USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 78
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"Signed, W. R. Alexander and forty-seven others."
On motion the same was referred to the committee on organi- zation of townships.
At a subsequent meeting the following petition went before the Board:
"We, the undersigned, citizens of Standish, do hereby respect- fully ask your honorable body to set off from the township of Stan- dish, and organize into a new township by the name of Lincoln, or some other name to be decided upon, the following territory, viz :- Entire Town Eighteen north, Range Three east, except the east tier of sections, or excepting such part of Town Eighteen north, Range Four east, as may be just.
"Dated Standish, September 23, 1879.
"Signed, Ledger St. John and nineteen others."
On motion referred to committee on organization of townships.
Various other petitions and protests were presented, and at a meeting of the Board held January 8, 1880, the township was erected by the passage of the following resolution, by a vote of - twenty-six for and none against.
"By Supervisor Angus. In the matter of the application of certain freeholders for the division of a new township:
WHEREAS, Application has been duly made to the Board of Su- pervisors, of the County of Bay, by George F. Cross, George N. Shillinger, Abram D. Walker, Daniel W. Richardson, Frank Gregory, Ledger St. John, Lem. Paquion, William Quigley, T. T. Olmstead, J. M. Groat, Oliver R. Page, M. L. Pierce and Peter M. Angus, all of whom are freeholders and reside in the township to be affected thereby, for erection and organization into a new township of the territory hereinafter described, and the same Board having been furnished with a map of all the townships to be affected thereby, and it appearing to said Board by due proof, that notice in writing of such intended application, signed by at least twelve free- holders of the township or townships to be affected thereby, has been duly posted up and published in the manner and during the time required by law; and it also appearing to said Board upon con- sideration thereof, that the said application ought to be granted; thereupon it is ordered and determined by the said Board that the territory described as follows, to-wit: All of Townships Eighteen, north, of Range Three east, Sections Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seven- teen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-one, Twenty-eight, Twenty-nine, Thirty, Thirty-one, Thirty-two and Thirty-three, in Township Eighteen north, of Range Four east, all in Bay County,
be and the same is hereby detached from the township of Standish, erected and organized into a new township, to be called and known as the township of Lincoln; that the first annual township meeting therein shall be held at the schoolhouse in the village of Standish, on Monday, the 5th day of April next, and William H. Williams, Ralph E. Pratt and George N. Shillinger, three electors of said township, are hereby designated as the persons whose duties it shall be to preside at said meeting, appoint a clerk, open and keep the polls, and exercise the same powers as inspectors of any township meeting may exercise under the laws of this state; and the said Ralph E. Pratt is hereby appointed and designated as the person re- quired to post the notices of said election required by law. The next election in the township of Standish will be held at the school- house, in School District No. Three, in said Standish, at the village of Saganing, and Wallace W. Alexander, William Jennings and Edward H. Chamberlain are hereby designated as the inspectors of election at said election, in said township of Standish.
This gave Lincoln the village of Standish, and the railway station. Almost the entire population of the territory organized into Lincoln was in the village of Standish, and at the present time is confined to that vicinity.
The population of the entire township in 1880 was only 271. At the present time it is about 450, four-fifths of which is in the village. Town Eighteen north, of Range Three east, is nearly all covered with pine.
The total vote of Lincoln in 1882, was 80, and the equalized valuation of real and personal estate in 1882 was $241,105.
TAXES FOR 1882.
For purchasing or building a town hall. ... 600 00 Highway and bridges, 3 of 1 per cent. 1881 1,178 02 Statute labor, do
do 1882 1,120 52 School District No. 1, teachers' wages. .. 150 00
do do contingent .. 50 00
Town treasurer for 1883, is Newton Weaver; clerk, W. E. Allington; supervisor, Peter M. Angus.
STANDISH VILLAGE.
The village of Standish is situated on the line of the Macki- naw division of the Michigan Central Railroad, and in the north- eastern part of Lincoln township. It was first a part of Arenac township, then of Standish, and, since 1880, of Lincoln.
John Standish, of Detroit, owned and controlled about 15,000 acres of land in this vicinity, and in the year 1871 had six hundred and forty acres platted. Peter M. Angus, who has since been a prominent man in the county, came from Genesee County, Mich., and made the plat. This site was selected on account of its being on the line of the railroad which was being built at that time.
The name of Standish was given to the place, but before the plat was recorded, Mr. Standish sold a portion of his interests, and the name was changed to "Granton," and so recorded. At the next session of the Legislature, however, Mr. Standish succeeded in getting the name changed back, and the place has been known as Standish.
Mr. Standish had built a mill before the plat was made. The mill he sold the same Summer to the firm of Cross, Wright & Co .; afterward Cross & Walker. This firm still own the mill, but it is operated under lease, by the firm of Cross & Dyer. Another saw- mill, afterward burned, was built by a man named Lane, and two shingle mills, one by a man named Currey, and the other by a man named Buell, were built that Summer; both burned in 1876. Three hotels were also built, two of which, the Standishi House and Lincoln House, are still running; the Jacobs House was destroyed by fire.
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STANDISH IN 1872.
One of the Bay City newspapers contained the following birds- eye view of Standish, early in 1872:
"Scarcely more than six months ago, and what is now quite a thriving village, was a "howling wilderness." On Monday last a public school was opened. There are about forty scholars in the village. Mr. S. R. Hoobler, formerly of Bay City, is the teacher. Mr. Hoobler taught school at Kawkawlin for a year.
It is a fact worthy of remark that there are six trains daily each way over this section of the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw -two passenger, one freight and three log trains. Each passenger train has two coaches attached, and these are invariably filled to their utmost capacity, or nearly so. About half the passengers are laborers destined to or returning from the pineries along the shore. The balance are lumbermen, traders, and business men generally, or their families.
Mr. John Paten is the conductor who runs the passenger train that leaves Wenona at 7.35 in the morning and arrives on the re- turn at 6.25 in the evening. He runs from Saginaw City to Wells, the northern terminus of the road. He is an agreeable gentleman. In this connection we cannot refrain from mentioning an eccentric and witty brakeman on this route, Jack Burdick. He is equal to any emergency where sport is required, yet always on the alert in the line of his duty. He takes pleasure in drawing out his repeater when asked the time, but his repeater is minus dial or anything by which the hour can possibly be ascertained. The other day he perpetrated a provoking joke on some gentlemen by selling them what they supposed were the latest papers, but which were really about a week old.
On the arrival of passenger trains, stages are in readiness to convey passengers up the shore as far as Alpena, or to any inter- mediate points. The distance to Alpena is 106 miles. Mr. J. F. Willey has four stages on the line, which require thirty-two horses for service and the necessary changes. Mr. William Truesdell has the management of this line of stages, and is agreeable and efficient in the performance of his duties. He spends the day at this place, going to Bay City each evening and returning in the morning.
The Standish House is doing a good business. Mr. George Shillinger is the proprietor, and spares no pains to render his house all that could be expected in a place so new. Mr. Shillinger is well known and popular.
The Jacobs House is owned by Mr. Jacobs, of the Inter- national Hotel, of Bay City. He is patronized very well, and says he is confident of doing a flourishing business during the coming Spring.
Mr. James Burgess has sold his grocery stock to Caughell & Co., and purposes returning to Essexville.
There is as yet no postoffice in Standish, though the Depart- ment at Washington has established a mail route, and Mr. Gailey has been appointed postmaster. The appointee has not decided to accept the appointment, though the office is very much needed. The mails arrive irregularly by way of persons who can accommo- date the place by bringing them from Wenona. Dealers complain that their goods and bills arrive before the mails which notify them of shipment. It is earnestly hoped that the advantages afforded by having a mail route and a postmaster may be realized at the earliest day possible. Mr. Gailey is a good man for the position and we hope he will accept it at once.
There is no telegraph line established to this place, the nearest point being State Road, thirteen miles below here."
The following news items were also noted in the Fall of 1872. "September 5th. The school census, as taken a few days ago,
revealed the fact that there are ninety-nine children in this village that draw public money-that is, there are that number of persons in the village between the ages of five and twenty years. The pop- ulation of the village is about three hundred and seventy-five.
. "The regular annual school meeting was held last Monday evening, and $400 voted for teacher's wages over and above the school fund. The report of the building committee was read by Mr. Gailey, showing a large overplus in the building fund. M. L Pierce was elected assessor for the ensuing year. Miss Carrie Os- trander, of Wenona, has been engaged for another year.
"The Congregational society was recently presented with an elegant communion service, made of silver, by Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Harrison, of East Saginaw. Rev. Elam Branch is pastor of the society.
"The house of J. S. Gailey, foreman for Cross, Wright & Co., is nearly completed.
"October 1st. The number of cars billed from Standish during the past week was fifty-six. The number received was ten.
"A new building is nearly completed, that will be occupied by Mr. Wright as a boot and shoe store.
"The Standish Mill Company are making extensive improve- ments on their mill property.
"December 1st. The new store of Cross, Wright & Co. is now ready to receive goods. The store is the finest one north of Bay City.
"The Willey estate have built a new stable near the depot, for the accommodation of their stage teams, and for livery business.
"Mr. Stanton is rebuilding his mill.
"The Catholics are building a chapel of the semi Gothic order. "The first store was kept by Samuel Currey. There are now the two general stores of D. W. Richardson and J. M. Groat.
"The postoffice was established in October, 1871, and J. S. Gailey was the first postmaster. D. W. Richardson, the present postmaster, has held the office since 1873. Mr. Richardson came to Standish in 1872, from Lapeer County, Mich., and had charge of the store of Cross, Wright & Co., until 1875, when he bought them out. He is a successful merchant and a prominent citizen of the place.
"There are two churches in the village: the Catholic, built in 1872, and the Congregational, built in 1882. The Congregational society was organized about 1871 by Rev. Mr. Evans. After him came Rev. Elam Branch. In 1878 the society was reorganized, and the church dedicated in the Fall of 1882. It is a neat and substan- tial building, and was built mainly through the instrumentality of Rev. D. W. King, who labored zealously in pushing forward the enter- prise. The church now has eighteen members. Rev. L. E. Brown is pastor. Trustees of the society: J. M. Groat, D. W. Richardson, D. O. Smith. Deacons: J. M. Groat, Thomas Gibbon, D. O. Smith. Mr. Smith is also superintendent of the Sunday-school.
"The schoolhouse was built in 1871, and cost $1,000. The first teacher was S. R. Hoobler, and after him Miss Carrie Ostran- der. The present teacher is James J. Decker, a very successful in- structor. This is the only school in the township. The number of school children in the township is 108."
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PETER M. ANGUS was born in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland. His father's family emigrated to the United States in 1852 and located in Genesee County, Mich., where they still live. While a resident of Genesee County, Mr. Angus learned the profession of civil engineer, which he follows at present. In 1871 he came to Bay County and settled in the village of Standish, township of Lincoln. In 1872
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he was elected a justice of the peace, and in 1873 was also elected supervisor, both of which offices he now holds (1883). Married Margaret Ross of Taymouth, Saginaw Co., in 1871. They have three children.
JEROME B. DAVIS, hotel keeper, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., January 18, 1836. He enlisted in the service of his country in the Spring of 1862, in the Twelfth New York Heavy Artillery, Company A. He served two years and seven months; was seized with yellow fever, and when he could be removed was brought home on furlough by his father, and his furlough was still in force when the war closed. He was married to Miss Emaline Mayer, of Sandy Creek, July 24, 1855. They have one daughter, Evaretta, born September 24, 1859, now Mrs N. B. Weaver. Mr. Davis came to Standish, Mich., September 20, 1866, when the country was a vast wilderness, with no road but an Indian trail. He took a homestead of 160 acres in Arenac, and at once began to improve it for a home. Since then he has engaged in lumbering also, with good success; and in December, 1881, he purchased, and now keeps, the large hotel known as the Standish House, capable of lodging about eighty persons, and of feeding all who come. Sometimes they have enter- tained between' 100 and 200 at a meal. He has commodious barns, and a hall 22x42 feet in size, for social and general enter- tainments. He has also over 800 acres of pine and farming lands, with 150 under cultivation, but above all he has always a hearty welcome and cordial treatment for his patrons.
JACOB M. GROAT, merchant, was born in Dunham, Canada, June 12, 1816. He remained there until twenty-one years of age, then came to Michigan for a short time; he returned to Canada, and was married to Miss Mary E. Porter, March 23, 1841. Miss Porter was born in Canada, December 26, 1823. They went from Canada to Newark, N. J., and after seven years came to Michigan. During the last seven years they have resided at Standish, in Bay County, where Mr. Groat is engaged in mercantile business. They have three living children, Franklin J., Anna M., and Wilber Elmer.
LEDGER ST. JOHN, shoemaker, born near Montreal, Canada, March 16, 1848; came to Detroit in 1861. He spent three years in the employ of the Government during the late rebellion, and has worked five years for S. P. Baldwin & Co., of Detroit. He was married to Miss Vitiline Allaire, February 9, 1869. He has resided in Standish, Bay County, eleven years. His business is increasing from year to year. He has served as street commissioner, and also as deputy sheriff of Bay County.
JOHN A. WILSON, farmer, was born in Westmeath, Canada, August 8, 1831. He spent his youth in his native country and came to Bay County in April, 1870. He was married, September 20, 1855, to Miss Phoebe L. Libby, of Waltham. They have resided in Standish eleven years. He has forty acres of land in Section Nineteen in Arenac which he is improving for a future home.
GEORGE C. BEARDSLEY, lumberman, was born in New Bruns- wick. He spent his early life in that Province, and came to Bay County, in September, 1869. He was married, October 21, 1850, to Miss Barbara Craven, who was born in New Brunswick, July 27, 1822. Their children are Elizabeth, Agnes, Janet, Laura and Har- riet, all born in New Brunswick. They have also an adopted son, Randolph. They have resided in Standish six years, and Mr. Beardsley continues the lumbering business with pleasing success.
JAMES J. DECKER, school teacher, was born in Italy, N. Y., October 14, 1845. He came to Arenac, Bay County, in October, 1866; worked some five years as a carpenter, but since then has been engaged in teaching, spending eleven or twelve years in only four different districts. He has served two terms as township clerk and
two terms as township treasurer. He was township superintendent of schools during all the time that system was in vogue. Since then he has been a member of the county board of school examin- ers, and was the first secretary of the board. He was married to Mary F. Thrasher, of Oswego, N. Y., January 9, 1866. They have four children, Luella M., Lizzie B., Wallace M., and Charles Olin. Mr. Decker is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and also belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry.
There are two hotels, the Standish House and Lincoln House, and a restaurant, kept by Geo. Shillinger.
There are two stage lines-one to Alpena, and one to Omer. The former was established in 1871, and the latter in 1879.
Dr. Stuart is the only physician in the village. Dr. Frank Gregory, settled here in 1876, and practiced very successfully several years and then engaged in lumbering.
HIRAM T. JONES, mechanic, was born in Worcester, Vermont, August, 25, 1832. He spent his early life in Vermont, Canada, and New York. He was married to Miss Nancy Jane Gott, March 1st, 1850. She died August 15, 1878.
He was married April 29, 1879 to Mrs. Maria Norton, of Dickinson, New York.
The children are Sarah, Cynthia, Samuel, Mary, William, Ida, Hannah M., Ichabod, Albert J., George L., Adelia C., Lilla, John, Dora and William.
They have resided in Standish four years.
He has purchased four acres of land near the village, and erected a pleasant two story dwelling 23x31 feet in size, all by days work, and supported a family of eight persons steadily, and part of the time it has numbered twelve. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church about thirty years, and greatly desire the religious welfare of those around them.
DUNCAN W. WHEELER, farmer. was born in Canada, April 7, 1843. He has res ded in Standish, Mich., two years. He was married to Miss Sylvania J Shaw, of Canada, Aug. 15, 1870.
Their children's names are Annie L., Alice M., Sidney R. S., and Duncan Walter.
He has purchased forty acres of land ou Section Two, in Lincoln, which he intends to make their home. Mr. Wheeler's father, Sid- ney S. Wheeler, was an American citizen, of the state of New York, and although Duncan was born in Canada, he was a resident of Detroit when he became of age and hence is on that account also an American citizen.
GEORGE A. KING, foreman in lumberyard, was born in Mount Ta- bor, Vt., June 27, 1849.
He left Vermont when fifteen years of age, and served fifteen years in the U. S. Army, and eighteen months. in the Volunteers. He spent thirteen years in Boston, Mass., and came to Standish a year ago last October. He was married to Miss Martha A. Board- man, of Charlestown, Mass, Nov. 4, 1869. They have had four children: Alice, Bertie and Frederick, now deceased, and an infant daughter.
Mr. King has been in the employ of the firm of Cross and Walker ever since he has been in Standish, and is also serving in the office of constable.
WHITNEY.
Whitney occupies the northeast corner of the county and com- prises Town Twenty north, Seven east, and the fractional Town Nineteen north, Seven east. It is bounded north by county line, east and south by Saginaw Bay, and west by Au Gres. The state road traverses the south and east sections of the township.
At the October meeting of the Board of Supervisors the fol-
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lowing application for the erection of a new township, to be called the township of Whitney, was presented to the Board:
"We, the undersigned, freeholders of the and residing in the township of Au Gres, in the county of Bay, hereby present this our application, praying your honorable body at the next annual meeting to attach the following described territory, to-wit :- Town Eighteen, Nineteen and Twenty north, Range Seven east, and Town Twenty north, Range Eight east, from the township of Au Gres of which it now forms a part in said county, and.to erect the same into a new township of Whitney, in accordance with the map and survey hereto attached and being part of this application."
The application was dated September 11, 1879, and was signed by Edward Bradley and fifteen others. It was referred to committee on township organization.
At a meeting held October 16, 1879, the following resolution was adopted granting the application of Edward Bradley and others. The resolution was as follows:
By Superintendent H. M. Smith :- "In the matter of the ap- plication of Edward Bradley, James Monson, William D. Stormont, John L. Robinson, John E. Bradley, B. L. Richards, Edward Monteville, William James Bradley, John A. Weed, William Brad- ley, Joseph Mattison, John Foote, Peter Nelson, John Irving, Charles Fredreg, A. A. Shotwell, for the erection of a new town- ship.
WHEREAS, Application in writing has been made to the Board of Supervisors of Bay County, in the state of Michigan, by Ed- ward Bradley and fifteen others above named, freeholders of the township of Au Gres, for the organization or erection of the terri- tory comprising Sections Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen and Nineteen, in Town Nineteen north, of Range Seven east; also all of Town Twenty north, of Range Eight east; also the islands known as Big and Little Charity Islands in said Bay County and now a part of the township of Au Gres in said Bay County, into a new township, and
WHEREAS, It appears that notice of such application signed by the above named persons has been duly published and posted up in the manner required by law, for four weeks immediately preceding the time of making said application and a map of all the townships effected by the organization or erection of such new township, showing the proposed alterations, having been furnished to the said Board of Supervisors, therefore:
Resolved, That the said territory described above and known as Sections Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen and Nineteen in Town Nineteen north, of Range Seven east; also all of Town Twenty north, of range Eight east, and also the islands known as the Big and Little Charity Islands, in said Bay County, and now a part of said township of Au Gres, be and the same is hereby erected into a new township to be called and known by the name of the township of Whitney, and be it further
Resolved, That the first annual township meeting thereof shall be held at Whitney's mill, in said township of Whitney, on Monday, the 5th day of April, A. D., 1880, and Edward Johnston, Edward Bradley and John A. Weed, three electors of said township, be and they are hereby appointed as the persons who shall preside at such meeting, appoint a clerk, open and keep the polls and exercise the same power as the inspectors of election at any township meeting, and the said Edward Bradley is hereby appointed as the person to post the notices of such township meeting required by law. The next township meeting to be held in the township of Au Gres, aforesaid, shall be held at the schoolhouse, in District Number One (1) in said township of Au Gres.
The total equalized valuation of real and personal estate in 1882, was $83,700; total vote, fifty-eight. Population in 1880, was 230.
The village of Au Gres is located on the line of Whitney and Au Gres, a portion being in each township. There are also the settlements of Whitney and Point Lookout. At the latter place is a hotel.
Extensive lumbering operations are still carried on in the town- ship.
The present town officers are as follows:
Clerk, Garry Kavanaugh; treasurer, Peter Drummond; school inspector, Colon McDougal; justice for full term, John G. Wordell; to fill vacancy, J. McPhell; highway commissioner, A. A. Shotwell; constables, W. J. Bradley, C. Ferguson, H. List, Elijah Warren.
TAXES FOR 1882.
Contingent fund . $600 00
Bridge fund, one-half of one per cent, 1881. 514 97
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