Big Rib River in winter, near Goodrich.
Big Rib River Bridge crossing the river, near Marathon City.

The Big Rib River is a river in central Wisconsin.[1][2] It originates in northeastern Taylor County at Rib Lake, and flows into Marathon County where it joins the Wisconsin River. "Rib River" is a translation of the Native American name.[3]

The Big Rib River flows through Rib Falls then to Marathon City, before it converges into the Wisconsin River at the northeast face of Rib Mountain.

The Dells of the Big Rib River, below Goodrich, are believed to be the rapids where Father René Menard disappeared in 1661, which attempting to reach a band of Huron Indians near Lake Chelsea. He left his partner at the rapids to carry some supplies and was never seen again.[4]

Log drives began on the upper Rib River around 1874 and continued to 1923.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Big Rib River
  2. ^ "Wisconsin whitewater Big Rib River".
  3. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 119.
  4. ^ Schmirler, A. A. A., "Wisconsin's Lost Missionary: The Mystery of Father Rene Menard", The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Volume 45, number 2, winter, 1961-1962.[1]
  5. ^ Ruesch, Gordon (January 2012). Kalmon, Lars (ed.). Taylor County Logging and Lumbering. Taylor County History Project. p. 26-27.
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44°56′44″N 89°40′20″W / 44.94556°N 89.67222°W / 44.94556; -89.67222


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