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 81

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 81


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


518


HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.


is of the same size as that occupied by the Collector. A small room, 11 feet square, suitable for wardrobe or stationery supply room, in the northeast corner of the building, opens into this apartment. A door opens from the Special Deputy's room into the general business office, to be occupied by the entry clerk, bonded clerk, vessel clerk, and the clerical attaches of the office. A handsome black walnut counter extends the whole length of the room and behind it are the desks of the different clerks, cashier's desk, safe, etc. As in the lower story, there are no vaults, the building being essentially fire proof. The safes will be burglar pronf, the only sort of pro- tection needed.


The court room to which entrance is made through the wide doors at the end of the hall, runs clear across the building, 56 feet, and is 35 feet wide. It occupies the second and third stories, thus having two rows of windows, and is 32 feet high from floor to ceiling. It is wains- coted with black walnut and butternut, and the walls are relieved with plaster ornamentations. The plastering in this room and throughout the whole building is equal in finish to anything in the West. In the ceiling are two large iron ventilators, from which ventilating pipes ex- tend through the attic into ventalators through the roof. This room is expected to be occupied for one term at least of the United States District Court each year, since a very large share of the admiralty business in the United States Court of the Eastern District comes from this Cus- toms District.


The third story, also gained by the iron staircase in the east end of the building, is simi - lar in arrangement to the second. It will be occupied by the Inspectors of Hulls and Boilers, Collector of Internal Revenue, United States Commissioners, Deputy United States Marshal, etc. There will also be a small room for the use of the janitor. The ceilings of this story are 13 feet 4 inches high. The hall, which is of the same width as below, 12 feet, is not tiled, but floored with ash and walnut From the west end of the hall a staircase leads into the at- tic. This is lighted by a large glass-covered ventilator in the roof. Though quite spacious and floored, the attic will not be devoted to any particular use. Through it winding stairs lead into the dome, from which a magnificent view of the city, and the surrounding country, many miles in extent, down the river and up Lake Huron, is obtained.


The wood work of the building is butternut and black walnut, the former predominating, all finished in oil and natural color.


The marble mantels, 17 in number, are of Vermont red marble, and the grates are pro- vided with summer fronts, affording ventilation.


The outside doors are of massive black walnut, and the door trimmings throughout the entire building are of bronze, heavy and of elegant patterns.


There is in and underneath the building over a quarter of a mile of drain pipe, or 1,526 feet in all.


There has been expended up to February 1, for labor, $125,000. This has given em- ployment to a large number of men, most all of whom have been residents of Port Huron, the policy of the Superintendent having been to always give work to our own people when it was of that character that persons here were able to do it, which was not the case with stone carv- ing and some other kinds of skilled labor required. It has been a great benefit to the city in these hard times.


The roof, undoubtedly the best in this State, is of heavy sheet copper, which was pur- chased in New York and cost 30 cents per pound, or with the labor of placing it in position, $6,300.


The windows of the first story are 9 feet 11 inches by 4 feet 3 inches in size; in the second story, 9 feet 1 inch by 4 feet 3 inches; third, 6 feet 1} inches by 4 feet 3 inches. The glass in the first and second stories on the north front and each end are of plate glass, four panes to a window, and the glass in the second story rear and third story of double strength sheet. It was all furnished by the Star Glass Company, of New Albany, Ind., and with the other glass in the building, cost $1,550.


The gas fixtures are not extravagant, but are very handsome. The two chandeliers in the court room are each eighteen light.


The following will show the amount of materials of various kinds used in the construction of the building:


519


HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.


Limestone, cubic feet.


46,359


Sandstone, cubic feet. 31,750


Brick


.668,000


Wrought and cast iron (exclusive of iron stairs, iron lathing, pipes of the heating apparatus, gas and water pipes, or any hardware), lbs


.215,000


Nails, lbs


8,500


Lead, Ibs


3,500


Copper in roof, lbs


14,300


Cement, bbls


1,550


Lime, bbls


750


Sand, cubic yards.


1,038


Pine lumber, feet ..


250,000


Butternut lumber, feet


25,000


Walnut lumber, feet


25,000


CITY WATER-WORKS.


The bid of the Holly Company, of $25,000, was accepted May 8, 1872, on condition that the machinery would be completed before September 15, that year. The contract for piping was let to Walker & Rich, at $68.85 per ton, and $500 additional for each crossing of Black River. In August, 1872, the mandamus was replied to by Mayor Miller; declaring the contracts which he signed illegal. This resulted in postponing the completion of the work. All the petty disputes in this matter were subsequently settled, and, on September 6, 1873, the works were formally opened.


The water-works machinery cost the city $25,000, and is a very fine piece of machanism and workmanship. The most important parts are the cylinders and pumps, there being four of each. The engines are rated 100 horse power each, or 400 horse power in all.


Two cylinders are placed upon each side of a heavy iron frame, with the pistons and con- necting rods working at right angles to each other, upon a shaft placed at the top of the frame. The crossheads can be disconnected from the piston rods in a moment, so that each cylinder is practically independent of all others in its workings. On the lower side of each cylinder, the piston is extended to connect with; the piston of the pump, with a crosshead and key for instantaneous disconnection. The steam cylinders are 14x24 inches in size, and the pumps 9x24 inches. The pumps are capable of forcing into the pipes 4,000,000 gallons of water each twenty-four hours. By a new combination, the cylinders and pumps put in in this city can be run either high or low pressure, or with high pressure in one cylinder, and low pressure in all the others; that is, the exhaust steam from the cylinder which receives "live " steam, is passed on to the others, and moves them. At a trial made in September, 1873, with the "compound " throttle open 1-32 of an inch, the cranks made 17 revolutions a minute, and with the throttle open 1-16 of an inch they made 28 revolutions in minute, steam pressure being 462 pounds. With steam in all the cylinders, and throttle open 1-16 inch, 42 revolu- tions per minute were made.


Connected with the suction pipes are two air chambers, and the discharge pipes have the same number. The cylinders are cased in black walnut, and all the unpolished iron work is neatly painted.


The regulators are ingenious pieces of mechanism, and are essential to the proper work- ing of the machinery under all circumstances. There are two of these; one of which acts as a fire signal, blowing a small whistle when hydrants are opened, and letting more steam into the cylinders at the same time. Gauges placed in conspicuous places also indicate, at all times, the exact pressure of water in the pipes, and of steam in the boilers.


The condenser, used when the engines are run on low pressure, is of the most approved pattern, and has connected with it two air pumps. There is also a " donkey engine," to supply the boilers with water in case of accident to the pumps connected with the machinery. All the steam pipes in the building are covered with asbestos, to prevent condensation.


The boilers are two in number, each five feet in diameter and sixteen feet long, with sixty 34 inch tubes. They are substantially placed on heavy cast iron fronts, and appear to be excellent in every respect. They weigh over five tons each, and the whole machinery weighs about 100 tons.


These works save the citizens an indirect tax of thousands of dollars. Diseases have almost disappeared since their establishment, while the fire fiend can be said to be fully under their control. The engineers in charge, and the officers of the water supply department of the city prove by attention to duty that they are proud of their service.


520


HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT, SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESS TRANSACTED IN THE DISTRICT BE OF INTEREST :


CLASSIFICATION.


FROM OCTOBER 1, 1866, TO JUNE 30, 1867


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JUNE 30, 1868.


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JUNE 30, 1869.


FISCAL


FISCAL


YEAR END- YEAR END- ING JUNE 30, 1870. ING JUNE 30, 1871.


Value of Imports entered for Transportation to Interior Ports.


73,040 00


$ 153,367 00 $ 129,825 00


:$ 101,870 00


$ 108,921 00


Value of Imports entered for Transportation and Exportation to Manitoba ..


136,563 00


164,667 00


23,899


00


51,476 00


114.574 00


Value of Imports entered for Consumption ..


170.416 00


240,824 00


371,305 00


346,701 00


350,994 00


Value of Exports of growth and production of U. S. to adjacent Provinces .. Amount of Duties collected in Coin.


1,298,186 00


1,138,091 00


1,667,210 00


1,927,368 00


2,754.463 00


Amount of Duties on Merchandise entered for transportation to Interior Ports


28.125 78


52.436 59


55,657 75


45,526 61


18,719 04


Amount of Duties on Merchandise entered for transportation and Exporta- tion to Manitoba


88,051 61


130,154 78


21,259 01


S6,327 48


87,795 03


Amount of Official Fees collected.


6,599 35


14,826 80


16,581 60


16,515 00


14.412 25


Amount of Tonnage Tax collected


5,074 82


7,042 99


8,189 49


9,513 15


2,839 90


Amount of Marine Hospital Collections


480 57


852 18


1,240 61


1,224 93


1,744 75


Amount of Inspection Fees of Steamboats


412 50


1,547 29


1,143 86


1,293 20


1,270 42


Value of Free Goods Imported


197,445 00


266,085 00


315,738 00


391,812 00


283,889 00


Amount received from Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures


Amount received from Bonding Seals


Number of Entries made of all kinds


5,739


6.072


6,458 9,882


6,780


5.193


Number of Entrances and Clearances of Vessels


3,809


9 392


9,984


9,201


Number of Transportation Bonds made ..


75


136


109


92


113


Number of Transportation and Exportation Bonds made.


39


49


40


43


125


Amount of Tonnage Outstanding (owned in the District).


14,860 77-100


20.659 86-100 170


207


238


248


Number of Immigrants arriving at this Port


24,318


30,593


35,589


.43,356


36,277


In 1871, the Tonnage Tax was abolished, except on vessels engaged in foreign trade.


The number of immigrants who arrived at Port Huron in each fiscal year, ending June 30, 1880, commencing with the organization of the district of Port Huron, October 6, 1866, was as follows:


1866-7.


24,318


1874-5.


34,580


1867-8.


30,593


1875-6.


31,334


1868-9.


35,689


1876-7.


30,185


1869-70.


43,356


1877-8.


30,610


1870-1.


36,277


1878-9.


33,423


1871-2.


38,988


1879-80 to May 31.


79,265


1872-3.


58,917


1873-4.


58,381


Total.


. 565,816


It will be seen from this that the total number of immigrants who entered the United States at this port in thirteen years and eight months was 565,816; or more than one-third the present population of Michigan. Before the close of the fourteenth year (October 3, 1880), the number reached 600,000. Within the past two years, it is supposed that over 200,000 immigrants entered the United States at this port. During the year ending June 30, 1881, no less than 111, 170 immigrants crossed the line at Port Huron; while during the year ending June 30, 1882, 71,424 immigrants were registered. During the last six months of 1882, the number of immigrants entering the United States at Port Huron is estimated at 80,000.


POSTMASTERS AT PORT HURON.


The first Postmaster in the Port Huron District was George McDougal. He was succeeded by John S. Heath. In 1840, John Wells was appointed. W. L. Bancroft succeeded him in 1845. On Mr. Bancroft's resignation, in 1846, Cummings Sanborn received the appointment. Either Allen Fish or M. S. Gillett took charge of the office in 1848. In 1853, George W. Pinkham was appointed; in 1857, H. S. Potter; in 1861, M. S. Gillett, and in 1865, Gen. Hartsuff, the present incumbent, was appointed.


UNITED STATES REVENUE COLLECTORS.


The list of United States Revenue Collectors at Port Huron since 1849, embraces the names of John Wells, W. L. Bancroft, William Sanborn, John Atkinson and John P. Sanborn. At date of writing, it is reported that changes are to be made in the official ranks of both the Collectors' and Postal departments.


45,736 22


72,402 21


87,183 07


103,384 23


98,508 23


Amount of Licenses to Pilots and Engineers


25,250 27-100 29,005 02-100 31,500 01-100


Number of Vessels owned in the District.


145


521


HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.


OF HURON, MICHIGAN, FROM DATE OF ORGANIZATION, OCTOBER 1, 1866, TO JUNE 30, 1882, MUST


FISCAL


FISCAL


YEAR END-


YEAR END-


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JUNE


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JUNE


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JUNE 30, 1876.


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JJUNE 30, 1877.


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JUNE 30, 1878.


FISCAL. YEAR END- ING JUNE 30, 1879.


FISCAL YEAR END- ING JUNE 30, 1880.


$ 384,050 00


$ 865,356 00


$ 258,271 00


$


117,794 00 240,284 00


550,239 00


556,722 00


473,925 00


486,755 00


404,868 00


1,100,205 00


2,027,987 00


3,221,419 00


6,950,497 00


375,557 00


445,510 00


782,659 00


153,777 00


795,463 00


635,780 00


424,291 00


327,326 00


800,398 00


856,798 00


1,545,088 00


2,684,406 00


3,183,071 00


5,607,838 00


5,023,899 00


5,770,523 00


8,933.028 00


6,645,004 00


5,835,724 00


5.669,649 00


9,229,394 00


9,613,422 00


87,128 18


73,211 50


84,506 99


69,585 87


164,317 77 83,519 96


109,406 80


105,762 26 57,943 51


43,182 32


207,076 53 121,867 70


101,010 58


184,299 45


100,735 63


153,305 72


440,292 53


307,166 14


275,724 00


291,827 03


265,640 81


612,313 54


952,982 68


1,684,915 18


3,817,571 21


13 548 10


8,558 60


9,431 80


7,947 15


9,421 20


15,049 34


14,697 91


12,889 20


20.752 25


23,289 95


44,298 02


3,171 75


3.515 69


4,411 68


3,537 54


4,273 35


4,977 56


3,358 46


2,660 28


2,627 78


2,124 70


3,164 21


2,882 07


2.846


41


3.060 68


2,880 62


2,944 57


2.991 53


2,922 86


3,699 28


4,244 29


3,745 90


4,902 32


1,995 68


2,388 60


2,757 02


2,128 89


2,781 15


2,351 00


2.264 35


2,650 8)


3,024 25


3,179 45


3,382 95


1.970 00


2,395 00


2,650 00


2,250 00


2,230 00


2,115 00


2,290 00


2,500 00


2,910 00


2,785 00


1,806 50


423,705 00


378,949 00


438,420 00


461,372 00


561,153 00


428,725 00


571,531 00 360 34


2,334 98


1,114,222 00 2,141 22


3,463 63


498 00


886 80


1,362 16


422 58


599 28


8,767 73


6,312


6,023 8.438


5,175 8,046


3.764


4,733 7,653


4,834 7.128


6,188


6,621 6,523


10.317 10,883


11,104


10,733


7,114


155


143


133


277


261


173


1:29


279


321


637


223 212


284


456


514


539


701


698


1.635


2,642


3,880


7,460


39,611 35-100 274


295


314


330


55,219 75-100 339


50,734 88-100 342


153,688 81-100 350


277


301


312


331


38,988


58,917


58,381


34,580


31,334


30,185


30,610


33,423


94,375


111,170


71,424


THE P. H. & N. W. R. R. DEPOT.


The building of the depot of the P. H. & N. W. R. R. Co. was begun August 20, 1881, under the superintendence of James O'Sullivan. The size of the building is 32x150 feet and two stories high with cupola. A fourteen-foot platform runs all around it on the ground level, and a balcony six and a half feet wide runs the full length on both sides at the second floor. The framework is very strong, surmounted by a truss roof secured with iron. The projection of the roof on each side is wide enough to shade the balcony, and is supported by strong brackets, sixty-six in number. There are upward of one hundred windows, including a bay window from the roof down on the riverside. There are nineteen outside doors, nine of them double doors. The sides of the building are tightly sheeted with lumber; against this is felt paper lining, and then the siding. Inside the finish is of cherry and ash. On the lower floor are a ladies' waiting room, a gentlemen's waiting room, and a dining room, each 22x31 feet in size; also eleven other rooms of various sizes, including ticket office, baggage room, train dis- patcher's room and a kitchen. Above them are sixteen rooms, beside halls, all for the uses of the officers of the road.


In the north end, a brick vault extends from the ground to the roof. It is 8x16 feet in size, and has two one-foot walls all around, with an air space between them, making it certainly fire proof. The structure is heated by steam and lighted by gas made in the building. The boiler room is brick, 16x24 feet in size, with cement floor. The gas pipes are being put in now. The cupola is 8x16 feet in size, and rises from the roof twelve feet. The whole building rests firmly on spiles that were driven into the ground ten feet. The cost will reach $10,000.


A short distance south of this building is the new freight house, 24x150 feet in size, 14 foot posts. A platform extends all the way around it, and there is an office fitted up in the north end.


The Chicago & Grand Trunk depot is farther south.


THE IRON BRIDGE.


One of the very important improvements made by the narrow-gauge company was the building of the neat-looking, strong, iron bridge near the mouth of Black River. The wood work was done by James Sullivan, for the company, and the iron work by the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo. It rests upon spiles driven by Daniel Runnells, and has 144 feet of a span, besides about 250 feet of trestle work approaches.


ING JUNE


ING JUNE


30, 1872.


30, 1873.


30, 1814.


30, 1875.


$ 108,195 00)


$ 321,088 00 $


429,957 00


$ 169,026 00 $ 110,635 00


$ 408,227 00


229,214 35


319,538 23


168.068 93


49,673 81


40,226 35


35,902 61


146.675 20


72,117 64


680,322 00


1,354,361 00


1,878,652 00


10,151


12,699


6,825


8.737


149,780 93-100 47,839 57-100


59.975 37-100 64,103 83-100


.46,575 76-100 53,265 15-100


53,650


FISCAL


FISCAL


YEAR END- YEAR END ING JUNE 30, 1881.


ING JUNE 30, 1882.


$ 69,994 00


152,661 00


2


522


HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.


The iron bridge across Black River, thirteen miles above its mouth, is one of the largest pieces of bridge architecture in Michigan. Its construction is due to the enterprise of the P. H. & N. W. R. R. Company.


The Military street and that known as Seventh street bridges, are both swing bridges, similar in construction to those in use at Chicago.


TELEPHONE EXCHANGE


The first magnetic telephone line put in operation in Port Huron was that between the office of Fraser & Fish and the office of the Register of Deeds. About the same time a line was established connecting the residence of Mr. C. B. Peck, manager of the N. W. G. T., with his office, and with the office of the train dispatcher at the depot. McMoran & Co. also had an " acoustic " telephone line in operation between their mill at the mouth of Black River and their store in the Opera House Block, during the spring and summer of 1879. None of these lines were of public importance, and no general interest was awakened in the subject


In September, 1879, the manager of the Times determined to make an effort to secure the establishment of an exchange in Port Huron, and after some correspondence with Mr. W. A. Jackson, Manager of the Telephone and Telegraph Construction Company, of Detroit, which holds all telephone franchises for Michigan, secured the promise that Port Huron should be the next place in Michigan to have an exchange, if fifty subscribers could be obtained. The canvass for subscribers was commenced about a month later, and the project has been com- pletely successful.


The system of telephone exchange is an enterprise that is destined to grow in importance and extent until every business house, scores and hundreds of private houses, and every vil- lage and city in the State, if not in the whole country, are brought into immediate speaking con- nection with every other. The whole thing is so wonderful, so marvelous, so far, indeed, be- yond what any of us would have believed possible ten years ago, that it is difficult even now to realize it fully. And yet it is an established fact, and a fact that goes beyond a scientific won- der and becomes of the greatest practical utility.


SOCIETIES.


The schools and churches of the city are fine monuments to the educational and religious earnestness of the people. The Congregational, Catholic, Methodist and Baptist Church edifices are substantially built after varied architectural designs. The Huron House, Opera House, and many of the business blocks display both enterprise and taste on the part of their builders. The homes of the principal citizens are marvels of refined architecture, while those of the citizens generally show good taste in building style as well as in the order of the grounds surrounding them.


The secret and benevolent societies comprise the Commandery, K. T .; Pine Grove Lodge and Port Huron Lodge, F. & A. M .; Odd Fellows; Templars of Temperance; Diamond Tent, K. O. T. M .; Integrity Lodge, K. of T .; Temple Lodge, A. O. U. W .; Hope Council, R. A .; St. Patrick's Society, and Huron Lodge, A. P. A. The Literary Associations are the Ladies' Library, the Shakespearian, Lotos Club, and Literary or Debating Society. The military order is represented by a Company. of State troops, known as the Port Huron Guards; the medical by the Society of Physicians and Surgeons: the law by the St. Clair Bar Association; the press by two daily papers and four weekly journals; trade, by a large number of enterprising merchants, and banking by three solid money houses. The religious and educational inter- ests are ably represented.


THE PORT HURON RELIEF COMMITTEE.


The remarkable and conciliating dispatch exercised by the people of St. Clair County to relieve their northern neighbors during the terrible forest conflagration of 1881 cannot be overestimated. The moment the telegraph wires flashed the astounding news, the people of this county-the people of the two cities in particular -- went forward to the rescue. A telegram, of which the following is a copy, was transmitted to Gov. Jerome, then at Marquette:


523


HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.


September 12, 1881 .- To Gov. David H. Jerome, Marquette, Mich .: Public opinion is unanimous that you should forthwith issue a strong appeal to the whole country for aid to the fire sufferers. Agents are now in the burnt regions collecting statistics as to the loss of life and property and needs of the people. One mill- ion dollars is required by good judges to carry the sufferers through. We have thoroughly organized for sys- tematic relief, and Port Huron can reach the destitute better and quicker than any other point. Don't delay. O. D. CONGER, W. L. BANCROFT.


The executive ability of the people had even then accomplished much. An organization was a reality, and to this organization is due the steady, well-ordered relief which poured into the fire-stricken country, ridding the calamity of half its horrors and rescuing the unfortu- nate settlers from the starvation which threatened them.


This Relief Committee labored earnestly and well. All efforts were practical, and judicious, good men were employed, and thus the noble cause of charity was made still more noble by the manner in which it was observed.


On the 27th of May, the Port Huron Executive Committee for Relief instructed their chairman to appoint a special committee of six, three of whom should not be members of the Executive Committee, to examine its books and vouchers. This special committee appointed a sub-committee, consisting of Rev. Sidney Beckwith, Judge Nahum E. Thomas and Judge Edward W. Harris, to do the work. The report of the sub-committee was submitted by the special committee as their report to the Executive Committee, and was in substance as follows: "Our careful and extended examination satisfies us that every dollar received by the Relief Committee has been fairly and honestly accounted for."


The cash subscriptions amounted to $196,327.93, and the value of goods donated was esti- mated at $269,327.87, the aggregate of money and goods thus being $465, 655.80.


THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.


A meeting was held at the Presbyterian meeting house at Port Huron, May 8, 1840, to organize a Presbyterian or Congregational society. Rev. O. C. Thompson, at that time labor- ing in the Gospel ministry throughout St. Clair, Macomb and Oakland, presided. The orig- inal applicants for membership were Edgar Jenkins, Mary Jenkins, Justin Rice, M. D., Alice L. Thompson, Gen. Duthon Northrup, Pamelia Northrup, Ruth Rice, William Baird and Pamelia Rice. An adjourned meeting was held at the schoolhouse May 15, 1840, when Eliza- beth Drum, Abigail Beebe, Margaret Martin and Ann Townsend applied for admission as members. A third meeting was held May 16, 1840, when Lucian Howe, Ruth Miller, Sarah Smith, Sarah R. F. Miller, Salome D. Clark and Julia Eleanor Scott were admitted to mem- bership.




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.