History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 20

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962

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tempestuous bay we succeeded and arrived at old Fort Saginaw, the " embryo city,' on Saturday morning, Oct. 1, 1836, in a drizzling rain, amid the cheers of the assembled multitude-and the way- ing of a table-cloth, which to us, who came up on the last day on an allowance of pork and hard tack, was at least suggestive.

"We were very kindly and hospitably received and entertained by Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Miller, who had been here a short time: came down the Flint river in a canoe. Things in general seemed the newest of the new and the prospect was dreary in the extreme; but then we reflected on poor 'Robinson' and took heart and went into the store to write back my 'first impressions' and met my old friend Peyton R. Morgan, of Avon. He thought I had better wait till the 'sun shone' before writing; but I didn't. They preserve that letter home as a gem of the West.

"The question now arose. Where were we all to find shelter? Very fortunately, yea, a kind and over-ruling Providence, sent us to that same old block house, and to the kindness, friendship and unwea- ried attention of Maj. Mosely and his dear wife. The morning after our arrival, which was Sunday, a good part of our colony met at the house of H. L. Miller, who was a Presbyterian min- ister. He assisted us in returning thanks to our loving Father for our safe passage after our many perils. It was thoughtful and kind in him to suggest and carry out the religious services. It formed a bond of union between us all that has never been dissev- ered. The old block house stood inside the fort, partially sur- rounded by the original pickets. But few buildings left of the old fort; this the best; they were all occupied as were every available nook and corner, even to standing boards from the pickets, as we when children made play-houses. One of the buildings was used as a hotel, kept by Mr. Tibbets, with the modest name of Saginaw City Exchange. That same old block house has welcomed many a pleasant gathering, for they were the very souls ofhospitality, and the way we feasted on wild game, on trout, sturgeon and white fish, which were brought from the Bay-corded as they do wood! Cranberries were so plenty that vessels on their return trips were ballasted with them. Neither did we sweeten them with Indian sugar-ah, no!

"During the ever remembered and pleasant winter we passed in the old block house, there were many arrivals in town, so that our society was good and intelligent, and, as in our isolated condition we were very dependent on each other for our mutual comfort and happiness: the memory of that winter is a 'green spot.' On the 1st of January, 1837, we introduced the Eastern style of calls- with 'hot coffee and cake.' The calls were not so numerous as to be oppressive, although the constant repetition gave a sameness. The gentlemen had a sleigh, and as they laughingly expressed it, they 'called and returned it.' Some thought they were 'called for,' but the finale was at the place of pleasant memories, the old block house ;- one of 1836."

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MEMENTOES.

C. W. Grant was loudly called for, and created considerable amusement by his remarks, and a copy of a Fourth-of-July cele- bration at East Saginaw, in 1855.

C. D. Little presented from Mrs. C. E. Hayden some copies of the first papers published in the Valley-The Journal, of 1837.

Mrs. A. M. Richman presented copies of the first papers printed in the Valley-The Journal, Republican, Spirit of the Times, North Star, and others.

Robert Ure presented a Territorial map of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Numerous other relics and mementoes were presented, each and every one telling its own story of pioneer life.

THE DINNER

at the Taylor House was not the least interesting feature of the reunion. One hundred pioneers were present. After dinner the toasts were given and responded to, but, owing to some oversight, that of the " President of the United States" was omitted.

1. The Pioneer Society of the Saginaw Valley. Response by the President.

2. The Old Settlers. Response by W. R. McCormick, of Bay City.

3. The Times as they were and are. Response by C. W. Grant, of East Saginaw.

4. The County Societies of this Jurisdiction.

5. The Press. Response by R. W. Jenney, of Flint.

6. The Ladies-God bless them! Response by George F. Lewis.

PIONEER STATE ORGANIZATION.

At the meeting for the organization of the State Pioneer Soci- ety, held at Lansing, March 11, 1874, Messrs. Morgan L. Gage, S. C. Munson, Murdock Fraser and Hon. Albert Miller were present as representatives from Saginaw and Bay counties.

ANOTHER MEETING.

A number of members of the society assembled May 21, 1874, to make arrangements for a grand celebration to take place June 24, in honor of the birth of Michigan as a State. This meeting was held at the Bancroft House. There were present Hon. Albert Miller, Capt. Gage, Israel Catlin, C. A. Lull, A. K. Penny, C. W. Grant, W. R. McCormick, - Stanton, Moses B. Hess, Geo. H. Richardson, Geo. Lord, Luther Beckwith, Geo. W. Hotchkiss and Geo. F. Lewis.

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

A corresponding committee, consisting of M. L. Gage, C. A. Lull and Geo. F. Lewis, was appointed. An advisory committee comprising Curt Munger, Benj. F. Price, C. W. Grant and C. D. Little, was also formed. To these names were added Hon. Town- send North, Tuscola ; Hon. Geo. F. Ball, Midland ; Hon. E. H. Thomson, Genesee ; Gen. Ralph Ely, Gratiot ; Douglass Nelson, Isabella. The names thus given constituted the committee of general arrangement under the presidency of Hon. Albert Miller. The committee on program comprised Hon. Albert Miller, M. B. Hess, Geo. W. Hotchkiss, Geo. F. Lewis and Geo. H. Richardson.

The following letter of reminiscences, addressed to the "Pioneers of the State of Michigan," was written by Edwin Jerome:

"I am happy to meet you on our first social reunion in this flourishing Bay City, standing upon grounds sacred to memory, and on which 41 years ago your relator camped and slept.

"In the latter part of the summer of- 1833, I enlisted in the War Department commanded by Col. Anderson, then a resident of Detroit, to assist in a coast survey of Lake Huron, under the immediate direction of three cadets from West Point, Lieut. Heintzelman, since General, a distinguished Union soldier in our late fratricidal war, as our leader ; Lieut. Poole, second in com- mand ; Lieut. Lee, third or junior commander ; Commissary, George Moran, of Groesse Point ; Government hunter, your ven- erable and much respected townsman, Capt. Francois Marsac, the crack of whose rifle, aimed by his keen eye, fed the stomachs of the party with some 200 wild duck, I think, four bears, several deer, and a number of raccoons, etc. Yet, the speed and hardy endu- rance of the Captain's body were inadequate to the task of over- taking and capturing a moose, whose keen eye, ear, scent and fleet foot successfully evaded a hard day's chase ; among the pri- vates in the Yankee mess were myself and six others, Henry Snelling, Mr. Cowles, a nephew of Col. Anderson, Mr. Jacobus and three others, whose names are not now called to memory.

"In the French mess were Benoit L. Trombly, Francois G. Trombly, Leon Trombly, Joseph Trombly, Antoine Trombly, John Trombly, Baret Leparls, Gilbert Lacrois, Dominique Sney, Leon Sney, John Grant, Louis Duprey, William Thebo and Joseph Alloir, 14 in number, making a total of 26 souls, counting Lieut. Poole, whose whereabouts we never learned.

"Our field service commenced on the shore of Lake Huron, a few miles above Fort Gratiot, at the then northern terminus of the Government land surveys of Michigan. Speaking wholly from a 41 years' memory, I shall omit any attempt at describing minutely the majestic forests, romantic spots, jotted now with cities, the marble rocks found upon the beach, etc., but will note the fact that our pioneer party made the first survey of the pearly little stream, the beautiful site, took the extraordinary soundings of the noble harbor, varying from one foot to four in depth, dotted

SAMUEL SHATTUCK .

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with boulders one mile from shore over which the white caps dashed, of the far-famed city of White Rock.

"Leaving this capricious harbor, so well stocked with defensive boulders, we soon arrived at, and successfully doubled that rough, rocky, small-caverned cape, Pointe aux Barques. Leaving the broad expanse of Lake Huron, and entering the extensive Bay of Saginaw, whose dangerously rough seas were brought vividly to mind on reading the accounts of the perilous voyage of the fisher- man, floating upon its bosom, on cakes of ice, the sacrifice of six brave and noble-hearted men from Alabaster, in an attempt to rescue them, during the last winter-my memory reverted with singular clearness to one of the most perilous scenes of my life. On the arrival of the party at Pigeon river, we crossed over to, and made a survey of Charity island, but unfortunately left a small cur dog running in the woods, belonging to Lieut. Poole ; the next day I was detailed, and four others, in a yawl, with two days' provisions, to rescue the dog ; we sailed about fifteen miles, propelled by our muscles applied to oars, under a calm, still sky, and smooth, placid waters.

" On approaching the cove-sided island, we were forcibly reminded of the errand of mercy upon which we had been sent, by the dog's leaping in the air, running and capering up and down the beach, making loud and joyous yelpings ; on nearing the shore, the dog leaped aboard ; just at this moment, a light, vaporing shadow flitted away from the spot the dog left, and it has been a matter of much serious speculation whether it was the shadow of Lieut. Poole's soul flitting off. We immediately set out on the return, with the brightest of prospects and full spread canvas ; when about eight rods from shore, we encountered, sud- denly and unexpectedly, a southwesterly gale, and twice attempted and failed to come in stays, with a view to regain the island; on the third endeavor, our mast cracked about half off near the foot, and the sail dipped water, bringing us in stays double quick, with an ominous and fearful sheet of water pouring over the side, shipping about a barrel of water; by great and despairing effort, with our weight upon the upper edge, the sail lifted from the water, and the craft righted ; hats and shoes were vigorously applied in bailing, and as soon as possible our oars were put in motion, and the boat headed for the island, then about a quarter of a mile distant, and we into a direct line into Lake Huron. After an hour of the hardest struggle for life we found ourselves nearing the island, and on arriving, joyously camped for the night. The following day the wind veered northwesterly, and blew directly for Pigeon river ; at 4 P. M., the sail was reefed to the size of a farm-house window, our staunch and crank little craft was placed before the gale, and one hour and ten minutes sped us safely into camp. Your relator will here add his testi- monial to the many others related of the crank and turbulent waves of Saginaw Bay in rough weather ; and state, that while on this speedy passage, he stood upon the thwart holding fast to the

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mast, and when in the trough of the sea, nothing but the sky could be seen to the front or rear at an angle 45 degrees ; on look ing at the white-caps chasing in the rear, apparently to engulph me 15 or 20 feet beneath their crest, my hair pulled fear- fully, and my heart seemed leaping from my body. At this alarming moment, the base of the wave up-ended our yawl, and it leaped forward with such force as to cause an involuntary squat, dashing spray over the stem, giving us an oft repeated sprinkling.

"Passing over the minor incidents in the progress of our work, from the encampment at Pigeon river to the Saginaw river, we finally pitched our tents on, or near, the site of your enterprising city, and took observations, for nine successive days, of the sun crossing the meridian, to determine the latitude and longitude of this capacious river; your relator each time noting the exact second from an excellent chronometer.

"Now, when I ride into the cities of Saginaw Valley, in palace cars, on first-class, well stocked railroads, or ride up and down this river in a noble steamer, beautifully furnished, viewing in surprise the almost continuous line of cities along its banks; teem - ing in wealth and splendor; the immense yards of lumber. contain- ing millions of feet; salt works sufficient to resuscitate and save all this thrift and industry from any serious decline; in contemplating all, memory of 1833 and 1836 leaps forth and asks, Did all this spring from chaos, or more than chaos, with so much forbidding sterility upon a stream lined with extensive marshes, deep bayou or sturdy forest, uninhabited, save a few log houses near the river, in Saginaw City? In those early years, your water lines of river, bay or lake were familiar. I then traversed the Tittabawassee and its branches, Chippewa and Pine, Bad river, Cass, Flint and Mish- tegayoc, exploring their forests, selecting their choicest timber and finest lands.

"And now, my old co-laborers in the woods and fields of Mich- igan, wishing you long life and joyous end, I say adieu."

Thomas J. Drake sent the following letter, under date, Pontiac, June 19, 1874, addressed to Hon. Albert Miller:

" Dear Judge :- It is difficult for me to find words, to express adequately the pleasure which your letter gave me.

" The celebration, to which you so kindly invited me, is one of no ordinary character. The early settlement of the Saginaw Valley, and the organization of our State government, are subjects deeply interesting; and, while I remember the one, I cannot forget the other. There are few events more deeply seated in my memory than my first visit to Saginaw. Perhaps it is well ordered that we cannot look back on the past and view over by-gone years without commingled emotions of pain and pleasure, and thus we are preserved from the evil effects of satiety and despondency.

" The incidents of that journey, though many and important, were known to but few,-my traveling companion and associate, Commissioner Frost, who alone knew what occurred to us on our journey there and back to this place, has passed away, -a pioneer

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in other realms, and there remains none to relate our adventures. Forgive the egotism, and let ine say to you what I think I have to none else. On our way home, the question of life and death was forcibly presented for our consideration without time for reflection. It rained heavily while we were at Saginaw, and when Frost and I got ready to return we were ferried over the river at Green Point by Jewett. We moved rapidly to the usual crossing on Cass river, but the increased velocity and volume of water plainly told us we could not cross there in safety. It was raining hard, and we put away for the upper crossing a mile or more up the river. When we reached that point we found the river much narrower, and the north bank quite elevated. There were a few deserted Indian cabins on the north bank, some of them made of logs split into halves or slabs. We hastily unsaddled our horses, and drove them into the river; they swam easily to the opposite shore, went out of the river, and went to feeding. We hastily pulled down a cabin, took the timbers to the edge of the water, and there formed a raft. We fastened the timbers together as well as we could with our bridles and surcingles, laid timber and bark on top for a floor or platform, put our saddles, portmanteaus, and blankets on, and having two of the poles we could find at any of the cabins, we shoved our frail raft into the surging waters, and both leaved aboard. The first push we made carried us into water so deep we could not reach bottom with our poles, and down stream we went with the rapidity of a race horse. Our poles were so slender that they served us but little assistance as oars. We ap- plied ourselves with all the energy we possessed, and so shaped the course of our raft that it came so near the south shore in pass- ing one of the bends of the river, that I caught hold of the tops of some willows standing on the bank. By holding fast, our raft swung around, and brought Frost so near that he got a firm hold of the bushes, and thus we got to shore all safe and not the least fright- ened. Our horses were soon caught, and our bridles and saddles thrown on, our blankets and trappings secured, and we upon full gallop for Flint river, which we reached a little after sun-down.

"Our business at Saginaw was to locate the seat of justice for that county. When we got there we found Judge Dexter and En- gineer and Surveyor Risder platting the city of Saginaw. Dexter approached the Commissioners with his skeleton map in hand; one of the lots he designated as the 'court-house lot.' He very abruptly informed them that if they located the site for the seat of justice on the lot he had designated he would donate it to the county, and lie would give to each of the Commissioners a lot, perhaps two. Our other associate was satisfied with Dexter's proposition, and from that moment until we left, I think he looked at nothing but the lots Dexter proposed to give him. I felt inclined to treat Dexter with contempt, and for awhile Frost agreed with me and we looked at other places.

"There was then an uninhabited forest where East Saginaw now stands, and it was said that the whole country, after getting back

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from the river, was a morass, and uninhabitable. However, we resolved to inspect it ourselves. With Jewett to guide us we trav- eled the country up and down the river and from the river back, until we were satisfied that it was the best and most proper place for a court-house. Besides Jewett, there was with us that day a man by the name of Joshua Terry, who lived at Pontiac. Frost and I fixed upon a site, and drove a stake to indicate the spot se- lected. We took measurements from different points on the river with such bearing as would enable one to find the identical spot, and agreed to meet next morning and make our report. I went to Jewett's shanty at Green Point, and Frost went to the fort, as it was called, where he could find our other associate. The next morning, to my surprise, I found that Frost had been overcome, demoralized, and had actually signed a report locating the site on the spot selected by Dexter. Through the love of whisky which was entertained by Frost, and the love of gain entertained by the other Commissioner, the county seat of Saginaw county was located. I was then a member of the Legislative Council from Oakland county and all the Lower Peninsula north and west of it, and with pride I endeavored to extend and uphold the interests of my con- stituents, the pioneers of old Oakland, as well asthose of the beau- tiful valley of the land of Saco. I have with deep solicitude and great pleasure witnessed the untiring exertions of the pioneers, and the marvelous growth and prosperity of the country.

"Fifty years ago and this vast country, of which the Saginaw Valley may be considered the center, was the home of the deer and the red man; its deep forests were then unmarked by the steps of the pale face; the most of it was beyond the pale of civilization. And what do we see now? Towns and cities adoru the land; rail- roads traverse the country in every direction; its rivers are utilized as highways for commerce and travel, and as a resistless motive power for manufactories; its forests are receding before the re- doubled blows of the ax men, and being molded into articles of commerce, are wafted away thousands of miles for improvement or ornament in distant countries. And above all and beyond all, on the 24th of June, 1874, the pioneers of the State proposed to in- augurate and to carry into execution the celebration of the anni- versary of the organization of the State government.

" All hail! Pioneers of Saginaw. Long have you suffered, and gloriously have you conquered. May you long enjoy the rich re- wards with which your labors are crowned. Receive the congratu- lations of an old pioneer."

THE PIONEERS OF THE SAGINAW.

In their own circle within the original boundaries of Saginaw, the pioneers have done much which deserves honorable mention. It is true that the fame of a Washington, or the terribly earnest patriotism of a Montgomery have not been their share; yet there is no reason whatever to suppose that, did circumstances create

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an opportunity, those courageous men who entered the fastnesses of the Chippewas and battled successfully with all the obstacles which life in the wilderness presented, would not have risen to the highest grades in military affairs and carved for themselves a name as proud as any which pertains to citizens of the United States. "Providence ordained another life for the pioneers, many of their fathers fought the good fight for Liberty and won the bat- tle, leaving Peace and Freedom to their children, and bequeathing to them the greatest land the world ever knew, to be cultivated and guarded.

If the pioneers of Saginaw were denied participation in the con- test which gave to the world a great Republic, and again pre- vented by age from guarding it when treason threatened to destroy the Union, their ancestors won honor for them in the firstinstance, and many of their children supplied their places in the second. They were born to open up the land and possess it. This accom- plished, their mission was fulfilled. Labor, alone, has wrought this change. There are many whose names deserve mention in this connection, many to whom special honors are due, and whose names shine in the records of the county. Here we will speak of a few of them:

Eleazer Jewett, born in Massachusetts in 1799, arrived at Sagi- naw City in 1826 and died Feb. 18, 1876. His daughter, Mrs. Lee, was the first white child born in the county. She it was who planted the seed of the two trees which grow opposite the dwelling house numbered 407 Washington street. Mr. Jewett served two years under the American Fur Company. On Oct. 24, 1831, he married Miss Azubah L. Miller, and a few days later led her to her home on the Saginaw. He was the principal surveyor of the valley even before the organization of the township of Saginaw, and on its organization as a county, he was appointed county surveyor. He held the office of justice of the peace for 30 years and judge of probate for 14 years. On the death of Mr. Jew- ett, Hon. Albert Miller succeeded to the name which he enjoyed of being the senior of the surviving American pioneers of the Valley. Mr. Jewett's name has come down to us unstained by even the least word of scandal. To-day his memory is revered, his labors in the interest of this county well remembered.

Gardner D. Williams was descended from a Welch family. His ancestor, Robert Williams, settled in Roxbury, Mass., in 1638, being 18 years after the arrival of the Mayflower. The branch of the family from which Judge Williams descended, remained in Rox- bury for five generations down to Oliver Williams, the father of Judge Williams, who removed to Concord, Mass., about 1794, where Gardner D. was born Sept. 7, 1804. Oliver Williams came to Detroit in 1807, leaving his family in Concord. He engaged in business as a merchant, and was one of the largest dealers in Detroit, bringing at one time $64,000 in goods from Boston. About the year 1811, he built the sloop "Friends' Good Will," on board which he visited Mackinaw in 1812, and at that

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place his vessel was chartered by the Government to go to Chicago for furs. Arriving at Chicago, Mr. Williams took on board 99 packs of furs belonging to Government, besides a quan- tity of his own. On his return voyage, his vessel was captured by the British at Mackinaw, that post having capitulated in his absence. The capture was effected by a ruse of the enemy. On approaching the fortress, Mr. Williams saw the American flag fly- ing and a sentry in American uniform on guard, and had no sus- picion that the post had changed hands. He was undeceived only when too late to escape. He lost his vessel and cargo, and it is little to the credit of the Government that it never made up to him the loss. The British changed the name of the vessel to "The Little Belt," and was one of the vessels captured by Commodore Perry in the battle of Lake Erie.

The family of Oliver Williams, including Gardner D., arrived at Detroit Nov. 5, 1815, and resided there until March, 1819, at which time they removed to Silver Lake in Oakland county, being almost the first settlers of that county. In the spring of 1827, Judge Williams removed to Saginaw City, and with his brother, Ephraim S., established himself in the fur trade, under the American Fur Company. He married in 1829, Eliza Beach, and died Dec. 10, 1858.

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 20

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 962

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962