History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 39

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan > Part 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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was Judge of the County Court, and continued so during all my residence in that county, some fifteen years. He was a member of the first Legislature of Michigan, and served in that body from 1821 to 1824. The first year after his arrival on the River St. Clair, he built a saw-mill on the creek emptying into the St. Clair near his residence, which creek has borne his name to the present time. Near the site of this mill were the remains of a mill which was built ninety years before his, and even that was the second mill on that spot, the first having been built 136 years ago."

A description of their mode of traveling in the early days of his residence on that river shows that, when there was no ice to prevent, the conveyance was a canoe with the motive power of an Indian paddle in the stern; in the winter, a French train on the ice, drawn by an Indian pony. If the ice was sound, they sometimes went through the middle of Lake St. Clair in going to Detroit. The most common route was down the St. Clair River, through the north channel, passing Middle and Cartwright Islands, through the Chenal ecarte (or lost channel), to Milk River Point. Thence to Detroit they had their choice by land or ice. In the autumn or spring, when the ice was unsound, they took the margin of the river and lake, down the north channel to old Mr. Chortier's, thence across the prairie to the lake at Toad Creek, down the lake to Swan Creek, and Salt River to the farm of James Meldrum, who was the son of the senior partner of the firm of Meldrum & Park. From this farm there was a road to Mount Clemens, which they could take if they wished, or they could take the shorter route by the ice to the mouth of Huron River, now called Clinton River. They sometimes crossed Huron Point to the bay at the mouth of Milk River, near the residence of a Frenchman named Larabee. He was of the Catholic persuasion, something of a scholar, and became noted on account of a lawsuit with old Father Richard. They disagreed with regard to some of their matters, so the Rev. Father forbade his neighbors from having anything to do with him. This brought on a lawsuit, ably defended by Counselor O'Keefe for the plaintiff, and Gov. Woodbridge for the defendant. Larabee was victorious. From Milk River Point they usually had a fair road to Detroit.

In the year 1818, Judge Bunce had occasion to visit Mount Clemens from Detroit twice. Once he met a large white faced bear, but the bear did not molest the Judge, nor the Judge the bear. In the spring of the same year-1818-heavy ice had come down from Lake Huron, blocking up the channel of the mouth of St. Clair River, setting the waters back so that the St. Clair Lake and the Detroit River were literally drained. The waters of the lake had receded at least four miles from shore. The surf had raised several sand ridges. The Judge took the farthest out, as it would bring him most direct to old Papineau's, near the road leading to Mount Clemens. About one mile from Milk River Point, he came so near the water of the lake that he could see the current of the North Channel, which appeared to be running at the rate of three miles an hour. He was then about four miles from what is ordinarily the shore. There has been one such freak of the ice since that, though not to so great an extent. Where the banks of the St. Clair were low, men were obliged to take their wives and children upon their backs and wade through the ice and water four feet deep, to reach dry land.

The only dock at Detroit then was the public dock thirty feet wide, extending into the river until a depth of eight feet of water was reached. A second dock was built by Mr. Hudson, and a third by Mr. Roby. In the spring of that year, Judge Bunce hired one Jackman, and started on horseback for his St. Clair home. The lake was nearly free of ice, but some remained in the bogs. At the mouth of the Clinton, he inquired as to the soundness of the ice across the bay to Salt River, and was told that an Indian had just come down, and would hire to pilot them back. They found the ice firm enough to within a short distance of the shore, when looking back they saw their Indian in full run for the Clinton River. They soon found that the ice was floating out into the lake. Sounding the water with his rifle, the Judge found it three feet deep. He jumped his horse into the water, mounted him, took Jackman on behind, and reached the shore in safety.

One year he was in Detroit in the beginning of winter and purchased goods of Conrad and Jerry Ten Eyck. Some of these goods he needed at once, and decided to take as many as he could in his train. He made a box some three feet square by three and a half feet high, and filled it with goods. This box formed his seat on the train. When ready to start, he found his leading lines missing, and substituting a cod-line for them, started on the ice, which was sound along the margin but open in the lake. There were many cracks in the ice, from two to eight feet in width, running from the shore to open water. Our hero came within a rod of one of these cracks before seeing it, when he drew suddenly on the cod-line and it broke at both ends near the bits. There was but

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one expedient left for him now, and that was to make the horse leap the chasm if possible. He plied the whip with full strength. The third jump he cleared the track, about four feet wide, and being impatient of the lash, he kept on at full speed toward the open water. The driver crawled down from his box, got hold of the breeching, and from strap to strap succeeded in reaching the headstall and checked his speed, after being taken out of his course three or four miles. He then steered direct for Salt River, leaving Point Huron a mile or more to the left. While on this beat, he was struck by a tornado, which wheeled him quite around like a top. He managed to bring the horse's head to the wind in order to reach shore, but the horse either would not or could not budge a bit in that direction. About a quarter of a mile to the east he saw a ridge of broken ice leading in the direction of Larabee's. He made for that, and after a few more whirls, succeeded in reaching it, and bringing his starboard runner in contact with the rough ice prevented the whirl. After breaking through several times he reached Larabee's at half past 2 o'clock in the morning, cold and hungry, but not frozen.

In the spring of 1826, while returning from Mt. Clemens with Counselor O'Keefe, when near where New Baltimore now stands, they were overtaken by a blinding snow-storm. They steered for Swan Creek, hoping to reach Shommenegoblin's wigwam, but brought up at open water far out in the lake. They followed up the channel, and when yet a distance from shore, broke through the ice in three feet of water. The Judge and the horse succeeded in climbing onto the ice; but O'Keefe was so benumbed with cold that he stayed in the train. They reached Capt. Pierre's, two miles below Mr. Chortier's, at 2 o'clock in the morning, thoroughly wet and weary.

In the fall of 1827, Mrs. Bunce's mother came from New York, to reside with them at St. Clair. The Judge met the lady at Detroit, and there hired a Frenchman to take them to the mouth of the Clinton in his cart. There he hired another Frenchman to take them in a canoe to Mr. Chortier's. During this voyage, a lake gale sprung up, the Judge took the paddles from his ferryman, and suc- ceeded in reaching Mr. Cartwright's about 3 o'clock in the morning, wet, tired and sleepy.

In 1828, he left home for Detroit with Mrs. Bunce, her brother, and three Indians-Onsha, Leutagon and Mickaninne. They took the vessel route down the St. Clair River, by the north channel and Snibora, to Milk River Point. An easterly wind arose and with it a heavy swell, so they were in the trough of the sea and soon taking in water fearfully. Old Onsha began to whistle and cast over tobacco, an Indian sign of great peril. There was but one course left for them, and that was to reach shore at the nearest point and in the shortest time possible. As they neared the shore, the swells increased, and it was plain that the canoe would fill as soon as it reached the break- ers. Onsha was told to jump into the water as soon as the canoe reached the breakers, and take Mrs. Bunce in his arms and get her ashore if possible. He, being a very tall, stout Indian, accomplished this feat very nobly. so reached the shore successfully. was rescued with more difficulty. The Judge caught a trunk and leaped ahead of a swell, and Young Duryee lay seasick in the bottom of the canoe, and They then made their way to the wigwam of Brant, the half Indian. He is said to have been the son of old Commodore Brant, who in days of yore resided two miles above Hudson's, on Grosse Point. When they reached the shanty, Brant was off hunting and the door was barred. One of the party made his way through a window, unbarred the door, and all entered. They soon made a fire, took down a venison ham hanging on a rafter, and with tea, bread and pork, were enjoying supper when the Indian returned from his hunt. With the usual Indian grunt of surprise, he manifested his displeasure at their freedom: "Tyah, Aubunce, spose you not one shentlemen at all !" But a loaf of quashegun, some kokosh, with a few shillings for the venison, soon soothed him, and he became quite friendly. In the morning he went to the settle- ment, hired a Frenchman with his pony and cart, to take Mrs. Bunce and the Judge over to Milk River Point, the Frenchman going before, sometimes up to his middle in water, to pilot them through. Young Duryee, with the luggage, went around by water.

In 1828, the wind blew with unabated fury for three days and nights. The Judge was then running the mills which Thomas S. Knapp, of Detroit, had . built some fifteen miles above the outlet of Lake Huron. He made a road to that place as near the margin of the lake as the ground would permit. This road passed through a heavy grove of white-oak timber, that was about fifty rods long and twenty-five rods wide. Every vestige of this grove was swept away by the violence of the storm. Some of the trees were three feet in diameter. It was equally disastrous at several points between that place and the St. Clair River. After the storm abated they found the shore strewed with round clams, very much like the ocean clams, except in flavor. They were fresh and

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insipid. If cooked and highly seasoned, they were palatable. They gathered a bag full of them.

The two following incidents are related by Judge Bunce in his experience of St. Clair life: He started one evening to go to Harson's Island for hay, the nearest place where that article could be bought. It was winter and he was in his train ; when passing a point a little below where St. Clair is now, he saw some animals clambering up the steep bank, and on the ice by the side of his path lay a deer which the wolves had just killed and which they had butchered very scientifically. It was still bleeding at the wounds in the throat. The Judge bethought himself that a venison steak would be a treat, and he appropriated the deer to himself by putting it into his train, and started on; but he had not gone far before the whelps whom he had robbed came yelping after him in such earnestness and growing numbers that they began to be somewhat troublesome. He succeeded, however, in beating them off with his whip till he came to a rough place in the ice which compelled him to go slow, when he began to fear that the wolves would have him and the deer, too, and so he compromised the matter by tumbling the deer out of the sleigh, and, putting the whip to his pony, left them to their carnival.

Once while crossing Lake St. Clair on the ice, driving nearly across the middle of the lake, he saw an animal in the beaten road before him and he gave chase, but the animal kept ahead for miles. The snow was deep on each side of the track. After a long drive, the brute, tired out, jumped into the snow and stood on his haunches. The Judge raised his heavy hickory whip-stock and struck at the animal's head, and so stunned the beast that he cut his throat without difficulty and put him into his train; when reaching the shore he inquired of a French settler what it was. The astonished man asked the Judge where it came from. "O, I got him back here on the ice," replied the Judge. " Got him !" shouted the Frenchman, " Got him alone ? Mon Dieu ! You must thank the Virgin that he did not got you !" He found that the prize he had captured was a huge wild cat.

What a change like dissolving views has been wrought on the shores of the St. Clair since this old gentleman first cast his eyes upon them. As he recollects, there were then nineteen men with their families living on the American side of the river.

Old Mr. Cartwright lived on Cartwright Island. He was one of Lord Selkirk's colony. When they broke up their settlement on the Thames, on account of inundating waters in the spring, some went to Bear Creek, some to Chortier. Cartwright came here.

On Harsen's Island were Jacob, George and Frank Harsen, good families. Harvey Stewart was a prominent man, a good farmer, and ran a small distillery. His wife was the daughter of Mr. Graveraet.

On the main land, at the lowest point of Duchesne, was Louis Chortier, who came from Three Rivers, between Quebec and Montreal. He was a trapper and a raiser of ponies. He had fifty-five at that time and fed them on the prairie, which was about nine miles in circumference.

Commodore Harrow, as he was called, lived a little farther up the river. The remains of a brick distillery which he built are still there. He had two sons and two daughters, who are yet living near the old place.

Old Capt. Thorn occupied a place above Harrow's. He had two sons, William and John. John owned and platted the first village lots in Port Huron. One of the daughters was married to Billy Brown, another to James Fulton, who was the founder of St. Clair. The other became the wife of Andrew Westbrook.

Capt. Robertson owned and occupied a farm above Thorn's. He was somewhat famous for catching white fish. More white fish were taken on the St. Clair River at that time than at any other place, and they were better fish. The white fish of Lake Erie were small, weighing from one- half to one pound, on the Detroit River from one-half to one and a half pounds, and on the St. Clair from one to two and a half pounds. No steamers were here to frighten the fish then, and they were caught in large quantities ; you could take your choice for $1.50 a hundred. The Judge went with the Indians one day to the mouth of the middle channel of St. Clair River to inspect their mode of fishing. This channel was as deep as any other, but shallowed off as it entered the lake to three feet, where were three small islands. These in the spring of the year were covered with gulls' eggs. The Indian mode of catching sturgeon was this : They boiled a sturgeon and took off the oil and mixed it with sand ; then took branches from the trees, put them into a canoe and went out to the middle of the river. They threw over the sand and the branches and then went to the shoal water below and waited for the branches. When they appeared, seven sturgeon appeared with them. They took three of the seven. One of these measured five feet nine inches. Before Black River

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was obstructed by dams, the sturgeon, pike and mullet went far up this stream to deposit their eggs. Often the sturgeon would be too late in getting down and would have to get into deep holes and wait for a flood. The Indians would then attack them drive them into shoal water, and kill them with hatchets.

George Cottrell had a good farm, three sons, and one daughter. George, Jr., was the farmer; Henry, the Sheriff, and David, the Associate Judge-all very respectable.

William Brown kept a public house and was a thrifty man.

Peter Yax comes next. He was a good Catholic, as were also most of the citizens on the river. Father Richard visited them twice a year and frequently stopped with Yax. Yax had three stalwart sons, all fiddlers. The Rev. Father thought there was too much dancing among the young people and prevailed on them when they came together to sing and amuse themselves in some other way. So he told Mr. Yax that the young people had agreed to amuse themselves without dancing so much. Now, as the old man's sons were all fiddlers, it rather interfered with his financial interests, but he was obliged to submit. The next time the Father came round he said: "Well, Monsieur Yax, not so much dance among the young people, I suppose?" " No, Fath- er, not so much dance, but the young men get the cards and gamble. They drink whisky and get drunk. They curse, they swear. No, not so much dance; oh, no! not so much dance."

Next above this farm was the negro Harry. He was the servant of Meldrum & Parks, who gave him this farm for his faithful services.

Capt. Andrew Westbrook had a very large and good farm, yielding some $5,000 worth of produce annually, which he exchanged for lumber, shingles, etc.

Thebault is remembered, too, the father of Frank Thebault, of Port Huron.

Mr. Record was an excellent farmer with an excellent farm. His wife was half Indian; an amiable, refined lady, a pattern of neatness.

Jo Minne is remembered, too. His mother was a squaw. He was a gentleman of the first water, very hospitable, and with great energy of character. At one time he had a lawsuit before Justice Wolverton, whose office at that time was at the Bunce place. Minne had been twice there with his witnesses and could get no trial. He then asked the Justice when his case could he tried. He was told to come in the morning early; his was the first on the docket. Minne was on hand in time, but another case was called. Mr. Minne rose and said: "Mr. Wolverton, you told me that my case was the first on the docket. I want my trial." "Constable," said the Justice, "put this half Indian out of the court. I cannot be disturbed." "I shall not go out, sir, until I have my trial; and if you, sir, or your Constable undertake to put me out, you will find I am not half Indian for nothing." The jury was called and his case tried.

Old Mr. St. Barnard comes in for a share of remembrance. He came from Canada and located above Pine River. He furnished the timber for St. Ann's Church, in Detroit, on contract with Father Richard, and did a large share of the work with his own hands. Father Richard would say: "St. Barnard, don't let the moss grow on your ax handles." "No, Father, I for the hew timber; you for the pray." The old man, at seventy-six years of age, built a two-story house and lived in it for many years.

Old Mr. Petit lived at the mouth of Black River, on the flat near where Howard's mill now stands. When Judge Bunce first saw him he was plowing for wheat, with a bull and a horse side by side.

There were four or five French families above the fort, who obtained their living by catching fish and selling them to the soldiers.

On the Canada side of the St. Clair River was the traitor Campau, to whom the British Gov- ernment gave a farm for his services in the war of 1812. This farm has since been known as the Sutherland farm. It is directly opposite the city of St. Clair. Thomas Sutherland, the poet of Moore, occupied a part of that farm until his death in 1882.

Next above this was John Courtney, a Dutch farmer from Pennsylvania.

Above him was Sampson Ward, back of Elk Island, and near him lived Frank Bartrow, the blacksmith. From Bartrow's to Port Sarnia was a dense forest that looked as though a tree had never been cut from it. It was a heavy green fringe along the east margin of the River St. Clair. On the spot where Port Sarnia now stands was one log shanty surrounded by apple trees planted by the Indians.

This picture of the shores of the St. Clair has dissolved and passed away from the vision of

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this old man, and now, as he is approaching his fourscore and ten years, he finds himself in the midst of cities and villages, and a thriving agricultural and manufacturing population. It is a matter of rejoicing that this old patriarch is hale and cheerful, enjoying a good, vigorous intellect, and has the prospect of another half score of years at least, before he takes his departure.

MEMOIRS OF AURA P. STEWART.

"I was born in the town of Canandaigua, in the State of New York, on the 20th day of May, A. D. 1804. At the time of my birth, my father had charge of a large distillery and brewery owned by Mr. Dewey, a merchant of Canandaigua, who failed, by which my father lost $600, and was thrown out of business for several months. In 1805, my father established his business of distilling and brewing on what was called Mud Creek, in the town of Bristol, adjoining Canan- daigua. At the birth of my brother, John H. Stewart, my mother began to decline, and her illness increasing, she died in the month of May, 1810. At this time there was much talk about the new Territory of Michigan, and from the favorable reports secured, my father was de- termined to see the new Territory and seek in it a home. Accordingly he set about the settlement of his business, and in the latter part of November, 1810, he shouldered his pack coutaining his clothes, accompanied by a brother, and took his journey for Michigan. On arriving at Buffalo he learned that on account of the lateness of the season, there were no vessels bound for Detroit; that the few vessels then navigating our lakes had gone into winter quarters and laid up. On this information my father and his brother determined to travel on foot through the then wilderness of Canada, and crossing the river at Black Rock, our travelers entered upon their long and tedious journey. At this time the weather was warm for the season; much rain had fallen, rendering the roads, which were mere pathways, almost impassable. After travel- ing two days, father and his brother came to a tavern kept in two large log buildings joined together; the landlord was at work chopping down some heavy timber for the purpose of en- larging his farm. Our travelers rested the following day, during which they engaged to assist the landlord at his chopping for a small compensation and board for a week or more, hoping within that time a change of weather would freeze up the mud and make the roads more passable.

At the expiration of ten days, the weather became cold, and the mud in the roads was frozen, and our travelers pursued their westward journey. After several days' travel, in which my father and his brother suffered much inconvenience in obtaining food and lodging, they came to the border of what was in those days called the Long Woods; the distance through this dense and dreary forest was twenty miles or more. Here night overtook them, and our travelers sought lodgings at a log cabin, and were refused by the woman of the house, on ac- count of the absence of her husband. The weather was at this time extremely cold, and there being no other place where lodgings could be found within ten miles, the woman finally con - sented to their remaining over night. She could furnish neither bed nor supper, 'and to keep warm our travelers filled the fire-place full of wood, placed their packs under their heads and laid down on the bare floor to rest for the night. At the dawn of day the next morning, our travelers shouldered their packs, knowing that they could get no refreshments until they reached Ward's Station, ten miles distant, where was kept a house of entertainment for travelers at about the middle of the Long Woods. My father had not traveled many miles before he became faint from hunger, but fortunately he found in the road a valise, on opening which he found a lunch of boiled beef, biscuit and cheese. This was a treasure to our travelers, most timely and un- expected, and they sought a resting-place on a log and refreshed themselves with the contents of the valise. On reaching Ward's Station, our travelers concluded to remain over night, and secure the whole of the next day to accomplish the remaining ten miles of that dreary forest. The next morning, our travelers, after partaking of a hearty breakfast, pushed forward with a determination to accomplish the remaining ten miles as soon as possible, which they did in good time, and were glad to find that the remaining part of the journey led through a settled district. On arriving at Moravian Town, my father fell in with a chap by the name of Ransom, a Connecticut Yankee, as he was called by the Canadians, who had been a resident of that place for a long time; he had built a grist-mill, saw-mill, and had a large farm under cultiva- tion; he was the principal business man of the place.

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He appeared extremely glad to meet my father; told him that he had but recently entered into a contract with a Mr. McGregor, of Windsor, to furnish the timber for masts and spars and finishing lumber to be used in the construction or building of the British fleet intended to command our lakes; Mr. McGregor being the first contractor with the British Government. My father entered into contract with the said Ransom to select and hew the timber in the woods to fill the contract, Ransom to haul it to the bank of the River Thames for inspection. This was in the winter of 1811, and in the month of April the timber and lumber were placed on the bank of the River Thames, ready for inspection and rafting. Ransom was in the habit, once in a while, of drinking spirituous liquors to excess, and was so well pleased to have his con- tract filled and accepted by the agent of the British Government that he went on a big spree, became deranged, cut his throat, and died before he paid my father for his labor. The timber and lumber were to be delivered by Ransom at Malden. Mr. McGregor, being the first con- tractor, came up and took the timber as it lay on the banks of the Thames, and contracted with my father to raft and deliver it at Malden. After floating the timber down the Thames, it was put into strong cribs to be taken through Lake St. Clair. At that day the manner of rafting timber and lumber through Lake St. Clair from the Thames was to tow it along the lake shore with ox or horse teams, unless the wind was fair to force it forward. After many days' toil in this manner the raft entered the Detroit River, and when below Hog Island, a violent gale of wind sprang up which broke the raft and landed it on the American side of the river; it was seized by a Mr. Watson, then custom house officer at Detroit, and he and other parties, knowing that the contents of the raft were to be used in completing the British fleet, then in process of building at Malden, sought opportunity to have the lumber and timber confiscated to the Amer- ican Government, but my father, faithful to the trusts reposed in him, avoided all traps set for him. He had the case brought into the United States District Court, and there a decision was had restoring to him the timber and lumber. After the decision of the court, my father col- lected the timber and lumber together and delivered it at Malden, for which Mr. McGregor paid him very liberally, and promised to assist him in getting his pay from the estate of Ransom; this he could most easily do, as he had been appointed administrator of the estate of Ransom. While in Detroit my father became acquainted with the firm of Mack & Miller, who owned a distillery on Harsen's Island, in the county of St. Clair, who wished him to make up a quantity of grain they had in store into whisky; but before doing so he visited Mr. McGregor and leased the Ransom farm for one year, together with the team and farming implements, and sent his brother up to take charge of the farm and put in a crop, which he did, sowing that season twenty acres of wheat and rye. My father, after three months, finished his engagement with Mack & Miller and returned to the Thames, and spent the balance of the summer and the following winter in distilling for Matthew Dalson and Esquire Jacobs. In the month of May, 1812, my father returned to the State of New York to visit his boys, whom he had left in charge of their grand- mother, at the town of West Bloomfield, Ontario County, and I can well remember with what gladness parent and sons met.

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History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 39

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818