Bay County, Michigan - The whole text, 1883 (part 7 of 20)

Of these persons, Albert Miller, Mary A. Miller and Abigail Smith are still members of this church. Albert Miller was chosen and ordained deacon, and in December, 1857, Leon Trombley, Jr., was chosen to the same office. The church was without a session until June, 1858. At that time Albert Miller and Scott W. Sayles were elected and ordained as elders.

During its twenty- seven years the church has had two pastors, and one stated supply. Mr. Root was installed by the Presbytery of Saginaw in November, 1858, and resigned in February, 1860.

The church worshipped during its first years in the schoolhouse, wiiich stood at the north end of Washington Street, where all public meetings were for many years held. Afterwards its meetings were in a public hall, and for a time in the court room. In 1861 an edifice was erected, and in the midst of a communion service, soon after its dedication, it took fire and was consumed.

A new edifice was at once entered upon, and the present building was completed, and its dedication took place on the 25th of December, 1863. The church is of wood, and was originally 40x70 feet in size upon the ground and afforded sittings for 400 persons.

Rev. J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., was called as the pastor of the church in April, 1865, and commenced his labors on the first Sabbath of May following. He was installed by the Presbytery of Saginaw, on the 23d of November of the same year.

The lecture room was built in the Autumn of 1868, and the main building was enlarged, with a tier of pews on each side, in the Autumn of 1872. The pews now number 116, and with the orchestra will seat 650 persons.

The church grew, while it had a minister, from the beginning. In the first nine years of its life it had enrolled ninety-four members, of whom fifty-six united upon profession of their faith. At the close of the nine years its members, as returned to the General Assembly, numbered eighty. Its resident membership was about forty.

In 1870 the chapel, at Twenty-Third Street, was built at a cost of $1,500, and has since been enlarged and furnished at an expense of $500 more. In 1875 the organ was purchased and other improvements added.

J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., the present pastor, is a man who has had, and still bears an important part in the religious and educational work of his time. He was born at Floyd, Oneida County, N. Y., September 12, 1811. His parents were poor, and his struggle with the world began at fche age of six years, when he first left home. He worked his way in the world, and at the age of eighteen years, began the study of law at Bennington, Vt. While there he became converted and determined to enter the ministry. In 1836 he graduated from Williams College, and in 1841 was admitted to the practice of law at Eockford, 111. From that time until 1855 he was engaged in editorial work, a portion of the time on the Chicago Tribune, In April, 1855, he was licensed to preach, and entered upon ministerial labors. In 1865 he settled in Bay City, as already stated, and here he has built up a strong and harmonious church. In 1876, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Williams College. His contributions to the press have been frequent and able. As a writer and thinker he has come to occupy a prominent position.

Baptist Societies

The Fremont Avenue Baptist Church is the successor of the Firsh Baptist Society in what is now Bay City. The society was organized at the house of Jesse N. Braddock, long since dead, in 1858, and was called the First Baptist Church of Portsmouth and Bay City. There were fourteen constituent members of whom seven were Braddocks. From the first the history of this society has been one of heroic struggle, and but for the Christian zeal of a few of its members, would not have survived. The first deacons were Jesse N. Braddock and W. H. Currey, and the former was the first superintendent of the Sabbath-school. The first clerk was E. B. Braddock, and the early records of the church were destroyed when his store was burned. For several years services were held alternately at Portsmouth and Bay City. In 1859 the present church edifice was built. The names of pastors who have served the society are Eevs. Handy, Cornelius, Johnson, Hooker, Eobinson, Whittemore, Holmes, Fraser and the present pastor, Eev. J. C. Eooney, who began his labors with the society in the Spring of 1880. Early in 1863 the population of Bay City had so far increased that the members of the society living there felt inclined to have a church of their own, and a division of the society was made which greatly weakened the original organization. The present membership is reported at 103, and the present deacons are Ehas Stevens and E. H. Eeynolds.

The First Baptist Church of Bay City was organized at Birney Hall, in July, 1863, by twenty-seven members who had withdrawn for that purpose from the society at Portsmouth. Services had been held in the court house and Birney Hall, and these were continued until the following August, w^hen a neat church edifice was built on Washington Street, and almost entirely the gift of James Fraser, was finished and dedicated.

The first pastor was Eev. Franklin Johnson, who resigned in 1864, and was succeeded by Eev. S. L. Holman, whose brief pastorate was succeeded by the ministry of the lamented Patterson, who labored very successfully until April, 1869, when failing health compelled him to leave the ministry. It was under his eloquent and genial ministration that the church entered upon the prosperous career it has since known. Eev. J. A. Frost succeeded Mr. Patterson, and he by Eev. Z. Grenell, Jr.

The society outgrew the little church on Washington Street, and in April, 1867, a committee was appointed to consider the question of securing enlarged facilities for worship. They recommended building a new church. The old church property was worth about $7,000, and John I. Fraser, who had recently died, bequeathed the society the sum of $8,000. It was finally decided to build a new house of worship, and the corner-stone was laid in the Summer of 1869, and dedicated February 9, 1873. A litigation in which the title to the site was involved, delayed its construction. The total cost of the structure was about $75,000.

The extreme length of the building is 140 feet, and its greatest width seventy-two feet. The audience room is 54x94 feet, finished in black walnut and ash, the seats made comfortable with hair cushions, covered with crimson rep, and the floor covered with a Kidderminster carpet, made to order at that celebrated factory in England. The windows are of stained glass, arranged in highly ornamental designs. The ceiling is frescoed in soft tints. An organ of nearly 1,400 pipes, above and in the rear of the pulpit, adds greatly to the general good effect, both upon the eye and ear of the worshipper. In the rear of audience room are church parlors, kitchen, robing rooms, lecture and Sunday-school rooms. Its two spires rising, one to a height of 130 feet, the other 180 feet, are visible, not only from all parts of the city, but attract the eye from a range of three or four miles beyond. The trustees who were charged with the responsibility of the work were Eev. D. B. Patterson and McDowell, - both of whom died before its completion - H. A. Gustin, E. B. Denison, C. M. Averell, William Westover, W. H. Currey, H. Griswold, D. Culver, Luther Westover, Samuel Drake. Capt. C. M. Averell had the supervision of the work.

With the bell in the tower of this church there is associated a bit of history, well deserving a place in the annals of the city. The late Mrs. James Fraser, now Mrs. William McMaster, of Toronto, a lady already introduced to the readers of this work, is not only an enthusiastic but a liberal member of the Baptist Church, and was especially munificent in her gifts to the society in Bay City. Upon the completion of the present church edifice, she had already presented the society with the church organ costing about $6,000, and paid for building the fence around the lot, besides paying $10,000 in money toward the building. But she conceived the idea of making the society a present of a church bell, and at the same time treat the community to a surprise. Capt. C. M. Averell had superintended the erection of the church edifice and was an intimate acquaintance of the Fraser family. In September, 1873, as Mrs. McMaster was about to return to Toronto, from a visit to Bay City, she had an interview with Capt. Averell and said she had some work for him to do, provided he would promise absolute secrecy, not even reserving the privilege of telling his wife. The Captain being a cautious man felt reluctant to take such a responsibilifcy, but, upon being assured that the work required was within his ability to perform, and that if performed in perfect secrecy would be beneficial to the society and the community, he finally promised to comply with her request. She then acquainted him with her wishes, which were that she desired to make the society a surprise donation of a church bell, and would do so provided one could be procured of the same tone as one belonging to the city that had melted in a fire that destroyed the engine house, and provided further that this one be placed in the tower of the church without anyone knowing of the affair until the bell should ring for church service on a certain Sunday morning. It was an undertaking beset with seeming impossibilities, but Capt. Averell, having been a sailor for many years, was well qualified to perform the task. The bell was ordered from Troy and directions given to ship it to Saginaw, in a sealed car, and there remain until wanted. When the time arrived at which the Captain designed to hoist the bell, he had the car forwarded to Bay City. He first arranged to put it up on Friday night, but a balky horse beloinging to a drayman, "balked" proceedings, and he was obliged to adjourn until the next night. The following night he had timbers and everything necessary to the work in readiness, and a crew of men in his employ at the lime works, engaged. About 10 o'clock in the evening they transported the bell from the car to the church and the bell-raising was begun. The difficulties can hardly be imagined. The darkness of the night, unfinished condition of the tower, inexperienced men, and the strictness of secrecy all combined to prevent a successful termination of the undertaking. But by use of timbers, tackle, horses and a good deal of ingenuity, when 6 o'clock came the next morning, the bell was in its place and ready to peal forth its advent. No one had discovered the secret. One peacefully inclined citizen, living near by, had heard disturbance of some kind, and bolted out in the middle of the night, armed with a revolver, to meet the enemy, but failing to discover anything, retired still perplexed but no wiser. Another man living in the vicinity remarked the next morning that "they made a good deal of noise about that church the night before," but he did not divine the cause. The Captain was the greatest sufferer from the secrecy which enveloped his actions. Being a gentleman of domestic habits, and uniforn^ly at home evenings, his wife was greatly surprised at his being out so late the first night, but when he returned home Sunday morning after an all-night absence without a word of explanation, the domestic tranquility that had pervaded the household for so long was seriously threatened. Before leaving the church in the morning the Captain had sent for the janitor of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Gordon, and engaged him to ring the beU at the proper time, leaving him locked in the tower until that duty was performed. The astonishment produced when the ringing peals of a bell issued from the tower of that church cannot be described; and it is uncertain whether worship or wonder occupied the larger place in the thoughts of the congregation that assembled there that Sunday morning. But the secret was explained, the church got a bell, and harmony was restored to the household of the Captain.

The Universalist Society

The First Universalist Society of Bay City, Mich., was organized some time in the year 1864, under the labors of Rev. William Tompkins, who preached in Bay City every alternate Sabbath during six months of that year. He first called the Universalists of Bay City together and developed their strength. But at the close of his engagement, which was made for six months only, it was thought the interest was not sufficient to warrant the continuance of his labors. Thus matters rested until the Summer of 1865, when Rev. Z. Cook visited the city, and preached to the society every Sunday for one month, as a candidate for settlement. But; the interest was not considered sufficient to warrant his engagement. Matters rested again until early in the Spring of 1866, when Rev. C. P. Nash, afterward pastor, having been brought into correspondence with Mr. N. Whittemore, was encouraged to visit the society. Mr. Nash had but recently returned from the army, in which, for about two years and three months, he had served as chaplain in the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and was seeking a settlement. He came to Bay City, but with the assurance beforehand that circumstances did not favor the settlement of any pastor over the society. It was thought that nothing could be accomplished by way of establishing permanent meetings until a church edifice could be erected. But so great and unexpected was the interest manifested upon his first visit that he was invited to renew it, and in the meantime a subscription was started to secure his services. The necessary amount was pledged, and on the first Sunday in April he entered upon the discharge of his duties as pastor of the society.

The society, however, from having been so long destitute of regular meetings, had well nigh dissolved; and hence a meeting was called on the evening of April 10, 1866, at which it was legally reorganized, and its organization entered upon the records of the county according to law. At this reorganization, C. Munger, N. Whittemore, T. C. Phillips, T. C. Grier, H. A. Chamberlin, and E. Smith were elected trustees; T. C. Grier, clerk; T. C. Phillips, treasurer, and J. C. Thomas, collector. In May a Sabbath-school was organized, which has been in operation ever since. The necessity of a church edifice being apparent to all, in June the pastor commenced agitating that subject, and to circulate a subscription for that object. The work of raising money was attended with great difficulty, and the work of building was not begun until October. The building was dedicated the first Sunday in January, 1867. The ladies of the society managed to furnish the church with everything except the stoves. Owing to financial troubles meetings were suspended from January, 1868, to the following May, when an arrangement was entered into for preaching half the time. The Sabbath-school, however, did not suffer interruption. After a time the society recuperated and enjoyed a more prosperous condition. In 1877 the building was destroyed by fire, and the lot was then exchanged for one on the corner of Seventh and Madison Streets. The following year the present church edifice was built. The present membership is about 100, and the pastor is Rev. R. S. Crane. The trustees are J. F. Eddy, S. Eddy, J. R. Hall, I. A. Shannon, E. E. Spaulding, R. B. Taylor; clerk, A. L. Stewart; treasurer, George Carney.

The Fikst Congkegational Chuech

J. B. Dawson preached morning and evening. On the 29th of June a meeting was held at the residence of Mr. F. H. Blackman to consider the practicabihty of organizing a Congregational Church and Society. It was decided to effect such an organization and articles of association were adopted and officers elected.

Eegular Sabbath services w^ere held in Good Templars Hall for a month, after which the use of the court house was procured, where, on the 25th »f July, 1875, the church was organized in due form.

Twenty-five members composed the new church, five cf whom united on profession of faith, and tw^enty by letters from other churches. On the following Sabbath a Sunday-school was organized under very encouraging auspices. Church prayer- meetings were also appointed, being held from house to house. In August, Eev. S. P. Barker, of Ionia, was engaged temporarily as pastor, and at the end of three months his resignation w^as accepted.

In October, the trustees of the German Lutneran Church kindly proffered the use of their house of worship on Sabbaths for one preaching service and also for Sunday-school. Shortly afterwards the Good Templars' Hall was secured, where the regular church services were held until the new house of worship on the corner of Sixth and Van Buren Streets w^as finished. From November, 1875, until February, 1876, the pulpit was supplied temporarily, much of the time by Dr. Joseph Hooper, W'hose ministrations were kindly given, and were received with much acceptability. His sudden illness and death, which occurred February 27, 1876, terminated a usefuFand devoted life.

A movement was made immediately after the organization of the church and society towards the erection of a house of worship. Through the persevering efforts of the board of trustees and the liberality of members and friends, the building committee were enabled to begin the woik December 1, 1875. The church edifice was completed and dedicated April 20, 1876.

About the 1st oi February, 1876, the church and society extended a call to Eev. J. Homer Parker to become their pastor. The call was accepted, and Mr. Parker entered upon his duties March 12, 1876. At the expiration of a year he was regularly installed.

A unanimous call was extended to Eev. J. G. Leavitt, of New Gloucester, Me., who accepted the same, and he commenced his pastorate under very favorable auspices December 7, 1879. Failing health, however, compelled him to tender his resignation in October, 1880, and the church was again without a pastor. * An invitation to the pastorate was given to Eev. W. W. Lyle, of Duxbury, Mass., which was accepted, and on January 2, 1881, he commenced his labors, which have been very successful. The present membership is 200.

The officers of the society are: - Trustees, T. F. Langstaff, L. A. L. Gilbert, William Smalley, George F. Hood, M. M. Andrews, and George Ford: president, T. F. Langstaff; secretary, George F. Hood; financial secretary, L. P. Sperry; treasurer, M. M. Andrews.

The Evangelical Association

was organized in 1875 by some of the German citizens of Bay City. The association has u membership of about seventy-five, among whom are some of the leading Germans of the place. The church is on Monroe Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets. The present pastor is Eev. J. G. Haller. The trustees are W. F. Meisel, Herman Meisel, C. Lindner, Frederick Meier, George Hegar, E. Meisel, Henry Meisel, F. Koch, and F. Wiesenberg.

Hebrew Society

Anshei Chesad, Hebrew Eeform Congregation, of Bay City, was organized in September, 1878. Services are now held in the I. 0. B. B. Hall. The pastor is Eev. Wolf Landau. Officers, Wilham Sempliner, president; S. Grabowsky, vice-president; I. Grabowsky, secretary; L. Freidman, treasurer; William Wolsky, trustee.

Eoman Catholic missionaries had visited the Saginaw Valley as early as 1829 - the first residents, after the Indians, being French people of that persuasion. Prior to about 1852, LoAver Saginaw^ was visited from time to time by priests from different parts of the state, most frequently by those resident in Flint and Detroit. Mr. John Hyde, editor of the Catholic Chronicle, writing upon this subject in 1875, says: - "Among those who most frequently came here, prior to 1848, were Fathers Kundig and Louis, and Father Peter Kindekens, the vicar general of the diocese. Between 1848 and 1852 priestly visits became more frequent. Father Monayhan, then the pastor of Flint, made frequent trips to Saginaw City, and on most occasions w^ould get some good Frenchman or Indian to paddle him down the river to Lower Saginaw. Occasionally, too. Father Joseph Kindekens, brother of the Father Peter above mentioned, and Father Kilroy, now pastor of Emmett, St. Clair County, would be assigned to the duty of visiting the Catholics of the valley, and would be watched eagerly from the shore, as he approached in canoe or on the ice, carefully holding the pack containing his altar vestments and vessels. In 1848 there were eight Catholic families here, most of whom were French. By 1851 the number had increased to fourteen, besides a few young, unmarried men, who had ventured in to help prepare the lands for their future w^ealthy occupants. Among the 'old heads' there were the Trombles, the Trudells, the Longtains and the Marsacs, and among the men of the younger blood there were James L. Herbert, the brothers Cussoii, William Ferris and others. I have said that most of the Catholics were Frenchmen, but what spot of earth can one look at without finding there an Irishman? Lower Saginaw at that time w^as no exception. Here too there w^ere Irishmen. Osmond A. Perrott, the father of our present fellow citizen, P. J. Perrott (who was then a 'broth of a boy') was then residing here, and had resided here since 1842. Also Mr. Bernard Cunningham, whose memory is revered by all the older residents of Bay City. About this time, too, our present wealthy and respected fellow citizen, Mr. James Watson, moved here from Detroit, bringing with him, on his father's side, the spirit and traditions of the Kentucky riflemen, and on his mother's side the memory of the good Gabriel Eichard, priest and member of Congress. In 1850-'51, the Catholics of Lower Saginaw considered themselves numerous enough to attempt building a church. The munificence and forethought of the men who laid out the village plat had provided building sites for the different Christian denominations whose members might settle here. The Catholics were the first to avail of the bounty, and as the most convenient to the settled portion of the village, the site of the present St. Joseph's Church was selected. There were no architects here then, but there were many who had assisted at every 'raising' that had ever occurred here, and knew just what a building needed to make it last long. The men went into the woods to chop and square the timber, and each helped to put the pieces in their places in the edifice. The men w^ere few, however; none of them were rich then (though many of them are now) and most of them had to support families besides building churches. The w^ork consequently progressed but slowly, so much so, that when the Eev. H. J. H. Schutjes arrived here in 1852, not much of a church was to be seen. But they had now at least at their head one who could encourage and direct them; and after some time, by his efforts and their ovm will, fche building gradually assumed shape, and Father Schutjes was soon able to perform divine service in it. It was a long time, however, before a pastoral residence was built. During this time Father Schutjes resided sometimes in the family of Mr. Watson, and sometimes in the old pioneer hotel, the Wolverton House, and he now often speaks of the kindness and good nature of the worthy hostess Mrs. J. B. Barclay. Those were the good old primitive times of Bay City, when saw-mills were few and far between, and banks and newspapers were not even in the mind of the piophet. Besides Lower Saginaw, Father Schutjes was pastor of the entire Saginaw Valley. He had to divide his time between the people at this end of the river and those in the upper towns. Every alternate Sunday he spent in Saginaw City and East Saginaw, and in the Spring and Fall, when the ice was bad and there were no roads, he often had great difficulty and many hair-breadth escapes, in coming to and from those places. But the growth of commeroe and manufactures brought increase in population. The number of Cathohcs kept pace with the general prosperity, and by the year 1863 they were numerous enough to require the appointment of pastors for each of the cities of Saginaw and East Saginaw. Father Schutjes was then enabled to devote his attention to the wants of his people in Bay City. Soon the Httle church of St. Joseph became too small for the increasing congregation. Frenchmen came from Canada, and Irishmen came from everywhere. Besides those, there were many stalwart Hollanders and Germans, so that Father Schutjes had to speak many languages to 'get along' with his people. French and Enghsh being, however, the prevailing languages in the congregation, he preached alternately in those two tongues, until the year 1867. At this period it was discovered that not one-eighth part of the congregation could get into St. Joseph's Church, so it was resolved at once to commence the building of a new church. Ground was selected on the present site of St. James Church, and before the close of September of that year, the new church was dedicated, under the patronage of St. James the Apostle. This Church continued under the charge of Father Schutjes until June of 1873, when he was called to Detroit to assist the Bishop in the affairs of the diocese. His place was filled by the appointment of Kev. Thomas Eafter, a native of Monroe County, in this state.

"Before the departure of Father Schutjes the Catholics on the west side of the river had increased so much in number that the Bishop had ordered the setting oti' of that territory as a separate parish, and had appointed the Kev. M. G. Cantors as pastor, with authority to at once commence the building of a church. Father Cantors at once commenced the erection of a building to serve as a chapel until it would be convenient to build a church, and which, when the church should be built, would serve as a schoolhouse. This chapel was completed in the early part of 1074, and is now too small for the congregation. Father Van Stralm was appointed to the charge of St. Joseph's Church, which has been, since the year 1867, devoted to the exclusive use of the French Cathohcs of the city. Those of all nationalities other than French, on the east side of the river, are under the charge of Father Rafter, and attend St. James Church.

"The Germans and Poles have, however, lately become so numerous that the Bishop has deemed it proper to set them off under pastors who speak their own languages. Accordingly, the Cathohcs of these nationalities have lately commenced the erection of new churches, the Poles on the corner of Twenty-second and Farragut Streets, and the Germans on Lincoln Avenue, between Eighth and Ninth Streets. As the seating capacity of the different churches is entirely disproportioned to the number of members - only a comparatively small proportion being able to get pews to rent - the pastors can give only an approximate estimate of the actual numbers of their congregations. It is supposed that the numbers will be rather within the figures if those on the Bay City side are set down at from 5,000 to 6,000, and those on the Wenona side at from 1,500 to 2,000.

"It would not be proper to close this sketch of the history of Roman Catholic matters in Bay City, without ahuding to the excellent parochial school of St. James Church. The erection of the building for this school was commenced by Father Schutjes, but completed by the present pastor. Father Rafter. It is built from designs by Porter & Watkins, architects of Bay City and Buffalo, and fs a very handsome frame building, divided into two stories. It is 105 feet long by 36 wide. The lower story is divided into three large class rooms, the upper story being a hall with a movable partition in the centre so as to divide it into two class rooms. The school was opened in September, 1873, under the charge of the Sisters of Charity, from Cincinnati, with an attendance of 120 scholars. At the close of the first year the number in attendance was nearly 400."

The present pastor of St. Joseph Church is Rev. Mederic Ulric Thibodeau, and the membership about 500 families. The school is in a prosperous condition.

St. Bonifazius Church was built as above stated, in 1875-'76, and the society has grown to large dimensions. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph Ebert.

St. Stanislaus Kots-ka Church was built in 1874, and has a membership now of upwards of 600 famihes. The present pastor is Rev. Augustus Sklorzik. About 1872 an extensive Pohsh immigration began, which was greatly aided by Mr. L. Daniels, now a merchant tailor in Bay City. In "Dows' History of Bay City," published in 1875, the organization of Poles is mentioned as follows :

"The fact that the Polish language is spoken by none but Poles, and few of them having any knowledge of Enghsh, rendered it necessary that as soon as their numbers would justify the step, an attempt should be made to build a separate place of worship for them. This design was fostered by Mr. Daniels, and to secure the organization necessary to accomphsh the object, he induced his countrymen to form themselves into a society. This association was formed on the 8th of February, 1874, with Mr, Daniels as president, each member agreeing to pay a certain sum each month to form a fund for the building of the contemplated church. But this would have taken a long time to accomphsh, while in the meanwhile their number was increasing. Accordingly Mr. Daniels set to work to build a church at once. He procured subscriptions from most of our prominent fellow- citizens; and Mr. Wilham D. Fitzhugh, with the liberahty in such matters for which he and his father and brothers are so noted, gave a site for the church consisting of eight lots on the corner of Lincohi Avenue and Twenty-second Street. A contract for the building of the church was let last July, to Mr. Neil Mahonej, after plans by L. A. Pratt, architect, both of this city. The building is now completed, and will be consecrated by Rt. Rsv. Casper H. Borgess, bishop of Detroit, on Sunday, the 13th of December next, (1874.) The building will cost about ?4,000, is a very neat and tasteful edifice, and is located on a very fine site, and convenient to those who will worship there. Mr. Daniels has had the entire control and responsibihty of the work, and of providing the money for it, and his countrymen in Bay City owe him a very great debt of gratitude.

Schools Of Bay City

The early settlers of Lower Saginaw and vicinity were for the most part people of edncation, w^ho, in their earlier lives, had enjoyed liberal advantages. Among them were individuals of more than ordinary culture and refinement. It is, therefore, not surprising that we find struggling attempts at schools among the earhest movements in this locality.

To trace with accuracy a minute history of the first schools in the Lower Saginaw and Portsmouth region is now a well nigh impossible task. The memories of the older ones who were here then have weakened with age and lost their grasp upon dates and the order of events. The pupils of those days are now the pioneers. The only one of the first three teachers now living is Capt. David Smith, a resident of Vassar, Tuscola County, and whose health during the preparation of this work has been so much impaired, as to prevent an interview. Among the pupils of the first schools there is some diversity of recollection as to details. P. L. Eogers, one of the early pupils, and now a prominent citizen of Dead wood, has taken pains to preserve facts and data connected with this subject, and has written an interesting and truthful sketch of the first schools of Bay County. Mr. Eogers writes as f oUows :

" In April, 1842, the first school district was organized in what is now known as Bay County. The school officers were, Thomas Eogers, moderator; S. S. Campbell, director; Cromwell Barney, assessor. They engaged a Miss Clark as teacher. She became the wife of our old townsman, Frederick Derr, Esq., in the Fall of that year, and died October, 1843. Miss Clark's school began on the 1st of June, 1842, ending September 1st. The schoolhouse was a small frame building, 14x20 feet, one story high, built in 1839 by one William Bonnel, who occupied it for nearly two years, when he became involved in a serious difficulty and left the country without bidding farewell to his acquaintances. The building stood about 30G feet south of the gas works, and about thirty feet from the east side of Water Street.

" The names of those who attended Miss Clark's school are as follows: - Daniel Marsac, Margaret Campbell (nowMrs. Witthauer), Emily Campbell, Philenda Olmstead, Perry Olmstead, Eichard Trombley, P. L. Eogers, H. B. Eogers, Esther Eogers. (now Mrs. E. M. Burrington.) This makes the sum total of the regular attendance of Miss Clark's school.

"The year following, commencing January 1, 1843, the same school officers engaged Capt. David Smith, who taught the Winter term of three months in the same building. The names of those w^ho attended Smith's school are as follov/s : _W. E. McCormick, Archibald McCormick, Andrew McCormick, Ehzabeth McCormick (now Mrs. Oirin Kinney), Benjamin Trombley, Lewis Trombley, Eichard Trombley, Miss Abby Trombley, John Cruchfield, Daniel Marsac, Margaret Campbell, Emily Campbell, James Barney, Israel Marsac, Eichard Olmstead, Perry Olmstead, Gardner Olmstead, Sarah Olmstead, P. L. Eogers, H. B. Eogers, Esther Eogers, Phoebe Wilson, Walter Wilson, several of whom were over twenty-one years old. Two of the Trombleys, Cruchfield, and W. E. McCormick, and I think Israel and Daniel Marsac were over twenty-one years old; the balance were aU smaU. After the closing of this school matters became unsettled, or unsatisfactoiy to some of the district tax payers, and matters rested until November, 1844, when the same school officers, who had continued to hold their respective offices from the first, called a meeting, and reorganized a new district, or lopped off the south portion of the old one, which at that time included both sides of the river from McEw^an's mill, or about there, to where Albert Miller's mill now stands on the south. The new district included both sides of the river from about where McEwan's mill now stands (Cromwell Barney lived near there, and he being one of the school officers, it was important to extend it that far) on the north, and south to about Twenty- second Street, and at the same meeting voted the building of a schoolhouse, and for a wonder agreed upon the location, which was east of Pitts & Cranage's mill, and a few rods northeast from the D. & B. C. passenger depot. Nathan Pierce, the father of our old towaisman Benjamin F. Pierce, and Cromwell Barney, were awarded the contract, which amounted to one hundred and odd dollars - I do not just remember the exact amount. They immediately commenced work on the schoolhouse, and had it ready for occupancy January 7, 1845; the size of the building was 20x26 feet, one-story. During the sound of the hammer on the schoolhouse the officers were losing no time in looking up a teacher, and by the time the structure was completed Harry Campbell, a brother of our old townsman S. S. Campbell, was armed with the proper documents to take charge of the shooting gallery where the young idea was to be trained. Harry, by the w^ay, was a famous ox-driver, which w^as his business during the Summer as well as teaching during the Winter, and I have been fully convinced on more than one occasion that he believed or imagined himself driving oxen in school, as he always used the same persuasive arguments ; yet he was a good teacher, and had considerable experience as such, that having been his principal business for many years. The names of those that attended Campbell's school were as follows: - Margaret Campbell, Emily Campbell, Syrenus Pierce, Joshua Pierce, Cordeha Pierce, Daniel Pierce, John Defo, Kate Defo, Eichard Olmstead, Perry Olmstead, John Perrott, P. L. Eogers, H. B. Eogers, Esther Eogers. I cannot remember the name of the teacher for 1846; the attendance was the same. In 1847 Miss A. E. Eobinson taught the school during the Winter, without any change of names or additional attendance. During the Summer term Miss Kate Eobinson taught the school with the addition of my two younger sisters, Bettie (now Mrs. C. B. Cottrell), Ellen (now Mrs. Lankenow.) During 1848 Miss Martha Buckingham taught the school without any particular change as regards numbers. A Mr. Clemens taught in 1849, and Mr. Woodroof in 1850, after which time I left the valley, and did not permanently return until 1864, and therefore lost all knowledge of the matters as regards school after 1850."

A Reminiscence

Mrs. A. E. Felt, formerly Miss A. E. Eobinson, who succeeded Harry Campbell, is now a resident of Fhnt, Mich. In the Winter of 1882-'83 Mrs. Felt wrote in response to our inquiries, and in her sketch it will be observed there is a slight variance from the statement of Mr. Eogers, in regard to the years 1848-'49-'50; but the matter is sr) unimportant as to be of no consequence. Mrs. Felt writes as follows :

" Thirty- six years ago this Winter I taught school in Lower Saginaw, now Bay City. The place was a little hamlet on the bank of a broad, beautiful river, and the few famihes scattered up and down for a distance of three miles, decided to collect the children and open a school. I occupied the position of teacher two Winters and an intervening Summer. The whole number of pupils was about thirty, and the average attendance about twenty-five. The schoolhouse, a small wooden building, stood not far from the river, in a pretty bend of the stream, and from the windows of the schoolhouse w^e could look up and down as far as the eye could reach. The patrons of the school were almost without exception people of education. Mr. James G. Birney was then a resident of the place, and occupied a pretty vine-clad cottage. A broad stretch of river was his foreground, and a beautiful flower garden almost surrounded his home. The latter was Mr. Birney's especial care and delight. Pictures upon the w^alls and a \vell stored hbrary spoke of elegance and refinement within. Mr. Birney's farm one-half mile below the schoolhouse was the limit of civihzation in that direction. The only street in the town followed the river not far from the Birney cottage. The river was the only avenue of ingress and egress to and from the town. Women and children as well as men paddled canoes. Upon the opposite bank of the river was as beautiful a park as any ever fashioned by art. Tall trees scattered here and there spread their wide branches from early Spring till lingering Autumn. A carpet of wild flowers extended to the water's edge; such beautiful wild flowers, and in such abundance I have never seen elsewhere. The green sloping bank of the other side was a great attraction to all. It requires some creduhty, as one looks upon the unsightliness commerce has wrought, to beheve that one of the lovehest of rivers found its peaceful way to the broad bay below only a few years ago. In 1854 a new building was erected on Adams Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, whose accommodations, calculated for the children of the entire township, provided for the instruction of about 160. This building served the needs of the youth until 1865. But multiplication was going on so rapidly that addition became necessary. In September, 1865, the inspectors formed the "school district of Bay City," and this was regularly organized the October following. Up to that time the schools were under control of School District Number Two, of the township of Hampton. The amount of school taxes fixed for that year was |2, 616.29. On the 4th of December, 1865, another school was opened in a rented building in the Third Ward, where there were fifty-six sittings and eighty-nine pupils. In January, 1866, the School Board bought the property on the ^corner of Adams and Eighth Streets, with the building thereon, for f 3,000, and a school was opened there on the 22nd of the same month, with 120 sittings.

In April of the year 1866, the project of a high school »vas agitated, and at several meetings held in May, the matter was fully discussed. The result was that the Board was instructed to buy the high school site, which is the block bounded by Ninth, Tenth, Grant and Farragut Streets. The price paid for this property was f 4,400. In the October following, the site for the First Ward school building was bought for $2,400; and in November the entire block 268 was bought of James Watson for |2,8C0. The following year buildings were put up on these sites, and a building on Saginaw Street, between Fourth and Fifth, was rented for school purposes. At this time the aggregate enrollment of pupils was 522.

March 20, 1867, the Governor approved the act of the Legislature organizing the Union School District of Bay City, and the first School Board under it was chosen the succeeding month. The new buildings in the First and Fifth Wards were opened in August of this year. In September, 1867, the contract for the high school building, a massive three-story brick edifice, was let; to George Campbell at f 67,350, and on the 6th of the following May the cornei*-stone was duly laid. In April, 1869, schools were opened in the high school building.

The rapid growth of the school estabhshment continued during the years following those just mentioned, and the Board was constantly taxing its means to provide adequate accommodations. During the Summer of 1869, an addition was made to the Second Ward building, and next year it became necessary to put an additional room on the Fifth Ward branch building. In the Summer of 1871 a two-story addition was made to the First Ward building.

On the 1st of April, 1869, the superintendency of the Bay City schools was assumed by Prof. D. C. Scoville, who at once began a most thorough work of organization and discipline. Under his able administraiion the schools were graded, and by his efforts and those of his assistants, the standard was brought up to a high point.

The annexation of Portsmouth, in 1873, enlarged the field of labor, and the rapid increase of population since that time has called for additional facilities adequate to the demand.

In the Summer of 1874, Prof. I. W. Morley, who came to Bay City with Prof. Scoville in 1869, succeeded the latter in the office of superintendent, and has continued in that capacity to the present time, with marked success. In 1875 there were six school buildings, and thirty-five teachers were employed. At the present time there are nine school buildings and forty-nine teachers. In March, 1882, the official report showed the value of school lands and buildings to be as follows: Value of lands, buildings, etc., March 22, 1882:

During the season of 1882 the new High School building was finished. This building is located on the corner of Madison and Eleventh Streets and is an elegant specimen of architecture. A new building was also erected on Woodside Avenue at a cost of f 3,800. There is nothing connected with Bay City that reflects greater credit upon its people than the pronounced excellence of its public schools.

Board Of Education

The Board of Education held a meeting in April, 1883, at which some facts and figures were presented, which w^e give as follows: - "Ten years ago the amount of money used for teachers' salaries was 117,000 for thirty-three teachers. We now employ fiftyfive teachers, and paid last year for salaries, $15,000. We had no training school at that time and consequently had to hire our teachers from other localities at higher salaries.

Since the organization of our training school, in 1877, we have had applicants from the graduating classes who intend to pursue teaching as a calling, to fill up the school, and we now employ thirty-three teachers who have graduated from our high school, and who taught one year in the training department under the direction of oui training teacher. This department of our schools has evidently been a success, and is still doing good work, both as to furnishing teachers and the quality of the work done by these teachers. We find upon investigation that the pupils from the training schools pass from it to the grammar department as creditably and as quickly as they do from the primary department of the other schools. In other words, the advancement of the pupils, under the tuition of the training school teachers, is as rapid and as thorough as that of any of the other primary schools. We have six teachers engaged in the work beside the training teachers, each one of whom receives $75 per annum, their combined salaries amounting to $1,050, including the principal, making an actual saving to the city of $1,200 per year and doing equally as good work.

Keal Estate

The Board of Education now own in real estate, at cash valuation, $36,700 and buildings and furniture, $117,848, making a total valuation of school property, $154,548,

In 1873, the Union School District of Bay City owed $30,000, in six bonds of $5,000 each, since which time these bonds and interest have all been paid, the last one falling due this year. The money is now in the treasury for its redemption. The only indebtedness of the Board is for two school sites purchased last year, one in the First Ward for $1,000, and one in the Second Ward for $5,000, leaving the entire indebtedness of the School Board, up to this date, $6,000, which is not yet due, and which is drawing interest at 7 per cent."

Bay City Postoffices Mail Facilities At An Early Day

People who now wait impatiently in their comfortable homes or places of business for the mail carrier, who visits them twice each day, would feel that life was hardly worth its troubles if they were compelled to return to the mail facilities of forty or fifty years ago. Judge Albert Miller tells how the early pioneers were served, as follows :

- **The first postoffice established north of Pontiac was at Grand Blanc, in 1830, which was supphed with mail from Pontiac once in two weeks. Kufus W. Stevens was postmaster, and received the gross proceeds of the office for carrying the mail, and did not get rich at that. I have heard a neighbor say as the mail was passing, * There goes the Grand Blanc mail, and I will venture to say there is not a letter in the miil bag.' The postmaster could not afford to hire a person to take a trip to Pontiac every time the mail should go. So it was agreed among the settlers that anyone having business in tow^n during the week the mail should be carried, should transport it there and back w^ithout charge. One person having the mail in charge, not requiring the w4icle of his wardrobe on his person, solicited the postmaster at Pontiac to put the garment into the mail bag as the most convenient way of carrying it, but when he arrived at Grand Blanc and the mail bag was opened he was notified by Postmaster Stevens that there was $4 postage due on his coat, but the matter was compromised by the mail carrier paying for the drinks for the company. The postmaster at Pontiac considering it rather a loose way of doing business to deliver the mail to any person who might bring it from Grand Blanc, required any one but a sworn mail carrier to go before a justice of the peace and be sworn before he would deliver the mail to him. That would cost two shilhngs, which was a drawback on the free transportation of the mail. After awhile parties receiving the mail at Grand Blanc would be addressed by the postmaster with an oath and directed to take that mail to Pontiac and return with one from that point without delay. Parties under such strong directions, upon being questioned by the Pontiac postmaster as to their qualifications, would state that they had been sworn before leaving Grand Blanc.

"During the first three years of my residence in Mi^hig.in all my mail facilities were furnished by the Grand Blanc postoffice. At different periods during that time I resided at Flint, Grand Blanc, and Saginaw. The accommodating postmaster at Grand Blanc was accustomed to forward aU Saginaw letters by travelers passing the office and going to that point, and run his risk of collecting the postage afterwards, but I think he never suffered any loss on that account, for the people appreciated his kindness, and promptly paid all demands for postage w^henever the opportunity presented itself for so doing.

"In 1833, or else in the Spring of 1834, apostoffice was established at Saginaw. Thomas Simpson was the first postmaster, and Joshua Terry was the contractor for carrying the mail. Forty-five years ago, Mr. Terry was known as 'Little Josh.' At that time the adjective had no reference to his size (for he weighed 175 pounds), but was a designation of earlier days given to distinguish him from an uncle of the same name.

"Mr. Terry was a natural woodsman and pioneer; if he had a journey before him in the wilderness, he would be as likely to start at sundown as at any other time of the day. His food while on his journey was simple, and for a stimulant, instead of taking the firewater that was so much in vogue in those days, he used tea, and chewed the dry leaves, instead of preparing it by the usual mode of infusion.*'

First Postoffice

The first postoffice established iii what is now Bay County, was at Portsmouth in January, 1837. Judge Albert Miller was doing business there at that time, and was obhged to send to Saginaw every week for his mail. For the additional trouble of carrying the mail for the public and attending the postoffiee he could have the benefit of the franking privilege. Some of his friends in Detroit anticipating his wants,, sent to Washington and got a postoffice estabhshed. Judge Miller was appointed postmaster upon the condition that the mail should be carried from Saginaw once a week for the receipts of the office at Portsmouth. After Judge Miller removed from Portsmouth early in 1837, Albe Lull was appointed deputy and had charge of* the office until tile time of his 'death, which occurred in September, 1838. After that the late Thomas Rogers had charge of the office until it was discontinued in 1839.

Hampton Postoffice

The first postoffice in Lower Saginaw w.is established about the year 1816, and Thomas Rogers was appointed postmaster and mail carrier. The office was named Hampton, that being the name of the township. Mr. Rogers held the office until 1850.

The Postal Service

in those days was a primitive affair, and the transportation of the mails was attended with more hardship and fewer comphcations. Bernard Cunningham used to go to Saginaw in a canoe or on foot and bring the entire mail for this office in his coat pocket. Mr- Jesse M. Miller, still a resident of Bay*City, used to start on horseback for Saginaw, when the ice was not strong enough to bear him in safety, and after going a short distance to a squatter's cabin, would be obhged to leave his pony and proceed on foot, wading sometimes to his knees in the half frozen marsh.

The dog train that used to make the trip to Mackinaw once a month, traveling on the ice, is well remembered by the older residents. A half-breed had three dogs gaily caparisoned, and harnessed to a sled, in which were loaded the mail bags. This train was operated up to about 1859 or 1860. Now gorgeously equipped mail cars rushing through space with the speed of light can hardly transport mail swiftly enough to satisfy a restless and impatient generation.

In 1850 Israel Catlin was appointed postmaster, and the office was kept at his house on Water Street. Mrs. Catlin used to take the week's mail in her pocket on Sundays and distribute it at church. It used to be said, indeed, that Mrs. Catlin served a double purpose in this w^ay. She saved the people the trouble of coming up to her house after their mail, and she likewise saved her scrupulously neat domicile from the profanation of tobacco spittle and the like, which profanation could hardly have been escaped had the rude forefathers of the hamlet lingered thereabout waiting for the mail.

In 1853 Mr. Catlin was succeeded by Dr. George E. Smith. By this time the office had grown to some importance. In 1857 the name was changed to Bay City. Dr. Smith continued in the office until 1861, and at that time the office was kept in his store, at what is now the corner of Fourth and Water Streets.

In June, 1861, Henry S. Raymond received the appointment of postmaster, being the first Republican postmaster in Bay County. He removed the office to the small frame building opposite where the Campbell House now stands. Soon after taking the office, Col. Raymond went to the war, where he rendered distinguished service and earned the commission of colonel. He retained the office until 1870.

removed the office in 1871 to commodious quarters in the Westover Block, where it still remains. Mr. Philhps settled in Bay City about 1862, and from the first has occupied a leading position in the county.

Li 1878 Frederick W. Dunham succeeded T. C. Phillips, and held the office four years, and in the Spring of 1882 was succeeded by the present incumbent, F. L. Westover.

the present postmaster, is one of the representative young men of Bay County, and is proving himself a capable and efficient public officer. He was born at Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Mass., in the year 1853. He settled in Bay City in 1866, and was admitted to the practice of law in the Summer of 1879. In March, 1882, he received the appointment of postmaster of Bay City, an important office, and one which Mr. Westover is well qualified to fill to the advantage of the service and satisfaction of its patrons.

December 1, 1882, the system of free delivery went into operation, which clothed the service in Bay City with the fullest metropolitan honors.

The Portsmouth Postoffice

now at South Bay City, was re-established in 1857, the business of the place having reached a magnitude that warra^nted a nearer » office than the one at Bay City. The first postmaster was H. D. Braddock. He was followed by Winterhalter, Cummings, and C. D. Fisher, the present incumbent, who has held the office since 1869.

Mr. Fisher is not only a veteran in the postoffice service, but is one of the early settlers in the Saginaw Valley. He was born at Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y., in 1829. He learned the ship-carpenters' trade at an early age, and, having a brother at Flint, concluded to visit this remote part of the country. He came West in 1850, and w^orked one Summer on a steamer at Zilwaukee. He afterwards worked at the carpenters' trade until 1864, when he bought a farm a short distance east of Portsmouth. In January, 1856, he married Miss Alvira M. Miller, daughter of Dr. J. T. Miller, who settled in Portsmouth in 1836, and was the first physician in what is now Bay County. He, however, remained here but a short time. In 1869 Mr. Fisher was appointed postmaster, and still retains the office. He was told before coming here that everyone who undertook to live here would die with ague, but he has waited over thirty years for it to get the best of him, and is still apparently as rugged as at first. When he came here there were but two teams of horses in this region, and at an early day he cradled oats and cut grass upon ground that is now in the business part of South Bay City. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. One son, Albert W. Fisher, has a cigar and tobacco store in the Dostoffice buildiiif;;.

Bay City Newspapers

The first newspaper established in Bay City was in 1859, when Mr. William Bryce commenced the publication of the JPres^ and limes. Some two or three years before that Perry Joslin, of Saginaw, issued two or three numbers of a newspaper here with the hope of securing the publication of the tax list, but failing in that, he discontinued the publication of the paper, which was called the

Bay City Press. It was not intended to be a permanent institution. The Press and Imies was discontinued in 1864, to be succeeded in the same year by the Bay City Jovrnnl, Mr. John Culbert, editor, which, m 1871, became a daily as well as a weekly publication, under the editorial management and proprietorship of Kobert L. Warren, being discontinued in February, 1873, to be again reissued by the Hon. James Birney, as the daily and weekly Chronicle, ceasing as a daily in 1875; the weekly Chronicle still continuing under the charge and proprietorship of Mr. Arthur M. Birney, son of Hon. James Birney, until it was merged into the TriUine in 1879. The Chronicle was Eepubhcan in politics, and ably conducted.

The Zumhermans Gazette, devoted to the interests of lumber and salt manufacture, w^as established in 1872, by Henry S. Dow, and in 1874 was purchased by Edwin T. Bennett, under whose proprietorship it still continues. I^ is a very useful and prosperous publication.

The Bay City Tribune was instituted as an evening daily and weekly paper, independent in politics, in 1873, by a company composed of John Culbert, Thomas K. Harding, Edward Kroencke, and Griffin Lewis, who associated themselves for the purpose of doing a general jobbing, newspaper and book-binding business. The company was subsequently dissolved, Mr. Henry S. Dow becoming the purchaser of the paper. The weekly issue was suspended in 1875, the daily continuing. The Tribune was published by a stock company until September, 1881, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, Mr. Edwin T. Bennett. The Tribune is now a morning Repubhcan paper, and the printing office the most extensive one in the city. There is a large and well equipped job printing office connected with it, which does an extensive business. The weekly edition of the Tribune is published under the name of the Chronicle and Tribune, Edwin T. Bennett, the proprietor of the Tribune and Lumberman s Gazette, and part owner of the Evening Press, is one of the representative business men of Bay City. He came here from New York State in October, 1866, and worked on the Lumberman s Gazette for a time, becoming its proprietor in 1874, as already stated. He is a business manager of more than ordinary ability, and has not only made journalism profitable, but has, at the same time, succeeded in giving to his papers positions of importance and commanding influence.

Tb.^ Evening Press was started in June, 1879, by Moran & Hardwick, and shortly after was purchased by Mr. Edwin T. Bennett. In October, 1881, Mr. D. M. Carey purchased an interest and became its editor, the proprietors being Bennett & Carey. Mr. Carey came to Bay City in February, 1880, and was a writer on the News for a time. The Press is an independent paper, and has a large circulation.

The Freie Presse, an independent German paper, w^as started in 1878 by the present proprietor, Mr. G. Reuther, who came here from East Saginaw.

The Morning Call, a Democratic daily newspaper, was started by a few Democrats of Bay City, who placed Bert Moran, a practical printer, in charge, with Leonard Chne in charge of the advertising department, and C. S. Wilson to fujnish copy. Few newspaper m^n in the West are better qualified for a task of that kind than Mr. Wilson, as has been abundantly attested. The first number of the Call was issued April 13, 1881. Early in May following, George F. Lewis assumed the management of the Call, and in June he assumed control as proprietor. September 12, 1881, James Gray became associated with Mr. Lewis as business manager, doing also the duties of city editor, which he continued until February 5, 1883, when George F. Lewis once more assumed full control, and Mr. Gray continued the job printing business, in which he has been for several years engaged. While connected with the Call, Mr. Gray was very successful in his efforts to aid in bringing the Call up to the position it now occupies. The Call is a live newspaper, active and zealous in advancing the interests of the city and county in which it is published, and is an able and earnest exponent of the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. George F. Lewis is proprietor and managing editor, and his labors are supplemented by the usual stall of assistants. Mr. Lewis is a veteran printer and journalist, as will be seen from the following personal sketch:

George F. Lewis, a pioneer journalist, was born in Harvard, Worcester Co., Mass., June 7, 1828. In 1835 his parents removed to Mount Clemens, Macomb County, where he set the first type in the office of the Macomb Statesman. In 1838 he was folder and carrier for the Mount Clemens Patriot, In 1845 he made a journey to Lake Superior with the late Gen. John Stockton, United States mineral agent. He soon after made a journey East with specimens of ore from the Lake Superior region. In the Spring of 1846 he again visited Lake Superior, where he remained until Fall, when he returned to Mount Clemens and entered the employ of the late Thomas M. Perry, of the Mount Clemens Patriot, as apprentice. He remained there about a year, and then after a short interim, took a position on the Daily Commercial Ptdletin, then just started in Detroit. He helped put in type the first news of a presidential election that ever was transmitted by telegraph - that of Gen. Zachary Taylor in 1848. In May, 1849, he entered on the publication of the Macomb County Ilercdd, a weekly newspaper, which he continued two years. In the Spring of 1851 he started the Port Huron Commercial, as a Whig journal, changing it subsequently to a Democratic newspaper, which he continued to publish until the Spring of 1855. In September 1855, he bought the Peninsular Advocate, a Democratic paper, published at Mount Clemens, and continued it imtil the Summer of 1859. He afterwards became associated with Maj. E. W. Lyon. In 1868, in company with three partners, he started the Daily Courier. Mr. Lewis was postmaster at Mount Clemens from 1856 to 1859. In 1869 he started the Saginawian, a Democratic w^eekly newspaper, published at Saginaw^? which paper he still owns. In 1881 he became interested in the Morning Call, at Bay City, as already stated. In the Spring of 1883 he removed his family to Bay City. Mr. Lewis was mayor of Saginaw from 1877 to 1879. He is a voluminous writer, and some of the best historical sketches ever made of the Saginaw Valley are from his pen. He is truly a veteran journali&t, and one wdio performed an active and impoitant part in the sphere in which his talents and energies have been industriously employed.

Le Courrier was established in 1878 by J. L. Harquell, the present editor and proprietor. Mr. Harquell is a native of New^ Brunswick, and a lawyer by profession. In 1860 he entered Mason College, Canada, where he graduated. He subsequently graduated at the Military School of Canada, and in 1869 entered the Albany Law University, at Albany, N. Y., w^iere he graduated in 1873. He practiced law^ two years at Albany, one year at St. Paul, Minn., and in 1877 located in Bay City, where he practiced law about a year. Soon after coming here he bought the Saginaw Greenbacker, which he published a short time, and in 1878 established L^e Courrier, which was the first French paper in the Saginaw YaUey. In 1879^ he established Ze Tribune at Detroit, which he sold two years later, when he started the Xa Messager at Muskegon, which he still continues. Mr. Harquell has been instrumental in organizing five French societies, and is at present president of the Bay City Mutual Aid Society of Bay City.

Ze Patriote was established in February, 1880, by H. A. Paeaud, its present editor and proprietor. It is the largest French paper in the state, and has already attained a position of command- ing influence. Mr. Pacand was for some time publisher of a daily paper in Quebec, and is at the present time proprietor of a newspaper called Ze Progress, pubHshed at Detroit and Windsor.

The Catholic Chronicle was started in April, 1882, by its present proprietors, John Hyde and J. W. S. Norris. The paper is ably edited and has a wide circulation. Mr. Hyde is a lawyer by profession, and a native of Cork, Ireland. He emigrated to this country in 1862, and settled in Bay City. He was judge of probate for the county one term, and practiced law until the Spring of 1882, since which time he has devoted himself to editorial labor. Mr. Noriis is a native of Canada, and has been a resident of Bay City since 1868.

A number of other newspapers have been published at different times, but were finally suspended or merged into their contemporaries. William T. Kennedy pubhshed a Democratic paper from 1864 to 1870. The Saginaw Valley Growler was pubhshed by D. E. Currey for several years after 1869. The Michigan Odd Fellow was pubhshed by Dr. Joseph Hooper, Edward Newkirk and Charles C. Gustin in 1874, and continued for three or four years. It was a very creditable publication.

Bay City is a good field for journalism, and at the present time, the field, is well occupied. The number and character of the newspapers of the city are such as to reflect credit upon the enterprise and intelligence of the population.

Banks And Banking

The year 1863 opened with flattering prospects for business. The two great industries of lumber and salt were being developed, and the village of Bay City had a population of from 2,000 to 2,500. This was, in many respects, an eventful year. Hitherto the business of the place had been done without the aid and convenience of banking facilities, but in March of this year, Mr. C. W. Gibson came to Bay City from Grand Blanc and opened a private bank, in a small room, in the Union House building, which was a frame structure, and stood where the Campbell House now stands on Water Street. This institution was known as the and the business transacted under the firm name of C. W. Gibson & Co. The capital of the bank was a matter of conjecture. The firm continued to do business until May, 1864, when the was organized, with a capital of f 50,000. The office of the bank was removed to a building erected for it by the late James Eraser, on Water Street, and still later was removed to the Shearer Block, at the corner of Center and Wattr Streets. The first officers of the bank were as foUows: - C. W. Gibson, president; Harvey J. Clark, cashier. The directors were C. W. Gibson, C. D. W. Gibson, Henry Benson, Harvey J. Clark and E. L. Warren. The capital stock was owned by the five persons named as directors. In August, 1865, the capital was increased to |100,000.

In the Fall of 1866, Mr. Byron E. Warren came to Bay City and opened a private bank under the firm name of B. E. Warren & Co., which continued until the reorganization of the First National Bank.

In July, 1867, the firm of William C. Green & Co., of which Mr. E. B. Denison was a member, purchased a controlling amount of the stock, and a new set of officers were elected as follows: - Hon. S. M. Green, president; E. B. Denison, vice-president; Harvey J. Clark, cashier; William C. Green, assistant cashier.

Shearer, president; B. E. Warren, cashier. The directors were N. B. iradley, C. E. Jennison, A. S. Munger, A. Stevens. In January, 1872, the capital was increased to |250,000, in July to $800,000, and in January, 1873, to $400,000. The office remained in the Shearer Block until January, 1873, when it was removed to the elegant building built by the bank, where it still remains. The building is located on the corner of Center and Washington Streets, and cost about $40,000.

The charter of the First National Bank would have expired February 24, 1883, and it was deemed wise to effect a reorganization, which was done in time to wind up its affairs on the 16th of January, 1883, and the following day the business was continued under the new name of the

Bay National Bank

Of the original stockholders of the First National Bank there now remain N. B. Bradley, C. E. Jennison, C. Moulthrop, H. C. Moore, Wilham McEwan, James Shearer and B. E. Warren. While the stockholders have materially changed within the past fifteen years, the management of the bank has practically remained in the same hands, James Shearer having been its president until within a short time, when he was forced to resign because of ill health and necessary absence from the city. B. E. Warren, who was the first cashier of the bank, continued in that position until the date of Mr. Shearer's resignation, when he was elected president of the bank, and was succeeded by F. P. Browne, who now holds the position of cashier.

During the career of the First National Bank it has filled a very important place in the financial affairs of the city, and has contributed its full share to the prosperity of the same. While doing this it has, at the same time, made very fair and satisfactory returns to its shareholders, paying them in dividends, during the fifteen years of its existence, over $500,000. Since the organization of the bank, the community with which it has done business has increased rapidly in size and wealth, because of which it was deemed advisable in the organization of a new bank that its stockholders should be residents of this and West Bay City, and with that object in view, subscription lists were opened and the stock promptly taken.

The new board of directors consists of Simcoe Chapman, Alexander Folsom, John F. Eddy, Herschel H. Hatch, B. E. Warren, Thomas Cranage, Jr., L. L. Hotchkiss, W. H. Miller, E. Y. Williams, and Edgar Cooley. At a meeting of the directors the fol-

The name of the new bank was changed to the title adopted, for the reason that in the organization of the bank under its old title the stock would have, under existing law, been allotted to the non-resident shareholders in the same proportion that they held stock in the old bank. It was believed that the credit of the bank would be very materially increased by having its shareholders located where the bank is doing business and the stockholders are better known to the customers of the bank ; hence the change.

Byron E. Warren, president of the Bay National Bank, was born February 23, 1836, in Southfield, Oakland Co., Mich. His father was a native of Vermont, and his mother of New Y'ork State. His early years were passed upon a farm in Shiawassee County, but when he was six years of age his father removed to Fenton, Genesee County, and engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Warren acted as his father's assistant, and as early as 1855 became the purchasing agent of an extensive business which his father carried on at Flint. During the war he was appointed deputy revenue collector for the Sixth District of Michigan. The business and executive ability displayed by him during his occupancy of that office, attracted attention, and he was urged to locate in Bay City in the banking business. He leased an office here and in the Fall of 1866 began business as a private banker. He soon became associated with Hon. N. B. Bradley, of this city, and upon the reorganization of the First National Bank became its cashier, and finally succeeded Mr. .Shearer as president. His sound judgment has contributed in a large degree to the prosperity of that institution. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the public library, and has helped to establish other local enterprises. He is a man of broad view^s and belongs to that class of men to whom every community is indebted for its growth and prosperity. He is a Republican in politics. He w^as married June 18, 1861, to Miss Jennie Elsa Ives, of Flint, Mich.

Frederick P. Browne, cashier of the First National Bank, is a native of Johet, 111. For some time he was connected with the Ninth National Bank in New York City, where he rendered very efficient service. In 1875 he came to Bay City and took a position in the First National Bank, and the following year w^as made assistant cashier, and when Mr. Warren succeeded Mr. Shearer as TDresident he succeeded to the responsible position of cashier, but one which he is well qualified to fill. Mr. Browne is a gentleman of thorough business habits, and apphes himself industriously to the interests of the institution with w4iich he is connected.

This bank began business in May, 1874, with a capital of f 100,- 000; William Westover, president, and W. L. Plum, cashier. In November, 1867, the Exchange Bank w^as started by William and Luther Westover, Charles F. Gibson, James J. McCormick, and H. J. Clark. In 1869 Orrin Bump eft'ected the organization of the State Bank, with W. S. Patrick president, and Orrin Bump cashier. Soon afterwards Alonzo Chesbrough bought Mr. Patrick's interest.

and became president, and the capital was increased from f 100,- 000 to f 150,000. Upon the organization of the State Bank the Exchange Bank went out of existence. Upon the death of Mr. Plum, Mr. M. M. Andrews succeeded to the position of cashier.

In May, 1878, the State Bank consolidated with the Second National, and the business continued under the charter of the latter, with William Westover president, Orrin Bump, cashier, and M. M. Andrews assistant cashier. The capital was increased to $200,000, and again, in January of the present year, increased to $250,000. This bank does the largest business of any bank in the Saginaw Valley, as the published reports show. Its officers are gentlemen of large business capacity, liberal spirit, and it is made an important factor in the business enterprise and prosperity of the city. The office is located in the Westover Block, on the corner of Center and Washington Streets.

The directors of the bank are William Westover, A. Chesbrough, H. W. Sage, Luther Westover, Orrin Bump, W. L. Smith, A. J. Cooke, A. Walton, D. C. Smalley, W. H. Tousey, and S. T. Holmes. The officers are William Westover, president; A. Chesbrough, vice-president; Orrin Bump, cashier; and M. M. Andrews, assistant cashier.

A correct idea of the large business done by this bank may be obtained from the following published report of its condition at the close of business December 30, 1882 :

William Westover, president of the Second National Bank, is one of the representative men of Bay County. He is a native of Massachusetts. In 1852 he went to Canada, where he engaged in lumbering. Subsequently he removed to Tonawanda, N. Y., still continuing his lumbering business. In 1865 he removed to Bay City, and engaged in lumbering operations here. In 1868- '69 he built the Westover Block, in which the opera house is located. This block is a structure of imposing appearance, and, at the time it was built, was a long stride of enterprise in advance of anything before attempted, but has since evidenced Mr. Westover's far-sightedness as a business man, and the liberality of his enterprise. The opera house has been of great public advantage to the place. Mr. Westover's connection with the banking interests of Bay City have already been given. He continued in the lumber business only a few years after coming here, and has since given his attention to banking business and the management of his private interests. In 1873 he began to improve 330 acres of land in Hampton Township for a farm, and which has been brought to a high state of cultiva ^ tion, and is an excellent illustration of the agricultural resources of Bay County. This farm is now finely stocked with Holstein cattle. One of Mr. Westover's sons lives upon the farm, and has the management of it. Mr. Westover's family consists of his wife and three children, two sons and one daughter. No man in Bay City is more ready to contribute to the welfare of the place than Mr. Westover.

Orrin Bump, cashier of the Second National Bank, is well known in the financial circles of the Saginaw \^alley. He is a native of Michigan, and served with distinction in the army from 1861 to the Fall of 1864. He was in a large number of battles, and was wounded three times. After leaving the army he went into a bank in Flint, remaining there until 1865, when he came to Bay City, and went into the First National Bank as book-keeper and teller. In 1869 he was instrumental in organizing the State Bank, as before stated, and has held the position of cashier since that time. He is now the oldest banker in Bay City in rank of continuous service, and is recognized as a leading financier. He is an active, thorough going business man, genial and accommodating in all his business relations, and his vigor and judgment have had much to do with building up the immense business the bank has acquired. His family consists of a wife and one daughter.

M. M. Andrews, assistant cashier of the Second National Bank, is a native of Genesee County, and came to Bay City in 1865. He first went into this bank as book-keeper, and upon the death of Mr. Plum was made cashier, which position he held until the consolidation of the two banks, when he took the position of assistant cashier, which place he still holds.

Charles M. Bump, teller of the Second National Bank, is another of its attaches who has been in continuous service for a long period of time. He is a brother of Mr. Orrin Bump, and came to Bay City in 1870. He was book-keeper in the State Bank until its consolidation with the Second National, since which time he has held the position of teller.

Bay City Bank

In 1868 the firm of George Lewis & Co. opened a private banking office, which they continued until 1871, when they organized under the state laws as the Bay City Bank, with a capital stock of f 50,000. The officers were George Lewis, president; and George H. Young, cashier. In July, 1873, the capital stock was increased to $100,000.

There is a savings department connected with the bank, which is a great convenience and benefit to a large number of the community who desire to lay aside small amounts in a safe place where interest may be reahzed. The bank is under safe and efficient management, and has always done a prosperous business. Following is a published report of the condition of the bank at the close of business, December 30, 1882 :

'George Lewis, president of the Bay City Bank, and also an extensive lumberman and mill owner, was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1827. He was brought up on a farm and had the ordinary district school advantages afforded to boys in those days. In 1849, having determined to try the West, he came to the Saginaw Valley on account of the attractions which its forests of pine offered. He tried lumbering some, but finding that his expectations were not reahzed, he went to making fish barrels at Zihvaukee, and continued in that business about six years, and also had a store there. He was supervisor to the Saginaw County Board of Supervisors before Bay County was organized. In 1858, he settled in Bay (Jity, then Lower Saginaw, and had charge of the Henry Doty mill for several years. In 1863, he formed a partnership with William Peter, and they purchased the Partridge mill. They operated this mill successfully for several years, until it burned, and they went into the banking business, the firm being George Lewis & Co. His attention was largely devoted to this business until 1879, when he purchased a half interest in the saw miU of Albert Miller, and the firm became Miller & Lewis. He has represented the county in the Legislature one term and his ward on the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Lewis is one of the Bay County pioneers whose capital to start with consisted of energy, good judgment and sagacity, and by their proper exercise have achieved fortune and honorable rank. Mr. Lewis is one of the leading men of the valley and has reason to be satisfied with what he has accomplished during his business career of thirty-four years. He has a wife and five children.

George H. Young, cashier of the Bay City Bank, is a native of Albany, N. Y., and son of Mr. George Young, a prominent capitalist, formerly of Albany but now of Bay City. Mr. George H. Young came to Bay City in 1870, from Albany, for the purpose of going into business with Mr. George Lewis. He had been connected with the Union National Bank of Albany for six years, where he had made an enviable record. He had been disciplined in one of the best of schools, and possessed a natural talent for the banking business. Upon the organization of the Bay City Bank, he took the position of cashier, and has successfully managed the affairs of the bank to the present tirne. He has a wife and two children.

Thus it will be seen that the aggregate banking capital of the incorporated banks of Bay City is $550,000, and this amount could at any time be increased to many times that sum. The surplus is $120,000 and the aggregate loans and discounts $2,077,233.63.

Fires And Fire Protection

The fire records of Bay City do not show that the place has sufl'ered to an unusual degree from fires. For twenty years the fire department has fully kept pace with the progressive movements of the village and city. The first fire of any considerable magnitude occurred in 1863. On Sunday, July 12th, a fire broke out on the south side of Center Street, just east of where the Fraser House now stands, and rapidly spread in all directions. The entire block between Center and Seventh Streets was laid in ashes ; at the same time the fire swept across Water Street and devoured everything consumable there, including the saw mill of Grant & Fay and the sash and blind factory belonging to the Carneys. The loss occasioned by this fire was estimated to be $50,000. The gain to the city was a better class of buildings.

On Sunday, October 4, 1865, a fire broke out in the Watson Block, on Water Street, and from the Griswold Block crossed Water Street, and burned from George Lord's drug store to Fifth Street, destroying the stores and places of business of the following persons: - George Lord, Decker, Lewis & Co., John Drake, T. M. Bligh, Dr. N. H. Webster, Hotchkiss & Mercer, A. Huggins, A. Lovenstein, J. J. Richardson, P. T. Devaney, H. B. Landon, Frederick Derr, United States Telegraph Co., T. C. Prosser, J. 0. Brown, Western Union Telegraph Co., William Graft'art, C. A. Jay, and H. Mellins & Co. The pulling down of the store of the last named concern prevented its further spread in this direction.

But two buildings, F. Arnold's bakery and shop, were left standing on the block surrounded by Water, Saginaw^ Center and Fiftfi Streets, and the stores and dwelling houses facing this block on the south side of Center, east side of Saginaw and north side of Fifth, were only saved by the most strenuous efforts. Most of the establishments below Fifth Street moved their goods to places of safety, the fire at one time threatening to sweep the whole of Water Street.

Sunday morning, April 9, 1871, a fire broke out in the salt block of the New York Salt Company, at Portsmouth. A strong wind was blowing, and the fire spread rapidly to other property. The property burned and losses were as follows:- Two salt blocks belonging to the New York Salt Company and rented by Albert Miller, loss $35,000, no insurance. Mr. Miller's loss was about $4,000 and no insurance. A. C. Braddock, loss $1,500, insured. The Crampt on House, $5,000; insured for $2,000. Mr. Thorp's wagon and blacksmith shop, $4,000; insured for $800. Mr. Goslaw's house, $1,000; no insurance. Mrs. John Crampton's house, $1,000; no insurance. Mr. Stewart's house, $500; insured. Mrs. Raby's house, $1,000; partial insurance. Six famihes were left homeless. Amount of property destroyed, about $53,000. About 10 o'clock the same morning another fire started in a pile of seasoned lumber, on Rust's dock, and about $30,000 worth of lumber burned; insured for $25,000. The propeller "Bay City," lying at the dock loaded with lumber, took fire, and had to be scuttled and sunk. The total loss from this day's fires, above insurance, was about $50,000.

About half past four o'clock in the afternoon of April 11, 1878, a destructive fire occurred, which was desciibed by the daily Irihune of the following day as follows:

"At about half past four o'clock yesterday afternoon, just as the Tribune had gone to press, an alarm of fire rang out, and a dense smoke was seen ascending from the direction of Eddy, Avery & Co.'s mill, at the foot of Eleventh Street. A fierce gale was blowing at the time from the southwest to northeast, directly towards the business heart of the city. Instantly aU was excitement and activity. The hose companies made quick time to the scene of the conflagration, and it seemed as if the entire population of the city were running towards the locality.

Okigin Of The Fire

"So far as can be learned, Mr. E. Y\ Wilhams was the first man that saw the flames. He is a lumber inspector, and was superintending the loading of a cargo from the dock, when, all at once, he saw a blaze spring up between two piles of lumber, about midway of the dock. The draft of the wind between the piles was strong, and they caught almost instantly, as it seemed, and a column of flame leaped high into the air. The first blaze must have caught from a spark from a passing tug, as Eddy & Avery's own tug had not been fired for some time. Mr. Fay, of the firm Gates & Fay, informs us that their tramway caught fire three times before the outbreak of the fire on the Eddy dock, by sparks from passing boats, and he sent men repeatedly to warn the managers of the River Line to keep away from the dock. By dint of stationing men with buckets of water to put out the sparks as fast -as they fell, Messrs. Gates & Fay succeeded in preventing a conflagration spreading from their docks.

"Higher and higher rose the flames, licking up with their red demon tongues pile after pile of lumber, and sending aloft into the air pillars of fire, which struck terror to the hearts of our citizens, along the river's edge from Essexville to Portsmouth, and eastward to the furthest city limits. A dense pall of smoke hung diagonally over the apparently doomed metropolis of the valley, reaching to its northeastern corner, and the air was filled with fiery torches and burning brands of pine and large sheets of tarred building paper, which burned fiercely and prolongedly after they struck the ground. These burning masses, some of them larger than a broad-brimmed hat, fell as far out as Johnson Street. The houses within a swath of five or six blocks, running back in the direction of the wind, were in constant danger from these devil's missiles, and all members of the family within the threatened districts, had full occupation in extinguishing them, or in wetting down their houses with hose or buckets. For more than half a mile back from the fire the leign of terror was universal. Men and women watched the mounting mass of flames pushing sublimely, steadily and swiftly back from the river's bank, with labored breath and eyes aglow; little children clutched their parents as if overcome by some dread sense of impending doom, - for if the wind did not abate it was only a question of time when their houses, too, would be engulfed by the red destroyer. The brave firemen fought steadily and intrepidly, although it seemed as if fate was against them. Had they had an adequate supply of hose at their command, there is a possibility that they could have confined the fire to the dock where it originated. But as it was, they fought at terrible odds.

"The heat was so intense that the hose men were obliged to direct their streams from behind wooden screens, where they stood and fought, literally enveloped by sheets of flame. The wind, fanned to the intensity of a hurricane by the heat, blew the water into a spray, that made no impression upon the burning lumber, and eftorts were now directed chiefly towards saving the mill. The openings of the mill were closed, and its engine and hose put to work flooding the roof and exposed portions. Its salvation seems like a miracle, but it was really due to persistent and heroic work.

"A tug came up to the burning dock, hitched on to a burning pile, and pulled it over into the water. The burning boards floated down to Bradley's dock, and soon the flames, as if delighted with this new prey, began to leap and dance towards Bradley's lower mill, which was soon wrapped in the destroying element. Now the progress of the flames was very rapid. The fire leaped across Water Street, from the point of its origin, and set fire to a frame building occupied as a barber shop, laundry and dwelling. It and the adjoining building, occupied by Connelly as a shoe shop, and both owned by City Attorney Daghsh, were speedily consumed. From here the flames communicated to A. Grabowsky's residence on Saginaw Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets, owned by P. J. Perrott. The adjoining house, although on fire, was saved, and the progress of the destroyer was stopped at this point. But the flying cinders communicated the flames to the residence of F. A. Bancroft, four blocks away, at the corner of Ninth and Water Streets, and that fine residence, with the adjoining one occupied by E. J.

Bay City Public Library

Wright, were speedily consumed. Then the UniversaHst Church went, then Judge Miller's beautiful residence, L. Bloeden's house on the corner of Eighth and Washington Streets, C. Brown's residence, a little in the rear, and a large number of other buildings which will be found in detail below.

Extent Of The Destruction

"It was about 8 o'clock when Judge Miller's house caught, and it was felt then that if the conflagration could not be kept from crossing Eighth Street, the best portion of thecity would have to go. Just about this time aid arrived from the Saginaws, with nearly 1,000 feet of hose, and this timely reinforcement enabled the firemen to throw^ streams of water upon the exposed as well as the burning buildings, thus raising a hope that the progress of the devourer might be stayed.

"But better still, the wind, which had been gradually abating, now^ subsided to a gentle zephyr, and the whole city drew a long breath of relief. There was then no further question that the remainder of the city would be saved. The devoted firemen continued all night to throw^ streams of water upon the embers, but the mass of citizens, except the unfortunates w4iose houses were destroyed, or whose furniture had been removed at the height of the alarm, went to their homes and slept, vividly reahzing how^ blessed is the feehng of security after passing through a season of terror. The scenes on the streets during the three hours' reign of terror before the fire was under control, were by turns ludicrous and heartrending. Furniture was removed from many houses that were thought to be in danger, and some of the friends of the threatened families, in their eagerness to serve, threw marble top tables down stairs, heaved mirrors out of the windows, and carried down mattresses, as is usual in such cases, the damage by reason of broken and scattered furniture is a large element in the ruin wrought by last night's work, which it is difficult to estimate.

"We saw little children going along the streets, their hands clasped by crying mothers or elder sisters, who knew not where they would find shelter for their little ones. Many famihes this morning were unable to find their household goods, and in a few cases children w^ere missing, but it is hoped they will turn up during the day.

"There were men with coats burned full of holes, their hair singed, and faces, necks and hands scarred from fighting the flames. There were some people who were nearly frightened out of their wits, and cut up amusing antics ; and there were others who were as cool as though sitting on the point of the north pole, and made no effort to save their property, remarking that they were 'fully insured.' There is nothing like a fire to bring out human nature.

"The tugs *Kumage' and 'Annie Moiles' lost their lines by hitching on to lumber piles which they were unable to move, and the rapid spread of the flames made it too hot to unhitch them.