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 68

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 68

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Communication between Lakes Erie and Ontario was first opened up in 1831, via Port Robinson and Chippewa, thence via Niagara River to Lake Erie. The first vessels to pass through (and they arrived simultaneously) were the British schooner Ann and Jane and the American schooner Erie and Ontario. The event was duly celebrated. Subsequently, the out- let was extended to Port Colborne and to Port Maitland, on Lake Erie, the former twenty miles distant from Buffalo, the latter forty miles. The introduction of propellers on the northern lakes was first inaugurated by the arrival on Lake Erie, early in 1842, of the Vanda- lia, a sloop-rigged craft, built at Oswego, and 150 tons burden. Since that date, upward of 700 have been set afloat on the upper and lower lakes. In 1842, the Chicago and Oswego, each 150 tons burden, were built at Oswego. In 1843, the Hercules and Sampson -- the former built at Buffalo, the latter at Perrysburg-were the first built on the upper lakes; the Hercules was 275 tons, the Sampson 250 tons burden. The Emigrant came out same year at Cleveland, 275

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

tons, and the Independence at Chicago, 262 tons. The Racine and New York also came out that year at Oswego. In 1844, the Porter, 310 tons, at Buffalo. In 1845, were the following: The Syracuse, of Oswego; Henry Clay. of Dexter; Island, of Kingston; Oregon, of Cleveland, Princeton, of Perrysburg; Phoenix, of Cleveland; and Detroit of Detroit. The tonnage of these last named was from 300 to 400 tons. In 1846, the following were commissioned: The James Wood, of Dexter; Genesee Chief, of Rochester; Milwaukee, formerly Vandalia, of Oswego; Ontario, of Rochester; Pocahontas, of Buffalo; California, of Buffalo; St. Joseph, of Buffalo; Earl Carthcart, of Malden; Queen of the West, of Malden; Lady of the Lake, of Cleve- land; Oneida, of Cleveland; Goliah, of St. Clair, Mich .; Delaware, of Black River, Ohio; Globe, of Maumee City; Odd Fellow, of Grand River, Mich., and Cleveland, of Cleveland. The ton- nage of these last boats ranged from 300 to 400. In 1847, the Paugasset, Manhattan and Boston were all commissioned at Cleveland; tonnage respectively 320, 330, 350. In 1848, the Gen. Taylor, Sandusky, Montezuma and Charter Oak came out at Buffalo (the latter previously a vessel), the Republic, Monticello and Ohio at Cleveland. The following pro- pellers have passed out of existence. There being several years during which no lake records were published, we make no attempt to furnish complete details:

Goliah, burned on Lake Huron in 1848, and 18 lives lost.

Monticello, wrecked on Lake Superior in 1851.

Henry Clay, cargo of flour, rolled over in Lake Erie in 1851.

Vandalia (Canadian), sunk by collision with schooner Fashion in Lake Erie in 1851. City of Oswego, sunk by collision with steamboat America on Lake Erie in 1852.

Ireland, burned on the St. Lawrence River in 1852. Sampson, cargo of flour, wrecked near Buffalo in 1852.

Oneida, cargo of flour, capsized off Erie in September, 1852, all lost- -- 19 lives.

James Wood, cargo of flour, wrecked near Ashtabula in 1852.

Genesee, burned at Rochester, L. O., in 1852.

The Independence, wrecked on Lake Superior in 1853.

Princeton, cargo of merchandise, sunk off Barcelona in 1854.

H. A Kent, burned off Gravelly Bay, Lake Erie, in 1854.

Bucephalus, foundered on Saginaw Bay in 1854; 10 lives lost.

Boston, sunk by collision with a vessel on Lake Ontario, in 1854.

International, burned at Black Rock, N. Y., in 1854.

Cincinnati, went ashore in a gale at Point au Barque in 1854.

Westmoreland, foundered near the Manitous, Lake Michigan, in 1854, 17 lives lost. Rossiter, lost in a gale at head of Lake Michigan in 1855. Charter Oak, foundered in Lake Erie in 1855, 11 lives lost.

Delaware, wrecked in a gale at Sheboygan, in 1855, 10 lives lost.

Fintry, exploded off Port Stanley in 1856, 10 lives lost.

Forest City, sunk in Lake Michigan by collision with schooner Asia in 1855.

Oregon, exploded head of Detroit River in 1855, 17 lives lost.

Lord Elgin, wrecked on Lake Ontario in 1856

St. Joseph, ashore and total loss at Fairport in 1856.

Sandusky, ashore at Conneaut in 1856.

J. W. Brooks, foundered on Lake Ontario in 1856; all lost-22 lives. Phoenix, burned on Lake Michigan, November, 1846, 190 lives lost. B. L. Webb, burned on Lake Superior in 1856, 1 life lost.

Brunswick, foundered on Lake Michigan in 1856, 1 life lost.

Tinto, burned at Kingston, Lake Ontario, in 1856.

Charter, wrecked in a gale at Fairport in 1856. Paugassett, burned at Dunkirk in 1856.

Protection, sunk by steamer Boston, on River St. Lawrence, in 1856.

Toledo 1st, foundered at her anchors off Port Washington, 1856, 42 lives lost.

Falcon, burned at Chicago in 1856.

Louisville, burned off Chicago in 1857, one life lost.

441

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Republic, burned at Sandusky in 1857.

Oliver Cromwell, sunk in the Straits by collision with schooner Jessie, in 1857. City of Superior, wrecked at Eagle Habor, 1857.

Napoleon, wrecked at Saugeen, Lake Huron, in 1857. St. Nicholas, wrecked at Sleeping Bear in 1857. Forest City, burned off Port Stanley, C. W., in 1858. Indiana, sunk in Lake Superior in 1858.

North America, burned at St. Clair Flats in 1858.

Ontario, went to California in 1850.

Manhattan, wrecked at Grand Marias River, Lake Superior, in 1859. Oriental, cargo of provisions, lost on Skillagalee, with two wrecking pumps, in 1859. Troy, foundered with cargo of wheat on Lake Huron in 1859, 23 lives lost. Ohio, exploded and sunk off Erie, in 1859, 2 lives lost.

Milwaukee, sunk by collision with schooner J. H. Tiffany in 1859, near Skillagalee. Lady of the Lakes, exploded and sunk in Lake Erie in 1859, 2 lives lost.

Peninsula, wrecked on Lake Huron in 1853.

M. B. Spaulding, burned at Forrester, L. H., in 1860; bottom made into a vessel. Mount Vernon, exploded on Lake Erie in 1860, 2 lives lost.

Globe, formerly side wheel, exploded at Chicago in 1860, 16 lives lost.

Wabash Valley, stranded at Muskegon in 1860.

Dacotah, wrecked at Sturgeon Point, L. E., in 1860, and all lost, 35 lives. Jersey City, lost by same storm, with 19 lives.

Ogontz, converted into a vessel in 1860.

Cataract, burned off Erie, Penn., in 1861, 4 lives lost.

L. L. Britton, stranded off Calumet, Lake Michigan, in 1861.

Banshee, sprung a leak and sunk off South Bay, Lake Ontario, 1861, 1 life lost. Oshawa, went ashore at South Bay, Lake Ontario, 1861. Gen. Taylor, wrecked at Sleeping Bear, Lake Michigan, in 1862.

Bay State, sunk in Lake Ontario in 1862, all hands lost-22 lives.

Pocahontas, wrecked at Long Point, Lake Erie, in 1862.

Euphrates, wrecked on Sandusky Bar in 1862.

C. Mears, sunk by collision with propeller Prairie State in Lake Michigan in 1862. B. F. Bruce, burned near Port Stanley, Lake Erie, in 1862.

California, wrecked on Gull Island Reef, Lake Erie, in 1862.

Jefferson, dismantled at Cleveland in 1863.

Detroit 1st, dismantled and made a barge in 1863.

Globe 1st, burned and sunk in Saginaw Bay in 1863, resurrected and made a barge. Vermont, sunk in Lake Erie, by collision wilh propeller Marquette, in 1863. Water Witch, lost in Lake Huron, with all hands, in 1863, 20 lives lost. Nile, exploded at Detroit dock in 1864, 6 lives lost.

Racine, burned off Rond Eau, 1864, bottom made a bark; 8 lives lost. Sciota, sunk in Lake Erie by collision with propeller Arctic, in 1864, 9 lives lost. Ogdensburg, sunk in Lake Erie by collision with schooner Snowbird, 1864. Kenosha, burned near Sarnia in 1864.

Pewabic, sunk in Lake Huron by collision with propeller Meteor, 1864, 100 lives lost. Illinois, sunk at Point au Pellee by collision with propeller Dean Richmond, in 1865. Stockman, burned at Bear Creek in 1865.

Brockville, wrecked at Big Point Au Sable Lake Michigan 1865, 3 lives lost. City of Buffalo, burned at Buffalo in 1866.

Mary Stewart, wrecked at Grand Haven in 1866. Whitby, lost on Lake St. Francis in 1866. F. W. Backus, burned at Racine in 1866. Wisconsin, burned on Lake Ontario in 1867, 50 lives lost. Acme, wrecked in a gale off Dunkirk 1867.

442

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

North, burned on River St. Clair 1867.

Antelope, burned at Buffalo 1867, made a steam barge. Portsmouth, wrecked on Middle Island, Lake Huron, 1867.

Owego, wrecked off Barcelona in 1867, 5 lives lost. Sunnyside, wrecked at Pine River, Mich., 1867. Genesee Chief, burned at Detroit in 1868, made a barge. Gov. Cushman, exploded at Buffalo in 1868, 12 lives lost. River Queen, burned at Marine City in 1868, made a tug. Hippocampus, burned on Lake Michigan, 1868, 26 lives lost. Perseverance, burned on Lake Ontario, 1868, 14 lives lost. Congress, (formerly Detroit 2d), wrecked at Thunder Bay, 1868. Queen of the Lakes, burned at Marquette, 1869.

Boscobel, burned on River St. Clair in 1869, 3 lives lost. Forrest Queen, sunk by ice off Clay Banks 1869. Omar Pasha, burned at Muskegon, 1869.

Avon, wrecked at Presque Isle, Lake Huron, 1869. Hunter, sunk by collision with propeller Comet in Detroit River, 1869. Belle, burned off Port Washington, 1869, 2 lives lost.

Colonist, sunk in Lake Huron with valuable cargo, 1869. Equator, wrecked at North Manitou, Lake Michigan, 1869.

Free State, wrecked on Graham Shoals, 1871, valuable cargo. Anna Horton, wrecked at Kincardine ir 1871.

R. G. Coburn, foundered on Saginaw Bay, 1871, valuable cargo, 42 lives. Navarino, (new) burned at Chicago in 1871.

Evergreen City, wrecked at Long Point, 1871.

Alex. Watson, burned on River St. Clair, 1871.

J. Barber, burned on Lake Michigan, 1871, 2 lives lost.

From the foregoing, which, as previously stated, mentions those only which have become extinct, and by no means includes all, owing to absent records, including 1870, of which no re- port was given, it appears there were 45 propellers burned, 10 lost with all hands, 7 exploded, and 120 total losses, besides 544 lives lost. The history of the Lake Marine from 1871 to the present time is summarized for the chronological table. Like the commerce of the lakes, it has increased rapidly, not so much in number, as in magnificence of the vessels employed.

LIGHT-HOUSES.

The light-houses along the lake and river front of St. Clair are in the Eleventh In- spection District, which embraces all the northern lakes. The aids to navigation on the river and lake front of St. Clair County include the lighthouse at the head of the Old Cut, at South Pass, in latitude 42° 00' 33", longitude 82° 12' 30", built in 1859; the Beacon, built in 1859, 1,000 feet from South Pass; two lights on the St. Clair Flats Canal, built in 1871, and the Fort Gratiot light, built in 1825, rebuilt in 1862, in latitude 42° 00' 22" north, longitude 82° '24' 44" west. In connection with this light is an eight inch steam fog whistle, a descrip- tion of which is given in the history of Fort Gratiot. These aids to navigation on the St. Clair River, come next in order of usefulness to the improvements of the river and canal at the St. Clair Flats.

443

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

FINANCES AND STATISTICS.

The true beginning of the Age of Progress in Michigan must be credited to the period in which it assumed the name and importance of a State. A financial mania was abroad. This distemper seized upon the Legislature in 1836-37. They enacted a system of internal im- provement without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the construction of hundreds of miles of railroad, crossing the State in all directions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or river or canal, and those were to be comforted and compensated by the free distribution of money among them. To inflate this balloon beyond credence, it was ordered that work should be commenced on both ends of each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crosssing, all at the same time. The appropriations for these vast improvements were over $5,000,000, and Commissioners were appointed to borrow the money on the credit of the State. Remem- ber that all this was in the early days of railroading, when railroads were luxuries; that the State had whole counties with scarcely a cabin; and that the population of the State was less than 200,000, and some idea can be formed of the vigor with which those brave men undertook the work of making a great State. In the light of history, I am compelled to say that this was only a premature throb of the power that actually slumbered in the soil of the State. It was Hercules in the cradle.

From this rash enterprise sprung a sound financial policy, which belonged not only to the State Legislature, but also extended to the county and township boards throughout Michigan.

In 1857, as spring graduated into summer, appearances failed to indicate the coming of the storm that threatened to involve the entire country in ruin. During the latter part of August, the suspension of the Life Insurance and Trust Company at Cincinnati, with liabilities quoted at $5,000,000, came with unexpected suddenness, and created a havoc in financial ranks from which recovery has only been accomplished after years of industry, pluck and unmeas- ured confidence. This crash was succeeded by others, as is well known, with similar depress- ing and ruinous results. These warnings preceded the advance of the foe into the West, and caused people to reflect on what might be in store for them. There were many, doubtless, ad- monished of what was coming; but a majority, flattering their peace of mind with the thought that the city and county would escape unscathed, declined to outline their connections regard- ing impending troubles until too late to provide any remedy to mitigate their severity. There were some, however, who saw the horizon dark and portentous with the coming storm, and put their house in order to resist its violence. When it came, as a consequence, if not protected entirely, they were sufficiently so to escape permanent paralysis. Its immediate presence was first manifested by the falling off in trade, the absence of new arrivals, the depreciation in prop- erty values, and other signs of coming calamities which, though strange to the West and her people, carried with them a dread of what was to follow in their wake. Soon after, more pronounced symptoms were to be observed. Lots and lands were without markets, and none but the choicest of either were worth the cost of assessment. Visionaries, who had dwelt in cas- tles constructed by fancy, fled from the scene of their creations, appalled at the storm which they had aided in provoking. Substantial merchants, who heard the muttering, hastily, and in every instance when it was too late, sought to take their latitude and ascertain how far they could be driven from their true course and yet survive. Nearer and nearer approached the crisis, closer and closer came the advance of that intangible agency which was to wreck so many hopes, strand so many enterprises and commit the fruit of years of labor to an adversity, both remediless and hopeless. The crash succeeded these premonitions of its coming, and carried all before it. Hundreds were irretrievably ruined in an hour, and men who felicitated themselves upon the possession of resources, ascertained, when beyond salvation, that these resources

444

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

were unavailable. Some survived, but the majority went down in the storm, and were heard of no more.

The events which followed this crisis are familiar to many who are alive to-day. Gloom and discouragement usurped the places of hope and prosperity. Farm lands were cultivated only that the necessaries of life might be harvested. In some remote instances they lay idle. There was no money in the country, and this absence of a circulating medium prevented the sale of crops. Merchants for similar reasons were unable to buy or sell commodities, and the most terrible distress followed, threatening almost permanent poverty, if not complete annihilation. In 1861, when the war broke out, there was a brief revival of business and exchange for a sea- son, which gave a temporary impetus to trade, but in a brief time, business resumed its slug- gish channel. Thus were cast the lines of life throughout the county. Inquiry was insti- tuted to discover, if possible, the cause of these unfortunate effects, and the endeavor made to ascertain if their recurrence could be prevented. In all former revulsions, it was reasoned, the blame might be fairly attributed to a variety of co-operating causes, but not in the case under consideration. There were no patent reasons for the failures, of which that of the Trust Company was the beginning-a failure unequaled in its extent and disastrous results since the collapse of the United States Bank. Reasonings induced the conclusion that the ruin which at one time hung over the country and the people was due almost entirely to the system of pa- per currency and bank credits, exciting wild speculations and gambling in stocks. So long as the amount of the paper currency, bank loans and discounts of the country should be left to the discretion of irresponsible banking institutions, which, from the very law of their nature, consult the interests of the stockholders rather than the public, a repetition of these exper- iences would come at intervals. This had been the financial history of the country for years 1817, 1837, 1857. It had been a history of extravagant expansions, followed by ruinous con tractions. At successive intervals the most enterprising men had been tempted to their ruin by bank loans of mere paper credit, exciting them to speculations and ruinous and demoralizing stock operations. In a vain endeavor to redeem their liabilities in specie, they were com- pelled to contract their loans and their issues, and when their assistance was most needed, they and their debtors sank into insolvency.

Deplorable, however, as were the prospects, the people indulged in bright hopes for the future. No other nation ever existed that could have endured such violent expansions and contractions of the currency, and live. But the buoyancy of youth, the energies of the people, and the spirit which never quails before difficulties, enabled the country to recover from its financial embarrassment. Its coming was long delayed, but it came at last and dissipated the troubles existent, without permitting the people to forget the lesson these troubles inculcated. The wheat crop of 1861 was sold for gold and silver, and though the price paid was compara- tively less than was expected, it was the beginning ef the end of the crisis. As the war con- tinued, and fresh levies were made upon the State and county, the demand for supplies in- creased proportionately, and necessitated their production. The demand augmented almost with every month, until in 1863 it had became so generous that it seemed as if the denials and privations of the people were about to yield precedence to days of plenty. The crops were constantly on the move, money became easier, and merchants experienced difficulty in keeping pace with the wants of their customers. Lands increased in value, and the area upon which cultivation had been wholly or in part abandoned, was replanted and harvested with profit. The towns also revived under these benign influences, and that better days had come indeed was a conclusion both cheerful and universal. The experiences through which this people passed in these years of woe were not, however, without results to the county and city, which have proved advantageous and beneficial. Speculators, adventurers, soldiers of fortune and vissionaries were weeded out. The dross was separated from the pure gold; the country was shorn of its superficial inhabitants, and men only remained, consoling compensations for the ruin that had been wrought, who are motive powers by which communities are sustained and character for manhood and integrity created. The decade in which were included occurrences of which mention has been made, consisted of a series of years, characterized by events, as has been seen, which tended to the civilization of the age, the education of the world by exam-

445

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

ple, and the discipline of humanity by experience. Commencing at a period in the history of St. Clair County when the days of trial were yielding place to more auspicious seasons, run- ning the gantlet of an experience both varied and checkered, and closing amid surroundings calculated both to encourage and approve, illustrate how nations, peoples, and communities, like individuals, are subject to causes and motives as incomprehensible as they are irresistible. The dullness of 1873 reached its climax in 1877, and the third panic was a reality. This last and most serious season of depression continued from 1873 to 1879, when the revival in all branches of trade restored confidence.

During the war, the county subscribed men and money to meet the levies made upon her resources for material to be sent to the field and for other purposes. The sums appropriated amounted to $322,719.89; but between 1857 and 1865, the exits were more numerous than the arrivals. In the latter part of the war, lumber appreciated in value and attracted a number of new-comers. In 1867, villages were laid out. Between 1860 and 1870, villages improved gradually; but until 1876, or thereabouts, the increase in population, development of the coun- try and building up of the villages, was so gradual as to be scarcely perceptible. During the decade succeeding 1866, remarked one of the oldest settlers in the county, there have been more arrivals and more business than during the period of the county's growth prior to that date. This was due to the railroad and other improvements which were completed in those years, and attracted a generous immigration, principally from Maine and New York, who located in villages where they became merchants and professionals-or in the lumber districts and on farms. To-day the population of the county is not far from 50,000. Yet there is a large number of towns only partially settled, and only portions of the county available for agricult- ural purposes utilized therefor. The facilities for getting to and from the outside world are excellent by turnpike roads, railway lines and steamboats. What the statistics may show in 1900 is a matter on which imagination alone may speculate. The prospect points out a county rich in everything.

DECENNIAL CENSUS.

Year 1810, 100; 1820, 500; 1830, 1,115: 1840, 4,606; 1850, 10,411; 1860, 26,814; 1870, 36,759; 1880, 45, 685.

In 1840, the population of St. Clair County was 4,606, distributed throughout the various towns. Five years later it reached 7,680, as shown in the following list, giving the returns of 1845: Port Huron, 1,198; St. Clair, 1,009; China, 870; Cottrellville, 727; Clyde, 483; Burtchville, 355; Ira, 392; Clay, 569; Lexington, 868; Columbus, 315; Wales, 114; Berlin, 476; Riley, 234; Polk, 72. Of this total 4.203 were males and 3,359 females; 19 Africans; 2 lunatics; 2 mutes; 12 males and 6 females over 75 years.

In 1850, the population was 10,411, increased to 16,800 in 1854. The increase is remark- able; over fifty per cent in four years:

Berlin.

1850. 538

1854.

1850.

1854.

772

Cottrellville.

913

1,442

Brockway.

252

883

Emmett, (new town).

437

Burtchville.

472

1,009

Ira.

597

897

Casco

134

526

Lynn .

167

China.

1,037

1,210

Port Huron.

2,301

3,088

Clay.

721

932

Riley

311

593

Clyde.

691

1,038

St. Clair.

1,728

3,080

Columbus.

377

659

Wales .

189

441

Population in 1840, of St. Clair and Sanilac Counties then united, was 4,606.

The census returns of 1850 as compared with those of 1840 and 1845 show an increase of population in this county which is truly astonishing. In 1840, the population of the whole county was 4,619. In 1845, it was 7,562, showing an increase in five years of 2,943. In 1850, the population of St. Clair was 10,411, from which Sanilac, containing 2,115 inhabitants, had been cut off since 1845. The increase, therefore, in what was St. Clair County in 1845, was in five years 4,964, the whole population of St. Clair and Sanilac Counties in 1850 being 12,526, and the whole increase since 1840, 7,907.

The following is the number of inhabitants in each town and city in St. Clair County,

446

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY,

according to the census taken August, 1864. Brockway, 792; Burtchville, 1,695; Berlin, 963; Clay, 1,827; Columbus, 1,028; Casco, 759; China, 1,443; Cottrellville, 1,930; Clyde, 1,123; East China, 204; Emmett, 854; Greenwood, 625; Ira, 1,072; Kimball, 715; Kenockee, 783; Lynn, 457; Mussey. 806; Port Huron City, 4,015; Port Huron Township, 1, 470; Riley 1, 750; St. Clair City, 1,675; St. Clair Township, 1,659; Wales, 1,100. Total, 27,480.

The returns as given in the Census Statistics for 1880 and 1870 are as follows:

TOWNSHIPS.

1880.

1870.

TOWNSHIPS.

1880.

1870.

Berlin.

1283

1231

Greenwood.

1568

898

Brockway.

1839

1330

Ira. ..

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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 68

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