History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II, Part 42

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

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The society also has a woman's auxiliary which was organized on the twenty-eight of July, 1898. Its first president was Mrs. Elizabeth Deibel, through whose efforts the auxiliary grew rapidly. The first officers elected were : Elizabeth Deibel, president: Louise Kessel, vice-president ; Ernes- tine Bluhm, secretary, and Emma Heidmann, treasurer. A short time after- wards an executive board was elected comprising the following women : Mrs. Minna Ewald, Bertha Krukenberg and Anna Plettenberg. The member- ship in 1908 was four hundred and seventy-two, and the number of members lost by death was twenty-one.

- Joseph Seemann.

THE GERMANIA MAENNERCHOR. 1905

THE GERMANIA DAMENCHOR, 1905

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY

The Teutonia Society

This well known and popular society of West Side citizens was organized in December, 1869, by the amalgamation of three German societies. The first of these was the Turn Society, which had been organized in August, 1856: and the others were the School Society and the Library Society, which had been formed soon after. They held their meetings and enjoyed amusements in Ritter's Hall, at the northwest corner of Water and Franklin Streets (now Niagara and Hancock Streets), in a building which is still standing.

When the Teutonia Society had perfected its organization, the members decided to build a new hall of their own, and a lot on South Fayette Street. between Court and Adams Streets, was purchased for this purpose. A school house at the corner of Harrison and Adams Streets, which had been erected by the former School Society for the purpose of teaching the German language, was moved to the newly acquired lot, and the new hall was built as an addition to it. This building was completed in January, 1871, and was used for meetings of members of the society and various amusements given by the various divisions. In these social activities the singing sections gave concerts, the dramatic section presented plays, held masquerade balls, and otherwise added materially to the gayety of the town.

In the Summer of 1872 a fair was held in the new hall, which placed the financial condition of the society on a firm basis, and thereafter it assumed a permanent position in our social life. Several years later the wooden build- ing in front of the main hall was replaced with a two-story brick building. which has since been used as a club rooms, thus greatly extending the scope and usefulness of the organization. Afterward a bowling alley was placed in the basement of the new structure, adding another feature to the social status of the society.

The Teutonia has always been in a fairly prosperous condition, but in the last ten years has made efforts to interest the younger members, and in this it has met with fair success. Within recent years the society has shown great activity in the various branches of its educational and social life, and is today one of the favorite social clubs of the city. Its valuable property consists of one-half of the block in the center of the West Side, a spacious brick building for club and social rooms, and beautiful lawns and attractive flower beds which add much to the civic beauty of this section of the city. The building is conveniently arranged for the purposes of the society, the club rooms and buffet being on the main Hoor, with library, read- ing room, and large dining room, together with a ladies' club rooms on the second floor, while the large hall with gallery accommodates all the big social functions held on the West Side.

Enrolled in the membership of the Teutonia are about three hundred men of the solid, substantial element of our citizenship, some of whom were identified with it in the early days and aided in giving it character and per- manence. In 1907 a Grand Fair was held which resulted in providing a fund for expansion and giving new life to the society, with an incentive to further activities. The membership increased rapidly for a time, and in recent years little effort has been made to secure new members.

The recent officers, with one or two exceptions, have served the Teutonia Society for the past six years or longer, and are : J. W. Ippel, president ; Peter Bauer. Jr., vice-president ; Frank Ilerrig, financial secretary ; llugo Schreiber, corresponding secretary ; Charles A. Khuen, treasurer. The directors comprise the above and the following: Charles T. Schoeneberg, Adolph Roeser, Otto Stempel, librarian, and B. Gaertner, steward. The representatives to the Central Board are Louis Liskow, Otto Stempel and John Eib.

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TIUYOy

THE TEUTONIA HALL As it appears today and as it was thirty-eight years ago

The Wah-wah-sums

The famous boat club, the Wah-wah-sums, was organized December 12, 1868, the first officers being L. Burrows, Jr., president ; G. A. Lyon, vice- president ; E. N. Briggs, secretary, and G. B. Grout, treasurer. It was a popular club in its day, the members were enthusiastic in their rowing exer- cises and practice, and eventually became very efficient in the art. Their peculiar cognomen was given them by Chief Shop-en-a-gons who, upon being asked to suggest a name for the rowers, asked, "Good men are they ?" "Sure." replied Mr. Burrows. "Then call them 'Wah-wah-sum' -lightning on the water," said the old chief.

The story of this famous water team is a romantic one. In the sixties there was a crew of "east town" oarsmen, composed of Frank Wilkins. Jim Mack, Met Brown, Pat Glenn, Joe Stringham and Frank Lawrence, and their boat was named the "Neptune," from which they took their name. These boys in their showy uniforms would frequently row over to Saginaw City, pulling a beautiful oar, and sport around in those waters in a very tantalizing manner. They would then go ashore and get some refreshments at the new Taylor House and other places, meanwhile, putting on, as some of the "young bloods" thought, unwarranted "airs." These actions so aroused some of the husky fellows over there that they got together and formed a rival crew.

The first barge of the Wah-wah-sums, named the "Eclipse," was six- oared, and the boat house was directly south of the Mackinaw Street bridge. The stroke oar was Mr. Slenau, No. 2 oar was pulled by John Smith. No. 3 oar by Pat McElgunn, No. 4 by Henry Smith, No. 5 by Bert Payne, and No. 6 by Ed. Behan. Charles E. Wheeler. then with Rust Brothers, was cox- swain. The rival teams first clashed in 1869, the Wah-wah-sums six and the

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Neptunes eight oars, and the former won. From that time these sturdy lumbermen won race after race by brawn and skill, not knowing the sting of defeat.

Their first important event was in the regatta at Detroit in 1870, when they rowed in the six-oared barge race, making one and a half miles in eleven minutes forty-five seconds, and won the race. At Oconomowoc these oars- men again showed their skill, and in the fourth annual regatta of the N. W. A. B. A. Association, held at Erie, Pennsylvania, July 10 and 11, 1872, they won the championship race with six-oared shells. At Toledo, in July, 1873, they won the championship race, and in the contests of the follow- ing year added to their honors.

The career of this club was exceptionally brilliant, and continued to retain its high repute in boating circles for many years. In 1881 the officers were: Edward 1. Peck, president : R. J. Birney, secretary ; Henry Smith, captain: L. A. Burrows, Ist. coxswain : E. J. Fisk, 2d. coxswain. Upon decline of the sport. late in the eighteen-eighties, the club disbanded.

Military Companies of Early Days

The first military company in Saginaw was the Hampton Guards, organ- ized at "East Town" in November, 1856, and was commanded by Captain Thomas.

The Saginaw City Light Infantry completed its organization March 10. 1859, and on April 25th following the company appeared on parade fully equipped. The first officers were: Louis Franke, captain : Henry Miller. Ist. lieutenant ; Hugo Wesener, 2d. lieutenant : Theodore Sceurus, 3d. lieu- tenant : C. A. Ranke, secretary, and Charles Miller, treasurer.

The East Saginaw Light Artillery Company followed in September, 1859, with Captain A. D. Robinson, Jr., Lieutenant A. Ferguson, Sergeant A. L. Rankin, and Corporal R. H. Loomis, in command. Among the privates of this company were: F. N. Bridgman, James F. Brown, George F. Corliss, R. A. Eddy, G. F. Hobbs, J. H. Hilliard, Michael Jeffers. J. H. Mershon. J. E. Mershon, Sanford Keeler. Emil Moores, F. W. Wiggins, T. T. Willey, Z. W. Wright and A. F. Young.

On April 13, 1873, the East Saginaw Rifles was organized, and immedi- ately attached to the Third Michigan Infantry, as Company E. D. D. Keeler, A. L. Button and F. H. Doughty were the first officers of the company. The seventh anniversary of the company was properly observed in 1881 by a public parade. after which the veteran corps met in the armory and elected the following civil officers: C. F. Shaw, president: Theodore S. Hill, vice-president ; W. S. Doughty, secretary, and A. L. Button, treasurer. The company then numbered seventy rank and file, fully equipped and drilled.

Under the various enlistments for the Civil War in this county, the first company to leave for the front was the East Saginaw Light Guard, organ- ized April 19, 1861, with Captain William Kremer and Lieutenant Emil Moores and John Leidlein in command. On the thirtieth of April the com- pany, mustering seventy-nine officers and men, left for Detroit. the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway taking them to Pine Run, then the terminus of the road. From there they were conveyed by wagon to Fentonville, on the line of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, and arrived at Detroit in the evening of the following day. On June 5th the company left for Washington as Company 11 of the 2d Michigan Infantry. the first three-year regiment which left the State.

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The Hoyt Light Guards, under the command of Captain H. W. Trow- bridge and Lieutenants William O'Donnell and Charles H. Hutchins, was organized April 24, 1861, with a strong desire to go to the front in the early days of the war.

The military census of the county showed twenty-one hundred and thirty men fit for service, of which number six hundred and eighty-six were already enlisted in active service, in September, 1862, including the 23d Michigan Infantry mustered in on the thir- teenth of that month. During the year 1863 the county contributed three hundred and sixty-five men, making an aggregate of ten hundred and forty-one furnished since the beginning of the war. Enlistment con- tinued through 1864, and the 29th Michigan Infantry was organized by John F. Driggs, July 29, 1864, and mustered into service October 3rd, with eight hundred and fifty- six officers and men. Their camp ground was on the west side of the river within the present confines of Bliss Park, where a stone marker was erected by the survivors on the fiftieth anniversary, in 1914, and un- veiled with impressive ceremonies. The regiment left Saginaw October 6, 1864. under the command of Colonel Thomas Saylor.

From October 31st until the close of recruiting on April 14, 1865, one hundred and thirty-four men enlisted, bringing the military representation of Saginaw to two thousand and thirty-nine, or about one forty-fourth of all the troops sent to the front by the State. The aggregate expend :- COLONEL THOMAS SAYLOR tures of the county for war purposes, up to and including the year 1866, was one hun- dred and fifty-eight thousand one hundred dollars; and the various sums granted to the families of volunteers amounted to eighty-one thousand. The donations of money, clothing and various articles was about seven thousand dollars which, added to the other expenses, made a grand total of two hun- dred and forty-six thousand one hundred dollars, a large sum of money con- sidering the condition of the country at that time.

A review of the military campaigns in which the Saginaw troops par- ticipated, and in which so many patriotic men won a soldier's crown, would take in every field contested in Southern States. As this has been quite thoroughly covered in Chapman's History of Saginaw County, 1881. copies of which are still in existence and may be consulted by interested persons, it does not seem necessary or desirable to repeat the accounts here. It is sufficient to add that through the brilliant campaigns which marked the pro- gress of the terrific struggle, there was scarcely a black letter in the records of the troops furnished by Saginaw, unexcelled bravery and magnificent endurance marking their service in the defense of the Union.

It is to be regretted that reliable information pertaining to the organiza- tion and equipment of the local military Companies C and D. (the latter now known as Company F. Thirty-third Regiment) of the Michigan National Guard, is not available for this work. A search of the early military records

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of the State, in the Adjutant General's office at Lansing, divulged the fact that the former Company D. Third Regiment, was organized January 21. 1882. Company E, Third Regiment, located at East Saginaw, was organ- ized April 13, 1874, and mustered out June 5. 1905.

Many changes have taken place since those days, and great progress made in maintaining this defensive arm of the State. Not only have large and substantial armories been built in the largest centers of population, but the equipment and arms have greatly improved, and much attention is given the physical condition of the enlisted men. The spirit of the troops as a defensive force is excellent, as was manifested in 1913 when the entire guard was sent to the Upper Peninsula to restore and maintain order during the great strike of copper miners, a task which kept the troops on duty for several months.

Nothing could be more conclusive of the general preparedness of the State troops than the prompt response to the call of the President, on June 18, 1916, for the mobilization of the National Guard. Within a few hours practically the entire Company F, like other companies throughout the State, had assembled in the armory in readiness for further orders, Recruiting was undertaken in an effort to raise the muster rolls to full strength of one hun- dred and forty, in anticipation of service along the Mexican border, but a true spirit of patriotism among the young men of Saginaw was evidently lacking, at a time when war threatened, and ninety-eight was the total enlist- ment of the company. On Saturday, June 24, the company and band en- trained for the military camp at Grayling, where three entire regiments of the State troops mobilized on that day. Inspection, medical examination and mustering in the Federal Army service followed, in which about sixteen men of the local company were refused for physical defects or weakness.

Interest in the military and naval defense arms is enlivened in Saginaw by the presence of the Thirty-third Regiment Band, which was reorganized here about six years ago. The members of this excellent and popular military band were recruited from the ranks of Saginaw's leading professional musi-

ITTT

ENLISTED MEN OF COMPANY F. THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT, M. N. G. [From a photograph taken in front of the Armory, June 20, 1916]

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cians, a number of whom had swayed under the baton of Professor Reiss in his famous organization of years ago, and also under Professor William Boos. The band has a membership of thirty-six and is ably directed by Professor Arthur Amsden, who has served many years with the State troops in the capacity of band leader. So high is the reputation of this organization that wherever it is heard, as well as in this city, it is greeted with enthusiasm and applause. During the Winter the Sunday afternoon concerts at the Auditorium, given by the Thirty-third Regiment Band, are largely attended, while in Summer the weekly concerts in various parks meet with the popular accord.

The officers of Company F. Thirty-third Regiment, Michigan National Guard, in 1916 and for several years past are: William H. Martin, captain : Frank McCullagh, first lieutenant; William Bohstedt, second lieutenant.

The Saginaw Naval Reserves

It was fitting the geographical position of Michigan, surrounded as it is on three sides by the waters of the Great Lakes, that the Naval Militia of the interior should have been founded on its shores. On February 28, 1894, a few enthusiastic yachtsmen of Detroit met and decided upon the formation of the Michigan Naval Brigade. Among them was Truman II. Newberry. destined in after years to hold the highest office in the Navy Department, and who was an indefatigable worker in the upbuilding of the Reserves. The first division of the brigade was quickly recruited to eighty members - pro- fessional and business men - with the inborn sense of duty of the patriot.

The object of the Naval Militia is to furnish the navy of the United States in time of war, with an auxiliary force of well drilled and seasoned crews, trained in navigation, engineering, gunnery and signalling, and familiar with and subject to discipline and ship routine. The organization has the same relation to the navy that the State militia has to the regular army ; and is of great importance, since it is impossible to recruit trained bluejackets from the ordinary pursuits of life in time of need.

From the beginning made in Detroit the movement spread, and in the Fall of 1894 Samuel F. Owen, Rollin A. Horr and others, who had some military training, organized a division in Saginaw. On December 6th about forty professional and business men representing the younger element. met at the Bancroft House, signed the articles of incorporation, and proceeded to effect a permanent organization. This division, which took the name of Second Division, Michigan State Naval Brigade, was soon recruited to more than sixty members; and elected officers as follows: Samuel F. Owen, lieutenant, commanding ; Rollin A. Horr, lieutenant, junior grade; Lorenzo Burrows, Junior, and James 11. Gilbert, ensigns, and Charles A. Wood, assistant paymaster.

The petty officers of the division were: Fred J. Buckhout. boatswain's mate-first class ; John R. Mearns and Arthur C. Perrin, boatswain's mates- second class ; C. D. TenEyck, gunner's mate - second class; Ira D. Alden, quartermaster - second class; Edwin C. Peters, Charles A. Khuen, J. Will Grant, Herman A. Wolpert, coxswains; J. H. Goodby, Junior, Elmer B. Norris, gunner's mates - third class; and Frederick A. Dudley, quarter- master - third class.

During the Winter of 1894-95 the reserves were drilled in infantry tactics, the handling of arms, in knotting and splicing, gunnery and general orders. The armory was located in the three-story brick building at 113 North Washington Avenue, the second floor being used for club rooms, office, locker rooms and storage for accoutrements, while the third floor with its high ceiling was a suitable drill hall.

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THE ARMORY, ERECTED IN 1909

In July, 1895, the division joined the second and third divisions, of Detroit, in a cruise in the vicinity of Mackinac Island, old Fort Mackinac being the headquarters of the brigade. The gunboat Michigan, manned by officers and bluejackets of the United States Navy, lay in the harbor, and each morning the reserves with their own officers, under Lieutenant Gilbert Wilkes, brigade commander, went on board the antiquated war ship. There they went through various drills, the handling of the thirty-two pounder guns, and were instructed in general ship routine, including "clearing decks for action," "all hands to quarters," manning the capstan to "up anchor," and "laying over the masthead" which consisted of climbing the ratlines on one side of the ship, crossing over the masthead, and coming down on the other side. In the evening the divisions returned to the barracks at the old fort. On the third day, before boarding the Michigan, two men from each sec- tion were detailed for target practice on shore. Ten rounds were fired in the morning and ten in the afternoon at the rifle range, the target being at a distance of two hundred yards. Coxswain Edwin C. Peters carried off the honors of the day in this practice, scoring sixty-one out of a possible one hundred points.

On the Michigan, which steamed out into Lake Huron, the divisions were drilled in gunnery, the targets being placed three hundred rods from the ship. Special details were engaged in sub-calibre practice with the three-inch rifles. There was a heavy wind and a choppy sea, which interfered with accuracy of aim at the bobbing target nearly a mile away, and Fred A. Dudley was the only man to hit the mark. At a subsequent practice, when the sea was less choppy, Arthur Beese made three successive hits, being the best record of this cruise.

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In 1896 the Second Division cruised in the old Michigan on Saginaw Bay, off Point Aux Barques, and in the numerous gun and boat drills added prac- tical experience to their previous training in armory and on board ship. The weather during a greater part of the week of the cruise was stormy, and the amateur sailormen were confined closely to the ship's quarters, little shore leave being granted. Lieutenant Commander Leutze, U. S. A. commanded the old gunboat, and so severe and unyielding was he in the unpleasant duty of training the landsmen that the boys facetiously dubbed him "Old Rain-In- The-Face." Lieutenant Marble was another officer of the Michigan, whom the reserves disliked exceedingly. The following year the three divisions mobilized at Fort Mackinac for further instruction and drills on board the Michigan.

During the Spanish War the Michigan Naval Brigade saw actual naval service and warfare on the Atlantic. To the number of almost two hundred and fifty officers and men, they comprised the crew of the auxiliary cruiser Yosemite in blockade duty off the coast of Puerto Rico, and were engaged in several bombardments of Spanish Forts. There were no casualties in the brief engagements, and the divisions returned when the war was over with the men in good physical condition. This was quite in contrast with the weak and emaciated condition in which the members of the State Militia returned home after their terrible experience in Cuba.

Within the last ten years the naval militia has grown more rapidly, and there are now two battalions of six divisions comprising the Michigan State Naval Brigade. The total enrollment is four hundred officers and men. The fourth division of the first battalion is located at Benton Harbor, on Lake Michigan, while the divisions of the second battalion are located at Hancock. on Lake Superior, and Escanaba on Lake Michigan. The training ships manned by the brigade are the Don Juan de Austria, of eleven hundred and

SAGINAW NAVAL RESERVES ON BOARD THE "MICHIGAN," 1895

Sibbald

Khuen Williams Mearns Buckhout Martin

Mills Plummer Fitzgerald

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thirty tons, stationed at Detroit, and the Fantic, in charge of the second bat- talion and stationed at Hancock. The former ship is of historic interest. being one of the Spanish ships sunk by Admiral Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay, which was afterward raised by Captain Hobson, repaired, and brought to this country. The Fantic is one of the old frigates of the Civil War times, having been launched at Philadelphia, on August 12, 1864, and is of brigantine rig.

The Saginaw Naval Reserves of today is an entirely different body of men from that which perfected its organization and performed a useful part in the Spanish War. Another generation of young and enthusiastic patriots has grown up to take the place of those who by much personal sacrifice and hard work established the naval brigade. The conditions of service today are very different, too, from those of twenty or more years go. Instead of rented halls ill adapted to the use and work of the reserves, the Second Divi- sion occupies a part of the perfectly appointed Armory at the foot of Janes Avenue, and facing Battery Park.

Within this solid structure of paving brick and concrete is every facility for the proper training of citizen bluejackets. There are spacious club rooms well furnished for the comfort and enjoyment of the members, a perfect sys- tem of lockers, splendid equipment and arms, and a four-inch rapid firing rifle complete, for practical instruction in the handling of big guns. On the water front, only a few rods from the Armory is a boat landing, where are kept the small boats of the division. These comprise a completely equipped steam cutter, of a type used on modern war ships, an eight-oared barge, and whale- boats. With this equipment it is possible to supplement the practices at oars on the river, with short cruises up and down the stream and on Saginaw Bay, adding greatly to the efficiency and skill of the enlisted men.

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II, Part 42

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