Bay County, Michigan - The whole text, 1883 (part 6 of 20)

This was the second store in Bay City. They had not been long in the business when he and his partner dissolved, Barclay taking the groceries and his partner the dry goods. After a while his business increased so that he had to build a larger store, when he sold his store and goods to Park & Hunger, and commenced building the Wolverton House, on the corner of Third and Water Street, which he kept fifteen years, during which time he was very extensively engaged in the fishing business on the Saginaw Bay. In 1856 and 1861 was sheriff of Bay County; afterwards he devoted a great deal of his time to his large grape yard and peach orchard on the Bay shore. At an early day Mr. Barclay traded extensively with the Indians, as many of the early settlers in this new country were in the habit of doing. He also run a stage between Lower Saginaw and Alpena, and experienced all the hardships incident to pioneer life. He and his wife are still Hving in Bay City, hale and hearty and surrounded by children. Mr. Barclay has always been one of the foremost men of Bay City; always upright in his deahngs with his fellow man; his word is as good as his bond.

Thomas Caeney, Sr., was born at Landport, England, 1814. In 1833 he emigrated to America, and until 1862 was saihng on the lakes. In 1837 he was married, in Canada, to Miss Mary Eoach, a native of Canada. In 1849 they settled in Bay City. In 1850 Mr. Carney built a house on the corner of Wsahington and Fifth, at that time the only house on the street. They Hved in that house for twenty years. Mr. Carney bought village property, built houses and speculated quite extensively in real estate for several years, and still owns city property which he rents. In 1862 Mr. Carney left the lakes, and since that time has occupied himself chiefly with his property interests. He has occasionally taken contracts for public improvements, such as the Tuscola and State plank roads. Mrs. Carney is a most estimable woman, and at an early day, her kindness of heart was often manifested in times of sickness and suffering. Mr. Carney is an enthusiastic supporter of the temperance cause, and is one of the leading members of the Red Ribbon Club. They have had six children, only two of whom are now living, R. J. and W. E. Carney, both lumber dealers in Bay City.

Alexander McKay settled in Lower Saginaw in 1849. He was born in Inverness, Scotland, September 16, 1816, and emigrated to this country in 1849. He Avas in the clothing business until 1853, and after that time was in the employ of the late James Eraser, assisting in superintending his vast lumbering operations until 1863. He was then in the employ of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad Company for some time, but for a long time has not been in active business. When he came to what is now Bay City, it was a comparative wilderness. He helped clear the land where the city now stands, make the first streets and build the first sidewalks. He built the residence he now occupies on the corner of Sixth and Monroe Streets, in 1863, when all that lo3aUty was stump land. He was married February 9, 1838, at Inverness, Scotland, to Ann Eraser, daughter of Alexander Eraser, of that place, and sister of the late James Eraser, of this city. They have four children, two sons and two daughters.

Charles B. Cottrell first visited Lower Saginaw in 1850, and settled here in 1854. He was born in Cottrellville, St. Clair Co., Mich., July 31, 1829. His grandfather was one of the earliest pioneers of that region, and from him the place took its name. Charles remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he went away to provide for himself. He lived for a time with an uncle, at Port Huron, attending school Summers and teaching Winters. Afterwards he attended the Romeo Academy for two years. About 1850 he went as clerk on the steamboat "Columbia," and that year saw what has since become Bay City, for the first time. From 1852 to 1854 he kept books for the late Capt. E. B. Ward, in Detroit, and was going as clerk on the steamer ''Detroit," *but while on his way to meet the boat it aank, and he came back to Bay City as Capt. Ward's agent. After locating here he formed a partnership with Julius B. Hart, and they kept the warehouse and were agents for the line of boats. The warehouse stood on the present site of the Maxwell Block. In 1855 he went out of the warehouse, and, in company with his brother, kept a general store. In 1859 they removed to Sebewaing, Huron Co., and continued business about a year. Charles then sold to his brother. He was elected register of deeds of Huron County, and held the office two years. Was then appointed to transcribe the records of Sanilac and Tuscola Counties. Was elected county treasurer, and held the office for eight years. Upon his retiring from the office, the Board of Supervisors passed the following resolution, by a unanimous vote:

''Whereas, a few evil-disposed persons have, from sinister motives, circulated reports derogatory to the reputation of the present county treasurer of this county, and

"Whereas, such reports have been, by a close scrutiny, rigid investigation and full report of the condition of the county treasury, branded as false and unfounded ;

"Therefore, be it resolved, that we hereby express our full approval of the honest, faithful and able manner in which C. B. Cottrell has discharged the duties of the office of treasurer of this county for the term of eight years last past, as a just tribute to an able official."

Col. Hexry Raymond was one of the early lumber manufacturers, and for many years a prominent citizen of Bay City. He was born at Woodstock, Vt., in 1802. After spending two or three years in the vicinity of Detroit, he came to Bay City in 1849, and the following year associated himself with Mr. James Watson, and they built the saw mill afterwards owned and operated by James Shearer. He was connected with various business interests and was the first representative of Bay County in the Legislature. During the war he was one of the provost-marshal's staff, and for several years was collector of internal revenue. In 1870 his health had so far failed that he was obliged to seek a diff'erent climate, and since that time he has been a resident of California. Col. Raymond was married August, 1827, to Miss Mary Alvord, of Massachusetts. Six children were born to them, four of whom are still living - Mis. Benjamin Whipple, Mrs. Frank CrandaU and Mrs. H. C. Moore of Detroit, and Col. Henry S. Raymond, of Bay City. The latter has been a resident of Bay City since 1851. In 1862 he went into the army with Company F, Twenty-Third Infantry, and served with distinction until the close of the war. He enhsted with the rank of captain, and by promotion reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He held the office of postmaster from 1861 to 1870. Since 1862 he has been in the news and stationery business. His store is now at 810 Water street. He has a wife and two children.

James Watson also came in 1850. He had long been known as a merchant of Detroit of the firm of J. & J. Watson, and determined to seek a location for his business in some of the new prospective cities of the state. In seeking a point at which to locate, his steps were directed to the Saginaw Valley. He came to Saginaw City, where he met his old time friend, James Fraser, who, being desirous of securing an acquisition to the business interests of the Valley, descanted freely on all the advantages that town possessed ; for at that time Saginaw City was the only town in the Valley where there was any show for business. After looking the ground over at that point, they came together to this part on the river. Mr. Watson's remarks were few but his foresight keen. After satisfying himself and selecting such pieces of property as he desired to purchase, he told Mr. Fraser he had determined to locate here if he could make such terms as he proposed. Mr. Fraser being agreeably surprised to hear such a determination expressed, readily acceded to Mr. Watson's terms, and a bargain was soon consummated. With other property Mr. Watson purchased the dock and warehouse which was then standing at the foot of Center Street. The warehouse was soon converted into a store and filled with one of the largest stocks of goods that had ever been brought into the Valley. This was late in the Fall of 1850, and some of Mr. Watson's friends expressed surprise that he should have purchased so large a stock of goods for such an out-of-the-way place, but before the breaking up of Winter Mr. Watson had to send six teams to Detroit each to bring a load of goods to supply the demand. (It mus'^ be remembered that at this time in Winter the only method of transporting merchandise to points north of Pontiac, was by teams.) About this time was the first revival of business in the Valley, after the great depression in 1837 and 1888. A large amount of furs were brought to market, the fishing business was carried on quite extensively and the lumber business was just commencing. Mr. Watson was interested with Col. Henry Eaymond in the lumber business - their mill being that afterward owned by James Shearer & Co., it having been built by Col. Kaymond in 1850. Mr. Watson retired from the mill and carried on other branches of business, never forgetting to purchase real estate whenever an opportunity presented itself. By that means and through his indomitable energy and excellent business qualifications, he was one of the leading men of the Valley.

Dr. George E. Smith was the first male physician who settled at Lower Saginaw and remained in practice for any considerable length of time. He came to Saginaw in 1837, where he learned the printer's trade. His health failing he tried sailing with his brother, Capt. David Smith, and received a satisfactory amount of experience by being shipwrecked on the Canada shore. He then returned to Saginaw and studied medicine with Br. George Davis, and finally graduated at the Cleveland Medical College. In 1850 he came to Lower Saginaw and was for a time the only physician in the vicinity. He continued in practice until about 1861, when he turned his attention to other branches of business. He was engaged in the manufacture of lumber and salt, and in the grocery business with B. B. Hart. He kept the first drug store in the place, and was postmaster from 1853 to 1861. It was during his administration that the name of the office was changed from Hampton to Bay City. In 1878 he retired from business and resumed the practice of medicine as his health would permit. He is still a much respected citizen of Bay City.

Jesse M. Miller, one of the well known men in Bay City, is a native of Pennsylvania, and settled in Bay City in 1850. He had a brother-in-law living in Oakland County, and first went there and stopped with him. From there he wandered into the Saginaw Valley and stuck fast in the unpromising locality, since transformed into a beautiful city. At an early day he bought a tract of land jusl; east of the present city limits, and cleared it up. It became a valuable farm, and he held it until 1881, when he sold it. When he first came to this region he says he worked for six or eight shillings a 'day and laid up something. He carried the first regular daily mail between Lower Saginaw and Saginaw. In the Fall he would take his pony and ride to a squatter's hut a little distance from the village. There he would leave the pony, and taking the mail on his back, would proceed on foot to Saginaw, and from there return in the afternoon. It was no easy task in those days to make the journey on foot in the Fall, when the traveler would sink nearly to his knees in the half frozen mud ; but the early settlers were inured to hardships, and accomplished many things that almost stagger the behef of people in these latter days. Mr. Miller had the contract for carrymg the mail unfcil 1862. From 1874 to 1882 he held the office of justice of the peace, and has always been prominent in public affairs. He has been an active advocate of temperance, and of all social and pohtical reforms. In the Fall of 1882 he was the candidate for Congress on the Greenback ticket, and made an active canvass of the district. He now devotes his time to looking after his private interests, and to matters of public reform.

Charles E. Jennison is another of the pioneers of 1850. He was born in Louisiana in 1829. Came North in 1834, and his parents lived in Brooklyn until 1841, when they removed to Danville, Penn. In 1850 Mr. Jennison came to Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, to go into the mercantile business in company with the late James Fraser. After continuing in the partnership for about eighteen months he purchased Mr. Eraser's interest, and continued the business alone till 1854, at which time he was joined by his brother, the late H. W. Jennison. After that the business was enlarged and carried on under the name of C. E. Jennison & Bro., till the death of the brother, which occurred in 1864. He was cut off in the vigor of his manhood and usefulness, and the people of Bay City felt that they had been called upon to part with one of the most useful and prominent members of society. Mr. Jennison continued to be more or less interested in the hardware and stove business until about 1870, when he was burned out, and has not been actively interested in mercantile pursuits since that time, though he is at present a member of the hardware firm of Tousey & Jennison. During the continuanse of his successful mercantile business he was wise enough to invest all the surplus profits in real estate, which has made him one of the most successful business men in the Saginaw Valley, and perhaps the wealthiest in Bay City. Mr. Jennison's sterling business qualifications have served greatly to promote the interests of the city, and it is hoped they will long contmue to do so. He was president of the Bridge Company for several years, and is vice-president of the Pipe Works. He built the Jennison Block on Water Street in 1870. In 1851 he built a dwelling house on the corner of Center and Washington Streets. At that time there were no improvements in that part of the town, and beyond where the Court House now stands was thick forest. He rebuilt his house in 1864, and at the present time is building one of the finest residences in the city, on the corner of Ninth and Jackson Streets. He has made three additions to the city, and is interested in one other. He devotes his entire time to the management of his large real estate and other interests. He has a family consisting of a wife and six children. Mrs. Jenniscni is a daughter of the late Hon. James G. Birney, of national fame. Mr. Jennison is one of the men whose faith in a prosperous future for Bay City has been strong from the very first. He began early to invest in real estate, and always advised men in his employ to do the same with what means' they could save. The correctness of his judgment has long since been demonstrated.

WiLLL^M Catlin, deceased, was born February 26, 1817, in the town of Catharine, and what was then Chemung County, N. Y., and in May, 1849, he, with his family, started for Lower Saginaw, (as it was then called), Mich. They came by water to Detroit, expecting to take a boat at that place and come the rest of the way.

but after waiting a few days, decided to take tlie cars, which only brought them eighteen miles, when they took the stage as far as Pontiac, where they hired a private conveyance to bring them through to Upper Saginaw, the roads being so rough the men were obliged frequently to lift the wagon wheels out of the ruts to get along at all. Upon arriving at that place they made their way to a hotel kept by Mr. Jewett, where they remained a day or two, when they again proceeded on their journey, taking passage on the first steamboat running on the Saginaw Kiver - and that as yet unfinished. Upon arriving at their place of destination they were met by his brother, Israel Cathn, and were taken to his home, where they enjoyed a good rest after a tiresome journey, and as soon as a house could be got in readiness, moved into a home of their own, situated where the Muuger Block now stands. Mr. Catlin being a good sawyer, he soon found employment in a mill owned by Hopkins & Co., and afterwards worked in a mill at Portsmouth, for McCormick & Miller. But himself and family were sick a greater part of the time, and after remaining a little over a year, at the earnest solicitation of friends East, they returned to their former home in the state of New York. After the war broke out he, like thousands of other loyal men, felt it his duty to take up arms in defence of his country, and enlisted in Company A, Fifth Kegiment, New York Volunteers, was wounded in battle and went home, remaining with his family several weeks, when being so much improved, he returned to the hospital in Annapolis, Md., but after a few weeks was taken sick with pneumonia, and died January 18, 1865. In 1872, his widow, with her children, came to Bay City, where they now reside, with the exception of her daughter, wife of W. W. Hodgkins, who died August 24, 1882.

John Drake is one of the early mill men of Bay County. He is a native of Scotland, and emigrated to Canada in 1834. In June, 1851, he started with his brother James and a hired man, from Delaware, near London, (in Canada West, the Province was then called,) and came to Port Huron, where they purchased a small sail boat, hired a boatman to manage it, provided themselves with a tent and supplies, and commenced a coasting voyage along the shores of Lake Huron and the Saginaw Bay, Lower Saginaw being their point of destination, at which place they arrived after six days' sailing, with many narrow escapes from capsizing their little craft, which proved to be a crank affair, and afterwards caused disaster to others by capsizing in the river. Mr. Drake's object in coming to Michigan was to engage in the lumber business, and on his arrival at Lower Saginaw he landed his boat at the dock of the Dunlap Mill, (now Gate's & Fay's) and the first person he encolmtered on the shore was the late James Fraser, who, under the circumstances, was the very man he should first become acquainted with in the Valley, Mr. Drake being a native of Scotland, which was of itself sufficient to interest Mr. Fraser in his behalf; but when the object of Mr. Drake's coming to the Saginaw Valley was made known, Mr. Fraser became doubly interested, as he was always on the alert to induce capital and business to center in this locality. Mr. Drake spent some time in viewing the different localities on the river, making several trips to the towns on the upper portion of the river where many tempting offers were made him of property for a mill site, but he rejected them all, and finally selected the point (now in West Bay City) where the well known Drake Mill now stands. In two different negotiations he purchased from Mrs. Birney, wife of the late James G. Birney, the forty four acre tract which is contiguous to the mill, with eighty rods of river front for about f 1,400, not a bad bargain when we take into consideration the present value of the property, which would probably be estimated at $150,000. He completed the mill and operated it until 1853, when he sold it to Kibbie, Whittemore & Co.

Mr. Drake removed his family to Lower Saginaw (now Bay City) in November, 1852, and has been a resident of this locality since that time, except two years, which he spent in Detroit. Not being satisfied to give up the lumber business entirely, Mr. Drake run the Zilwaukee Mill during the years of 1856 and 1857, and the little mill at Portsmouth during 1857. Since Mr. Drake's retirement from the lumber business he has held positions of trust and honor under the government of the United States, and has been engaged most of the time in the insurance business, and is now in that occupation. Since his residence here he has been identified with the material interests of the place, and enjoys to a high degree the esteem and confidence of the community.

George Lord, one of the pioneers of Bay County, and one who has done much to advance its prosperity, settled in Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, in the Winter of 1854. He was born in Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., March 17, 1815. Attracted by the lumbering interests of the Saginaw Valley, he emigrated westward, and reached this then wilderness in February, 1854. He built the mill known as the Keystone Mill on the west side and operated it until 1860, when he sold out and went into the drug business on the corner of Center and Water Streets, which he continued until burned out in 1865. After the fire he started another store which he continued a few years, when he sold out and went into the insurance business. Subsequently he became ticket and passenger agent of the Michigan Central Kailroad Company, and continued in that capacity until the present year. His present business is insurance. He was supervisor of the township of Hampton before Bay County was organized. The township of Hampton at that time comprised what is now Bay City, West Bay City and all the shore counties as far north as the Sable Eiver, so that his constituency w^as scattered over quite an expanse of territory. After Bay City was incorporated he was elected comptroller, which office he held for five terms; was chairman of the Board of Supervisors four terms, and mayor of the city one term. At the expiration of his term of office as mayor, he was nominated on the Democratic state ticket for commissioner of state land office, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. He was also candidate for state senator against Hon. D. H. Jerome, since Governor, but was again defeated. Mr. Lord was married in 1840 at Hamilton, N. Y., to Miss C. D. Fay, sister of W. L. Fay, of Bay City. They have three children living, two boys and one girl. Mr. Lord was one who entered into the pioneer life in all its phases with great activity. There are few records of jokes and lively experience in the early times in which he does not appear as a participant. Some of these appear in another part of this work. But while enjoying these episodes of life he has ever been an active participant in the industries and prosperity of the city and county.

Philip Simon is a native of Germany, and emigrated to America in 1818. After stopping about a year at Syracuse, N. Y., he came to Bay City, or Lower Saginaw as it was then called. This was in 1849. After settling hare he worked in the mills for about a year, and then stxrted a meat market, the first permanent market started in the place. It was located on the ground where Mr. Kittridge's shoe store now stands, at the corner of Center and Saginaw Streets. He built a frauie dwelling, using part of it for his market, and the remaining portion he used as a hotel, which was called the Bay City House. He afterwards engaged in the mercantile business in the same blo^k. He continued in the market until about 1857, and in the store until 1868. He built and still owns the blook of buildings on Center Street, extending west from Saginaw Street. In 1861 he built his present residence at the corner of Tvvclfth and Midisjii Streets. When in the meat business he piir^h ised twenty-five acres of land in that locality at a nominal price, for his slaughter house. When he built his residence, it was in a wild region just bordering upon a swamp. The nearest buildings were a few shanties on Washington Street. Now, however, it is located in a delightful part of the city, and his property is very valuable. He still owns a large number of lots which are a part of the original purchase. By his industry and prudence, assisted by a good wife, he acquired a handsome property during his business career. For several years he has not been engaged in active business, but has occupied himself with his property interests. For some time he has been out of health and unable to get about. His family consists of a wife and twelve children.

Cheistopher Heinzmann is a native of Germany. When he was about fifteen years of age his parents emigrated to America, and settled in Ann Arbor, where they remained until their death. In the Winter of 1849 Christopher came to Bay City, or Lower Saginaw, as it was then called. At first he worked in the mills, then he bought land and cleared it, and then went into business. He went first into the meat business, and was very successful. At an early day he built a frame hotel called the Forest City House, on the corner of Saginaw and Sixth Streets, where Sherman's livery stable now stands. That building was afterwards burned. The present Forest City House, on Washington Street, he bought when the buildmg was much smaller than now, and used for a boarding house. He put the property in excellent shape for hotel purposes, and kept it until the Winter of 1882. His present residence at the corner of Twelfth and Madison Streets he built in 1872. He has several houses which he rents, and now busies himself looking after and enjoying the property he accumulated during the active years of his life. He has helped build up the city, and has witnessed all the wonderful changes that have taken place.

The M Ewans

William McEwan is one of the^pioneers of 1850. He was born in Glasgow^ Scotland, in the year 182B, and emigrated to this country in 1848. In the Fall of 1850 he settled in Lower Saginaw. His brother, Alexander, had come with him, and they built a mill, since known as the McEwan Mill, and still in operation upon the original site near the northern limits of the city. In 1851 another brother, John, came and went into business with them. In 1853 Alexander died, and the business was continued by William and John. Mr. William McEwan continued in the lumber business until within a few years, when he retired to give attention to his extensive real estate interests. In 1858 he married Miss Annie F. Eraser, daughter of James Eraser. In 1859 he built their present residence on Center Street. At that time the site, now so attractive and delightful, was desolate enough, being covered with stumps, through which wound a tortuous path to the forest just beyond. Mr. McEwan and his brother built and operated the first grist mill in the Saginaw Valley. Mr. McEwan has been active in building up the city. In 1869 he built a brick business block on Water Street, another on Center Street in 1875, and still another on Washington Street in 1881. The latter is an especially handsome building. Aside from these he has extensive real estate interests in the city and county. He has been connected with most of the public improvements that have been made in the county. He is president of the Bay City Gas Company at the present time.

John McEwan died in Bay City, January 26, 1882. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in the year 1825. In 1846 he married Miss Margaret Pollock, who still survives him. In 1848 they came to this country with the two brothers, William and Alexander. Upon reaching New York, he had an opportunity to take a voyage as engineer on the steamship "Unicorn," then about to start for California. He accepted the position, and was absent about two years.

In 1851 he settled in Lower Saginaw, his wife having come with William and Alexander. He then went into business as already stated, and continued it until his death. His wife and six children survive him. He was a prompt and successful business man.

The business is continued by three sons, William, John and Alexander, who are young men of excellent business habits, and successful in their operations.

W. L. Fay settled in Lower Saginaw in 1854, coming from New York State. Upon coming here he took an interest with Mr. George Lord in the lumber business, but in a short time went into the mercantile business with B. B. Hart. In 1860 he engaged in the manufacture of lumber with C. W. Grant, the firm being Grant & Fay. This firm continued until 1863, when the mill burned. Mr. S. G. M. Gates then purchased Mr. Grant's interest in the real estate, and the firm became Gates & Fay. The mill was rebuilt and the firm continued until about a year ago, when Mr. Fay, having accumulated a fortune, retired. Mr. Fay was president of the village in 1861, mayor of the city in 1868, and has held several other local offices. He is a native of Hamilton, Madison Co, , N. Y.

KicHAED Padley was born in England in 1824. Emigrated to the United States in 1852, coming direct to Bay City. He at first worked in saw mills and on a pile driver. In 1857 he bought a farm on the Tuscola plank road, which he worked, but did not live on it, residing in the city. Selling the farm, he went into the shingle business with the late Theodore Walker, continuing in it four or five years. He then again went into farming in the township of Bangor. He has built a number of houses in Bay City. Was one of the founders of Trinity Episcopal Society. Has been an alderman two terms, on school board two years, and a supervisor for seven years in all. Has a family of a wife and one daughter.

Joseph Teombley is a native of Quebec, and settled in Bay City in 1849. When a young man he learned the carpenter trade, and has followed it since coming here. In 1861 he built a frame dwelling on Center Street where the Cranage Block now stands, and in 1862 built five dwelling houses on Woodside Avenue. Mr. Trombley is of French descent, and has accumulated considerable property during his residence in Bay City. In 1874 he built a substantial brick block on the corner of Third and Monroe Streets, which he still owns. He has been an industrious man, and by his labor has contributed liberally and materially to the growth of the city. He owns several buildings in the^ city which are rented for dwellings and business purposes. He has a wife and four children. One of his daughters is an artist of considerable talent.

Pioneek Pastimes

If the coming generations of Bay City are led astray into a belief that their ancestry in the early days led a life of dreary monotony, said posterity will be mistaken. The region was desolate and uninviting enough to have inoculated the most robust system with melancholy, but the people who came in here were not of a despairing bind. Playing jokes, interspersed with a little fishing, would seem, from the traditions, to have been a leading industry. A man who hadn't the ingenuity to devise a joke of fair calibre might better move on to the next settlement than attempt to mingle with the activities of Lower Saginaw twenty-five or thirty 3^ears ago. The few remaining pioneers, whose hairs are already whitened, will even now renew their age in going over the humors of those times, while the names of " Jule" Hart and Harry Campbell stand out in bold relief in all the reminiscence of the early settlement. The following will serve to show the spice with which pioneer life was flavored :

How Loed Got Even With Hart

George Lord and Julius B. Hart owned fisheries on the Bay Shore contiguous to each other, where in proper seasons of the year, they caught and shipped to Detroit and other points, the results of their endeavors often realizing large amounts of money from successful seasons, and at other times enjoying (?) the discomforts of * 'fishermen's luck," generally. Both enjoyed, and each knew how to give and take a joke. One cold bright morning in the Fall of 18 - , the two met near the foot of Third Street, and after passing the compliments of the morning turned to separate, when Hart exclaimed, "By the way. Lord, I'd nearly forgotten; I was down to the shore this morning and Joe [Lord's foreman at the fishery told me to tell you that the fish were running like blazes, and he wanted you to send him down a lot of dressers [men to dress and pack fish,] salt and barrels." '*Thunder!" shouted Lord, *'is that so?" and away he sped to pick up all the adepts in dressing fish he could find, and in an hour his large boat was loaded with fish barrels, salt and men, ready to start for the shore, with Lord along to enjoy the rich harvest in prospect awaiting him. Just as the boat was shoved away from the dock to start on her trip. Hart came hurriedly to the dock with "Hold on. Lord, I've just heard from the shore again ; the fish have just stopped running, and Joe don't want anything more than he's got." Lord saw that he was sold; the boat was hauled to the dock and w^as unloaded, and with vengeance in his eye Lord went home studying revenge. Weeks passed by and the joke was almost forgotten by all who had enjoyed a hearty laugh at Lord's expense. Not so with the chief victim, however. His opportunity came at last. The saloon in the basement of the Wolverton House was the fashionable resort of that day, and looking in at the door one afternoon Lord spied Hart at the table wdth some friends, playing an innocent game of "penny ante." While he looked, an Indian entered with three muskrat skins, a commodity in which Hart dealt. "Ugh!"said Lo,"Jule Hart you buy um skins?" "Yes," was the response, "give^you ten cents; throw them over in that corner; here's your money." The Indian took the money, threw down the skins, and departed, at which Hart returned his attention to the game, which was becoming interesting. The skins were thrown back of Hart and directly under the window, which was near the floor. Lord reached in and carefully pulled out the skins, and just then another man came along who was owing Hart "one." Lord explained to him the situation and he at once got a Frenchman, who stretched the skins on shingles and took them down to Hart, w4io paid for them as before and ordered them thrown under the window. Lord w^as ready to fish them out, and his companion was hunting up parties to sell them again to Hart. It was but a few moments before a young boy entered the saloon and sold Hart a rat skin, throwing it into the corner as directed, and receiving his pay. The game went on, interrupted every few moments by a rat skin trade. Skins came in stretched on shingles, and on doubled twigs, and unstretched. Hart bought them all. At last the day was drawing to a close, and the game came to an end. Hart rose from the table remarking, "I've lost at the game, but I've bought a thundering pile of skins this afternoon,'' and he threw^ his gratified eye over toward the corner where his skins had been deposited. "WhewM" was his exclamation as but three skins met his vision, "who in thunder stole my skins !" Lord at the instant edging toward the door,remarked,"It has been almost as good a day for rats, as that morning was for fish, Jule." Hart saw that he was sold ; he had paid out about five dollars on three rat skins, and Lord was made disbursing officer, to see that the price of those skins was duly appropriated for the general good, in the manner common to those days.

Getting A Cheap Horse

One time wli^n Hart was coming down on the boat he noticed a stranger on board, who w^as dressed with unusual nicety, and who was evidently a stranger in this country. Hart managed to get into conversation with him, and soon they came in sight of a herd of Indian ponies feeding not far from the river. The stranger inquired who owned all those ponies. "0!" says Hart, "they belong to any one who will take the trouble to catch them." "What!" said the stranger, "can any one have one who wants?" "Certainly; all that is necessary is to go out and pick out what you want." The stranger thought he had indeed struck a fine country, and, after being assured by Hart that with the aid of two or three boys he could capture one, he settled down to the conviction that he would become the possessor of a steed. After landing he hunted up some boys and they proceeded to corner the ponies, but their Indian owners happened to be around and came near killing the too credulous stranger. He escaped with his scalp, but concluded^ he had better not have a horse in that way.

In early days when hotels were^scarce, new comers to the state of Michigan were forced to ask favors of the older settlers, which in these days would be looked, upon as the height of presumption. There was a young law^yer residing in the then small village of Lapeer, having but recently taken to himself a wife and commenced housekeeping. There was no hotel in the place, and travelers oft- . times made use of the lawyer's barn, [sometimes without so much as saying "by your leave." He had decided to remove to Bay City, and was making preparation to do so, when his barn was appropriated by a new comer to the neighborhood, who put a load of hay into the loft, and drove a cow into the yard to eat the hay. The evening before he left for Bay City, the lawyer was in "the store" of the viUage, and met the Rev. Mr. Smith, a Congregational minister (afterwards settled in East Saginaw), who had but recently taken charge of the little flock about Lapeer. As they conversed, Mr. Smith remarked, "I wish I could buy a good cow." "Do you w^ant a cow?" said the lawyer. "I'm; glad you mentioned it, for there's one up at my barn which I can't take away with me. You can have her, if you^will, and there's a load of hay in the barn to feed her with." Profuse were the thanks of the reverend gentleman at so munificent a bequest. "But," said the lawyer, "I must tell you about her. She is the most peculiar cow you ever saw. She must be milked before fiYQ o'clock in the morning or you can't get her to give down a drop of milk. "Well, I am an early riser," said the dominie ,'_^"I can milk her before five, as well as after." The lawyer moved to Bay City, and the minister was careful to milk his cow "before five o'clock" each morning, and a noble mess of milk she gave, and with liberality was the hay fed to her. Things went well for several days, until while milking one morning, the parson's ears were shocked with the profane expletives of a voice which called'him a thief, a robber, and sundry other pet names which to a minister was simply horrifying. "I've caught you at last, you hypocritical, thieving parson; preaching honesty to the people, ' and robbing your neighbors of his milking stool the parson faced the irate farmer, who for a time would give him no chance to get a word in edgewise. "But it's my cow," at last got in the parson; "the lawyer made me a present of * her, and of the hay in the barn, the night before he left." Explanations ensued, and as both realized the sell, both enjoyed a hearty laugli, and were good friends. The lawyer has become a prominent member of the Bay County bar, and has contributed liberally upon

One Winter he had a few cords of mixed wood piled in a field not far from the city, and an officer of one of the churches was doing some Winter begging, and knowing about this, asked the lawyer if he wouldn't let them have some for the minister. ''Why, yes, of course, you can have all you want. But I wiU tell you ; there's another pile of nice hard wood in the next field, and you may have the whole lot if you'll draw it off right away, for I want it out of the way." Now the pile of wood in the next field belonged to a well-to-do farmer, but the churchman didn't know that, and so ]3leased was he with the donation that he had it hauled to the minister's yard, forthwith. After a time the farmer went to haul the wood to market, but it had disappeared, and when he came to institute a search he found what the lawyer's burst of generosity had cost him.

His zeal in the promotion of rehgious interests did not seem to abate. At one time some Eastern parties had a lot of lumber piled up on the bank of the river. A new church was in process of construction, and one of the trustees meeting the lawyer one day, asked him if he wouldn't give them something toward building it. "Why, certainly," said he. "Now, there's a pile of lumber down on the river," describing the pile referred to, "and you may have the whole of it; but you must get it right away." Of course the trustee was delighted, and it wasn't long before that pile of lumber was upon the church grounds. When the owners came to look after their lumber it had been dedicated as well as appropriated; but whether they got trace of it or not, we do not know.

A Big Job Of Dentistry

Squa-conning Creek empties into the Saginaw Eiver but a short distance above Bay City, and further than to say that at its mouth is a creek of considerable size, we give no further description of it. Harry Campbell resided in early days at Saginaw City, and was noted as an inveterate w^ag and practical joker. Having returned from a visit to the Judge, of Bay City, Harry met a traveling dentist, who in his peregrinations had stumbled into the Saginaws, and was operating upon the mouths of the scattered settlers. "Doctor," said Harry, "I've just come up from the mouth of the river, and Squire Conning wanted me to send you down to fix up his mouth. It's a thundering big mouth and hasn't got a tooth in it." Elated with the prospect of a good job, the dentist jumped into a canoe (the only means of transit between the two places) and paddled to Portsmouth (now Seventh Ward, Bay City). Beaching there after eighteen miles of paddling, he made diligent inquiry for "Squire Conning," and his disgust may be better imagined than described, when he found that he had passed the Squire's mouth some miles up the river.

It is nowhere recorded that the flesh of a loon was ever made tender by the process of boiling, nor by any other process known to the science of cookery. Albe Lull, however, did not know^ this fact when he came to Portsmouth, and soon after he came, some of the epicures of the place incidentally mentioned to him that loons were choice eating, and very plenty. He told his wife one morning that they would have boiled loon for dinner that day, and he went out to the river and marketed a fine one. About 10 o'clock it w^as put over to boil, and not unwiUing to share a good thing with his friends, invited a neighbor to "come over" and have dinner w^ith them, as they were going to have loon. The neighbor was sorry he couldn't accept, but said he was going away and wouldn't be back in time. Noon came and Mr. Lull went to dinner, but his wife said that loon "wasn't anywhere near tender." Mr. Lull wasn't in much of a hurry and waited until about three o'clock, but still the loon was hke adamant. Then he said they would have it for supper. Night came, but the loon was as com^ placent and tough as when it began boiling in the morning. They had something else for supper, and concluded it must be an old one and would need more boiling. The next morning tlie kettle was placed upon the stove again and the boiling renewed. When he got home at noon and found no change, a great wonder grew upon him as to whether he wasn't "sold." He went quietly out in pursuit of enhghtenment. By that time it was generally known in the neighborhood what was going on in the culinary department of Mr. Lull's household, and he soon learned that if there was any impossibility greater than another in this world, it was to cook a loon. It was never again attempted in that household.

There was a man living here at an early day, whom "Jule" Hart was always playing his tricks upon, and vice versa. He hved up near what is now the corner of Twenty-third and Water Streets, on the mound which was quite an elevation in those days, but has since been graded down. His name was Thomas Stevenson. He was very fond of his whiskey, which he always bought by the barrel, as he used large quantities of it. On one occasion his barrel got empty and he was obliged to go to his friend "Jule" to get his jug filled with "Jule's" Indian whiskey. One day he came to "Jule" and said he did not want any more of his Indian whiskey as it was nothing but Saginaw wat^r, so he ordered a barrel from Detroit. In due time he got a letter saying the whiskey had been shipped to Lower Saginaw, (as Bay City was then called) in care of Juhiis B. Hart. Old Tom used to go down every day to see if his barrel of whiskey had come, but no whiskey was then to be found. In the meantime, "Jule" had old Tom's barrel of whiskey hid away in the back part of the warehouse, and had it tapped and was treating his friends. "Jule" told him he would give him all the whiskey he wanted for nothing until his barrel came. Finally, old Tom could stand Indian whiskey no longer, and he wrote to the parties in Detroit telling them his whiske/ had never come, they answered him that they had Juhus Hart's receipt for its delivery at his warehouse. Down he went with blood in his eye to see "Jule." "Well," says "Jule," "I might have overlooked it, but you come down town in an hour or two and I will look through the warehouse and try and find it." Away went Tom up town to play penny ante. It was not long after he had gone before the accustomed crowd came down to take a swig out of old Tom's barrel, when a council of war was held how to get out of the scrape, as old Tom would be back soon. Finally, "Jule" took an empty whiskey barrel and filled it with water, and marked on the head, " Thomas Stevenson, Lower Saginaw. " He had scarcely got it finished and had thrown something over it, when down comes old Tom swearing that he knew that the whiskey was there, when "Jule" met him at the door and said he had looked the warehouse over but could not find it. Tom said he knew better; he would go and look the warehouse over himself. He had not looked long before he came across the barrel of water, marked Thomas Stevenson, Lower Saginaw, when his rage knew no bounds, when he commenced at Jule, caUing him an old fool. "Here," says he, "is my barrel of whiskey all the time, and I have been drinking your poor Indian whiskey enough to kill me." So, off he went to get a team to take it to his house, a mile and a half off. There were no drays in those days. He finally, after some trouble, got it drawn up to his house, but how to get it down cellar was the next thing. He finally got some help, telhng them he would give them something good to drink - "no Saginaw water." They finally got it down cellar and tapped it, when old Tom drew a glass full and handed it to one of them. When the fellow had tasted it, he asked old Tom if he called that whiskey. '*Yes, you have drank Saginaw water so long, you fool, you don't know what good whiskey is!" "Well, try it yourself!" Tom tasted, and threw it on the floor, glass and all. Then there was trouble; the first thing he out of the cellar, put it on the wagon and started back for the warehouse, swearing all the way there, saying he would kill *^Jule." In the meantime, the crowd had taken their last drink out of old Tom's barrel, and filled it up with water and rolled it out where Tom could see it when he came back. The next thing was to hide *'Jule" away, or old Tom would kill him. It was not long before old Tom came back determined to kill "Jule," but they told him **Jule" had just gone down on the Bay to his fishery. "Well," says old Tom, "it is a lucky thing, or I would have killed him, sure !" It was a long time before peace was declared between old Tom and "Jule."

Too Big A Charge For The Game

There was plenty of good bear hunting in the woods where a large portion of Bay City now stands, twenty-five or thirty years ago. Jn those days Harry Campbell was a frequent and Hvely visitor. One time he came down to see the Judge, and have a little fun with the boys ; he had not been here very long when the Judge rushed into the house where Harry sat, toasting himself by the fire, and exclaimed to him: - ''Quick, Harry, there's a big bear just out in the woods!" Guns were always in readiness for sport, and it was but a few moments before Harry, led by his brother and one or two other friends, was hurrying through the stumps of the clearing which extended almost to Washington Street. Cautiously feeling their way through the woods, they reached a point not far from the present site of the court house, when Harry was shown the bear, which proved to be a very large coal black hog, belonging to the brother, his pilot. After a good laugh, the party wended its way back to the house. Harry watched his chance, by the way, to separate from the rest, and placed in the gun a charge of about six inches deep. On reaching the house the gun was carelessly placed in the corner, and the company about the fire indulged in a series of jokes and the enjoyment of a good time generally. Presently Harry left the house and went down to the river bank, about in the rear of the present Jennison Block, returning presently with the carelessly imparted information that there was "a thundering flock of ducks just settled in the river." ''We'll have some for supper," exclaimed his brother, seizing the gun from the corner, cautiously picked his way to a favorite log on the river bank, behind which he was accustomed to lay in wait for the feathered tribe. Harry and the rest of the company followed behind, and watched the sport. With the breech to his shoulder, and the barrel resting on the log, sportsman blazed away at the innocent ducks. It was hard to tell which end of the gun killed most. Sportsman fell back on the ground with his left hand to his right shoulder, in his agony, asking between paroxysms of pain, "What the thunder had got into that gun." "Why, you foolish fellow," said Harry, "you've been trying to shoot ducks with a bear charge." All present saw the point of the joke, and it is said joined in attempting to relieve the sufferer, by copious applications of whiskey internally and externally.

"I can lick any man in this city," said the bully, Jack Eobinson, as he strode into Gonder's place, where Park Block now is, in the Spring of 1860. "lam fighting Jack;.! am from Canady; I have fought my way all around, and there is no heathen in this country that can wallop me." Just then old Amos Culver,of Monitor, came over the river on the ferry with a load of charcoal. "Jule" Hart, knowing Culver's talents, and that he had in early life sailed on the raging canal, pointed out the famous Canadian to him and told him that Jack wanted to see him. Culver went up to the belligerent Canuck, and says, "Do you w^ant to see me, sir? I've got nothing but coal, but it is just fresh burned and all from the best of dried hard wood, nothing but body beech and maple. It is an extra lot. Never was such coal brought to market before. Want to buy ? Will haul it to any part of the city. Sell cheap ; only two shillings a bushel; will let you have another load if you want it." "Oh you d - d fool," said big Jack, "I don't want to buy any coal, but I want to fight." "Oh," said Culver, "Mr. Hart told me you wanted to buy coal." "Who's Hart," said Jack, "let me see Hart. I do want to see that man that sent that coal peddler to me." But Hart was no where to be found. Culver took up his whip and was about to start ofi' with his oxen and load of coal, when the bully returned and says, "You find Hart for me before you proceed." "Why, how you do talk," said Culver, starting up his oxen. Thereupon Canada Jack undertook to stop him, but Culver broke away from him and drove on. The fighter was encouraged to follow him, and did so, bragging and threatening all manner of hurts to poor Culver. He finally got in front of him, when crack, crack, went Culver's fists in his face. The bully was knocked down and kicked till he was used up, and then dragged himself to the side-walk, and sat down, trying to stop his nose from bleeding. When Culver took up his whip to drive off, he shouted to him, "Young man sit there till you learn better manners."

Pulling A Tooth

One day a stranger came into the settlement, and entering a place where were gathered a few of the early philanthropists, enquired if thjere was a doctor about who could pull a tooth. His face was swollen and he appeared to be suffering severely from toothache. They told him there was not a doctor around. But just then one of the party caught sight of some one of the professional tricksters, and told the stranger to wait a minute as the doctor was just coming. Calling the joker in, it was not difficult to make him understand what w^as on the programme. Assuming a wise expression of countenance, he told the stranger to sit in a chair that stood there. Then looking at his tooth, pronounced it a bad case, and he said he would have to tie his hands to the chair, as he was frequently troubled by patients seizing hold of the instrument. Making his hands secure to the rounds of the chair, he then took his pocket knife and ploughed around the tooth, curing the tooth -ache by inflicting greater pain. He then took a piece of wood and crowded it between the patient's jaws to keep his mouth open, as he explained that they frequently would shut their jaws together on his instruments. Having securely gagged and bound the unsuspecting victim, the pretended doctor said he would have to run up stairs and get his instruments. Off he went, and there being back stairs leading from the second story, he made his exit and visited another part of town. One by one the occupants of the place had sauntered out, and the prisoner was left alone to wait and think. The result of his thinking was, in the course of time, a conclusion that he had been victimized. Tradition says, in a general way, that he got mad and finally broke loose, but did not afterwards seek the services of a Lower Saginaw dentist.

A volume might be filled with early day jokes, but the foregoing will give the key to the music of life among the early settlers. Separated from surrounding civilization, they constituted a world by themselves ; and while privileges have multiplied with development, it would be difficult to convince a pioneer that his real enjoyment.

has been increased. The hearty ringing laugh has dwindled away to a feeble though artistic smile, and the vigorous shake of the hand has been superseded by a languishing touch of finger tips. Manifold have been the changes both in the physical features of the place and ' in its social life. Unseemly shapes have been rounded into artistic figures, and tortuous lines have become graceful curves. Most of the old landmarks are gone, and soon the stories of those early scenes will no longer be told by any who participated in them.

Municipal Okganization

Bay City was incorporated as a village in the Winter of 1859, by an act of the Legislature. A number of saw mills had been established and the dawn of still greater prosperity was just breaking. ' The physical beauty of the place, however, was but little improved. The place was well supplied with churches and schools. The population of the village, at the date of its incorporation, was about 700 souls, the United States census of 1860 showing a population in the entire of Bay County, of only 1,519. This population was engaged principally in lumbering and fishing, this latter industry comprising a no mean proportion of the exports from the village, while the excellent adaptation of the soil of the county to agricultural purposes, had not yet attracted very general attention or interest. The first election under the village charter occurred on the 2nd day of May, A. D., 1859, at Birney Hall, on Water Street, Calvin C. C. Chillson and Doctor Lewis Fuchsius, being judges of the polls, with Albert Wedtlioff, clerk of the Board. At this election 155 votes were cast for the office of president, Curtis Munger being elected by ninety-two votes, against sixty-three cast for George Lord, and J. S. Barclay. Charles Atwood w^as elected to fill the office of recorder; John F. Cottrell, as treasurer; Albert Miller, James J. McCormick, Henry W. Jennison, Israel Catlin, Henry M. Bradley and Harmon A. Chamberlin, trustees. The first meeting of the council was held in a room over the store of Jennison Bros., at the foot of Fifth Street, on May 6, 1859. At a meeting of the Board on the 23rd of May, John A. Weed was appointed village marshal; Henry M. Bradley street commissioner, and Algernon S. Munger and William Daglish, assessors. Among the first acts of the village trustees w^as the ordering of sidewalks on Washington Street, from First to Tenth Street, and the opening of Jefferson and Madison Streets, north of Center Street. At a meeting held May 30th, both of the gentlemen -who had been appointed village assessors having declined to act, A. G. Sinclair, and Charles D. Fisher were appointed; Mr. Sinclair declining,Mr. Henry Raymond was appointed in his place June 6th. At a meeting June 3d, the salary of the village attorney was fixed at $75 per year, and James Birney was appointed as the legal adviser of the Board. On June 27th, a general tax for village purposes of $1,047 and a highway tax of one-half of 1 per cent was certified toby the assessors. On December 19, 1859, a committee on fire department was instituted, consisting of Israel Catlin, H. M. Bradley and H. A. Chamberlin, who on January 4, 1860, were instructed "to rent a sufficient amount of leather hose to use until Spring, and to procure a triangle for the use of the hose house." This seems to have been the germ whence sprang the present excellent fire department.

A Chartered City

The year 1860 called into existence new elements of prosperity and new forces combined to work out the problem of development. At the beginning a census was taken, which fixed the population of Bay City at 810. It was in the Spring of this year that steps were taken toward the manufacture of salt. The Bay City and Tuscola plank road was completed a distance of twelve miles, and became a highway of great importance to Bay City. The next four or five years were attended with great prosperity, and by 1865 the population had increased to 3,359. In the Winter of 1865 a city charter was granted by the Legislature, and the organization of the city was accomplished in the Spring, the city being divided into three wards.

A charter election was held on the first Monday of April, and the following officers elected: - Mayor, Nathan B. Bradley; recorder, Williai^n T. Kennedy, Jr. ; treasurer, Ernst Frank. The board of aldermen consisted of the following named citizens: - First Ward, George W. Hotchkiss, and Jerome B. Sweet; Second Ward, Alexander M. Johnson and Jeffrey E. Thomas; Third Ward, James Watson and Herschel H. Hatch. On April 11th the bonds of the treasurer were fixed at f 3,000. Thomas Carney, Sr., was elected street commissioner; Theophilus C. Grier was elected city attorney; C. Feige, city marshal; Andrew Huggins, city surveyor. The new council rapidly got themselves into working order, but no event of moment is found on the records until September 12th, when, in accordance with the decision of the citizens expressed at a special election, a Silsby steam fire engine was ordered to be purchased, which was done - the steamer being accepted by resolution, adopted November 18, 1865. On September 30th, the council determined that the sum of $4,997.47 would be needed for city purposes for the ensuing year. The valuation of city property on the assessment roll of this, the first year of the city organization, was $633,000.

According to the original plat of Lower Saginaw, the boundaries w^ere the Prairie Eoad (now Woodside Avenue) on the nortR ; a line 400 feet south of Tenth Street on the south ; Van Buren Street on the east, and the Saginaw Eiver on the w^est.

When the village of Bay City was incorporated, the southern boundary was changed to the section line, which is near Twentythird Street. This w^as evidently a blunder, for a narrow^ strip of land was left between that line and the north boundary of Portsmouth, that was without a municipal habitation. This was afterwards remedied by extending the southern boundary of Bay City to Twenty-fourth Street, and there it remained until Portsmouth was annexed to Bay City in 1873.

Fiest Mayor Of Bay City

Nathan B. Bradley was born in the town of Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., May 28, 1831. Like many other representative men of Michigan, he is descended from one of three brothers who emigrated from England at a very early day, and settled in Massachusetts. William Bradley, the father of Nathan Bradley, was born in that state, and carried on the tanning business there up to the year 1835, when he removed with his family to the state of Ohio, and settled on what was called the Western Reserve. Here Nathan attended the common schools, and worked on his father's farm until he was sixteen. At this time he learned the trade of a custom clothier; but after three years of hard work, believing he could engage in something? that would prove more lucrative, he abandoned it. In the year 1849 he went to Wisconsin and found employment in a saw mill in the pine regions, where he was engaged for one year. He returned to Ohio in 1850, and in the following year, in cornestion with an older brother, built a mill, which they run with satisfactory results until 1852. Mr. Bradley then removed to Lexington, Mich., beheving that that state afforded better advantages for the manufacture of lumber. He was engaged at Lexington for three years, until he had cut the pine land which he had purchased. In 1855 he removed to the Saginaw^ Valley, and settled at St. Charles, where he was engaged in managing the affairs of Frost & Bradley, manufacturers of lumber. In 1858 he went to Bay City, purchased a mill, and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber until 1864. In that year he erected works, and commenced the manufacture of salt, w^hich he has since carried on in connection wdth his lumber interests. Mr. Bradley has always taken a lively interest in all public enterprises of this city. In the Winter of 1864-'65 he, in behalf of himself and others, made apphcation for a charter to build a street raihvay. He was successful in obtaining the right, and filled the position of secretary, treasurer, and managing director for several years. In the year 1865, when the city received its charter, Mr. Bradley was elected first mayor. In the Fall of 1866 he was elected to the state Senate, and served faithfully for one term. The interests of his district were so well served that he was offered a renomination, but, on account of his increasing business, was compelled to dechne. In the Fall of 1872 he was elected to the Forty-third Congress. He served on the committee on public lands, and was eminently successful in obtaining appropriations for dredging the channel of the Saginaw River and harbors in his district, two very important measures. He well deserves the honor accorded him for the vigilance and labor he bestowed in getting these appropriations. He was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress, and served on the committee on claims. His congressional record during both terms was one of honor. Mr. Bradley secured the friendship and kind regards of the members, and also the commendations of the public for the distinguished ability with which he served his district during the exciting contest at the last session of the Forty-fourth Congress over the electoral count. Although taking no active part in the discussion upon the pending question, he watched its progress with deep interest, and when the electoral biU was reported from the joint committee, was the first of the Michigan delegation to declare himself in favor of the measure. He adhered to this decision, and voted for its passage, beheving it to be the only peaceful method for settling the important question. Many of his colleagues differed from him, and voted against the bill. During the existence of the Saginaw and Bay City Salt Company he was a member of the executive committee, a director of the Michigan Salt Association. In January, 1867, he associated himself in partnership with B. E. Warren, in the banking business. When the First National Bank of Bay City was to be re-organized he became one of the principal stockholders, and was appointed its vice-president, which position he held for a number of years. Mr. Bradley joined the Masons in 1853; he is a member of the Bay City Commandery of Knights Templar; and a charter member of Bay City Lodge and Blanchard Chapter; he is presiding officer of each. He attends the Presbyterian Church. While no politician, in the narrow sense, he takes an active interest in public affairs, finding in the creed of the Republican party the expression of his views. Mr. Bradley possesses many of the true elements of success, with great force of character, business integrity, and benevolence. He has the esteem and confidence of the entire community, and has acquired an ample fortune.

Present City Officers

City Officers for 1883-'84. - Mayor, Thomas A. E. Weadock; treasurer, Charles Babo; recorder, T. A. Delzell; city attorney, John E. Simonson.

Aldermen. - W. B. Clark and William Kennedy, First Ward; R. P. Gustin and John McEwan, Second Ward; G. Hine and George E. Aiken, Third Ward; Samuel Kaichen and Edward Wood, Fourth Ward; H. M. Wright and J. L. Reid, Fifth Ward; W. H. Trombley and Henry Selleck, Sixth Ward; W. A. Beebe and D. J. Kennedy, Seventh Ward.

Peesent Mayoe Of Bay City

Thomas A. E. Weadock, present mayor of Bay City, was born at Ballygarret, Ireland, January 1, 1850. His parents emigrated to America in 1850, and settled at St. Marys, Ohio, where his father died in 1863, and his mother in 1876. His early education was acquired at the district and union schools in St. Marys. In 1871, having earned some money at school teaching, he entered the law school of Michigan University, where he graduated Bachelor of Laws, March 26, 1873, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Courts of Michigan and Ohio the same year.

In 1877 he was appointed prosecuting attorney for Bay County by Judge Green, and served with credit to himself until 1879. In 1880 he was elected a member of the American Bar Association.

Ireland, her history, and the oppressions she has suffered, have always interested him. At the organization of the Bay City Land League he was elected president, and has held that office since by successive elections. He was a delegate to the Irish National Convention at Chicago, and he is president of the St. Patrick's Society.

Churches And Church History

"Fifty years ago there were about 100 inhabitants between the northern limits of Oakland County and the Straits of Mackinaw. At that time my residence was in the settlement of Grand Blanc, better known then by its French pronunciation 'Graw Blaw,' (Big White,) the name given by the French settlers of Detroit on account of its having formerly been the place of residence of a big white savage.

"The first sermon I heard in Michigan was delivered by a presiding elder from the Ohio Conference. His name was Gilruth, - a large, portly man, with all the characteristics of an old-time Methodist minister. That was in 1831, and I think the first sermon preached in that settlement. In 1832 Charles and John Butler- resided in the southern part of the Grand Blanc settlement, (they had been connected with a Congregational Church in Western New Y^'ork.) and in the Summer of that year the people gathered on Sabbath afternoons at the house of one of the brothers to hear a sermon read and prayer offered. In the Summer of 1833 Rev. James F. Davison, of the Methodist connection, preached occasionally in the settlement. During that same Summer a Congregational Church was organized, which was the first church organization between Pontiac and the Straits of Mackinaw.

"In 1833 I removed from Genesee County to Saginaw, but I believe the first church organization after the one at Grand Blanc was a Congregational Church in 1836, at Mount Morris, six miles north of Flint. The place was then called the Coldwater settlement, on account of the strict temperance principles of the people. About that time a Presbyterian Church was organized at Flint. The Methodist Episcopal Church had a preaching station at Flint, but I believe no church organization till after the ones above referred to.

"In the Summer of 1833, the Ohio Methodist Episcopal Conference attempted to estabhsh a missionary station among the Indians at Saginaw, and also to furnish preaching for the white settlers at that point. They sent out a smart young minister named Frazee, well educated, a fluent speaker, and who was fond of a good horse, as I believe most Methodist ministers are. Mr. Frazee met with a rather cool reception among the Indians; the traders did not encourage them at all in the matter of having teachers among them, telling them that their business was hunting, not looking at papers, as they expressed the art of studying. At one time, after preaching on a Sabbath at a white settlement on the Tittabawassee, Mr. Frazee was inquired of as to his congregation. He said there were some women present, but the men he believed had all gone hunting. After visiting Saginaw once or twice, he found that the besetting sin of a portion of the people was selling whiskey to the Indians, and on one occasion in his sermon he boldly denounced such practices, which caused as great an uproar, in a small way, as Paul's preaching at Ephesus did; for like Demetrius and his followers, they knew that *by this craft they got their wealth.' During the night, after the sermon, 'certain lewd fellows of the baser sort' entered the stable where the minister's horse was kept, and sheared the hair from the animal's mane and tail. In passing through the country on his return the horse displayed a prominent sign of the depravity of human nature. The next minister that came to the Saginaw Circuit, was the Rev. William H. Brockway, a young man particularly well adapted to his work, and subsequent years have shown him well adapted to other positions in life than a pioneer missionary. Mr. Brock way mingled freely with the people, assisting them in whatever labor they were engaged in. He would rebuke every sinful practice that came within his knowledge, in such a way as to give no offence, thereby gaining the respect of the people and doing much to check the evils of profanity, drunkenness and Sabbath breaking. I recollect on an occasion of a quarterly meeting he preached in the 'messhouse,' attached to the American Fur Company's trading house, to a congregation of about twenty, not one of whom was a professor of rehgion, and the collection amounted to |17. Mr. Brockway left Saginaw early in 1836, and his immediate successors did not fill his place. After the Indian title to the land in the vicinity of Saginaw had been extinguished, and before it was offered for sale by the United States Government, the locality was visited by Dr. Charles Little, of Avon, N. Y. He was greatly pleased with the country and had great faith in the future of the Saginaw Valley. Dr. Little made some choice selections of land in the vicinity of the Fort, at Saginaw, and on his return to Detroit left money at the land office to purchase land w4ien it should be offered for sale.

"Rev. H. L. Miller, who married a daughter of Dr. Little's, came with his family in 1836, to reside permanently at Saginaw. There was a great accession to the population during that season, and in the Fall a Presbyterian Church was organized, which was presided over for the next two years by Mr. Miller as pastor, during w^hich time a marked improvement was made in the religious and social status of the people.

"In December, 1838, a series of meetings were held at Saginaw by the Rev. 0. Parker, under the- auspices of the Presbyterian Church. There w^ere a number of conversions and several accessions to the church at the next communion season. Among the number were the late Dr. George Davis and wife, myself, wife and wife's sister. Rev. C. C. Foote preached for the church during that Winter. There were times when the church was without a minister, but when there was no preaching, worship was kept up by reading a sermon on the Sabbath, and I believe the Sunday-school was a live institution from its organization. Rev. Harvey Hyde supplied the church in 1842 and 1843, or thereabout. He was a strong Congre- gationalist, and prevailed on the younger members of the church to change its government and connection from Presbyterian to Congregational. I well remember that Hiram L. Miller, who was present when the vote was taken, refused to unite with the new organization, and stated that he felt that it would be his duty to organize a Presbyterian Church as soon as one could be sustained. The church remained in the Congregational connection for a time, but did not prosper much. About the same time I took another move away from church and social privileges - coming to Portsmouth to reside, when there were only four or five families within a mile of us. There were a few families living then at Lower Saginaw who had so far advanced in civilization as to build a small schoolhouse about twenty feet square, which, I believe, now stands connected with another building near the corner of First and Washington Streets. A successful mission among the Indians had been established, and as a result many Indians had been converted from heathenism to Christianity. I recollect an incident in my travels in 1846, while far up the Tittabawassee looking for pine land. I had started from my camp at daylight, and while paddling my canoe down the river, about sunrise, my ears were greeted with music, and I was ne^er more charmed by its sound than while listening to a familiar hymn tune sung in the wilderness by a family of Indians at their morning devotions. The Eev. Mr. Brown, the Methodist missionary at Kawkawlin, preached occasionally in the little schoolhouse at Lower Saginaw% when the people at Portsmouth had the privilege of attending religious worship by walking two or three miles over a rough road, which privilege some of them almost invariably availed themselves of. The first church that was built in the Valley and dedicated to the worship of God was the missionary church at Kawkawlin.

"In 1850 and 1851, the firm of Russell, Miller & Crowl were engaged in the lumber business at Portsmouth, employing a number of men, many of whom had temporary residences for their families. The resident members of the firm desiring some religious privileges for their families and for those in their employ, in the Fall of 1850 hired Rev. B. N. Paine, a young man belonging to the Wesleyan Methodist connection, to come to Portsmouth and preach. His first sermon was delivered in the cabin of a propeller that had come to that point for lumber. Soon afterwards a rough building, 20x30 feet on the ground, was erected and formally dedicated to the worship of God. The building was afterwards enlarged and improved for a schoolhouse, and was used for school and religious purposes till the new schoolhouse (the one that was burned) and the Baptist Church were built. Mr. Paine did not remain long at Portsmouth, and after he left, the house above referred to was open for all denominations to preach in, and was for some years a regular preaching station for the Methodists. During the revival of 1857-'58 it was the scene of many rich spiritual blessings. In the Spring of 1851 I was staying over night at the Northern Hotel, at Flint, where the office of the Flint and Saginaw stage was kept. In the evening a very fine looking young man came in and engaged a passage for the next day to Saginaw, saying that he would be found at Mr. Atterbury's, the Presbyterian clergyman. At that time triweekly stages were able to do all the passenger business between Saginaw and the outside world. The plank road was not completed, and a passage from Flint to Saginaw was anything but pleasant; and it was a wonder to some of his fellow passengers what should call the young man to Saginaw at that time when the roads w^ere so bad. It was suggested to him on the way that there must be some female attraction at Saginaw. I afterwards became acquainted with the young man, (who was none other than the Rev. D M. Cooper,) and knew him long as the beloved pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Sasrinaw."

The conclusion of Judge Miller's reminiscence relates particularly to the organization of the Presbyterian Society, and appears in that connection.

After the first schoolhouse was built, just south of where the Detroit & Bay City passenger depot now stands, religious services were held there, conducted by Hon. James G. Birney, who was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

Methodist Episcopal Chueches

Methodism in Bay City held its first organized class in 1887, consisting of Mrs. Belinda Barney, Mr. and Mrs. Raby, and J. Crutchfield. Of these the first named yet retains an honored place in the church. Occasional preaching services were held here before that date, and for some years after by ministers from Flint and the Saginaw mission.

FiKST Methodist Episcopal Church OF Bay City. - In 1852, at the annual conference held in Niles, Bishop Levi Scott presiding, George Bradley was assigned to Lower Saginaw. He was the first Methodist minister appointed.to this charge. During his ministry in 1852-'53 the society was fully organized, and the present church building erected on Washington Street. This has been enlarged " and modified from time to time, and with such improvements as were imperatively called for, has faithfully served its purpose as a place of worship for thirty years.

On the 5th of September, 1859, William Benson recorded in the county clerk's office the appointment of Calvin C. C. Chilson, Henry M. Bradley, Henry M. Stillman, John J. Nichols, and A. G. Sinclair trustees in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church. This is the first board of trustees of which there is official record.

Difficulties, many of them peculiar to the early settlements of the Saginaw Valley, others common to all localities, have been encountered and overcome in the years past. The church has steadily gained in strength and numbers. Within the territory formerly occupied by this charge there are now four Methodist churches, each working in its own sphere. Ten years ago this charge reported* 145 members. If none had died or removed or backslidden there would to-day be 506,but deaths, removals, with and without letters, and other causes have reduced this to 230.

Saginaw as it then was, and held rehgious service. In 1858 he was succeeded by Kev. John Horst, and his colleague, Eev. Jacob Braun, who continued their labors until the close of 1859. Eev. H. Manz had charge of the field in 1860-'61, and then Eev. A. Mayer officiated from 1862 to 1864. Various other pastors followed, and the society grew in numbers and strength, and about 1867 a church edifice was erected on Adams Street, between ^Eighth and Ninth Streets. This society has shared the general growth and prosperity of the city in which it is located, and has a large membership. The present pastor is Eev. John Schneider.

The Fremont Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1864, although rehgious services were held at Portsmouth several years before. As early as 1855, Eev. Isaac Cogshall used to preach in Low^er Saginaw and Portsmouth. In 1865 the present church edifice was dedicated. . The church was built under the superintendence of Eev. Wilham Fox. The present pastor is Eev. 0. J. Perrin, and the membership is 115. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 200. John Simons is superintendent. During the last three years about f 1,500 have been expended in repairs on the building. The present official board consists of Albert Miller, George Lewis, Nelson Merritt, J. McKinney, Hiram Marbol, M. A. Eose, C. D. Fisher, John Simons, and J. S. Smart,

The Woodside Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1873, and Eev. A, B. Clough was the first pastor. This society was organized to accommodate members of this denomin- - ation living in the north part of the city. The church edifice was erected in 1876, but was not dedicated until the present year. The membership is twenty-eight. Present pastor, Eev. H. G. Persons. Trustees, James E. Like, Oscar Carter, Henry Lockwood, Wilham Sharp, and W. Teall.

Trinity Episcopal Church

This church owes its estabhshment first to the Fitzhugh family, Mr. W. D. Fitzhugh having been the earhest leader in the society, and his wife the first communicant. The first male communicant was Israel Cathn. The first services were conducted in 1850, by Eev. (deacon) Joseph Adderly, missionary at Saginaw City. Next came Eev. Daniel B. Lyon, from the same place, and held services about half a dozen times up to 1852. The first regular services were by Eev. Yoltaire Spaulding, who became a missionary to this whole region, with headquarters at Saginaw City.

The first corporation was made March 4, 1854, under the title of Trinity Church, Lower Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Mich. The corporators were: - Henry Eaymond, Israel Catlin, Daniel Burns, John Drake, George E. Smith, E. S. Catlin, J. S.- Barclay, B. B. Hart, Henry Young, C. Munger, H. H. Alvord, H. H. Chapman, James Hays, and Eichard Padley.

Eev. Mr. Spaulding presided at the organization, and Col. Henry Eaymond was^ secretary; Israel Catlin w^as elected senior warden, and Eichard Padley junior warden; Curtis Munger, George F. Smith, B. B. Hart, Daniel Burns, J. S. Barclay, Henry Eaymond, Thomas Carney, and Hiram F. Ferris, vestrymen.

Mr. Spaulding departed in June, 1858, and from that time until May, 1860, the parish was without a pastor. At the time Mr. Spaulding resigned his charge there were five communicants belonging to the church.

During this inter regnum the few churchmen were not idle. One of the best plats allotted by the original patentees to the church was selected, and through the efforts of Messrs. Israel Cathn, Charles Fitzhugh, and Henry Eaymond, a church edifice was erected, and dedicated by the Et. Eev. Samuel A. McCoskey, May 10, 1860. During the same month, Eev. Edward Magee took charge of the parish, giving it every other Sunday, and receiving $300 per year as salary. Next year Mr. Magee devoted his entire time to this parish. His ministry of a year and a half shows a record of fourteen baptisms, six confirmations, one marriage and two burials. The number of communicants at this time was twenty. For a year after this date, or until November 24, 1862, the parish was again vacant, and then Eev. Gilbert B. Haven came to its charge. During his ministry seven were confirmed, and ten were received from abroad, making the number of communicants August 1, 1863, about thirty-seven. Eev. A. M. Lewis was called to the rectorship October 1, 1863. He remained two years, during which the church building was enlarged, at a cost of |1,200, and fifty-four were baptized, twenty-six were confirmed, seven were married, and there were thirteen burials. From abroad, twenty-four were received into the church, making the number of communicants sixty-five. On the 19th of January, 1866, the Eev. Fayette Eoyce was called to the rectorship, entered upon the duties at the latter end of the March following, and resigned November 1, 1868.

Eev. John Wright became rector April 11, 1869. The church had previously undergone a third extension at an expense of |2,100. Gas had been introduced, the chancel enlarged, a hbrary room added, and the interior of the building thoroughly renovated. The expense was paid mainly by the Ladies' Aid Society, which raised in one year |1,200. Mr. Wright resigned January 25, 1874, and removed to Boston, Mass.

The present membership is 175. Theofiicers are as follows: - Eector, Eev. A. A. Butler; wardens, Israel Cathn, Thomas Cranage, Jr.; vestrymen, John Drake, G. K. Jackson, Charles Maloine, Orrin Bump, Frederick Browne, Wilham Keith, B. E. Warren, F. L. Gilbert.

Emanuel Eeformed Episcopal Church, of South Bay City, was organized March 4, 1881. C. H. Freeman, Wilham Ballance, Israel Harding, and Hiram Leaver were among the leaders in its organization. This church was the outgrowth of a Sunday-school, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Freeman for several years. The school was very prosperous, and was first held at the house of Mr. Harding while a chapel was being built. Mrs. Freeman, who devoted herself to the interests of this school with untiring zeal, was instrumental in securing funds for the building of a chapel which was completed in 1878, Mrs. Freeman digging with her own hands the first post-hole and setting the first post. Since that time services have been held in the chapel, and in 1881 the church organized as" above stated. The service is conducted each alternate Sunday by Eev. James Ward, of Detroit, who comes here for that purpose, receiving for his labors but little more than the amount of his actual expenses. The society has a membership of about thirty and a large Sunday-school.

Lutheran Societies

The Evangelical Lutheran Bethel Church was organized October 31, 1852, under the title of the German Bethel Lutheran Society of Lower Saginaw, by Eev. J. Ehrhardt, who was the first pastor of the church. H. C. Hsge, I. T. Westpeinter and H. MoUer were chosen and ordained presiding elders.

small church buildmg was erected and dedicated by Rev. C. Volz in March, 185f). This building was soon afterwards enlarged. Mr. Volz resigned in 18S9, and the society was without a pastor until 1861, when Rev. F. W. Spentler came and remained until 1863. Rev. John Haas was his successor, and he resigned in June, 1865. His successor was the Rev. W. Reuther, who took charge September 11, 1865. In the Spring of 1866, a new church was built and the first building was removed to the rear, behind the parsonage. The new church was dedicated June 16, 1867. The old building was used as a parochial school, attended to by Rev. W. Reuther. In June, 1871, the church was supplied with three bells. October 2^, 1871, the church building and schoolhouse were destroyed by fire. This hard misfortune induced the congregation to sell the old church ground and to buy the present place, three lots on the corner of Madison and Eighth Streets. A beautiful brick church was erected on this place. The dimensions of the building are 95x42 feet, with a steeple 150 feet high, supplied with two finetoned bells. In connection with the church a new parsonage was built as a dwelling for the j)astor of the church. The new church was dedicated November 25, 1872, by Rev. W. Reuther, and officers of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Michigan and other states, of which body the congregation is a member. Rev. Mr. Reuther remained pastor of the church until about a year ago, when he was succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. 0. W. Wiest. The society is in a very prosperous condition.

The Geeman Lutheean Emanuel Chuech dates back to tlie year 1854, Rev. F» Sievers, of Frankenlust, the pioneer of Lutheran ministers in this section, being the founder. By him the little flock was served in connection with St. Paul's Society at Frankenlust for a period of eleven years. In 1865 Rev. I. C. Himmler took charge of the society, then numbering about twenty voting members. In the Autumn of 1867, Rev. Himmler severed his connection with the society by accepting a call to another field of labor. When he left there were about twentyfive voting members, and the property of the society consisted of the lot on the northwest corner of Sixth and Madison Streets, with a small church building of 18x30 feet and a schoolhouse upon it. In July, 1868, after a vacancy of nine months, the charge was filled by the present pastor. Rev. I. H. P. Partenfelder, a graduate of the Lutheran Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, Mo. The number of voting members at present is about one lumdred. In 1873, the church building having become too small, an addition 22x30 feet was made. The building is now lighted by gas, contains two bells and a pipe organ. Besides this, the society has a property on the southeast corner of Sixth and Monroe Streets, two lots with a valuable parsonage and a schoolhouse upon them. It also supports its own school teacher. The form of church government is congregational, like that of the General Lutheran Mission Synod, whereof Emanuel Congregation is a member. Rev. I. H. P. Partenfelder is pastor.

Fiest Peesbyteeian Chuech

"In 1855 the population of Lower Saginaw and Portsmouth had increased so much that it was thought advisable to make a move towards hiring a Presbyterian minister to locate at Lower Saginaw. A subscription paper was circulated and $300 was subscribed towards supporting a minister for one year, expecting the Home Missionary Society would pay the balance of a necessary salary. The late Mr. William Jennison, father of Charles E. Jennison, was the prime mover in starting the subscription.

One or two parties had looked the ground over in 1855, but no one had accepted the proposition of the people. In the Spring of 1856, while at East Saginaw on business, I was introduced to the Rev. L. I. Root, who had been invited to visit that town with a view of organizing a church. In conversation with Mr. Root, I learned that he could not entertain the proposition of the people of East Saginaw for a moment, the people there desiring a Congregational Church, and he could only work in Presbyterian harness. I invited him to Lower Saginaw to look over the ground there. In a day or two he came, accompanied by Mr. Cooper. After weighing the matter carefully and prayerfully, he determined to come ; and about the first of May, 1856, he arrived with his family, and commenced his labors.

September 5, 1856, the church was formally organized under the title of the "First Presbyterian Church of Lower Saginaw." The original members of this church numbered eight, as follows: - Albert Miller, Mary Ann Miller, Abigail Smith, Frances T. Root, Jesse Calkins, Angeline Miller, Mary E. Trombley, and Nancy M. Hart.