USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 52
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He built his present dwelling in 1873, bought the ground June 30th, and was living in the house October 1st, of the same year. Cost of building $6,000. He joined with H. H. Norrington in building the opera house in 1876, and in 1877 bought Norrington's interest; value of opera house $20,000. Burned December 19, 1881, insur- ance only $6,000. After the fire he bought seventy-five feet adjoining the opera house site, and rebuilt what is now known as Fisher Block, at a cost of $35,000. Also built in 1881 the bank building, occupied by Lumberman's State Bank, and Mosher and Fisher as an office, at a cost of $15,000. He built two or three dwellings, which he has rented, and barns and warehouses amounting in all to $15,000, and built in Williams, in 1872, a mill costing $20,000.
The details of his lumber operations since coming to West Bay City are substantially as follows, and they tell their own story:
First year handled 1,000,000 feet of square timber; next year added short logs and handled from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 feet. During the panic of 1873 he slacked up somewhat, and for six years handled from 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 feet a year; in 1879 he in- creased his business, handling from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 feet, in 1880, 20,000,000 feet, and in 1881, 35,000,000 feet oak and pine timber and short logs, the firm, as we should have said, being Mosher & Fisher. Their sales and shipments of lumber in 1882 aggregated 34,389,943 feet; square timber 3,000,000 feet board measure; oak timber 1,000,000 feet. For 1883 they have under contract 50,000,000 feet of new short logs and 10,000,000 feet of last year's logs in boom limits, also 5,000,000 feet of square timber, pine, and 1,000,000 feet of oak; this being the estimate for Winter lumbering only. In addition to this they will realize from Summer lumbering, having purchased last Fall S. McLean's entire stock, 40,000,000 feet, all to be cut within three years; 5,000,000 feet of logs which they expect will be available late in the Fall, and expect to purchase at least 5,000,000 feet of pine short logs, beside what they already have in stock and under contract. As another side issue in addition to the one at East Tawas, M. & F. purchased last year 4,000,000 feet of logs at Ludington, which, not having been thus far available, will figure in the aggregate of operations for 1883.
He is also president of the Lumberman's State Bank, and in the Spring of 1883 was elected mayor of the city. He is one of the trustees of the Presbyterian church, and has contributed liberally of his time and means to the building of the elegant new church edi- fice now in process of erection. At the organization of the bank of which Mr. Fisher is president, mention was made of him as fol- lows: "It is only necessary to state what is well known, that its president, S. O. Fisher, is reputed to be one of the most successful lumber operators in this section of the state, and that by his energy and rare business talents he has acquired within a few years a large fortune, and which entitles him to rank among the lumber kings of the Saginaw Valley as a future millionaire. To his enterprise and push West Bay City is more indebted for her fine paved streets, handsome buildings and metropolitan eclat than to any other citizen she possesses, and his motto that "a man should spend his money
where he makes it" is exemplified in his construction of the opera house and the elegant block in which the Lumberman's State Bank takes up its quarters"
POST OFFICES.
In the consolidation of Wenona, Banks, Salzburgh, each place retained its postoffice, that of Wenona being changed in name to West Bay City.
THE WEST BAY CITY OFFICE
was established by the postoffice department in February, 1865, in the village of Wenona, and appointed Mr. George H. Bates post- master. He held the office until June, 1866, when he resigned, and Mr. J. H. Plum was appointed to fill the vacancy. During the official terms of these two gentlemen the office was kept in a part of Sage, McGraw & Co's store. Mr. Plum, in October, 1866, was succeeded by Major Newcomb Clark, who held the office until the Fall of 1869, when he was succeeded by Henry Aplin, the present incumbent. The office was removed from the store of Sage, McGraw & Co. to a building on Midland Street, near John Street. It was afterward removed to Linn Street, and in July, 1881, again removed to its present location, in the Aplin Block, on Midland Street.
When Mr. Aplin took the office in 1869, there were thirty-eight boxes, and in 1883 there are 1,089 boxes. The salary of of the post- master then was $490 a year, and at the present time it is $2,000. The business of the office at that time aggregated about $800, and in 1883 it has reached between $8,000 and $9,000. These figures indicate something of the general growth of the place, and it must be remembered that within the city limits are two other post- offices.
HENRY H. APLIN, the present postmaster, was one of the early business men of Wenona, and has been one of the active men in building up the city. He was born in the city of Flint, Mich., and at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, serving until its close, and was mustered out as quarter-master's sergeant. In 1865 he came to Bay City and engaged in the grocery trade, subsequently removing to the west side of the river. In 1869 he was appointed postmaster of Wenona, succeeding Col. N. Clark, and has held the office up to the present. The name of the office has, however, been changed to West Bay City. He also is engaged in the news and stationery trade, in the same building with the postoffice, which was built by him especially to accommodate the two different kinds of business. He is married and has one child.
THE BANKS POSTOFFICE
was established about 1865. Up to that time the place had been called Bangor, but there being another office of that name in the state it was necessary to choose another one, and Banks was selected in honor of Gen. N. P. Banks. The first postmaster was William F. Benson, a merchant of the place. The office was kept in his store. The mail was carried from Bay City to Banks in a skiff every day, for which Mr. Benson received $15 a year. His salary as postmaster amounted to the magnificent sum of $35 a year.
Mr. Benson held the office about four years and was succeeded by David Trombley. Following him were Joseph Marchaneo, Henry S. Walworth, George McKoy, George McKoy, Jr., and William Stewart, the present postmaster, who received his appoint- ment in 1880. The present salary of the postmaster is $320 a year.
WILLIAM STEWART, the present postmaster is one of the few
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FISHERS BANK BLOCK.
RES. OF S. O. FISHER.
ISHER
BLOCA
FISHER BLOCK_WEST BAY CITY.
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
men who participated in the civil war from its commencement to its close. He enlisted in April, 1861, and remained in the service until April 1865. He saw a great deal of active service, and . lost a leg while in service. He has been a resident of Banks since 1867.
THE SALZBURGH POSTOFFICE.
This office was established in the year 1868 largely through the efforts of Mr. Charles Orton, who was then a resident of the place. The first postmaster was Mr. George Staudacher, who held the office until 1879, when he was succeeded by Mr. Michael Riegel, the present incumbent.
MICHAEL RIEGEL was born in Germany, in 1852, and there learned the machinist's trade. He emigrated to America in 1871, and for a short time worked at his trade in Brooklyn, N. Y. Coming to West Bay City the same year he entered the employ of George Staudacher & Co., general merchants, and in 1878 engaged in the same business for himself. In 1879 was appointed post- master for Salzburgh, which position he yet retains. He was pres- ident of the German Working Men's Society four years and is at present one of its trustees. He married Annie B. Schmidt of Frank enlust, Mich. They have three children.
WEST BAY CITY CHURCHES.
The early settlers in Wenona were fully alive to the beneficent influences of churches upon a community, and particularly during its formative period. Hence, we find that while the outlines of a town were being marked out, church organization was being con- templated; and even before the village of Wenona was foreshad- owed, Rev. D. B. Campbell was doing missionary work in the township of Bangor. Following are historical sketches of the several churches now represented in the city:
THE WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WEST BAY CITY.
Until recently this church was called the First Presbyterian Church of Bangor. About November 1, 1863, the Rev. D. B. Campbell was sent as a missionary by the Presbytery of Saginaw, to the lower part of the Saginaw River. His field of labor com- prised Bangor, Kawkawlin and Portsmouth. Services were held in the schoolhouses at Banks and Wenona, for the convenience of people living in the township of Bangor. At that time there was no such place as Wenona, either in fact or prospect.
In January, 1864, after Sage and McGraw had purchased the site of the village, the Rev. Mr. Campbell called on Mr. H. W. Sage, and asked a donation of two lots upon which to erect a church. The request was promptly granted and two lots on Cather- ine Street were donated, and on behalf of the firm Mr. Sage gen- erously agreed to double any subscriptions that could be raised for the purpose of building the church.
Early in 1865, a call, signed by ten persons, was issued for a meeting to organize a church society. The meeting was held at Mr. Campbell's house, and an organization effected. The first elders of the church were Stephen Buchanan and J. H. Plum. First trustees, J. S. Taylor, J. B. Ostrander, John G. Sweeney.
The efforts to raise money for a church edifice were successful, and the work of building was vigorously pushed forward. On the 23d of August, 1865, the corner stone was laid, and on the 3d of the following December it was dedicated, the Rev. J. Ambrose Wight, of Bay City, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the building was $3,500, furnishing $500 more. Of this amount Sage, McGraw & Co., contributed about $2,000. The Rev. Mr. Camp- bell continued with the society until some time in 1868, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. T. Sanford, of Schenectady, N. Y., who
resigned the pastorate in January, 1870. The church was then without a pastor about a year. In April, 1871, a call was extended to Rev. L. W. Chapman, who began his labors with the society soon afterward, and continued until May 1, 1880. In October following the present pastor, Rev. Donald L. Monroe, entered upon the pastorate of the church and has been very successful in his labors.
About 1879 or 1880, the question of building a new church edifice that should better meet the increasing requirements of the society, and be more in harmony with the progressive spirit of the city, began to be agitated. It was finally decided that the work should be undertaken, and a building committee consisting of Spen- cer O. Fisher, J. H. Plum and E. T. Carrington, was appointed. The question of location was very easily decided, by the offer of Mr. H. W. Sage to donate two and one-half lots on Midland Street, and sell the third lot for $500. The offer was accepted, and in June, 1882, work upon the new edifice was begun. It is expected that it will be completed in September, 1883.
The cost of the church, when finished, will reach fully $20,000. It is built of red brick, after a semi-Gothic style of architecture, and presents a unique and attractive appearance. The interior finish is rich and costly. The auditorium is semi-circular, and is expected to seat 500 people. The structure is a credit to the enterprise and liberality of the society and is an ornament to the city.
The present membership of the church is 126. The Sabbath- school has an average attendance of about 150. The superintendent of the Sabbath-school is E. T. Carrington.
The present elders are Henry Coffin, J. H. Plum, Frank W. Wheeler, Harrison Miller, George A. Allen, John McNiel.
Trustees :- Spencer O. Fisher, E. T. Carrington, F. W. Wheeler, J. H. Plum, John M. Kelton, H. S. Ingersoll.
The history of the society has not been marked by any unusual events. For the most part the church has prospered, and at the present time its affairs are in a healthful and prosperous condition. In its membership are included some of the leading financial and business citizens of the city, who take an active interest in the wel- fare of the society.
The first members of the church were as follows :- J. H. Plum and wife, Seth Bourn and wife, Peter Smith and wife, Mesdames Margaret Sweeney, Delia Huckins, Emily Algoe, Emeline Ostrander, Isabella Campbell, C. Gilbert, and S. A. Buchanan, and James Mc- Donald. Of that number eight have died or removed from the place. Those who remain are Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Plum, Mr. and Mrs. Seth Bourn, Mrs. Peter Smith and Mrs. Margaret Sweeney.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY.
Wenona charge was formed in the Fall of 1866, and the Rev. A. C. Shaw appointed pastor. The charge includes Portsmouth and Banks. The first societies were formed at Wenona and Bangor, by Rev. William Fox and his colleague, Rev. E. Wigle, in the Winter and Spring of 1866. Revs. Fox and Wigle were then of the Bay City charge. The former particularly is held in affectionate remem- brance by those who knew him. He died at Bancroft, Shiawassee County, March 28, 1881.
During the pastorate of Rev. Shaw, a church was erected at Banks and dedicated by Rev. B. I. Ives, of New York. In the Fall of 1867 Rev. Shaw was succeeded by Rev. Alexander Gee.
In 1868 the work was divided, Portsmouth being taken off, and Rev. Gee was succeeded by Rev. Joel B. Goss. Until a short time before Rev. Gee's removal the society had worshipped in a hall which they were obliged to vacate in August, 1868. After Rev. Goss arrived he held services at Bangor until November 18th, when Babo Hall was rented, and the following Sabbath a Sunday-school was organized, of which J. S. Taylor was superintendent.
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186
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
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The trustees began building a church at Wenona about this time on some lots given to the society by Mrs. Chillson. She also circulated a paper and procured money to erect and partly enclose a building. It remained unfinished for want of funds until July, 1869, when a meeting of the trustees was held and J. S. Taylor re- quested to circulate a subscription paper, which he did, and work upon the building was resumed.
September, 1869, Rev. Jacob Horton was appointed pastor, and in November following the church was dedicated. Rev. Horton was returned in the Fall of 1870, and during the year that followed the chapel was built with half of its cost provided for.
In the Fall of 1871 Rev. W. Q. Burnett was appointed pastor. At the close of that year the financial affairs of the church were in- vestigated, and it was found that the society owed a debt of $2,500. A subscription paper was circulated and so liberal was the response that the entire debt on both church and chapel was paid. In the Fall of 1872 Rev. Burnett was returned, and during the next year about $600 was expended in improvements. Mr. Burnett remained until the Fall of 1874 when he was succeeded by Rev. R. Wood- hams. The following year was one of great financial depression, and the church suffered by reason of it. During this year Mrs. Augusta C. Lester, wife of Capt. T. G. Lester, and one of the oldest members of the church, was removed by death. She was a woman greatly beloved, and her death was deeply mourned. The financial condition of the church was improved about this time by the bequest of $400 of Duncan Lothian. Two mission schools were established one at the Oak Ridge Cemetery Mission, and the other the Salzburgh mission.
September, 1875, Rev. Woodhams was returned, and during the following year the membership of the church was largely increased as a result of revival meetings. In 1876 Mr. Woodhams was suc- ceeded by Rev. D. W. Misner, who remained one year. In 1877 Mr. J. S. Taylor removed from the place, and the society lost one of its most liberal and zealous members. He had been superintend- ent of the Sunday-school from the beginning, and was ever active in the interests of the church.
From that time to the present, the society has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. The church at Banks was attached to the Woodside Avenue Church, at Bay City, and in 1881 the building at Salzburgh was sold to the German Lutheran Society.
In the Fall of 1877 Rev. William Dawe was appointed pastor. He remained three years, and was succeeded by Rev. L. P. Davis who is still in charge of the work.
In 1881 the society purchased a house and lot adjoining the church for a parsonage. The house has been enlarged and improved since the purchase.
The present membership of the church is 120, and that of the Sunday-school about the same. .
The trustees are T. F. Shepard, H. H. Aplin, David Lusk, T. G. Lester, John Brigham, H. S. Lewis. Dr. N. R. Gilbert, George L. Mosher and George Lester.
LUTHERAN SOCIETIES.
The German Lutheran Church of West Bay City was among the early institutions of the place, and has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. The church was built in 1868, and is located on Alp street, south of Midland street. Rev. Mr. Wiest is the pastor. The church has seventy-five members.
The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church at West Bay City was organized in 1880. The church building located on the corner of Henry and Thomas streets, was built in 1881. The pas- tor is Rev. H. R. Miller. The church now has one hundred and fifty members, and is in a flourishing condition.
EPISCOPAL SOCIETY.
St. Paul's Church was organized in 1872 as a parochial parish, by Trinity Church of Bay City, under charge of Mr. Geo. A. Cooke as Lay Reader. There were two missions, one at Wenona and an- other at Banks. The first rector was Rev. Lewis L. Rogers. In 1874 a neat church edifice was built at Wenona, upon the lots pre- sented by Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Sage. Rev. J. E. Jackson received an appointment as missionary in October, 1874. Rev. Wilson suc- ceeded Mr. Jackson. For some time past there have been no regu- lar services, and only Sunday schools kept up; the membership not being sufficient to sustain the society. .
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
The early history of the Roman Catholic church in Bay County has already been given in connection with the history of Bay City. In November, 1873, the building afterward used as a schoolhouse was dedicated as a church by St. Mary's society of Wenona. It was designed to be used until the permanent church edifice should be completed. The present church building was dedicated in Decem- ber, 1881. The event was mentioned at the time by the local paper as follows: " Without doubt one of the largest gatherings ever as- sembled in this city took place on Wednesday upon the occasion of the dedication of St. Mary's church. Long before the time ap- pointed to commence the impressive services the large and commo- dious edifice was filled to overflowing while hundreds were compelled to remain outside during the entire services. The Right Rev. Bishop Borgess of Detroit blessed the church and dedicated the same to the service of God. At the conclusion of which the Right Rev. Bishop McMullen of Davenport, Iowa, delivered one of the ablest as well as eloquent sermons that has been heard in Michigan for many years. The erection of this church has been a wonderful work. Costly and beautiful, and a very large share of the credit is due to the untiring energy and enterprise of the Rev. Father Schutjes for this magnificent structure in our young and prosperous city." The parish was set off from Bay City in 1873, and the first pastor was Rev. M. G. Cantors. The present pastor is Rev. Father Schutjes.
EVANGELICAL.
The First Evangelical Reformed Church of West Bay City dates from the Spring of 1881, when articles of association were filed at the court house. They showed that Rev. E. W. Henschen, of Mani- towoc, Wis., was pastor; Godfrey Kubach, Rudolph Laderach, and Johann Tschmann, trustees; Jacob Laderach and Conrad Baum- veller, elders, and Jacob Grundger and Johann Bauman, dea- cons. The society was first organized in 1880. They pur- chased the building erected by the M. E. Society in 1875 for the Salzburgh Mission. The church has one hundred and twenty-five members, and is in a flourishing condition. The Elders are Fred- erick Eckert and Richard Burn; Deacons, Adolph Kusch and J. L. Hofman; Trustees, Otto Kusch, David Schueppach and John Schroeder.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WEST BAY CITY.
This society has just begun its career having effected an organ- ization in April of the present year. Thursday evening April 19, 1883, about twenty of the leading members of the Baptist denom- ination of West Bay City assembled at the residence of Dr. Marsh, and organized the First Baptist Church of West Bay City. The following officers were elected: Clerk, Dr. J. P. Webster. Board of Trustees, A. C. Haven, chairman; F. E. Hixson, Dr. J. P. Web- ster, F. D. Pierson and Capt. A. Neal. A call was extended to the Rev. Willis Clark, then in Cheboygan, to become the pastor of their church.
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
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NON-DENOMINATIONAL.
Walter Sims, evangelist, non-sectarian, began preaching in West Bay City, Nov. 1879. There is now an assembly of over one hun- dred and twenty, who meet on the ecclesiastical ground of the early church of the New Testament. Walter Sims, the evangelist, came to Bay City from Detroit in the autumn of 1879, opening a series of meetings in Rouech Hall, at which he energetically preached the gospel, and, to use his own language, earnestly contended for the faith once delivered unto the saints, which, he claims, has been, and still is entirely ignored in the sectarian organism of Christianity. He is, by birth, a native of Canada, with English parentage, receiv- ing from his parents the invaluable boon of a good education. Subsequent to the labors in which he is at present engaged, in fact before even the thought of his ever preaching had crossed the hori- zon of his life his occupation was varied. Soon after the comple- tion of his educational course, he devoted himself to teaching. After a few years of practical experience as a teacher, in which he proved himself a very successful educator, he was appointed to a very res- ponsible position on the staff of one of the leading newspapers of the Dominion, in which position he remained for some years, During the time of these secular occupations he has traveled much, in both this and foreign countries, acquiring a store of general knowledge of both places, peoples and things, which proves to be of invaluable service to him in his evangelical labors. The work which he began, upon his arrival here, has been notably successful. Upwards of one hundred and twenty-five, in this place alone, have acknow- ledged the faith as taught in the Scriptures. He labors incessantly, preaching on an average six times each week, and to large audiences of interested hearers.
CEMETERIES.
Oak Ridge Cemetery is one of, if not the oldest burying grounds in the county. In 1851-52 the Drake Bros. built their mill on the west side of the river, and soon after they set apart a tract of about twenty acres for a burial place. The location was admirably adapted to that purpose, the ground being high and beautifully wooded with oak trees. The name Oak Ridge was given to the place by Mr. John Drake. The first person buried there was one of the workmen in the Drake mill. Mr. Drake kept the property until about the year 1866, when he sold it to the township of Bangor. In 1877 after the incorporation of West Bay City, the city purchased the property, and had it re-platted and improved. It is under the con- trol of a board of cemetery trustees appointed by the city council, of which the city Recorder is an ex-officio member and clerk. The present members of the board are Robert Leng, C. F. Corbin, Mor- ris Westover, and the city Recorder. Oak Ridge is situated on sec- tion seventeen between the Au Sable State road and Henry street. The annual report of the trustees, March 31, 1883, shows:
Whole number of lots sold during the year, 34, for which the city received cash $341.50, and there is still due on same, $30.00. There has also been received in cash during the year, on account of amounts due on sales previous to this year, the sum of $28.80, and there is still due on the same, $87.60. The entire number of lots laid out in the old cemetery grounds according to the platting thereof is 789. The whole number of lots for which deeds have been given, as appearing from official records of same is 291, from which it would appear that many are yet unsold; but a reference to said lots nominally unsold, however, reveals the fact, that a great number are now occupied as burial lots, for which no owners can be found. The diligent inquiry and notices printed calling upon par- ties claiming ownerships to said lots in said cemetery to appear and claim and prove titles have been of little avail. During the year many of the lots in the same platted cemetery grounds, have been taken and fenced with board strips six inches wide, numbered and
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