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 43

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 43

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I learn that St. Clair County was organized May 8, 1821. James Fulton was the first purchaser of the site on which the city of St. Clair now stands, which in process of time be- came the property of Thomas Palmer, of Detroit. Mr. Fulton made the purchase with the view of making it the county seat of St. Clair County, and Mr. Palmer labored hard to accomplish the same end. Fulton and Palmer were opposed by Capt. Samuel Ward, who wished the county seat established at or near his tract of land, which now embraces Marine City. In the county seat war, my father favored St. Clair. Charles Noble, of the city of Monroe, one of the Com- missioners appointed to decide on the proper place for the county seat, called on my father on his way up to examine the two proposed places. My father gave his reasons for favoring the town of St. Clair; our first county seat war ended by the location of the county government at the latter point.

Capt. Eber Brock Ward, late of Detroit, was but a mere child at this time, and had no connection with the business of his uncle, Capt. Samuel Ward, until the fall of 1832, when he took my place as clerk for his uncle.

The first jail in the county was erected by James Fulton, at the county seat. It is stated that the building was so constructed as to answer the double purpose of jail, and in the absence of prisoners, was used by Mr. Fulton as a root house. I could name the first criminal lodged

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in the institution, but for the sake of friends forbear. I could relate many interesting anec- dotes of the county seat war, but time will not permit.

For the entertainment of our commercial men, I will give the names of the first steamboats that plied between Detroit and Port Huron. The first boat making her appearance on this route was the Argo, in 1830. She was constructed from two large whitewood trees converted into canoes or " dug-outs," joined together so as to make a sharp bow and square stern. She was owned and commanded by Capt. Burtice, of Detroit. On her arrival at Strumness Island, the Captain would take on board a quantity of fence rails, as it appears she could not carry sufficient fuel for the trip.

About the year 1831, the Gen. Gratiot was placed on the St. Clair route. She was owned by Dr. Rice & Co., of Detroit, and commanded by Capt. John Clark, of East China. The length of time the Gratiot kept the St. Clair route I have forgotten. Capt. Clark was well liked and the Gratiot became a great favorite with the traveling public. About the year 1833, Capt. Bur- tice placed the Gen. Brady on the same route, but she did not remain over two years. The Lady of the Lake, commanded by Capt. Sylvester Atwood, was a small boat fitted for carrying freight; she did not remain long on the route. In the year 1836, the Erie made her appearance on St. Clair River, and was the fastest boat of her size on the lakes. She was principally owned by James Abbott, of Detroit, and continued on the St. Clair route until 1842, when she was lost in the ice of Lake St. Clair. Capt. Samuel Ward placed the Huron on the same route in 1840. The Huron was the largest and best boat on the route, and was commanded by Capt. E. B. Ward. At this time, Newport, St. Clair and Port Huron were rapidly increasing in pop- ulation, and the county was filling up with active and industrious farmers; the same spirit of enterprise was manifested on the Canada side of the river. Lake Huron shore and river ports

gave this steamer full freights; her handsome and commodious cabins were always crowded with passengers: She continued on the route until worn out, each year of her service netting the Wards thousands of dollars; she was the first great paying investment, and her earnings formed the foundation for their colossal fortunes. There were other boats that ran in opposition to the Huron, but they were either run (or bought) off the route by the Wards. All opposition lines to them have incontinently failed, and when Eber B. Ward sold the route its purchasers followed in his steps and maintained their claims against all opposition.

The first boat built in our county was owned and commanded by Samuel Ward, called the St. Clair, which was built in the year 1820, for lake navigation. After the Erie Canal was opened, Capt. Ward freighted his boat at Detroit for New York City, and took on board two horses to tow her through the canal. On arriving at Erie he took down his masts, stowed them snugly on deck, entered and towed safely through the canal; arrived at the Hudson he shipped the masts, bent the sails, and soon came to anchorage at the Metropolis. Procuring a full freight back, he returned, but was somewhat disappointed upon being required to pay toll. Capt Ward not only calculated on getting through the canal free of toll but expected to receive a premium, as his was the first boat from the lakes. The St. Clair was the first boat built at Marine City, which is to-day the most extensive ship building town in the State except Detroit.

The first vessel built at the town of St. Clair was the Grand Turk, owned by the father of Capt. Alex. St. Barnard; she was of about forty tons burden, Barber, the master-builder, was a very ordinary workman, and the vessel, when completed, was a rough-looking concern, and, per- haps, "Grand Turk" was the most appropriate name for her. To look at her -

"She seemed to dare the elements to strife !"

but, under a press of sail, did not- * walk the waters like a thing of life !''

However, in her day, she carried many a load of lumber and shingles to Detroit.

The first vessel Clay produced was built by Capt. Amos Henkly and R. Newhall, about the year 1824; she was about fifty tons burden and was called the Savage, of Detroit. She was , used as a trader, and ran to Mackinac and Green Bay. She was the first vessel that entered and wintered in St. Joseph River. Henkly, on his return to Detroit, represented it as a fit place to build a flourishing town, and, when the site was secured, he claimed an interest in the lands as his possessory right, he having built the first house on the premises. In 1834, he died on

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his boat and was buried in the sand on the Canada shore. The following winter, Mr. William Brown had the body raised and properly interred on the American side of the river. Mr. Brown had a perfect likeness of Capt. Henkly which he carefully preserved, and it is now in the pos- session of some of his family.

Within the past two decades, a multitude of boats and vessels have been built at Marine City, but the first vessel built on Belle River was the Pilot, and was owned by Capt. Andrew Wesbrook and Capt. A. B. Henkly. The owners disagreed about the management of the ves- sel, and to settle the difficulty the boat was sold to Mr. Newberry, of Detroit. A full history of the ship-building of St. Clair River, together with a sketch of the lives of the different com- manders, would make a large and interesting book.

Before closing, I claim it to be my duty to leave a little record of my deceased brother, Capt. John H. Stewart. He may be justly ranked among the pioneer sailors of the lakes; he also stood high in his profession, and was greatly respected. In 1817, my father built a lit- tle sloop of twelve tons burden, for the purpose of carrying shingles, tan-bark, coal and such other freight as could be picked up along the shore of the river. In those days, men having freight of this kind were expected to help load and unload. as well as assist in the management of the boat. My brother commanded the sloop, and it was then he acquired a love for sailing and determined to make it his business. At the age of seventeen he made his wishes known to my father, who gave his consent, and in order that his boy might become perfect in his profes- sion, he had him placed in charge of Capt. Chesley Blake, who had command of a fine schooner called the Mariner. My brother remained with Capt. Blake two seasons, and sailed the follow- ing season with Capt. Flaharty, on board a little Cleveland schooner called the Eclipse. He spent the winter of that year at Rochester, N. Y., and at the opening of navigation the next spring, entered the employ of Thompson & Co., of Buffalo. After that he entered the employ of O. Newberry, of Detroit, and sailed with Capt. Dingly on board the La Salle, and the two following seasons he was mate on one of Newberry's vessels. He next commanded the Pilot, built by Wesbrook & Henkly, and the following season he fitted out the Marshal Ney, owned by Ward & Newberry, and went as mate on her that year with Capt. Ward. I am not in pos- session of the dates, and can only give the time in which my brother first went as seaman, and the length of time he continued on the lakes. He shipped with Capt. Blake in 1820, as an ap- prentice. The names of the vessels and boats he commanded are as follows : The Pilot, Mar- shal Ney, Jena, Marengo, La Salle, Napoleon Ist, the brig Manhattan and Napoleon 2d, which Mr. Newberry placed on Lake Superior. It strikes me very forcibly that he had command of one more vessel, but am not certain. In 1840, he chartered the Gen. Harrison from Capt. Ward for $1,200, and on his first trip from Chicago to Buffalo, he brought down a cargo of wheat at 25 cents per bushel, which amounted to $1,000, $200 less than the charter.

The first time business took me to Black River, where the city of Port Huron now stands, there were but three dwelling houses in the place, one being occupied by a Mr. Petit, and an- other was used as an Indian trading house. At that time, a mission school was opened at Fort Gratiot with one Mr. Hudson as principal, and a Mr. Hart as assistant. A very interesting and correct account of the early settlement of Port Huron and Black River has been published by Mrs. B. C. Farrand, of Port Huron, she obtaining information principally from Mr. Petit. I was much pleased when I read the article, on account of its correctness. The only error I detected, was in spelling Mr. Graveraet's name. Mr. G. assisted in procuring scholars for the mission school, and without his influence scarcely a scholar could be got. He was my step- mother's brother, and uncie to Garret G. Stewart, of Harsen's Island. After a trial of about two years, the mission was moved to the Island of Mackinac, where it was assisted by Mr. Graveraet's brother Henry. The only Indian scholar that I can remember attending the Fort Gratiot school was a brother-in-law of Mr. Jonathan Burtch, who came to Port Huron at an early date, and if I am not mistaken he erected the first frame building in which goods were sold. The first mill for the manufacture of pine lumber erected on Black River was built by Mr. Enos Morass, some years before the war of 1812. During the late war with England, our Government wanted some large sticks of pine timber, and the contract for furnishing them was given to Mr. Morass, who procured men and teams and went up Black River, selected and cut

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the timber, passing with it on his trains down Black and St Clair Rivers, over Lake St. Clair, and down Detroit, River, all the way on the ice, which at that day was considered an extraordi- nary undertaking. Another risky and dangerous undertaking which happened during the war, was performed by Mr. William Brown, father of Mr. James Brown, of Cottrellville. The troops at Fort Gratiot were short of provisions, and the Commissary at Detroit had orders to supply them. A short time previous, a Lieutenant of the Fort, in passing down the river, was shot by the Indians and killed, but the men who accompanied him escaped. At this time it was considered dangerous for small bodies of men to travel along the northern shore of Lake and River St. Clair, as large numbers of Indians were secreted in the woods. The Commissary, in looking for a man who was thoroughly acquainted with the roads and paths through the forest, was recommended to Mr. Brown as a man well posted in the route, also a man of great courage and energy. Mr. Brown was engaged, and the next morning at an early hour he left Detroit with a train of fat cattle and other articles, arriving at Point aux Trembles that night. The next day he arrived at Fort Gratiot all safe. The supplies were gladly received, the officer in com- mand thanking Mr. Brown for his promptness in the delivery. Another circumstance by which Mr. Brown met the approval of the military authorities happened in the fall of 1819. The militia of St. Clair was commanded by Capt. Wesbrook and Lieut. William Brown. While engaged in a training, two of the militia men quarreled and wanted to fight, but were prevent- ed by Lieut. Brown. Capt. Wesbrook said, let them fight if they wish, which remark brought on a quarrel between the Captain and the Lieutenant. Wesbrook charged Brown with disobey- ing a superior officer. Brown appeared before the Commander-in-Chief, who discharged Wes. brook and appointed Brown Captain in his place.

The first minister of the Gospel that visited our county came to my father's residence in the winter of 1818. His name was Dickson, and he was connected with the M. E. Church. There were but three families on the island, all of whom assembled at my father's residence to hear Mr. Dickson's discourse, which was the first sermon preached in St. Clair County by a Protestant minister. Two years after, we had preaching once a month by Methodist ministers, their circuit being very large, embracing the city of Chatham, Ont., and the country along River St. Clair. They were almost constantly in the saddle to meet their appointments. My father, although a Calvinist Baptist, and strongly opposed to Armenian doctrines, opened his house for these energetic men, and encouraged them until they organized societies able to sup- port their own ministers. The Methodist ministers of that day were poor, humble and devout men, and the members of their societie- lived the same prayerful lives. The Methodists of to- day, I think, have lost the religious simplicity possessed by the ministers of those early days. The Methodist ministers of to-day have more learning, the church has become wealthy, they have got hold of the silver spoons, and are standing on their dignity like other sectarian churches.

While I am writing about Methodist ministers, I will relate a little incident that happened about the year 1820. It was about midwinter, the weather being extremely cold; our minis- ter called on us about 4 o'clock, and was seated in the sitting room before a roaring fire. While thus seated, the juvenile part of my father's family spoke to each other in whispers, and walked over the floor on their tip-toes. We were a noisy set usually, but our reverence for a minister of the Gospel was such as to place us under restraint. The house in which my father resided was of the old French style, and was built soon after the taking of Canada from the French. It had two bed rooms, a sitting room and a large kitchen, with a small bed room for the boys; consequently we could not lodge many guests. At about 8 o'clock that evening, three men called and asked for lodging for the night. They were three lawyers from Detroit; one was Judge B. F. H. Witherall, who was then a young lawyer, bearing a very youthful appear- ance. After our lawyers had partaken of their supper, arrangements for bed accommodation were made. Of course the minister must have the best bed and room; as the three lawyers could not sleep in one bed with comfort, it was therefore decided to bring the bed and bedding from the bed room and place it on the parlor floor before the fire-place, which was large, and was, on that occasion, provided with sufficient wood to keep fire at least ten hours. Our legal guests cheerfully submitted to the arrangements, and as the night was very cold, a pitcher of

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hot whisky sling was prepared for them before retiring, and a kettle of hot water was left on the hearth in case they required more sling. It appears that the lawyers spent the most of the night in drinking, telling anecdotes, laughing, etc. I learned from our good minister what had been going on in the parlor during the night. He got up about 4 o'clock and asked me to get his horse; he had had but little sleep and intended leaving before breakfast, not wishing any more of their company. I expressed my sorrow, and hoped that the next time he came he would have no Detroit lawyers to disturb him. I don't think there could be found at the present age a minister who would leave bed at 4 o'clock to avoid the company of three young lawyers. I have forgotten the names of the two that were with young Witherall, and have not since learned whether or not they repented of their sins. I was afterward informed that Witherall, some years later, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Detroit. He was a good lawyer and afterward became Judge of the Wayne County Criminal Court.

But few, at this day, are aware of the hatred manifested by the old British settlers of the Territory, toward the Yankee, a name given by them to all American citizens of the United States. It was not so with the French people; they were glad to have the Bostonians come among them; but the most hatred was manifested by the old Indian traders. They feared the settlement of the State would injure their trade. In the neighborhood where my father lived there was an Indian trader; he was at home but a few months in the year; most of his time was occupied abroad with the Indians. He had a particular hatred for the d -- d Yankee, as he generally called all persons from the States. He had manifested his spleen toward my father, who was informed of it through friendly parties. Early in the spring of 1816, he called appar- ently in great haste. He said that the Black Chief had called a council of the Indians, and that they were determined that no American should reside on the island; that the first settlers on the island were in general council adopted with their children into their tribes and could remain, but they would force all others to leave. He said he had called to give timely notice that my father could be put on his guard; and he feared he would have trouble with the Black Chief. This message was delivered in a hasty manner and our informant left. In a few days an Indian called at my father's somewhat intoxicated. He made some statements which led my father to believe that he had been stuffed by the Indian trader. At this time, a neighbor stepped in and the Indian picked a quarrel with him and was knocked down. My father believing that the trader's whisky and counsel was the cause of the Indian's insolence and threats, seized his ax and hastened to the trader's house and when there walked deliberately in, knocked in the head of his barrel of whisky and turned it on the floor. The next day he manned his canoe and went to Detroit and stated his case to Gov. Cass. He informed the Governor that he had on one side a loyal British subject who disputed his right to reside on the island, and on the other hand, an Indian trader whom, he had good reason to believe, was instigating the Indians to an- noy and molest him. On this representation the Governor told my father to return and if he should be further molested, to give him notice, and he would send troops to protect him. This affair ended all further trouble; the Indians became my father's best friends, and for many years supplied his table with venison and all kinds of wild game.

While I am writing about Indians, I will state a circumstance that happened in the year 1812 or 1813, as related by my step-mother. At the breaking-out of the war, the British Gov- ernment secured the services (with but few exceptions) of all the Indians residing at Mackinac, Sault Ste. Marie and the shores of Lake Huron; a large number of them went in with the British troops to the assault on Fort Sandusky, commanded by Capt. Croghan. The repulse given by the Americans was so spirited and so destructive, that the British made a hasty retreat back to Malden, which caused a panic among their Indian allies, many of them refusing to remain. Two large birch canoes, filled with returning Indians were passing up the River St. Clair in the night, and when near my step-mother's residence on Harsen's Island, a thunder-storm burst upon them and upset one of their canoes, throwing about sixteen Indian warriors into the river to struggle for their lives. The night was perfect darkness and it was a long while before they could reach the shore. Those that reached the shore shouted to those struggling in the water, through the lightning's flash and peals of thunder. The shouts of Indians continued until all not drowned reached the shore. To my step-mother the scene was so frightful that she seized

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her brother's infant, threw a blanket around it and was about rushing to the wood near by, fearing that the Indians would massacre them, when she was prevented from doing so by her brother, and they both waited for the morning to reveal the mystery of the Indian shouts and yelis of the night. At the dawn of day the next morning, two birch canoes filled with Indians were seen to leave the opposite side of the river and approach the island, and twenty great strapping Indians came ashore, their faces all blackened with charcoal-the Indian manner of mourning for departed friends. They looked very solemn, and stated that they were induced to go to war by the British, and were told by them that the Kit-che-moco-mans (Long-knives) were great cowards, and easily whipped, but they had found the statement not true; that the Americans had killed a great many British at Lower Sandusky; and that they had to retreat to save their lives, and were returning home when the storm struck them last night; one of their canoes was upset; that they were a long time in reaching shore; that two of their number were drowned. The Indian speaker ended his statements by advising Mr. Graveraet to leave imme- diately, as the Long-knives were coming and would kill them. .

At the breaking-out of the last war with England, there resided at or near Mackinac an Indian chief by the name of Wing, who was friendly to the Americans, and when the British with their Indian allies surprised and captured Mackinac, in 1812, the chief, Wing, refused to take any part in the transaction, and through his influence restrained the members of his band from taking presents from the British, not even accepting a plug of tobacco. His fidelity to the Americans was so great that he selected eight strong men of his band to man his large birch canoe, with which he passed down Lakes Huron and St. Clair, and gave information to Gov. Hull of the capture of Mackinac. For this information and his zeal and fidelity to the American Government, he became a great favorite with the officers commanding at Mackinac. He visited the Governor every year at Detroit until his advanced age prevented him.

I have one more Indian story to relate, which happened in the spring of 1816, when Col. McNeil commanded Fort Gratiot. Among the numerous families of Indians that resided on Black River was that of an old Indian by the name of Black Snake. He had a numerous family and was related to John Riley, a half Indian, who selected lands and resided in the township of Riley, St. Clair County. The town at its first organization was called Riley, in memory of the old Indian residents. The father of John Riley was a resident of Albany, N. Y., where his son John was educated when a boy. John considered himself a citizen of the United States, and the band of Indians to which he belonged were, through his influence, recognized as belonging to and under the protection of the American Government. Among this band of Indians there was a strong-built Indian by the name of Black Duck. He had for a wife a daughter of Black Snake and was strongly attached to the American Government. The Black Duck was an invited guest at a great Indian feast held at or near the mouth of Black River. At this feast much whisky was drunk and many speeches made. The Indians from Canada took part, one of whom boasted of his power and bravery as a warrior, and related how many Americans he had killed and scalped during the past war. As soon as the Indian finished this speech, Black Duck jumped to his feet, and seizing a tomahawk, approached the speaker and said: "You are a great brave; you have killed many Americans; you have taken their scalps. The Ameri cans you have killed were my friends, and you will kill no more!" Black Duck buried his toma- hawk in the boastful speaker's head and here the pleasures of the feast ended. The Black Duck knew that the avengers of blood would be upon him, for with the Indians it was, as it has been in olden times, " an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;" he therefore hastened to lay his case before Gov. Cass, and seek his protection. He was placed in the fort for safety. The Governor was well acquainted with John Riley, who had rendered valuable service to our Government during the war. Through Riley, a proposition was made to have the matter settled by paying the Indians for their dead relative. On this proposition a council was held before the Governor, at which the avengers of blood agreed to take pay for their dead relative according to their valuation, besides a selection of goods from the public store in Detroit. They demanded forty quarts of whisky, which they considered necessary in order to soften their hearts and cause the tears to flow more easily over their dead relative. The Governor's Secretary drew an order on my father for the forty quarts of whisky. I was present and won-

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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 43

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