USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 79
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Mr. Bow's portrait is given in this work on page 311.
Rodolphus Burt, farmer, secs. 3 and 4, was born at Peru, Ben- nington Co., Vt., July 7, 1812, parents were Scaminel and Sal- lie Burt, natives of Massachusetts; father was a soldier in the war of 1812; grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and great-grand- father was one of the three men killed in the " Boston Massacre," in March, 1770; latter came to this country soon after the Pilgrims, and was a pioneer of Massachusetts. Mr. Burt was reared on a farm; received education in district school; in 1861 went to Scott Co., Ia., and in 1862 located in this tp .; is Republican in politics; was married Feb. 19, 1835, to Elizabeth, daughter of Dan and Eliza Hitchcock, born in Windham Co., Vt., July 25, 1815. Of 5 children 1 survives, Susan, wife of James E. Hayes, born Nov. 2, 1839; Fidelia was born Sept. 9, 1837, and died July 23, 1863; Joseph R. was born April 2, 1855, and died April 19, 1881; Andrew was born May 4, 1859, and died Feb. 5, 1862. His wife's grandfathers were Revolutionary soldiers.
Lilly Cook, farmer, secs. 22, 23, 25 and 26, was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., July 16, 180S; parents were John and Elizabeth Cook, natives of King Co., R. I .; father was a soldier in war of 1812; brother in "Sullivan's Expedition" against the Indians; subject of sketch is a carpenter by trade, and worked at that business till 1841; came to Michigan in 1839, and in 1841 purchased a farm on sec. 23 of this tp., which was mostly covered by timber; had to go to Flint tomill; was tax-agent of the American Fur Company for some time; assisted in building the first school-house in Bridgeport tp .; now owns 360 acres of good land; was married Nov. 2, 1830, to Prudence Butts, who was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Marchi 2, 1809. Her parents were Abraham and Abigail Butts; father a native of Rhode Island, mother of Long Island. Of their children, 6 are living-William L .; Ruth A., wife of Geo. Rowe; Adeline A., wife of John Crosby; Eliza, wife of Calvin Stafford; Abraham A., and Mary A., wife of Robert Letterman. Mr. Cook is one of the staunchest Republicans in his district, and as a representative and honorable citizen we present his portrait in this volume, page 345.
Daniel Ellis, one of the pioneer settlers of Bridgeport tp., was born in Orange Co., Vt., Nov. 22, 1812. His parents, Elihu and Abigail Ellis, were natives of Keene, N. H., and when Daniel was 15 years of age he went to St. Lawrence, N. Y., where he remained till of age. In 1836 he came to Tuscola Co., Mich., and the year following located in Bridgeport, arriving there by the Indian trail from Pine Run. He assisted in building the first roads in the tp. He was forced to go to mill at Flushing, and remembers when
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teams came from Lansing to get lumber to build the first frame honses in that village. He was married Jan. 14, 1846, to Matilda Leasia. Of their 7 children 5 are living-George W., Charles D., James H., Julia, wife of John Hurpel, and Eugene A. Mrs. Ellis died in November, 1859, and December, 1861, he married Frances Fritz. Of their 7 children 4 survive-Emma, Anna, Edwin and Freddie.
William L. Cook, farmer, sec. 25, was born at Arcada, Wayne Co., N. Y., July 20, 1830; parents are Lilly and Prudence Cook, who settled in this county in November, 1839; subject received his education in district schools; owns a fine farm of 239 acres and adopts principles of the Republican party; was married April 21, 1857, to Rachel M. March, who was born at Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 18, 1829; parents are William and Margaret (Cooper) Murcli. Of their 5 children, 4 are living-Silas G., born Sept. 3, 1859; Lizzie G., born March 23, 1860; Kittie M., born Sept. 29, 1864, and Charles A., born Sept. 28, 1869. Willie was born March 4, 1862, and died 18 days later. Mr. Cook was appointed Postmaster of Cass Bridge under Buchanan's administration, which position he still holds.
Henry S. Edget, retired farmer, sec. 21, was born at Greenville, Greene Co., N. Y., Nov. 26, 1810; parents were Seymour and Abigail Edget; father was soldier in war of 1812, and grandfather served seven years in Continental army; subject of sketch came to this county in 1844; first located in Taymouth tp., thence to Ports- mouth and Saginaw City, thence to East Saginaw, where he was book- keeper for James P. Hayden & Co. for three years; and in 1879, to his present farm; was estimating lumber in the tim ber for 16 years ; is Republican in politics ; was married Jan. 1, 1840, to Eliza, daughter of Jacob and Phoebe Van Sickle, who was born in Sussex Co., N. J., April 1, 1818. Of their 4 children 2 are living-John A., a lawyer of East Saginaw, and Alice V .; wife is a cousin of General Rose- cranz, and a distant relative of Capt. Rosecranz, of Revolutionary fame. Subject and wife are members of First Baptist Church, of Saginaw City.
Louis Fessler was born in 1843 at Baden, Germany; came to this country at an early day with his parents, locating in Tuscola county, where his mother yet lives. In 1853 he came to Saginaw county, where he has been an active citizen. Was inarried in Tuscola county to Miss Rachel Eisenstein, a native also of Baden, Germany. His family consists of 6 children, all residing with their parents at the old homestead in Bridgeport, four miles from East Saginaw. Mr. F. is one of the stannchest Republicans, his first vote being cast for Abraham Lincoln.
Leverett Hodgman, an early pioneer of Bridgeport tp., was born in town of Hartland, Windsor Co., Vt., July 6, 1819. His parents were Lot C. and Mary Hodgman, the former of whom was a keeper in the Vermont State's prison, during the war of 1812. His broth- ers, Timothy and Jonathan, were soldiers. Mr. Hodgman, sr.,
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
was a Major General in the Revolutionary war. Leverett, when 17 years of age, accompanied his parents to Saginaw county, set- tling in Saginaw tp., on the Tittabawassee river, and in 1841, locat- ing in Bridgeport tp., where the mother died in 1838, and the father Sept. 10, 1841. Henceforth Leverett had to make his own way in the world, and had his share of pioneer life. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, as was his father for several years, and a Republican. He was married Jan. 22, 1847, to Betsey J. Kittridge, who bore him 2 children, one of whom is living, Charles F. Frances C. is deceased. Mrs. Hodgman died April 7, 1850, and Mr. HI. was again married June 15, 1872, to Mrs. Cynthia A. Murphy, daughter of Luna and Betsey Thayer, who was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., May 13, 1835.
M. P. Hodgman, son of Lot C. and Mary Hodgman, was born in Vermont, June 11, 1823. He accompanied his parents to this county in 1836, and was here reared to manhood. Mr. Hodgman owns a valuable farm of 80 acres on sec. 24, and is a believer in the principles of the Republican party. He was married Oct. 19, 1856, to Elizabeth Hudson, who was born in Oakland Co., Mich., Feb. 19, 1836. Her parents are Isaiah J. and Mary B. Hudson, of Genesee Co., N. Y. Of their 5 children, 3 are living-Celestia M., wife of George Becker, was born Oct. 30, 1857 (they have two children); Katie V. and James I, at the old homestead. Mr H. lo- cated his present home when in its wild state.
Peter Leasia, farmer, sec. 26, was born at Port Kent, Clinton Co., N. Y., April 5, 1825 ; parents are John B. and Josephine Leasia ; when subject of sketch was four years old, his parents re- moved to Canada East, and in 1836 to Oakland Co., Mich. ; when 16 years of age, he learned the blacksmith's trade, and after a short time at Detroit came to Saginaw City (February, 1842) ; followed hunting and trapping for some years : on one occasion partner and himself speared 13 barrels of white-fish in one November night- the night after J. K. Polk's election; subject worked at lumbering for others till 1851, then worked for himself nine years ; since then has been farming ; cut the old "Portsmouth road " in 1848; is serving eleventh year as Justice of the Peace, and owns 80 acres of land ; was married Jnne 8, 1853, to Ruth A. Cook, who bore him 3 children-Sylvester (dec.), Henry and Almira, wife of James Watson; was again married April 26, 1866, to Mrs. Eliza Walt. They have 1 child, Maud E. M. In 1873 his second wife met her death by the explosion of a can of kerosene oil, while endeav- oring to light a fire.
Charles A. Lull, one of Saginaw county's old and respected pio- neers, was born at Windsor, Windsor Co., Vt., May 17, 1809, and is a son of Joab and Ruth Lull, also natives of Windsor county. Mr. Lull's father was a Lieutenant in the war of 1812, and his grandfather served as Captain in the Revolutionary war. Charles received a fair education, and in 1831 located in Oakland Co., Mich., and two years later in Saginaw county, entering So acres
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BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP.
of land on sec. 1, Spalding tp., being the first settler in Saginaw county, east of the Saginaw river. Ile went to Detroit to enter his land, and while there bought an ox team and cart. He drove them home, over the swamps and through the dense forests up to his own cabin, where his parents, who had settled here the same year, were waiting to receive him. In 1851 he removed to Bridgeport tp., and located 100 acres of land. He built a steam saw-mill at Bridgeport the same year, and operated it two years. He also built the Bridgeport Center Honse. He now owns 160 acres in Spalding, and 140 acres of land in Bridgeport tp. He is a Republican and during the war was a member of the Union League. Hle was married Oct. 3, 1835, to Roxy Whitney, who was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1809, and is a daughter of Ebenezer and Jerusha Whitney, natives of Connecticut. They have 3 children- Adaline, wife of D. A. Pettybone; Charles L., who married Effie Krause, and Marion, wife of I. C. Simons. In January, 1880, the partner of his joys and sorrows passed away, after passing two-score and five years together of wedded life. No man ranks higher in his community and none can look back npon a life of three-score and twelve with less regret, so far as usefulness is concerned, than our respected citizen Charles A. Lull.
William P. Miner, farmer, sec. 21, was born at Sharon, Windsor Co., Vt., June 14, 1834; is son of William H. and Theda (Wheeler) Miner; father born in Connecticut in 1790, was member of "old Springfield Militia Company," kept toll-gate in Bridgeport tp. for 12 years, and died Sept 10, 1863; mother is native of New Hamp- shire, and died in September. 1856; subject of sketch came to this county in June, 1853, and a year later went to Wisconsin, where he was engaged in lumbering, and as a pilot for several years; in 1860 returned to this tp., where he owns 80 acres of land; is a Republi- can, and member of Masonic fraternity; was married Sept. 18, 1860, to Cheslina Hayes; of their 7 children, 3 survive- Carrie S., born June 14, 1865; Frances, born Nov. 7, 1867, and Maynard, born Feb. 7, 1870; wife is a daughter of Alfred and Laura Hayes, and was born in Oakland Co., Mich., Feb. 14, 1839.
Charles D. Pattee, son of Asa J. and Olive (McColister) Pattee, was born in Merrimac Co., N. H., July. 28, 1828; subject's grandfather, Dummer Pattee, a soldier in the war of 1812, was killed at Plattsburg; great-grandfather was a Frenchman, and came to this country with Lafayette, served as Captain in Revoln- tionary war, and died aged 93 years; subject's mother is descend- ant of the McGregors, who were driven from Scotland; subject accompanied parents to Maine, thence to Monroe Co., N. Y., where mother died; was thrown upon his own resources at age of 10 years; in 1851 came to Lenawee Co., Mich .; thence to Gene- see connty, and in 1854 to Saginaw county; in 1861 enlisted in Co. M, 3d Mich. Cav., as Ist Duty Sergeant, and was discharged in April, 1864; re-enlisted in October, 1864, in Co. 1, 15th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., and was Orderly Sergeant of company on detached ser-
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
vice; was discharged Sept. 15, 1865; is Republican in politics, and was appointed Postmaster in 1880; was married Sept. 1, 1850, to Lydia Atherton. They have 6 children,- Flora B., wife of J. Hiram Ellis; John A., Sergeant in the U. S. army; W. Frank, Charles R., Phoebe M. and Fred J. Subject and wife are members of the M. E. Church. Returned from the war in 1865 broken in health, bought 80 acres of land and commenced on it, but on account of ill health sold out and started in the grocery and pro- vision business, but failed. He then returned to the woods, making staves, getting ont shingle-bolts, wood, etc .; was burned out clean in the fires of 1871, saving only a part of his furniture, losing staves, wood, and shingle-bolts to the amount of hundreds of dol- lars, and leaving him bare-handed, with the exception of 80 acres of land well burned over. Bought 160 acres more of timber land on credit, and hired men and went to making staves, etc .; was doing well, when the panic of 1873 struck the country and there was no salc for anything. His land was paid for within $300, but it went under. He left the woods again, settled in the village, where he now resides, and where he expects to remain till he dies.
Albert Procunier, farmer, sec. 19, was born in Upper Canada May 13, 1846, and is a son of Peter and Anise Procunier. He came to Saginaw county in November, 1865, and by industry and economy has succeeded in accumulating 80 acres of good land. He has been engaged in threshing grain for the past few years. Mr. Procunier was married Jan. 7, 1867, to Eliza Shawl, dangliter of Alexander and Eliza DeWitt, who was born in Norfolk Co., Upper Canada, Aug. 28, 1854. They have 1 child, Lizzie S., born Oct. 18, 1869.
Andrew J. Phillips, agriculturist, sec. 5, was born in Oak- land Co., Mich., May 4, 1828; parents were William and Olivia Phillips, natives of Otsego Co., N. Y., who settled in Oakland Co., Michigan, when Pontiac was an Indian trading post and con- tained only two inhabitants; mother subsequently visited New York, and took passage on the boat "Walk-in-the-Water," on her first trip across Lake Erie; father was a teamster, and died in August, 1874, aged 72 years, and his wife in September, 1871, aged 71 years. Subject came to this county in 1851, and for 10 years was engaged in drying lumber; since then has been farming; owns 82 acres of land, and is a Democrat; was married in 1848 to Emily Black- burn. Of the 3 children given to seal this union 2 are living,- Elvira O., wife of J. R. Leadbetter. and Horace E., who married Rosa Tuttle. Mrs. Phillips' parents, Nathaniel and Roxina (Rit- ter) Blackmer; father a native of Canada West, mother State of New York, Canandaigua; Mrs. Phillips born in Niagara Co., N.Y., came to Saginaw county, 1857. His business was a builder and contractor, well known to the older citizens of East Saginaw; died in 1855; mnotlier still living.
Isaac C. Simons, merchant and brick manufacturer, Bridgeport Center, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., March 18, 1839, and is a
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son of Conrad and Sarah Simons, natives of New York and Ver- mont. Mr. Simons' father died when he was yet a youth, and he was reared at Camden, N. Y., and received a fair education. In 1869 he came to Bridgeport and operated a saw-mill for two years. He then formed a partnership with W. H. P. Benjamin, in the mercantile trade. On Aug. 15, 1861, Mr. Simons enlisted in Co. E, 32d Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Forbes, and participated in all the battles of the army of the Potomac. He was honor- ably discharged June 9, 1862. He was married in April, 1871, to Marion Lull. They have 3 children -- Effie, Charles and Edwin. Mr, Simons is a staunch Republican. He manufactured 1,000,000 brick in 1880.
Silas Woodard, agriculturist, sec. 24, was born at Geneva, N. Y., Nov. 11, 1812; parents were Benjamin and Polly Wood- ard; grandfather and two brothers came from England, and settled in Onondaga Co., N. Y .; subject of sketch passed his early life in Cayuga Co., N. Y., and in 1839, came to Saginaw Co., purchasing 80 acres of land, where he now resides; he returned to New York, and in 1840 located in Oakland Co., Mich., and five years later on his farm in this county; was the first settler in county east of plank road; built log cabin 18x24 feet, where he resided 14 years without seeing the smoke of a chimney of a neighbor; is a cooper by trade, and worked at that trade more or less from 1833 to 1879, six years of which in Tuscola Co., Mich .; is Republican; has been Justice of the Peace two terms, and owns 80 acres of land; was mar- ried Oct. 8, 1837, to Elizabeth, daughter of James and Lydia La Rne, of New Jersey, who was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., July 22, 1818. Three children are living --- Esther, wife of E. C. Roberts; Henry, who married Sarah Sutherland, and Wilhelmina; deceased are Leona, Desias, Burt and William. Their flour was obtained at the Thread inills beyond Flint, following trail by marked trees.
BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP.
The territory embraced in the township of Buena Vista was called by the aborigines Tik-wak-baw-hawning, or Hickory Place. Even after the establishment of the American Fur Company's post on the east bank of the river, and for some years after Leon Snay made it his home, this district, known in the United States survey as township 12 north of ranges + and 5 east, bore the singular ap- pellation of Tik-wak-baw-hawning. Justin Smith was the first patentee of lands within the boundaries of Buena Vista. Gardner D. Williams made the first clearing and may be said to have been the first farmer in the township, as just below the business center of the city was the " farm," a small clearing cultivated ouce or twice pre- vions to its purchase by Norman Little in 1849. This was the beginning of agriculture within the township, even as the Emer- son Mill was the beginning of its manufacturing industries.
NAMING THE TOWNSHIP.
Emerson, who located at Saginaw City in 1846, was accustomed to cross the river in the morning, attend to his milling business until evening, and then return to the town of Saginaw. This pro ceeding became distasteful after a year or so, and he determined to make a home for himself.
In May, 1847, prior to his actual settlement on the east bank of the river, he heard loud words telling of anything but what is friendly or complimentary. Walking quietly toward the shanty, from which the sounds proceeded, he saw three females, attired in working costume, standing by their wash pails; heard them treat- ing one another to abusive harangues, even listened to their indnl- gence in language that would make the most profane man on the "drive " turn pale, or drive him to flight. The mill-owner never quailed; he was determined to witness the denouement.
After a prolonged debate the argumentum ad judicium failed, and that of the staff was enforced. Soap, suds, clothes, pieces of wood, all portable articles within reach, were cast at fair heads by fair hands, until Emerson rushed among the amazons, appealed to their modesty, and succeededin arranging an armistice, ifnot a per- manent peace. Returning that evening to Eleazer Jewett's house, he described vividly the battle which he witnessed, when Mrs. Jew- ett remarked, "It was a regular Buena Vista." "Yes, that it was," replied Emerson, " and I will call the place by that name." Sub- sequently, when he opened a store there, built his first home and gathered round him a few industrious working men, the district east of Bristol street bridge, extending to Brady Hill cemetery,
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won that name, and his honse he was pleased to call "The Hall of the Monteznmas." It is thought, however, that the name was con- ferred in honor of the Union victory during the Mexican war. In 1850 the township was organized under the name of Buena Vista. To render the name as applicable now as it was then sarcastic, is the work of later settlers, and in the accomplishment of this work, there seems to be a rare nnanimity. The "Hall of the Monte- zumas " was burned in 1866, when the following five verses, at once mysterious and rude, were written:
LAMENT FROM THE HALLS OF THE MONTEZUMAS.
I'm growing, I'm growing fat-I really don't know why, For on my short allowance a very rat would die ; It cannot be the " liquor law;" for that I came too late ; Besides, for that I'm well supplied,-thanks to my friend Haight.
Time was, a very short time since, when I was really lean; A slimmer and genteeler man was nowhere to be seen ; One little, little month ago-and that's what makes it odd-I Could number every single rib there was in all my body.
But now I'm plump, I'm very plump; few I know are plumper; And my swelling cheeks are of a hue that stains a rosy bumper ; I always hate fat men ; I can't conceive why I Of all men living should be doomed to such obesity.
My legs were very small indeed, the legs I wore in spring; My arms and hands were very lean, my fingers just the thing ; But I've had to cast my coat aside, my boots, my gloves and vest, And with folded arms have gazed upon the pants I've loved the best.
This thought is ever in my mind, and will not thence away: 'Tis Daniel Lambert's ghost by night, and Daniel's self by day ; Then take the solomn chorus, boys, its mournful notes roll on, I'm growing fat, I'm growing fat ! Alas, poor Emerson !
In the following sketch, written immediately after the death of the Montezumian, the events characteristic of his life are re- viewed :
Curtis Emerson, the pioneer citizen of Buena Vista, was born at Norwich, Windsor Co., Vt., Feb. 4, 1810. He came to Michigan in the spring of 1836, when it was a Territory, and located at De- troit, where for 10 years he was engaged in the manufacture of malt liquors. He removed to Saginaw City Dec. 26, 1846, and the following 4th of July to the east side of the river, and named his location Buena Vista, in honor of Gen. Taylor's victory over Santa Anna, Feb. 22, 1847. Mr. Emerson bonglit the property known as " Emerson's Addition " to East Saginaw, which consisted of a steam saw-mill, a boarding house, two dwelling houses, a black- smith shop, and a barn, and 171 acres of land, the mill being located on the present site of the City Gas Works. There were only four mills on the Saginaw river at that time, and Mr. Emerson had plenty of sawing to do. He brought the greater portion of his logs from the Cass river, his lumber camp being situated within half a
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
mile of Caro, the present seat of Tuscola county. There were no hotels in East Saginaw when Mr. Emerson located there, and for many years the " Halls of the Montezumas " was an " open house " to all travelers far and near, and many of the pioneers and early settlers of Northern Michigan remember Mr. Emerson's genuine hospitality with feelings of deepest gratitude.
In 1837, the first year of his residence at East Saginaw, Mr. Emerson shipped to C. P. Williams & Co., Albany, N. Y., the first full cargo of clear lumber shipped from Michigan. In 1849 Mr. Emerson, in connection with three others, constructed the first steamboat on the Saginaw river. It was christened the "Buena Vista " and was engaged in carrying passengers, lumber, and towing rafts to the bay. About 1855 or '56 Mr. Emerson retired from the lumber trade, and devoted the remainder of his life to the real- estate business. He was never married, and liis only sister, Mrs. Atwater, died many years ago.
Curtis Emerson was a man in whom the citizens of Saginaw county had the most implicit confidence. Always honest and up- right in his dealings with his fellow men, lie enjoyed the good will and esteem of all classes since his entry into Saginaw county. He was ill during the past 10 years of his earthly pilgrimage, but bed - ridden only a few months. On Feb. 11, 1880, he was " gathered to his fathers," and a few days following his remains were laid to rest.
FIRST REGULAR SETTLEMENT IN THE TOWNSHIP.
Curtis Emerson located just outside the original plat of East Sagi- naw in 1847. At that time there were only two dwelling houses, a boarding house, a blacksmith shop and the Emerson saw-mill and office. One of the houses was the property of Capt. Leon Snay; the others may be said to belong to Emerson. In 1848 he fitted up the blacksmith shop as a store, and succeeded in gathering round him a limited circle of genial spirits, who made his store their church, school and public hall, and were not slow, when circum- stances pointed out such a summary course, to adjourn to his dwelling-house. This settlement actually existed in 1848-'9 on the river front, near the foot of Bristol street, above the " Hoyt Plat." This mill is referred to in the county history as built by Harvey Williams, for Mackey, Oakley, Jennison and Little in '36, and as purchased by Curtis Emerson and James Eldridge 10 years later.
PATENTEES OF U. S. LANDS IN BUENA VISTA.
The principal portion of the lands of Buena Vista at the disposal of the general Government was entered in 1835-'6. A few entries were inade previously, between 1830 and 1832, but the earliest re- corded in the United States survey dates back to May 31, 1823, when Justin Smith entered a fraction of sec. 7. Up to the period when the last acre of the township lands was purchased (1855) the country was in its wild state. The village of East Saginaw, or- ganized that year, was very primitive indeed; and yet it was so im- proved at that time that it bore the same comparison to the town-
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