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 78
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140
Recorders-Robert J. Baker, 1858; John McNeil, 1859; William T. Mitchell, 1872.
" Treasurers-John Hibbard, 1858; Antoine Marentette, 1859-62; Horace Baker, 1863-65; Daniel Ryan, 1866-67; P. M. Wright, 1868; J. B. Hull, 1869-70; Sigmond Goodman, 1871; Antoine Marentette, 1872-73; John E. Miller, 1874; Henry McMoran, 1875; Carleton W. Rob- inson, 1876; Martin Huner, 1877-78; Charles Grieb, 1879-81.
Marshal-Amos James, 1858; E. R. Sweetzer, 1859; W. P. Edison, 1860.
City Clerk-Frederick L. Wells, 1859-61; F. A. Weyers, 1862; Hermon Herzog, 1863; Julius M. Carrington, 1864; Lewis Atkins, 1865-66; Albert Dixon, 1867-68; Anson E. Chad- wick, 1869; Albert Dixon, 1869; Lewis Atkins, 1870-72; Bennett H. Welton, 1873; Lewis Atkins, 1874; B. H. Welton, 1875; Frank Follensbee, 1876-80; Louis N. Minnie, 1881.
Aldermen -John S. Crellin, William Kerwin, James Beard, 1858; William Kerwin, Samuel Hamilton, Allen Fish, Cyrus Miles, Henry N. Wright, George W. Millen, Frederick Hubert, Calvin Ames, 1859; Lewis Atkins, Jacob F. Bachelor. John S. Crellin, James H. White, 1860; John S. Bottsford, Allen Fish, Jr., Joseph Smith, Nelson D. Horton, 1861; Michael McAaron, Newell Avery, O'B. J. Atkinson, George W. Miller, 1862; William Kerwin, Jacob F. Bachelor, Thomas K. Whitman, Hiram P. Vroman, 1863; Amos James, Henry How- ard, Anson E. Chadwick, Frederick L. Wells, 1864; William Allen, John Johnston, T. K. Whitman, W. R. Mulford, 1865; William Kerwin, Henry Howard, Cyrus Miles, James H. White, 1866; Henry McMoran, Samuel L. Boyce, Henry Fish, E. M. Carrington, 1867; Albert Hendricks, S S. Penney, Tewkesbury Strout, Henry Howard, 1868; Robert Walsh, A. L. Stebbins, W. D. Wright, Albert K. Comins, 1869; Edmund Fitzgerald, Henry Howard, O'Brien J. Atkinson, Frederick L. Wells, 1870; Daniel Ryan, Abram L. Stebbins, Jacob P, Haynes, Carleton W. Robinson, 1871; O'Brien J. Atkinson, E. Ortenburger, Daniel N. Run- nells, Edmund Fitzgerald, 1872; George F. Adams, Henry Howard, Albert Hendricks, Freder ick L. Wells, Martin Huner, 1873; Benjamin Karrer, D. N. Runnells, John Russell, Martin Huner, 1874; Edmund Fitzgerald, George F. Adams, Peter Schweitzer, Charles Wellman, 1875; Amos James, Guy Kimball, George Brooks, Edwin S. Petit, Otis Joslyn, James Beard, 1876; Edward Fitzgerald, Henry Huner, Sigmond Goodman, John G. O'Neil, Stephen T. Probett, James Golden, James H. Stone, 1877; Henry Huner, Frank Whipple, William Wan -
501
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
less, Hiram R. Mills, Duncan Campbell, Orrin L. Jenks, 1878; W. D. Wright, Sigmund Good- man, John G. O'Neil, Chester Kinney, Myron Northrup, Henry W. Cooley, 1879; Henry Huner, Jared Kibbee, Charles Wellman, John McCormick, S. T. Probett, Otis Joslyn, Jacob Eisenhauer, 1880; Dennis Jones, William Springer, E. B. Harrington, Frank W. Parsons, S. T. Probett, James Golden, John Chambers, 1881.
Supervisors-H. L. Stevens, M. S. Gillett, 1858; H. L. Stevens, M. S. Gillett, James Heald, Edward W. Harris, 1859; H. L. Stevens, Edgar White, David Whitman, E W. Harris, 1860; William Kerwin, Edgar White, David Whitman, E. W. Harris, 1861; H. L. Stevens, Edgar White, George Phillips, E. W. Harris, 1862; Edgar White, E. W. Harris, David Whitman, H. L. Stevens, 1863; Edgar White, E. W. Harris, James Talbot, H. L. Stevens, 1864; E. W. Harris, F. Schulte, E. White, E. M. Carrington, 1866; R. W. Matthews, John L. Newell, Richard Cassler, Joseph Wellman, 1867; E. Fitzgerald, Edgar White, Joseph Wellman, E. M. Cady, 1868; Edmund Fitzgerald, Edgar White, T. K. Whitman, Horace A. Beach, 1869; Charles Samberg, Edgar White, T. K. Whitman, Carleton W. Robinson, 1870; Charles Samberg, Edgar White, Otis Joslyn, Ernst Orttenburger, 1871; Thomas Dunford, Edgar White, Thomas K. Whitman, Bethuel C. Farrand, 1872; C. B. Hubbard, Edgar White, George Brookes, Bethuel C. Farrand, 1873; C. B. Hubbard, Edgar White, George Brooks, S. T. Probett, 1874; Sylvester H. Robinson, Frank Whipple, Henry A. Bachelor, Edgar White, 1875; James Talbot, Edgar White, Joseph Wellman, J. B. Montross, Henry Bradbeer, Thomas W. Ward, 1876; James Talbot, Edgar White, Joseph Wellman, J. B. Montross, Henry J. Brad- beer, Orin L. Jenks, 1877; James Talbot, Edgar White, Joseph Wellman, J. B. Montross, H. J. Bradbeer, T. W. Ward, 1878; Sylvester H. Robinson, Edgar White, Daniel J. Penney, Jeremiah B. Montross, Joseph K. Gardner, T. W. Ward, 1879; R. W. Matthews, Edgar White, Joseph Wellman, James H. White, Thomas H. Schneider, Frank Ufford, 1880; S. H. Robin- son, Edgar White, Napoleon Roberts, J. B. Montross, T. H. Schneider, Thomas W. Ward, 1881.
Controllers-E. P. Tibbals. 1877; J. B. Hull, 1878; L. B. Wheeler, 1879; Edmond Fitz- gerald, 1880; Lewis Atkins, 1881; F. L. Follansbee, 1881; Edgar White, 1882.
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Previous to the war, the financial history of the city does not present even one extraordi- nary feature. In 1869, however, the old conservative system of voting moneys for necessary improvements was cast aside, and one more worthy of the spirit of the times adopted. A sum of $80,000 was voted to aid the P., H. & L. M. R. R., but owing to the decision of the Su- preme Court, declaring bonds issued by town or city governments in aid of railroads invalid, the sum voted could not be legally raised, and thus the question rested until 1874-75. During the years 1874-75, the contest over the railroad bonds issued by Port Huron and other munici- palities of Michigan ended in the United States Courts, by decisions which rendered it certain that all such bonds must be paid. Judgments to the amount of $40,000 or more were rendered against Port Huron, and efforts were made to sell 8 per cent refunding bonds to pay the judg- ments. No bids were received, however, and 10 per cent bonds were then offered and sold at a little above par. It being universally conceded that there was no escaping judgments on all the outstanding bonds, action was taken by the municipal authorities to confess judgments and make as little costs as possible. In this way all the bonds when due were paid, refunding bonds being sold to raise the necessary funds, a portion of them bearing 8 per cent interest. This left about $37,000 of original railroad aid bonds outstanding and yet to mature, all bear- ing 10 per cent interest. On these the city paid interest from year to year, and saved the costs of judgment.
While this state of affairs existed, in the years 1872-73, the city water-works were con- structed, at a total cost of $170,000, all of which was borrowed at 10 per cent interest. This investment has never been regretted by the people of Port Huron. The works have more than paid all the expenses of running and maintaining them, have proved a sure protection from ex- tensive fires, and have so benefited the public health that the death rate of the city has been reduced nearly 50 per cent. In the year 1878, a considerable amount of money had accumu- lated in the sinking fund, and by unaminous vote of the Council, a portion of the outstanding
502
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
railroad aid bonds were purchased and canceled, and another portion refunded at 7 per cent inter- est. This left but $17,500 of the original railroad aid bonds outstanding. Of these, $7,000 mature during the present year, $9,500 in the year 1883, and $1,000 in 1889. The total bonded debt of the city, January 1, 1880, not including accrued interest, was $370,960. Port Huron suffered greatly from the financial panic, through depressions in marine business, and through the practical annihilation of its large lumber business by the destruction in 1871 by fire of the timber adjacent to the streams which have their outlet at the foot of Lake Huron. From 1873 to 1879, the city had no actual growth, either in business or population, the large acces- sions on account of its increasing importance as a railroad center being fully neutralized by its losses through the disappearance of its lumber traffic and the depression of marine and ship building interests. This being the condition of affairs, it will not appear strange that the burden of a high rate of interest on so large a debt was seriously felt after the decision of the United States Courts had rendered valid the railroad aid debt, increased by about $60,000 accu- mulated interest and costs. Tax-payers began to look about, for some measures of relief, but could find no prospect of any, for years to come, as nearly all the bonds had from ten to twenty years to run, and could not be called in and paid until maturity.
During the disagreements in the Council during the year 1879, the city defaulted in the pay- ment of interest on her bonds. A public meeting was therefore called and a committee, con- sisting of two Republicans and three Democrats, was appointed to negotiate with the holders of 10 per cent bonds, and see if they would not consent to a reduction in the rate of interest, or to the payment of their bonds. After two or three months of correspondence, the consent of the owners of nearly two-thirds of the 10 per cent bonds to refund at 7 per cent had been obtained, with fair prospect that all others would consent to a similar arrangement.
A meeting of the Council was then held to consider the question of refunding the entire debt ; but a resolution favoring a total refunding was negatived, and instead one passed for the issue of $200,000 of 7 per cent refunding bonds, to take up a similar amount of 7 per cent bonds, excluding all those issued for railroad purposes. This killed the refunding scheme, as the consent of bondholders to refund had been coupled with the condition that the refunding should cover all the outstanding bonds.
The beneficial results of the financial policy adopted were made manifest May 20, 1882, when canceled bonds and other evidences of the city's debt were burned by the Treasurer, D. N. Runnels, in presence of William Hartsuff, S. L. Boyce, R. Walsh, John McCormick, James Moffat and Edgar White.
The census of the city, taken in July, 1854, by J. P. Minnie, gives the following figures:
Males (married).
567
Grand total.
.3,088
Males (unmarried) . 1,053
Population in 1850. .2,302
Total ..
1,620
Increase
1,386
Females (married).
537
Population of the village 2,292
Females (unmarried) 931
Population of the village (1850) 1,484
Total 1,463
Increase 708
NOTE .- Deaf and dumb, 2; insane, 5; colored, 13; number of marriages during the year, 65; number of deaths, 51.
The census of the city in 1866 was as follows:
Total (First Ward).
1,325
---
Total (Fort Gratiot). 45
Total (Third Ward). 1,060
Total (Fourth Ward)
1,173
Grand total. 4,704
The census of Port Huron in 1870 shows the following figures:
WARDS.
Inhabi- tants.
Deaths.
Manu- fact- urers.
Dwellings
WARDS.
Inhabi- tants.
Deaths.
Manu- fact- urers.
Dwellings
First Ward.
1361
22
34
232
Fourth Ward.
1936
19
5
396
Second Ward.
1235
17
39
208
Third Ward.
1441
12
10
234
Totals
5973
70
88
1070
Total (colored) 18
Total (Second Ward). 1,083
.
503
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
The column of deaths includes those who died from June 1, 1869, to May 31, 1870.
The population of the city in June, 1880, is given in the general history, as 8,883 persons. Owing to important railroad changes, and the prosperous condition of commerce, this number is thought to be under the actual population by about 2,000.
THE SAW MILL CITY.
The rapid growth of nearly, or quite, all the localities which boast of being lumber man- ufacturing centers is phenomenal. Scarcely one of the towns which had pine forests in prox- imity but has, within the past twenty years, made rapid advances in the matter of growth and development far in excess of other localities equally well situated for manufacturing enter- prise, but lacking the accompaniment of the forest. In no branch of industry has a greater stimulus been given to inventive genius; and the saw mill of to-day is in but few respects the likeness of those of a quarter century ago. The incentives to improvement in saw mill ma- chinery have been extended as well to all branches of wood- working industry; and where, in the past, the manufacture of furniture, agricultural implements, wagons, etc., was wholly dependent upon the skill of trained mechanics, whose preparation was accomplished through long years of close apprenticeship, the present time finds them carried on with the aid of labor-saving devices worked by unskilled youth, or men educated at the machine which is de- voted to but a single portion of the multitudinous details of the work to be aggregated in a grand and perfected whole. With the decadence of the pine supply, it is the part of wisdom for those localities which will presently find themselves put upon a shortened supply of the pine timber which has formed the basis of their growth, and the foundation of their prosperity, to take steps to continue in the path of manufacturing progress by the establishment of works which shall utilize the timber which has been considered boundless in quantity, and of but little value in comparison with the greater importance of the pine.
Wagon and agricultural implement and furniture factories are valuable adjuncts to the prosperity of any locality, and withal their products are not only in increasing demand as the country develops, but the hands employed at them form a valuable adjunct to the population of the village or city where they are located. An agricultural implement or wagon factory re- quires the adjuncts of foundries and iron-working establishments, while those towns which boast the possession of furniture factories find other industries following in their train as a matter of necessity. Many large establishments are located at points remote from the produc- tion of the timber which enters most largely into their manufacture, and the item of transpor- tation is of no inconsiderable importance as a factor of original cost to the finished product. Factories located at the point where the lumber is originally sawed enjoy the advantage of a reduced cost of handling several times, added to the cost of transportation. They, too, are en- abled to purchase their raw material at a cheaper rate, inasmuch as they can enjoy the advan- tages of that by no means small proportion of the log stock which, while too coarse to bear the cost of transportation, is yet excellently adapted, in a large proportion of its bulk, for what is known as " cutting up," the valuable portion being utilized without the expense of transport- ing that which is worthless. In the near future it will be found that those lumber centers of the past which, with wise forethought among the capitalists and business men, have secured the establishment of manufactories for working up the oak, maple, beech and ash, with other of the hardwoods now in many localities looked upon as of little or no value, will find their prosperity not only assured, put permanently promoted in a direction doubly advantageous, in that it will increase the population, utilize a comparatively useless product, and add to the world's resources in commodities which must always be in demand in an ever-increasing ratio.
In 1854, the pine lumber trade was the great and absorbing business of this place and the surrounding country. By careful estimate, the lumber manufactured in St. Clair and San- ilac Counties amounted in 1853 to 92,900,000 feet.
FEET.
Logs furnished by these counties, and sawed FEET.
by mills on Detroit River ... .33,000,000 New mills erected during the past winter equal to. 6,000,000
Add 10 per cent for increased machinery and improvements, and general advance in
value. 13,190,000
Quantity of lumber and logs for 1854
145,090,000
Worth at a low estimate ($10 per thousand),
amounting to
$1,450,000
.
504
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Add to this sum the value of lath, shingles, fish, staves and spars, and the exports from the two counties named above will not fall below $2,000,000 the present year. To this immense trade Port Huron is mainly indebted for its hitherto rapid growth and present prosperity. It continued to increase until the trade had reached its maximum-until the forests disappeared.
The saw mill interest of the city to-day is extensive-it is a great industry; but, like the forests of the county, it will fall unless auxiliary manufactories are established.
Port Huron had, in 1867, seven mills, which produced lumber and lath during that year as follows:
NAMES.
Lumber (feet.) Lath (pieces.)
NAMES.
Lumber (feet.) Lath (pieces.)
Avery & Murphy
5,000,000
3,000,000
A. & H. Fish.
6,000,000
3,000,000
Howard & Son ..
3,200,000
2,000,000
Z. Bunce.
1,200,000
1,500,000
W. B. & J. Hibbard.
4,006,000
237,500
N. & B. Mills
4,000,000
John Wells & Son.
3,500,000
1,800,000
Jacob F. Batchelor.
2,800,000
1,500,000
Totals
29,706,000
13,037,500
The numbers of logs sawed was 112,000, and about one seventh of the lumber produced was clear stuff. The greater part of the lumber was shipped to Ohio markets, but some of the clear went to Albany. About 1,100,000 pipe and hogshead staves were shipped, worth $60 per thousand, yielding $66,000; beside a considerable quantity of cedar posts, shingles, tan bark, etc.
The total amount of logs inspected in Black River during the year was 64, 700,000 feet of the usual board measure.
The following interesting statistics, dealing with manufacturing statistics from 1867 to the centennial year were published by A. Marontette in 1876:
Hibbard's mill started sawing each year, beginning with the spring of 1867, to the spring of 1876, and the amount of money paid each year for labor in manufacturing lumber and lath. Also the total amount paid to the fall of 1876. Also giving the date of the first boat from Detroit to Port Huron each year:
.
MILL STARTED.
FIRST BOAT FROM DETROIT.
1867
. April 8
1868
March 30
1869.
April 12
1869
April 18
1870
April 11
1870
April 10
1871
March 16
1871.
March 27
1872
June 10
1872
April 17
1873.
April 29
1873.
April 9
1874.
.April 10
1875
April 16
1875
April 26
1876
April 21
1876
April 5
1867, April 14, Genesce Chief came from Alpena.
No ice in the lake.
WEEKS MILL RUN.
PAID FOR LABOR.
1867
$ 9,172 00
1868.
12,376 00
1869.
14,057 00
1870.
13,525 00
1871.
29
1872.
13}
1872.
5,737 00
1873.
.28}
1873.
11,249 00
1874.
21}
1874.
8,597 00
1875
16₺
1875.
5,067 00
1876.
18
1876.
5,490 00
In 1875-6 rebuilding mill, labor only
Total.
$99,262 00-
1867.
.22
1868.
.33
1869.
.34
1870
.35}
1871. 11,003 00
$96,273 00
2,989 00
1867
April 15
1868
.March 26
1874.
April 27
505
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
These figures do not include clerk hire or office expenses, neither ordinary expenses for furnishing and repairing mill, which is quite an item, as for belting, saws, file, oil, tallow, timber for repairs, etc.
In Sanilac County, the lumber was sold for an average of $16 per thousand feet, a total of $1,440,000 and the lath realized the sum of $45,000. The number of shingles manufactured was 15,000,000, which sold for an average of $4.50 per thousand, realizing the sum of $67, - 500; making the total receipt for lumber, lath and shingles, $1,552,500. Between 20,000,000 and 30,000,000 feet of logs were floated down Black River and Elk Creek to Port Huron dur- ing the spring of 1867.
The firm of W. B. & J. Hibbard was the oldest lumbering firm in existence in the city in 1875. On account of the destruction of their mill by fire on the 3d of September, 1875, work ceased for awhile; but they rebuilt on a larger scale than before. They purchased the inter- est of the Horton estate in the site of the old mill, and broke ground in October, 1875, for the new building. The site, at the confluence of the St. Clair and Black Rivers (the most easterly point of land in Michigan) is not surpassed anywhere for mill purposes. It consists of eighteen lots of land fronting on both rivers. The new mill is 120x34 feet in size, containing one large circular saw, gang edger, lath mill, planing mill, dry kiln, etc., and adapted to fill all orders for the retail trade, which the firm made a specialty. The cost of the new mill was from $10, - 000 to $15,000. The firm was composed of William B. Hibbard, of Milwaukee, and John Hibbard, of Port Huron. They continued in uninterrupted business for over a quarter of a century at Port Huron.
The Port Huron Ferry Company's new steamer is one of the finest ferry-boats on fresh water. It has been named " Omar D. Conger," in honor of the talented Senator, in 1882.
The Omar D. Conger is 104 feet in length, and 34 in width; depth of hold, 10} feet; the engine has a 243-inch bore and a 30-inch stroke. The engine was built by the Cuyahoga Works of Cleveland, Ohio, and the boiler by Messrs. Desotell & Hutton, of Detroit. The main aft cabin is about twenty feet square, and is finished in an elaborate style. The doors, window frames and mouldings are made of walnut, and the wood work is grained in imitation of mahogany and bird's-eye maple. The floors of the cabin are covered with Brussels carpets, and the seats upholstered with red plush. The hull and upper works are painted white, and present a fine appearance. The side cabins and alley ways are grained in oak.
The boat was built under the supervision of Capt. George Hardison, of Detroit, a recog- nized master mechanic, and reflects great credit on his skill. The joiner work was done by George Travers, of Port Huron, and is acknowledged to be of superior style. The painting and graining was done by the'well-known firm of George Crackell & Co., and gives evidence of excellent workmanship. This steamer accommodates 800 people, and is run as an excursion and ferry boat. Capt. Chris. Smith, recently of the Ferry Beckwith commands the new steamer. He has been connected with the ferry company for seven years, and is a courteous and efficient officer.
The Dormer is a favorite ferry boat -- an ancient, constant visitor between Port Huron and Canada, in c arge of a favorite corps of officers.
The Beckwith and the Baird are new boats, contributing much toward rendering the ferry service effective.
THE PRESS.
Port Huron City has always been blessed with newspapers of more than ordinary ability, influence and respectability. The general intelligence and prosperity of a community may be fairly measured by the character of the newspapers published therein, and the liberality with which they are supported. An intelligent, thrifty and enterprising community demands ne ws- papers of the same attributes; and, sooner or later, that demand is always supplied. The city has not been in advance of her newspapers, from the days of the first Observer, down to the present publications; and, possibly, has not been up to them in liberality and enterprise. The village had very good local newspapers before it contained a church or a court house, and very soon after the first schoolhouse was erected within the present city limits. They have kept fully up to the excellent standard ever since; always praising and pointing out to the world, without
506
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
money or price, the advantages of soil, health, climate, location, growth, society, education, culture and enterprise of the place; inciting new improvements and enterprises, where they did not already exist, and wielding, in the case of one or two of them at least, a strong influ- ence in shaping political and State, as well as local, affairs. They have, therefore, playod a very important part in the development and growth of the locality and the State, and the best history would rightly be considered far from complete if it contained no account of the various newspaper publications. In the sketches which follow, those are the most liberally treated of whose files were the most perfect and afforded the most material. Many volumes of the differ- ent newspapers have been destroyed, lost or borne away by those interested in their publication or the history they contain. This necessarily abbreviates the histories of some of them, although the most that is worth recording and preserving in pages like these is obtained and verified.
The Democratic newspapers of the city may be said to have had a continuous publication from the first inauguration of journalism here to the present time. The Commercial is the successor to a line of well-edited weekly papers, and must be considered one of the best expo- nents of Democracy in Michigan.
The Daily Times is a neat four-page journal, devoted to general and local news. As a Republican newspaper, it has always taken a most active part in all campaigns, making its in- fluence felt in the most unmistakable manner. It did not, however, spare the Republican party or the party leaders when they chanced to be in the wrong, believing it far better to eradicate an evil than to attempt to hide it by silence. This honorable policy sometimes in- curred the displeasure of the Republicans who happened to be criticized, but it secured respect from all quarters, showing an honesty of purpose that gave the utmost meed of praise wherever deserved, and administering the severest censure with equal freedom and vigor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.