History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 105

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 105

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).

CAPT. ISRAEL T. PALMER, lighthouse keeper, Fort Gratiot, is a native of Augusta, Me., and was born December 11. 1819. He began sailing in 1831, on a packet from Belfast to Boston. In 1833, he shipped on the Talma, on a long voyage to Havana and the Iste of Wight, then to Russia and Stockholm. He sailed on the Atlantic and Pacific until May, 1844; then came on the lakes and sailed before the mast and was mate until 1849; then took command of a schooner and sailed her three years, In 1851 and 1852, he super intended the building of a steam propeller, and then scaled as master of steam vessels until 1875, when he remained on shore. Since 1979, he has been engaged in lighthouse service. Capt. Palmer is a veteran in the marine service, having served over fifty years. He married Miss Mary Meyers, in Buffalo, N Y .. December 13, 1846. They have six sons-Samuel C., Edward S., James O., Walter B., Frank F., Calvin A., and one daughter- Elizabeth ('

COLUMBUS PHENIX, of the firm of Phenix & McEntyre, keeps a meat market, is a native of St. Clair County, and was born in the town of Casco Juve S, 1846. He was raised on a farm until seventeen years of age, He then went to work in the lumber woods and saw mills for about seven years. He then settled on a homestead in Huron County in this State, and engaged in getting out hoops and staves for about two years. Ile then moved back to the town of Columbus, St. Clair County, his old home, and from there he came here and has been in business ever since, and is now doing an extensive business. He married Miss Emerrilla Herrick, a native of the town of Columbus, this county. They have three children -two girls, Ora, Edna. and one boy named Leroy.

HI. W. POWELL, dealer in jewelry, watches, clocks and silver ware, is a native of Canada, and was born March 2. 1848. He grew up there and Iearned his trade at Port Hope and Montreal. He came to Fort Gratiot and established his present business in 1850, and is building up a good trade. Ile held the office of Assessor Three years in Canada. In 1525. he married Miss Jane Ironside, a native of Canada. They have two children-Andrew and Bertha.

L. B. RICE, dealer in real estate, is a native of Wayne County, N. Y., and was born March 29, 1-34. After reaching manhood, be came to Michigan in 1857 and engaged in selling fruit trees, and since then, for the past twenty-five years, has been connected with that business. He came here in 1×69, and has been en gaged in selling agricultural machinery and dealing in real estate. He married Miss Jennie A. Albinson, of Baltimore, Md. They have two children-Mary A. and Greta M. He enlisted in the Ninth Heavy Artillery August 8, 1862. He served in different positions nearly three years, and resigned on account of poor health. Mr. Rice lives in the Fifth Ward, Port Huron.

JOHN RIGGS, merchant tailor, is a native of England, and was born September 23, 1-24. He grew up aud learned his trade there. He came to America in 1857, lived in New York State, and then lived in Can- ada ten years. He came to Port Huron in 1866, and was there until 1879, when he came to Fort Gratiot, and since then has carried on the business here. In 1852, he married Miss Jane Dalzell, a native of England. They have four sons and four daughters - William, Robert, Alfred. Edwin. Mary, Emily, Hattie and Edith

H. ROBERTS, master mechanic, Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad, is a native of Ireland, and was born October 15, 1842. He entered the employ of the Chatham & Dover Railroad Company, where he began his

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

railroad career. He remained there until 1866, when he accepted a position with the Grand Trunk Railroad, and since then has been connected with the line in his present position.

JAMES SIMPSON, farmer, Section 27, P. O. Port Huron, is a native of Scotland, and emigrated to Can- ada in 1835, and came to St. Clair County in November of the same year. He and his brother came from Hamilton to Sarnia on foot, and was one of the early settlers here. He began working at the Black River Steam-mill, and remained there several years, then bought a team and engaged in burning lime, and contin- ued in that business for ten years, and then moved on the place where he now lives and cleared up his farm, and since then has been engaged in farming. Ile owns 175 acres of land ; when he came here he had noth- ing. and his success is owing to his own efforts ; he is one of the oldest settlers now living. When he came to Port Huron, where Carleton & Stewart's store now stands was occupied by Indian shanties surrounded by rail fence. In 1845, Mr. Simpson married Miss Mary Ann Carter, a native of Canada ; she died in 1869, leav- ing seven children-Francis, Richard, William, George W., Charles, Mary, now Mrs. Riley, and Catharine.

THOMAS'S SKINNER, Section 21, P. O. Port Huron, is a native of Vermont, and was born June 12, 1824 ; his parents removed to Jefferson County, N. Y .. in 1826, and he grew up and attended school there. In the spring of 1855 he came to St. Clair County, and located at Port Huron, and engaged in manufacturing Inmber, the firm being Shelly & Ames, and they were succeeded by the firm of Skinner & Ames, who carried on the business until 1870; since then, Mr. Skinner has been interested in lumbering, and has also been en- gaged in real estate business, and has built many houses here, and otherwise improved his property. He also has been engaged in farming, and owned several large farms, and now owns 400 acres where he now lives. Mr. Skinner has been actively identified with the interests of Port Huron, and has been interested in the dry dock and building vessels ; for some years, the firm of Skinner & Ames paid one-fortieth of the taxes of Port Huron. Mr. Skinner was a member of the Board of Education fourteen years. IFe has been a consistent member of the M. E. Church, and one of its most active, liberal supporters. In 1850, Mr. Skinner married Miss Rhoda Barnes, a native of Jefferson County, N. Y .; she died January 20, 1879. leaving four children- Alice E., now Mrs. John W. Porter ; George 1., Cashier Bank at Mt. Clemens; Carrie M., and Frank S., at home.

WILLIAM D. SMITH, dealer in groceries and provisions, is a native of the Isle of Wight, England. and was born December 7, 1829. He came to Canada in 1851, and came to this State in 1866, and worked for Rob- ert French for a number of years, and also had a farm. He established his present business in 1879. He was burned ont December 15, 1881, and lost a house and barn July 31, 1882, by fire, and was burned ont again No- vember 1, 1882-three times within one year. He has held the office of Town Treasurer, and while living in Canada held the office of Postmaster four years. When he came here, he only had $200, and his success is owing entirely to his own efforts In 1857, he married Miss Eliza Jane Reynolds, a native of Canada : he has four sons and six daughters-William D., Thomas, George, Mark, Ann Jane, Adaline, Isabel. Ida, Eliza- beth and Sarah.

C. E. SPENCER, M. D., physician and surgeon, is a native of Unadilla, Otsego Co., N. Y., and was born September 30. 1849. He received his literary education in that State, studied medicine, taking his first course at Ann Arbor, and two courses at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, and graduated from that institution in 1873. After graduating, came to Fort Gratiot and engaged in the practice of medicine, and since then has successfully practiced his profession here. He holds the position of Sanitary Inspector under the National Board of Health, and is also Pension Examiner. Has served as Secretary and Vice Pres- ident of the County Medieal Society, and a member of the American Medical Association ; served as Town Clerk, and is a member of the Village Board of Trustees. In 1822, Dr. Spencer was united in marriage to Miss Ella Etta Van Cott, a native of Guilford, Chenango Co., N. Y.

O. M. STEPHENSON, M. D., physician and surgeon, is a native of Hlinois, and was born in Aurora, Kane Co., July 20, 1851 ; he attended school there, and at the age of seventeen engaged in teaching, and taught in that State and Michigan : he studied medicine and attended two courses of lectures at Ann Arbor, and one course in Chicago, and graduated at the Chicago Homeopathic College in March, 1882; after graduating, he came to Fort Gratiot, and since then has successfully practiced his profession here. Ile married Miss Emma Stephenson August 8, 1874; she is a daughter of George Stephenson, of the town of Columbus, St. Clair Co. ; he is one of the early settlers, and came here in 1837 ; Dr. and Mrs. Stephenson have one daughter-Eva.

THOMAS SUTHERLAND, Assistant Car Superintendent, is a native of Scotland, and was born Decem- ber 31, 1832; he came to this country in 1858, and the following year entered the employ of this company as baggageman for one year, then was conductor, then went in the locomotive shops as pattern maker. and re- mained there six years, then was appointed foreman of the car department, and since then has had charge of that department, until January 1, 1882, when he was appointed to his present position, and also has charge of the Michigan Air Line Railroad ; he has been connected with the company for twenty-three years, and is one of the oldest in active service in the employ of the company. Mr. Sutherland was united in marriage April 17, 1855, to Miss Margaret McMurdoch, a native of Scotland : she died June 26, 1879 ; five children sur- vive : Elizabeth S., who married Thomas D. Prentiss, who, until his death, was Secretary at the works of the Michigan Car Company ; James M., Jennie A., Willie G., Alice S. L .; they lost five children. Mr. Suth- erland is a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and has occupied the same pew in that church for the past twenty- four years.

PETER VAN VALKENBURG, boss carpenter Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway, is a native of New York State, and was born November 25, 1837 ; he grew up and learned his trade in that State and in Canada ; he came to Michigan in 1869, and engaged in contracting and building in Port Huron ; he built the city hall. the union school and many other buildings ; since 1877, he has been with the Chicago & Grand Trunk Rail- road, and has had the position of foreman of building. In 1855, he married Miss Jane Sharp, a native of Canada : they have three children-A. Melissa, Alice M., William Wallace.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

GEORGE WALKER, Engineer on Detroit Division of the Grand Trunk Railroad, is a native of Middle bury, Vt., and was born June 1, 1830; he began railroading in 1847 with the New York Central, and was conductor on that line several years ; he began running an engine on the New York & Erie Railroad in 1851, and entered the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad March 2, 1857, as engineer, and since then for the past twenty-six years-over a quarter of a century-he has been running an engine for this company ; for twenty- two years of that he run withont a mark against him, and with only two small errors during all that time. Ile has been on his engine continuously for ninety-six hours at a time in the dead of winter, some of the time it was thirty degrees below zero ; there is only one engineer on the line as old in active service. He married Miss Sarah Jane Dole, a native of Vermont ; they have six children-Sarah E., Annie T., Ida F., George II .. Robert C., Frank F .; they have lost three sons.

THOMAS WATSON, machinist Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad shops, is a native of Ireland, and was born in the city of Belfast February 22, 1840. His parents emigrated to this county in 1842, and settled in Baltimore, and he was brought up there. Upon reaching manhood, entered the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad ; Toronto in 1861, and two years later came to Fort Gratiot, and run on an engine two years, and since then has been in the shops of the company here ; he married Miss Amelia Harrison, a native of Cana. da. They have four children-Thomas, William, Mary A. and Frank.

RICHARD WAY, foreman blacksmith shops Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad, is a native of Canada. and was born at Stratford July 14, 1841 ; learned his trade there ; in 1863, worked in shops of Michigan Con- tral Railroad at Detroit, and afterward at Jackson ; then went to Saginaw, and for ten years was in the em- ploy of Wicks Bros .; for the past five years has been with the Chicago & Lake Huron Railroad, and the Chi cago & Grand Trunk Railroad, and holds the position of foreman of the blacksmith shops. In 1861, he mar- ried Miss Uney Reed, of Detroit ; they have five daughters-Mary E, Martha J., Josephine, Florence MI., Lucy ; and one son-Richard Francis.

JOSEPH WINEGAR, proprietor Gravelot House, is a native of Switzerland, and was born March 1%. 1831 ; he emigrated to the United States in 1862, and came to Detroit, where he lived for eight years, and came here in 1870, and since then has been successfully engaged in business here ; when he came here he had very little : in 1876, he built the block he now occupies, and also owns five lots there, besides other lots in the same block. He belongs to the German Aid Society and the Knights of Pythias. He married Miss Sophia Hunnert, from Grosse Point. April 17, 1880 ; they have one son-John A.

H. WYMAN, dealer in groceries and provisions, is a native of Maine, and was born August 15, 1841. His parents, Sanford and Nancy Wyman, came to Detroit in 1844. Ile grew up in this State, and after reach ing manhood engaged in farming and building. He engaged in his present business in July, 1872, and since then, for the past nine years, has been engaged in the grocery and provision trade. In 1872, he married Miss Isabella Colden, a native of this county : they have four children-George, Fred. Annie, Ada.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

So much has been said and written already upon this division of the county that little remains to be told. Within the limits of St. Clair the French missionaries and their converts among the Indians made their homes at a very early day. Here, too, many of the first Ameri- can pioneers located, and hither may be said to come all the white Americans, who made the country their home previous to its organization. The beginnings of St. Clair County were made here.

The dusky sons of the forest were not unmindful of the worth as well as beauty of the plateau upon which the village rests. The uplands of the west and the timbered forests of the east were wedded at our feet. There was a wealth of soil by the union, which neither alone possessed. Grand old forest trees here and there reared their great forms, indicative of the fertile plains, and here and there were beautiful prairie spots, where little toil removed the slender shrubs, and gave to the Indian his coveted field for corn. Along the slopes the antlered stag led the timid doe by night to graze upon the first green foliage in the early springtime, seeking again the tangled dells and groves just west -- for more secure retreat as the day drew on. His ways were beaten paths and hither the hunter was lured by reason of abundant game, and here, beside their pathway he pitched his tent and made his winter home. Here, too along our eastern border was that grand belt of lofty pines. Their wealth of sweets gave pleasing answer to his toils, and lured him hither until the bursting buds told that the winter days were passed. Then came the planting time, and all along on either side of the beautiful ridge the Indian corn hills were visible for a long time after the white man's invasion, in fact, until his plow-share upturned and hid most of them in the cultured earth. Like the white man. the Indian, too, had faith that harvest should be born of plantings, and so with patient toil. each year he filled afresh those little mounds of earth, and in the summit of each mound dropped the corn seeds, counting the days of sunshine, of early and late rains, till returning from the summer's hunting, he should gather for his winter's store the ripening ears.

The planting season passed and summer drawing on, the Indians were wont to strike their tents. gather upon their patient, burden-bearing wives and ponies the wealth of their encamp- ments and plunge deeper into the forests. in quest of more abundant game, or along the banks of streams and shores of lakes to add their treasures to their slender stores. Thus wending their way, by old frequented trails, to cherished haunts. they made their annual rounds. Happy the years when no wampum belt was sent from lodge to lodge to summon the warriors to council, and from council, perhaps to bloody battles. Happy the years when only friendly greetings were in store. and pipes of peace were smoked in formal round; when as the annual greeting of the bands came round, for days whole tribes wore joined in gladsome, festive and religious rites. Those joyous meetings and those greetings passed, hither these wanderers came, for now the corn harvests were at hand, and now the home thanksgiving feasts began.

The Indians' Manitou, like ours, was worshiped for the harvest gifts. The younger pitched their lodges beside the father's or the elder brother's tents. Feasting, dancing, joy- ous sport, and sacred rites found each a place, and this one feature marked it best of all. The fortunate and famished were alike fed. While the feast lasted, whosoever would might eat. The richest ones could do no more, and thus for once each had enough and more.

Hither again the Chippewas were accustomed to return from their summer wanderings, and on the very spot where the city stands, tradition tells of many a winter home, curling among the branches of stately trees, long since destroyed, the smoke from hundreds of camp- fires was lost in the blue above.

The river gives life and animation to the scene, now washing the bases of the bordering banks or cutting through the midst of an extended plain, which sometimes parts to take the

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

waters in its embrace, it always moves majestically and triumphantly on its course. Swollen by the spring rains or melting snows of winter, it extends its channel to a distance of miles at some points, until it becomes a long, continuous inland sea. The river currents never for two consecutive seasons probably pursue exactly the same course, and the changes furnish a variety to the mariner. The contrast of hill and vale, open land and woodland, of water and land, gives a variety most grateful to the eye. From the Oakland House, overlooking the river, one never fails to see a glorious sunset, when the weather is propitious. The changing hues are modified by the tinted tops of the trees, the wooded slopes and the plain and river, so that almost every varying shade may be traced from the deepest hue to the almost inperceptible tint. The pencil of the artist and inspiration of the poet would alike fail in giving an adequate conception of the wonderful loveliness of a St. Clair sunset. Commercially, the city is most admirably situated, being ac- cessible from large agricultural regions east and west; on the direct route from Chicago and all western points to Canada and eastern cities. The sale and direct shipment of goods, as also their trans-shipment, is simply enormous and every entire mile of road is said to embrace a ra- dins of an entire township in area that is added to the city whose advantages of competing freights by car and steamer must make it one of the greatest distributing points of all the new region to the northwestward, now being opened to settlement and traffic. This pre-eminence can no doubt, and will be held indefinitely by judicious management on the part of the com- mercial community from the moment they obtain it.

In the following brief sketch of the township's history, the names of the principal town officers from date of organization to the present time, are given. It is beyond the range of practicability to refer to the various acts of the different Town Boards or administrations. That the well-being of this division of the county was their object cannot be doubted, since its present prosperous condition, the growth of its educational affairs and we might add the very habits, manners, and customs of its population tell of precedents laid down by those township legislators, and followed by their constituents.

ORGANIC.

The boundaries of the original township of St. Clair, as it formed a part of Macomb County, established January 5. 18IS, by executive proclamation, were: " Beginning on the north shore of the River Huron or Clinton, including the shore and running along the shore of Lake St. Clair to the mouth of the River St. Clair, and along said river to Fort Gratiot, and extending in the rear three miles and one-eighth, shall form one township and be called St. Clair." In April following, all the territory of Macomb County, north of a line drawn west from mouth of Swan Creek, was organized as St. Clair Township.

In 1820, the county was ordered to be organized with St. Clair as a township. In 1923, March 17, Plainfield and Cottrellville were organized, and St. Clair Township comprised all the county of St. Clair north and northwest of Cottrellville.

SUPERVISORS OF ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

Everett Beardsley. 1827-25; William Gallagher, 1829-30; Andrew Westbrook, 1831: Ed- mund Carleton, 1832-35; H. N. Monson, 1836-37; Commissioner's Board, 1838-41; Harmon Chamberlin, 1842-47: Israel Carleton, 1848; Harmon Chamberlin 1549-54: Henry Whit- ing, 1855; William B. Barron, 1856; E. Smith, 1857; T. E. Kitton, 1858; E. Smith, 1858; Charles Kimball. 1859; Harmon Chamberlin, 1859; Benjamin Jenks, 1859; Nelson Mills, 1860-61; William Oaks, 1860; H. Chamberlin. 1860-63; Charles Kimball, 156]; William Luck, 1862: John E. Kitton, 1862; C. MeMellen, 1863-65: T. C. Owen, 1863- 67; Henry Whiting. IS63: B. W. Jenks. 1864-68; G. L. Cornell, 1864-69: William Luck. 1866: John E. Kitson, 1866; D. F. Willoughby, 1866-67; John V. Komp, 1567-69; E. Smith, 1867-69: William Grace, 1868 69; Dennis Jones, 1870; F. H. Blood, 1870; J. Stitt, 1570; G. F. Collins. 1870-73: P. S. Carleton, 1871 73; C. H. Waterloo, 1571; G. L. 'Cornell, 1871-73: J. W. Hill, }S71; William Grace, 1872-73: E. Smith, 1872; B. F. Cramp- ton, 1574-75: B. W. Jenks, 1874-75; T. H. Blood. 1874-77: E. E. Carleton, 1876; G. Strauss, 1876: G. J. Ward, 1877-50; Joseph Cook, 1877; T. H. Blood, 1878-SO; B. W. Jenks, 1878; C.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

H. Waterloo, 1879; A. A. Currie, 1879; George W. Carleton. 1SS0; Joseph Doak, 1880; P. S. Carleton, 1881; C. H. Waterloo, 1SS1: Andrew A. Currie, 1881; James T. Aulls, 1881; P. S. Carleton, 1882.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Horatio N. Monson, 1837; Israel Carleton, 1838; Pendleton Odgen 1839; M. H. Miles, 1840; H. N. Monson. 1841; I. Carleton, 1842; John C. Waterbury, 1843; M. H. Miles, 1844; Benjamin C. Cox, 1845; I. Carleton 1846; Obed Smith, 1847; MI. H. Miles, 1848; B. C. Cox, 1849; A. J. Palmer. 1850; I. Carleton, 1850; A. J. Palmer, 1851; M. H. Miles, 1852; Obed Smith, 1853; Daniel Follensbee, 1854; Nelson Mills, 1856; William Blakely, 1856; M. H. Miles, 1856; Albert A. Carleton. 1857; Benjamin Mallory, 185S; Timothy Barron, 1858; Joseph H. Marsh, 1858-66; Nelson Mills, 1859; Elias C. Williams, 1860: George Carleton, 1861; Adam Gaffield, 1862-68; Thomas Cuttle, 1863-71; John Kennedy, 1865-69; Alonzo Gustin, 1868; William H. Davie, 1870; George McCormick, 1872-76; Henry Suck, 1873; Thomas Donner, 1873-74; Thomas Cuttle, 1875; William Spence, 1876; Justus Wells, 1877; Thomas Donner, 1878; John Hall, 1878; Joseph Kesseler, 1879; George McCormick. 1880; C. W. Blanchard, 1881: John Hall, 1881: Thomas Doner, 1882.

The officers elected in April, 1SS2. are named as follows:

Supervisor-Palmer S. Carleton, Democratic, 2 majority.

Clerk-Joseph Kesseler, Democratic, 34 majority. Treasurer-Peter Bell. Republican, 78 majority.

Highway Commissioner-Francis Jackson. Republican, 78 majority.

The remainder of the ticket was Democratic by a small majority.

EARLY HISTORY.

Among the pioneers of the town were Antoine St. Bernard, the Carletons, the Coxes, Og- dens, Thibaults, Thomas Palmer, A. J. Palmer, Fultons and Beardsleys, together with others named in the list of land buyers. That portion of the township bordering on Pine and St. Clair Rivers dates its settlement to 1765, when Patrick Sinclair established a military and trading post there, and introduced the lumber-making era. In the sketch of St. Clair City, as well as in the general history of the county. references are made to this early settlement.

The population of St. Clair town and city in 1845 was 1,009; in 1850, 1,728; in 1854, 3.080; in 1864, 3,335; and in 1880, 3.919. The area of the township including the city is 25,950 acres. The equalized valuation of city and township, $1,073,705; the number of chil- dren of school age in city and township in 1SS1 was 1,516.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 105

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814