USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II > Part 13
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"Uncle Harvey Williams"
Another of the early pioneers to Saginaw Valley was "Uncle Harvey Williams", the eldest son of Alphens Williams who emigrated from Concord. Massachusetts, to Detroit in 1815. As far as Buffalo the journey was made by wagon, but from there to the mouth of Detroit River on a schooner of forty tons burden, called the Salem Packet, commanded by Captain Eber Ward, Senior, the voyage requiring thirteen days. Detained by contrary winds the little vessel could not stem the current of the river, and Mr. Williams was compelled to cart his goods to Windsor and ferry over in a "dug out." In those days the rate for passage across Lake Erie was fifteen dollars, and five dollars a barrel for merchandise.
In the same year. 1815, Harvey commenced blacksmithing on the ground where the Russel House stood for many years, making steel traps, axes, and doing regular custom work for the inhabitants. His business increased rapidly, and he soon added a small furnace, using charcoal for melting the iron, and a single horse to do the blowing. lle commenced casting plows and was very successful, his product soon increased to three plows a day, when the fact was published broadcast as an "evidence of the great progress Detroit is making in her manufactories." The business grew from year to year until it exceeded $100,000 annually. He purchased. set up, and used the first stationary steam engine in the territory of Michigan; he built the first steam engine used in a saw mill in the territory, and his last work in Detroit, in his shop located on the triangular lot at Cass Street, Jefferson Avenue and Woodbridge, was the building of the twin steam engines for the steamboat Michigan.
Late in the fall of 1822. the military authorities at Detroit found it neces- sary to transport supplies overland to the troops stationed at Saginaw, and, knowing the determination and indefatigable perseverance of Uncle Harvey,
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they exerted every influence to persuade him to undertake the expedition. With reluctance he consented to make the attempt, and calling to his assist- ance John Hamilton, of Genesee County, the arduous journey was begun. After eight days of exceeding hard labor, in which they suffered every privation of the wilderness through which no road existed, they succeeded in carrying four tons of supplies from Detroit to the little fort on the Sag- inaw. In making this journey they were obliged to ford the Clinton River five times, and the Thread, Flint and Cass Rivers, as well as the Pine and the Elm, once each. It was indeed fortunate for the soldiers that the trip was successful, for when the supplies arrived the garrison was nearly famished, having been on greatly reduced rations for two days.
From his own observations and from conversations with the officers of the post, he formed the opinion that at some future time the Saginaw Valley would become one of the important points in Michigan. For twelve years thereafter he thought much of this place, and in 1834 the inducements were sufficient to tempt him, with all his courage, to try living in a wilderness forty miles from the nearest habitation of white men. On arriving here his first labor was the erection of a steam saw mill at the foot of Mackinaw Street, the first steam mill operated in the Saginaw Valley. Afterward a run of stone was added to the mill for grinding corn. In 1836-37, he built for Mackie & Company, of New York, of which he had a one-fifth interest, the first steam saw mill on the east side of the river south of what is now Bristol Street, and afterward known as the Emerson mill. This was the mill of its day, and was operated by Uncle Harvey until the disastrous crash of 1837. This was a time when Saginaw became almost depopulated. but his faith in the ultimate prosperity of the valley was not shaken, though he went down in the general crash. In the following year his well known integrity of char- acter resulted in his being employed by the State in the opening of new roads. He constructed the road from Flint to Saginaw, through Bridgeport Center, and in various enterprises for the improvement of communication to the valley, he was among the foremost advocates. Through his influence the light house at the mouth of the Saginaw was established, and for the first year was under his charge.
AAbout 1844 Uncle Ilarvey and his genial wife, who was Miss Julia Tourniaid before their marriage in 1819, removed to a new home at the mouth of the Kaw-kaw-ling, which he called the "Ogah-kah-ning", on Sag- inaw Bay, where he resided for twenty years. He was extensively engaged in the fisheries along the shores of the bay in the months of the spring, and in the summer and fall his operations were extended down the shore of Lake lluron. During the winter his trading with the Indians was extensive, amounting to the aggregate to hundreds of thousands of dollars. So fair and upright was he in all dealings with the natives that he secured to him- self the unchanging regard of all, no man ever possessing a firmer con- fidence of the Chippewas than he.
Those of the white settlers who sometimes shared the hospitality of his house upon the bleak shore of the bay, particularly in midwinter, when the winds from the north blow in wrath, learned to know and appreciate the warmth of his welcome at the threshold; the savory board, the profusion of which was only equalled by its neatness; the luxurious bed for tired, chilled limbs; and last, always grateful, that barrel of pure, crystal water from the bay, with its remarkably fine flavor, soft and palatable.
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The William Brothers
Among the names which will go down to posterity, of pioneers who developed the carly resources of this valley, that of Williams Brothers occupies a prominent place. The father, Major Oliver Williams, a descend- ant of Roger Williams, was born at Roxbury, Massachusetts, May 6, 1774. He came to Detroit in 1808 and soon after established a mercantile business, purchasing his goods in Boston, carting them overland in covered wagons to Buffalo and shipping thence by water to Detroit. During the winter of 1810-11 he built, at the River Rouge, a large sloop which he named Friends' Good Will, and in the summer of 1812 made a voyage to Mackinaw. There his vessel was chartered by the government to take military supplies to the garrison at Chicago, then a small military and trading post, and to bring back a cargo of furs and peltry. Upon his return to Mackinaw he was decoyed into the harbor by the British, who had captured the fort during his absence, by their flying the American flag, and he and the crew made prisoners of war. The vessel and cargo were taken possession of for the benefit of the British government, the name of the vessel changed to Little Belt, and it formed a part of the squadron captured the following year by Commodore Perry at the battle of Lake Erie. Mr. Williams was paroled, sent to Detroit under charge of British officers; was there at the surrender of the fortress and town by General William Hull, and, with other citizens, he was marched through the province to Kingston, as a prisoner of war. In due time he was exchanged, and made his way to rejoin his family at Con- cord, Massachusetts.
In the fall of 1815 Mr. Williams removed with his family to Detroit, and found his business and personal property scattered to the winds. The town then contained from five to six hundred white inhabitants, and was overrun with eastern people, so he opened a hotel in his homestead at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Bates Street, and gave it the name of Yankee Hotel, with the sign of a golden pumpkin. Three years later he disposed of all his property and purchased a half section of land about thirty miles northwest from Detroit, in the heart of the wilderness of Oakland County, at a place now known as Waterford. The land was beautifully situated in the vicinity of a large body of crystal water, which he afterward named Silver Lake. In a little clearing he built a comfortable house of hewed logs carefully laid up, fifty feet long and twenty feet wide, one and a half stories high, with a shake roof. Here the family commenced to make a farm among the Indians, mosquitoes, snakes, wild game, and fever and ague. He used to say, when asked if they had the ague, "Yes, we have a little about thirteen months in the year.'
The first years of pioneer life in the wilderness were full of dangers and hardships, and they suffered much from sickness, privations, and lack of com- forts to which they had been accustomed in their eastern home. The Indians, however, were very friendly and kind during their sickness, bringing them wild game and berries of the choicest kind. So remote were they from civil- ization that six months would sometimes pass without the mother and daughters seeing the face of a white woman. In this wild life of the Mich- igan forests the sons, Gardner D. and Ephraim S. Williams, were reared, and where they attained to man's estate. Oliver Williams died on the farm at Silver Lake, October 11, 1834, in his sixty-first year. Mrs. Mary Williams, the mother, was a native of Concord, Massachusetts, born January 11, 1777. and died in Pontiac, April 1, 1860, at the advanced age of eighty-three. She was survived by seven children (of a family of fourteen), forty-two grand- children, and sixteen great grandchildren.
GARDNER D. WILLIAMS
Born at Concord, Mass., Sept. 7, 1804. He arrived with others of his father's family, ( Oliver Williams) at Detroit, Nov. 5, 1815. In the spring of 1828, Gardner D. came to Saginaw City, and with his brother Ephraim A. established a fur trade under American Fur Co. In 1829 he married Eliza Beach, Mr. Williams died Dec. 10, 1858. He was first Mayor of Saginaw City, 1857-1858.
EPHRAIM S. WILLIAMS
Son of Oliver Williams, and brother of Gardner D Williams came to Saginaw early in 1828, to take charge of a trading post of the American Fur Co. In a few years the Williams Brothers purchased the rights of the American Fur Co. and the interests of the Campau Brothers, and became the great fur traders of Northern Michigan. He was the first Postmaster of Saginaw City, in 1834 to 1840.
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In 1828 a Frenchman, named Reaume, an old Indian trader, was "factor" of the American Fur Company at the post in Saginaw. Between him and the Campaus there had existed personal difficulties of long standing, which had become an inveterate feud, creating unprofitable divisions among the Indians amounting with them to fierce partisan hatred. The current of savage animosity finally turned against Reaume, and, his personal safety becoming endangered, the trading post was kept closed too much of the time to be profitable to the company. To add to their difficulties, Dequindre, an active young Frenchman, who was sub-agent at the branch post at the forks of the Tittabawassee, had been driven away by a vicious Indian, named Wah-be- man-ito, or the "White Devil", and barely escaped with his life. Taking to the woods he became lost in the labyrinth of forest, roaming about for several days with scanty supply of food, but at length reached the settlement with frozen feet. Judge Abbott, the company superintendent at Detroit, thereupon displaced the Frenchman, and appointed the Williams Brothers their successors on the Saginaw and its tributary.
Gardner D). Williams, in assuming the duties of factor for the fur com- pany, arrived in Saginaw in the spring of 1828, and thereafter made this place his home. With consummate tact and skill he proceeded to place the business on a firm basis, in order to recover the valuable trade which, since the abandonment of the post on the Tittabawassee, had been left wholly to the Campaus, who also had a small post there. He was born September 9. 1804, at Concord, Massachusetts, where his boyhood was spent and his early instruction received in the district school. Coming to the western wilderness with his parents, at the age of eleven years, he was reared among the friendly Indians, and trained to endure without flinching the hardships and privations of rough, frontier life. As he grew to manhood he learned to speak with ease and fluency the dialects of the various tribes in this section : and understood perfectly the Indian character. Owing to his dignity, his strength of will, and his taciturn, self-collected manner, his power over them was absolute; and in all his dealings he was honorable, just and liberal. traits of character which even the untutored savages quickly recognized and understood. Among all classes of inhabitants he exercised a wide influence through his kindly nature and the extent of his business in the valley.
In the fall of 1828 he was joined by his elder brother, Ephraim S. Williams, who was born in the homestead at Concord, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 7, 1802, and came to Michigan with the family in 1815. In early man- hood he acquired an intimate knowledge of the Chippewa dialects, which he spoke with ready fluency, and had much influence with the Indians. Ile was a frontiersman of splendid physical proportions, being tall and erect, and with a commanding presence ; and his mind was well stored with practical and useful information as a result of his observations and experience.
Upon arriving at the trading post within the stockade of the old fort. one of his first duties was to reopen and restock the branch post on the Titta- bawassee, and he chose for his assistants Jacob Graveradt and the two younger Roys. Although prudent friends endeavored to dissuade him from embarking in an enterprise so fraught with danger, even though the com- pany's interests required the venture, he soon after set out with his assistants and re-established the post without serious interference of the savages. Only a short time elapsed, however, before the old warrior, Wah-be-man-ito, resumed his attitude of hostility, and only by the exercise of his native in- trepidity and resolute spirit did the trader subdue the fiery temper of the Indian. and win his friendship.
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One day, while on his way with his outfit to the trapping ground, somewhat loaded with "fire water". Wah-be-man-ito stopped at the door of the little trading post in the depth of the forest, and in an insolent and defiant manner, which only a half-drunken Indian can assume, he demanded, "Mish-sha-way." (William's name, meaning Big Elk), "give me whiskey." It was refused. He placed his hand upon the handle of his tomahawk, and repeated the demand more fiercely than at first, and was met by another refusal as defiant as the demand. The infuriated savage then sprang at Williams with his tomahawk uplifted and aimed a blow at his head, which had it not been dexterously avoided would doubtless have been fatal. With a well-seasoned hickory club the trader defended himself, knocking his savage assailant to the ground. Ile was about to continue the punishment when the discomfitted red skin begged for mercy. Upon getting to his feet and recovering somewhat from the effects of the stunning blow, he walked out of the trading house and sat down in front of it, apparently in deep thought. He soon called to the determined and resolute trader and very humbly expressed great sorrow and mortification over the outrage he had attempted ; and to attest his sincerity, he promised that he would bring his next furs to his new friend Williams. This promise he kept faithfully, and became the fast friend of the man at whom he had aimed a deadly blow.
The Williams Brothers soon after took over the business of the American Fur Company, which was growing to large proportions, and the following year purchased the trading post of the Campaus, the elder, Louis Campau, having gone to the Grand River in 1826. These moves quieted the danger- ous spirit of rivalry that had already culminated in some serious affrays between the Indians and those who had become parties to the feud, and peace once more prevailed in the valley. Thus the brothers controlled the fur business of a large portion of Michigan ; and about 1830 and for several years thereafter occupied the red warehouse at the foot of Mackinaw Street.
Personally, Gardner D. Williams, like others of the family, was generous and hospitable, as many of the old residents, who have sat at his table and refreshed themselves after a long journey through the woods or by the river, have testified. As a husband and father he was kind and considerate, a thoughtfulness which he extended to relations and kindred who sought his aid. His influence in the community was considerable, and was exercised with judgment as consistent with his views of justice and right.
During his useful life he held many public offices, both under the federal and State governments, in all of which, as well as those of a local character, he acquitted himself with honor. At different times he held the office of Indian farmer and interpreter, for the duties of which he was well fitted. Ile was a commissioner of the first board of internal improvements, appointed March 21, 1837; was county judge of Saginaw County for several years, was elected senator from the Sixth district, in November, 1844; and received the office of circuit court commissioner of this county during the same year. In 1840 he was appointed to the office of postmaster which he held for many years. Mr. Williams died at his residence in Saginaw City, December 11, 1858, in his fifty-fifth year. Mrs. Elizabeth Beach Williams, widow of G. D. Williams, died September 27, 1862.
Ephraim S. Williams, who also occupied a conspicuous place in the business and social history of the Saginaw Valley for a number of years, was closely associated with his brother in all trading operations, and lent his aid in developing the resources of the country. In addition to the extensive fur trade conducted by the brothers for about twelve years, lumbering in the virgin forests contiguous to the Saginaw occupied much of their atten-
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tion, and they were the pioneers of that industry in this valley. In 1834 they caused to be erected the first saw mill on the river, their cousin, "Uncle Harvey Williams", installing the machinery and putting it in running order. For several years this mill was of more than sufficient capacity to supply all local needs in building material, and some of the lumber cut here was shipped in sailing vessels to the market in Chicago.
Mr. Williams, like his brothers, was a life-long Democrat of the Jack- sonian school: and in 1834 was appointed the first postmaster of Saginaw Citv. This office he held until 1840 when, upon removing with his family to Flint, in Genesee County, he resigned the office to which the brother, Gardner D., was then appointed. Ile was also prominent in Masonic affairs. being a Knight Templar. Socially, he was peculiarly affable, with fine con- versational powers; and his knowledge of Michigan history was often said to be encyclopedic in volume and accuracy. For many years he was an active member of the Michigan Pioneer Society, to whose archives he con- tributed some of the most valuable historical papers.
On March 13, 1825, he was married at Auburn, Oakland County, to Miss Hannah M. Gotee, who was born at Aurelius, New York, June 5, 1809. She came to Michigan from Buffalo on the first trip of the steamer Superior' in May, 1822. After rearing a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, she died in Flint, on February 12. 1874. Mr. E. S. Williams. after leading a life of high integrity and usefulness in his home town, died in Flint, on July 20, 1890, in his eighty-ninth year.
Among the agents employed by the Williams Brothers, who at different times lived at Saginaw or the immediate vicinity, was Sherman Stevens. To a recognized ability he united a rare vein of romance and sentiment which made him a genial companion and a real acquisition to the social set. He was a master of the Chippewa dialects and spoke the language fluently.
Another trusted agent, who was identified with the history of the valley before the treaty of 1819, was Archie Lyons. He was a fine penman, well educated, and was a musician of skill, playing the violin very effectively. He lived at the Little Forks of the Tittabawassee, now known as Midland, and in skating down on the ice one winter's day, for the purpose of playing for a dancing party, he was drowned. His tracks were found upon the ice next day, to the edge of a hole into which he had plunged. His widow, a bright and agreeable woman of French and Indian extraction, who formerly had an almost unpronouncable name of Ka-ze-zhe-ah-be-no-qua, afterward married Antoine Peltier, of Pine-ne-con-ning, again freeing herself from a remarkable Indian name.
Me-je-au, an Indian of quarter blood, was one of the successful traders employed by the Williams Brothers, and, although he could neither read nor write. he was an accurate clerk in keeping the simple accounts of the time. Thousands of dollars passed through his hands yearly without loss. His system was very simple. A straight mark symbolized one dollar: one ( a muskrat skin or a quarter of a dollar; two O's a half dollar. Instead of the name of the Indian with whom he traded being put down, his totem was drawn, sometimes in fantastic fashion, at the top of the page which recorded the transactions. The totem of Oge-maw-ke-ke-to was a long fish, like a spotted pickerel, which he made with some skill; another's was a beaver. other's were a bear, deer, elk, moose, and various kinds of birds.
The Fearless Neh-way-go
In the history of the Chippewas it would be difficult to find a character so magnificently stoic, or so rashly courageous, as that of Neh-way-go, the young brave whose name was immortalized by Ephraim S. Williams. lle
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was described as a model of native strength and grace; and in early life made his camp at Green Point. About 1829, while engaged in an altercation, he killed the son of Red Bird who lived on the Tittabawassee reservation, and the relatives demanding a forfeit of his life, he went to the mourner's wigwam, where the warriors of the family had assembled, for them to strike at his heart. He bared his bosom, and took a position for the selected number to pass by him and inflict the knife thrusts. Having imposed. as they hoped, the mortal wounds, Indian custom, according to their laws, was satisfied, and he was allowed to depart. While making his way as fast as he could, with his streaming wounds, to his own wigwam, he was struck in the back by a cowardly Indian, receiving a severe stab, but, like the others, not fatal. He was yet able to reach his wigwam, some distance off, where his young squaw was waiting scarcely expecting to see him alive. She dressed and bound up his wounds and, after frightful suffering, he was partially restored to strength. Soon after this incident he moved his camp to the mouth of Kaw-kaw-ling.
On one occasion, when he had come up the river with his squaw to trade with the Williams Brothers, some unfriendly Indians sent word to O-saw- wah-bon's band, then camping at Green Point, that he was at the trading post. The Williams were well aware that if they and Neh-way-go met there would be a dreadful tragedy. They therefore placed a watch for any Indians coming from that direction. It was not long before (-saw-wah-bon and two braves were seen approaching. While Neh-way-go was still stand- ing by his canoe, leaning on his paddle for support, he was told to get into his canoe and make away. This he indignantly refused to do, saying he was no coward, but would await the expected attack. O-saw-wah-bon had mean- while been met by E. S. Williams, and told that he must go inside the post. as he wanted to see him. When he was inside, the door was closed and barred, and he was told that they knew his business, and that he must now give up his knives.
After some parley the wily old chief reluctantly drew a long knife from its sheath and handed it to Williams, who immediately demanded his other knives. He then pulled out another which he had concealed in his back. When they asked him if he had any more, he said "No." E. S. Williams then said they would have to search him, which he refused to submit to. Although O-saw-wah-bon was a very powerful savage. Williams clinched him, and with the assistance of his brother. Benjamin, and some others, they threw him on the floor. Holding him fast, Williams commenced the search. and inside one of his leggings found a still larger knife, a very formidable weapon, and almost as keen as a razor. As it was being drawn out very carefully the Indian caught it by the blade and refused to give it up: and before they could wrench it from his grasp it had nearly severed his hand. They then let him up and dressed his wound.
While this was transpiring others slipped out the back door, found Neh-way-go still standing on the shore leaning on his paddle, while his squaw was sitting in the canbe crying. Taking him up by main force they put him into the canoe, shoved it off from the shore, and ordered the woman to paddle him home, and not to come back. Returning to his home on the Kaw-kaw-ling he soon after fully recovered from his old wounds.
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