Scanlan, James

In 1902 Cyrus McCormick Jr., a Chicagoan who founded the International Harvester Corporation, and his attorney Cyrus Bentley acquired 17,124 acres of land in West Marquette County, Michigan. They consequently constructed a lodge of three log buildings, named White Deer Lake Lodge. The land became informally known as the McCormick Tract. In 1968, the ownership was transferred to the United States Forest Service with the stipulation that the land return to its natural state, non-accessible to motor vehicles. In 1970, the Forest Service demolished the three log buildings. The land is now part of the Ottawa National Forest.James F. Scanlan served as caretaker of the White Deer Lake Lodge from June 1, 1908 until November 1909. Scanlan was born on November 9, 1866, and lived his entire life in the Champion - Michigamme area. He worked in the railroad and lumber industries until his death in 1921.