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Biography For Edwin Hale Abbot

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Author:
Bill Hart

Background:

Edwin Abbot was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on January 26, 1834. The son of Joseph Hale and Frances Ellingwood (Larcom) Abbot, he graduated from Harvard in 1855 and from Harvard law school in 1859. Eventually his career headed to the railroad industry, which brought him to Milwaukee from Boston in 1876. 

On November 17, 1859, he was united in marriage in Maine to Miss Mary Carter.  Tragically, their marriage was short-lived as Mary died in February 1860, just three short months after their wedding.

Accomplishments:

The building of the railroad brought settlers to the area beginning in 1873. At various times Mr. Abbot was associated with the Chicago, Milwaukee and Minnesota Railroad, and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. He served as president of the Harriman, Gould and Vanderbilt railway. Mr. Abbot, a pioneer in the development of northern Wisconsin for over 20 years, is also credited with establishing the first car ferry across the Great Lakes for entire trains. This ran between Manitowoc, WI and Luddington, MI on Lake Michigan.

Many areas in Marathon County were settled mainly by people of one nationality, but Abbotsford was settled by many nationalities. Application for incorporation was made on June 13, 1894, and the first census of the area showed a population of 362. On April 1, 1909, the Wisconsin Central was acquired by the Soo Line. With the decline in logging, the Soo Line pulled out of the area creating a recession in the area. Property values decreased and many homes were almost given away. The recession abated as locals turned to farming. Edwin H. Abbot was president of the Wisconsin Railroad at that time and was largely responsible for Abbotsford being settled on the railroad spur. Naturally, it was named in honor of Mr. Abbot.

Edwin Hale Abbot died on May 31, 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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