USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 19
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" Last winter he was here, you know, And in the summer off did go; Don't you yet mind him, children all ? You used to play with Captain Hall.
" He was as busy as a bee, And much we loved his company ; And from my children tears yet fall, When thinking back of Captain Hall.
" He made our fires and sung his song, He charmed the hearts of old and young; The time seems long to us, one and all, Since he's departed, Captain Hall.
" On Saginaw river he did stay- A steam-mill ran there many a day ; And when he spent his money all, We bid adieu to Captain Hall.
" And now he's left this wild country, To sail again the stormy sea; May Providence, who guides us all, Make smooth the path of Captain Hall.
"Now, to your lady I'll resort : May she live long in Cambridgeport; And comfort take with children small, And fold her arms round Captain Hall.
" By this time you will plain discover, My letter's full and running over ; My children join me, one and all, In sending love to Captain Hall.
"Soon after this my father removed to Portsmouth, and, with my brother James, commenced the manufacture oflumber. This was the second mill built on the Saginaw river. My father shipped the first cargo oflumber that ever went out of the Saginaw river. It would run 60 per cent uppers, and he sold it at Detroit to the late James Busby, brother-in-law of the late James Fraser, for eight
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dollars per thousand, one-third down and the balance on time. The vessel was the 'Old Coneant Packet,' Captain George Roby, and the cargo consisted of 40,000 feet. Clear lumber was then selling at the mill for $10 in store trade, as there was no money in the country. So, you see, lumbermen did not get rich in those days. They only opened the way for those who came after them to make their fortune.
"The early pioneers came into the valley too soon to get rich. But then again, what would our beautiful Saginaw Valley have been to-day but for the perseverance, privations and hardships of those early pioneers ? I see about me only a few of them left, and in a few years none of them will remain to tell their children of the sufferings they have passed through, and of which the present generation are reaping the benefit.
"I look back with pleasure on some of the earlier scenes of my life; for truly we were a band of brothers in those times that tried men's souls. If one had a barrel of flour it was divided with the others. No one was allowed to want what another had. Would to God the present generation might take counsel by the past, that they might profit in the future! I am happy to meet the old pio- neers here to-day. Our band is small, and in a few years its last member will have passed into the remote and unknown land of the hereafter. We have seen this wilderness made to blossom as the rose; another generation has usurped our places. The crowded iron pathway of American'civilization has taken the place of the unfrequented Indian trail. School-houses and churches stand where once were only the wigwams of the savage, and the lairs of the wild beast.
"Our work is done. It was a humble work. The pioneer's name never shines among the brilliant and illustrious names on the historic page. He is only a pathfinder, carrying the torch of dis- covery into the wilderness; yet without him civilization is impossible. Those busy manufactories that to-day line the Saginaw river; those beautiful church edifices that crown our prosperous towns; those magnificent school buildings, that stand as the proudest and best monuments of modern civilization,-these are all the fruits of our work into which other men have entered. Let us be content to leave our work, knowing that for the day and the place it has been well done. May this rich country, that we have helped to reclaim to civilization and human happiness, be ever guided in affairs of business and State by a higher wisdom and a no less sacrificing and unselfish spirit than that which in the rude and sparsely settled wilderness governed the pioneers of the Saginaw Valley!"
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, BY C. D. LITTLE.
Captain Anthony R. Swarthout, the subject of this short sketch, was born in Seneca county, New York, in 1796, where he resided with his parents until his marriage with Miss Hannah Rose, of the some place, in 1816. About this time Capt. Swarthout, having heard
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much of the Territory of Michigan, resolved to risk his all in what was then called the "Far West." After a tedious journey of wecks, he reached Washtenaw county, and commenced his Territorial life as a farmer. He was one of the pioneers of Washtenaw county, in clearing the almost unbroken forests of that portion of the State. At that period railroads were hardly known in the United States, and telegraphs had not been dreamed of. Communication with the State of New York took weeks where now minutes suffice. The only means of transporting goodsand family stores was the "ox team,', and the "log cabin " furnished shelter to those who dared to brave the privations incident to the opening up of a new country.
At this time, Gen. Lewis Cass, a warm and personal friend of Capt. Swarthout, was Governor of the Territory. While living in Washtenaw county, the difficulties between the settlers and the Indians culminated into what is known as the "Black Hawk war." Capt. Swarthout was among the first who volunteered his services in defense of the settlers and Government; was enrolled in a company of riflemen, known as " Minute Men," and remained in the service until the troops were discharged. In July, 1835, having heard of the Saginaw Valley, the abundance of game of all kinds, and being fond of hunting, he ventured through the unbroken wilder- ness between Ann Arbor and Saginaw. Arriving at the latter place, perceiving its advantageous location, and finding such ex- cellent farming land in the immediate vicinity of the city, he de- termined to make it his future home. He returned to his family in Washtenaw county, disposed of his property there, and in Sep- tember of the same year he moved through the woods to Saginaw, an undertaking then much more beset with difficulties than a jour- ney to California is to-day. At the first township meeting held in Saginaw, the spring after his arrival, there were 17 votes polled At that time Saginaw township embraced almost the entire terri- tory of Saginaw, Tuscola, Bay, Midland and Gratiot counties. He was, at that meeting, elected one of the township officers, and has, since that time to the present, a period of nearly 40 years, filled some one of the township offices. He has several times been elected supervisor, 16 years of the time has been highway com- missioner, and with the assistance of Abraham Butts, another early settler, laid out and established most of the public highways of Saginaw, Bay and Tuscola counties. For 14 years he has held the office of township clerk, of Saginaw township. In all public po- sitions, whether as supervisor, commissioner or clerk, his unbend- ing integrity and sterling worth have commanded the universal respect of his fellow townsmen.
Captain Swarthout had a family of seven sons and five daughters. Eight of these children, with the exception of one daughter, reside in Saginaw county. And now, after more than filling the measure of time allotted to man, with his aged and amiable wife, who has shared with him all the hard- ships of pioneer life, he has seen fulfilled his anticipations of the growth of Saginaw, while the majority of his children are spared
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to him with their own children, comfortably settled immediately about them. Abundantly supplied with this world's goods, a liv- ing record of the early events of Michigan colonization, he among the few pioneers of Michigan, still lives,
" Only waiting till the shadows Are a little longer grown ; Only waiting till the glimmer Of the day's last beam is flown."
May he still be spared, and may his last days be as pleasant as his whole life has been honorable!
HARVEY WILLIAMS.
Harvey Williams, son of Oliver Williams, was born at Concord, Mass., in 1774. In 1808 he visited Detroit, and after prospecting for a time returned to Concord. He visited Detroit again in 1809, and remained until 1811, when he concluded to engage in busi- ness. He proceeded to Boston, and procured a general assortment of merchandise of the value of $10,000. Alpheus Williams, a brother-in-law of Oliver, became his indorser for the purchase at Boston. While these goods were being transported from Buffalo to Detroit, they were seized by the British Government. Mr. Williams was made a prisoner and conveyed to Halifax. After being confined at Halifax for a number of months, he was released, and returned to Detroit. Oliver Williams did not remove his family-which consisted of four sons and four daughters-until the year 1815.
Being a man of the strictest integrity, determined that his brother- in-law should lose nothing by his indorsement for him, and though he had lost everything, he told Alpheus he would and could, if his life and health were spared for a few years, accumulate enough to pay every dollar of the 10,000. With this honest purpose in view, in a new county, but with indomitable will and unswerving integ- rity, he commenced the herculean task of raising $10,000. This situation-with a large family of children to support, the eldest only 13 years of age-would have disheartened most of men, but not Oliver Williams. By strict economy and untiring effort he suc- ceeded, and in a few years paid every dollar of the debt.
The sons and daughters of this man are well remembered by the older settlers of Northern Michigan, and have been prominently instrumental in developing its resources. Ephraim S., better known as Major Williams, is now a resident of Flint; Gardner D. became a resident of Saginaw City, and died in 1858; Alfred and Benjamin O., are now residents of Owosso; Mary Ann, who married Schuy- ler Hodges, is now a resident of Pontiac, while Alpheus and Harriet, now Mrs. Rogers, live in California.
In 1815 Oliver induced Alpheus to remove from Concord to Detroit; and this brings us to speak of Harvey Williams, better known throughout the Saginaw Valley as " Uncle Harvey." He
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is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the Yankee pioneers to Detroit now living, as he came with his mother to that city in 1815.
From Concord, Mass., to Buffalo, N. Y., the journey was accom- plished by wagon, from Buffalo to the mouth of Detroit river on a schooner of 40 tons burthen, called the "Salem Packet;" the master, or captain, of the "Packet " was Eber Ward, father of Capt. Eber B. Ward, now of Detroit. It required 13 days to make the trip from Buffalo to the Detroit river. At this point the "Packet" was detained by contrary winds. Mr. Williams' father chartered a cart, and had his goods carted to Windsor, opposite Detroit, from which point they were ferried over in a dug-out. In those days moving was a rather rough experience. Mr. Williams paid $15 each for passage from Detroit, and $5 per barrel bulk for the goods.
At this time Benjamin Woodworth kept the chief tavern in Detroit. It was not a very extensive establishment, but was enlarged from time to time, and, under the good management of " Uncle Ben," obtained great reputation as "Uncle Ben Wood- worth's Steam-boat Hotel." For years it was the headquarters of steam-boat men, after steamers began running on the lakes. It was situated on Woodbridge street, immediately behind where the Firemen's Hall now stands. Oliver Williams kept a tavern of less pretensions on Jefferson avenue, under "the old elin tree," and another tavern was kept by the father of the late Judge C. W. Whipple, down near the Cass farm. These were at that period the hotel accommodations of the village of Detroit, then contain- ing about 1,000 inhabitants. "Emerson, Mack & Conant " was the leading mercantile house in Detroit at that time. The firm was composed of Thomas Emerson, father of Curtis Emerson, Esq., of East Saginaw, Stephen Mack and Shubel Conant. They kept a general assortment of dry-goods, groceries, crockery and hardware. Henry J. Hunt, Abel May, Edward and John S. Krebel also sold goods, but did not carry as heavy stocks as Emer- son, Mack & Conant. All these merchants were in the habit of issuing what were called "shin-plasters," which passed as the "legal tender " of the country.
James Abbott was the agent of the American Fur Company, whose " headquarters " for the West were at Detroit ; he was also postmaster. The mails from the East were very irregular. It often took four weeks or more for a letter from New England to reach Detroit, and the postage was 25 cents.
Gen. Lewis Cass, Messrs. Larned, Ten Eyck, Witherell, For- sythe, John and Thomas Palmer, and Judge Woodward, who afterward made the plat of the city, were among the prominent men of the Territory.
In the same year (1815), " Uncle Harvey " commenced black- smithing on the ground where the Russell House now stands, making steel-traps, axes, and doing general custom work for the inhabitants ; there was only one other shop of the kind in Detroit, which was owned by a Frenchman named Pelky.
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"Uncle Harvey's " business increased rapidly ; he soon added a small furnace to his shop and commenced casting plows ; when his business increased so that he cast three plows a day the fact was published as an evidence of the " great progress Detroit was making in her manufactures! "
The coal used for melting the iron was charcoal, and the blow- ing was done by a single horse. Mr. Williams' business grew from year to year, until it reached $100,000 yearly. He pur- chased and set up the first stationary steam-engine ever used in the Territory of Michigan. He built for J. K. Dorr and C. C. Trowbridge the first steam-engine for the first steam-mill in Michi- gan, and his last work in his shop at Detroit was the building of the two steam-engines for the old steam-boat "Michigan."
Mr. Williams changed his location twice while in Detroit. He removed from the Russell House lot to the ground now occupied by the D. & M. R. R. Co., and from that to the triangle lot on Cass street, Jefferson avenue and Woodbridge ; here he purchased 105 feet front for $105. Mr. Williams says that the first circus performance ever given in Michigan, and which he considers the best, was in the middle of the street, between where the Biddle House now stands, and the old jail that used to stand on the north side of Jefferson avenue, opposite the Biddle House.
Mr. Williams furnished all the iron work for the first substantial jail that was ever built in Michigan, and he has now in his pos- session the contract in which they furnished to him the iron. - 40 tons, at 17 cents per pound. He did the iron work on the first Presbyterian church, erected on the corner of Woodward avenue and Larned street, in 1818, and also for the French Catholic church, which was commenced the same year.
With his stationary engine he pumped the water for the in habitants of Detroit. The reservoir was situated on Fort street west, between the former residence of Gen. Cass, now owned by Gov. Baldwin, and the City Hall; and it is worthy of note that a three-inch pipe was sufficient capacity to furnish all the water used at that time. The city paid Mr. Williams $500 per annuni for the pumping.
Late in the fall of 1822, Major Whitney, United States Quarter- master, stationed at Detroit, was desirous of getting supplies through to the troops, then stationed at Saginaw City. Knowing the determination and indefatigable perseverance of Uncle Harvey, and realizing the exceeding difficulty of getting the supplies through, but thinking if anyone could succeed it would be " Uncle Harvey," he approached him on the subject. With great re- luctance, and after much persuasion "Uncle Harvey " con- sented to make the trial. Calling to his assistance the late John Hamilton, of Genesee county, the journey was under- taken, and accomplished. After eight days" hard labor they suc- ceeded in carrying 80 cwt. of supplies from Detroit to Saginaw. In doing so they were obliged to ford the Clinton river five times, the Thread, Cass and Flint rivers, as well as Pine and Elm rivers.
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Their success was fortunate for the poor soldiers; for when the supplies arrived they were almost famished, having been without rations for two days.
This incident is mentioned because it was at this time that "Uncle Harvey " formed-from conversation with the officers- the opinion that at some future time Saginaw would become one of the important points in Michigan.
After his return to Detroit, and for 12 years, he thought much of Saginaw, but not until 1834 did he see his way clear to taking up his residence in the Valley; and when he did determine to move there it required more than ordinary courage to try living in a wilderness, 40 miles from civilization.
Upon his arrival at Saginaw, his first work was the erection of the steam saw-mill which was situated at the back of Mackinaw street, in Saginaw City, and will be remembered as the "G. D. & E. S. William's mill," and was the first steam saw-mill erected in the Saginaw Valley. Afterward, a run of stone was added to the mill, which was used to grind corn. In 1836 and '37, Mr. Wil- liams built the steam saw-mill which for a number of years was called the " Emerson mill," and was located on the present site of the East Saginaw Gas Company's works. This was the mill of its day. It was managed by H. Williams until the disastrous crash of 1837. Those of the Saginaw pioneers still living remember the result of that panic. Hundreds of workmen hitherto constantly employed at the highest wages ever paid to their class, were thrown out of work. Paper currency, which up to that time was considered as good as gold, became worthless, and could hardly be sold at any price. The result was, that those who could "went through the woods," a familiar expression used for taking the Indian trail to Flint, which was the only road out of Saginaw at that time. Thus Saginaw became almost depopulated.
Those were days that tried men's souls; but " Uncle Harvey's " faith in the ultimate prosperity of Saginaw was not shaken. Al- though he went down in the general crash, he did not become dis- honored, but with the heroism still characteristic of him, he determined "never to give up" until he had seen the full realiza- tion of his hopes concerning the Saginaw Valley.
The " little steam saw-mill " at the foot of Mackinaw street did all that was required of it in its day; the "Big mill " at East Sagi- naw; the "Model Mill" of 1837, when finished was supposed to be equal to-indeed far beyond-anything that would ever be required, and some were wise enough to pronounce Mr. Williams foolish in the extreme for thinking that the full capacity of that " big mill " would ever be tasked in supplying the demand for lumber. If those wise ones could look at the mills on the Saginaw river to-day, and the hundreds of millions of feet of lumber turned out by them, they would acknowledge their own short-sightedness, and the wisdom and judgment manifested by Uncle Harvey in his prophecies of the future of the Saginaws.
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Mr. Williams removed to the Kawkawlin river in 1842, and remained there until 1864. During the 20 years he remained there he was extensively engaged in the fisheries at the mouth of the river in the spring months of the year, and in the summer and fall months his operations were extended down the Bay and Lake Huron. During the winter his business relations with the Chip- pewa Indians were extensive, amounting in the aggregate to hundreds of thousands of dollars. No man ever possessed the confidence of the Chippewa Indians to the same extent that Uncle Harvey did, and, certainly, no man was ever more generous and kind to them. .
Fifty-nine years in Michigan! Few, but very few men can say, with "Uncle Harvey," that they have seen the infant in the cradle grow up to the full stature of manliood as he has seen "our beautiful Peninsular State " grow. How little was known in 1815 of the vast mines of wealth that lay buried beneath her surface! Who then ever dreamed that Michigan would successfully compete with the whole world in copper and iron? Who then imagined that the Saginaw Valley would turn out more lumber than any other point in the country? Nevertheless, "Uncle Harvey " has lived to see all this.
Energy is still manifested in all that he does, and he bids fair to outdo many men whose years do not number one half of his.
Mr. Williams was married to Miss Julia Fournia, in 1819. The lady is still living.
The following letter was read by Mr. George F. Lewis from Townsend North, of the Tuscola Pioneer Society.
VASSAR, MICH., Feb. 19, 1874.
M. B. Hess, Esq :
MY DEAR SIR :- Your circular letters of invitation to the pioneers of our county came to hand to-day. I will distribute them, and would be pleased to attend your meeting, but fear I will be unable to attend, as I would be pleased to meet with the early settlers,-men that conquered difficulties, endured privations, and now live to enjoy the fruit of their labor, and to congratulate each other on the im- provements and changed condition and developments of the entire valley.
I came to Flint in 1845, made my first visit to Saginaw City that summer or fall with a full load of the legal profession, Judge Whipply, William Fenton, E. H. Thompson, A. V. Thayer. A. W. Davis and James McKabe (of Pontiac). They went there to hold court. I think they did up the work in one day. What a contrast! There was no East Saginaw then. Good pasture in the streets of Sag- inaw, where you now have the Nicholson pavement. Court calendar cleared in a day. Now your courts are nearly perpetual. Two years after, I made my first trip to Lower Saginaw, as it was then called, in two little dug-outs lashed to- gether. Two Indians composed the crew, and I the only passenger, sitting flat in one of the little canoes, with my hands on each side of the little craft with my fingers in the water. Now you have two railroads, and your river, during nav- igation, alive with steam and sail.
What a change lias come in a few short years! The rich resources of the val- ley are being made known, and the Yankees and co-workers from Oregon to Maine, and from Maine to Faderland, have taken the key-note and checked their baggage for the valley that teems with life and lumber and salt, sufficient to pickle a nation.
Yours truly. T. NORTH.
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RECORDS, MEMENTOES, ETC.
A leaf from the note book of a pioneer of 1836, which was truly interesting, was read by G. F. Lewis, as follows:
"AN EXTRACT FROM THE NOTE BOOK OF A' PIONEER OF 1836, PRE- SENTED BY MRS. A. M. RICHMAN.
* * * April 24, 1870-BURNED-The building formerly owned by the late James Fraser, known as the old Block House, an ordinary casualty of not much note; but to some of us old residents the memory of that old block house and its sur- roundings are pleasant as the echo of music in our youth, for we are now old, our hair is whitened by the frosts of many winters, but more with the sorrows that have fallen upon us when our hopes were the brightest, our love of the strongest.
"In the summer of 1836 a party of gentlemen on board the old steamer "Gov. Marcy," made the first trip ever made by any steam- boat on these waters, to old Fort Saginaw, the present site of Sag- inaw City, where years before Dr. Little, of Avon, N. Y., with many others, made large purchases, with a far-seeing eye to the future of this valley, which was felt by them to be only a question of time; among the passengers on that steamer were Norman Little and Charles L. Richman, who were then prospecting, with a view of permanent settlement. They found a few white settlers here, who gladly gave them the right hand of fellowship. Among them were G. D. and E. S. Williams, with their families, Mr. Jewett. and family, Judge Davenport, James Fraser, Mr. Busby, Butts, Bullock and Barber, Tibbetts, McCardell, Spare, Gotee, Mosely, Malden, Hayden, Stevenson, Hill, Simpson, besides a few others who passed from memory. Under the firm of Charles L. Richman & Co., a mercantile business was established; made large contracts for building, then returned for their families; we took a last, linger- ing look at our dear old home in Canandaigua, aptly called " Sleep- ing Beauty." bade adieu to the friends of childhood, youth and young married life; gave up the blessings of our well beloved Church privileges of an advanced society; embarked at Buffalo on steamer "Gov. Marcy" for Saginaw, leaving as we then thought all that was desirable in life, save the novelty (Robinson Crusoe like) of making a new home in the wilderness. Among the emigrants were T. L. Howe, of Genesee, N. Y., with a large hardware stock, with Cynthia the long, B. Hammet, William L. P. Little, L. M. Collum, with many others, as the little steamer was heavily la- den with human freight. We had a pleasure trip to Detroit (then a small village), but meeting with rough weather in Saginaw Bay, were obliged to put back to St. Clair three days. We improved and en- joyed it in rambling about the beautiful region, visiting Fort Gra- tiot, and so on; when efforts were again made to reach the
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