections, 1924

24th level: cross cut, 1925

Longitudinal section, 1924

Longitudinal section, 1924

24th level, 1924

24th level: 2nd and 3rd sublevels, 1924

24th level: 4th and 5th sublevels, 1924

24th level: 6th sublevel, 1924

24th level: 32nd and 56th sublevels, 1924

Germania Mine

Cross section, 1924
Physical Description: 2 items 

Longitudinal section along footwall, Ashland, Minnewawa, and Germania Mines

1923

1924
Physical Description: 3 items 

Montreal Mining Company

Squatters Map

undated

70 cross section

1940

1948

1952

74 cross section

1948

No. 4 shaft

No. 4 shaft, 100’ sub, 33rd level, 1948
Physical Description: 2 items 

34th level, 1953

No. 5 shaft

29th level, 1939

29th level, 1940

1st sub, 29th level, 1939

1st sub, 29th level, 1940

2nd sub, 29th level, 1939

4th sub, 29th level, 1939

30th level, 1939

30th level, 1940

30th level, 1944

50’ sub, 30th level, 1939

50’ sub, 30th level, 1940

100’ sub, 30th level, 1939

100’ sub, 30th level, 1940

31st level, 1940

31st level, 1944

31st level, 1948

50’ sub, 31st level, 1944

100’ sub, 31st level, 1944

125’ sub, 31st level, 1944

33rd level, 1939

33rd level, 1940

33rd level, 1944

33rd level, 1948

33rd level, 1953

50’ sub, 33rd level, 1944

50’ sub, 33rd level, 1948

100’ sub, 33rd level, 1944

34th level, 1940

34th level, 1948
Physical Description: 2 items 

50’ sub, 34th level, 1948
Physical Description: 2 items 

50’ sub, 34th level, 1953

100’ sub, 34th level, 1948

100’ sub, 34th level, 1953

35th level, 1940

No. 6 shaft

12th level, 1920

13th level, 1920

14th level, 1920

100’ sub, 35th level, 1948

Longitudinal Section 3 and 4

Footwall, 1940

Footwall, 1947

Footwall, 1948

Hanging, 1940

Northern Chief

No. 6 Shaft, 1920 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13; 1st sub levels: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14; 2nd sub levels: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; 3rd sub levels: 8, 9, 12, 13, 14; and Longitudinal projection of footwall workings

Ottawa Mine

No. 6 Shaft, 1919 October 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; 1st sub levels: 6, 7, 9, 13; 2nd sub levels: 9, 13; Longitudinal projection of the footwall workings

1921 January 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17; 1st sub levels: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; 2nd sub levels: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; 3rd sub levels: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; cross cut, vertical plane projection.

No. 6 Shaft, 1921 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; 1st sub levels: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; 2nd sub levels: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15; 3rd sub levels: 7, 8, 9, 14, 15; untitled.

1923 January 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; 1st sub levels: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15; 2nd sub levels: 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15; 3rd sub levels: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15; cross cut; untitled

No. 6 Shaft, 1923 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; 1st sub levels: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15; 2nd sub levels: 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16; 3rd sub levels: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15; Longitudinal projection of footwall workings

No. 6 Shaft, 1925 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; 1st sub levels: 16, 17, 18, 19; 2nd sub levels: 16, 17, 18, 19; 3rd sub levels: 16, 17, 18, 19; Longitudinal projection of the footwall workings

Montreal Mine

1928 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; 1st sub levels: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; 2nd sub levels: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; 3rd sub levels: 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25; hanging longitudinal (2).

1929 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 22, 23, 24, 25, 27; 1st sub levels: 22, 23, 24, 25; 2nd sub levels: 23, 24, 25; 3rd sub levels: 23, 24, 25; footwall longitudinal, hanging longitude

1930 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33; 1st sub levels: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27; 2nd sub levels: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27; 3rd sub levels: 24, 25, 26, 27; 4th sub levels: 26, 27; 5th sub levels: 27.

1931 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34; 1st sub levels: 25, 26; 2nd sub levels: 25; 3rd sub levels: 25; 4th sub levels: 26; cross cut; Footwall longitudinal, hanging longitudinal.

1932 May 1
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 25; 1st sub level: 26; 4th sub levels: 26; vertical plane projection.

Maps of the Montreal Mine for Iron Chief Lease, 1952 October 20
Scope and Content Note: Levels: 12, 27, 31, 33, 34, 35, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42; Cross section (2); Longitudinal projection of the footwall workings; property map.

Northern Chief Iron Co.

1951-1954

1955

1959

1961

1960