USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
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About 1854 a schooner was built by J. A. Weed and George Carpenter. It was called the "Java," and was fitted out for the fishing trade. Mr. Charles B. Cottrell located here this year.
In 1856 James Fraser came here to reside permanently. Judge Birney also arrived this year.
The foregoing is only a brief synopsis of some of the move- ments during the period named. The history in detail of the various interests is given in the various departments of the work.
In 1855 or 1856 a well known character named Dodge built a small hotel near the present corner of Saginaw and Third Streets. This locality at that time was a swamp. The hotel was called the "Farmers' Home," though it is not remembered that it ever had a farmer for a guest. The young folks used to have occasional dances here, and when there was a shortage of girls, a shawl would be wrapped about an Indian who would be pressed into service as a belle of the ball.
In 1857 kerosene oil and lamps were first introduced by the Cottrell's, who had a store at the corner of Water and Second Streets, and from that time the glory of tallow candles gradually departed.
Still other settlers and interests came in during those years as appear in the several departments. The next important event was the change of name from Lower Saginaw to Bay City.
CHANGE OF NAME.
As the resources of the Saginaw Valley began to be developed in earnest, and the fame of this region widened, it was felt that the village near the mouth of the river should have a title by which it could be more easily and readily distinguished. Accordingly, in the Winter of 1857, Hon. James Birney drafted a bill and presented it to the Legislature. The bill was passed, and the act approved February 10, which provided, "That the name of the village of Lower Saginaw, in the Township of Hampton, State of Michigan, be, and the same is, hereby changed to Bay City."
SOME OF THE EARLY COMERS.
In the classification of subjects, some of the early settlers and their experiences are mentioned elsewhere in this work. The fol- lowing biographical reminiscenses are of others who were connected with the early history of Lower Saginaw:
ISRAEL CATLIN was one of the early comers to this region. He was born in Schuyler County, N. Y., in 1814. His chosen trade was that of carpenter, which he followed for several years, during which time he went to sea as ship's carpenter, and was absent about two years. In 1844 he came to Lower Saginaw, and was en- gaged by Fraser & Barney in building and superintending the run- ning of a mill at Kawkawlin. His first meal in the region was ob- tained at the house of Harvey Williams, at the mouth of the Kaw- kawlin River. He remained at Kawkawlin about two years, and then came to Lower Saginaw, and in company with the late James Fraser built a steam saw mill, which he operated a few years, when he sold out. He afterwards formed a copartnership with Mr. Arnold, of West Bay City, and they carried on an extensive business in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. His health failed, and for several years he has been unable to do any business. Mr. Catlin has filled an honored place in the community where he has lived so many years. He was postmaster of Hampton from 1850 to 1853, and was one of the first aldermen under the village charter. He has held various positions of trust, and was one of the founders, and has always been one of the leading members, of Trinity Church. Mr. Catlin still resides in Bay City, a much respected citizen.
PATRICK J. PERROTT is a well known pioneer of the Saginaw Valley. He was born in Ireland in the year 1827. In 1842 he emigrated to this country with his father, O. A. Perrott. In 1845 Mr. Perrott arrived in Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, his father having come here in 1843. He was then an intelligent Irish lad of eighteen years, small in stature, but active and resolute. His first occupation was that of cooper, which he followed for a time, mak- ing fish barrels. Not being able to make money fast enough at coop- ering, he abandoned it and engaged in fishing, which he followed until about 1860. From 1860 to 1870 he was sheriff and acting sheriff, and for several years past has been deputy sheriff. From 1875 to 1877 he was comptroller of the city, and has been a mem- ber of the Board of Public Works since in 1881. Mr. Perrott is an untiring worker, and one of the men who accomplishes whatever he undertakes. He is thoroughly versed in local affairs, and hav- ing a correct memory, is excellent authority upon matters of pioneer history. The compiler of this work is indebted to him for many historical facts of great value. Mr. Perrott was married February 4, 1850, to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Leon Trombley, the first resident of Lower Saginaw. Mrs. Perrott was the first white girl that came to the lower part of the Saginaw Valley, having come here in 1833. A school was started some eighteen miles up the river, taught by Albert Miller, now Judge Miller, of Bay City,
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which Miss Trombley attended. She is now the only pupil of that school living. Mr. Perrott and Miss Trombley were married at the house of Daniel S. Chapell, who lived in the vicinity of where the Peter Mill now stands. The ceremony was performed by George Raby, a justice of the peace, a functionary who did the most of the marrying in those days. Mr. Perrott's father died in May, 1858.
JULIUS B. HART will be long remembered in connection with the early days in Lower Saginaw. He was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1816. In 1833 he emigrated to Michigan, and in 1846 came to Bay City with his brother, B. B. Hart. They established a trade with the few whites who were here, but dealt more exter - sively with the Indians. In early years they were extensively en- gaged in the fur and fish trade. There are few persons in this region who have not heard of "Jule" Hart's red letter day in the muskrat skin trade, in which he was so ably assisted by George Lord. This occurrence is narrated on another page. Mr. Hart continued in various business enterprises, but never allowed busi- ness to interfere with an opportunity to play a joke upon anyone who chanced to come along. In 1875 he retired from active busi- ness, and died in Bay City, in November, 1877. With all his fond- ness for fun, Mr. Hart was emphatically a humane man, and as will- ing to do an act of kindness as to play a joke.
B. B. HART continued in business with his brother until about 1850, when they dissolved. Subsequently he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber and salt with Dr. George E. Smith, and still later they were in the grocery trade until about 1874, when they sold their business to other parties. Mr. Hart is now a resi- dent of Minneapolis, where he has been engaged for two or three years in the coffee and spice business.
CURTIS MUNGER was born in Bergen, Genesee Co., N. Y., March 20, 1820. Came to Michigan in 1840, and settled in Oakland County, where he learned the trade of cooper. In the Fall of 1846 he, with some others, went to the Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron, in the coopering and fishing business, catching whitefish for the Eastern market, where he remained until the latter part of No- vember, 1848, when, with his party, he intended to take one of the down steamers from Chicago to Detroit, and return home. Several steamers passed the island, but so far off in the lake that they could not see their signals. It was getting very cold, and they had got out of provisions, so the party took turns sitting up nights keeping signal fire to hail any passing vessel to take them off. After wait- ing eight or ten days without any hope of relief, and to add to their suffering their provisions were all gone. The party consisted of Curtis Munger, James Beebe, Edwin Park, and Michael Daily, who yet reside in Bay City, and W. H. Hunter and Joseph Parkerson, who have left the country. A heavy snowstorm from the north- east set in, and what to do they did not know; to remain would be folly, as the Winter had commenced, and they were getting hungry, as they had finished their last provisions two days before. A council was held as to what should be done. Joseph Parkerson proposed they should start in their open fishboat for Lower Saginaw, as Bay City was then called, and if they could reach there he knew an old lady by the name of Mrs. McCormick, who lived in the largest house there, with whom he had lived when a boy, and whom he called mother. If they could only reach there she would take good care of them. This Mrs. McCormick was the wife of the late James McCormick, one of the first settlers of the Saginaw Val- ley, who died two years before, in 1846, and was the mother of the late James McCormick, and also W. R. McCormick, who still lives in Bay City. They finally made up their minds to start for Lower Saginaw. They put six half-barrels of fish in the boat for ballast, then went to the lighthouse and saw the keeper, Capt. Malden, but could get no provisions, as he was nearly out himself. He gave
them one good square meal, and they started in their open boat for Lower Saginaw. None of them had ever been over the route be- fore except Michael Daily. The storm was blowing a hurricane from the northeast, accompanied with snow. They had to keep bailing their boat to keep her afloat, in which they took turns during the night. After much suffering they reached Point Au Gres. The wind died away, so that they were obliged to take to the oars before reaching the point. A gale sprang up from the south; they landed on the north side in the smooth water; went ashore, cut some cedars, and made a place to lay down to sleep, without anything to eat, tired and worn out. In the morning the ice had frozen on the north side of the point, where their boat lay several rods from shore, and the wind blowing a gale from the southwest, so that it was impossible to leave. Towards night, Parkerson said he was going to have some supper. They asked him where he was going to get it. He said :- "I will show you." He un- headed one of the half-barrels of fish, and took an old bailing dish he had in the boat, which had a hole in the bottom, put the fish in it, and put it on the fire, but in a few seconds the water had all run out, which also extinguished the fire. He tried this several times. "At last he cried out to the boys that supper was ready, but when we tried," says Mr. Munger, "to eat, we found that it was scarcely warmed through, so we ate it raw. It did not do me much good, for in a few minutes I vomited it all up." On the second day, towards night, the wind changed to the northeast, blowing very hard, increasing every minute. They went for the boat and found her pounding on the rocks, and in a little while she would have gone to pieces. They got her off after a long time by wading in the water; got her around the point to the south side out of danger. They now got ready to start, as the wind was fair, but the wind increased to such a gale that they were obliged to wait until morning, or until the gale went . down. They laid in their boat in their wet clothes until morning. Says Mr Munger :- "I never slept a wink, but nearly froze to death." When the morning came, the wind had somewhat abated; still there was a heavy sea running. They then hoisted sail, and started for the Saginaw River. When they reached the mouth, Michael Daily left them, and started for old Uncle Harvey Williams', at the mouth of the Kawkawlin River. After proceeding up the Saginaw River two miles, they came to a little house on the side of the river, when Mr. Munger asked Parkerson who lived there, when Parkerson replied, "Trombley." They had not gone far before they came to another house, when Munger again asked who lived there, when Parkerson replied, "Trombley." They soon came to another, where the village of Banks now stands, when Mr. Munger says to Parkerson :- "This is a comfortable looking house; I guess we can get something to eat here. Who lives here?" when Parkerson replied :-- "Trombley." "My Lord," says Mr. Munger, "is there no one but Trombley's in this country." They proceeded on up the river, and soon came to the house of Mother McCormick's, as Parkerson called her. This house is still standing, and is now called the Center House, on the corner of Twenty-fourth and Water Streets. Mr. Munger says :- "When we landed I was in my stocking feet, as my feet were so swollen by exposure that I could not get on my boots; so I say that when I first came to Bay City I was in my stocking feet; this was December 1, 1848. We were hospitably received by Mrs. Mc- Cormick, who did everything in her power to alleviate our suffer- ings, and whose kindness I shall never forget " While here, Edwin Park and Mr. Munger took a contract for making fish barrels during the Winter after their return from Detroit, where they had to go to get their returns for their fish, which they had shipped from Thunder Bay Island. So they left Mrs. McCormick, and started for Detroit on foot. They crossed the Saginaw River on the ice at the elbow, and started up the bank of the river over the prairie, the snow and
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water two feet deep most of the way to Zilwaukee, where they stayed all night. Mr. Munger says :- "This was the hardest day's work I ever did; I never was so tired in all my life. The next day we started for Flint early, as there was not much of a road between Flint and Saginaw at this time. We met but one person this day between Flint and Saginaw, which was the mail carrier, with an Indian pony, with the mail strapped on his back. I called the at- tention of my comrade, Edwin Park, to see how nicely that pony would walk a log to keep out of the mud. We arrived that night at Flint. The next day we reached Pontiac, and the next day Detroit." After settling his business in Detroit, he returned with Edwin Park to Lower Saginaw, and made it his home with Mrs. McCormick, and went at his contract with Edwin Park, making fish barrels. He continued working at the cooperage business for about two years. In the year 1850, Mr. Munger went into the grocery business on Water Street, between First and Second, under the name of Park & Munger, up to 1854, when Mr. Munger's brother came on, joined the firm, when they enlarged their business, and went into a gen- eral stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., under the name of Munger & Co. In 1861 Mr. Edwin Park retired from the firm, and went into the hotel business. Their business became so large that they were obliged to build a more commodious building. They joined James Snearer in building the Shearer Block, corner of Water and Centre Streets, and moved into their new location in 1866, and com- menced the exclusive business of dry goods. This building in a few years became too small for their increasing business. They then commenced the erection of the Munger Block, on the corner of Saginaw and Centre Streets, with double stores for extensive dry goods, into which they removed in 1873. In 1874 they sold out to Messrs. Cooke & Co., and retired from active business, since which time Mr. Curtis Munger, with his brother, has devoted his time to taking charge of his large real estate. Mr. Munger has held many public offices in Bay City. He was the first president of the vil- lage council for two consecutive years. Was for two terms elected county treasurer of Bay County, and many other offices of public trust, all of which he has filled with the entire confidence of the public. There are few men that are more identified with the growth and prosperity of Bay City than Curtis Munger, and who are so in- variably respected.
EDWIN PARK, one of the early pioneers of the Saginaw Valley, was born in Tioga County, N. Y., November 15, 1822, where he lived until 1842, when he came to Michigan and settled at Marengo, near Battle Creek, where he followed his trade of cooper. After working there for some time, and business getting dull, he went to Chicago, where he found work at his trade. He stayed there until January, when he went to Ottawa, on the Illinois River, where he worked at his trade until late in the Spring of the same year. Work getting scarce, he started on foot for Pontiac, Mich., where he found work at his trade until the following December. Work get- ting dull again, he went to Franklin, Mich., where he worked at his trade until 1846. He then went to Thunder Bay Island, on Lake Huron, to make fish barrels during the Summer of the same year. From thence he went to Au Sable, and in order to build a shop he had to go to Devil River to procure lumber. This was the first build- ing erected at the place. Here he worked until late in the Fall, when he, with five others, took their open sail boat and started for Detroit, as they could not stay all Winter in that isolated place, as there were no provisions to be had. They arrived in Detroit after a long and tedious voyage, being nearly ship-wrecked twice. It was a hazardous undertaking for five men in an open sail boat to cross the Saginaw Bay and down Lake Huron at that season of the year. Mr. Park said thirty-six years after that it was the hardest time he ever saw, and that he never expected to reach land alive. He stayed
in Detroit until the Spring of 1847, when he returned to the Au Sable, where he remained until the Fall, when he came to Lower Sag- inaw and with Mr. C. Munger went into the coopering and fishing business. During this time, he and his partner, C. Munger, made their home with Mrs. McCormick, widow of James McCormick, the old pioneer who had died the year before, whose residence, on what is now the corner of Twenty-fourth and Water Streets, is still standing, and is what is called the Center House. Soon after this, he and C. Munger built a small store on Water Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, and went into the grocery trade in con. nection with their cooperage business. It was not long before they found their little store was too small to accommodate rapidly increasing trade; they then had to build a larger store which they filled with a general assortment of hardware, dry goods, groceries, liquors, and drugs, when he took A. S. Munger as a partner. This was in 1854, and from that time the firm of Munger & Park was changed to Munger & Co., up to 1861, when Mr. Park withdrew from the firm and went into the hotel business as landlord of the Wolverton House, up to 1862. Previously he had made a contract for making the first salt barrels in Bay County, and he refrained from hotel business in order to ful- fill the same and other contracts. Some time after, he with C. McDowell purchased the corner of Third and Water Streets and erected a fine brick block. They then went into the wholesale liquor trade for eight years, when he sold out and went into the tug . and barge business in carrying lumber from the Saginaw Valley to eastern and western ports.
JONATHAN SMITH BARCLAY, more familiarly called Uncle John, was born in Northumberland County, Penn., August 8, 1808. When sixteen years old he went to Mauch Chunk, where he learned the trade of mill-wright. When twenty-two years old he went to Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, to build railroad. From there he went to Pottsville, where he worked at his trade six or seven years; thence to Lycoming County to build a furnace. When finished he started for Rochester, N. Y., hearing there was a great demand for mil-wrights at that place. Here he stayed two years, helping to build some of the largest flouring mills there. At this time the war between Texas and Mexico was raging, so he with a party of young men started as volunteers for Texas, but when they reached Cleveland, Ohio, news came that Santa Ana was taken and had sur- rendered to the Texans. At this time, the Toledo war had broken out concerning the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan, so instead of going to Texas, he with sixteen others took a boat for Monroe. When they landed, Gov. Mason was removing his troops. After the review was over, he with his party of sixteen went to the Governor and offered him their services, which he declined, saying he had nothing to feed them, and no arms to arm them with. He then started for Detroit, where he stayed a few days and started on foot for Jackson and from there to Albion, looking for work, but found none. He then went to Tekonsha where he took a contract to build a saw mill and afterwards a hotel. He stayed there three years, when he returned to Albion to help build the first flour mill, and tended it for five years. While here he was elected justice of the peace, which duty he attended for years, besides occasional pettifog- ing suits. He was also appointed agent for the Michigan Central Railroad, which position he held four or five years. During this time he married Miss Sarah Ann Sweeney; he then moved to De- troit and kept the Michigan Central Eating House in the depot for the accommodation of passengers. He then went into company with a man by the name of Hiram McKaint, in a general assort- ment for a country store, which they were to start at Lower Sag- inaw, now Bay City. They purchased their stock and started for Lower Saginaw, where they arrived the 20th of December, 1849.
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J.J. Barclay.
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
This was the second store in Bay City. They had not been long in the business when he and his partner dissolved, Barclay taking the groceries and his partner the dry goods. After a while his busi- ness increased so that he had to build a larger store, when he sold his store and goods to Park & Munger, and commenced building the Wolverton House, on the corner of Third and Water Street, which he kept fifteen years, during which time he was very ex- tensively engaged in the fishing business on the Saginaw Bay. In 1856 and 1861 was sheriff of Bay County; afterwards he devoted a great deal of his time to his large grape yard and peach orchard on the Bay shore. At an early day Mr. Barclay traded extensively with the Indians, as many of the early settlers in this new country were in the habit of doing. He also run a stage between Lower Saginaw and Alpena, and experienced all the hardships incident to pioneer life. He and his wife are still living in Bay City, hale and hearty and surrounded by children. Mr. Barclay has always been one of the foremost men of Bay City; always upright in his dealings with his fellow man; his word is as good as his bond.
THOMAS CARNEY, Sr., was born at Landport, England, 1814. In 1833 he emigrated to America, and until 1862 was sailing on the lakes. In 1837 he was married, in Canada, to Miss Mary Roach, a native of Canada. In 1849 they settled in Bay City. In 1850 Mr. Carney built a house on the corner of Wsahington and Fifth, at that time the only house on the street. They lived in that house for twenty years. Mr. Carney bought village property, built houses and speculated quite extensively in real estate for several years, and still owns city property which he rents. In 1862 Mr. Carney left the lakes, and since that time has occupied himself chiefly with his property interests. He has occasionally taken contracts for public improvements, such as the Tuscola and State plank roads. Mrs. Carney is a most estimable woman, and at an early day, her kind- ness of heart was often manifested in times of sickness and suffering. Mr. Carney is an enthusiastic supporter of the tem- perance cause, and is one of the leading members of the Red Ribbon Club. They have had six children, only two of whom are now living, R. J. and W. E. Carney, both lumber dealers in Bay City.
ALEXANDER McKAY settled in Lower Saginaw in 1849. He was born in Inverness, Scotland, September 16, 1816, and emigrated to this country in 1849. He was in the clothing business until 1853, and after that time was in the employ of the late James Fraser, assist- ing in superintending his vast lumbering operations until 1863. He was then in the employ of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad Company for some time, but for a long time has not been in active business. When he came to what is now Bay City, it was a compar- ative wilderness. He helped clear the land where the city now stands, make the first streets and build the first sidewalks. He built the residence he now occupies on the corner of Sixth and Monroe Streets, in 1863, when all that locality was stump land. He was married February 9, 1838, at Inverness, Scotland, to Ann Fra- ser, daughter of Alexander Fraser, of that place, and sister of the late James Fraser, of this city. They have four children, two sons and two daughters.
CHARLES B. COTTRELL first visited Lower Saginaw in 1850, and settled here in 1854. He was born in Cottrellville, St. Clair Co., Mich., July 31, 1829. His grandfather was one of the earliest pio- neers of that region, and from him the place took its name. Charles remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he went away to provide for himself. He lived for a time with an uncle. at Port Huron, attending school Summers and teaching Winters. Afterwards he attended the Romeo Academy for two years. About 1850 he went as clerk on the steamboat "Columbia," and that year saw what has since become Bay City, for the first time. From 1852 to 1854
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