USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people, its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume I > Part 59
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 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Amasa, northwest of the county seat, is a station and good mining town on the Chiengo & North-Western Railway, and depends upon the Hemlock mine operated by the Hemlock River Mining Company. This concern employs abont 150 men and ships ont over 112,000 tons of ore annnally. It platted the town in October, 1890.
AGRICULTURE AND GOOD ROADS
The resident of the Upper Peninsula who is looking forward to the time not far in the future when agrienlture will assume its rightful im- portance as a source of permanent prosperity-this thoughtful citizen fully recognizes the practical relation between the development of agri-
Digitzoo by Google
OLD MANSFIELD, SEVEN MILES EAST OF CRYSTAL FALLS
Dignzed by Google
534
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
cultural interests and the building of good roads. Iron county, as a political body, has also aeted broadly and promptly upon this theory and fact, and its $150,000 bond issue of May, 1911, for the building, re- building, repairing and extension of the County Road System is a wisely- incurred indebtedness. The system was adopted by the county only about eight years ago, and now includes some seventy miles of graveled and macadamized thoroughfares. The so-called trunk-line extends through the county from east to west, taking in Iron River, Stambaugh, Crystal Falls and Mansfield. Thus, within this short period, a fair start has been made toward providing good roads to the centers of pop- ulation and the best local markets.
Now, what are the facts regarding the natural advantages of the county for the prosecution of husbandry. First, as to its soil. This is largely till, whose basis is the scourings from hard rocks caused by glacial action. In Iron county, as well as in the entire Upper Penin- sula, this till supports heavy growths of hardwood. Maple is the most abundant tree; birch, elm and basswood are plentiful, while hemlock, spruce and pine formerly occurred to some extent. Even patches of the latter varieties, however, have disappeared before the lumberman's axe. But the mining companies are now buying extensive hardwood tracts in order to be assured of a future supply of mine timber, although a considerable part of these forested till areas is held for speculative pur- poses; as the value of the hardwood, and also the land on which it grows, is steadily appreciating.
Although specifically referring to the Iron River distriet, R. C. Al- len, director of the state geological survey, draws the following infer- ences in his 1910 report which will apply to the county as a whole: "Sooner or later, with increase in population and the consequent greater demand for land, the till areas will be cleared of their forests and in their place will be cultivated fields. Experience has already proven that the till areas respond bountifully to cultivation. Good drainage is assured by the high and rolling character of the till and soils of this variety maintain, as a rule, excellent tilth under cultivation. Sticky clay or gumbo soils are exceptional, owing to the sandy character of the till and the natural humus content of the soil layer. The summer sea- son is short, but hay, small grains and vegetables adapted to the climate yield excellent crops. The chief drawback to agriculture here is not the climate or poor soil, but the extreme bouldery character of much of the till. This, however, is an obstacle which can be overcome here as it has been in other areas. The writer has been strongly impressed with the agricultural possibilities of this area and believes that, in time, the main industry here will be based on agriculture."
Add to these words of the scientist, the following from the pen of a well-posted and practical journalist, and the story is fairly complete and full of promise: "That the hardwood timber lands do make first- class farms is no longer a matter of speculation or conjecture. Seien- tists have analyzed the soil and declared it good. They have investigated
Dintizoo by Google
EXHIBIT OF IRON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Pig zed by Google
536
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
the climatic conditions, the rainfall, and the water supply, and have declaimed learnedly on the results that ought to come from these condi- tions; but better than all this is the fact that practical farmers are here to tell of the results that have actually come to them. In Iron River township may be found Paul Minckler, Andy Boyington, Jens Peterson, Josh Coffin, Peter Andreasen, Peter Christensen and a score or more in the Beechwood distriet : in Bates, Olaf Helgemo, Andrew Erickson, Olaf Anderson. W. P. Winton, JJohn Soderquist and many others; in Stambaugh, Ole Oleson, Peter Brown, Edward Franke, Sam Saerison, and Charley Erickson; in Atkinson, Zebina MeColman, James Ross, Louis King; in fact, there are hundreds who can prove that the soil here is of the best.
"The Upper Peninsula is destined to be a great stock raising see- tion, as the soil is well adapted to the raising of all kinds of grasses -- in fact there is none better. Other erops do equally as well, such as wheat, oats, rye, barley, cabbages, sugar beets, potatoes, and peas. This latter erop will prove a fine substitute for corn, through the ease with which it is grown, and the large yields of forage and grain returned. To dairy cows a limited quantity of meal made from this product may be fed with advantage, while for sheep and hogs, it is excellent food."
COUNTY STATISTICS
Among the taxpayers of Iron county are twenty-two of the largest iron and steel corporations, twenty large land and lumber companies and five hundred farmers, constituting the three principal interests of the county.
Assessed valuation, 1910, $6,032,554.
Estimated true valuation, $12,000,000.
Total bonded debt (including the issue of county road bonds for May, 1911) $162,000.
In 1890 the population of the county was 4.432; in 1900, 8,990, and in 1910, 15,164. By townships, cities and villages the comparative ex- hibit is as follows:
DIVISION
1910
1900
1890
Bates township
573
402
594
Crystal Falls City
3.775
3,231
Crystal Falls township
1,638
797
1,178
Hematite township
1,115
69-
Iron River township, including Iron River village. . 3,085
1,777
1,426
Iron River village
2.450
1.482
1,117
Mansfield township
355
350
Mastodon township
385
172
111
Stambaugh township, including Stambaugh village.
.4,238
1.201
711
Stambaugh village
1,322
695
Digitzoo by Google
537
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
DICKINSON COUNTY
The county of Dickinson, the youngest in the Upper Peninsula, was chiefly taken from the northern part of Menominee county, with small donations from Marquette and Iron counties. The prime cause for its creation is thus well put: "From the first discovery of iron in the val- ley of the Menominee river that region was known to the world as the Menominee Iron Range. It comprised three counties-Menominee and Iron, in Michigan, and Florence in Wisconsin. Being a wild and unset- tled region these counties were made very large and a few years of pros- perity and growth made it evident that a division of the largest county, Menominee, was necessary. The northern part being a region of metal- iferous mountains and the southern part entirely devoted to lumber in- dustries made a very natural division ; so on October 2, 1891, although the victory was celebrated as early ns May 21st, a new county was formed principally from the northern part of Menominee county, in honor of Hon. Don M. Dickinson. Although the principal industry was mining, the country contained rich timber lands, but, being on the Menominee river, the timber was floated to Menomince and Marinette to be manu- factured. Thus the business interest in Dickinson county was given to mining, the older mines being worked to full capacity, while new explor- ations have been constantly developing into producing mines.
OLD QUINNESEC
Quinnesec is the oldest town on the Menominee Range and was laid out by Hon. John L. Bnell, an educated man of Lansing who had rep- resented the united counties of Mackinaw, Schoolcraft, Delta and Me- nominee in the Michigan legislature, but who, in his younger days, was a pioneer of the western plains and a born explorer of new lands. On the 20th of May, 1873, Mr. Bnell commenced his first practical explora- tions on the range, on the southeast quarter of section 34, township 40, range 30, the present site of the original Quinnesee mine. On the 2d day of August, same year, ore was struck by a line of test pits, on a formation running from south to north. In the winter and spring of 1873-4, the first consignment of ore mined on the range was taken by Mr. Buell by sleigh and wagon to Menominee, about seventy miles in all, forty miles of which was over the state road. Fifty-three tons was thus transported. This product was smelted by the Menominee Furnace Company. Mr. Buell had an interest in the property, by right of agri- enltural serip entry in 1864, which was now leased to the Milwaukee Iron Company. By the failure of this company, however, and by the death of Capt. Ward further operations were delayed for the next two years. Meanwhile. Dr. Hulst, the veteran explorer who in 1872 had cached his ontfit and returned to Milwaukee, was in 1873 working like a beaver in the footsteps of Major Brooks, state geologist, on section 6, township 39, range 29 between the Quinnesec and the Vulenn, and in 1874 was exploring in the neighborhood of the Republic mine in the
Dintizoo by Google
1
DICKINSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, IRON MOUNTAIN
In Google
539
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
Marquette range. During the fall of 1872, the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co., wisely apprehending that the outlook for an immense ore production was more than promising, deflected the road they were build- ing from Marinette to Escanaba to accommodate the new iron fields. Six miles of right-of-way was cut from Powers westward toward the Breen mine with a view to the immediate construction of a branch road. In the fall of 1873, as the iron interests in common with the commerce of the country were suffering with the then universal depression, ex- plorations and railway operations were alike discontinued.
In 1876 Mr. Buell platted the village of Quinnesec, the plat being recorded Mareh 21st of the following year. In 1877 Jason K. and An- son F. Wright opened the first store in the place, and continued there in general merchandise until 1885. R. G. Brown was the first postmas- ter, the office being in Wright Brothers store. The first portable saw- mill in these parts was set up by Mr. Buell, in 1876, and in the follow- ing year he built the pioneer school house and donated land for the Catholic and Methodist churches.
FIRST SHIPMENTS OF ORE
In 1877 the Menominee Mining Company, which had purchased the leases of the Milwaukee Iron Company, and of which new company Dr. Hulst was a member, renewed operations at the Vulean, which had been interrupted by the causes previously written of. The doctor was again in harness, and in evidence of his realism, may be recorded here, the discovery of the celebrated Chapin mine at Iron Mountain, where in 1878 the first shaft was sunk-a continuation of a test pit-when at a depth of between 60 and 70 feet ore was first disclosed. In 1880 the first shipments of ore from this bonanza amounted to 34,556 tons. In 1890 these shipments had increased to 742,843 tons, when it was, by far, the leading producer of the range, as it is today.
In March, 1877, the Menominee Mining Company engaged Lewis Whitehead, who had been chief of the Hulst exploring party, to take charge of its varions enterprises. The Menominee River Railway was again under construction into the new mining country and on July 10. 1877, killed its first man. Open and surface work continued in the mines and on the 2d of September a shipment of twenty-five carloads was made from the Breen mine, of which Jerome Schwartz who, after- ward, as mentioned, became a leading citizen of Crystal Falls-was cap- tain. The old Breitung. now the Vulcan, became headquarters of these operations and about this time 4,021 tons of ore were shipped from West Vulcan. On the 12th of September the first carload of freight, consist- ing of hay, bar iron, ete., backed into Vulcan. This same day Dr. Hulst entered upon his duties as agent in residence of all the interests of the Menominee Mining Company. Lew Whitehead, captain at Vulcan, A. C. Brown, purchasing agent, Henry Fisk, bookkeeper, and Dr. Belknap, physician.
The first school meeting on the range was held in a logging camp,
Digitzoo by Google
540
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
between the Vulcan and the mouth of the Sturgeon. Miss Reath was appointed teacher and "school was kept" within the camp, the dark forest being the playground, and the stately fir trees the bonnds.
In 1878 the Breen mine was closed down and vacated. In May of the same year Mr. Curnow, of Milwaukee, took charge of the Quinnesec mine, and the place commenced to boom as a mining town, and as the terminus of railroad construction.
In August of the same year, the Norway mine, section 5, township 39, range 29, was opened up by the Menominee Mining Company, the explorations having been carried on by John N. Armstrong. . The Cy- clops was also opened up in 1878, as was the old "Saginaw, section 4 mine," later known as the Perkins-township 39. range 29- rechristened in 1879, in honor of Captain John Perkins, the new superintendent. The first giant powder used on the range was utilized in blasting the bed of the Sturgeon river in 1878. In the fall of this year, Mr. Whitehead for- mally threw open the Vulean Hotel, while in February and April of the following year the women of the locality obtained due recognition-Mrs. Patrick MeCarty by presenting her husband with the first girl of the range and Mrs. Whitehead doing likewise with the pioneer baby boy.
In April, 1876, exploration was commenced on section 34, township 401, range 18, for Tuttle & Harvey of Cleveland, Ohio; on May 16th ore was discovered and declared by experts to be one of the most prom- ising finds on the Upper Peninsula. This mine developed into the Com- monwealth. Later explorations, by Otto C. Davidson, disclosed a large body of ore on the southeast quarter of section 34, the Badger mine, which proved an important discovery. Mr. Davidson is now general superintendent of the several mines of the Oliver Mining Company in both the Menominee and Gogebic ranges, including the great Chapin mine, and is among the most widely known and honored of those who have been the founders of the iron industry in the Upper Peninsula. He is not only an authority on all matters pertaining to iron mining, but a whole-souled man who, with all the extensive interests resting on on his shoulders, is never too busy to extend a kindly greeting to all comers. He is exactly fitted for the important position to which he has attained by virtue of his own merit.
For the first two or three years after the opening of the pioneer mines in the Menominee range Quinnesec was the objective point of most of the operations, but, with the opening of the Chapin mine and the coming of the North-Western Railway to Iron Mountain. in 1879. its importance waned and finally disappeared.
FOUNDING OF IRON MOUNTAIN
In July, 1880, the first locomotive steamed its way around the curve and halted near the center of Iron Mountain. Previous to this the city was in the wilderness. It was known as "Section 30" in the early days, and at the time of Quinnesee's decease became the asylum for its most prominent men of business, Messrs. A. F. Wright and Hugh MeLaugh-
Diized by Google
541
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
lin moving in at that time. In 1878 there were but four places occupied for the purposes of trade.
With the development of the wonderful Chapin and Lumbermen's mines, men poured in, the camp of fifty souls soon swelled its multitudes, the story of its treasures were circulated and fresh additions were tacked on to the village. The first of these were the Stephenson and Flesheim, then the Jenkins and Spies, then the St. Clair, the Hamilton, Merryman, and the Rosenheim, until the rough little mining town of 150 people,
IN A DICKINSON COUNTY MINING DISTRICT
in 1880, grew to the dimensions of a city of 8,000 people, and was in- corporated as a numicipality April 2. 1887.
Joseph Hambly kept the first boarding house in 1878, co-temporary with the sinking of the first Chapin shaft, and among other citizens iden- tified with the early history of the town, were A. F. Wright, H. Mc- Laughlin, W. W. Felch, Jno. Friedrichs, Dr. Cameron, Geo. F. Seibert, Ed. J. Ingram. Sol. Noble, R. L. Hannond. H. De Vere, Vivian Chellew, W. Hocking, Oliver Evans, ex-Mayor Trudell, K. S. Buck, S. Morten- sen, Arthur Flatt, J. E. Robbins, E. Croll. M. Gleason, Alderman Han- cock, Dr. Crowell, Carl Schuldes, City Clerk Saving. J. D. Cudlip, A. J. Leveque, B. H. Scott, J. B. Weimer, George Alexander, John Rule,
Dly zed by Google
542
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
Jos. Lemieux, the Merritt brothers, and F. W. Mckinney, who was ac- tive in his efforts to advertise the advantages of the place-besides many others whose indifference, however, to written requests for information, must rest for the reason of omission of reference in these pages. John R. Wood, afterward of the First National Bank, who prospected for mineral as early as March, 1879, and became manager of the Cornell mine, and was later identified with the Felch Mountain and Vulcan in- dustries and passed two years in the Gogebie Range, and subsequently in Ishpeming. did not make Iron Mountain his permanent home until 1887. In 1880 the Chapin shipped 34,556 and the Lumberman's, or Ludington. 8,816 tons of ore. The Millie, or old Hewitt mine, made its first shipment of 4,352 tons in 1881, and the future of Iron Mountain was, even then, considered assured. At that time, the population of the place was chiefly composed of Americans and Cornishmen from the cop- per country or from the older mines of the Marquette range, with a few Italians. Meanwhile the prospectors were hard at work and the Indiana mine in 1882 shipped 4,280 tons, and the Calumet under the superin- tendency of John R. Wood, 5,847, and in 1886 the Cornell, discovered by the same expert, made its first shipment of 4,566 tons, whilst many other explorations, such as the Garfield, the Hecla and the Hancock held out inducements more or less encouraging.
For a time the gospel was preached by a Cornish miner, in the din- ing room of the Chapin boarding house. This volunteer evangelist was shortly afterwards killed-the first fatality in the Chapin. In 1884 the first Episcopal service was held in the Brown street school house, by the Rev. E. J. Eichbaum, missionary from Escanaba. From 1882 to 1884 the Rev. John Brown, pastor of Quinnesec, supplied the spiritual needs of the Catholic population, who was in turn succeeded by Rev. Fr. Faust, who secured by his exertion the property upon which the church and school house now stand and which former was opened for worship during the year named. Father Faust is credited with the firm establishment of his faith at Iron Mountain.
Originally and for many years within the boundaries of Menominee county, its singular qualifications which it shared in common with Nor- way were largely lost sight of, in its geographical relation to the county town, seventy miles to the southward. In October, 1891, agitation had its reward, and Iron Mountain has since been the seat of justice of Dickinson county. Its population was then nearly 9.000, and it had at- tained the rank of second among the towns of old Menominee county. In 1900 it had a population of 9,242 and in 1910 of 9,216, distributed by wards as follows: Ward 1, 2,431; Ward 2, 1,658; Ward 3, 1,345; Ward 4, 1,867; Ward 5, 1,915.
PIONEER ITEMS
The following interesting items, furnished by an old settler, are given at this point, which closes the pioneer chapter of Iron Mountain's history : "The real commencement of Iron Mountain occurred July
Diized by Google
543
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
5, 1879, when Captain John Wieks arrived at what is now known as the Chapin location, accompanied by seven men, all in the employ of the Menominee Iron Company and come hither from Quinnesec to make new explorations. They brought with them a four-mule team, with tents, tools and provisions and a few boards with which to build a kitchen and roof over a rough table placed in an opening of the forest. The tents were pitched on section 30. On the 15th of the following Sep- tember came Joseph Sandercock, a blacksmith, and put up the first anvil on the site of Iron Mountain; his forge was a big stump and he hung his bellows between two trees. On October 22, 1879, the Menomince Range, then published at Quinnesec, said that the Chapin mine was down sixty feet and that what was thought to be good ore had been found.
"Soon after the erection of the mining company's shacks, David Majo completed a house, and, as cold weather had set in, it was soon overflow- ing with boarders. About two weeks later Jerome Rayome had finished a boarding house, as well as the Menominee Mining Company. All of there pioneer buildings were situated about on a line with the present Vulcan street. Others were added, in the same vicinity, but were re- moved in 1885 with the caving-in of the ground on account of mining.
"When Captain Wicks first arrived a roving band of Indians was encamped near by, and a deserted log shack, formerly occupied by lum- bermen, stood near the present site of the St. Paul depot. The nearest inhabited building was about half way to Quinnesec. And that was only thirty-two years ago!
"The first birth at the Chapin location (or Section 30, as it was called) was that of Lillian Rayome, daughter of Jerome and Desanges (Germain) Rayome, on Jannary 8, 1880, and the first birth in the city proper was that of William P. Hayes, son of Thomas and Ellen (Gar- rity) Hayes, on the 27th of July, 1880.
"Iron Mountain was platted in the fall of 1879 by Sammel W. and Isaac Stephenson and Joseph Flesheim, proprietors. The plat embraced fifteen blocks and six streets-Flesheim, Brown, Ludington, Hughitt, Stephenson and Merritt, and was recorded December 15, 1879. Frank Ayers, a Maine bachelor who had been exploring in these regions, was first to have a building ready for occupancy. It stood on the southeast corner of Ludington street and Stephenson avenue. He had procured some lumber from Marinette and eut cedars in the swamp near by for studding, and when the little building was ready stocked it with jackets, mittens, overalls, stockings, shoes and boots, tobacco, liquor-anything which would probably be craved or needed by either lumbermen or miners. Later Ayers started a restaurant, a grocery and a meat market ; was quite a hustler while he remained at Iron Mountain, but his business finally went into the hands of others and he left for parts unknown.
Charles Parent, however, was the first general merchant, as he came to Iron Mountain in November, 1879, and displayed his stock in a tent, soon completing a building for his business. This was on Stephenson avenue between Ludington and Brown streets. Mr. Parent, who was
Dieed by Google
544
THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
the second postmaster, continued in business for many years and was an honored citizen until his death.
"R. C. Philbrook, the first postmaster of Iron Mountain, also dealt in general merehundise, as well as liquors. In January, 1880, Andrew Boyington and family arrived, his wife being the first woman to reside here. Mrs. William Parent did not come until April. 1880, a short time after the arrival of Thomas Hayes and wife, while Mrs. Charles Parent did not hecome a resident until July of that year. Mr. Boyington was engaged in business at Iron Mountain for abont two years, when he re- moved to Iron River, in connection with whose development he has been already noted. L. A. Laughlin was the first station agent of the North- western Railroad, which, as stated. reached Iron Mountain in July, 1880.
"In 1880'work was commenced on a school building, located on Brown street between Stephenson and Iron Mountain avenues, but was not ready for occupancy until January 1, 1881, when it opened with William N. Shepard as teacher. While the building was in process of erection the school population had so increased that the, pupils were obliged to sit three in a seat made only for two. This first Iron Mountain school was in session eight months, closing September 1, 1881. Before another term commenced other rooms had been finished and three teachers were employed, Mr. Shepard not being a member of the force as he had ac- cepted a 'better job' in connection with the Chapin mine."
CHAPIN AND PEWABIC MINES
By far the largest single industry located at Iron Mountain is the Chapin mine on section 30, comprising the Chapin, Undington and Hamilton shafts, which distinguish the old mines which have been con- solidated under the management of the Oliver Mining Company. The general superintendent of the great interests centering at this point is Otto C. Davidson. H. A. Chapin, of Niles, Michigan, was the owner of the original mine, from whom it was leased by the Menominee Min- ing Company, Mr. Chupin receiving a royalty of fifty cents per ton on all the ore shipped. Explorations were commenced under Mr. Chapin's ownership in July. 1879, and u short time after the company secured its proprietary interests. In June, 1880, the mine made its first shipments, which amounted during the year to 34.556 tons. The original discovery was made on the line between sections 30 and 31, at n point about four hundred feet west of the east line of the company's truet. At this point an exploration pit was commenced on the foot-wall, the top of which was on section 31, and was enrried down through fifty feet of surface and thirty-two feet of ore, the vein being apparently only about four feet in width. The proprietary interest originally held by the Menominee Mining Company passed into the hands of the Schlesinger Syndicate and was styled the Chapin Mining Company.
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.