History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 44

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold
Number of Pages: 738

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Next morning we heard the roar of the naval guns off shore, while the Bay City con- tingent on provost duty at Siboney saw the first movements of the American fleet on that mem- orable July 3rd, when Cervera's fleet was sunk by Schley and Sampson. We had been without food, save what we found on the battle-field, since June 30th, and sleep was out of the ques- tion on San Juan Hill, without shelter in the driving rain of the night and under the blazing sun by day, trench digging under such condi- tions being a real hardship, but we all cheered and cheered again, when the truth passed down the line toward evening, that the fleet of the enemy was no more. Pack mule trains rushed up and down the mountain trails that night, bringing ammunition and much needed food, and the writer celebrated that July 4th by drink- ing a cup of black coffee, and munching three hardtacks under a ceiba tree behind our sand- bag entrenchments, the first good lunch in three days. Later he carried dispatches and mail to Siboney, telling the people in Michigan that all was well with us, and that the enemy were ours.

Then followed two weeks of scouting through the San Juan Valley, General Pando having reinforced the Spaniards in Santiago with 8,000 men, and Shafter feared another at- tempt to break through his investing lines. On Sunday, July 17, 1898, the writer, with 1,000 other Michigan boys witnessed the surrender of the Spaniards in the valley below San Juan, a

historic event, never to be forgotten. The next day we visited the city in search of medicine for some sick comrades. Meanwhile the Bay City company and band had been on duty night and day, nursing the wounded, who came by hundreds from the front, and guarding several hundred Spanish prisoners taken in battle, who were placed inside of wire entanglements with strong guards standing by day in the blazing hot sun, and by night amid the mists of the ocean, and the pouring rains of Cuba's rainy season. Here were the horrors of war, without its heroic counterparts, hence a most trying service for Michigan's volunteers.

Yellow fever in a mild form, mountain fever, ague and malaria, the dangers always be- setting people coming from a temperate zone to the tropics during the rainy season, filled the hospitals and decimated the ranks. At one time in the middle of July two-thirds of the Bay City contingent were detailed for hospital duty, the bandmen acting as nurses on transports that brought the wounded and very sick to Newport News and other harbors. As the heat and rains increased, the Army of Santiago, especially the volunteer regiments, became a mere hospital camp, and soon were heard in the Michigan camps the sad notes of "Taps," as some poor boy, a thousand miles from home, was lowered uncermoniously into a grave on Cuban soil, which his sacrifice had helped to free forever from the tyrant's heel. A year later a grateful State sent emmissaries to Santiago who looked up the graves that had been marked with crude wood markers, and brought all the dead back to their native heath. Some sleep in the Na- tional Cemetery on Arlington Heights; others were brought back to Bay City and other home stations of the departed comrades.

After the Spaniards had been sent home and peace declared August 12th, the sole wish of

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the survivors, wasting away in the torrid cli- mate, with inadequate medical supplies, plenty but poor food, knowing their work was done, was to go back to a more congenial clime. About August 20th the first transports started for home with fever stricken regiments, and on August 25th the long expected order came for the Michigan regiments to break camp, burn their fever infected clothing and stores, leave behind the weakest men in hospital, under good care, and board the several boats assigned them, the Peninsulars getting assigned to the "Har- vard," while the writer nursed some of the 45 invalids on the old cattle-boat "Santiago" from Santiago to the detention camp at Montauk Point, Long Island, where the cool breezes of the Atlantic were expected to do what medicine and nursing in many instances had failed to do, -restore health and vitality. After rather squally voyages all the companies were reuni- ted here, and for the first time in many weeks loved ones at home received positive news from the boys at the front.

Out of the 74 survivors of the Peninsulars at Camp Wyckoff, some 20 were on the sick list, several seriously, and the total in the two Michigan regiments aggregated 367 in quar- ters and hospital. Governor Pingree had sent his son, together with G. A. Loud and G. Harry Keating of Bay City, to welcome the returning veterans at Montauk, and a number of relatives came early to care for their sick loved ones.

On the night of September Ist the quar- antine on both regiments was raised and at sunrise next morning all the uniforms, tentage and equipment used in Cuba were burned, new clothing issued, and the homeward journey commenced. The survivors will never forget the rousing welcome accorded the sunburnt and emaciated campaigners as they passed up

East River on a ferry, and at every station through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, the regiments were accorded an even heartier welcome than on their outward trip. At Detroit hundreds of friends awaited them, and on Sunday, Sept. 3rd, every person living in Bay County was out to welcome the Peninsulars and the 33rd Infantry Band home. The ranks were thinned, many of the boys. could hardly be recognized after only four months absence, so deep graven were the evi- dences of tropical war service under adverse. conditions, and many a cheer was hushed at sight of the wan faces and emaciated forms. But the great surging throng of fellow-citi- zens, the brief but impressive services at the old armory, the tears and joy of loved ones, did not fail to cheer the weary travelers. Rest. and care of home and mother soon wiped out in most cases the last vestiges of foreign serv- ice. A few have suffered and lingered with the: treacherous fevers to this day, and each year adds new graves for the loving remembrance. of surviving comrades.

The Michigan regiments were accorded two months furlough at their home stations. and on December 12, 1898, the Peninsulars and the 33rd Infantry band were mustered out and honorably discharged from the United States volunteer service. But scores of Bay County soldiers were then still in the service, in the United States navy and regular army, and in other volunteer regiments then carrying the "Stars and Stripes" victoriously through the Philippines. A number of the Cuban veterans at once reenlisted in the 30th United States Vol- unteer Infantry for service in the far East.

The honor roll of those who fell at the post of duty includes : W. H. Dollard, J. T. Sills, Frank E. Sharp, Guy A. Poole, Arthur Fis- sette, who died in Cuba; Bert F. Becker, Will ;:

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Thompson, Fred Von Walthausen, Fred Mey- ers, William Pringle, J. W. McKee, F. Parent, and D. H. MacMillan, who died in the United States; and W. J. McLean, Ralph Thompson, F. Warner, Charles Calkins, Frank L. Har- wood, and R. Archambeau, who died in the Philippines.

The ladies of Bay City presented the Peninsular veterans with a new silk flag on their arrival home, and the Veteran Corps took excellent care of the sick and their families. But the new armory, which they had fondly hoped would soon be realized, is still a fond dream of future bliss. In 1899 the company was on the verge of disbanding for want of suitable drill quarters but when the present of- ficers took hold, in 1901, Arion Hall was se- cured for barracks purposes, and, while some- what small, it is a large improvement over the tumble-down shack, which witnessed the depar- ture for Cuba and the home coming of Bay City's volunteer contingent. A fund has since been created for auditorium and armory pur- poses, public conveniences that should long since have been supplied by our fellow-citizens. However, better late than never.

In August, 1900, the Peninsulars attended the last encampment at Island Lake; Camp Bliss ( 1901) and Camp Hawley (1902), named in honor of Bay City's brigade com- mander, were held at Manistee. October I to 12, 1903, the Peninsulars took part in the regular army maneuvers at Camp Young, West Point, Kentucky. Camp Boynton (1904) was held at Ludington, where from August 8 to 17, inclusive, will he held the field encampment of 1905. At each of these last five camps Com- pany B has had the honor of being the only complete company on duty, not an officer or member being missing during all these years.

On Michigan Day, October 12, 1904, the Peninsulars, Company B, Third Infantry, M. N. G., were the guard of honor for Governor Bliss at St. Louis, the only military represent- atives from Michigan at the World's Fair, winning daily encomiums for a week for their fine work on parade, and during special drills on the Plaza St. Louis and the Grand Esplan- ade. Bay City was represented by two officers and 53 enlisted men, carrying the tattered bat- tle-flag of the 33rd Michigan Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, and this distinctive honor is a fit- ting tribute to the loyal service of our volun- teers in times of peace.

The officers of Company B, Third Infantry, for 1905, are as follows : Captain, A. H. Gans- ser; Ist lieutenant, L. G. Beckwith; 2nd lieu- tenant, W. A. Collins; Ist sergeant, C. L. Walk; quartermaster sergeant, J. S. Sills; ser- geants,-R. A. Garu, F. G. Leser, H. Reinecke, L. D. Pierson and G. R. Dreyer ; corporals,- J. L. McCormick, C. E. Cuthbert, W. S. Kurzrock, D. D. Canell, G. H. Evarts, Ed. Johnson, W. E. Wilson, J. H. Annis, G. E. Vliet; musicians,-A. L. Gage, Paul Mona- ghan, G. R. Birchard, J. J. Carroll, A. G. Heeke, Emil Schulz, George Weggel, and Otto Mueller ; cooks,-E. B. Hammond, J. J. Cole- man, Ad. Lefever and H. F. Colley; color guard,-F. J. Fenton, H. H. Hutton, L. Hut- ton, A. W. Black, N. A. Eddy, Carl Jacobsen, R. B. White, C. G. Leatz, E. F. Rehmus, W. T. Sampson and T. J. White; artificer,-C. F. Kelley. The privates are 56 in number.

The roster in 1905 shows a full complement of officers and men, and 20 recruits on the wait- ing list, so that the Peninsulars are certain to maintain their lead in the Michigan National Guard for some time to come.

Bay City is at present national headquar- ters of the National League of Veterans and

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Sons, including in its ranks veterans of all our wars, sons of veterans, and veterans of more than three years service in the National Guard. The national officers are: Commander, L. G. Willcox; adjutant general, W. N. Sweeney ; inspector general, A. H. Gansser; attorney general, J. E. Brockway; executive staff,-

L. McHugh, and A. H. McMillan. Sheridan Camp, No. 5, of Bay City is among the most thriving local organizations in this rapidly growing patriotic order. The local officers of this organization, as well as of the G. A. R. and Spanish War Veterans, are given in Chap- ter XIV.

CHAPTER XVI.

MINOR MENTION-ODDS AND ENDS.

Trust no future, howe'er pleasant ! Let the dead Past bury its dead ! Act-act, in the living Present ! Heart within, and God o'erhead.

-Longfellow.

Alaskan methods of communication were in vogue in Central Michigan before the rail- roads took the place of "blazed" trail and cor- duroy roads. Mail was carried in summer by boats. In winter dogs were hitched to a train- ole, led by a frontiersman on snowshoes and followed by a guard similarly equipped. Their camps en route were pitched wherever night overtook them, but usually in the midst of the primitive forest. Stages ran for 20 years be- tween here and Alpena.

From 1850 to 1862, James M. Miller con- ducted the "pony post" between here and Sag- inaw, using the ice on the river in winter, but during rainy reasons he had to leave his pony north of the Cheboyganing Creek, and make the rest of the route on foot through the quag. mires of the marsh. Since then the Pere Mar- quette Railroad track has become a dyke for the lands back of it, and by huge dykes and drainage canals most of this rich bottom land on the east side of the river has been redeemed, the McGraw farm and the Fifield-Mundy farm being among the very richest in Michigan. The celery raised on the McGraw farm is far famed, bringing fancy prices down East, the

crop being annually contracted for in advance. Large orchards of fruit trees have of late years been planted on these tracts.

M. Ueberhorst, a graduate of Germany's agricultural college, built the first prairie farm dyke, the ditch being five miles long, 30 feet wide at the top and six feet deep. The embankment above was 30 feet wide at the bottom, and five feet high. The floods of many springs have failed to undermine or break this hard clay bank, overgrown with grass and bushes.

The Michigan Chemical Company, of Bay City, is dyking a 10,000 acre farm on the Shia- wassee, a branch of the Saginaw, for raising sugar beets or their sugar houses at Owosso and Lansing. The marsh on the west bank of the river has not yet been dyked, but the lands are all taken up, and the river will be still further restricted, and more farm lands added that once were thought by everyone to be worse than useless. That done, there will not be a spot in all Bay County that will not be habitable and cultivated.

Few people in these parts have a correct idea of the gradual rise of the country to the

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north of Bay City. The latest State surveys show Standish to be 625 feet above tide; Ster- ling, 743, and Summit, 829. Omer, nearer the bay shore, is 610 feet above tide; Emery Junction, 672 ; and Alpena, 601.

The water level on bay and river has been steadily receding in recent years, but experts predict that a return tide will soon bring the water back to its former level. A more lasting change has been brought about in the valley by the clearing of the forests, for the weather for the last half century has been gradually growing milder. The summers are not as hot as formerly, forest fires are unheard of, and cool breezes sweep unrestrained over the val- ley, making Bay City a veritable summer re- sort during the heated term. The winters are also less severe, and the snow-fall year in and year out is nothing compared to the mountains of "snowy white" the early settlers encoun- tered. March, 1905, has gone on record as the warmest March ever known here. Con- trary to the dictum of old residents, "it came in like a lamb, and went out like a flock of sheep." Drainage, both by the county and by indi- viduals, is greatly reducing the danger of spring freshets and increasing the value of farm property.

The Saginaw went on a rampage in March, 1904. The heavy rains of the preceding fall had filled all the water-ways of the valley to overflowing when the frost king sealed them up. With the advent of spring all these waters poured into the Saginaw, drowning several people, considerable cattle and other live stock and fowls, and causing heavy property loss, as well as ruining crops in the lowlands. The valley south of Bay City was one huge lake about nine miles wide, with only here and there the dykes of the railroads visible above the water level. The bridges were saved by the free use of dynamite to keep the ice floes moving

out. The flood's alluvial deposits insure rich harvests to the prairie farms in 1905.

Some of the commercial fisherman near the Interurban bridge are in 1905 literally fish- ing on "Dorr's Farm." In 1835 Albert H. Dorr bought 200 acres of lowlands there for pasture purposes. According to the old pion- eers, the river level raised gradually from 1830 to 1838, submerging Dorr's land, and considerably altering the course of the river bed. Where in the summer of 1835 stood blue- joint grass, four feet high, interwoven with pea blossoms, morning glories and other wild flow- ers, presenting an enchanting picture, there was nothing but murky water the following spring. The 150 cattle and 50 horses, kept by Judge Albert Miller for Mr. Dorr, with this prairie hay supply gone had to winter under the care of Indians on cane rushes near Quani- cassee ; only a few of the horses succumbed.

Most of the fisherman in the ice of Saginaw Bay left the dangerous fishing grounds with the first intimation of a break up, but as usual some of the more venturesome remained to the last. A party of five men and one woman, fishing 30 miles from Bay City, found fishing so good they staid after all the other shanties had left the site of "Iceburg." A south wind during the night compelled them to leave their fish and personal belongings behind, and trudge over the treacherous ice for 24 hours, often breaking through, before being rescued near Oa-at-ka Beach. The members of the party were starving and utterly worn out when rescued.

Bay City has reason to be proud of her public bridges. From north to south, we have the Belinda bridge, uniting Banks and Dolsen- ville; Third street bridge, uniting the business centers on both sides of the river; Lafayette avenue bridge, uniting Bay City S. S., with Salzburg; and Cass avenue bridge uniting the

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extreme South End suburbs. Three railroad bridges also cross the river here.

The aggregate lumber production of Michi- gan in 1904 was: Pine, 426,912,734 feet; hemlock, 623,696,682 feet; hardwood, 618,- .938,333 feet ; the total output being 1,669,547,- 749 feet. The output in 1903 was 1,945,373,- 031 feet and in 1902 it was 1,846, 104,970 feet. The S. G. M. Gates mill, at the foot of Sixth street, Bay City, built in 1863, holds the State record for continuous operation under the same owner. In 1905 it has a full supply of logs for another season's run.

During the height of the lumber industry in the valley, the fire demon was much feared in Bay City. Time and again whole squares were wiped out in a few hours, despite all that the department and citizens could do. The fire which wiped out the heart of the South End in 1894 was the worst on record, all the buildings, sidewalks and trees in 32 squares being licked up. Forest fires were also much dreaded by the isolated settlers. In 1871 a forest fire swept over a large area to the southeast, Fred Beyer and his neighbors in Merritt township losing barns, fences, crops and timber valued at thousands of dollars, while the timber on the government lands wiped out would have aggregated a value, even in that period, of sev- eral hundred thousand dollars. With the clear- ing of the woods, this danger gradually grew less, until in 1904 not a single serious fire was reported.

An effort is being made to reduce the fire department companies by one man each, thus saving $1,500 annually. Since Bay City's low fire insurance rate is largely due to the efficency of this department, proven on many occasions, this economy would probably prove quite costly in the end.

One of Bay City's really famous citizens is John G. Clarkson, known all over the world

as the peer of baseball twirlers, 1880-95, who played here in 1883-85, then for years was with Chicago, until sold for $10,000 to the world's champion team at Boston. He is still active in promoting the national game locally.

The Federal census of 1900 tells us that Bay County with 63,448 people has 333 fac- tories, with 10,086 employees. Of these, Bay City, East Side, has 201 factories and 4,975 employees and the West Side, 69 factories with 4,179 employees. Pinconning with 729 peo- ple has seven factories, with 84 employees. Es- sexville, with 1,639 people has nine factories, and 502 employees.

Bay City had a Board of Commerce as far back as 1865, but periodically these worthy institutions come and go, lost usually for the lack of support by the business men and com- munity at large. In 1905 the Board of Trade is a real, live affair, with Walter D. Young, president, and L. M. Persons, secretary. A strong executive committee, composed of our most public-spirited and enterprising young business men augurs well for effective work for the welfare of Greater Bay City. A wealth of opportunities cluster about out river high- way of trade and commerce. It only remains for our progressive citizens to attract the out- side world's attention to our many advantages. There is a wide field for action for our Board of Trade.

The Bay City Club has for 35 years been one of the city's metropolitan institutions. In the burning of Wood's Opera House four years ago, the club lost all its property. In 1904 this enterprising organization built the beautiful, new, four-story club house on the Park plaza, Center avenue, and it is to-day the best equipped club house in Michigan. Every con- venience is afforded for the recreation and en- joyment of its members and visiting business men. Baths, bowling alleys, gymnasium and

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physical culture rooms provide healthful recre- ation. The cafe and dining rooms, presided over by Stewart Upton, of Chicago, look well to the care of the inner man, while the reading room, billiard and card parlors, lecture room and ball room, all exquisitely furnished, airy and modern in every particular, make the club house the most popular rendezous of our business men and their families. Brilliant social functions weekly are the order of the season.

While the voters in Bay County were regis- tering their will on April 3, 1905, a terrific shock rocked the roundabout country about 4 p. m. Three employees of the Thomas nitro- glycerine works near Kawkawlin had been blown to atoms in the dynamite storehouse. A hole 35 feet deep and 30 feet in diameter alone marked the spot where the little brick structure had been for years. The men had no business there, and the cause of the explosion will always be a mystery. A little basket full of shredded human flesh and skin, picked from roundabout trees and bushes, was all that was found of the three unfortunates, one of whom was an In- dian. Funeral services were held two days later, and the mortal remains were interred in a single grave. Windows in houses 10 miles away were broken, while some near the dyna- mite factory escaped injury.

Early on Sunday morning, April 9. 1905, the inmates of the County Poor Farm found flames issuing from the roof near the chimney, and in less than two hours all the adjoining buildings were an ash heap. The inmates, many of them aged individuals, were with dif- ficulty removed, and sheltered for the time be- ing in the Bethel Mission, Third and Water streets. · Plans for a new county farm building to cost $25,000 will be approved May IIth.

The Masonic Temple will be opened May 16, 1905, by the Scottish Rite bodies, assisted

on May 18th by the Detroit Consistory and Moslem Temple, Mystic Shriners, who will confer 14th to 32nd degrees on a large class.

The Hecla cement plant near the mouth of the river will untangle its legal difficulties in June, 1905, when by the order of the United States Circuit Court the property will be sold at public auction, but no bid will be considered for less than $930,000, with $50 cash deposit to bind the bid.

Greater Bay City has now become an estab- lished fact, with 45,000 people, and all the natural advantages for future growth and de- velopment. The first message of the first mayor, issued April 10, 1905, urges economy in municipal management of public affairs. The first act of the united cities' first Council provides for standard time, and for clearing up the mixed financial status of the West Side. The Board of Supervisors on April 25, 1905, elected George Hartingh, of Pinconning, chair- man for this term, contrary to expectations as. the city has a majority on the board, but by his first act he evened up matters by giving Greater Bay City a majority representation on the committee on equalization, thus making it possible, for the first time in years, for the city to secure a fairer apportionment of the county's taxes, which heretofore have been largely as- signed to the East Side. The next act of the board provided for passing an enabling act through the Legislature, which was done April 27, 1905, allowing Bay County to bond for $20,000 for the erection of a new stone and brick home on the County Poor Farm, de- stroyed by fire April 9th. The first joint action of the business men of the united city resulted in securing the Faulkner Solvay Process Chem- ical Company, which will erect a monster plant on the West Side, north of the Kern mill ; cap- ital $200,000. The new hotel project is also. being boomed, ex-Mayor Frank T. Woodworth,.

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Hon. Spencer O. Fisher, W. D. Young and others subscribing $10,000 each toward the $100,000 required for a hotel better suited to the needs of the larger city, which has been served by the Fraser House for nearly 40 years and by more recent but smaller hostelries. An auditorium to accommodate large public meetings, State and national conventions, is an- other immediate local necessity.

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History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 44

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold Number of Pages: 738

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold
Number of Pages: 738