History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II, Part 19

Author: Mills, James Cooke
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Saginaw, Mich., Seemann & Peters
Number of Pages: 838

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James W. Cronk afterwards volunteered in the Mexican war and re- ceived a captain's commission. He died some time after, together with his son. Norton, of yellow fever, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, deeply regretted by all the early pioneers. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and one of the most genial of companions, as well as a great favorite among his associates.

Anecdote of Major Mosely

In the days of the fur trade the American Fur Company had a small sloop named the Savage, which brought in goods for trade with the Indians, and provisions, clothing and sundry articles for the settlers, and carried away the quantities of furs which had been collected. This little sloop of only twenty-eight tons burden would leave Detroit and touch at several points on the St. Clair River, taking on such goods as were needed in trade, including some demijohns of very fine whiskey, brandy and rum.

There was at this time an old lawyer named Major Mosely, who lived in one of the block houses inside the stockade and kept a sort of tavern, who had been appointed custom house officer. When the little sloop arrived at her dock, the old major would go aboard with all the pomposity imaginable. and in going down into the diminutive cabin, he would say in an authorita- tive manner: "Nothing must be touched until I examine the cargo." Then the captain would give him a glass of brandy, and he would go on deck and tell the owners "It is all right ; no smuggled goods aboard.

One night just after the vessel came in, the old major said to William R. McCormick, then a boy who lived at the tavern while going to school, "I don't want you to go to bed very early tonight. Something will be left for me at the back door, and when you hear a knock, you and Amanda (the servant girl) go and get it and carry it up stairs."

Sure enough, about eleven o'clock they heard a knock at the back door. and on going there found three sailors with as many demijohns of different kinds of liquors, which they carried up into the garret. This was repeated every time the little sloop arrived, until at the close of navigation the major had twenty-one demijohns of "good things", the very choicest liquors. What became of all this was told by Mr. McCormick many years after.

"About four o'clock in the afternoon a sleigh would drive up to the back door of the old block house occupied by the major, and the driver would knock and go in, saying: '1 want a demijohn of whiskey, one of rum, and one of gin, for the party at so and so's place tonight.' One day when he came the major was out, and I told him I had no authority to give any, and that he must see the major. 'That is all right,' he said, 'the major furnishes all the liquor for the parties, and what is left is always brought back in the morning.' So I went out and found the major, and he said : 'Yes: only tell them to bring back what is left in the morning.'

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY

"The next week there would be another party at the house of some other pioneer, when the sleigh would come around again for the supply of liquid refreshment. All the major's friends knew how he got his liquor, and as they were all one social circle it was no more than right that it should be equally distributed. Such enjoyment at parties I have never seen since : whether it was owing to the kindly feelings that existed among those few families, isolated from the world, or the good effects of the excellent liquor of the major's, or everything combined, I am unable to say. I am inclined to think it was owing to the kindly feelings that existed among the early pioneers, and will continue to exist as long as memory lasts."

The Plague of Blackbirds

As previously mentioned, blackbirds were a great pest in the primitive days of agriculture in this valley, and they came in flocks of thousands. The Williams Brothers had a small field of oats back of the fur company's store, which they had cradled and were about to get it in to save it from the birds, when another brother and some friends came to visit them. The oats were forgotten for the time being, but the birds came heavily reinforced that day to finish them. As they kept coming by the store, one of the party proposed that they see how many birds they could kill with one shot. Ephraim S. Williams had a fine, large single-barreled duck gun which he loaded with mustard seed shot, and commenced firing from the door, as the others drove them from the oats. After firing ten shots and his brother one shot, the boys picked up the dead and wounded birds and put them in a pile in front of the store. As the result of eleven shots they gathered five hundred and forty-five birds, and for days after, in the road and at the edge of the river, there were hundreds that had crawled to the river for drink and died there. This story is given as a strictly true one.

About 1836 the board of supervisors passed a law giving a bounty of two cents per head for blackbirds. The heads were taken to any justice of the peace, whose duty it was to destroy them and give a certificate which could be exchanged for a county order. These orders were worth in those days about fifty cents on the dollar, and redeemable only in store pay. There was one old justice who lived in one of the block houses inside the fort, and to him the boys used to take their bird heads, for a very good reason. Ile was in the habit of throwing the heads into his back yard, after counting them, for the hogs to eat, instead of destroying them accord- ing to law. After the boys would get their certificate, they would ask the old fellow to go down to Captain Malden's and take a drink, which he was never known to refuse, when another of the boys who had kept out of sight would slip into the justice's back yard, pick up the heads and put them into a bag. By the time he got back again to his office, the boy would have the same heads at his door to get another certificate from him. The boys exonerated themselves by saying that, since county orders were worth only fifty cents on the dollar, they had to sell the birds twice to get what the law contemplated they should have. The consequence was that this old justice got all the business in blackbird heads, and numerous drinks thrown in.

Primitive Settlement on the East Side

The first habitation of white men on the east side of the Saginaw River was the branch trading post established by Louis Campau in 1820. It was a rough log cabin situated on the bank of the river, where the Methodist Mission House was afterward erected. This was near the northeast corner of Water and Fitzhugh Streets, so long occupied by the residence of Norman Little. But the Indians would not trade with the enterprising Frenchman

SITE OF PRESENT CITY HALL, 1849

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY

at this place, and he was obliged to abandon the post the following year. No further efforts at settlement were made for several years, and the solitude of the wilderness was unbroken save by the howling of wolves and the occasional whoop of the red men.

In 1832 Albert Miller, while ou a visit to his sister, Mrs. Eleazer Jewett. located land at the junction of the Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers, opposite Green Point. On a beautiful spot along the gently-sloping bank of the stream, he erected a comfortable log house ; and in the following spring was joined by his mother and sister, who moved from Grand Blanc. For several years they lived in this primitive fashion, but amidst the most attrac- tive surroundings, being the first white settlers on the east side of the Saginaw River.

The first attempt to form a permanent settlement was made in 1836, when "Uncle Harvey Williams,' in association with Mackie, Oakley and Jennison, of New York City, purchased a tract of land south of what is now Bristol Street, and erected thereon a saw mill, a stable, and two or three dwellings. At the time this enterprise was regarded by the settlers on the west side as one of doubtful utility, since the capacity of the mill far exceeded the consumption of lumber in the village, and shipping it to other markets at a distance was not dreamed of. The promoters, however, had broader plans than the mere creation of a single industry in the unbroken wilderness. They had visions of a large and prosperous city springing up along the east side of the river ; and they proceeded to survey and lay out an elaborate plat, embracing no less than one hundred and five blocks.

The Original Plat

The original plat was published in the "Map of the City of Saginaw". dated February 1, 1837, a reproduction of which appears on pages 106 and 107: and covered all the land along the river for a space of nearly a mile. and extended back about three-quarters of a mile. Beginning at the southern limits, which was about at the northern entrance to Hoyt Park, there was a street named "First Street" running east and west and intended to cross the low, marshy ground (now a part of Hoyt Park) to the high ground beyond. The next street to the north was "Second Street", the lines of which are probably followed quite closely by Holland Avenue ; and then came "Third Street", now called Bristol Street. Continuing toward the north were ten other streets, bearing numerical names in consecutive order until "Thirteenth Street" was reached at the northern limits of the town. The lines of this street were probably staked very near the present location of Hayden Street. Each block was three hundred feet long north and south. and the streets were sixty-six feet wide; and the total length of the plat was forty-four hundred and fifty-eight feet.

The first street along the river, beginning at "Third Street" ( Bristol). was named "Water Street", and the next, which was two hundred and forty feet to the east, was named "Pearl Street", each of which was sixty-six feet in width. Then came "Broad Street" ninety-nine feet wide, which corre- sponds to our Washington Avenue, and followed by "Marshal", "Clay", "Calhoun", "Branch", "Barry", "Eaton", and "Ingham" to mark the eastern limits. About where "Branch Street" was laid out, or twelve hundred and forty feet east of the center line of "Broad Street", now runs Jefferson Avenue, but the present lines would not coincide with those of the old plat. which was never adopted or its streets opened up.

It is interesting to note that the projectors had in mind the laying out of a Public Square, which was to be on either side of "Broad Street" at "Sixth Street." Had their plans materialized this square would have been

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located on our Washington Avenue very near to MeCoskry Street. All of the blocks now occupied by the City Hall and the gas works, were reserved by the proprietors for their saw mill and allied industries. But in 1838. following the collapse of the speculative bubble, with the consequent shrink- age of capital and credit, the whole enterprise fell flat, the saw mill was shut down, and the well formulated plans of founding a city on this site were temporarily abandoned.

The inscription at the foot of the map of 1837 reads as follows:

"The City of Saginaw lies in the heart of Michigan, at the head of steamboat navigation on the Saginaw River, which is formed by the confluence of the Flint, Cass, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers. all diverging into a rich farming country, and navigable for small craft. The Shiawassee may easily and doubtless soon will be connected by a short canal with the Grand River, by which the trade of all that country and much from the western shore of Lake Michigan will center at Sag- inaw. It will open a water communication from Chicago and Michigan City to Lake Erie, 500 miles shorter than the dangerous navigation through the northern parts of Lakes Michigan and Huron. Building materials of every description, wood, brick and stone, may be procured on the spot, a great advantage over most other places. Many buildings are now being erected, a Court House, Gov't Land Office, and it is expected a Bank also will be located here this season. The large number of mechanics and others employed in the improvements of the place, will create a brisk business and afford a ready market for the surplus pro- duce of the surrounding country. In short, Saginaw possesses advan- tages superior to any other new place in the State, and promises to become one of the most important cities of the West."

As we look at the location of this prospective city, after a lapse of seventy-five years, and compare the high, dry ground to the east and south of the City Hall, with the low, unsightly and malarial-breeding ground upon which very much of East Saginaw was originally built, we cannot but feel that the section from Holland Avenue north to Holden and east as far as Warren Avenue should have been the site of the business section of the East Side. It is true that the narrow strip of ground east of Washington Avenue would have presented some objection, but of scarcely more conse- quence than those of the bayou which once crossed Genesee Avenue at Baum Street, and which are still in evidence. In the former site the ground on all sides is much higher than the level of the present site of the business section, and is above the reach of the highest floods. The selection of the site of East Saginaw in a bayou and marsh ground shows that the location of village sites in a new country is often largely a matter of circumstance and enterprise, rather than of consideration of the natural advantages and convenience.

Curtis Emerson Comes Upon the Scene

For ten years following the financial panic of 1837-38, the village of Saginaw City suffered all the after effects of a speculative boom, and little was done in building or improvements. Many mechanics and laborers, who had found employment in the various enterprises inaugurated by the pro- jectors and land owners, left the valley and the village settled down to a quiet, dormant existence. About the only residents that remained were those who had invested interests in the place, in the way of land holdings which could not be sold, or in stocks of goods the demand for which was largely curtailed. All, however, shared the earnest conviction that event- ually the place would again prosper and become one of the important cities of the State

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY

About the time that conditions began to improve there came to Saginaw City a young man by the name of Curtis Emerson, who, of all the queer characters who ever resided here, was the queerest. Old citizens still grow loquacious when relating his sayings, and smile and laugh with reminiscental glee over his grotesque eccentricities, witty expressions, violent prejudices, monumental profanity, and crackling humor. In person he was diminutive and slight, being not more than five feet two inches in height, and weighing about one hundred pounds, with a complexion midway between swarthy and sallow, keen, fierce, gray eyes, which glared with resentment or twinkled with fun, according to his ever changing moods. He was a plucky little fellow, full of energy and vitality, and when engaged in an altercation would tackle a man twice his size, but was not vindictive, and when worsted in wordy debates or fisticuffs would promptly extend his hand to his antag- onist, and invite him and all the bystanders to liquid refreshments. He was always well dressed in the pink of fashion, and looked as if he had just stepped from a band box.

"Curt", as he was generally called, was born at Norwich, Vermont, February 4, 1810. His boyhood was spent in his native town and in Wind- sor, the same State; and he was educated in the best schools of New England. Ilis father, Thomas Emerson, who was a leading merchant and banker of Windsor, was a man of eccentric character, of violent temper, of kindest heart and bitterest prejudices, of unbending integrity and purpose, while his mother was a meek, quiet, pious and uncomplaining woman, who bore the crosses and burdens of life but a few years. But she blended in the son's nature many of her virtues and fine feelings, which offset, through his life, the peculiar and unpleasant traits of the father. Entering into business under his father's patronage, dislikes and personal quarrels soon rose between them, and "Curt" came west, arriving at Detroit on May 11. 1836.

As agent of a large eastern land company, he travelled extensively for a time through Michigan, Wisconsin, and even west of the Mississippi, but made his home at the Michigan Exchange Hotel. Afterward he went into the manufacture of malt liquors, investing his father's capital in the first brewery in Detroit, situated at the southeast corner of Congress and First Streets, the firm name being Emerson, Davis & Moore. He continued in this business until 1845, when he went into copper mining enterprises, which were a speculative furore in those days.

His Eccentricities

While living in Detroit he was always surrounded by a group of friends, who laughed at his eccentricities and profited by his liberality. Utterly unconventional, he joined in any conversation he might overhear, and vented his ideas with freedom and emphasis. If he did not like the appearance of either acquaintance or stranger, he would without ceremony abuse him to his face. In the early '40s, during the Washingtonian temperance move- ment, when the evils of strong drink was a leading topic in all circles of society, a lecturer named Hyde delivered an open-air lecture on the subject, from a dry-goods box, when "Curt", who was among the auditors, exclaimed in a loud voice :

"You're a -- liar." adding an extremely insulting epithet.

Hyde was not a meek and lowly character, and descending from the box. knocked him down. Emerson was a little dazed, but rising up, came to Hyde with his hand extended, saying :

"You're a good man, sir. Shake hands. You'll get along in this wide world of sorrow and tears. Let's take a drink."

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FOUNDING OF EAST SAGINAW

He fraternized with the Irish element partly because they appreciated his witty sayings, and also because they were mostly strong Democrats like himself. On a St. Patrick's day he turned out in the procession with an abundance of green ribbons in his coat and hat, and ordered a supper in the evening at the Michigan Exchange. When Curt went into the dining room he thought it was not worthy of the occasion, and mounting the table he went from one end to the other knocking off all the dishes in his progress, and then held the supper in a restaurant. It was certainly a big affront to Dibble the landlord, but he didn't complain, for Curt always settled for the damages.

One day his father, who was generally called the "Deacon", came to Detroit to see how his sons, Curt and John, were getting along. He learned that they had gone on a jamboree, and started out in search of them. At Dan Whipple's saloon on the west side of Bates Street, between Jefferson Avenue and Larned Street, he heard a tremendous racket, and looking in saw his two sons endeavoring to outdo each other in destroying the bar room. There was no fight or quarrel, but pictures were being broken, mirrors smashed, glasses and decanters dashed to pieces, while Curt was making a frantic effort to over-turn the bar. The old gentleman smiled at this evidence of recklessness, and poking his head in the door, said :

"Go to it, Curt! Go to it, John! I'm proud of you. Landlord, that will be all right.

Curt was a great friend of Mfred Williams, always dubbed "Salt" Williams, because he was interested in the salt works at Syracuse, New York, and agent of its business in the West. At one time he engineered a successful corner in salt in this State and Wisconsin, gathering in nearly $160,000 in profits. He also was an eccentric character, of medium size and elegant in carriage, witty, fond of fun, and an inveterate joker. On one occasion when the two friends left for Buffalo on a steamboat. another steamboat forged up to them and an exciting race ensued. "Salt" knew the other boat and offered to bet one hundred dollars that it would arrive at Buffalo first.

"Done," cried Curt. "No boat afloat can beat the boat I'm sailing on."

In a little while the other boat drew ahead. Curt consulted with the captain and learned that there was a consignment of hams and bacon on board.

"Put them down below," he said, "I'll pay for them."

The captain objected to this, but Curt finally had his way, and several thousand pounds of perfectly good meat went under the boiler, Curt helping as stoker. The safety escape valve was fastened down, and the boat trembled under the increased speed, but when Curt emerged from below the rival steam boat was a mile behind.

"Salt" didn't like to be beaten, so he offered to bet another hundred dollars that he could pick out the homeliest man on the boat. Curt, whose sporting spirit was thoroughly aroused, promptly took it, and each produced his man. Both were fellow passengers who entered into the fun. \ jury was empanelled, and while they were examining the men it soon became apparent that Curt had won again. "Salt's" choice thereup began making diabolical grimaces to influence the jury, when his backer, who had an im- pediment in his speech and stuttered, exclaimed :

"You, you n-n-needn't se-se-screw your ungly face. find has s-s-s-saved you the tr-tr-trouble."

When the boat reached Buffalo all on board, captain, crew and pass- engers were in an advanced state of alcoholic sprightliness.

CURTIS EMERSON

Born in Norwich. Vermont, February 4. 1810. Came to Michigan in 1836 and to Saginaw City in 1846. Engaged in the lumber business and in 1847 located permanently on the east side of the river at Buena Vista, in a building at foot of what is now called Bristol Street.

MOSES B. HESS

Born at Verona, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1825. C'ame to Michigan in 1837; settled in East Sag- inaw. 1×50. Previous to this he was Postmaster and State Librarian at Lansing; succeeded Morgan L. Gage as Postmaster at East Sag- inaw in 1853.

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FOUNDING OF EAST SAGINAW

Lays Out Village of Buena Vista

As early as 1839 Curtis Emerson visited the Saginaw River, and in December, 1846, he became a permanent resident of Saginaw, being identified with its rise and progress for a period of thirty-four years.

He at once engaged in the lumber business, but not prospering in that to his expectations, he removed in 1847 to the east side of the river, and erected a building near the foot of Bristol Street. On the property which he purchased at that time there was a saw mill, one dwelling, one boarding house, a barn and a small blacksmith shop, which had been built eleven years before by "Uncle Harvey Williams."

In the spring of 1848, Charles W. Grant, another of the early pioneers of the East Side, brought some workmen from Flint, and, with Emerson, commenced the manufacture of lumber in the old saw mill which ever after was known as the "Emerson mill." That year Curt consigned to C. P. Williams & Company, of Albany, New York, the first full cargo of clear lumber ever shipped from Michigan. A store was soon opened and a per- manent settlement begun, to which he gave the romantic name of Buena Vista, in honor of General Taylor's then recent victory over Santa Anna, in the Mexican war. A town was organized in April, 1849, and at the first election held in Emerson's house, nineteen votes were cast, Curtis Emerson being chosen supervisor, Charles W. Grant township clerk, Stephen Lytle treasurer ; and Andrew Evart, George Oliver and Stephen Lytle were elected justices of the peace. The commissioners or highways were Aaron K. Penney. C. W. Grant and Sylvester Webber; the school inspectors were A. M. Hoyt and A. K. Penney ; while the constables named were Archibald Campbell. David Joslin, George Miner and Erastus Vaughn.

In 1850 Mr. Emerson built a two-story house, which he facetiously called the "Halls of the Montezumas", in which he made his bachelor home and was the scene of many rollicking assemblies during which his con- viviality and profanity attained a local celebrity. He was the leader of the hardy pioneers, and many are the traditions of "good old times" that were witnessed in his house. It was burned in 1866, and Emerson mourned the loss perhaps more sincerely than any other, except the death of his favorite dog "Caesar."

The old saw mill was dismantled in 1854, and two years after he closed up his himbering operations and engaged in the real estate business, in which he prospered and in 1863 was rated a wealthy man. On July 4, 1864, he made a demonstration in honor of the day by setting fire to the ruins of his old mill which, it was said, made a very imposing bonfire.

During the Civil War he was what was termed a "copperhead", and a very emphatic denouncer of the "nigger war." One day Zachariah Chandler came to Saginaw to address a political meeting, and when he stepped from his carriage at the Bancroft House there was a crowd, in which was Curt and his dog Caesar. The canine was short in stature and long in body, and, like his master, had an explosive temperament. Emerson and Chandler knew each other, but the former did not speak, merely addressing his dog: "Caesar, if you wag your tail at that man, I'll disinherit you."

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II, Part 19

Author: Mills, James Cooke Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Saginaw, Mich., Seemann & Peters Number of Pages: 838

Author: Mills, James Cooke
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Saginaw, Mich., Seemann & Peters
Number of Pages: 838