USA > Michigan > A History of Northern Michigan and Its People, Volume I > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
Hosted by Google
161
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
crat as lessee and manager. A sketch of Mr. Forsyth, who is one of the associate editors of this work, will be found elsewhere.
The Cheboygan News was founded in the fall of 1886 by Brougham H. Smyth, upon whose death October 23, 1893, C. L. Smyth & Company, present proprietors, succeeded to the ownership.
Besides the Tribune, Democrat and News, Cheboygan county has the Courier, at Wolverine, founded in 1904 and now conducted by B. E. Thayer.
LEELANAU COUNTY
The oldest existing newspaper in Leelanau county is the Enterprise, published at Leland, but founded at Northport by B. H. Derby in 1877. In 1879 Mr. Derby sold it to W. C. Nelson, the present editor and proprietor, who has been its owner continuously with the excep- tion of a short period when George A. Cutler had a half interest in it. Following the change in the county seat the Enterprise was moved to Leland in January, 1883.
The Leelanau Tribune was started by A. H. Johnson, at Northport, in June 1873. In the winter of 1877-8, Mr. Johnson removed it to Suttons Bay. In 1880 it was sold to the Tribune Publishing Com- pany, who changed its name to the Tribune and removed it to Trav- erse City, where, after a short time, its publication was discontinued. Mr. Nelson commenced his career as a printer on the Leelanau Tribune.
The Northport Leader, Empire Journal and Leelanau News, of Sut- tons Bay, are all of comparatively recent birth.
PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY
The only newspaper which has passed the age of thirty in Presque Isle county is the Presque Isle County Advance, of Rogers, founded in 1878, with Charles Platz, Jr., as its present editor and proprietor. The Outlook, of Onaway, was established in 1898; Presque Isle County News, Millersburg, in 1901, and the Inter Lake, Onaway, in 1902.
OGEMAW COUNTY
The Ogemaw County Herald was the first paper established in West Branch and had the field to itself from 1878 to 1882. Jay Allen con- ducted the Herald from 1880 to June, 1890, when he consolidated it with the Times, which had been established by Weeks and French in 1882. Mr. Allen continued as editor and proprietor of the Herald- Times until October, 1902, when Arthur R. Babcock assumed its owner- ship and management which he still retains.
The Ogemaw Republican, founded in 1896, is under the ownership of George L. Donovan and John W. Huckle, under the style of Donovan & Huckle.
Rose City also has its Review, by B. J. Cournyer, founded in 1904.
Vol. 1-11
Hosted by Google
. 162
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
CLARE AND CRAWFORD COUNTIES
The pioneer newspaper in Clare county was the Farwell Register, established by James S. Holden in 1871 and published by him for nearly twenty years. Farwell's present newspaper is The Sun, edited by Charles C. Coors.
The Clare Press made its first appearance in 1878. This paper was started by A. F. Goodenough, who in 1880 sold to D. E. Alward, by whom it was published for eight years. In 1890 it was consolidated with Marvin D. Eaton's Clare Democrat, which paper had been estab- lished four years before.
E. D. Palmer and R. G. Jefferies began publication of the Clare Sen- tinel in 1892 and later bought the Democrat-Press plant, merging it with the Sentinel. R. G. Jefferies, Welch & Bennett and Palmer & And- rus successively owned this paper and in November, 1911, it became the property of Enoch Andrus, Mr. Palmer retiring from the firm.
A. Ray Canfield established The Courier at Clare in 1895 and has ever since published it. At present (1911) his son is associated with him in the business.
The Clare County Cleaver of Harrison, was founded in 1881; pres- ent editor, Jesse Allen.
Crawford county is represented by the Crawford Avalanche, of Grayling, a good weekly edited and owned by O. Palmer. It is over thirty years old, having been founded in May, 1878, by Maurer, Masters & Brown. It was transferred to Salling, Hanson & Company in January, 1880, and Dr. O. Palmer in February, 1881. On July 1, 1911, the lat- ter disposed of the paper to O. P. Schumann, the present proprietor.
OSCODA AND ARENAC COUNTIES
The Mail-Telegram, published at Mio, where it was founded in 1881, does its full share in conserving the interests of Oscoda county. It is owned and edited by G. Houston.
.
Several substantial papers flourish in Arenac county. The veteran of them all is now the Arenac County Independent, founded in 1882, and conducted by Harry M. Myers. Its previous proprietors were James J. Decker and Nelson Ireland. Then there are the Progress, of Omer, started in 1895, and the Enterprise, Au Gres, established in 1906.
MISSAUKEE COUNTY
Several early attempts were made to plant newspapers in Missaukee county before the Republican was established at Lake City in 1884. In 1873 S. W. Davis commenced the publication of the Missaukee County Reporter, at that place, but it only lasted two years.
The Journal, also of Lake City, was established by L. A. Barker, familiarly known in newspaper circles as "Ren" Barker, April 27, 1877, who was publisher and editor up to April 22, 1884, when it was sold to H. N. McIntire, and consolidated with the Lake City Leader, a paper which Mr. McIntire had established in 1883. In May, 1884, the name
Hosted by Google
163
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
of the consolidated papers was changed to New Era. The Journal, started as a seven-column folio, had previously been enlarged to eight columns. In November, 1882, the office was burned, but the Journal continued its weekly appearance without missing a number, although it eventually succumbed to give place to the Republican. The latter is now owned and edited by Orville Dennis.
The Plain Dealer was established at Lake City, in 1887, by M. T. Woodruff, under the name of Missaukee Independent. Mr. Woodruff sold it to George S. Stout in September of that year and in 1891 its name was changed to the Plain Dealer. In 1903 its ownership was transferred to R. W. Bird and later to C. W. Newton. The latter sold it to a stock company of local people.
BENZIE COUNTY
Although Benzie county has no newspapers of long standing-the oldest being the News, of Thompsonville, established in 1893-the jour- nalistic field was cultivated as early as 1870. About May 1st of that year A. Barnard commenced to issue the Citizen from Benzonia, but it was discontinued in the following summer.
W. F. Cornell founded the Weekly Express, at Frankfort, in June, 1870. Its plant was burned in 1881, but the paper resumed publica- tion and continued for several years thereafter.
In 1872 appeared the Benzie County Journal under the auspices of a joint stock company organized at Benzonia, and its publication was continued until January, 1882.
A still later publication of Benzie county was the South Frankfort News, established by James M. Gillmore in 1884.
The existing papers, besides the Thompsonville News, are the Benzie County Patriot, of Frankfort, founded in 1897, the Benzie County Leader, Honor, first issued in 1908, and the Elberta Alert, founded in 1911.
GLADWIN COUNTY
The oldest and leading paper in the county is the Gladwin County Record, founded in 1878. Eugene Foster has been identified with the Record from the start and his brother, Isaac, became associated with him in 1884. Foster Brothers are still its publishers and editors, and are strong and well known journalists and citizens.
The Clarion, the only other paper in Gladwin county, was founded at Beaverton in 1895. Arthur E. Dann is its present owner and editor.
EXPLANATORY
In the foregoing text, which may be considered an accompaniment to the tabulated list of newspapers classified alphabetically, the history of the press of Northern Michigan has been traced chronologically, spe- cial stress being placed on the pioneer journals and journalists. While the counties have been taken up in the general order of priority as
Hosted by Google
164
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
fields for newspapers and newspaper men, the record of each county has been sketched before another has been considered. With this ex- planation the subject is dismissed, not because it is considered abso- lutely complete, but simply that the space at the writer's disposal for- bids further elucidation.
FIRST REGULATING ACT
Long before there were any regular physicians to regulate in North- ern Michigan the territorial legislature passed an act designed to drive quacks and incompetents from practice, the same having already se- cured a foothold and done much mischief in the settled communities of the south. The act became the basis for later legislation along the same line, and was the forerunner of the present well regulated State Medical Society and numerous county organizations which, with exist- ing statutes, make it now almost impossible for an ignoramus or a rascal to place human life in jeopardy even in the most obscure hamlet or district.
"On March 12, 1827," says Dr. O. C. Comstock in "The Medical Profession in Michigan" (Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections, Vol. 22), "an act of the territorial legislature of Michigan was ap- proved which did much to save suffering pioneers from the horde of ignorant quacks found in every settlement and doing their deadly work without restraint." The preamble is in the following words:
"Whereas, well regulated Medical Societies have been found to contribute to the advancement and diffusion of true science and par- ticularly the healing art.
"Section 1-The Medical Society of the territory of Michigan, as already incorporated by that name, shall continue to be a body politic and corporate.
"Section 2-County Societies to be formed of persons in regular standing in the Territorial Society and commissioned by said society for that purpose.
"Section 3-Doctors exempted from military duty, serving on juries. "Section 4-Proceedings of its annual and other meetings to be filed in the office of the county clerk.
"Section 5-Society. after an approved examination, may grant diplomas.
"Section 6-Restrictions in reference to the examination of students.
"Section 7-Appointment and duty of censors.
"Section 8-No person shall commence the practice of physic or surgery within any of the counties of this territory until he shall have passed examination and received a diploma from one of the medical societies established or to be established as aforesaid; and if any person shall commence the practice without having obtained a diploma for that purpose he shall forever thereafter be disqualified from collecting any debt or debts incurred by such practice in any court in this ter- ritory.
"Section 9-That if any such person, except those who were resi- dents in and have continued to reside and practice within the ter-
Hosted by Google
165
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
ritory since 1819, shall practice physic and surgery without being reg- ularly licensed, such person shall forfeit and pay twenty-five dollars for each and every offense of which he may be duly convicted, to be recovered with costs of suit before any justice of the peace of the county where such penalty shall be incurred by any person who will prosecute the same, except army surgeons.
"Section 11-No person shall be admitted to an examination as a candidate for the practice of physic and surgery in this territory unless he shall have previously studied medical science four years after the age of sixteen with a regular physician and surgeon-but any por- tion of time of the study, not exceeding one year during which the candidate after the age of sixteen shall have pursued classical studies, shall be accepted in lieu of an equal portion of time of the study of medical science, and if he shall have attended one or more complete courses of medical lectures on all the branches of medical science in any medical college or institution, the same shall be accepted in lieu of one year spent in the study of medical science as aforesaid, the com- mencement of his studies to be certified to-not to be licensed under twenty-one years of age.
"Section 12-Physicians and surgeons who may have received di- plomas in other states cannot practice in this territory until they have satisfied the censors of the territorial or county society that their med- ical education has been full and complete, as is here required.
"Section 13-Persons practicing, without reporting to or connect- ing themselves with some society, shall incur the penalty named in Section 9 of this act.
"Section 16-That upon complaint in writing, filed with any county medical society charging any practitioner of physic or surgery within such county with having been guilty of infamous crime, habitual drunk- enness, or with gross ignorance and incompetency, every such medical society at a regular meeting thereof may proceed to investigate such charge or charges, and if upon such investigation and due proof of the facts so charged the person complained of shall be found guilty by a vote of two-thirds of all the members present, then such medical so- ciety is hereby authorized and empowered to suspend such person from the practice of physic and surgery, and the person so suspended, if he continue to practice physic and surgery within this territory during the time of his suspension, be subject to the penalties of Section 9 of this act. The person so suspended shall have three months' notice of the filing of charges and have a copy thereof. The testimony in the case shall be in writing and filed with the records of the medical society. The suspended practitioner may appeal to the Territorial Medical So- ciety.
"Section 18-Witnesses to be subpoenaed. If refusing to appear and testify, liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars. Swearing falsely, perjury, and liable to its pains and penalties.
"Section 26-Copy of diplomas and licenses to be deposited with county clerks. Charges made before that is done not collectible at law."
This act of twenty-nine sections, passed in the infancy of the ter- ritory, is remarkable in many particulars, as regards doctor, quack and
Hosted by Google
166
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
client. It proved how early the importance of regulating the prac- tice was recognized, and gave birth to the earlier medical societies of the counties which, under state regulations, have since so multiplied.
THE PIONEER PHYSICIANS
The physicians of a new country, in some guise or other, appear about the time that the first settlers arrive. In Northern Michigan the Jesuit priests first ministered to the physical as well as the spiritual needs of both the red man and the white. The Protestant missionaries were pioneers in medical practice when the Grand Traverse region com- menced to take on the semblance of a growing country of permanent settlements. Among the best known of these Godly, albeit irregular practitioners, was Rev. Peter Dougherty, who came to Old Mission and the Grand Traverse region in May, 1839.
During the period of Mr. Dougherty's residence at Old Mission, there being no physician in the country, he was often applied to for medicine and advice for the sick. On one occasion, after Mr. Boardman had established himself at the head of the bay at the place where Trav- erse City now stands, he was called to prescribe for Mrs. Duncan, who was keeping a boarding-house at that place. He found Mrs. Duncan very sick. Two or three days after, not having heard from his patient in the interval, he became anxious for her safety and resolved to get some information in regard to her condition, and to send a further supply of medicine, or repeat his visits.
There were some men from Boardman's establishment getting out timber at the harbor on the west side of the peninsula (Bowers' Harbor), which they were conveying home in a boat. Hoping to get the desired information from them and to send the necessary medicine by their hand, he walked across the peninsula to their place of labor. The men had gone home with a cargo. Thinking he might get to Board- man's in time to return with them on their next trip he started for the head of the bay on foot, making his way as rapidly as possible along the beach. There was no bridge over Boardman river near the board- ing-house, and, on his arrival, the skiff used for crossing was on the other side. There was no time to lose. Not to be delayed he quickly entered the stream and waded across, the cold water coming up to his chin. Fortunately he found his patient much improved; unfortunately, the boat in which he had hoped to return was already nearly out of sight. on its way back to the peninsula.
Mr. Dougherty would have been hospitably entertained could he have been persuaded to remain, but he felt that he must return home. Not stopping to put on a dry suit that was offered him, he partook of a hasty lunch and set out on his return. Some one set him across the river in the skiff. As soon as he was out of sight in the woods, he resolved to dry his clothes, without hindering himself in the journey. Taking off his shirt, he hung it on a stick carried in the hand, spread- ing it to the sun and air as he walked rapidly along. The day was warm, and the sun shone brightly. When the shirt was partly dry, he exchanged it for his flannel, putting on the shirt and hanging the
Hosted by Google
167
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
flannel on the stick. It was near sundown when he reached home, thor- oughly fatigued, but happy in the thought that his patient was get- ting well. This is but a sample of how the pioneer practitioners of medicine had to dispense with their dignity in order to do their duty.
Among the early practitioners of Traverse City may be mentioned Dr. Holton, who located there in the spring of 1852 and Dr. D. D. Ash- ton, who came about ten years later.
Benzie county's pioneer physicians included Dr. Alonzo J. Slyfield, of Frankfort, who located in 1848, and Dr. Isaac Voorheis, of a later date.
Dr. William Little, a graduate both of Michigan University and Rush Medical College, Chicago, located at Petoskey for practice in 1868, and in 1870 Dr. Lewis Levi settled at the village of Boyne as its first physician.
In 1868 Dr. William H. Nelson opened a drug store at Northport, Leelanau county, also practicing medicine for which he was fully qualified. Another early physician of that county was Dr. R. H. Mon- roe who located at Oviatt.
The first physician in Alpena county was Mrs. Sarah L. Carter. Her husband, Daniel Carter, was the first postmaster of Fremont and one of the founders of both the city and county of Alpena. Mrs. Carter was among the pioneer women of the region and from Novem- ber, 1856, to about 1862 everybody depended upon her for medical services. She did not come into the country to practice, and did not intend to let it be known that she was familiar with the use of medicine and treatment of the sick, but she had hardly reached her new home in the wilderness before the services of a physician were in such urgent need that she could not refuse to render aid. Before coming to Alpena county, circumstances had brought her into contact with the sick, un- til she had become skilled as a nurse and successful in the use of medi cines, and in the new settlement to which she came her knowledge was a great blessing. Her services were continually in demand and some- times for months she would have scarcely time for rest or attention to her own household duties.
About 1862 a Dr. Truax located at Alpena, but did not remain long. Dr. W. P. Maiden, who came in July, 1865, is generally considered the first regular practitioner of the county whose career is permanently identified with her people.
In the fall of 1874 Dr. Maiden organized the Alpena County Med- ical Society, one of the first to be founded in Northern Michigan, at his house in Alpena. He was elected president; James McTavish, vice president; and J. F. McSween, secretary and treasurer. The mem- bers of the society all resided in Alpena and were as follows, the names of their alma maters and dates of graduation being given: William P. Maiden, Queen's College, Kingston, 1862, and Bellevue Hospital, New York, 1873; James McTavish, Eclectic Medical Institute, Cin- cinnati, Ohio, 1866; Augustus Jeyte, Medical College University of Buffalo, New York, 1856; J. F. MeSween, Detroit (Michigan) Medical College, 1870; George H. Shelton, Medical College University of Mich- igan, 1872.
Hosted by Google
168
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Among the first physicians to locate at Cheboygan were Dr. A. M. Gerow, in 1868, and Dr. Thomas A. Perrin, in 1873.
Dr. James Reeves, the first resident physician at East Tawas and perhaps in Iosco county, located for practice in 1868.
The first physicians to permanently locate in Wexford county were Dr. H. D. Griswold, who settled at Sherman, and Dr. John Leeson at Clam Lake, both in 1872. The story of Dr. Leeson's coming is told somewhat in detail. "Dr. Leeson visited the Clam Lake lumber camp," says the narrator, "from which the city of Cadillac developed, in No- vember, 1871, walking from LeRoy, which was as far as the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad was then built. The Doctor spent one night in the place and walked out the next morning, with no desire and less expectation that he would ever return to the shores of the Clam Lakes to spend the best days of his life. He returned again, however, in March, 1872, and in the following month of that year entered upon his per- manent residence here. He opened the first drug store in the fol lowing May, and in connection with his practice and drug business more fully developed the preparation of the famous Tiger Oil, which had in an incomplete way been inaugurated at Manistee." This was Cadillac's father of local physicians.
The first physician in the village of Kalkaska was Dr. E. Morgan, who was a resident of the county several years. Dr. E. R. Boyd, also a physician at Kalkaska, located there in 1882, and Dr. Zina Pitcher came in the following year.
Hosted by
CHAPTER VII
GENERAL MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT
FIRST NORTHERN MICHIGAN INDUSTRY-MICHIGAN'S EPOCHAL YEAR (1840)-SPLIT INTO TWO PARTS-FATHER OF MICHIGAN RAILROADS -THE GRAND RAPIDS & INDIANA-NORTHERN CONNECTING LINKS- THE PERE MARQUETTE RAILROAD-ANN ARBOR RAILROAD-FIRST LOGGING RAILROAD IN THE WORLD-LUDINGTON AND MANISTEE RAIL- ROADS-THE DETROIT & MACKINAC-GOOD ROADS-FIRST LUMBER- ING OPERATIONS IN MANISTEE COUNTY AND GRAND TRAVERSE REGION -CHEBOYGAN AND ALPENA COUNTIES-IOSCO AND ALCONA-HISTORIC SUMMARY-MELTING OF THE PINE . FORESTS-PRESENT STATUS OF LUMBERING-THE SALT INDUSTRY-AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES-STATE LANDS OPEN TO PURCHASE-DIVERSE INDUSTRIES -GROWTH THROUGH NATURE'S FAVORS-GROWTH IN STATISTICS. .
It is only from the early forties that Northern Michigan can be said to have continuously developed; and that, notwithstanding the ter- rible shock and drain of its best resources, human and material, caused by the Civil war. Even during that period it was in its infancy, as compared with Southern Michigan, and this is most strikingly illus- trated in its splendid contributions to the Union cause-splendid, in proportion to its resources, but small in actual numbers of brave men and good dollars. Even in the late seventies the Grand Rapids & In- diana railroad was but just penetrating to the northern sections of that territory into the Grand Traverse region, and it was almost a decade afterward before the Pere Marquette, the Michigan Central and the Mackinac & Detroit lines commenced to push up into the territory from the pineries and salt districts above Saginaw, Ludington and Manistee.
The years 1841-3 were seasons of very hard times, the abatement of the strong speculative fever which marked the previous half decade having left business enterprises torpid and exhausted. The legislation of the years mentioned had been largely devoted to passing various measures of financial relief, such as extending the time for collecting taxes, and, as in all other periods of readjustment, "times were dull." But the state had been surveyed to a large extent, and the resources of Northern Michigan, both as to timber, soil and minerals, had been set forth in a new and favorable light. By the division of that part of the state into counties-even by the changing of most of their names from
169
Hosted by Google
170
HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Indian to historical nomenclature-a substantial semblance of civil gov- ernment had been given to the country between Mackinaw City, the Pere Marquette river and the Saginaw valley.
Even from the times of the early Jesuits and the later Protestant missionaries the riches of Northern Michigan in its natural resources of timber had been understood in a vague and general way; but in the early forties those vast riches which dwelt in the forests of pine and hardwood still lay dormant, and there were not to exceed half a dozen little saw-mills in all the broad region covered by this history.
FIRST NORTHERN MICHIGAN INDUSTRY
As to practical results, horticulture had its birth in Northern Mich- igan before the industries which are consolidated under the comprehen- sive term of "lumbering;" for in the very early records of the mis- sions established by the French are references to old apple and pear trees which they found planted on the sites of Michilimackinac, Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit, indicating that when white men first came into the country the climate and soil of Michigan had already had a most favorable test as to their adaptability to fruit raising. Further, "the great age to which the first plantings of trees attained and their pro- ductiveness indicated strongly the possibilities of the future in the growing of fruit. The plantations of both apples and pears made on both sides of the Detroit river, or at D'Etroit, the straits, as it was then written, were very productive in fruits, and as this was on the line of travel of many of the tribes of Indians who each autumn took a trip from our peninsula to English and French stations in Canada, it is not singular that fruit trees sprang up along their trails, which are mentioned in the early records of the country about Pontiac and the Saginaw valley as old and productive trees when first the white man penetrated the wilderness of these regions .* "
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.