USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 72
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
years. In 1866 he sold his property in Pennsylvania and went to Kawkawlin, Bay Co., Mich., and took up a homestead in Section Thirty-four. In January, 1842, he married Miss Margaret A. Sil- vernall, of Schoharie County, N. Y. They have eight children. Four are living; the oldest is in Sanilac County, Mich., the others are settled in Kawkawlin. Mr. Meeker had to undergo many hard- ships when he first settled in his new home, working at his trade ten hours, then one-half day in the mill. This was trying to him, and finally broke him down in health.
His eldest son Lester, enlisted at first as home guard, and was captured in a skirmish at Harrisburg. He then enlisted in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, was in the army six months when he was taken sick and died in the camp hospital at Old Point.
LUMAN M. BRALEY was born in Royalton, Niagara Co., N. Y., in June, 1834. When about nine years old his parents went to In- diana and settled in Miami County. In 1857 he went to Sag- inaw, Mich., and in 1862 went to Kawkawlin, Bay Co., and settled on a farm in Section Two, for which he paid $7 per acre or agreed to pay. He paid $100 down and worked for the Ballou Lumber Company to pay the balance. In 1857 he married Miss Lydia M. Smith, of Royalton, Niagara Co., N. Y., by whom he has thirteen children. He has not been without his trials as a new settler in a new country, without roads and a market some miles away, but he has lived to see a different state of things in Bay County.
SAMUEL WOOD was born in Salem, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 14, 1831. His parents moved to Milford, Oakland Co. When he was about nineteen he went for himself and worked at various occupations until he enlisted in the army of the North, September 12, 1864, and was discharged September 16, 1865, and returned to his family in Flint. In August, 1869, he settled in Kawkawlin, Bay Co., and worked for the Ballou Lumber Company till 1879. Iur 1854 he married Miss Eliza Seavern, of Seneca County, N. Y., and has two children.
JOHN C. WESTPOINTER was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 7, 1842. He came to Bay City in 1852. He was salesman in a dry goods and grocery store for fifteen years, and conductor on the street railway for two years, and is at present in the fishing business. He resides at the light house at the mouth of the Saginaw River.
MONITOR TOWNSHIP.
An act to organize the township of Monitor was passed by the Legislature of Michigan in the Winter of 1869. It provided that "all that part of Bay County, in the state of Michigan, known and described as follows, to-wit :- "All of Township Fourteen north, of Range Four east, excepting Sections One and Two, and Sections Thirty and Thirty-one of Township Fourteen north, of Range Five east, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township, to be called and known as the township of Monitor.
The first township meeting in said township shall be held at the house of Owen C. White, on the first Monday in April next; and said Owen C. White and William H. Needham and William Hemmingway are hereby authorized to act as the first inspectors of the said election to elect township officers, and in case of any vacancy in said number of inspectors, from absence or other cause, the electors present shall choose an inspector to fill such vacancy by viva voce vote."
The subject of taking that territory from Bangor and organiz- ing a new township was the occasion of something of a conflict.
It was strongly opposed on the ground of being attempted for political purposes. The effort, however, was not defeated, and the organization was effected in pursuance of the act copied above.
The present boundaries are as follows :- "North by Kawkawlin and Bangor, east by Bangor and West Bay City, south by Frank- enlust and west by Williams.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In 1845 there was a large German emigration to the Saginaw Valley. Other colonies followed, and in 1850 Frankenlust was founded by Rev. Sievers. Frankenlust now joins Monitor on the south, but at that time this whole territory was in Saginaw County. A number of those Germans settled upon land now in Monitor, and were the first settlers of the township.
Soon after Thomas Kent and five sons came from Canada and settled upon this territory. Then came James Felker, William H. Needham, and William Hemmingway who settled upon his land in 1858. Jeremiah Waite and John Hunn came soon after, then Frederick Shaw, William Gaffney, Owen C. White, T. C. Phillips and others.
The region of country now included in Monitor did not present a very inviting appearance. The land was for the most part low and swampy, and in many places covered with water a good por- tion of the year. It may be easily understood that such a state of things was not conducive to good health. The soil, however, was naturally rich, and only energy and enterprise was wanting to clear away the forest and drain the land. The first settlers found a wilderness and in the midst of it they made their homes. The fol- lowing sketch of Mr. Hemmingway indicates something of the char- acter of early life in Monitor.
WILLIAM HEMMINGWAY was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1828, remained there until the age of thirty, and came to America. Landed in New York, and in twenty days from the time of sailing, found himself in the wilds of Williams Township, and soon made the purchase of the land he now occupies on Section Thirty- one, Monitor, in 1858; commenced improvements, and in 1864 bought forty acres on Section Thirty-two. At the time of his pur- chase the region was an unbroken wilderness, there being nothing but a footpath through the forest to reach other settlers. He soon had with the assistance of some others, cut away the logs and underbrush, so that a road was made for an ox-team He had to reach his place with goods and supplies by the way of Kawkawlin, thence up the south branch to the south bend of that stream, by dug-out canoe, thence through the woods by a meandering track to his place, four miles. He was married in 1861 to Miss Martha Fletcher, of English birth, then of Williams; has had nine children, five sons and four daugh- ters, of whom the five sons and three daughters are living. He has now eighty acres under improvement, good substantial brick dwell- ing, large barns and fine orchard of various fruits, being in good circumstances-what the world calls a well-to-do farmer-the result of persevering toil. Mrs. Hemmingway's father, Mr. Richard Fletcher, came with his family from England at the same time as Mr. Hemmingway, and now lives with them, an old man of eighty - one, enjoying good health, and capable of considerable active exer- tion.
In 1872 the equalized valuation of real estate was $45,508, and personal, $2,515-total, $48,023.
In 1882 the total valuation of real and personal estate was $274,220.
The population of the township in 1874 was 554, and in 1880 it was 931.
The first two years of its organization the township suffered considerably on account of its financial condition. There was a
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
great quantity of railroad land in the township exempt from taxa- tion, and the burden of taxes was very oppressive upon the actual settlers who were trying to make farms and maintain a township organization. The effect of this was to retard the prosperity of the town for a time, but the citizens succeeded in extricating themselves from their embarrassment, since which time general prosperity has been experienced.
The soil is naturally rich and productive and a system of ditch- ing has . been vigorously followed until the swamps have been reclaimed, and fine farms now yield rich returns where a few years ago were soaking swamps, yielding only malaria. Thus is the energy and enterprise of man converting the waste places of the land into productive fields, which are yearly adding the treasures of their harvest to happiness and wealth.
The township is well supplied with drainage and roads. The Midland stone traverses the township from east to west, and along this splendid thoroughfare are many fine farms.
Among the leading farmers of the township are William Gaffney, present clerk of the county, Chas. Baxmann, Henry Kraner, William Hemmingway, W. H. Needham, Joseph Dell, Frederick Shaw and P. Graul. Archibald McDonell and Hatch & Cooley, of Bay City, also have extensive farming interests in Monitor. The farm of Hatch & Cooley consists of 340 acres, 100 acres of which is under cultivation. Upon the farm are two dwell- ings and one of the finest barns in the county. It is the intention of the owners to make a stock farm. They already have a small heid of Holstein cattle which are considered exceptionally fine. The farm is situated on the Midland road near the center of the township.
The best farms in the township are found in the German settle- ment. Another settlement is being founded in the southwest part of the township, and & German church and school were established in 1880 preparatory to such a settlement.
The first schools in the township were in the central and south- western portions. There are now four schoolhouses. The school report for 1882 showed 252 children between the ages of five and twenty years, 146 of whom were attending school.
The school directors for 1882 were Samuel Hardy, Bernard Carroll, William Gillett and Henry Moeller.
"There is no church building in the township, but the Free Methodists have an organization.
William Gillett is present clerk, and Henry Moeller treasurer. TAXES FOR 1882.
Contingent Fund $600 00
Bay County Indebtedness 600 00
Highway Fund 500 00
Bridge Fund. 500 00
Statute Labor 4 of 1 per cent, 1882. 660 55
Fractional School District No. 1 of Monitor, their propor- tion of. 282 00
School District No. 2. 275 00
Fractional School District No. 3 of Monitor, their propor- tion of , 150 00
School District No. 4. 100 00
Fractional School District No. 1 of Frankenlust, their pro- portion of . 270 00
Fractional School District No. 1 of Kawkawlin, their pro- portion of . 400 00
Fractional School District No. 4 of Kawkawlin, their pro-
175 00 portion of .
BIOGRAPHICAL.
T. C. PHILLIPS was born in Novi, Oakland Co., Mich., in 1838; lived with his father to the age of seventeen; worked at farming. At that age his father gave him his time to go forth and act for
himself. His first movement was to learn the carpenter's trade, with the intent to become a millwright, and succeeded in mastering the trade in one year, to that degree that he bossed the business the following year with his brother, on the borders of Oakland and Wayne counties. Went from there to Lyons, Ionia County, and aided in building an iron bridge across Grand River. During the years 1858-9 built one of the best flouring mills ever erected in that county-having six run of stone, each propelled by a turbine water- wheel, and one separate wheel for the machinery. From that time till 1862 carried on the business of building and repairing mills at various places. Located in Bay City in 1862. Worked as a mill- wright during the first year. The following five years carried on a grocery and provision store. In 1866, in company with John Brooks, built the north half of the Union Block, on Water Street, opposite the Fraser House; carried on business there till 1868, when he disposed of his interest in mercantile business, and the following year devoted his energies to the purchase and sale of real estate, having, during preceding years, come into possession of con- siderable land in the city and county. In 1870 he was appointed postmaster of Bay City, and filled the position for eight years satis- factorily to the department and citizens interested. He resigned on the issue of President Hayes' Civil Service measure. The following is a copy of said resignation :
"I hereby tender my resignation as postmaster of Bay City, Mich., to take effect as soon as my successor shall be appointed and qualified, for the following reason :-- I am a member of the Repub- lican State Central Committee of Michigan, also chairman of the Bay County Republican Committee, and your Civil Service order obliges me to resign either the position of honor or profit. I therefore resign the one of profit."
On leaving the position of postmaster, Mr. Phillips took the active management of the Bay City Tribune, having been previously int rested in its publication, and rendering the necessary material aid in establishing the paper. He continued the management of the Tribune till June, 1881, when he made preparations to remove to his farm in Monitor, it being the south half of Section Nineteen, Township Fourteen north, Range Four east, a portion of which he has owned since 1864; has now 100 acres under improvement, comfortable dwelling, extensive barns, etc. Mr. Phillips named his farm Ne-bo-bish, which, being interpreted, signifies "Father farm."
In 1861 he married Miss Catharine H. Stevens, of Lyons, Ionia County; has had seven children, six of whom-four sons and two daughters -- are now living. He says he has now reached the dream of early years, to be the owner and manager of a good farm.
Much could be said of the energy and perseverance of Mr. Phillips; his readiness to respond to genuine calls of charity, and for the advancement of all measures for the good of humanity.
In 1863 Mr. Phillips was appointed enrolling officer of Bay County such being the eighty-fifth sub-district of Michigan, and with Isaac Marston deputy marshal, and Ransom P. Essex super- visor of Hampton, which then included Bay City, constituted the enrolling board of Bay County. By the application of Mr. Phillips to the War Department, Bay County's quota was reduced forty-five men, being a saving, all things considered, to the county of about $15,000.
In addition to this the untiring, determined effort of the board to enlist single and non-resident men, was in all probability a sav- ing of more than three times that amount to the tax payers of Bay County.
WILLIAM H. NEEDHAM was born in Erie County, N. Y. His father soon moved to Batavia, N.Y., and remained there eleven years, then came to Ingham County, Mich., thence to Flint, where he lived
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
twelve years, thence to South Saginaw, where his father soon after died, in 1857. William remained with the family, at Saginaw, nine years, but bought land on Section Thirty-two, Monitor, in 1856, and in 1862 moved on the land and commenced rapid improvements. He married Miss Martha Van Slyke, native and resident of Flint, in 1857. Has had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all liv- ing. Mr. Needham was supervisor of the town of Monitor the first two years after its erection from the town of Bangor; township clerk two years, justice of the peace one term; held other town and school district offices; has enjoyed the respect and confidence of the com- munity by his strict integrity and commendable citizenship. He has sixty-five acres of land under a good state of cultivation, good dwelling, barns, orchard, etc .; comfortably and pleasantly situated.
JOSEPH DELL was born in Canada in 1834; remained at birth- place until seventeen years of age; lost his father at the age of three; came to Kalamazoo in 1851; remained two years; re- turned to Canada for one year, then came to the Saginaw Val- ley; labored in mills, and in 1855 bought land in Section Fourteen, town of Williams. In 1856 commenced improvements. In 1859 built a log-house, split out oak for flooring, and roofed it with oak "shakes." Married, in 1858, Miss Mary J. Teeple, of Cana- dian birth, then living in Flint, and settled on the farm. Has had five children, one son and four daughters; the daughters are still living. Sold the Williams farm and bought eighty acres of land in Section Twenty-two, Monitor, and took up his residence there in 1864. Has at this time fifty-five acres under a good state of culti- vation, extensive orchard and good barn; bought property in Bay City in 1878; had the misfortune to lose his farm-house by fire in June, 1881. He then established his family residence in Bay City; built a house on the farm occupied by tenant, Mr. Dell, giving his personal attention to the farm, which they call "Elem Grove." Mr. Dell, as a pioneer of Williams and Monitor, has succeeded in the accumulation of a competency, through the industry and econ- omy of himself and wife.
FREDERICK G. SHAW was born in Canada in 1840; lived at the place of his birth until fifteen years old, when he came to the township of Williams with his brother William, bought eighty acres of land on Section Twenty-four, and commenced improvements thereon in 1855. Remained on said land sixteen years, until 1871. Sold out and bought eighty acres in Section Twenty, township of Monitor, where he now resides; then entirely wild. Has now sixty acres under a high state of cultivation; good residence, large barns and other out-buildings, with extensive young orchard of various fruits. Married Miss Betsey A. Stone, of Farmer's Creek, Lapeer County; native of Madison County, N. Y .; has one son, eleven years of age, Mr. Shaw and brother were among the early pioneers of the town of Williams, and endured the privations incident to all the early settlers. It is worthy of note that Mr. Shaw planted, at an early date, a fine row of hard maples, the whole street front of his farm, an example for other farmers to emulate. His home is surrounded with choice shade and ornamental trees.
HENRY KRANER, a native of Prussia, was born in 1827, and when twenty years of age came to America, stopping first at Fredo- nia, Mich., where he worked at farming three years, when he came to Saginaw, remaining one year, during which time he married Miss F. Machensen, of Lower Saginaw, now Bay City. Returning to Fredonia he purchased a farm, and remained their seven years, when he sold out and came back to Bay County, and worked three years in the Drake mill. In 1861, purchased a farm on Section Twenty- four, Bangor Township, where he still resides. They have had six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living. Mr. Kraner has endured the hard- ships of pioneer life, but has been successful, adding to his farm
twenty acres of adjoining land. His farm is under a high state of cultivation, exhibiting the characteristic industry of his nationality.
THOMAS WOOLVERTON was born in Cambridge County, N. Y., 1816. At the age of three his father removed to St. Clair County, Mich- igan. Lived at home until twenty-two years of age, at which time he married Miss Phoebe Scott, of English birth; then a resident of St. Clair. Had three children, one son and two daughters; one son and one daughter are now living. Came to the Saginaw Valley in 1866, and settled in the the village of Portsmouth; followed the business of carpenter and millwright. In 1875, purchased a farm on Section Nineteen, and about one year thereafter moved on the land, where he still resides, having now a comfortable and tasty home, surrounded with evidences of thrift and industry.
CHARLES BAXMANN was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1827, and when twenty-six years of age came to America, stopping six months in New York City. In March, 1855, went to Oakland County Mich., thence to Detroit, and in the Fall of the same year came to Bay County and entered the employ of Mr. Fraser, of Kawkawlin, working in his mill at that place five years. In 1858, purchased a farm on Section Twenty-four, Monitor Township, where he now resides. At the close of his service with Mr. Fraser, commenced improving his land, and in 1860 married Miss Caroline Machensen, of Frankenlust. They have had four children, three daugliters and one son, of whom two daughters are living. Mr. Baxmann is a man of energy and perseverance, and with the assistance of his wife and famly has succeeded in making a pleasant home, surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences, and able to enjoy the luxuries of life in declining years.
AU GRES AND CLAYTON.
Au Gres Township was organized by the Board of Supervisors in 1870, the same year as Clayton. The first supervisor from this township was W. R. Bates, a young lawyer, who subsequently re- presented the county in the state Legislature.
This is also one of the north tier of townships, and is bounded north by the county line, east by Whitney, south by Saginaw Bay and Arenac, and west by Arenac and Mason.
The population of the township in 1874 was 123, and in 1880, 316. The total vote of the township in 1882 was 61.
The Au Gres River, an important lumbering stream runs through the eist tier of sections and empties into the Saginawv Bay.
The state road crosses Township Nineteen in the town of An Gres.
A considerable portion of the town is still covered with pine timber, and extensive lumbering operations are carried on.
The early history of this town is similar to the general pioneer history of new regions. Indians and wild beasts were first occu- pants of all this section of country. A portion of the town is covered by the Au Gres swamp, which is still both a dread and dis- mal swamp. In the Spring of the year it is covered to quite a depth with water. The land in that part of the town is naturally good, and the time will come when it will be a productive farming region.
The first team in the town was owned by Mr. E. Bradley, one of the first settlers.
URI MUDGE was one of the very early settlers in the town, and is now one of its prominent and prosperous citizens. Mr. Mudge was born in Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 21,1834. He resided there un- til 1865. He was married to Miss Mary F. Town, of Detroit, July 31, 1858. Their children are Mary E., Frances P., William C.,
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Emma J., David U., and Martha Laura Lydia Lillian. They came to Au Gres sixteen years ago, when, with the exception of a few buildings and small beginnings, the place was a dense forest. There was not then three acres cleared on the Au Gres, and only one team in the place, Mr. E. Bradley's. The main population was Indians and wild beasts. The state road was cut out but not prepared. Mr. Mudge, shortly after his arrival; took a leading part under Mr. J. F. Willie in making it passable. He has been overseer of high- ways, highway commissioner, school director and moderator, and justice of the peace.
Au Gres village is a flourishing place, situated on the Au Gres River, and on the line between Au Gres and Whitney townships, near Saginaw Bay. It has four or five general stores, postoffice, telegraph office, hotel, school house, etc. There is a lodge of Good Templars, which was organized in 1880, having now about forty- five members. Also a Loyal Orange Lodge organized in 1878, which has about forty-five members. The present officers are John E. Bradley, W. M .; Ed Johnston, D. M .; J. T. Robinson, secretary; E. Bradley, treasurer.
The Methodist denomination have had an organization eight or nine years. The present pastor is Rev. A. E. Kernp.
Albana G. Billings, now foreman of the Au Gres Boom, was one of the very first settlers here. Mr. Billings was born in Maine, July 20, 1842. In early life he spent some ten years in sailing. Five years were spent at sea, and five on the American Lakes. He was married to Miss Laura A. Barrows, of Bangor, Maine, Dec. 17, 1865. Mrs. Billings was born Feb. 18, 1817. Their children are Edward, Bertha E., Edith I. (now deceased), and Cora I. They came to Bay City in 1867, and one year later they settled in Au Gres. Mr. Billings has ever since been in the employ of the Au Gres Boom company. He has in their village home sixteen acres of fertile land, with a delightful dwelling and pleasant home sur- roundings. The place which is now theirs, was, when they first came to Au Gres an Indian village. They themselves lived two years in the house formerly occupied by the chief of the Chippewa tribe of In- dians. The Indians have now removed to Saganing. Mr. Billings was the first township clerk of Au Gres, and served two years. Mrs. Irene Roberts, mother of Mr. Billings, was born in Penobscot, Maine, April 17, 1813. She and Mr. Roberts, her second husband, also came to Michigan in 1867 and afterward settled in Au Gres in Section Thirteen. When they came there was only one small shanty on the state road above the bridge. It belonged to Mr. Raymond. Seventeen persons all lodged in the shanty one night. Mr. Roberts and family stayed four days with Mr. Raymond until they could prepare and enter their own house. They took their land as a homestead, lived on it twelve years, cleared about thirty acres and erected comfortable buildings. Mrs. Roberts frequently as- sisted in the work of clearing the land, dropping seed and taking care of the crops. Mr. Roberts died in 1880, and Mrs. Roberts re- sides with her son and his family.
Au Gres is one of the stations on the stage route between Standish and Alpena, and is an excellent business point.
Harmon City is located on the Bay Shore. There is a mill and lime kiln in operation here.
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