USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 59
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FRANK PHILLIPS was born in Detroit, Mich., December 16, 1851. In 1853, with his parents, he came to West Bay City, then called Bangor. He has made this his home ever since. He engaged in the saw mill business, doing all kinds of work. In 1875 he engaged with Taylor & Moulthrop, and has remained there ever since, though the mill has changed hands. The mill is at present owned by C. E. Lewis. Mr. Phillips is a hard working man, and by taking care
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
of his earnings has made for himself a good home. He lives on Transit Street, in the First Ward of West Bay City. He has a wife and one child.
WILLIAM C. DAVIDSON was born July 5, 1844, at Sarnia, Onta- rio, Canada. In 1849 he moved with his parents to Port Huron, Mich. In 1862 he came to Bay City on the propeller "Stockton," as cook." In. 1863 and 1864 he worked on the side-wheel steamer "Union," on Saginaw River and Bay. Fired part of one season and engineered the balance of the time. In 1865, and two following seasons, engineered on the steamer "Wave," on Saginaw River and Bay. In 1868-'69 engineered on the steamer "General Sherman,“ trading between Saginaw and Cleveland. In 1870, and two follow- ing seasons, engineered on a steamer running on Saginaw River and Lake Huron. In 1873, and two succeeding seasons, engineered on the ferry boat "Sarnia," between Port Huron and Sarnia. In 1876 engineered on the steamer "Ketchum," trading between Buffalo and Chicago. In 1877 engineered on a tug in Saginaw River and Bay. In 1878 bought the steam ferry boat "Hattie T. Brown," ferrying between Bay City and Banks. In 1882 sold her and bought the tug "Challenge."
In 1871 he was married to Mollie Holland, of Port Huron, has six children, four boys and two girls. One boy died in Port Huron. Mr. D. now resides in West Bay City, in the First Ward. Post- office address, Banks, Mich.
JAMES C. DANFORTH was born at Wyoming, N. Y., August 26, 1842. He remained there nineteen years, then with his parents, moved to Mount Morris, and was there five years in the grocery business. In 1862 he enlisted in the Sixty-ninth New York In- fantry, served two years. was discharged and returned home. In 1864 he re-enlisted in the New York Artillery, received four wounds, was confined to the hospital six months and received his discharge May 17, 1865, at Washington, D. C. He then returned to New York City, took a trip to Ireland and was absent two months. On his return he engaged in the oil business in Pennsylvania. In 1867 he moved to Buffalo and remained a short time, engaged in car- riage making. In the same year he went to Midland, Mich., and remained three years. In 1871 he moved to West Bay City. In 1872 he was elected constable; in 1874 he took charge of A. Bailey's camps on the Rifle River; in 1877 he was elected street commissioner, which office he held until 1882. Since that time he has been in the employ of the Roscommon Lumber Company. He was married October 10, 1870, to Miss Mary A. Abram, of Goderich, Canada, and has two children. Residence, corner of Catherine and Jane Streets.
M. C. MILLER was born in Harrisville, Mich., January 21, 1857. When he was a year old his parents moved to Histerman's Island, near Sebewaing, Huron Co., Mich., where they remained until 1862, when they came to West Bay City, then called Banks. At ten years of age he began sailing with his father, and has sailed the lakes ever since. He was a captain at twenty-one, sailing the steamer "Hattie Brown," and has since then commanded different boats, being now captain of the "Cora B," owned by Mitchell & Boutell. He is a thorough sailor. He has a wife and one child. He resides in the First Ward of West Bay City.
JEFFERSON D. BEEBE was born in Sandusky, Ohio, May 16, 1842. He remained there until 1849, when his parents moved to Oakland Co., Mich., and remained there nine years, during which time he went to school. He then went to Livingston Co., Mich., staying there four years, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1862 he came to the First Ward of West Bay City, then called Bangor, and worked two years at the carpenter's trade. He then en- gaged in the fishing business, which he carried on for five years, and then worked at the carpenter's trade six years, returning again
to the fishing business, which he followed until the present year, when he went into the employ of Smith Bros. as mill-wright. He has been successful in his undertakings, and has a comfortable home on Bangor Street, in the First Ward of West Bay City. July 3, 1863, he married Miss Adaline Trombley, of West Bay City.
AUGUSTUS BARIE was born in Detroit, Mich., January 6, 1850. In 1853 his parents moved to East Saginaw, where they lived until he was thirteen years old. During that time he attended school. In 1866 he came to West Bay City, and has made this his home until the present time, being engaged in the hotel and saloon business, in which he has been very successful, and has accumulated considerable property, having three dwelling houses rented in the city. He is doing a good saloon business on the corner of Linn and John Streets. He is unmarried, and makes his home with his mother.
GEORGE L. HOWARD was born in Richmond Co., N. Y., March 21, 1829. At the age of fifteen he learned the ship carpenter's trade. Then he engaged in sailing on the ocean. In 1851 he settled in California and remained there three years, engaged in the mines and also keeping a grocery store.
In 1854 he sailed for the Sandwich Islands, and remained there until 1856. He then sailed for New York City, arriving there . in June of the same year. After visiting his parents, he came West and settled in Illinois. In 1856 he came to South Bay City, thien called Portsmouth; he remained there until 1861, when he removed to New York and engaged in getting out wood work for four moni- tors, which were being built for the late rebellion. He then returned to Bay City, and engaged in sailing Summers and working at his trade Winters, until 1878, when he purchased a farm in Tuscola County, where he moved. He remained there eighteen months, and then returned to West Bay City, and is at present engaged with James Davidson in his ship yard. He was married in 1860, to Elizabethı R, Willson, daughter of the late Capt. J. S. Willson, of Bay City.
JOHN A. HOUGH was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., June 30, 1834. When he was three years of age his parents moved to Detroit where they remained two years, and sailed to Saginaw, locating at a place then known as the Bad River Canal, where they remained eighteen months. They then moved to what is now known as Bridgeport, in Saginaw County, where they remained three years, experiencing some of the inconveniences of pioneer life. Their corn was all ground by hand, as there was not a grist mill in that section of country. From there they moved to the Blower settlement where they resided five years, and during that time John A. attended school. Thence to Saginaw City, where he learned the trade of carpenter, remaining there three years. At the age of seventeen he went to sea, spending two years on salt water and three years sail- ing on the lakes. Returning to Saginaw lie enlisted in the army in 1864, and served until the close of the war; was honorably discharged and returned home. He then moved to Au Sable, where he re- mained four years, working as carpenter and joiner. In June, 1881 he came to West Bay City and bought a home on the corner of Thomas and Crapo Streets. For the last two years he has been in the employ of H. W. Sage & Co. as carpenter and joiner. He has a wife and five children.
GEORGE BOSTON was born in Detroit, Mich., January 10, 1843. In 1861 he began to learn the ship carpenter's trade in Campbell & Owen's ship yard at Detroit. After learning his trade he was fore- man for some years in J. M. Jones' ship yard. In July, 1872, he came to West Bay City and engaged as foreman for three years in Ballentine & Co's ship yard. He was then in different yards up to 1879 when he engaged with Wheeler & Crane of West Bay City, as foreman of their yard, which position he still holds, and is build-
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ing a steamer 190 feet keel and 215 over all, thirty-five feet beam and fourteen feet hold. He resides iu the Second Ward of West Bay City, of which he is alderman. He has a wife and five children.
ALEXANDER MULLEN was born in Cornwall, Canada, May 11, 1833. He remained there up to 1867. during which time he had learned the millwright trade. He then came to West Bay City and engaged with Taylor and Moulthrop to do their millwright work and other building. Though the mill has changed hands several times he is still employed there. The present owner is C. E. Lewis. Mr. Mullen is a very pleasant gentleman and has been successful since coming to Bay City. He is a first-class mechanic, and at- tends to his business. He has a home of his own on Transit Street, First Ward of West Bay City. He has a wife and four children.
JOHN PETERSON was born in Sweden, April 7, 1842, and re- mained there until he was twenty-seven years old. After leaving school he served five years in the army; he was a member of the band. After leaving the service he went to Germany, was there one year, and then returned to Sweden, remaining there two years en- gaged in farming and teaching music. In 1869 he came to Chi- cago, Ill., and engaged as laborer on the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, and was there two years. He was foreman one year on the Coldwater, Ohio & Mansfield Railroad, and then contracted to build five miles of the Rockford & Greenville Railroad. In 1873 he came to Bay City and built one and a half miles of the railroad that was to run from Bay City to Midland, but the company failed and the road remains unfinished. He was then engaged as foreman for the Bay City Water Works for a short time, and then returned to West Bay City and worked six years for Frank Fitzhugh. He then started in the saloon business. In 1882 he built a hotel on the corner of Washington and Eighth Streets, called the Johnson House, in the Fifth Ward of West Bay City. He is doing a good business and has many warm friends. He was married in 1863 to Betsey Peterson, of Sweden, and has two daughters.
WILLIAM COOK, son of the late Thomas Cook, was born in West Bay City, April 27, 1859. At an early age he was employed in H. W. Sage & Co's mill where he still remains, having been with the firm fourteen years. Mr. Cook has. the care of a widowed mother and her family on his hands and has never married. He resides on Henry Street, West Bay City.
PAUL D. JEAN was born in Pennsylvania, July 1, 1851. In
1855 he moved with his parents to West Bay City. He attended school one year at Montreal and was in Ohio one year, acting as agent for a patent needle case, after which he returned to West Bay City and engaged in the fruit and confectionery business. He is at present erecting a building in which he proposes to open a grocery store. He was married April 25, 1880, to Florence W. Minnie, of Port Huron, Mich.
DESIRE BOUCHER was born in Quebec, P. Q., May 10, 1845, re- maining there twenty years, during which time he learned the car- penter and joiner trade. In 1865 he came to West Bay City and engaged with Arnold & Catlin in their planing mill. In 1876 he started in the carpenter and joiner business for himself, which he still continues. He was married July 17, 1871 to Delia Lafrance of Bay City, and has five children. Residence, Center Street.
S. A. PLUMMER was born in Maine in 1835, and lived at home till eighteen years old. He worked in a mill and attended school till 1856. He married Miss Adeline Pratt, of China, Maine. He moved to Canada, on the St. Francis River, and remained two years as a sawyer. Thence to Stillwater, Me., engaged at mill labor till 1863. He was active in 1862 and 1863 in filling the quota in his town for the war. In March, 1864, was drafted but secured a substitute for $800. In the meantime he secured the post of sutler, in the Two Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania In- fantry, which post he held to the close of the war. He returned to Maine, and in June, 1866, came to Wenona and engaged in the mill of Sage & McGraw, and remained with the firm and its suc- cessor, H. W. Sage & Co., for nine years, the last five of which he was foreman of the mill. In the Spring of 1875 he was elected supervisor of the town of Bangor. He was a member of the village council for three years, and one year president of the same. In 1875 and 1876 he was in company with E. T. Carrington in warehouse and commission business, Bay City. In 1877 he lum- bered for himself and put in 4,000,000 feet. In 1878 he rebuilt five miles of logging railroad on the Tittabawassee River for the Plum- mer Logging Company, and operated the same till 1880. The fol- lowing two years he was superintendent for Plummer & Bradley, at Ogemaw. For the past and present season he has acted as foreman and general superintendent at John Welch's mill, West Bay City. As a citizen Mr. Plummer has taken a decided interest in all mat- ters for the advancement of the city.
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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.
In the progress of this work have been traced the pioneer and organic history of Bay County, and the growth of its two busy and beautiful cities. The lumber and salt interests have also been re- viewed on account of their intimate connection with pioneer history and the two cities already represented. It now remains to consider the general development of the county, which includes a variety of subjects touching the past and future of Bay County.
Foremost among the subjects in which the people of Bay County are deeply concerned is that of
GENERAL AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
Upon the productiveness of its soil depends its prosperity and future importance as a county. Bay County was organized in 1857. At that time there were about twenty-five farms in the county. All eyes turned in the direction of the Saginaw Valley beheld only the lumber traffic, and the value of lands was estimated according to the amount of standing pine upon them, without any regard to the kind of soil the lands might possess. Again, it was formerly a generally accepted theory that pine lands were wholly worthless for agricultural purposes, and the Saginaw Valley was particularly con- demned on account of the flat, swampy condition of the country. A few of the early farmers in the county were Nelson Merritt, who purchased land on the old "Cass" road, about 1856, and made a fine farm, as described hereafter. Samiel Henry about the same time purchased land where he now lives in the town of Portsmouth. There were also Henry Hess, Jesse M. Miller, C. L. Meix, Mr. Essex, John Gaffney, Chas. Bradford, Amos Culver, William W. Skelton, Nathan Knight, and a number of others who have made a success of farming. But slow progress was made in agriculture prior to about 1871; since that time the advance has been rapid.
In the course of an address before the Agricultural Society in 1878, Hon. Isaac Marston reviewed the situation as regards Bay County farming in a very clear and philosophical manner, as fol- lows:
"In 1860 the population was 3,200, the greater number of which were then engaged in the business of manufacturing lumber, and in connection therewith, there was then but 102 farms in the county and but 2,567 acres of land improved. The principal crops raised were hay, (2,400 tons); oats, (3,900 bushels); corn, (4,600 bushels); and wheat (4,900 bushels). During the next decade there was some advance made, in 1870 the population had increased to 16,000, nearly five times as large as in 1860, yet the number of farms had but little more than doubled, or from 102 in 1860 to 271 in 1870, and the principal crops had increased in but the same proportion. In 1870 there was of hay, 4,000 tons; potatoes, 26,000 bushels; oats, 73,000 bushels; corn, 84,000 bushels; while wheat had increased but a little over 500 bushels, there being but 5,500 bush- els of wheat; yet during the same year over 55,000 bushels of wheat
were ground in the county, showing that nearly all the flour con- sumed in the county, even as late as 1870, was manufactured from imported wheat. . During the next four years the improvement was more noticeable, the population had increased to 25,000, the num- ber of improved farms had nearly doubled, there being 531, the number of acres improved had increased to 15,000, and a propor- tionate increase was observable in the crops. In 1876, 1,350 acres were sown to wheat, there was 1,451 acres of corn, 1,895 acres of oats, and the number of acres sown to wheat in 1877 was reported as 2,108. The yield of wheat in 1877 is generally estimated to be at least thirty-two bushels per acre as an average. The acreage sown the present year has been very much larger. This growth or progress while gratifying to many, yet falls far short of what it should have been. This can be seen more clearly on comparison with the counties similarly located and starting at about the same period. For the purpose of this comparison I take the counties of Tuscola and Gratiot, generally considered second to none in North- ern Michigan for agricultural purposes, and the development of which has been rapid. In giving figures I quote round numbers, if over fifty, treat it as one hundred, if under fifty, not noticed. As already said, Bay County was organized in 1857, Gratiot, in 1855, and Tuscola, in 1850. In 1860 the population of Bay County was 6,000, Gratiot 6,000, and Tuscola 7,000. In 1864 the number of acres of land improved was Bay 4,000, Gratiot 17,000, and Tuscola, 20,000. In 1870 the population was, Bay, 16,000, Gratiot, 12,000, and Tuscola, 14,000. The number of acres improved at this time were, Bay 8,000, Gratiot 47,000, and Tuscola 48,000. In 1874 the population was, Bay, 25,000, Gratiot, 14,000, Tuscola, 17,000, and the number of acres improved, Bay 14,000, Gratiot 51.000, and Tuscola 61,000.
"Here then we have three counties starting on the race for improvement in 1860 with nearly the same population. In ten years Bay County leads Gratiot in population 4,000, and Tuscola 2,000. In 1874 Bay leads Gratiot 11,000, and Tuscola 8,000. And yet, although Bay County had much the larger population, agriculturally the other counties were very far in the advance. Let us turn to the principal crops raised and we shall see the same wide difference. In 1863 Bay County raised 1,000 bushels of wheat, Gratiot 19,000, Tuscola 36,000. In 1869 Bay 6,000, Gra- tiot 118,000, Tuscola 117,000. In 1873, Bay 11,000, Gratiot 134,- 000, Tuscola 146,000. In 1876, Bay 17,000, Gratiot 134,000, Tus- cola 185,000. So much for the wheat crop, and now look at the corn.
Bay.
Gratiot.
Tuscola.
In 1863
3,000
53,000
43,000
In 1869 8,000
80,000
83,000
In 1873 29,000
208,000
188,000
"Without perusing such facts any farther, enough I think has been set forth to show that Bay County is very far behind in the race. The result of the comparisons thus made calls for some sat-
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
isfactory explanation as to the cause of so much difference. If the quality and productiveness of the soils of these counties has been the cause of the rapid growth of our neighbors, it is but proper to state and admit the fact. If, however, such is not in fact the case, then justice to the people of this county demands that the true rea- son be set forth.
"While a jealousy may exist, possibly, between the citizens of adjoining counties as to which is the richer and better county for agricultural purposes, the State can have no interest in such a con- troversy, except in so far as it may desire that each county should appear in as favorable a light as the facts will warrant.
"I think the first great cause for the slow agricultural growth of Bay County, may be fairly attributed to our manufacturing estab- lisuments, which have served to draw around them a large popula- tion, thus increasing largely and rapidly the growth of our cities and villages. Many men with families, in coming into the country with the intention of becoming tillers of the soil, will accept em- ployment which will give them direct and immediate returns, rather than take possession of a piece of wild land, and await the slower but increased reward that perseverance would surely bring. Pres- ent profits seem to cause the would-be settler to overlook the fact that the best and surest road to wealth and independence would be found in the vegetable products of the soil. A glance at the growth of our cities and manufactures will satisfy any one, I think, that my view is correct.
"In 1860 Bay City had a population of 700. In 1863, 1,500. In 1870, 7,000. In 1874, 13,600. In 1877, at least 16,000. The population of West Bay City is estimated at 6,000 to 7,000. Here then is 22,000 of the population of the county, who take no direct interest in farm matters. They are not producers, but consumers of farm products. The numbers here given do not include the inhabitants of the villages in the county; these last may not be referred to as they are about balanced by the villages in the other counties named.
IN MANUFACTURES,
"The growth in Bay County has been rapid. Indeed, in 1873, but two counties in the State (Wayne and Kent), exceeded Bay in the annual value of manufactured products; with 107 manufac- turing establishments in 1873, giving employment directly to nearly four thousand persons, with a capital invested therein of nearly five million dollars, the value of the products thereof amounting to over seven million dollars annually. Need we longer wonder that so much attention has been paid to our manufacturing inter- ests at the expense and neglect of our agricultural resources? Gratiot has a capital of less than $200,000 invested in manufac- turing business, the annual value of the products thereof being less than half a million dollars, and Tuscola is but little ahead of this. I might refer to other facts in this connection, but do not deem it necessary.
"The second cause of our slow agricultural growth may fairly be attributed to the flat or level condition of the country. The northern portion of the county consists chiefly of rolling hard tim- bered lands. In the southern portion of the county the lands were level or flat, and the most of them heavily timbered. In process of time considerable timber had fallen and very much obstructed any natural water courses that otherwise would have existed and would have done much to relieve the soil of its surface water. The result was that the Spring rains aided by the heavy body of snow that had fallen during the Winter remained on the land, rendering it wholly unfit, even if cleared, for cultivation. It is clearly apparent that individual efforts in attempting to clear, drain and cultivate such land would be very expensive, would accomplish little, and that
farming under such difficulties would be, to say the least, uncertain in its results.
"Of course all the lands in the southern part of the county were not thus subject to overflow, and at an early day, state roads were opened and graded, and the ditches on the lines thereof afforded an outlet for the surface water, and gave parties an oppor- tunity of draining their lands sufficient for the ordinary purposes of cultivation; and it was contiguous to the streams and state roads that most of the first settlers located. Where they succeeded in draining the lands they found them exceedingly rich and productive, but the difficulties and expenses of drainage, especially if the dis- tance to an outlet was great, were so far beyond the means of the ordinary pioneer, that rather than undertake such a task they would resort to some employment in the city or seek lands where no drain- age was considered necessary; high, rolling, beech and maple or hard timbered lands, which required but little if any drainage, and are ready for the seed as soon as the timber thereon can be removed are much more inviting than are heavily timbered lands, covered during a part of the year with water, even although the fact might be conceded that the latter, when properly drained, would far exceed in productiveness the lighter soils of the rolling lands. Very much of the land in Gratiot and Tuscola Counties were high and rolling, and all such were eagerly sought for, settled upon and improved. The eastern townships in Gratiot, bordering on Sagi- naw County, were low, and very much like the Saginaw Valley lands; and it is well known that the growth of their townships did not at all compare with others in that county; and it is only within the last few years, since roads and ditches have been opened, that such townships have received any large influx of settlers. Of late years very great improvement has been made in Bay County, in the matter of drainage, under the ditch or drainage law. A number of ditches have been opened in nearly every township, and whenever such are opened, a marked improvement is noticeable. In 1876 nine thousand dollars was expended in the improvement of three State roads, one running easterly from Bay City, one westerly and one northerly. This was expended in opening a wide, deep ditch on one side of the road, the soil taken therefrom being thrown up and forming a road-bed, the roads having been improved thereby, and the ditches offering excellent outlets, are the means of drain- ing a large extent of country on the line of these roads.
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