USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 49
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About this time, Mrs. Chillson was one afternoon walking from her door down the path to the gate. A man from a neighboring saloon came forth with a gun in his hand. He aimed toward Mrs. Chillson. She, realizing that flight would be useless, continued slowly advancing. The miscreant turned the gun a little to one side and fired, the ball whizzing uncomfortably near her head. Mr. Chillson could endure persecution when directed to himself, but would no longer endanger his family.
After several years' residence in Bay City, he sold his property there, and with part of the proceeds purchased forty acres on the West Side. This piece of land was owned by a Mormon named Smith, who wished to move to some place where other Mormons lived. Mr. Chillson paid him $450 for the forty acres. Now it forms part of West Bay City, and many fine residences are built upon it.
Tramping through the woods with compass and line for his guide, Mr. Chillson looked over the neighboring wild lands quite thoroughly. A road was talked of being put through to Midland. He purchased a half of Section twenty in Town Fourteen North, of Range Five east, saying that if ever a road was put through to Midland it would follow the quarter section line, dividing his pur- chase in halves. Others contended that the road would follow the section line north of this. After years proved the wisdom of his choice, the present road following the very line he indicated.
Becoming weary of farm life again, Mr. Chillson rented his farm and purchased a sash and blind factory located on the river bank just above Center Street, in Bay City. This was afterward sold to Thomas Carney, Jr., and during his ownership was destroyed in the first extensive conflagration that visited Bay City.
In all public enterprises Mr. Chillson used his time, means and influence as far as he was able, but now for him life was nearly over.
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To his family he had often remarked: "Bay City will some day be a large city. You will live to see it, but I shall not." Now good roads led out of Bay City, railroads were talked of, regular pas- senger boats came from and went to various ports, a bridge across the river was commenced, and H. W. Sage had begun his great mill.
Four days Mr. Chillson worked about the beginning of this mill, then returned to his home, one March night, feeling ill. This was in 1864. He lingered in suffering and pain until the 3d of May; then, as the sun was setting brilliantly in the west, he closed his eyes to earthly scenes forever, leaving behind remembrances of a noble character, unsullied reputation, and a name from friend and foe alike of being an honest man.
In all the struggles of life Mrs. Chillson had been a friend and helpmeet for her husband. Now she was left to bear the burdens of a state of affairs financially appearing very unpropitious. Endowed with a remarkable business capacity and sound judgment, she brought order out of chaos, and now, at the age of near sixty-nine, manages her estate with good success. She believes that we each have a mission in life. Her labor of love seems to be the caring for homeless children. Besides bringing up her own two, she has adopted four others, and has kept in her home, giving them all the privileges of her own children, for a period of from one to four years, thirteen other children. At the present writing three of these remain with her, while others have found good and profitable ways of earning their own living. Mrs. Chillson, in the year 1870, mar- ried Alexander Terbosh, a pioneer of Genesee County, and at the present time they reside on a farm one mile west of West Bay City.
WILLIAM Moors was born in the year 1840 in Langensalza a city in Prussia. When he was eight years old, with his parents and the other members of the family, he came to America, and, after a few changes of residence, settled in Lansing, Mich. Upon reaching his majority, having learned the trade of a tinsmith, he, with Paul Ruppf, commenced business together, opening a small hardware store. Convinced that there were better business places than Lan- sing, they began looking around the Michigan towns, and at last moved their little stock of hardware into a small wooden store in the then village of Wenona. It was the first hardware store in the place. Mr. Moots was not wrong in his opinions about the growth of the place. Not a great while elapsed before he purchased a lot on Midland Street, and he, with Mr. Charles Babo, built the first brick block erected in West Bay City. Into this building he moved his stock, where he remained until purchasing the block now known as Moots' Block, on the corner of Midland and Linn Streets.
William Moots was a public spirited man, remarkably far-see- ing in business, and using his utmost endeavors for everything cal- culated to benefit the city of his choice. He came to West Bay City in the year 1867, was married to Cornelia M. Chillson in April, 1870, and passed away from earth December 26, 1880, leaving his wife and little daughter to mourn his departure.
THE YEAR 1867
Was an important one in many respects, and was, in a certain sense, a kind of formulative period. The building of the new school-house, mentioned at length elsewhere, was an event of con- siderable interest and significance. The first serious fire occurred this year, and the first brick store was erected. The railroad was completed, an event which gave shape to the future of Wenona.
We give herewith some of the general occurrences of the year 1867 not mentioned elsewhere, in connection with the dates upon which they were recorded.
JANUARY 19- The firm of Moore & Chapman has dissolved, Franklin Moore retiring from it. The business will be continued
by Alexander Chapman, with Mrs. E. O. J. Chillson as a special partner.
Messrs. Sage, MeGraw & Co. are going to cut a canal through the middle ground from the west to the main channel, where they will erect a dock and warehouse.
The same firm intend to put up a shingle mill this Winter.
JANUARY 26-Dr. I. E. Randall, formerly of Saratoga Co., N. Y., has located here for the purpose of practicing his profession.
The whiskey question has been much agitated for the last few days.
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One saloon keeper of the village, was brought before justice U. A. Ladd on Saturday last, and fined $10 and costs for selling intoxicating liquor.
The citizens are determined to put down the traffic in Wenona, and those who refuse to discontinue selling will have an opportunity of testing the law, as the temperance people are in earnest, and intend to ascertain whether the prohibitory law is worth anything or not.
The big mill started on Tuesday, the 22d, instant, and is doing a good business for Winter sawing.
H. H. Wheeler has resigned the clerkship of the village in order to enter upon his duties as county clerk.
Mr. A. Allen has been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Wheeler.
The excellent sleighing has caused a great increase of business on the Midland road passing through Wenona. Over 1,000 teams passed the toll gate during the week ending January 19th. The im- mense quantities of logs, ship timber, staves, fire wood, etc., on the line of this road gives employment to a large number of men and horses.
FEBRUARY 16-A donation will be held at the residence of Rev. A. C. Shaw, for his benefit, on the evening of Thursday the 21st, instant. The supper will consist of oysters and such other good things as the generous ladies of Wenona may in their liberality and knowledge of the tastes of the public see fit to provide.
Mr. N. Clark, was sent as a delegate to Lansing last week by the Board of Trustees, with a petition for a special charter for the village of Wenona, the present one not conferring sufficient power to enable the Board and officers to govern the village in as efficient a manner as its citizens desire, and as the public good de- mands. The petition and charter were placed in the hands of the Hon. N. B. Bradley.
The difficulty between the School Board and the Good Temp- lars has been amicably adjusted.
The keeper of the saloon who was prosecuted and fined, a few weeks since, for selling liquor in violation of the state prohibitory law, has left. Another individual has taken his place who declares he will sell in defiance of those who are opposed to the traffic. If the citizens maintain their resolve to enforce the prohibitory law, he will occasionally find it necessary to disburse a few stamps for the benefit of the county treasurer. In order to carry on his business he will need funds to meet these sort of incidental expenses.
MARCH 2-A donation for the benefit of the Rev. D. B. Camp- bell, will be held at his residence, on next Tuesday evening, March 5th; all are invited. Refreshments will be provided. It is to be hoped that the worthy gentleman may be the recipient of a liberal sum.
"Railroad on the Brain" has broken out here to a considerable extent, but as yet there have been no fatal cases reported. The dis- ease is contagious, and in a few days spread throughout the com- munity. There is very little abatement yet, although there are a few individuals who are considered convalescent. The village board has granted the right of way through the corporation, in case we
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get a road on our side of the river first. The Wenona people feel disposed to act magnanimously toward the Bay City folks, by al- lowing them to come over to our side and take the cars for East Saginaw on our railroad whenever they wish to travel in that di- rection. It is also proposed should Bay City at some future period apply to Wenona to be annexed, that the application be granted.
The firm of Clark & Allen has dissolved. The business will be carried on by Messrs. Allen & Hicks, who have formed a co-partner- ship.
MARCH 16-N. Clark has commenced the foundation of a new store on Midland Street, it is to be of brick, and two stories high. It will be the first brick store in Wenona,
M. & H. Bunnell are about to erect a building 35x75 feet, and two stories high, to be used as a hotel.
APRIL 6-Repairs and improvements are being rapidly pushed forward in the big mill with a view of starting in a few days. It is very dull times in Wenona, in consequence of the mill being idle so long.
A few nights since, some person whose propensity for unsur- passed meanness is largely developed, hacked and pulled up by the roots five maple shade trees in tront of the residence of Dr. Chase. Whoever did it has earned the execration of the law abiding citizens, and if found out will find a serious joke.
MAY 11-Sage, McGraw & Co's mill started on April 20th, and has cut on an average 125,000 feet per day since then. The in- crease over last year's average is due to improvements made during the past Winter under the direction of Mr. J. G. Emery.
Miss Jewell has opened a millinery store on the corner of Mid- land and Henry Streets. A very fine stock of goods is displayed, and the ladies of Wenona will be able to supply their wants in this line nearer at home than formerly.
The Railroad Company have decided to lay the track on Henry Street, which has given much dissatisfaction to the property holders on it, and a protest against it is being talked of by them.
Mr. R. H. Rich, from Bangor, has rented Sage, McGraw & Co's boarding house, and in addition to regular boarders will ac- commodate transient customers.
A donation party was held at Johnson & Bolton's boarding house in Bangor, on Thursday evening, the 9th, and the sum of about $50 was realized for the benefit of the Rev. A. C. Shaw.
OCTOBER 12-A young man named Henry G. Williston was drowned near Sage, McGraw & Co's warehouse, about 12 o'clock on Friday night, the 4th instant. He and Mr. C. E. Root, his brother- in-law, were engaged in moving a scow down stream, in order to enable the steamer "Emerald" to come up to the dock. It being quite dark at the time, he accidentally fell overboard, and the scow is supposed to have passed over him. He was heard to shriek as he went over, and although assistance was promptly on hand they were not able to find him. The body was found on the following day near the bridge. An inquest was held on it by Justice Clark and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the foregoing facts. He was buried on Sunday, the 6th instant. Deceased was formerly from Turin, N. Y.
The injunction served on the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad Company, by L. Davenport, to prevent them from laying a track through Henry Street, has not as yet been raised. A prop- osition has been made by certain parties in conjunction with the village council to plank the street under the track and for sixteen feet on each side thereof, provided the Henry Street people will withdraw their opposition to the road. Whether they will accept the compromise or not remains to be seen.
The School Board have sold the old school house grounds and
bought a new site of Mr. C. Moulthrop, across the bayou, and are erecting a fine brick school house on it. The contract for building it was let to Mr. George Campbell, for. the sum of $9,500. The work is progressing rapidly and the walls will be completed in about two weeks. The sum of $10,000 was voted by the district to build the schoolhouse, also a tax of $1,500, which is to be applied to seating and otherwise completing and furnishing it.
NOVEMBER 23 .- A destructive fire occurred in Wenona about 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, the 17th inst., by which the Bunnell House, Charles Miller & Bro.'s meat market, and John Keith's barber shop were totally destroyed. The fire was first discovered in the building used as a meat market. A portion of the furniture of the Bunnell House was saved, also of the barber shop, but nothing was saved from the meat market. The loss of the Messrs. Bunnell is about $6,000, on which they had $2,000 insurance. Miller & Bro's loss is $1,000; no insurance. Keith's loss, $200; no insurance. Rev. D. B. Campbell owned the meat market building, and his loss is estimated at $300, which includes damages done to his dwelling house which was only saved by strenuous exertions. The origin of the fire is not known. The steam fire engine from Bay City came over, but was too late to save the buildings. A considerable amount of pilfering was done during the fire.
Mr. Melancthon Hicks, a much respected resident of Wenona, died at his residence on Wednesday, after an illness of only two days. He was sixty-two years of age, and his loss was deeply felt by the entire community. His funeral took place on Friday, the 22d inst. Services were held at the Presbyterian Church.
Work on the depot buildings is progressing rapidly.
Messrs. Sage, McGraw & Co., entertained about 125 of their employes at the Bunnell House, on Saturday evening the 16th inst. A very pleasant and sociable time was had.
DECEMBER 7 .- The walls of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Depot are completed, and the frame work is being rapidly put up. It is hoped that the road will be open for traffic by January 1st.
The Messrs. Bunnell have already commenced the foundation walls of a new hotel on the site of the one recently burned. It is to be built of brick, 40x90 feet, three stories high, with a base- ment.
C. & O. Miller have erected a new meat market on Linn Street. J. Keith has built a new barber shop on the site formerly occupied by him. Both of these parties were burned out at the late fire.
Water Street has been planked with sixteen feet plank, from Midland Street to the railroad depot.
The Methodists of Wenona are about taking steps to erect a church during the coming year.
WENONA IN 1868.
About the first of February, 1868, some observations of Wenona were noted, from which we make the following extracts:
"The present plat of the village is about three-quarters of a mile square, and it is divided into blocks of 400x200 feet in size, each block containing sixteen lots, 50x100 feet.
SAGE, MC GRAW & CO'S MILL, ETC.
The most prominent feature of the place is, of course, the great saw mill of Sage, McGraw & Co., it being the nucleus around which has gathered this flourishing and prosperous village. The work of building this mill was begun in May, 1864, and it com- menced running on the 17th of May, 1865. The main building is 80x120 feet in size, two stories high. On the south side is a wing 20x30 feet same height, in which are the lath and picket mills. On the north side is the boiler room, built of brick, and
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constructed with great care to avoid danger from fire. The whole building is covered with a slate roof. In the first story of the main building are the engines, five in number, which drive the saws. In the second story are two stock gangs, two slabbing gangs, one circular and one muley saw, besides a number of edging and butting saws. Each gang has an engine to drive it, and by this arrangement, the breaking down of an engine does not have the effect of stopping the whole machinery of the mill.
Great care is taken in the manufacture of lumber at this mill. All boards are cut to exact lengths, and it is piled on the docks in such a manner as to render the seasoning of it very rapid.
The total amount of lumber sawed since the mill has been in operation is 51,875,200 feet, and of this quantity 22,601,051 feet were cut in the year 1867. During the same year, the manufacture of lath and pickets was commenced, and 1,783,800 pieces of lath and 21,904 pickets were made.
The number of men employed in the mill is on the average 120. The docks surrounding the mill foot up 7,814 feet in length, and an addition of 3,000 feet more is being made. There are also one and three-quarters miles of tramway.
A stock of 33,000,000 feet of logs will be got out for the com- ing season, and if run night and day the capacity of the establish- ment for eight months' work is not less than 40,000,000 feet. There is now on the docks 6,500,000 feet of lumber, and in the booms about 3,000,000 feet of logs.
Considerable improvements are being made in the mill this winter. A solid foundation of stone and cement is being put under the machinery.
In addition to the mill, Sage, McGraw & Co., have built a large number of other buildings, among which are a store 30x60 feet, two stories high; a warehouse attached 24x60 including wing; a boarding house, two stories high, 30x80; a brick office, near the mill, 20x60, two stories high, roofed with slate; twenty-three dwell- ing houses of various sizes; a tenement house 400 feet long and twenty-four feet wide, two stories high, divided into twenty-five suits of apartments, each having a back yard and wood shed. These dwellings are constructed for the use of persons in the company's employ.
These improvements have cost money, and it is not probably an overestimate to say that the company's investment in Wenona is not much short of $1,000,000.
ARNOLD & CO'S MILL.
A short distance south of Sage, McGraw & Co's mill, is the planing mill, sash, door, blind and molding factory of D. G. Arnold & Co. It was commenced in the Fall of 1864, and was completed in December of that year. It is two stories high and 44x82 feet in size. Mr. Israel Catlin, of Bay City, owns a half- interest in it.
RAILROAD DEPOT.
The depot of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad is situated near the mill of Sage, McGraw & Co., between the river and Water Street. It is built of brick, is 200 feet long, forty feet wide, eighteen feet to eaves and roofed with slate. In the north end are the ticket office and ladies' and gentlemens' waiting rooms. It was built by Mr. George Campbell, and cost $10,500.
Trains leave for Jackson at 9 A. M. and 2:40 P. M. An accom- modation train leaves for Saginaw City at 8 P. M. which connects with a train at 6 A. M. from there to Jackson. Trains arrive at 8:30 A. M., 1:50 P. M. and 7 P. M. Mr. O. J. Root is station master.
In addition to having one of the finest depots for freight on the road, the company are having slips dredged at the south end
of Sage, McGraw & Co's boom on the sides of which they will have some 3,000 feet of dock, with water enough to allow the largest vessels to come up to them.
CHURCHES.
The only church in the village at present is the Presbyterian one, but the Methodists contemplate erecting a building as soon as they can raise the necessary means. They hold their meetings in Faxon's Hall, and their pastor is the Rev. A Gee.
SCHOOLHOUSES.
During the past Summer, a fine brick schoolhouse has been erected. The main building is 30x60 feet, two stories high. It has two wings of the same height, 10x30 feet. The lower part is di- vided into two rooms, and the upper into one large room with small recitation rooms off it. The lower story is thirteen feet from floor to ceiling, and the upper fifteen. It will accommodate 360 pupils.
It is situated in the center of a block about 300 feet square, one-half mile from the river, on the Bay City & Midland Plank Roard. It was built by Mr. Geo. Campbell, and cost $9,500. The furniture cost $1,200.
It was opened on Monday, January 27th, and the number of scholars who attended on that day was 180. As there are some 350 children in the district, the attendance will probably increase. The superintendent is Mr. A. L. Cumming, who, previous to taking charge of the Wenona schools, was principal of the High School at East Saginaw. Mr. C. has earned for himself the reputation of being one of the most accomplished teachers in the State. He is assisted by Miss Stocking, in the Intermediate Department, and Miss Lester in the Primary.
The old wooden schoolhouse is to be removed from its present location to one near the brick building, and after undergoing some alteration will afford accommodation for about fifty children.
The present School Board consists of J. A. McKnight, Direc- tor; Chas. W. Rounds, Moderator; Richard Angell, Assessor; L. Roundsville, E. D. Blend and W. D. Chambers, Trustees.
PUBLIC HALL.
The only public hall in the village is Faxon's Hall, which is in the second story of the building occupied by A. Chapman & Co. It is 22x36 feet in size, and will hold from 150 to 200 persons.
HOTELS.
The "Irwin House," at the end of the bridge, is the only one which is open at present, the Bunnell House having been burned down on the 17th of November last.
Messrs. M. & H. Bunnell are building a brick hotel on the corner of Linn and John Streets. The basement walls and part of those of the first story are put up. Its dimensions are 42x90 feet, three stories high and a basement. The basement is nine feet in the clear, the first story twelve, the second eleven, and the third ten. The front of the hotel will be forty-one and a half feet above side- walk. The dining room will be 58x25 feet, office 24x24, reading room 18x24, parlor 18x24, reception room 17x20. It is expected to have it completed by May, 1868. The building will cost $16,- 000 and the furniture about $5,000 more. Campbell & Hennessey have the contract for the brick work and S. Wheeler for the wood work.
STORES, ETC.
The various kinds of business are well represented. Sage, McGraw & Co. have an extensive dry goods and grocery house, as also have Allen & Hicks, Chapman & Co., groceries and boots and shoes; H. H. Aplin, groceries and clothing; Moots & Rupff, hard- ware; Neil Brown, groceries, etc .; Wm. Swartz, groceries, drugs
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and medicines; Hicks & Co., flour and feed; George Nickels, boots and shoes; Miss Jewell, millinery; C. H. Langmeyer, tailor; G. F. Conklin, harness maker; I. S. Huckins, jeweler; C. & O. Miller, butchers; Mr. O'Brien, baker; W. H. Warren, shoe maker; Lankey & Aubry, blacksmiths.
TELEGRAPH OFFICE.
An office of the U. S. Telegraph Company was opened in Wenona in 1865, and on its consolidation with the Western Union Company the latter took possession of the office. Mr. J. H. Plum is the manager.
SIDEWALKS, ETC.
During the past year a large amount of sidewalk has been laid, amounting to over 10,000 feet in length. Midland, Water, Henry and Linn Streets are planked sixteen feet wide.
POPULATION, HOUSES, ETC.
The total number of houses cannot be less than 150, and the population will probably reach 1,000. There are no vacant houses in the place, and there is a constant demand for dwelling houses from persons who are desirous of becoming residents.
VALUE OF LOTS.
On the main business streets lots 50x100 feet in size are valued at from $1,500 to $2,000, and in other parts of the village the range is from $150 upward.
NEW BUILDINGS.
There are a large number of new buildings in process of erec- tion at the present time. On Linn Street, near Midland Street some parties from Lansing are about to put up two frame stores 20x 50 feet, two stories high. On the corner of Linn and Midland Streets three brick stores are being built. They are to be two stories high with a basement. Mr. H. C. Allard puts up one of them and Wm. Moots and Chas. Babo the other two. In various parts of the village we notice preparations for buildings.
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