The C&MLS was chartered in 1869 and commenced construction of a 27-mile (43 km) line between New Buffalo and St. Joseph, which opened on February 1, 1870.
The line was extended to Grand Junction on February 28, 1871, Montague on July 1, 1871, and Pentwater on January 1, 1872, for a running length of 169.8 miles (273.3 km).
The portion north of Muskegon was built by the Montague, Pentwater and Manistee Railroad.
[1] Faced with falling revenues and a large debt load the C&MLS went into receivership toward the end of 1876, and remained in that state until reorganized as the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad on December 28, 1878.
The C&WM continued to operate the network until it was consolidated with other companies into the Chicago and West Michigan Railway on September 1, 1881.