[6] In the mid 19th century, Meyer had established a factory in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin making wooden sashes, doors, and blinds.

[6] Most of the pine had been cut on Wisconsin Land & Lumber's holdings, and the company was forced to begin producing hardwood flooring.

[7] Wisconsin Land & Lumber is particularly notable for the firm's early interest in using hardwoods and for its development of machinery used to make flooring.

[3] The firm's flooring was called "IXL,"[6] a derivative of the words "I excel" which was the company's philosophy about the superior quality of their product.

[6] At the same time, Meyer suffered a brain hemorrhage from a riding accident which left him confused and unable to cope with running the company.

[9] However, he was unsatisfied, and in 1868 returned to New York and began doing piecework in a sash and door factory, continuing until he had saved enough money to attend medical college.

He moved to Tully, New York, and began a medical practice, which over the next 17 years he built into a large and prosperous business.

[9] Earle invested a considerable amount of his savings in his father-in-law's business, and was made a vice-president of Wisconsin Land & Lumber only months before the 1890 financial crash.

[10] Wisconsin Land & Lumber developed a tongue in groove process which led to the company being the United States' largest hardwood floor producer at one time.

[7] Other buildings still in the museum complex include a company house, the farm produce warehouse for Wisconsin Land & Lumber, and a restored train depot.