History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 117

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 117

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).

Minnie. Then came David Cottrell. William Brown, father of James D. and Charles Brown. George Cottrell. father of the present Capt. George, anl John Cottrell, who lived in a log honse near the mouth of the creek that empties into St. Clair River near Richard Cottrell's farm. These families formed what was known as the Cottrellville settlement. About a mile north on Belle River was what was known as the Duchene settlement. comprising the families of Duchene. Nichola. Burdeneau. Lozo. Geror and Yax. No one surrounded with the advan- tages of to-day can understand the hardships endured by these early settlers; farming was the only employment. and this was unlucrative as there were no markets. and our money was our few farm products which soon became interchangeable at state l values. Bets on horse-racing would generally be for so many bushels of oats. and it became a matter of interest. especially to the horses, as the horse that was beaten generally went hungry until the new crop was har vested. Imagination cannot picture the miseries brought upon us by the war of 1812. After the cowardly surrender of Hull, the Indians became troublesome, and there was no time for months when we were safe from their depredations. I can distinctly remember of mother hid- ing us children in the willows and keeping us there for five days, as our lives were endangered. Our family was marked by the British and Indians. for special persecutions on account of the older boys being in the American Army. About this time a terrible tragedy was enacted near Bunt's Creek. a few miles south of Port Huron. Five soldiers started from the stockade at Ft. (fratiot for Detroit in a small boat. A company of Indians under Tawas, a half-breed. was at this point awaiting them. When the soldiers were nearly opposite. a white flag was raised and the

soldiers started for the shore. When near the shore, the Indians tired into the boat, killing instantly four of the five soldiers: the fifth, nnhurt, espapel by swimming the river. The Cot- trollville settlement then built a stockade for their own protection. It stood upon the Rous- sell farm, but it was never used. Matters became so desperate that every family in the settle ment went to Canada and donned the British allegiances for protection All went except Mrs. Harrow, and she stubbornly held the fort alone. Our family moved to the banks of Little Bear Creek, and occupied an old log house, the most costly piece of furniture being the mud hearth and the oiled paper. substitute for glass. The warmth of our fire would at night attract unwhole- some guests. Many times have we in the morning seen black snakes coiled upon the hearth. but they were extremely accommodating. and retired upon the first invitation. This manner of living was continued until the Americans had again taken possession of Detroit, when our family removed to that place, where we stayed until 1515, when we returned to our old settlement. The fine-haired young men of to-day would be shocked could they but see the clothes I then wore. I'D to the time I was five years old my whole wardrobe, for winter and summer wear, was a tow-sack with a puckering string about the neck and arms, belted down with a string. This was the whole of it, and it was a handy. if not a handsome outfit.

After our return from Detroit, we suffered from our absolute destitution: the sokliers. In- dians and seemingly everything worked to our injury, but there was but one way to do-"grin and bear it;" and with all the trouble there was a bright side, and the " company dances" oc- cupied the attention of the settlements through the winter, and he who bet "cat a pigeon

6.9

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

wing" was a lion in our little society. One feature of the dance we will give to show Senator Farr the progress society has made in the matter of temperance. Some one of the gentlemen were supposed to furnish a gallon of whisky or a half dollar, its equivalent, and he was the favored partner of the evening. generally designated by a rosette pinned on the lappel of his coat by a fair one in recognition of his services toward the pleasure of the evening. About the year 1>19. I think. Capt. Samuel Ward came to the township. He built a house of round logs where Dr. Haddin's house now stands. It was, indeed, a primitive structure, contained but one partition, and was covered with oak shake. His family at that time consisted of his wife and son Harrison. Soon after Capt. Ward was settled. a brother in-law by the name of Gallagher came, he being the father of David and John Gallagher. The next year. the first boat ever built in the town was placed upon the stocks. It was the little sehooper St. Clair, of about thirty tons burthen. She was built about where the foot of Broadway now is. Galla- gher was the master builder and Ward the owner. She was shaped like a canal boat. full ends and rudder "ont doors " In this boat Capt. Ward gained his start. peddling pumpkins. pota- toes, whisky, etc., which then as now all went under the head of general merchandise. The

Captain made some very extensive trips in this little boat, oue of which was from Green Bay to New York. This boat ocenpied his attention for about six years. A short time after the St. Clair was built. Henry Robert-on. afterward of Algonac, and Isaac Pomeroy built the seho mer Grampus on Belle River, directly opposite of where Morley's vard is now situated. She was

about the same size of the St. Clair. The iron in this boat was taken from a little schooner named the Salem Packet. in which Capt. Ward came from Coneant, and was a part owner. About 1530. Capt. Ward built a tannery about where Holland's mill now is; a man namel Taft run it. It proved a failure, as there was not sufficient business to keep it going: this laste } only about two years, when he took down the tannery an l upon the spot manufactured the brick from which Holland's present store is built. A man named Hoyt about this time came in () the settlement and lived where Dr. Parker now lives, in the first frame house that was ever built in what is now Marine City. Through Ward's influence at this time, a man namol Phil ips. a blacksmith by trade, moved into the town and built a house on the Drulard lot. This man was one of no mean abilities. He was the inventor of the process of manufacturing eut nails. but was shorn of the benefits he should have derived from the invention, and died poor and dis. conraged in Algonac. John Sindal also moved into the settlement: he was a shoe maker and lived near the Ward honse in the upper part of the village. Je afterward built the frame house on the corner of the Klemmens lots, on Main street, that burned down but a few years ago. Abont this time, Alexander St. Barnard built a frame house where V. A. Saph's residence now stands. Capt. Sam was the king of this community. arbitrator of all disputes, and so long as he could control, business was quite derent : but he could not, nor would he allow any one else to raise above dependency upon himself if he could help it: yet. notwithstanding this, he was socially very agreeable, and always male friends of those he wished to dofest. In about the year 1531. he built the schooner Marshal Ney. She was a seventy five tom schooner anl was the first boat built in Ward's ship yard proper. Her baiiding was Anprint .n 1- 1 by Capt. Church. Ward sailed his own boats and made money fast. as he had a m mopoly of the trade. About this time Aunt Emily and her father came and lived in a little lor house which stool near where Buttironi's store stands. Aunt Emily at this time taught school, and was therefore the first school teacher that graced our village. Her life before and after this period was one of useful industry, and no family who has resided in this place for any considerable time but what has been the recipient of her kindness and a witness of her unqualified goodness of heart. The manner in which Capt. Ward paid his carpenters would be a novelty now. The wages averaged about $1.50 per day. payable half in goods and half in cash in six months. If a man took four or pork, it was cash, and deleted from his cash account. In this manner but little ready cash was needed. as the carpenters would be obliged to get goods before the cash was due -- a collateral feature being that Ward gave his note- for the cash earned by his men. and if they wanted money he would send them to O. H. Thompson. Ward's broker at Detroit, who would shave them unmercifully. Thompson was afterward superseded by Gleason F. Lewis, now a Enielid avenne nabob.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

I think in the fall of 1834, the schooner Harrison was commenced at Ward's yard. She was a vessel of something over one hundred tons, and was built under the supervision of Capt. Church, a man named Ramsey being foreman. She was not launched until in 1835, and I fitted her out. She was exceedingly long and narrow, and somewhat crank, but she was a good sailer, being the best then on the lakes. Capt. B. F. Owen sailed her, and E. B. Ward was

mate. She traded between Chicago, Green Bay, Detroit and Buffalo. E. B. Ward sailed this vessel for some time, and we think this was his first sailing. At this time the settlement where the village now stands had become quite large. Capt. Drulard, Daniel Wilkins, R. R. Mc- Niff, J. C. Brigham, Zeal Ward. Amasa Rust. Nathan Ward and families had moved in, and finding work steady and plenty, they remained. A short time afterward, Joseph Huntoon and Mr. Clark, father of Cheney and Henry Clark, came and soon sent for their families. In 1836. a man named Coe J. Saliers built the house lately moved by Matt Sicken from his lot on Water street to one near his lumber yard. This Saliers was a conundrum that Capt. Ward tried hard to solve, but without success, and so long as he lived here he was a thorn in the old man's side. In 1839, Capt. Ward conceived the idea of building a steamboat, which even to him was a large undertaking, but the hull of the steamer Huron No. I was built that year. After the hull was built, Ward had no means to purchase machinery, and the boat lay at the wharf for nearly two years without anything further being done upon her. E. B. Ward then took the matter in hand and in this case he demonstrated a business activity that was at that time as- tonishing. Soon the little Huron was ready for business, and the Wards never owned a boat that paid a better percentage on the money invested. There cannot be any doubt of the busi- ness shrewdness of Capt. Sam Ward, but it is just as evident that in this line he was discount. ed by his nephew Eber, and would not have amassed the wealth he did had it not been for the stirring qualities of he who afterward became one of Michigan's most prominent citizens. The Wilkins house was commenced in 1837. An event in the history of this house is worth mentioning. An entertainment was given in the house and quite a number of our prominent citizens took part. J. C. Brigham did the heavy work, in tragedy he was immense, at least we thought so. John Warner and R. R. McNiff supported Brigham in a masterly style, and Reu- ben Warner, the inimitable, would have taken part, we suppose, if he had been a believer or hadn't been tired. The receipts of the evening was about $100. Capt. Ward had some time previous to this placed the Huron on the Lake Erie route in opposition to a line of steamers occupied in that trade. He made it so exceedingly lively for them that they bought him off, a condition of the contract was that the Huron should not again be placed on the route; this part of the agreement Ward lived up to, but to be exceedingly fair he immediately built the steamer Champion, and in 184] placed her on the route in opposition to his old rivals. She was exceed- ingly fast, and they again bought him off, giving him $10,000 to leave the route. He then placed the Champion in the Huron's place, running from Chicago to New Buffalo. and brought the Huron down here and run her on the river route. Ward, in 1843, built the steamer Detroit

and run her from Detroit to the Sault. He in 1846, sold the Huron to John Galagher and Eber Ward; they run her from Detroit to Port Huron in opposition to the Erie. It was in this boat that Eber Ward was started and amassed a sufficient amount to fail in good style under the pressure of the latepanic, we understand that was the cause of it. In 1848. Galagher and Ward built the Franklin Moore and used the machinery of the Huron. This or part of the

same machinery was placed by D. Lester in the side-wheel tug Wave. In 1848, Capt. Sam Ward built the Sam Ward, an exceedingly fine and in every way a good boat. Previous to the opening of the Sault canal, this steamer was hauled around the rapids. Capt. George Cottrell then sailed her and had charge of the work. She staid upon Lake Superior two or three years and when she was brought down run the rapids. a dangerous experiment to say the least. About this time a company from Obio moved in and purchased all the land in the village north of Jefferson street, running to Westminster street, they platting that part of the village between the two streets. Gen. Northrup was a head man in this company, and they exerted quite an influence here for awhile, but failing to meet their payments the property soon found its way back into Ward's hands. In 1845, the Oregon was built on Belle River, where the one upon the stocks in Lester's yard now stands. She was owned by John P. Philips and Capt.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Pangborn superintended her building. She was finished superbly and was considered a tine craft. She burned at Chicago in IS19.

John P. Philips soon after built the high pressure steamer America at Port Huron. Will- iam Kelly being his foreman. This boat was not a success and broke Philips, financially. The last I heard of him he was interested in a small mill on Pino River, a small stream empty- ing into Saginaw Bay, near Kitle River. In speaking of William Kelly. we should say that he had been at work in the ship-yards here, and after he was through at Port Huron, returning soon after. married a daughter of Amasa Rust, and he became interested with the Rust family in the lumbering and mercantile business. He proved, as is well known, an excellent busi- ness man and acemulated considerable wealth here, and aside from this was a most worthy citizen. Some time previous to this, the Rust boys built the schooner Vermont. She was a thirty ton hooker and a very ungainly looking craft. This was the first boat the Rusts ever owned, and it was an ugly looking start for so nich success. Aloney Rust was the principal owner. After they had disposed of the schooner, they built the mill that formerly stood where V. L. Soner's store now stands. They received considerable assistance from Capt. Ward, who furnished them the engine and some other necessaries, and allowed them to pay him in sawing. For some time they did nothing but enstom work until. through the influence of friends, they procured a tract of pine land on Mill Creek. The Rusts were energetic men in their business, and amassed large fortunes. About twenty five years ago. the machinery was taken out of this mill and taken to Saginaw. Capt Ward in the meantime had been busy in his ship-yard building some of the finest boats that have ever been built on the lakes, and inch nicer than any that are now built. But little attention was paid at that time to freight. the boats being fitted ont especially for the passenger trade, and that tratde was tremendous at that time. I have seen 800 passengers on the Oregon, each of which paid SIS for the trip from Buffalo to Chicago, and her run through would, including her stops, take about five days. She made money. Ward, in IS49, built the steamer Atlantic. She was an elegant boat of 1. 100 tons. She was sunk by the propeller Ogdensburg in Lake Erie, many lives being lost at the time. Nothing was built to speak of for some time; but in 1851 no less than four side-wheel steamers were built here-the Arctic, Ruby. Pearl and Caspian. The Ruby was built by Eber Ward in the yard now ocenpied by D. Lester, Esq., and the others were built by Sam and E. B. Ward in Ward's yard. The Arctic was wrecked on Lake Superior in IS60. The Ruby was

broken up at Saginaw in 1865: the Pearl was dismantled in 1869. and the Caspian was wrecked

at Cleveland in 1852. I should have spoken of the steamer Pacitic, built by Ward in IS17. under the supervision of Jacob Woolverton. She was of exceedingly firm model and was the fastest boat of her size ever built by Ward. In 1552, the Wards built the steamer Huron No. 2 and the Traveler. Nearly every person of any ago can remember these boats, as they were both good boats and run for many years. In 1853. they built the E. K. Collins and Forester. The engine of the Collins was taken out of the steamer Canada. a boat that it was alleged Ward got through some sleight of hand performance. The Collins burned at Malden in 1854. She was afterward raised, or at least what there was left of her, and called the Ark. The engines of the Ark afterward went into the steamer Marine City. The Forester never run on any but the river route and was a remarkably good boat. In 1854. M. B. Koan built the side- wheel tug R. R. Elliot. She was turned into a barge in 1866. Ward. in 1855, built a hull for the Collins engine. It was the Planet. She was one of the best boats that Ward ever owned, vory fortu- nate and popular. She was dismantled at Manitowoc, and part of the old boat can be found in

the make- up of the steamer Northwest. The same year. Eber Ward built the steamer Forest Queen. She, a majority of the time she was in existence, run in the Saginaw trade and was a very successful steamer. Ward built no more until IS5S, when the Gazelle was brought out She was wrecked in IS60 at Eagle Harbor In 1559, he built the Sea Bird. She was burned in 1865 on Lake Michigan, and in [$60 he built the Comet that is now doing good work

THE DIVISION OF COTTRELLVILLE.

The town of Cottrellville embraced the present township of Clay, until the division in May, 1825. previons to which there were Iwo town me tings held in Cottrellville. The people

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

of Clay, looking forward to the time when a division would be made by common consent, called their district Plainfield. The circumstance which led to the division was, that Capt. Sam- uel Ward, one of the early settlers of the county, a prominent business man, a good neighbor, and an earnest politician, with whom a compromise was impossible, made a series of nomina- tions of town officers to be voted for in April, 1828. Learning that the people of Clay were opposed to his selections, he determined to ignore their vote, on the plea that they were resi- dents of Plainfield and had no voting privileges in Cottrellville at the town meeting. The Clayites met in John K. Smith's office, resolved to vote in Cottrell ville, and if their votes were rejected to return and hold an election of their own. At an early hour on town meeting day, the Clayites appeared at the poll; but only to learn that their votes could not be received, upon which they returned to Mr. Smith's and there elected a full set of town officers. Before sep- arating, a petition was drawn up and signed, asking the Legislative Council to legalize the act of the people and to establish the boundaries of their new township. At this time Judge Bunce was representing the district in the Territorial Council, and through him the petition was pre- sented. The Judge claimed immediate consideration for a bill to relieve the electors of Clay, which bill was passed and received ex. ap. May 28. 1828. It is said that Capt. Ward did not relish the division of Cottrellville, for at that time there were more voters in Clay than in the old town. He could not but look with a jealous eye on the dispatch used by Judge Bunce in the Council, and consequently became the first and most bitter political enemy of the Judge

SUPERVISORS.

John S. Fish, 1827; Amasa Hemminger, 1828; George Cottrell, 1829-30; Amasa Hem- minger, 1831; Samuel Ward, 1832-33: David Cottrell, 1834-37; Commissioners Board, 1838- 41; David Cottrell, 1842-45; Zael Ward, 1846; Sol. Gardner, 1847; David Cottrell, 1848-54; Aloney Rust, 1855; David Cottrell, 1856; William F. Chipman, 1857-60; Samnel Roberts, 1861; William F. Chipman, 1862; Samnel Roberts, 1863; William F. Chipman, 1864-65; V. A. Saph, 1866; N. S. Boynton, 1867; David Cottrell, 1868; Samuel Roberts, 1809: B. S. Horton, 1870-71; V. A. Saph. 1872-73; P. J. Kean, 1874-75; C. A. Blood, 1876-82.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

John P. Phillips, 1837; Dnthan Northrup, 1938; Henry A. Caswell, 1839; Samuel Hay- ward, 1839; David Cottrell, 1840; John P. Phillips, 1841; Zael Ward, 1842; Reuben Smith, 1843; Solomon Gardner, 1843; David Cottrell, 1844; John Button, 1845; Solomon Gardner, 1846; Keuben Smith, 1847; T. C. Owen, 1848; David Cottrell. 1848; Reuben Warner, 1849; David O'Dell, 1850; Frederick H. Blood, 1851; D. Cottrell, 1852; Daniel F. Hart, 1853; D. D. O'Dell, 1854; A. Gilchrist, 1856; Joseph Rickerson, 1857; William Duncan, 1857; D. F. Hart, 1857: David Lester, 1858; William Duncan, 1859; James Bushnell, 1860; William A. Cottrell, 1860; Jacob H. Randall, 1861; D. F. Hart, 1861; D. Lester, 1862; S. Roberts, 1862; N. Fraser, 1862; V. A. Saph, 1863; George Langell, 1864; Daniel F. Hart, 1865; Sylvester Donaldson, 1866; V. A. Saph, 1867; James Rickerson, 1867; Eph. H. Butler, 1868; Krider Peter, 1869; Ramel Bell, 1870; Sylvester Donaldson, 1871-74; E. H. Butler, 1874; R. R. McNiff, 1872-73; W. B. Morley, 1875; James Stephenson, 1876; T. E. Butler, 1877; S. Donaldson, 1878; J. A. Wonsey, 1879; Nelson Woodworth, 1880; Albert Stephenson, 1881; Truman Butler, 1881: F. C. Blood, 1882.

The Republican ticket was elected in 1882, as follows: Supervisor-C. A. Blood; Town- ship Clerk-E. T. Huntoon; Treasurer-W. S. Roberts; Justice of the Peace-F. C. Blood: Highway Commissioner-R. Folkerts; Drain Commissioner-J. D. Hill; School Inspector -- One year, E. M. Clark; two years, R. Baird; Constables-I. G. Marks, William Shortie, J. Bennett and E. Frank.

The township of Cottrellville voted in April, 1882, to bond itself for $8,000 for the pur- pose of stoning or macadamizing the lower marsh road from the lower bridge to Smith's cor- ner. Heretofore all efforts to this effect proved fruitless.

The persons liable to pay State tax in Cottrellville Township January 1, 1837, were Amasa Hemminger, Fulger & Bellamy, Phillips, Robertson, and Miles, and Samuel Hayward, all

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

traders. Henry Cottrell, Louis Chortier, Philander Rice, 11. A. Caswell and William Brown, tavern-keepers, and Cole G. Salver, grocer.

Robert's Landing is the name of a small settlement or postal village of Cottrellville Town . ship, about twelve miles below St. Clair City, and three north of the old village of Algonac. The manufacture of handles at this point was carried on extensively by W. C. and W. S. Rob. erts. This, with the fishing business, furnished the main industries of the locality.

VILLAGE OF MARINE CITY.

The village of Marine was incorporated under authority of the Legislative Act, approved March 21. 1865. The election of village officers took place April 3, 1865, resulting as follows: D. Lester. President; William Kelly, Clerk; A. B. Clough, Treasurer; Aloney Rust and B. S. Horton. Assessors; D. H. Westeott, George H. Cottrell and W. T. Chipman. Street Commis- sioners; William Pringle and Aaron G. Westbrook, Fire Wardens; D. Westcott, Poundmaster; B. S. Horton. W. T. Chipman, J. W. Backus. D. H. Westcott, Alexander Gilchrist, D. Gallaher, Trustees. The inspectors of this charter election were D. Lester. I. Wilkins, and A. B. Clough, with Isaac Wilkins, Clerk. B. S. Horton was appointed Clerk on April 13, and J. W. Backus, Fire Warden, to till vacancy.

The village records from 1866 to 1876, cannot be found at date of writing. In 1867, Val- entino A. Saph was elected President. and in 1871, D. Lester.

1876-President, L. B. Parker: Trustees. G. Francis, R. Holland, G. Koenig, W. B. Morley, J. C. Durling and A. MeElroy.

1877 -- President, Gregory Francis; Trustees, G. Koenig, V. L. Soner, F. Hart. A. B. Clough, W. B. Morley, George King, A. McElroy.

IST8-President, A. B. Clough; Trustees, Volma, Woodworth, Hart, Bennett, Francis, Soner.

1879-President, W. B. Morley; Trustees. S. Daff. J. Beruetz, J. Dornoff.

1SSO-President, Frank Hart; Trustees. H. Koebel, W. JJones, N. Staley, G. S. Donohue. ISSI-President. Robert Holland; Trustees. J. Woods. W. Anderson, J. Dornoff.

1SS2-President, Valentine Saph; Trustees, J. Robertson, N. Staley, Dr. R. B. Baird, W. B. Morley, J. Woods, W. S. Roberts; Clerk. C. H. Saph; Marshal, H. G. Street; Assessor, C. A. Blood; Engineer, George Hornbustle; Chief of Fire Department, Dr. L. B. Parker.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 117

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