Ephraim Shay
Encyclopedia
Ephraim Shay designed the first Shay locomotive
and patented the type.
He was born on July 17, 1839, in Sherman Township, Huron County, Ohio
. His parents were James and Phoebe (Probasco) Shay.
In 1861, he moved to Muir, Michigan
, and shortly after enlisted in Company D, 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
. From his American Civil War
Diary
, Ephraim wrote "Received marching orders. Quite a coincidence; on the day I am 22 years old I start on my first expedition to defend my country's honor and flag." Ephraim served in the Western Theatre of the war, under General William Tecumseh Sherman
. He was honorably discharged in 1864, returned to Ohio
and married Jane Henderson on July 26 of that year.
He and his wife then moved to Ionia County, Michigan
, to be near other family members in Portland
, Lyons
, Muir
, and Sebewa. In 1870 they moved to Sunfield, Michigan
, where Ephraim operated a steam Sawmill
. There, they had their son, Lette, on January 26, 1870.
Sometime after 1873, they moved to Haring, Michigan, where Shay established a general store and sawmill. In 1876 or 1877, Ephraim had an idea to use a locomotive
to haul logs. With maple
strips on pine
rails, the origins of the Shay locomotive
were put to use. Ephraim started working with Lima Machine Works (later Lima Locomotive Works
) in Lima, Ohio
, and in 1880, the first Shay Locomotive was shipped to a customer in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. In 1881, Shay started filing patent
s. Lima built 4 Shay locomotives in 1881, and were up to 37 Shays in 1883. In 1884, Lima had a 34 page catalog, with 5 different models of Shay Locomotives. By the late 1890s, Shay Locomotives were shipped all over the world.
In 1888, Shay moved to Harbor Springs, Michigan
. There, he designed and built a hexagonal shaped house with six wings opening off the central core with a tower on top, still in existence today. The walls, inside and out, were stamped steel. In 1891, Shay built an all-steel boat that was 40 feet long and a beam of 6 feet, named the Aha. What's left of the Aha is now back in Harbor Springs. Shay also designed and operated a private water works for Harbor Springs.
Shay started his own railroad, the Harbor Springs Railway
(nicknamed the "Hemlock Central"), which was chartered in 1902 and dissolved in 1912. Three locomotives to Shay's own design were the only motive power. The road predominantly hauled lumber
, but was also used for sightseeing at 25 cents a head. Shay also made sleds with clear Maple runners as Christmas
gifts for the children in town, over 400 made over the years.
In 1912, Ephraim's wife Jane died on July 24. Ephraim died on April 19, 1916 & is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Harbor Springs, MI.
The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society sponsors the "Shay Days" festival, on a weekend close to his birthday each year at the hexagon house. In 2005, the festival was held July 15, July 16, and July 17.
Shay locomotive
The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive...
and patented the type.
He was born on July 17, 1839, in Sherman Township, Huron County, Ohio
Huron County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,487 people, 22,307 households, and 16,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 121 people per square mile . There were 23,594 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
. His parents were James and Phoebe (Probasco) Shay.
In 1861, he moved to Muir, Michigan
Muir, Michigan
Muir is a village in Lyons Township, Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 634 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.30% is water....
, and shortly after enlisted in Company D, 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
The 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. Among its early leaders were Morgan Lewis Smith and Giles Alexander Smith, both of whom later became generals....
. From his American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
, Ephraim wrote "Received marching orders. Quite a coincidence; on the day I am 22 years old I start on my first expedition to defend my country's honor and flag." Ephraim served in the Western Theatre of the war, under General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
. He was honorably discharged in 1864, returned to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and married Jane Henderson on July 26 of that year.
He and his wife then moved to Ionia County, Michigan
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, to be near other family members in Portland
Portland, Michigan
Portland is a city in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,789. The city is situated in the south central portion of Portland Township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
, Lyons
Lyons, Michigan
Lyons is a village in Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 726 at the 2000 census. Most of the village is within Lyons Township. A small portion extends west into Ionia Township.- Geography :...
, Muir
Muir, Michigan
Muir is a village in Lyons Township, Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 634 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.30% is water....
, and Sebewa. In 1870 they moved to Sunfield, Michigan
Sunfield, Michigan
Sunfield is a village in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 591 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Sunfield Township.-Geography:...
, where Ephraim operated a steam Sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
. There, they had their son, Lette, on January 26, 1870.
Sometime after 1873, they moved to Haring, Michigan, where Shay established a general store and sawmill. In 1876 or 1877, Ephraim had an idea to use a locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
to haul logs. With maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
strips on pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
rails, the origins of the Shay locomotive
Shay locomotive
The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive...
were put to use. Ephraim started working with Lima Machine Works (later Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line...
) in Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
, and in 1880, the first Shay Locomotive was shipped to a customer in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. In 1881, Shay started filing patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s. Lima built 4 Shay locomotives in 1881, and were up to 37 Shays in 1883. In 1884, Lima had a 34 page catalog, with 5 different models of Shay Locomotives. By the late 1890s, Shay Locomotives were shipped all over the world.
In 1888, Shay moved to Harbor Springs, Michigan
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Harbor Springs is a city and resort community in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on...
. There, he designed and built a hexagonal shaped house with six wings opening off the central core with a tower on top, still in existence today. The walls, inside and out, were stamped steel. In 1891, Shay built an all-steel boat that was 40 feet long and a beam of 6 feet, named the Aha. What's left of the Aha is now back in Harbor Springs. Shay also designed and operated a private water works for Harbor Springs.
Shay started his own railroad, the Harbor Springs Railway
Harbor Springs Railway
The Harbor Springs Railway was a narrow gauge railway of 30 in gauge built from Harbor Springs, Michigan on Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. It was nicknamed the Hemlock Central because of the great numbers of hemlock trees growing in the area...
(nicknamed the "Hemlock Central"), which was chartered in 1902 and dissolved in 1912. Three locomotives to Shay's own design were the only motive power. The road predominantly hauled lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, but was also used for sightseeing at 25 cents a head. Shay also made sleds with clear Maple runners as Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
gifts for the children in town, over 400 made over the years.
In 1912, Ephraim's wife Jane died on July 24. Ephraim died on April 19, 1916 & is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Harbor Springs, MI.
The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society sponsors the "Shay Days" festival, on a weekend close to his birthday each year at the hexagon house. In 2005, the festival was held July 15, July 16, and July 17.
Sources
- Kyle Neighbors (1969) THE LIMA SHAYS ON THE GREENBRIER, CHEAT & ELK RAILROAD COMPANY ASIN B001M07YHO
- Michael Koch The Shay Locomotive: Titan of the Timber World Press; Limited ed edition (1971) ASIN B0006WIHIE