USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 22
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"It is said that the Sac and Fox tribes occupied this valley, and gave it the name it bears, and that the Chippewas came over from Canada, defeating the former tribes in three great battles, two of them being fought on the Saginaw river, and the last and decisive one on the Cass river, driving the Sac and Fox tribes south and west. Whether this happened 100 or 1,000 years ago none can tell. The more civilized Indians, as the Mound Builders, which left so many traces in the Upper Peninsula and south of us, do not seem to have settled in this valley. The Indians became unpleasantly notorious in the last war with England. During the siege of Detroit, they marched down. there as allies of the English, under their chief, Kish-kaw-ko, and his son, Chemick, plundered the settlers, murdered men, women and children, and sold their scalps to English officials in Canada. They did not fight, their warfare being only against the unarmed and unwary. A few years
Form & Spaethe
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after the peace of Ghent, Gen. Cass concluded a treaty with the Indians, by which they gave up their claims to the land, except some reservations, and received an annual bounty. There was an Indian farmer appointed to teach them farming, but they made very indifferent farmers. Gen. Cushway, a Canadian Frenchman, was appointed as a blacksmith to repair their guns, and held his appointment several years, dying within a few years, at quite an advanced age. The Government also sent them two Methodist preachers, but the Indians sent them back, saying they would rather have another blacksmith. Kish-kaw-ko was subsequently imprisoned in Detroit as a drunken vagabond, and while there took poison, thus ending his unhappy life.
"The Indians in this Valley lost all political significance. Once during the war of the Rebellion, the rumor was started that the Indians were assembling and arming themselves, but it caused very little alarm among the inhabitants of the Valley, as their conrage and fighting qualities are now held in utter contempt by the white settlers.
"Indians, as we saw them thirty years ago, and longer, were well built, swarthy, never handsome, prominent cheek bones, black coarse hair, no whiskers nor beard; their covering being a dark calico shirt reaching to the knees, the lower part of the legs incased in woolen leggings, the feet covered with moccasins; no covering of the head whatever, but now and then a long feather stuck in the hair; while sometimes, but seldom, they had red, yellow or blue streaks painted on their faces. The women, ugly almost without an exception, wore a long calico dress, also mocca- sins, but nothing else. Their babies-"papooses"-were encased in narrow shingle boards strapped upon their backs. They were very much given to loitering around, staring at everything, asking for anything that pleased them, which was generally bread, pork, and other things, but principally tobacco and whisky. They did not steal, and were not quarrelsome, even when drunk; but were altogether an inoffensive, harmless aud worthless rabble, not at all romantic or picturesque. They lived by hunting and fishing, were considered very poor marksmen by the whites, who excelled in rifle-shooting, sold cranberries, whortleberrics, baskets and moc-
casins. The painting of their baskets with gay colors, and the embroidering of moccasins was the only approach they made toward the fine arts. They lived in their tents, or in huts made from bark, some in shanties, and even in log houses. Their farming consisted mostly of planting a little corn, by the 'squaws'. They spoke their own language, could understand English, and even speak it, but usually denied their knowledge of it. Some of them were Christianized by Methodist and Lutheran ministers, but they seemed very indifferent to religion.
"Well, I am afraid I have devoted too much of my time to them : only allow me to describe 'pay-day' among them, and the conveying of the mail from Saginaw to Mackinaw in the win- ter season. 'Pay-day' was the great festival for the Indians, in
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spring-time they receiving their annual bounty, which was four dollars (if I am not mistaken) for every man, woman and child. They assembled first in Saginaw City, and afterward in Midland. They pitched their tents on the vacant blocks, decorating them with flags. The streets swarmed with Indians full of fire-water. There was much jumping and running, but no quarreling or fight- ing; so no precautionary measures were taken, or needed. The mails were carried on sleds made of a very few boards, two crooked branches serving as runners, and 10 or 12 dogs har- nessed to them 'tandem' fashion. The Indians ran at the sides of the sleds, almost 200 miles through an unbroken wilderness, through forests and swamps, over rivers and straits, to their des- tination.
"In 1822, the Government established the fort at Saginaw, in the midst of Indians, a company of soldiers forming the garrison. Dr. Zina Pilcher was the first medical attendant. Life must then have been a burden, in the midst of the forests, far from all inter- course with civilized men, surrounded by malaria, tormented by millions of mosquitos; no wonder that the officers 'liankered' after the 'flesh-pots of Egypt,' and prayed to be relieved.
"After one year the fort was given up, and the soldiers went home. The principal fort stood on the Taylor House block; was a long, two-story log house, surrounded by stockades. A second one, similar in size and appearance, stood on Hamilton street, op- posite Molls' drug store, while a third was situated about half a mile north, between the river and Washington street. Two of them were inhabited as late as 1850, but were rather dangerous, and soon after torn down. One was used as a bonfire on a Fourth of July celebration, After the establishment of the fort, some settlers came into the Valley, locating mostly on, or near, the Tit- tabawassee river. In 1822, the first city was laid out on quite a modest plan, the streets running in the same manner as now, be- ing only 10 or 12 in number, and quite narrow. A few log houses were erected on Water street.
"In 1837, a change came over the place. Norman Little, Mackey, Jennison, and some others formed a company, bought the city plot and the land adjoining, laid out the city on a large scale. built some houses, some of them at a very great expense, a hotel at a cost of $35,000, a large, four-story warehouse on the river, at a cost of $25,000, started a bank, issued bank notes with a red back, and on the face canal and steam-boats. The canal boats never came to the city, steam-boats only many years later. The canal was intended to join the Bad to the Looking-glass river, and in this way to connect the Grand and Saginaw rivers. Every- where was life, and speculation ran wild. Lots were held at a higher price than ever afterward. The glory of the new city did not last long. The panic came, and shattered all these air castles, the company became bankrupt, the settlers moved away, and de- cay was everywhere. In 1845 the German immigration to this valley began, and helped, directly, in clearing up the country, but
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more indirectly, by drawing the attention of outsiders to the riches of the forest and the soil, and in this way laid the foundation for a slow, but steady and solid improvement. The first Germans who came to this valley were three Westphalians, Henry Stelgrider, long and well known as 'Dutch Henry,' Tuerke and Sittereing, the date of their arrival being about 1840. They found some work in the city, soon bought wild land on the 'cross-roads,' and made excellent farms of it. 'Dutch Henry' died a short time ago, at an advanced age. He was a model of a German farmer, a hard, steady worker, economical, a good neighbor, without any political ambition, but devoted to his Church-the Lutheran-which he as- sisted freely as far as his means would permit. The first meetings of this religious body were held at his house. Tuerke died many years ago, also at a very old age. Sittereing moved to Franken- muth when that township was organized. His three daughters married Americans, and are yet living in this county.
" A larger German emigration followed in 1845. They were inhabitants of Franconia and a portion of Bavaria, who felt them- selves oppressed at home, and under the advice of Pastor Loehe decided to emigrate to America, to follow the Lutheran creed in all its strictness, and, as far as possible, to convert the Indians. They numbered 15 in all, under the guidance of Pastor Kraemer. Pastor Schmidt, of Ann Arbor, had selected for them a place on the Cass river, where they soon located, built a church, school and parsonage, and gave the settlement the name of Frankenmuth. They began to clear the land, and their chosen duty of converting the red man, but the latter soon left the neighborhood. The num-
ber of the white settlers rapidly increased, until they now make a flourishing and thickly settled township. In 1847 another colony was formed, by a man from the same country, and of the same re- ligious denomination-Frankentrost, about 12 miles east of the Sag- inaw river, in the middle of the forest, no river near, no road leading to it for over 10 years. The soil was as rich as that of Frankenmuth, and was very flat and swampy. Malarious fevers increased; also the hardships of the first settlement, and men, as well as women, were quickly worn out.
" A third settlement, Frankenlust, was founded in 1848, by the Rev. Sievers, who resides there at the present time. This location was by far better than that of Frankentrost, being only three miles from the site of Lower Saginaw (now Bay City), and no great diffi- culty to make new roads. Two more German settlements were founded in 1850; Amelit and Frankenhuelfe. Quite a number of these settlers, mostly mechanics, moved into Saginaw City and Bay City, where they now have churches and schools. These col- onists were mostly small farmers and mechanics. The educated classes were represented by the ministers, teachers, several young matrons, and one physician, Dr. Koch, of Frankenmuth, who set- tled at the latter place in 1847, from Ragensburg, Bavaria. He was a very active man, with good, common sense, and worked so hard that at 60 years of age he was entirely worn out.
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" These German settlers worked steadily on their farms, never taking any part in the lumber and salt interests of the Valley, and at present are in very comfortable circumstances. They are truly conservative in their religious life and customs, in politics invari- ably casting a heavy Democratic vote. The German language and customs will live longest among these settlers and their descend- ants. Those Franconians had never a pauper at the county farm, and only once or twice a criminal in the county jail. No small praise for a population of nearly 10,000, and for over a period of 35 years. It is not likely that colonization from religious motives will take place again, religious liberty being more extended at the present time; but their relations and friends will follow them to their new home, and most likely scatter over the county.
" In 1849 and the years following, another wave of emigration struck the shores of Saginaw river. In 1848 there had been an uprising in Germany, for liberty and unity, which was followed by a severe and often bloody reaction. Many who had taken a more or less active part in the revolution, left the old country and came to America. Michigan had at this time the only successful emi- gration agent, Mr. Thompson, of Flint, by whose influence many Germans were directed to Saginaw county. These settlers be- longed largely to the educated classes-lawyers, physicians, mer- chants, manufacturers, army officers and others. A great many had fought in the revolutionary ranks in Baden, among others. Alberti, Otto, Fischer, Stuber. They came from all parts of Ger- many, but among them were a large number of Westphalians. The latter established a settlement of their own, called Cheboy- gonun, in the township of Blumfield, which latter received its name from a noted leader among the Germans. The first settlers there were Post, Van Vliet and Diekmann. It may be of some interest to recall how we found Saginaw City at this time, some 32 years ago.
"The access was not easy. From the East to Detroit we could come very easily by railroad and steamer. From Detroit to Pon- tiac we rode on the railroad of that name. The engine looked like a large coffee mill; one car was attached, about as large as a street- car of to-day, which jumped from the strap-rails about every lialf- mile. All passengers then got out and assisted in replacing the car on the rails; so we made 26 miles in four hours. But the trip was not so unpleasant as may be supposed, for, on seeing many ripe blackberries, we left the car, gathered them, and went on board again. From Pontiac to Saginaw it took two days more, over very rough roads. The city of East Saginaw did not exist. On the north of the present city was a single farm-house; in a small clearing on the south, where are now located the city gas works, was Buena Vista, containing the saw-mill, a small boarding-house, three or four shanties, and the ' Halls of the Montezumas.' This was the residence of the owner, Curtis Emerson, remarkable for his eccentricities and great thirst. West Bay City did not exist. there being only one house near the river. Bay City, or as it was
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commonly termed, . Lower Saginaw,' had a hotel, thc Campbell House, about half a dozen small frame houses and a dozen or more shanties. Zilwaukce had just been located and contained only one family, one house and three shanties. Carrollton consisted of a small log house. Saginaw City, the most pretentions place in the valley-the county seat then as now-had about 200 inhabi- tants; the big hotel was closed; the warehouse contained onc stove, but was otherwise empty; several larger honses and also the build- ings of the fort were in a state of great decay; one small saw-mill at work; about a dozen frame honses and as many old huts. The river fleet consisted of one dilapidated stern-wheeler; roads were very few; one, the old Government road, led to Flint; and the river road from Saginaw City to Midland. Between Saginaw and Lower Saginaw there existed no road on cither side of the river. The county was covered with heavy forests; was quite swampy; only small clearings, and the greater portion of those along the Tittaba- wassec river.
"Living was very cheap, as far as gamc and fish were con- cerned-a full barrel of white fish costing two dollars, and a full grown dcer about one dollar; but other things, which are com- inonly considered the necessaries of life, were luxnrics here. Flour came from Detroit, and sometimes not at all; fresh meat we had only when our only butcher, Hayden, killed a cow and sold the meat; when this was gone, he locked up the butcher shop again for the next three or four months. Beer and wine were very un-
common, but whisky was plenty. The country had the name of being very unhealthy and deserved it in some respects. Malari- ous diseases, such as fever and agne, were very prevalent in the fall season, so that once in Bay City, out of a population of about 120, I could not find a single person able to stand on his feet. Otherwise the country was very healthy; typhoid fevers unknown; consumption only imported, and even some very bad cases got well, and are living at the present time.
" Crime was at this time unknown; we had no jail and didn't want one. We had a poor-house, to be sure, and the keeper of it, Nelson Gerry, who held this position for several years, threw it up in disgust, when the first panper was entered. Churches, we found none, there being onc in Frankenmuth, but at entirely too great a distance. In the 'high times ' of Saginaw City, they had started everything except a Church. The first one built in any of the cities, was the Lutheran, of Saginaw City.
"Life was quite pleasant here, there being many well educated people from New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. School was held now and then, in a small building at Saginaw City. Only since 1852 has a change taken place for the better. The country contains a population made up of Americans, French, Canadians, a few Irish and the Germans. The Indians had wig- wams on the Tittabawassee, opposite Freeland, ncar the mouth of Swan creek, and at Chesaning and Taymouth, until they were removed to Isabella county. We cannot complain about the
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Americans of this time; they were always kind and obliging, and lent a helping hand where they could. Even such as were com- monly called 'not over-honest,' were honest in their dealings with the Germans. The lawyers who came here all went to farm- ing, one receiving afterward a judicial office, which he held for many years, and to the present time, showing that he gives satis- faction to the people.
" Of the pioneer physicians, your speaker is the only survivor. Drs. Koch and Sauner died of old age; Drs. Francke and Fuchsius met with accidents, both of them being drowned in the Saginaw river, at different times; Doctor Bondaniels shot himself at East Saginaw. The army officers, of whom we had many, mostly belonging to the Austrian and Prussian armies, did not do very well; some got very poor, and all left the county years ago. To show to what hardships they were exposed, let me mention two brothers, formerly lieutenants in the Prussian army, and noble- men by birtlı. Once, during a storm, some neiglibor visited them. He could find neither until he heard a voice, and found that each one had overturned a barrel, crept in with the upper part of the body, let the lower limbs stay out, the latter being covered with high boots, all the time the rain pouring through the roof in great sheets. The other men of '48 mostly went to farming, and are usually termed 'Latin farmers,' because they understood Latin better than farming. They found farming twice as hard as oth- ers on account of their inexperience, and their being unused to bodily labor.
" In 1854, the German Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was organized, which is in existence now. Later, but not in pioneer times, the German lodges of I. O. O. F. and K. of H. were cre- ated. The first Turnverein was established at East Saginaw, and soon required a hall. Out of it grew the singing and the school sections. It was subsequently merged into the Society Germania, giving to the latter those splendid buildings and gardens of their own that form the center of all German life. In the same way, in 1857, was the Turnverein of Saginaw City established. Soon followed the Singverein and the Schulverein, which afterward were merged into the Verein Teutonia. The Arbeiter Vereins were es- tablished at a later period, and are doing a very successful work in relieving the sick, the widows and orphans of their members.
"In 1858, a militia company was formed at Saginaw City. Dr. Francke was the first Captain. Under Capt. Henry Miller, they formed Co. K of the 5th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., the so-called 'Fighting Fifth.' Many of the members were left on the bloody battle-fields of the 'Old Dominion.' Another company was formed at East Saginaw, which, under Capt. Emil Moores, formed part of the 2d Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf. Many other Germans joined other regiments of this and adjoining States. All the men did their duty bravely, and many gave their lives for the preservation of their adopted country.
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"In the following years, the emigration to this county came in a large measure from the northern portion of Germany and Lower Germany, but mostly from the Province of Pomerania and the States of Mecklenburg. They are a healthy, strong, industrious and economical set of men; work for a few years in the saw-mills and salt works, then with their savings buy some wild land, cut the trees into cord-wood, at the same time clearing their farms, and soon get a moderate competence.
"At the close of my speech, which may have been tedious to many of you, let me ask, and try to answer, two questions. The first one-Did we do well in coming here? did we find what we were in search of? The second-Has our coming here benefited the county and the State ? The first one can only be answered from individual experience, but I believe it ought to be answered with 'yes.' If any one came here with the hope to find a new 'Eldorado' where he could get rich, mighty and powerful without work, he found himself deceived, and deserved no better fate. But any one who wanted to work, to keep his expense within bounds, soon saw the bitter care for daily food flee him; saw him- self able to furnish not only subsistence, but the decencies of life for those who depended upon him, and he felt himself a man-a free man-an equal of the best. In politics, even if not all our desires are fulfilled, we find a great step forward from the 'Old Faderland.' It is the opinion of the majority of the settlers that no one of them returned by his own choice to Germany; that such as went there, even with the purpose of remaining, came back very quickly, and don't talk any more about their visions of staying there.
"The second question I believe I can also answer with 'yes.' The Germans learned a great deal from the Americans-enter- prise and self dependence; but the Americans have also learned something front the Germans-steadiness of purpose and honesty to the trusts reposed in them. The American settler was far ahead of his German neighbor during the first years, but after 10 years the tables have turned, and the Germans are leading. As a proof of this, compare the adjoining towns of Frankenmuth and Bridgeport. Honesty to the trust imposed upon them, is shown by the fact that although we have had many defaulters in public offices, not one of them was a German. A great many held offices of consequence, as treasurers, sheriffs, register of deeds, etc. The German members of the Board of Supervisors are respected and influential. Of city offices the Germans have had their share -chiefly of such as gave plenty of work and no income, viz .: Water, Cemetery, School, Fire and Poor Boards.
"Let us devote our time as we have done so far, to the welfare of our county, so that our nation may become a wise, free and powerful one, and this Republic a model for all countries to imi- tate. For this purpose let us work and strive, each one for him- self, and for all."
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There is every probability that the organization will be con- tinued; that it will be free from all these petty disagreements which oftentimes creep into such societies is to be hoped. Let nativeism be observed at its meetings and in the households of its members; let it be forgotten in politics and trade, and the welfare of the or- ganization is a certainty.
CHAPTER VI.
SKETCHES OF HISTORY.
In local history, a large number of important events have to be recorded, some of which claim a detailed account, others merely a mention. In the former instance a chapter may be devoted to each topic, while in the latter it is only necessary for the writer to group all in one section or chapter of the book. Here, then, will be treated smaller items which go to make up a county history. Each of them gained some attention from the people of the past, some of them are known to those of the present, and all will be instructive to the coming generations.
ERA OF TERRITORIAL ROADS.
Some years after the great western highway to Chicago was laid off, the Council of the Territory directed some attention to the northern districts, and declared, "that there shall be established a Territorial road from Mt. Clemens up the north branch of the Clinton, following as near as practicable the route of an old sur- vey, to Romeo, thence on the most elegible and direct route to the to the seat of justice in the county of Lapeer; thence to the seat of justice in the county of Saginaw; thence to the northern ex- tremity of the Peninsula; thence to the Sault Ste. Marie in the county of Chippewa. The commissioners appointed to establish this great thoroughfare were Daniel L. Roy, Horace H. Cady and Nathaniel Squires. If they were unable to performn the entire duty, they were instructed to establish the road, at least, as far as the seat of justice in Saginaw county. This authority was given by a Legislative enactment under date of March 4, 1831, and the duty of the commissioners carried out faithfully so that within the succeeding year the northern highway was open to immigrants. Within the 12 months succeeding, the people of the township of the county of Saginaw desired to lay out township roads. Eleazer Jewett was appointed deputy county surveyor.
The earliest records of road surveys made in Saginaw township, are reviewed as follows:
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