While I don't doubt those size of trees were cut down in the early days (I've seen the redwoods in WA), something about that photo seems strange. How come all the other trees in the background are a lot smaller/shorter? With a tree that size, no one could move it, so where is the stump? Coincidence that the picture is just the end, perfectly perpendicular to the cut, and nothing is visible of the actual tree. A tree that size, would have been hundreds of feet tall, and would have taken out those trees in the background, especially the one standing nearby (above the head of the fellow on the ladder)
Me thinks Photoshop is someone's friend....
To answer the question, biggest tree I've cut is about 1.5 feet across, I'm too chicken to tackle any big ones....