History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 23

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

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A survey of a road from Saginaw to the Tittabawassee river was made by Eleazer Jewett, April 12, 1832. This roadway extended a distance of 11 miles and 9.57 chains from a point near the cor- ners of sections Nos. 23, 24, 25 and 26, township 12 north, range 4 east, to a point one chain east of the east bank of the Tittabawas- see in section 2, township 12 north, range 3 east,

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232

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

The next survey was that of the alteration of the Green Point road. This survey began at a point one chain south of the line between townships 11 and 12, and 31 chains west of the corners of sections 3 and 4, township 11 north R. 4 east, and sections 33 and 34, township 12 north, R. 4 east, to the intersection of the Saginaw and Tittabawassee roads.

The third road began at the division linc of the southwest fractional 1 of section 13, township 12 north, R. 3 east, following the west side of the Tittabawassee, to the road leading up that river, a distance of 73.08 chains.

The fourthi road, surveyed in April, 1832, was that beginning on the S. and T. road on a line with the division line of section 26, township 12 north, R. + east, and running 4 miles and 20 chains to a point on the Tittabawassee road opposite Abram Whitney's homestead.

In September, 1833, a road was surveyed from a point on the east bank of the river in a line with the road, which ran between the houses of the Williams brothers, to a point on a line with the Detroit and Saginaw turnpike.

In March, 1834, the road from G. D. & E. S. Williams' store to Green Point was laid out.

The survey of a road from the extreme point of the confluence of the Sliiawassee and Tittabawassee rivers to a point near Stephen Benson's house, was reported at the same time.

The eighth road laid off was that from a point near the old shop of Thomas Palmer in the lower village of Saginaw to Newcomb's house, a distance of 265.44 chains.

Road No. 9 was surveyed from the head of Saginaw river, along the east bank, to the Detroit turnpike on section No. 1. This, with a road starting on the line between sections Nos. 25 and 36, town- ship 12 north, range + east, wliere the Pontiac and Saginaw turn- pike was then supposed to pass, to section 18, township 12 north range 5 east, was laid off in September, 1834. The last road sur- veyed by Deputy Surveyor Jewett was that from a point near the fork of the Tittabawassee to a point in section 19, township 14 north, range 2 east, laid off Oct. 25, 1834.

The county was organized in 1835, Mr. Jewett ceased to act as deputy to the county surveyor of Oakland, and was appointed sur- veyor of the new county of Saginaw. The description of his first survey, under authority of the Board of Commissioners, is as fol- lows: "Minutes of the survey of a road starting from a point where road No. 8 commences; thence northi 50 ° east, 36.50 chains; north, 39 º east, 10. 86 chains; northi 29 º east, 14.50 chains; north 16 ° east, 9 chains; nortlı, 11 ª east, 18.50 chains; north 80 º east, 5 chains; to the section linc between sections 13 and 24, township 12 north, of range 4 east; variation 23° east." This bears date Jan. 8, 1836, and appears to have been the first road surveyed under authority of the home government.

233

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

EARLY MILLING.

The early settlers of the valley substituted cracked corn or corn- meal for wheat flour. The corn-dodger held the same relation to them which the wheaten loaf does to the people of the present. The establishment of tlic village mills by the Williamses did not abolish this article of food, it tended rather to increase its popu- larity, since cracked corn was more easily obtained. In 1834 the settlers desired to change this corn food for something more sub- stantial, and almost universally raised wheat during that year. During the year 1835 many went forth with a sack of grist to Flushing, or perhaps to Pontiac, with the intention of having the wheat ground; but owing to the old-time manner of doing business, the iniller was not always quite ready to perform the work, or perhaps the custom work was so large that one had to wait some days or weeks for his "turn."

It is related that one of the early settlers left his home for the purpose of having a grist of wheat ground; reached Flushing, and there learned that his "turn " might come in a week or two. Dis- appointed and angry, he started for Pontiac, only to learn from the miller, that he might come in two or three days. Here he was determined to stay until that wheat which he carried so far was converted into flour. Anxiety urged him to visit the mill often during the afternoon and night of his arrival, and one of such visits led to the most unexpected and satisfactory results, at least for him. Night came on; the miller slept so soundly that he did not hear the alarm which gave signal when the supply ran out. Not so the northern settler; he heard it, rushed for his grist, cast it into the supply bin, satisfied the alarm, and received his flour. He did not halt to wake up the sleeping miller, but running for his oxen, started that night for his home.

Even after this, men continued to run all the risks of traveling many miles through the wilderness to procure wheaten flour. Many settlers went to the old Thread inill near Flint City, and were agreeably surprised to find everything in readiness there to prepare their grist. Urged by the fortune which attended some of those who went there, Murdock Frazer ventured forth with his ox team, and 30 bushels of wheat. To his horror he found the well known Thread mill in the hands of a millwright, who assured him it could not be made ready for grinding before six days. He proceeded thence to the Flushing mill, where another delay had to be endured; however, there he was fortunate to get his grist ground, and was enabled to return to his settlement on the tenth or eleventh day. Those delays cost him half of the wheat; so that on his return he possessed only so much flour as formed the product of 12 or 13 bushels. In those early days few, if any, of the settlers escaped such losses and annoyances.

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY,

FIRST FERRY.

July 14, 1830, Gov. Cass approved an act empowering the justices of the County Court of Oakland, or a majority of them to grant unto E. Jewett, of "Sagana," or to such other person as they may think proper, a license to keep a ferry over the "Sagana" river at Green Point, for any period of time not exceeding 10 years, with such privileges, and under such restrictions as may be deemed necessary and proper to secure the establishment of such ferry and to protect the rights of the citizens. The act provided that as soon as the county Court should be established in the county of Saginaw, the justices thereof should be invested with the same powers in this regard as are now conferred upon the justices of Oakland. The legislative euthority of the Territory reserved full power to annul or alter the powers and privileges which might be granted by the courts of Oakland or Saginaw.

SECOND REGULAR FERRY.

The Legislature enacted in April, 1833, that Gardner D. Will- iams and Ephraim S. Williams may claim the exclusive right of conveying persons, property and animals across the Saginaw river, for hire, at a point where the Tittabawassee road strikes the river, near the store of Williams. The rates of toll were specified, with a proviso that mail-carriers, public expresses, and troops in the service of the United States, or of Michigan Territory, with guns, stores, etc., should pass free.

At the same period the Williams brothers were authorized to cut a eanal across the island or neck of land, as would enable them to pursue a direet course in ferrying across the river.

FIRST THINGS,

Asa Whitney and Eleazer Jewett set out the first orchard in the county. They selected the best sprouts from the apple-trees which the Indians had set out many years before, and bringing them to their location on the Tittabawassee (section 5), planted the orchard.

Mr. Jewett brought the first swine from Pontiac to Saginaw in 1828. The Indians considered it great fun to kill the hogs when- ever opportunity offered; but owing to the watchfulness of the owners the noble redmen were not generally successful.

In 1832, Eleazer Jewett rafted down the river a quantity of lumber which he purchased at Flint, and raised a frame building, the first in the county, on the east bank of the river, opposite Green Point. Five years later, in the winter of 1837, he moved this house across the ice, and located it near the Campeau trading-post opposite Wright & Company's mills.

235

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

The first brick dwelling-house ever erected in the county was that by George W. Bullock, located on Court street, Saginaw City.

The first mill was the one constructed in 1834 by Harvey Will- iams, situate where is now the Williams Bros' Salt Block. The first lumber sawed in that old mill was subsequently bought by Norman Little.

The first raft of pine lumber ever floated on the Saginaw or its tributaries is said to have been that brought from the Thread mill at Flint in 1832 by Eleazer Jewett, for the purpose of constructing his house opposite Green Point.

The first white farmer was Asa Whitney, who began cultivating a garden in the spring of 1826. In referring to him a pioneer said he "commenced farming on the Tittabawassee, near where Thomas Parker now resides." He was a bachelor, and was accidentally drowned in the spring of 1827.

Alpheus Williams and Joel Day cut the first logs for milling purposes, in 1834, below the mouth of Tobacco creek.

The first regular sale of sawed lumber made in the Valley, was that by Harvey, G. D. & E. S. Williams, to Norman Little.

The only survivors of all the American pioneers in the Territory of Michigan in 1815, are the grandchildren of Oliver Williams, of whom the Williams brothers are members, and Uncle Harvey Williams, son of Alpheus Williams.

As late as 1859, 1,000, 000 acres of land in the Valley of the Sagi- naw, were subject to entry at from 123 cents to $1.25 per acre. The State placed the minimum price of salt-spring lands at $4 per acre, leaving the selling price of improved salt land to be deter- mined by the State's commissioner.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR

did not exercise that baneful influence over the few settlers of this valley which it did throughout the settlements on Grand river, or south and southwest of Detroit. It is questionable whether the settlers paid much more attention to the exaggerated accounts of the advance of Black Hawk's warriors than they would to the reported attack on Drasnovitcheborsk by the prince of Kharizanlinkskoi. Consequently they saved themselves much trouble and all the petty annoyances which civilians encounter in taking the field as militia.

A few men, who subsequently made Saginaw their home, were prepared to go to the front; among them were Captains Marsac and Swarthout; but even their warrior zeal was checked when they learned that Black Hawk and his men were prisoners. In the final encounter with the Indians on the Mississippi, Black Hawk surren- dered, was imprisoned from 1832 until 1835, and about three years after his pardon was granted he died on the banks of the Des Moines in Iowa, and was buried in Davis county in that State.

236

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

STORE PRICES IN 1831-2.

Gradually the old-time trading post of the A. F. Co. gave place to the more cizilized pioneer store. Those were little bee-hives of industry. Every necessary article, as well as a few luxuries, were kept in stock, and business conducted on well-defined principles. The following is a list of prices:

Whisky per gallon

Skein cotton thread

0 6

Young Hyson Tea, per 1b.

Plaid factory, per yd.

2 0

Coffee

Blanket

36 0

Pepper

0 Martin skin

8 0

Cloves

Calico, per yd.

1 6

Allspice

Arm bands, per pair

32 0

Nutmegs

Socks, per pair

2 0

Men's boots

Brown shirting

1 0

Boys' brogans

()

The meat of one small deer

8 0

Venison hams

·kates, per pair

4 0

Beeswax

Buckskin

14 0

Meat of one coon

1 brl. flour

$7.31

Sugar

1 bush. corn

1.00

Indian knife

Tobacco, per lb.

.25

Small bell

Fish-hooks, per 100

1.25

Large bell

24 0)

Pork

Fisher skin

S 0

Hog, weighing 204 lbs.

12.24

Muskrat

2 0

Brl. potatoes

1.1215

Pocket pistol

Beef, per 1b.

.0412

Pocket hkf.

5 6

Salt pork, per 1b.

.10

Blue cloth, per yd.

24 0

Pay for splitting 1,000 rails. 5 to 7.50

Shawl

It appears from this that the word "shilling " was in use among the Indians, as in the foregoing list the price of all the small articles is marked in shillings and pence. In 1831 one of the store-keepers introduced the words "dollars and cents." and henceforth the ambiguous term " shilling " fell into disuse.

SEASONS OF SICKNESS.

Among the numerous troubles which the pioneers of Saginaw had to encounter was the common ague, generated by miasms arising from the lowlands along the bank of the river, and from the decaying vegetable matter of swales in the vicinity. This dis- ease, known also as the " chills and fever," formed a stumbling block in the path of progress, being one of the great arguments presented by the American Fur Company against the settlement of the district by the American pioneers. This disease was a ter-

ror to the men who did come here. In the fall of the year every

one was afflicted, every one shook. Respecting neither the rich nor the poor, it entered summarily into the system of the settlers and became part and parcel of their existence. They all looked pale and yellow as if frostbitten. It was not literally contagious, but owing to the general diffusion of the terrible miasma which was so easily absorbed into the system, it was virtually a most dis- agreeable, if not dangerous, epidemic. The noxious exhalations of

237

ILISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

the swamps continued to be inhaled or absorbed from day to day until the whole body became charged with it as with electricity, and then the shock came. This was a regular shake,-a terrific shake, witlı a fixed beginning and ending, coming on each day or alternate day, with an appalling regularity. After the shake came the fever, and this last state was even more dreaded than the first. It was a burning, hot fever, lasting for liours. When you had the chill you could not get warm, and when you had the fever you could not get cool. It was a change of extremes.

This disease was despotic in every respect. If a wedding occurred in the family circle, it was sure to attack a few if not all those participating in the festivities. The funeral processionists shook as they marched onward to some sequestered spot where the body of their departed friend was to be laid. The ague proper had no respect for Sundays or holidays. Whether they were engaged in the sacred, the profane, or the ridiculous, it came forward to the attack, and generally prostrated its victims. After the fever subsided, you felt as if you were some months in such a prison as Andersonville, or Libby, and, in come cases, as if you had come in collision with a wandering planet, -not killed out- right, but so demoralized that you could enjoy nothing. A feeling of languor, stupidity and soreness took possession of the body, the soul was sad, and the sufferer was forced to ask himself that criminal question, What did God send me here for anyway? Your back was out of fix, and your appetite was crazy. Your head ached, and your eyes glared. You did not care a straw for yourself or other people, or even for the dogs, who looked at you sympathetically. The sun did not shine as it used to,-it looked too sickly by half,-and the moon, bless your soul! the sufferer never ventured to look at it. In fine, you heartily wished that Mother Shipton's prophecy would be fulfilled and this portion of our planet, at least, dissolved.

It was no wonder, after all, that the American Fur Company's officers looked most unfavorably upon the country, and cautioned all against coming here.

The detachment of the 3d U. S. Infantry garrisoning the Sagi- naw Fort in 1822-'3, realized what chills and fever really meant. It was here that Baker, Allen, and a half-dozen soldiers fell vic- tims to it. It was from it that Major Baker and his troops fled, and, owing to it, the settlement of Saginaw was retarded fully six years.

THE REIGN OF SMALL-POX.

In referring to the settlement of James McCormick on the Flint river, it has been stated that his kindness alone to the Indians saved many bands from death by starvation. Later, about the year 1837, the dreadful scourge known as small-pox spread through the villages of the Saginaw and claimed, as its victims almost two-thirds of the Indian inhabitants, sparing the white settlers in

238

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

its march, with only three exceptions. Eighteen years later, in February, 1853, a citizen of Saginaw related the story of famine and pestilence in immortal verse. As this poem is so minute in its description and historical characteristics, it is given, as follows :-

Not far from where our Union meets to-night, Two lovely rivers their broad streams unite ; The one through prairies broad, where wild rice grows, The other from the hills of Midland flows : Through verdant vales and forests wide they run,

And like loved spirits "mingle into one,"

And form a river fair as man e'er saw,

Our loved, our lovely crystal Saginaw.

A broad green belt of fertile bottom land, Converges gently from the golden strand ;

Its borders fringed with stately elm and willow,

While far as the eye can reach, around is seen

Waving luxuriantly the prairie green.

A scene more sylvan I ne'er viewed before, So eloquent with savage legendary lore. It was the month-fairest of all -- of lovely Junc,

When the sweet air was laden with perfume

Of budding floweret, gorgeous prairie rose Which round the scene in wild profusion flows.

And many a feathered songster perched on tree,

Warbled in sweetest strain its minstrelsy. The timid deer, emerging from the wood, Gazed on his shadow in the crystal flood ; Or his lithe limbs in playful sport did lave, Or drank refreshment from its limpid wave. On wing of gossamer, the busy bee,

From forest home, in distant hollow tree, Gathered the sweets from many an open flower,

To deck with wealth his home in sylvan bower.

Amid a grove of elms in the cool shade, An Indian band, its rude encampment made ;

And in the shadow of its branches green

Were warrior, chieftain, children, and maiden seen.

Here were old braves in social circle met, Smoking in silence grave the calumet.

Or here on withes distended, dressed the skin For hunting shirt or graceful moccasin. The infant savage, rocking to and fro,

Its cradle pendant from overhanging bough, Fanned by each gentle zephyr that passed by, While murmuring breezes sung its lullaby.

The patient wife toiling o'er mortar rude, Crushing the grain to form their simple food,

While other forms the lurid fires revealed.

Preparing for the tribe their evening meal. Suspended from the bough, o'er rustic couch,

Hang the dreaded rifle, tomahawk, and poucli,

And implements for fishing lying near- The glittering fly, the net, the barbed spear.

The warrior circle, seated on the ground,

The frugal meal was served-the pipe passed round.

The shades of evening gathered o'er the west, And chieftain, maid, and warrior sunk to rest.

It was the soft and solemn hour, When silence reigned over lake and bower, The silver moon in grandeur led The starry host, and mildly shed

Hon Alfred Holmy

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

Its refluent and unclouded light Resplendent on the tranquil night. And myriads of stars that move; Obedient to the power above, Holding their silent intercourse Onward in their aerial course, Forever sparkling pure and bright 'Mid regions of crystal light. The hour when lovers love to meet. In sweet embrace, in converse sweet ;

Whispering love's tale to listening ears, Their fondest hopes-their wildest fears, When lips meet lips, in raptured bliss, In passion's deep and fervid kiss ; When hearts in rapture fondly blend, And dream not that such moments end ; The swelling breast, the bursting sigh, Love wildly beaming from each eye, Hand clasped in hand and heart to heart, In smiles to meet, in tears to part,- Alas! They cannot last for ever ; Time, chance, or fate may soon dissever ; Then in those eyes we love are starting The pearly tear-drop shed at parting. Gemmed like the morning flower with dew ; One last embrace, one kiss-adieu !

It was the hour when on his cot, No more repining o'er his lot, The toil-worn lab'rer in repose, Forgetful of his many woes; And every sense is buried deep In sweet forgetfulness of sleep, No saddening thought obtruding there, To fester with corroding care; No dreams of dark ambition wake His senses from their tranquil state. Sleep on ! Let no fear beguile, For vice would quail beneath that smile Which on his lips rests playfully- Proof of the heart's tranquillity. Not so with those who nursed in power, Who boast a kingdom for a dower, The wealthy poor, the poorly great- The beggar kings of many a state, Boasting a long ancestral line, And ruling by a "right divine ;" The slaves of fortune or of power, But seldom realize an hour Of gentle peace, of tranquil rest, Like that which fills the poor man's breast. Sleep on ! The eye of Heaven will keep Its guardian watch upon thy sleep.

The moon shone soft from its meridian height, Bathing the Indian camp with humid light, When on the night air, wildly there arose A shriek that startled each from his repose. Some dauger threatened their beloved chief. And each in haste drew near to his relief. Stricken and low by some strange malady, To them unknown, and knowing not the remedy, In vain their prophet chanted incantations, Or in their mystic rites performed oblations ;

242

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

In vain their medicine man his knowledge tried, The strange disease his remedies defied, And ere the morning dawn the chieftain died. In consternation dread, they formed his bier, And o'er his grave in silence shed a tear. But ere another sun had passed away, The chieftain's wife and children stricken lay. Each day increased the horror and the dread, As through their camp the dire contagion spread ; It seemed that fate with unrelenting hand, Had doomed the remnant of their fated band. In vain when, racked with pain, the sufferer cried For help from those untouched-it was denied. Fear held them spell-bound, palsied every sense; To aid was to incur the pestilence.

When writhed the warrior, hadst thou seen The conquering anguish on his mien ; In the last struggle of his stalwart frame, His dauntless courage not e'en death could tame ; His longing eyes fixed on his fragile wife, So loved, alas! the dismal wreck of life ; How as his glazing eyes meet hers in death, He heaved a bitter sigh with his last breath; The last fond look bestowed on things below, He winged his spirit's flight to " MANITO." And near him his attenuated wife, In the last struggle of departing life, With deep despair, tore from her anguished breast The lovely baby thatknew no other rest ; Lest the foul breath of dire pestilence- As yet unstricken-soon might bear it hence, While others prayed for death, in shrieking prayer, And others raved-the madness of despair ; And many a wandering brain, by fever wrought, The burning tongue the crystal waters sought ; Exhausted fell ere they could reach the wave, No hand to help them and no friend to save. In vain the mother cried, the child, the daughter, For one sweet drop, a simple cup of water; While those who reached it with remaining breath, Took their last drop and quivering sank in death. To us in health, it seemed a little thing, To have some friend a cup of water bring ; Yet when 'tis proffercd unto feverish lips Worn by disease, and these its coolness sips, Of sweet refreshments, it will give Strength to the weak, and make the eye revive; Will give a shock of pleasure to the frame, Robbing disease of many a throbbing pain. It is a trifling thing to speak a phrase Of common comfort, or of little praise ; By almost daily use its sense nigh lost ; Sweet drop of comfort, at but little cost. Yet on the ear of him who thought to die Without one gentle word, onc pitying sigh ; To perish by himself, unmourned, alone :- On such an ear will sympathy's sweet tone Fall like sweet music from the distant spheres, And the glazed eyes overflow with crystal tears: Relax the knotted hand, and palsied frame, To feel the bonds of fellowship again. And e'en when death his sad pilgrimage seals, 'Tis joy to know that there is one who feels, That one of the great family is near To shed a tear of pity over his bier.

243

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTT.

Not thus the dying savage that lay

Upon the shore, at Green Point, on that day. Those left untouched by raging pestilence, Dreading the awful malady, fled hence ; Shed on the sufferers one pitying sigh, One frenzied look, and left them there to die. And when the day was ended, and the night Refulgent with the moon's unclouded light, And twinkling stars that gemmed the heavens above, Looked down upon the scene with eyes of love, The solitude was broken by the bowling Of the fierce wolf, around the stricken prowling.

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 23

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