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 44

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 44

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

dered that Indians with such dark skins should paint their faces black with charcoal, but I was told that they were mourning for the dead.

I have stated that Mr. Jacob Harsen was the first purchaser of Harsen's Island. He had a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters. His eldest daughter was the wife of Mr. Graveraet, who settled with him on the island. Immediately after the purchase of the island from the Indians, Mr. Graveraet died, leaving a family of four children, who, with their mother, made their home principally with their grandfather, until grown up and sufficiently old to take care of themselves. In the two families, thus united, there were several serious accidents causing the death of some of its members and loss of limb to others. It appears that Mr. Harsen was brought up in the faith and discipline of the Lutheran Church, and he endeav- ored to train his children in accordance with the rules of that church. Although in a wilder- ness where wild game was abundant, he forbade the use of fire-arms on the Sabbath. But one Sabbath morning while all was quiet and the members of the family were all in the house, a large flock of ducks lit on the shore near the house. The sight of the ducks was so tempting to the eldest son that he seized his gun and attempted to fire at the ducks, but the powder flashed in the pan; he ran into the house to re-prime his gun. When entering, the butt of the gun struck the door, which caused an explosion, the whole charge entering Miss Graveraet's arm, then a girl of seven years. It was so frightfully mangled that she was immediately taken to Detroit to have it amputated. Miss Graveraet spent most of the days of her childhood in the family of Judge May, of Detroit, where she learned to sew, and became so expert with the needle that few could excel her at various kinds of needlework. She became my father's second wife in 1814, and was the mother of Capt. Albert Stewart, of Detroit, and Garret G. Stewart Esq., of Harsen's Island. The next serious accident that happened in the Harsen family was in 1800. At this time old Mr. Harsen was dead, and his son Barnard became head of the family. It appears that a keg of powder had been placed in the parlor chimney, and on Sat- urday evening several pounds had been weighed out to men that had been at work in the har- vest field during the week, and some had been spilt on the hearth; by some means fire had been communicated to the powder, and the whole keg of twenty pounds exploded, blowing the house into fragments, and instantly killing Mr. Barnard Harsen and Mrs. Graveraet; a large pewter platter, which was lying on the head of the keg, was driven with such force as to almost cut Mrs. Graveraet in two; other members of the family were badly burned and wounded, but recovered. At the time of this explosion, there was stopping with Mr. Harsen a Moravian min- ister by the name of Denkey, who was a great smoker, and it was surmised that he had emptied his pipe on the chimney, which set fire to some paper and thus communicated with the powder. Denkey was not in the house at the time of the explosion, and the conjecture that he was the cause, may have been wrong. He wrote out a full statement of the accident and had it placed in my step-mother's Bible, and when a boy I read the account as he gave it, but the record is lost and I am writing from memory. At this explosion, a looking-glass of my step-mother's was blown nearly a mile, and was found in the south channel of River St. Clair; the frame and quicksilver were gone; it was put in a frame again and kept by my step-mother as a relic of the accident.

About ten years after the blowing-up of the house, causing the death of two of the mem- bers of the Harsen family, Mr. James Harsen went over to Big Bear Creek on the Canadian side to trade with the Indians. At this time, John Riley was there on a spree, and as Mr. Har- sen was stooping to enter his cabin, he (Riley) fired off his rifle, the ball entering Mr. H.'s eye and passing out behind his ear. From this wound Mr. Harsen lingered in great misery for about six months, and died at his home on Harsen's Island.

The names of the steamboats commanded by my brother John were Michigan 1, and Michigan 2, owned by O. Newberry, of Detroit, and the Northern, owned in Cleveland. He also commanded a steamboat on the Chicago and St. Joseph route, the name of which I have for- gotten. In 1855, he purchased an interest in the steam tug Pilot, but as his health was fast failing his physicians advised him to abandon the waters and remain quiet at home. He did as advised, remaining at home till the day of his death, which was on the 28th of May, 1855, in the fiftieth year of his age. He entered on his profession in the year 1820, and continued it

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for thirty-five years. He was the first seaman from St. Clair County appointed to the command of a vessel at Detroit. In two cases he risked his life to save the lives of drowning sailors and passengers. He was generous to a fault, and could shed a tear for suffering humanity. His death was sudden, as his physicians had previously told him it would be. He was at my place in the morning on business and died before reaching home, in an apoplectic fit, it being the third attack of the kind. He left a good record, which his surviving children should imitate and be proud of.

After writing the above memoirs, I visited my brother, G. G. Stewart, of Harsen's Island, and while there I asked to examine my father's papers, among which I found the appointment of Harvey Stewart as County Commissioner, in and for the county of St. Clair. The commis- sion had the seal of the Territory, signed by Lewis Cass, Governor, and William Woodbridge, Secretary of State, and was dated the 22d day of May, 1822. Following the above appoint- ment is the commission of Gov. Cass appointing my father Master in Chancery in and for the Territory of Michigan, and dated April 20, 1827.

Regarding myself, I have made a poor record. While many men of my day have become wealthy, and some have filled honorable stations, it has been my lot to remain poor. The ex- posures of my pioneer life left me subject to chronic diseases at the age of forty, which have prevented me from doing continuous hard labor; yet I have assisted in clearing up three farms, one of which I had the misfortune to lose through a defective title, but afterward recovered part by purchase from the lawful owner, requiring all my earnings for five years to meet the payments. I have lamented my lack of a good education; the little I did receive was picked up two and three months at a time, the whole not exceeding one year's tuition. Had I been blest with a good education, I should have sought business less laborious, in which I am in- clined to think I would have succeeded. After all, my evil Genii may have been the cause of all my mishaps. Possessing as I do a nervous temperament, I have many times kicked against the pricks; yet in the discharge of public duty and business affairs, I have endeavored to make myself reliable. I, with my deceased brother, Capt. J. H. Stewart, came to Michigan in the month of November, 1815. I have been a resident of St. Clair County sixty years, and now claim to be the oldest emigrant resident of St. Clair County. To-day there are only four per- sons living in the township of Clay that cast their ballots at the first election held in St. Clair County and the names of these persons are, George Harrow,* Azel Able and the writer."

In February, 1876, the following letter appeared regarding some of Mr. Stewart's state- ments :

HARSEN'S ISLAND, February, 1876.

EDITOR GAZETTE-In A. P. Stewart's recollections concerning the shooting of Francis Harsen by Robert Little, some mis-statements are made which I wish to correct. Little never refused to pay rent ; no trouble arose from that cause. When the first lease had expired, Harsen came up from Detroit and leased his farm to Little for five years more. It was agreed that Little was to go to Detroit and then papers would be drawn up to this effect. Before Little went to Detroit, A. P. Stewart's father took occasion to inform Harsen that Little would attempt to hold possession of his farm if he (Harsen) leased it to him for another five years ; it was thought likely, at that time, that the island would fall to the British Government, and Stewart, sup- posing Little to be a British subject, told Harsen that Little would claim it. Little never told Harsen that he would dispossess him, nor did he ever order him from the premises.

When Little was informed by friends that Harsen was coming with a force of men to oust him, he was greatly surprised. When he saw them coming he barred the doors; they demanded the premises, and Little refused to yield possession, having a lease of them for five years, as he could prove. Then they went around in front of the house and held a council, and afterward marched down to Stewart's distillery and he supplied them with whisky. At this moment one of the men, more intoxicated than the rest, approached the house and fired through the window, the bullet passing between Little's wife and daughter, who were sitting on a bed. Then Little shot at the man who fired through the window, missing him ; one of the shot, however, struck Francis Harsen in the fleshy part of the leg. Harsen, when hit, was walking by himself on the bank of the river. It was thought, from the positions of the parties, that the shot must have glanced from the frozen ground and struck Harsen, the wounded man himself afterward coinciding in this opinion.

Sheriff Fulton came to the window and advised Little to give up the premises, saying that the men were all intoxicated and he was afraid might commit murder. Little told him if he had proper authority he might break the door down and he would not molest him or any of his party. Then Lieut. Brown came in and was showing his authority by throwing the furniture around, when Little put Brown out of doors. The case was carried into court. Afterward Harsen came to a settlement with Little, and all trouble ceased.

Harsen said himself that there would not have been any trouble had it not been for A. P. Stewart's

*William Hill, who died since the publication of Mr. Stewart's memoirs commenced, was one of the first to cast a ballot.

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father. Stewart was the instigator of the row. Harsen and Little were ever after friends, remaining so until death.

Robert Little was born in Maryland ; his father moved to Grosse Point, Mich., and he lived there with his father until he became of age and owned a farm there. Married a Miss Tucker, of Mt. Clemens ; sold his farm at that point and bought a farm at Mt. Clemens ; from thence he came up and leased Harsen's farm to carry on a dairy ; from thence he moved back to Mt. Clemens ; lived there until his wife's death. He had a family of twelve children, of whom nine are living ; the oldest is eighty-four years of age. Two sons of his were volunteers in the war of 1812. at Mt. Clemens, under Col. Stockton. His daughter, Mrs. Johnson, who came so near getting shot, is living yet. After his wife's death, he resided with his son in Wallaceburg. Ont., one of the most prominent business men of that place, where he died in 1847, aged seventy-six years. He left a large circle of friends and relatives to mourn his loss.

This statement I learned from Francis Harsen and from my father, Robert Little, as well as from other eye witnesses, who, I think, have better recollections than A. P. Stewart, of this case. Yours respectfully, N. LITTLE.

The following letter from Mr. Stewart formed the reply : ALGONAC, February 26, 1876.

EDITOR GAZETTE-In the last issue of your paper I find a note by which I learn that you hesitate to publish my reply to N. Little, until you see me, but for what reason I cannot easily guess. N. Little, in his reply to the account given in my memoirs of the shooting of Mr. Harsen, makes out my statement to be false ; that my father was a bad man and the cause of that difficulty ; he also states that the militiamen col- lected by Sheriff Fulton and commanded by Lieut. Brown, were a drunken mob. I am not willing to remain silent and allow such statements to go before the public unrebuked. Mr. John Robertson, an old gentleman residing on Belle River, is the only living man that assisted Sheriff Fulton in getting Little from the Harsen farm. Mr. Robertson's moral character is unimpeachable ; he is a Christian and is respected where known. N. Little's statements have been pretty thoroughly discussed in this place since their publication, and are not believed by the respectable part of the community. I have remained quiet and let the public discuss the matter, and was much gratified when informed that the decisions were in my favor. N. Little accuses me of falsehood, and taints the reputation of my father, Sheriff Fulton, Lieut. Brown and the men under his com- mand ; and in reply, I claim the right to give a brief history of N. Little's father and grandfather, and let them stand face to face before the public. To refuse me this privilege is wronging me and the worthy per- sons I feel it my duty to defend. Perhaps you think my reply to N. Little too severe ; severe or not, it is a matter of history recorded in the memory of the old inhabitants for the last eighty years, and so often related in my hearing when a boy. that I retained it as readily as I do the English alphabet. If you think my charge too heavy for your gun, and that it will burst in expounding. then return my article and I will seek redress elsewhere. The old rat that said caution was the parent of safety, was considered a wise old fellow, and per- haps in most cases the old rat's logic is the best ; but the rat's reasoning was to save its life, not in the defense of the moral character of itself and friends. I have written enough, and shall only add that if you cannot publish my reply to N. Little, kindly publish this letter ; I would like it published even if you do publish my reply. I know of one or two parties who were eye witnesses to N. Little's dispossession, and as soon as I can get their statements, I shall forward them to you for publication.

Very respectfully, A. P. STEWART.

FLUGAL'S REMINISCENSES.

Mr. Flugal was born in New York City February 9, 1799. and he is now eighty-two years of age. In 1813, he enlisted in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, in that State. In 1818, he enlisted in the Second United States Infantry and in 1826 he passed up St. Clair River for Green Bay on the steamer Superior. He does not recollect seeing more than about half a dozen houses along the river at that time. He remained at Green Bay two years and one

* month, when they were ordered to Holton, Maine, and went as far as Governor's Island. * He was among the troops landed at St. Clair in 1832, out of whose number so many died with the cholera, staying two nights while there, with Mr. Fay, who lived on the hill just north of St. Clair (then Palmer). *

* He was discharged from the army in 1837. After his discharge, he settled at Port Huron, commencing business as a baker, general merchant and groceryman on the spot now occupied by the mill operated by David Williams, which business he carried on at that place and others in this city until 1854. He then commenced to farm on seven and one half acres of land west of the city, but not making a success of it, finally quit it and is now living on the next block west of the city hall in Port Huron.

He was married, July 31, 1822, to Emily Allen, of Sackett's Harbor. They have had three children-Charles, born at Green Bay October 10, 1827, died at Sackett's Harbor at the age of two years and eight months, from the effects of a fall upon a rock, which cracked his skull so badly that he only lived about five hours; Samuel D., born August 10, 1831, who has been married and had seven children. Out of this family, only the father and one son are left, the rest all lying in the old cemetery. One girl, Mary C., born May 15, 1823, is now the wife of Alfred Livingston, and living at Adair, St. Clair County, Mich.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

LAKE PORT, ST. CLAIR AND PORT HURON IN 1855.

As the country along the Lake and River St. Clair was passing through the gates leading to the modern era, that along the Lake Huron shore, as well as the interior of the county, was gradually losing its wild character-either offering a home to new pioneers or a field to the enterprise of the lumberman. At this important epoch in the history of this county, touched by the magic wand of capital and American enterprise, Lakeport began to exhibit a remarkable development into commercia) and manufacturing importance. Various logging stations or lumber camps were established, and a large saw mill erected on the lake shore, a wooden railroad built from the mill far into the pine forest, comfortable boarding houses erected for the hard workers among the pines, and the semi-barbaric life of the shanty-man of a few years before, raised to that condition which advancing civilization began to demand. B. C. Farrand, now a lawyer of Port Huron -- a pioneer of the State-was the owner and origina- tor of the Lakeport industry. While there was much to inspire him to act, there was much more to persuade him to retire whence he came, and identify his fortune with that of the friends and associates nearer the confines of civilization; yet he determined to fulfill his mission by adding another settlement, another industry, to those then inaugurated throughout the State. He had confidence then in the present and the future; he had hopes and ambitions, and determina- tions to be realized, and there-from the Huron's shore to the depths of the pine woods-he was acting a part in the dramas of economy and destiny.

For the purposes of this chapter, the relations of Mrs. Henry L. Elsworth, of La Fayette, Ind., must be of interest. The letter, from which these relations are summarized, was written by this lady, after visiting Mrs. B. C. Farrand, in June, 1855, to her sister, Miss Bartlett, of Guilford, Conn. It contains an account of an excursion to the western terminus of the log rail- road in Clyde, to the lumberman's camp in Burtchville, and of a visit to the Farrand Mills at Lakeport, together with references to Port Huron, St. Clair, and the now semi-appreciated summer road from Port Huron to St. Clair. These references relieve the lumber era of many of its grotesque features, and point out very distinctly that, over a quarter of a century ago, the villages along the River St. Clair contained the material on which their present social fabric was founded.

The letter is dated Brown's Hotel, St. Clair, July 1, 1855. The personal references are numerous, interesting, and of a most conciliating character; the style is concise, yet poetical in description, and the entire information just what the visitor considered due to the people and the district: "We are waiting for the boat from Port Huron to take us to Detroit-homeward bound -not just at present, however, to my New England home, but back to Indiana. We have been to Port Huron on a visit. Left La Fayette last Monday (June 26, 1855), took tea in Michigan City, crossed the State by railroad in the night -- reached Detroit Tuesday morning-found the steamer for Port Huron had been gone ten minutes-no other boat until next day. On Wednes- day morning, started on steamer Ruby for Port Huron, where we arrived about 6 o'clock in the evening, much to our own gratification and that of our friends. On Friday, had a car- riage ride from Port Huron to St. Clair-delightful trip-the whole distance along the bank of the beautiful St. Clair-the river of the clear water-transparent, bright and cold. Flow- ing from the northern deep lakes, it never warms, and is too cold for bathing. On Saturday, July 1, the Detroit steamers from Port Huron are an hour earlier than usual. These boats are racing, running in opposition, fare only 25 cents-sometimes passage offered free. The weather has been terribly hot for the last three days; yet this is a most pleasant region in the summer-rather bleak, I guess, in winter. Lands around not much cleared, but, where they are cleared, produce fine crops. The soil is very productive-fruits and flowers abundant, strawberries excellent-common practice for one mortal to eat a quart of them.

The day after our arrival at Port Huron, which was oppressively hot, we rode to Lakeport -distant twelve miles-to see the Farrand Mills. On our arrival, about 10 A. M., had a fine lunch, after which, we rode on a tram car, over a forest railroad, six miles to the lumber camp among the great pines. Returning, we had an excellent dinner-never tasted better-consist- ing in fact of roast beef, lamb, cold tongue, vegetables, with dessert of tapioca pudding, oranges-sliced and served up with sugar-capital ice-cream, coffee, tea, etc., etc. A delightful

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drive through the pine forest and along the lake shore by moonlight, closed the excursion of the day. This dinner was served at one of Mr. Farrand's houses-well built, well furnished, and well kept. Here are boarded about forty of his workmen-and they appear well. The sawyers and car men were on a strife that day-the former determining to get ahead of the latter, which they succeeded in doing, as it was too hot at mid-day to work the horses and get in the logs. The car men, however, had risen before 3 o'clock in the morning, had drawn two loads before our arrival, and after we left Lakeport, returned to the woods for another load; so as to get the advantage for the next day. They work fourteen hours a day like giants. I should think a single day's work would kill a man; but they do it cheerfully, and seem to enjoy it first-rate. This I attribute to the exhilarating atmosphere and scenery.

Here is the majestic forest pine in its primitive and peerless grandeur. So dense, the eye cannot penetrate its foliage-so tall, it towers even above the clouds. Here is the blue and beautiful Lake Huron, stretching itself, like an ocean, from the shore, dotted over with sails and propellers from many a distant port. Here is the fresh, pure breeze from the northern lakes. The whole conspires to delight the eye, to exalt the imagination, to invigorate the sys- tem, to increase its power of endurance, and enhance its enjoyment.

In such a country Mr. Farrand is the owner of 2,000 acres of forest pines, convertible and converted at the rate of fifty tremendous logs per day into excellent lumber for shipment to any part of the wide, wide world. One hundred thousand feet is the weekly product of his mill. He has already shipped upwards of two millions of feet (lumber) this season, and has on hand a quantity besides. The mill is located at the wharf in Lakeport. The logs are brought thither on the forest railroad from the locality where they are felled. Fifty big logs per day are thus placed before the sawyers, and changed into boards, planks, shingles or laths, in double-quick time, then packed instanter, and made ready for the market. 'Tis a beautiful operation throughout, and goes like clock work. Mr. Farrand understands it well, and makes it very profitable.

On July 1, we went fishing opposite St. Clair -- no luck! Crossed over to Victoria's do- main-didn't see Her Majesty, but found her subjects very polite and hospitable. They whom we met, offered tea, warm biscuit, tea cakes, etc., etc., which we gratefully received. A very pleasant excursion and safe return."

Such is a description of the most eastern land of this State, as it appeared in 1855, of the Europeans on the other side of the river. True, the landscape has lost much of its wild beauty; the exuberant forest flowers and foliage have given place to cultivated nature; the wilderness has developed, epitomized, as it were, and since those years cycled into the past, the babies of our times have begun to think of more mischief than their fathers ever heard of. Civilization is strange, indeed, in the changes which it claims. *

EARLY LAKE NAVIGATORS.

The steamboat men of the earlier times are at present limited to a comparative few, and of those now living, Capts. William T. Pease, now a resident of Buffalo; L. H. Cotton, of Detroit; David Wilkeson, of Perrysburg, and Harry Whittaker, of Buffalo, are the oldest on record. The command of the first steamer, the Walk-in-the- Water, devolved on Capt. Job Fish, an imported man from the East, whose knowledge of lake navigation did not extend very far, and who resigned his post on encountering the first gale, which occurred on his third or fourth trip, and delivered over the safe management of the vessel to John Davis, his mate, before reaching port. Jede- diah Rogers subsequently commanded the Walk-in-the-Water, and up to the close of her ca- reer. The Superior, being the second steamer on the lakes, was placed in command of Capt. Roger Sherman, who, although imported, as was the case of Fish, proved himself equal to the position, and continued as master of the same boat two or more seasons, when he returned from whence he came. Capt. W. T. Pease, who comes next on the list, commanded respectively the Niagara 1st, Pioneer, Superior, Niagara 2d, and others at a later period, including the Boston. He was also at one time master of the schooner Michigan, which subsequently was sent over Niagara Falls. He was living and a resident of Buffalo, in 1871. Capt. L. H. Cot- ton commanded the first steamer that ever towed a vessel up the Fort Erie Rapids, the steamer

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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 44

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