USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Flint > The book of the golden jubilee of Flint, Michigan 1855-1905. Published under the auspices of the Executive committee of the golden jubilee and old homecoming reunion > Part 2
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PIONEERS OF GRAND TRAVERSE.
set for them by their white invaders. Several villages are said to have been located in this vicinity. Indians seem usually to have been friendly, and glad to bring to traders and merchants their furs, baskets and maple sugar, to exchange for the white man's wares. Too often the red man wanted fire-water, and while under its exhilarating influence needed to be met with firmness and cautious confidence. We are told of but few collisions between settlers and natives which could not be amicably adjusted, although dangers were imminent, and the treacherous nature of the half-civilized natives increased the hazard of living in the sparsely settled communities. Many interesting, often thrilling experiences have been told by some of the pioneers, who had won the confidence of the Indians; and the blanketed Mr. Lo, with his silent squaw, and papoose swung at her back, were apt to visit without the formality of an invitation, when on their shopping tours to the settlements.
In the year 1819, and the following year, during the ad- ministration of President Monroe, events transpired at Grand Traverse, whose importance to the future residents of the his- toric spot was greater than could have been foreseen. An incident lends a dramatic aspect to the treaty reserving certain tracts of land, afterward known as "Smith's Reservation." Six were surveyed on the north, and five on the south side of the river, each a section of land. The trend of the stream gave to sections irregular forms, but practically, a mile square, each. Of the six on the north side, Jacob Smith claimed five, and after his death in 1825, were taken possession of by his son-in-law, John Garland (afterward General Garland), after whom a beautiful street is named, and allotted to Smith's legal heirs, four daughters and one son, in the names said to have been given them when young, by the Indians: Metawanene, Annokotoqua, Sagosequa, Nondashemau, and Massawakut.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
Of the five sections on the south side, numbers 7 and 8 embrace most of the Second and Third wards of the city.
Immigration began setting in rapidly, and in 1835, believ- ing a sure title should be established, the claimant for section 2 moved in the interests of the Smith heirs and himself. There followed hard fought legal contests, introducing General Cass into the romantic history of Grand Traverse. The later suits, which dealt with claims to section one, are familiar history for even the later comers to Flint; until in 1860 the "Section One" controversy was finally closed in favor of Dewey and Hamilton. An eastern portion of this tract is now known as "Oak Park Sub-Division."
In 1836 immigration began in earnest, and soon the names of Todd and Stewart, and Stage, and Dewey, and Payne and Patrick, and Pierson, and Stowe, and Williams, and Hascall and Cumings, the Eddys, et al., with the continually increas- ing number of men with families, strengthening the communi- ty, cheering and stimulating the purpose and fortitude of the pioneers.
I fancy many another will recognize in their own experi- ence, the recollection of a new arrival on the 20th day of that delightful October, in 1858, when the stage brought me in from Fentonville, viewing the pretty town from the driver's seat, as we traversed Court and Saginaw streets, to alight at the Carleton House, welcomed by the genial landlord, John B. Hamilton, while near him stood the veritable Boss stage pro- prietor of the State, A. J. Boss, at the curb, unlighted cigar between his lips, having watched and counted his coaches as they came in sight over the hill by the court house.
The young city ( for she has sprung at once from the de- mure quietude of the hamlet to the matronly dignity of a muni- cipality) had now taken on quite the air and aspect of an inland metropolis; feeling very proud of her growth, her intelligence
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PIONEERS OF GRAND TRAVERSE.
and the refinement of her citizens. Only a short time before, a devastating fire had swept clean the west side of Saginaw street, below Kearsley. This space has been rebuilt with the substantial buildings still standing there. The street that every spring had been navigable for boats and rafts to a point by the present postoffice was now filled and graded to its present elevation, which must have given to it a greatly changed appearance for the better.
Such improvements as these were referred to as exhibit- ing the recent material progress of the place, which was, indeed, the more remarkable during and following the strin- gency of '55 to '60. Recalling the difficulties and embarrass- ments, as well as the expedients resorted to to secure business, or to meet the exigencies of trade and of credits, I am sure the business men of the past two or three decades can have but very imperfect conception of business methods during the years immediately preceding the war of the rebellion. Money was so scarce, it might be said there was next to none. Barter, "dicker" characterized the style of trade and traffic between the merchant and his customers. Butter, eggs, pelts, and shingles represented the currency of exchange. The few banks, anywhere, issuing bills which would be accepted as currency in exchange for goods or labor, were wholly inade- quate to supply the needs of even the limited business of the time. The money of only one or two banks in Michigan was regarded at all safe to handle. Bills of a very few banks in Wisconsin were taken at a discount. I do not recall any bank in Chicago, or indeed, in the state of Illinois, whose issue was considered safe to touch. Two or three banks in Ohio, and here and there one in the state of New York, would be accepted; but none from any state, except, perhaps, notes of the Michigan State Bank of Detroit were thought safe to hold over night, so that, before time for bank to close, Austin
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
Witherbee was very sure to receive a call from such of the patrons of "Exchange Bank" as found bills on any banks in their tills at that hour. These were deposited with the understanding you would be credited the amount received on them.
The great scarcity of silver, for change, was likewise em- barrassing, and an annoyance at this time. Spanish silver, which had been a common currency for years, from the Span- ish dollar to the six pence, half dollars, quarters and shillings, had been mostly bought up for manufacturing purposes, and American coin was very scarce. (It will be remembered this was "befo' the wa' "). A makeshift expedient was hit upon, adopted by a few merchants-the writer being one-to issue small "shin plaster" currency, made payable at "Exchange Bank," in which money was deposited to redeem them, and these were accepted as money in business, appreciably reliev- ing the inconvenience and shortage. Specimens of these little substitutes for Uncle Sam's money are yet in existence. The government later issued the "shin plaster" currency, which filled a long felt want, specimens of which may likewise be found among the curios of collectors. The breaking out of the war and the necessity for money for the "boys" relieved none too soon the stringency all felt, and the boys in blue soon began to help out the old folks at home with Uncle Sam's greenbacks, spending them meanwhile freely for their own needs, or indulgence, and so, soon changed the financial con- dition of the whole northern section of the country.
First Two Brick Buildings for Business in Flint
By M. S. ELMORE
With one's municipal pride stimulated anew almost any day when one walks abroad in our fair city, to discover new structures not before seen, lofty, imposing, picturesque or pretentious, the homes of vast enterprises, or the dwellings of contented citizens, one who had noted through develop- ing decades this evolution in architecture is apt to remember the distant days when brick and stone were less in evidence in building, and but little appeal was made to the aesthetic fancy of the beholder. Nor does it seem so long ago, that this con- dition obtained in the future Vehicle City.
There seems to be a diversity of opinion regarding the pri- ority of two brick buildings, each thought by some to have been the first structure of brick for business purposes in the place, -the Cumings or Crapo store, on north Saginaw street, and the building once known as the Hazelton store, on south Saginaw street, west side, near First street. This building, now three stories high, and occupied by Campbell & Ingersoll music dealers, and Geo. E. Childs, jeweler, was originally built with steep gable roofs, pitching to front and rear, above a second story and big attic. I remember it well, although both this and the Cumings buildings were built before I came to Flint. Various authorities agree that the "Scotch store" of Cumings & Curren was built in 1851-2, while, I have been informed by an old citizen familiar with the event, Hon. Jerome Eddy, that the Hazelton stores were built in 1845, and the building thought to be quite a marvel in
xvii
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
architecture. It has been said that George Hazelton and George W. Hill joined in its construction; but this I do not find substantiated. The stores were originally occupied by the Hazelton brothers; the south store for dry-goods, by George; the north store by Homer and Porter, with hard- ware. Geo. W. Hill afterward occupied the stores with furn- iture and undertakers' wares for many years, before being improved by an additional story and modern roof.
The corner, or north part of the "Scotch store," as it was known, was occupied by Cumings & Curren as a general store in the '50's; and someone else, probably Mr. Jerome Eddy, was selling goods in the south half of the building.
It should not be forgotten that, at the time of which I write, the north side of the river was the popular side, and was confidently expected to remain the principal section for busi- ness in the hopeful hamlet and future city. Real estate con- troversies, familiar to the citizens of that time, who remain, were regarded the unhappy and effectual means of driving business and building to the south side. This will account for the existence, during the earliest history of the town, of thriving shops on the north side, when D. S. Fox, W. O'Donoghue, the Deweys, Witherbee, Jerome Eddy, Wm. Stevenson, Cumings & Curren, O. F. Forsyth, and others, as also for two taverns, believed to have selected the best loca- tions in the town for future success and prosperity.
The "Scotch Store" was sold to Hon. H. H. Crapo, proprietor of the Crapo lumber mills and business, and was for many years conducted in its interest and for its benefit.
Capt. Damon Stewart, too well known as a native to re- quire an introduction, talked with me entertainingly of this old building when asked for data, saying "I ought to know, for I helped to carry the brick," and he seems to have been generally useful for so young a lad. An experience of the builder that
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FIRST BRICK BUILDINGS.
could scarcely be had in this day, was to discover when ready for it, that he could find no timber long enough for so big a roof, and the completion of the building as planned was achieved only after men had gone into the woods, far up the river, young Stewart ("Damon" will make his recog- nition easy), one of the "gang" on a job that proved "strenu- ous ;" the time being in January, the water low in the streams, so that often dredging had to be resorted to, to float the logs to deeper water, and much of this cold work while wading, yet more comfortable, he declared, than working in the cold on land.
Capt. Stewart tells of an incident while the walls were be- ing built, wherein one of the brick-layers, an unpopular fellow, was one day late, and one of the men seeing him coming, mis- chievously or viciously threw the masons' trowel into the space between the outer and inner layers of brick, emptying a full trowel of mortar on the tool, and added, "to-day it might be found in the south wall, near the three windows, which were not there at that time." Interest has been added to the fore- going story for the writer since it was told to him, in the for- tunate statement by Mr. George C. Willson, that this trowel was found in the wall, during recent changes in the building, as Mr. Stewart predicted, and I believe, is now in Mr. Willson's possession. (A Free and Accepted Mason might fear that the symbolical uses of the trowel had hardly been exempli- fied in this incident.)
But I think the strangest story in connection with the Cumings-Crapo store comes from Mr. George C. Willson, under whose management the building is, and is yet to be told. It now appears that during all this half-century of monot- onous years (momentous, many have imagined them), the prosaic and plain structure we have thought of, and spoken of, as the "Scotch Store" or the "Crapo Store," had se-
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
creted from the ken of mortals, a romance. While men did come and men did go, during the years when lovers have had time to be born, to have found their affinity, wed, divorced, and died; when passers-by have daily looked upon the severe and angular aspect of this familiar pile; this act, in an unpublished drama was wait- ing for its recall. Hidden, irrecoverably, it was believed, in the fastnesses of a rude and narrow sepulchre, was found a small box in the wall, containing numerous letters, written in a style of chirography that indicates the writer to have been an accomplished lady; the composition of the letters in lan- guage one might expect from the pen of a school teacher, which she evidently was. These epistles tell us only one side of a story, the fair writer often complaining that she had received no replies to her letters. They were written from Hampton, Mich. and Mount Morris, N. Y., under date of 1849 and '50 to Mr. James Curren, who was at that time associated with his brother-in-law, Mr. Cumings, in the mercantile business in Flint. Cumings & Curren were then erecting the brick building at the corner of North Saginaw street and Second avenue, which was for years familiarly known as the Crapo Variety Store, and later occupied as a "General Store" by Pomeroy Bros. While remodeling the building in the fall of 1898 for the manufacturing plant of the Flint Gear & Top Co., the letters above referred to were found in the west wall, in a round wooden box, together with a lock of hair, and a card on which two hands were clasped, entwined with ribbons, with the inscription: "True Friendship," and date June 10th, '49. On placing these letters between walls of brick and mortar, Mr. Curren undoubtedly sought to hide forever all traces of a sweeter sentiment which he wished to banish from his future life. Shortly after, he sailed for Aus- tralia, where, we understand he met with reverses, returning home to die. Mr. George Willson had the peculiar pleasure,
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FIRST BRICK BUILDINGS
during the fall of 1905, of delivering the box with letters en- closed to the original writer, a resident of Flint, and an inter- esting invalid of advanced years. These incidents invest the ancient Cumings-Crapo-Durant & Dort buildings with more than a cold commercial atmosphere for future dwellers of the north side when passing by it.
The patronage enjoyed by these first stores in Flint was not limited to the radius of a few miles, between county towns, or less, but trade invited the sparse population from long dis- tances every way, when days were required, to come and return. Produce, furs, butter and eggs, maple sugar, and berries were brought to exchange for goods, and the stores on the north side of the river did a thriving business.
The Brent family, whose great farm was located three or four miles below Flushing, was quite distinguished for their wealth and position. It is said that they and their neighbors were accustomed to come to "the Flint" by boat on Flint river, propelled by Indians, to exchange produce, furs, and Spanish dollars for goods, which being loaded into their boats, they could return to their homes with less effort, by the help- ful course of the current. It is likewise currently believed, that these native boatmen loaded themselves with fire-water, sometimes, imbibing with the fluid a sportive disposition to tint the little town a warm Indian red; but they were usually peaceable, sturdy and skillful men with oar or paddle.
(Adenda: A sad and startling commentary is found in the fact that since the closing of this sketch, two of the gentle- men of whom I had sought information, Hon. Jerome Eddy and Captain Damon Stewart, have joined the rapidly aug- menting population in Glenwood.)
Traffic and Travel Over Flint's First Railroads
By M. S. ELMORE.
Before the territory of Michigan had been admitted to the growing family of States, in 1837, her citizens had recognized the advantages of steam roads for the Peninsula, and several routes were projected; the "Northern Railroad," from St. Clair to Lake Michigan being of greatest interest to residents of this section, since its route traversed the county of Genesee from East to West. We need no more than allude to other projects during the first fever of enthusiasm. Nor did the repeated attempts during many years to establish this line, materialize, until, after varied vicissitudes and changes in plans and organizations through legislative enactments, the "Chicago and Northeastern Railroad Company" was incor- porated in 1874, finally developing into the splendid "Grand Trunk system" now in successful operation. I think the origi- nal line contemplated passing through Flint along the present Court street, in 1838-9, and grading was done both east and west of the place. In the meantime the line of the "Detroit and Milwaukee" had been built to Ionia, passing through the southern portion of the county, Fentonville, Gaines, and Lin- den; connection being made at Fenton (or Holly) with Flint, over the plank roads, for stage passengers or freight.
Four or five-surely not more than a half dozen merchants of earlier Flint, remain to talk over experiences, when their goods and wares were "hauled" on wagons from the stations on the D. & M. railway at Pontiac, Fentonville, or Holly,- James Decker, William Stevenson, Jerome Eddy, Robert Ford, W. H. Hammersley, M. S. Elmore, et al. Please note I do not say earliest Flint; or, shades of Cotharin, or O'Donoug- xxii
23
TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL.
hue, Grant Decker, Fox, Cumings, the Hendersons or Deweys might protest my little list were too recent. Sam Alpin, Charles Selleck, and John Atchinson were the respon- sible teamsters by whom all freight of whatever sort was transported from the D. & M. R. R. to Flint, each making not more than one trip per day over the uneven plank roads, through all seasons, and in every kind of weather. The com- bined loads of these three teams would not have filled the smallest modern freight car on the F. & P. M. Travel over the same routes on Boss & Burrell's line of stages was regarded good evidence of progress, and the plank road to Saginaw an important factor in facilitating travel and traffic,-in the year of the advent of the writer to the city, 1858, more than 15,000 passengers having been transported over this line of stages. One recalls the anticipated arrival and departure of stages,-two, three and sometimes six,-at the old "Carle- ton," on fair days or foul. And right here I will take the liberty of quoting from an interesting letter to the writer, from a former Flint boy, Mr. J. Earl Howard, Assistant Treasurer of the P. M. Company, and of the C. H. & D. railroad com- pany office at Cincinnati. Referring to this stage line, Mr. Howard says : "What a stir they used to make in the usually "quiet town when they came in from Holly and Fenton. More "noise and bustle around the old 'Carleton' than there has "been since with the new 'Bryant.' W. W. Barnes was the stage "and express agent, and subsequently the R. R. agent when the "line was opened to Saginaw, and the depot was located above "McFarlan's Mill, and afterward joint freight agent of the "F. & P. M. and Flint & Holly roads. Afterward the depot "building was removed to the juncture of these two roads, on "the river bank opposite the present passenger station of the "P. M. The old freight building is yet doing duty in the rail- "road yards, on Kearsley street.
"Josiah Pratt, Geo. C. Kimball and Geo. T. Clark were all "closely identified with the early railroad history of Flint. "Giles L. Denham was the cashier, general freight and pas-
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OFOFLINT.
"senger agent, auditor, conductor, etc., of the Flint & Holly, "until the consolidation of the two roads, when he was ap- "pointed cashier of the new company.
"The writer (Howard) was ticket agent and telegraph "operator for these two companies, from 1866 until he left "town in 1870, having been connected in various positions "with the other roads, which in 1900 consolidated with the F. "& P. M., forming the system now known as the P. M. This "system now comprises about 2,300 miles of road, with a capi- "talization of over seventy-eight millions of dollars; with "earnings of about fifteen millions per year. The company "formed at Flint, January 21st, 1857, comprised, with one "exception, of residents of Flint, has outgrown its infant days "and become one of the great systems of the country. To the "best of my knowledge none of the original incorporators are "living to-day. A majority of them sleep in Glenwood."
I am sure the public will heartily appreciate Mr. Howard's interesting letter at this time. Accompanying the letter, Mr. Howard courteosuly intrusted to me for reference documents relating to the earliest history of the two roads : Flint & Pere Marquette, and the Flint & Holly, which were soon to connect these towns in the north with their neighbors farther south.
My space will permit of my alluding to only such items in the documents relating to the organization and condition of Flint & Pere Marquette railway company, as I believe of special interest.
In the Articles of Association are entered names of its first directors : Henry M. Henderson, Benjamin Pierson, Artemus Thayer, Robert D. Lamond, Cornelius Roosevelt, George M. Dewey, William Patterson, Alvin T. Crosman, and Josiah Pratt, "of the city of Flint." Benjamin Pierson, Alvin T. Crosman, and Daniel D. Dewey were appointed commis- sioners to open books of subscription to the capital stock. The older citizens will be interested to read the names, amounts being omitted. Benjamin Pierson, Alvin T. Crosman, D. D. Dewey, Josiah Pratt, Theod. G. Mills, (Cleveland), C. Roose-
HON. HENRY H. CRAPO, Governor of Michigan, 1865-1869
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TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL
velt, Artemus Thayer, H. W. Wood, Jas. Henderson, R. D. Lamond, Alex. McFarlane, E. N. Pettee, E. H. McQuigg, Chas. B. Higgins, R. Bishop, E. F. Frary, M. Miles, Giles Bishop, A. B. Witherbee, Geo. W. Fish, H. C. Walker, H. M. Henderson, T. C. Meigs, Chauncey K. Williams, Chas. E. Dewey, Wm. Paterson, G. M. Dewey, Geo. R. Cummings, (the last named notary public).
The comprehensive matter embraced on the sections of the "Trust Deed," Legislative enactments, the chosen route for the road and declared advantages through the new country, reports of engineers, and sundry official communications from George S. Frost, Erastus Corning, Gov. Moses Wisner, etc., are all very interesting reading at this remove, and present a notable contrast with recent reports, of the development and marvelous expansion of the little road of thirty miles, into the twenty-three hundred of the new consolidated "Great Cen- tral Route." Accompanying the earlier report of the F. & P. M. referred to above, were the first and second annual reports of the directors of the Flint and Holly Railroad, Oct. 5th, 1865, and Sept. 29th, 1866, in which we learn "The road was opened for the running of trains, both for freight and travel, on the first day of November, 1864, at which time the track was but partially completed, and it was not only dif- ficult, but exceedingly dangerous at that time to run trains over it. By the exercise, however, of the greatest possible caution and care, no accident occurred beyond that of some slight damage to a portion of the rolling stock, in consequence of having been partially run off the track," etc. (From H. H. Crapo's first report. )
In his second report, of Oct. 18, 1866, President Crapo speaks hopefully of the prospects for future business, pro- vided favorable arrangements can be made with the D. & M., in transportation, until cars can be built. General traffic seems to have been stimulated, and manufacturing of lumber greatly increased.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
Accompanying Mr. Crapo's report are statements of com- parative expenditures and earnings for the two years, over the familiar signature of G. L. Denham, treasurer. These figures, while small, when compared with great sums in the last P. M. reports, show at least healthy increase. The earnings in 1865 (eleven months) being $90,997.37, while for 1866, $142,- 470.34.
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