USA > Michigan > Huron County > Portrait and biographical album of Huron county Michigan, Containing biographical sketches of citizens also a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 46
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HURON COUNTY.
455
in the county. Rev E. L. Davies is the present min- ister.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The first school taught in Rubicon Township was by Thomas Nichols, who afterwards became a Methodist minister. The first school taught at Port Hope was in 1859, in a little old shingle shanty, by Mrs. James E. Haywood. The first Postmaster of this township, and also village, was W. R. Stafford, who held the same for twenty-two years, an unusual thing to happen to an official.
Port Hope has a daily mail service each way. The people in the contiguous portions of Bloomfield, Gore and Huron Townships, come here for their mail, and also to do their trading.
SAND BEACH GOWNSHIP.
AND BEACH is one of the first townships to organize in this county. The exact date cannot be definitely ascertained, but it was before the county was set off, and the territory of which it was composed was then attached to Sanilac County. It embraced the territory now occupied by Sherman and White Rock Townships, and that of which it is now com- posed. The opinions of the oldest settlers differ as regards the time of this organization, and they are unable to give the names of the first officers elected, or those that followed with any accuracy, the dates or terms of service. The records were destroyed by the fires. From the best information obtained, it must have been about the year 1854.
It was first settled by John Allen, who came in 1838. The township was then heavily timbered with pine, hemlock, cedar and ash. The townships of White Rock and Sherman have since been organ- ized from it. The eastern portion of the township is rolling, the western flat. The soil is clay loom, and sandy, with occasional gravelly fields. It is well watered by several creeks, among which are Allen and Spring Creeks. It is a good soil for the cereals, and all the northern fruits do well. There are seven
full school districts in the township and one frac- tional one, having good school buildings.
Major Cooper has a hotel at Sigel postoffice, near the western line of the township, and a grocery store. He is also Postmaster. The township is bounded on the north by Rubicon, on the east by Lake Huron, the south by Sherman and White Rock, and the west by Sigel Township, and is num- bered 16 north, of range 15 east.
SUPERVISORS.
The names of the Supervisors from 1864 are given below. John Hopson and Hunting Trescott served as Supervisors before this date. Mr. Trescott thinks he served in 1860.
T. W. Pack, 1864-6
Robert W. Irwin, 1867
G. W. Pack, 1868
Robert W. Irwin, 1869-71
G. W. Jenks, 1872-7
Robert W. Irwin, 1878-81
Henry Harrison, 1882
G. W. Jenks, 1884
Most of the history of this township properly comes under the next head.
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Sand Beach. .
A S they passed up and down this coast, the early pioneers, stopping at times at different points and then moving on, had little thought that the wild-looking country upon which the site of Sand Beach is located would be converted into a city, or that from the lake in front would be constructed as fine a harbor as could be found on any inland coast. Neither did the people of a more recent period; and when other settlements along the shore were broken up and scattered, and a location finally made here, they had no idea that it would be other than a little hamlet. Nor is this to be wondered at when we remember how strange and eccentric is the birth, growth and development of towns and cities. Some locations which are regarded as exceedingly favorable for the building up of cities, will settle up rapidly for a time and then, like the Roman empire, go down; while other locations that were not regarded worth even
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the establishment of a postoffice, become in one generation great commercial centers.
Sand Beach has had this advantage, however, from the first, of possessing as favorable a site for a city as could be found anywhere. The site upon which the town is principally built is on a plateau with an elevation of some 40 feet above the lake, which affords one an extensive view of that water and the harbor. The shore recedes, forming a cres- cent line and throwing out thereby points at the north and south which partially forms a bay, and thus makes a natural location for a harbor. The name was given to this site by fishermen who used to ply their trade along this shore, on account of the wide beach here and its freedom from the rocky bluffs that appear above and below; and it has since been retained.
The first settler here was John Allen, who came in the spring of 1838; with him came Alanson Daggett. They put up a saw-mill a short distance below, at a place then called Rock Falls. Mr. Allen sold out to Mr. Robertson, who sold to Henry Whitcomb in 1845. This lumber, which they manufactured, was put aboard of vessels that lay at anchor off the shore. They would form cribs there of lumber and then float them out to the vessels and load up. If no storm came up, they were all right; and all wrong it it did.
The first couple married on this shore were Duncan McCart, and Mary Jane French. Extensive prepa- rations were made, considering the times, for this occasion, a great feast was held and a Bacchanalian revel followed.
Henry Whitcomb was the first Justice of the Peace.
Mr. Whitcomb brought the first goods here for sale. The "shingle-weavers " were quite numerous in those days along this shore, and a merry time they would often have. They got a good price for their shingles : the timber cost them nothing, as they appropriated that from the Government. From the proceeds of their shingles they would send down to Port Huron and purchase a barrel of flour and a barrel of whisky. Then they would have a "high time " until the whisky gave out, which it always would do long before the flour did!
The same thing might be said here of some of the saw-mills. Frequently the products of their labor
would be siezed after it reached its destination; and the Government inspectors would often suddenly appear along the shore and scatter the "weavers " into the deep forests. And often, too, their eyes would be closed to Uncle Sam's interests, and they would pass on.
Another industry was located here which the early settlers speak of, and, though not as reputable, was perhaps as profitable. This was counterfeiting. A man by the name of Cane came here with his outfit, put up a log hut and started a Mexican silver dollar factory. He, however, never offered his goods upon this market. Later on he went into counterfeiting bills. The good-natured settlers did not trouble him or "give him away," though they knew pretty well what he was doing. The dollars were first-class. Cane told a good joke on himself to one of the pioneers. He was preparing a pot of metal for the purpose of veneering his bogus dollars, and his coun- terfeit money was so good that he had mistaken it himself for the genuine, and, putting it into the pot, he spoiled the whole batch !
Upon the organization of the county in 1859, Sand Beach was made the county seat. It remained so until 1864, when the court-house was burned, with nearly all the records. The fire occurred June 25th. One term of court was held here after the fire, in the Dow House, and then the county capital was removed to Port Austin.
The first child born about Sand Beach was a daughter to Alanson and Mrs. Daggitt.
In 1861 Carrington & Pack established their large steam saw-mill at Sand Beach. They cut here for many years, and until the timber became thinned out, on an average of 30,000 feet per day. With this lumber business they opened a general merchandise store on the corner of Huron and State Streets, which is now occupied by J. Jenks & Co. At this period the shore land was covered with as fine a forest of pine as ever grew heavenward.
In 1864, Pack, Jenks & Co. started a saw-mill with a merchandise store, about two miles below, at Rock Falls. June 1, 1876, J. Jenks & Co. bought out the firm of Pack, Jenks & Co. at Rock Falls, and Carrington, Pack & Co. at Sand Beach, and established their headquarters here. From this pe- riod the actual beginning of the city may be dated. The members of this extensive business house are
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Jeremiah Jenks, George W. Jenks, James M. Jenks and Bela W. Jenks.
In 1876 a well was put down and a pan salt block started. The well was sunk 715 feet. In 1883, a steam block was put in. During this season the company started the drying and grinding works for making dairy salt. The capacity of the block is 150 barrels per day. The brine is 85 by the salinometer. The firm is still carrying on the hardware business at the old stand, while on the opposite corner they have established their general merchandise in a new, large two-story brick store, with basement, all of which they use in their business. In the rear-fronting the lake-they have their elegant, well appointed offices. The building is heated by a furnace. This is by far the largest and finest business house in the county, and was completed in 1882. This company was es- tablished in 1876, and incorporated in 1884. Capital, $200,000, all paid in. They have in connection an elevator,-storage capacity, 25,000 bushels ; a barrel factory, and roller flouring-mill. The barrel factory turns out 400 barrels daily, employing 24 men. The flouring-mill, one of the best in the country, was built in 1881, and was the first mill in the United States to roll winter wheat. It contains 16 sets of rollers, and has a capacity of 250 barrels every twen- ty-four hours. Sand Beach is one of the best wheat markets in the State, bringing as much as on the wagon in Detroit.
The Huron Dairy Salt Company was incorporated in 1883. Capital $50,000, with $30,000 paid in. George W. Jenks is President, Charles S. Nims, Sec- retary.
The officers of J. Jenks & Co. are : Jeremiah Jenks, President; George W. Jenks, Vice-President ; James M. Jenks, Manager, and Bela W. Jenks, Sec- retary. The company have a dock running out into the lake some 1,200 feet, with a track on it, which they built at a cost of $20,000. In connection with their other business, they keep a coaling station. They purchase from 6,000 to 8,000 cords of wood annually. They sell in their brick store about $190,- ooo worth of goods annually ; in their hardware store, $30,000. The two firms employ about 125 men.
J. Jenks & Co. built thirteen miles of the Port Huron & Northwestern Railroad, Sand Beach divis- ion, and donated the depot grounds. This road was completed in 1880, and the first train came into Sand Beach Sept. 23, of the same year.
OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS.
One of the important industries of this place is the Sand Beach Iron Works, lately opened, and owned by Winterhalter & Dow. It has the best of facilities for doing all kinds of work in iron, steel, brass and agricultural and mill supplies. They keep on hand all kinds of brass and gas fittings, piping, etc.
The Sand Beach Lumber Yard, Van Buskirk & Monroe, proprietors, have a large stock of all kinds of lumber material.
The Sand Beach Sash and Door Factory is an- other important industry in this place. John Wellock is the enterprising man who has started this busi- ness.
The first and only lime kiln started in Huron County is in this village. Smith & Webb are the proprietors of this important industry. Their manu- facturing capacity is 100 barrels per day. They get their lime rock from Kelly's Island, Lake Erie.
Fishing interests are represented by F. H. Davis & Co., W. B. Isabel & Co., and Levi Brown. The two former fish with tugs, the latter with sail boats.
Fred Hitsch is the pioneer in Huron County in the manufacture of cigars.
C. Maywood keeps lumber and shingles.
Nobles & Wagner are the pioneer bankers of this city. They established themselves here in 1880, and erected their fine brick bank building in 1882. They haveone of the best and probably the handsomest safes in the country ; it is a perfect gem. It is made of steel, with a silver-bronze finish, nickel-plated, with gold ornaments. It was made by Macneale & Urban, of Cincinnati, for the Chicago Exposition, and took the medal. It is absolutely air-tight, with lever action for closing the door, and has the latest improved time lock. Their vault rests on a solid stone foundation, and is constructed independent of the building, with air chambers.
Leszczynski Bros. are large dealers in general merchandise, which includes a large line in dry goods, with boots and shoes a speciality. They are also manufacturers of upholstered furniture.
A. H. Taggart keeps drugs, medicines and jewelry, and I. D. Lane drugs, medicines and stationery.
P. M. Olfield is the photographer of the town.
J. L. Brennan, the accommodating Town Clerk, keeps an assortment of musical merchandise, organs, sewing-machines and holiday goods.
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HURON COUNTY.
Mrs. S. Cross and Miss M. Decker look after the interests of the ladies of this village by keeping an assortment of millinery goods, and supplying them in the department of dress-making.
G. W. Dennis keeps stationery, books, cigars and tobacco.
H. W. Warnica has a large establishment of fur- niture and upholstered goods, and is also under- taker.
W. A. Smith keeps stoves and tinware.
H. Jacobs has a general merchandise store. Alex. Walker has groceries and a market.
C. F. Dow has a billiard hall, with cigars and tobacco and "soft " drinks.
W. W. Smith, H. Gutsch and A. W. Seely are manufacturers of boots and shoes.
Cunning & Sommerville and F. Pawlowski are large market dealers.
M. Kuchenbecker, keeps a tailoring establish- ment.
Robert Lowery has a restaurant and barber shop. Bond & Pittsley keep a livery.
R. A. Richardson and J. E. Lester carry on the wagon-making and blacksmithing business.
A. W. Chamberlain has a store of general mer- chandise and millinery.
W. G. Rochon paints the houses and signs for the people of the village.
H. D. Coon attends to their express business.
James Montgomery supplies the town with bread from his bakery, and keeps a restaurant.
The leading hotels of Sand Beach are the Huron House and the Dow House. The Huron House was built in 1881 by A. Hunter, and opened for business in the spring of 1882. Though not overgrown in size, it is first-class in every way. The rooms are large and well furnished in every particular. It oc- cupies an eligible location on Huron Street, giving a commanding view of the lake and harbor. The table is furnished with all that the market affords. Mr. Hunter, the landlord, is a good caterer, understand- ing the wants of his guests, and knowing how to make them feel at home. The service is good and every- thing about the establishment is as " neat as a pin." The traveler who stops here once will call again.
The Dow House, kept by Samuel East, is a spa- cious house with ample accommodations, and situated on a pleasant site. It was built by Mark Carrington in 1860, as a boarding-house. It was enlarged in
1880 and refitted. It is a good hotel and the largest in the county.
There are also two other hotels, the Union House and the Franklin House, kept respectively by G. W. Willson and A. Prittsley.
The legal profession is well represented at Sand Beach by George C. Green (the oldest expounder of Blackstone here), Elbridge F. Bacon, Charles L. Hall and John F. Murphy.
In medicine and surgery the people are well pro- vided for, having Drs. E. E. Lewis, Charles Davies, P. O. Wagener and H. R. Hitchcock.
Postmaster, E. H. Swain. Daily service by rail and by stage from Port Austin and Bad Axe.
SCHOOLS.
Sand Beach takes pride in having the best graded school and the best school-building in the county. Its architectural construction is superior. It is a two-story frame building, with three commodious apartments. There are 250 scholars on the roll, and 450 in the district, which is No. I. C. McCurdy is Principal, Miss Lizzie Carmon has charge of the grammar, and Miss Christine Winterbottom the in- termediate, department. Miss Georgie Bacon pre- sides over the primary department.
THE PRESS.
The first paper published in Sand Beach, and the pioneer newspaper of the county, was the Huron County News. The first issue of this journal was dated March 13, 1862, and O. F. Harrington was the brave editor who prepared and cast this little sheet before the world. He might have said with Cowper, and no doubt did, as he sent his little ven- ture forth:
Go, my little book, from this, my solitude;
I cast thee on the waters; go thy ways ;. But if, as I suppose, thy vein be good,
The world will find thee after many days.
It was published here until 1865, when it followed the county seat to Port Austin. It was then pub- lished by Winsor & Gallup. About the year 1871 it passed into the hands of W. E. Clark, who is the present publisher and editor.
The Huron County Times was established in 1880, and is now in its fifth volume. Joseph W. Selden is the editor and proprietor. It is Republican in poli- tics, and contains more reading matter than any
HURON COUNTY.
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paper published in the county, being a 16-page, five- column journal. It is ably edited and newsy.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church was organized Nov. 27, 1881, with 22 members, Rev. D. L. Davies presiding. These members were Mr. and Mrs. James Eccles and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Wagner, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dues, Mrs. A. R. Fifield, Mrs. Alice E. Jenks, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Bacon, Mrs. Sarah Willson, Mrs. Alex. Wood, Mrs. L. E. Lincoln, Mrs. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. George Harwood, and Mr. and Mrs. Colin Campbell. The first service of this society was held October, 1880, in the Baptist Church, the pastor then officiating living at Port Hope. This Church has a Sunday-school, consisting of 50 members. They have built an edifice, in which, though not completed, services are held. It will cost, when finished, $4,500. The design is very unique, and will be an ornament to the village.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- Services were first held by this denomination in the fall of 1857, at what was then called " Center Harbor," in a school- house about a mile south of this village, by Rev. George Owens and Presiding Elder Hickey. Ser- vices were held there until 1871, when the fire destroyed everything. This circuit embraced For- estville, Sherman, White Rock and Sand Beach. After the fire of 187 1 they moved to Sand Beach and occupied a school house on section 12. In 1878 J. Jenks gave them a lot and a building was commenced. It was completed and dedicated on the 27th of February, 1880, the services being held by Presiding Elder Elwood, and the Pastor, Rev. R. Bird. There was in the first organization 19 mem- bers. Cost of their church building is $2,254.
Rev. George Owens is credited with having preached the first sermon on this shore.
The Baptist Church was organized here as early as 1874, January 24, by the Rev. W. D. Potter. This took place at Rock Falls, about two miles south of Sand Beach, and with the membership of Jere- miah Jenks, John Moran, Sarah Ingles, Isabella Reynolds, James Holmes, Thos. and Eliza Reynolds, Isabella Clark, Margaret Moran, Mabel Reynolds, Peter Dues, George Mettleton, Wm. Wright, Mary and. Maggie Moran, Jas. Huxtable, Hannah Mann, Levina Maule, Chas. Richards, James Moran, Caro-
line Richards, Adelina and Elizabeth Mitchell, Anna Moran, Michael Liztle, Jacob Fradligh and Angelina his wife, and John Huxtable. Rev. A. M. Swain was the first Pastor called who took charge of the Church. He officiated nine years. Services were held in a chapel. In the fall of 1877 the so- ciety followed the town to Sand Beach, and built their first church, at a cost of $5,000. It is very imposing, and one of the finest church buildings in the county. They have a neat parsonage, costing $500, which was built by Jeremiah Jenks and pre- sented to the Church. Present membership, 108. They have a flourishing Sabbath-school of 55 mem- bers. This was the first Baptist Church established in the county.
The Catholic Church of St. Vincent De Paul held its first service in Sand Beach Jan. 1, 1882, starting in with the promises of the new year. They had a membership of fifty families. Rev. N. L. Mas- chino, of Port Austin, was, and is still, in charge of the mission. They began the erection of their church edifice in 1882, and completed it in July, 1884, previous to which time services were held at the residences of private families. It cost $2,000, and is a plain, neat and substantial church. Di- mensions, thirty-three by sixty-five feet. Services monthly, from Port Austin.
Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Church .- This society was organized here in 1872. They have a church building and a parsonage. The voting members of this Church number 30, and there are about ten fam- ilies. The present Pastor is Rev. F. Duever.
Presbyterian .- While writing the history of the Churches of Sand Beach, it may not be inopportune to mention the work of the Presbyterian Relief Mis- sion. After the great fire of 1881. the Presbyterian Synod of Michigan appointed Rev. E. L. Davies agent to solicit funds and superintend the building of ten churches in the burnt districts, the work being carried on under the direction of the Relief Commit- tee of the Synod. These churches are all now com- pleted except three, and dedicated : those at Port Hope, Sand Beach and Caseville are nearly fin- ished. The churches completed are located as fol- lows: Sand Beach, Port Hope, Grindstone (which has been destroyed by a cyclone), Verona, Ubly, Bad Axe, Cumber, Marlette, Caseville and Brookfield.
MASONIC.
Huron Lodge, No. 361, was organized under char-
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HURON COUNTY.
ter in January, 1883, with eleven members. It now has thirty-six. They have a hall twenty-four by six- ty-five, which is well furnished.
INCORPORATED.
Sand Beach was incorporated as a village by act of the Legislature approved March 14, 1882. The first meeting was held for the election of officers April to, following. Jeremiah Jenks was chosen President, J. L. Brennan Clerk and Eugene H. Swain Treasurer; Trustees-Samuel A. Fuller, Benj. M. Grice, Robt. W. Irwin, George W. Carr, J. W. Selden and Harvey T. Perkins. Assessor, Henry Harrison ; Street Com- missioner, Benj. F. Harrimore; Constable, David M. Priest; Charles Hubbell was appointed Marshal. The village territory embraces the south half of frac- tional section 1, and fractional section 12.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The citizens of Sand Beach have learned some practical lessons from their sad experiences with fire, and have done all they could to guard in the future against this terrible enemy to life and property. To this end they have constructed a complete fire de- partment, after the Holly system of water works. This system consists of a large steam engine, with pump, conveniently located for drawing water from the lake. This engine is located in the boiler and engine rooms of the North Star Rolling Mill of J. Jenks & Co., and is always ready for action. Mains have been laid in the principal streets, to which hy- drants have been attached, and in such locations as are particularly exposed to danger. In connection with this system a good hose company has been formed. This system has also been utilized by the citizens in the use of the pure water for domestic pur- poses, and for wetting down lawns and dusty streets.
Sand Beach is located in the line of the great water thoroughfare around the lakes and all intermediate points. Several lines of beautiful steamers make reg- ular trips here from Cleveland, Detroit, Port Huron and all points north. With these there are heavy bar- ges, light boats and vessels, all having traffic here and all taking advantage of the fine harbor. It is a grand sight to view from the town, which rests so grandly on an eminence, these giant movers of the industries of the country as they majestically pass through the blue waters, or turn and come into port. Maple shade-trees have been set out along all the streets, which are regularly laid out.
We have, in writing the history of Sand Beach, taker. the events and incidents of the early and later life of the people about this shore in chronolog, ical order, following them along as they were center- ing and finally culminating at this town. Though the Harbor of Refuge and the Life-Saving Service are a part of the institutions-and important ones, too- of Sand Beach, we have thought it best to speak of them in a separate chapter, or under their proper heading, and with a few further thoughts we will close.
The village of Sand Beach is the most important town in Huron County. Its business features are more extensive and promise a wider field of opera- tions. Its population is from 1, 100 to 1,200, and is constantly increasing. In addition to its many in- dustries, it is flanked on three sides by a good, rich agricultural country. Its business houses are good and the dwellings also, many of them exceedingly fine. There are no tumble-down rookeries or fences to mar the beauty of her streets, nor rickety and un- certain side-walks to disturb the pleasures of a prom- enade. Many of the old settlers who have watched this site grow from a wilderness into a beautiful little. city are still alive to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
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