Essexville City (part 3 of 5)

Patrick J. Perrott is a well known pioneer of the Saginaw Valley. He was born in Ireland in the year 1827. In 1842 he emigrated to this country with his father, 0. A. Perrott. In 1845 Mr. Perrott arrived in Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, his father having come here in 1843. He was then an intelligent Irish lad of eighteen years, small in stature, but active and resolute. His first occupation was that of cooper, which he followed for a time, mak¬ ing fish barrels. Not being able to make money fast enough at coop¬ ering, he abandoned it and engaged in fishing, which he followed until about 1860. From 1860 to 1870 he was sheriff and acting sheriff, and for several years past has been deputy sheriff. From 1875 to 1877 he was comptroller of the city, and has been a mem¬ ber of the Board of Public Works since in 1881. Mr. Perrott is an untiring worker, and one of the men who accomplishes whatever he undertakes. He is thoroughly versed in local affairs, and hav¬ ing a correct memory, is excellent authority upon matters of pioneer history. The compiler of this work is indebted to him for many historical facts of great value. Mr. Perrott was married February 4, 1850, to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Leon Trombley, the first resident of Lower Saginaw. Mrs. Perrott was the first white girl that came to the lower part of the Saginaw Valley, having come here in 1833. A school was started some eighteen miles up the river, taught by Albert Miller, now Judge Miller, of Bay City, which Miss Trombley attended. She is now the only pupil of that school living. Mr. Perrott and Miss Trombley were married at the house of Daniel S. Chapell, who lived in the vicinity of where the Peter Mill now stands. The ceremony was performed by George Iiaby, a justice of the peace, a functionary who did the most of the marrying in those days. Mr. Perrott's father died in May, 1858.

Julius B. Hart will be long remembered in connection with the early days in Lower Saginaw. He was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1816. In 1838 he emigrated to Michigan, and in 1846 came to Bay City with his brother, B. B. Hart. They established a trade with the few whites who were here, but dealt more extersively with the Indians. In early years they were extensively en¬ gaged in the fur and fish trade. There are few persons in this region who have not heard of "Jule" Hart's red letter day in the muskrat skin trade, in which he was so ably assisted by George Lord. This occurrence is narrated on another page. Mr. Hart continued in various business enterprises, but never allowed busi¬ ness to interfere with an opportunity to play a joke upon anyone who chanced to come along. In 1875 he retired from active busi¬ ness, and died in Bay City, in November, 1877. With all his fond¬ ness for fun, Mr. Hart was emphatically a humane man, and as will¬ ing to do an act of kindness as to play a joke.

B. B. Hart continued in business with his brother until about 1850, when they dissolved. Subsequently he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber and salt with Dr. George E. Smith, and still later they were in the grocery trade until about 1874, when they sold their business to other parties. Mr. Hart is now a resi¬ dent of Minneapolis, where he has been engaged for two or three years in the coffee and spice business.

Curtis Munger was born in Bergen, Genesee Co., N. Y., March 20, 1820. Came to Michigan in 1840, and settled in Oakland County, where he learned the trade of cooper. In the Fall of 1846 he, with some others, went to the Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron, in the coopering and fishing business, catching whitefish for the Eastern market, where he remained until the latter part of No¬ vember, 1848, when, with his party, he intended to take one of the down steamers from Chicago to Detroit, and return home. Several steamers passed the island, but so far off in the lake that they could not see their signals. It was getting very cold, and they had got out of provisions, so the party took turns sitting up nights keeping signal fire to hail any passing vessel to take them off. After wait¬ ing eight or ten days without any hope of relief, and to add to their suffering their provisions were all gone. The party consisted of Curtis Munger, James Beebe, Edwin Park, and Michael Daily, who yet reside in Bay City, and W. H. Hunter and Joseph Parkerson, who have left the country. A heavy snowstorm from the north¬ east set in, and what to do they did not know; to remain would be folly, as the Winter had commenced, and they were getting hungry, as they had finished their last provisions two days before. A council was held as to what should be done. Joseph Parkerson proposed they should start in their open fishboat for Lower Saginaw, as Bay City was then called, and if they could reach there he knew an old lady by the name of Mrs. McCormick, who lived in the largest house there, with whom he had lived when a boy, and whom he called mother. If they could only reach there she would take good care of them. This Mrs. McCormick was the wife of the late James McCormick, one of the first settlers of the Saginaw Val¬ ley, who died two years before, in 1846, and was the mother of the late James McCormick, and also W. R. McCormick, who still lives in Bay City. They finally made up their minds to start for Lower Saginaw. They put six half-barrels of fish in the boat for ballast, then went to the lighthouse and saw the keeper, Capt. Malden, but could get no provisions, as he was nearly out himself. He gave them one good square meal, and they started in their open boat for Lower Saginaw. None of them had ever been over the route be¬ fore except Michael Daily. The storm was blowing a hurricane from the northeast, accompanied with snow. They had to keep bailing their boat to keep her afloat, in which they took turns during the night. After much suffering they reached Point Au Gres. The wind died away, so that they were obliged to take to the oars before reaching the point. A gale sprang up from the south; they landed on the north side in the smooth water; went ashore, cut some cedars, and made a place to lay down to sleep, without anything to eat, tired and worn out. In the morning the ice had frozen on the north side of the point, where their boat lay several rods from shore, and the wind blowing a gale from the southwest, so that it was impossible to leave. Towards night, Parkerson said he was going to have some supper. They asked him where he was going to get it. He said: - "I will show you." He unlieaded one of the half-barrels of fish, and took an old bailing dish he had in the boat, which had a hole in the bottom, put the fish in it, and put it on the fire, but in a few seconds the water had all run out, which also extinguished the fire. He tried this several times. "At last he cried out to the boys that supper was ready, but when we tried," says Mr. Munger, " to eat,we found that it was scarcely warmed through, so we ate it raw. It did not do me much good, for in a few minutes I vomited it all up." On the second day, towards night, the wind changed to the northeast, blowing very hard, increasing every minute. They went for the boat and found her pounding on the rocks, and in a little while she would have gone to pieces. They got her off after a long time by wading in the water; got her around the point to the south side out of danger. They now got ready to start, as the wind was fair, but the wind increased to such a gale that they were obliged to wait until morning, or until the gale went down. They laid in their boat in their wet clothes until morning. Says Mr Munger: - "I never slept a wink,but nearly froze to death." When the morning came, the wind had somewhat abated; still there was a heavy sea running. They then hoisted sail, and started for the Saginaw River. When they reached the mouth, Michael Daily left them, and started for old Uncle Harvey Williams', at the mouth of the Kawkawlin River. After proceeding up the Saginaw River two miles, they came to a little house on the side of the river, when Mr. Munger asked Parkerson who lived there, when Parkerson replied, "Trombley." They had not gone far before they came to another house, when Munger again asked who lived there, when Parkerson replied, "Trombley." They soon came to another, where the village of Banks now stands, when Mr. Munger says to Parkerson: - "This is a comfortable looking house; I guess we can get something to eat here. Who lives here?" when Parkerson replied: - "Trombley." "My Lord," says Mr. Munger, "is there no one but Trombley's in this country." They proceeded on up the river, and soon came to the house of Mother McCormick's, as Parkerson called her. This house is still standing, and is now called the Center House, on the corner of Twenty-fourth and Water Streets. Mr. Munger says: - "When we landed I was in my stocking feet, as my feet were so swollen by exposure that I could not get on my boots; so I say that when I first came to Bay City I was in my stocking feet; this was December 1, 1848. We were hospitably received by Mrs. Mc¬ Cormick, who did everything in her power to alleviate our suffer¬ ings, and whose kindness I shall never forget " While here, Edwin Park and Mr. Munger took a contract for making fish barrels during the Winter after their return from Detroit, where they had to go to get their returns for their fish, which they had shipped from Thunder Bay Island. So they left Mrs. McCormick, and started for Detroit on foot. They crossed the Saginaw River on the ice at the elbow, and started up the bank of the river over the prairie, the snow and water two feet deep most of the way to Zilwaukee, where they stayed all night. Mr. Mungersays: - "This was the hardest day's work I ever did; I never was so tired in all my life. The next day we started for Flint early, as there was not much of a road between Flint and Saginaw at this time. We met but one person this day between Flint and Saginaw, which was the mail carrier, with an Indian pony, with the mail strapped on his back. I called the at¬ tention of my comrade, Edwin Park, to see how nicely that pony would walk a log to keep out of the mud. We arrived that night at Flint. The next day we reached Pontiac, and the next day Detroit." After settling his business in Detroit, he returned with Edwin Park to Lower Saginaw, and made it his home with Mrs. McCormick, and went at his contract with Edwin Park, making fish barrels. He continued working at the cooperage business for about two years. In the year 1850, Mr. Munger went into the grocery business on Water Street, between First and Second, under the name of Park & Munger, up to 1854, when Mr. Munger's brother came on, joined the- firm, when they enlarged their business, and went into a gen¬ eral stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., under the name of Munger & Co. In 1861 Mr. Edwin Park retired from the firm, and went into the hotel business. Their business became so large that they were obliged to build a more commodious building. They joined James Snearer in building" the Shearer Block, corner of Water and Centre Streets, and moved into their new location in 1866, and com¬ menced the exclusive business of dry goods. This building in a few years became too small for their increasing business. They then commenced the erection of the Munger Block, on the corner of Saginaw and Centre Streets, with double stores for extensive dry goods, into which they removed in 1878. In 1874 they sold out to Messrs. Cooke & Co., and retired from active business, since which time Mr. Curtis Munger, with his brother, has devoted his time to taking charge of his large real estate. Mr. Munger has held many public offices in Bay City. He was the first president of the vil¬ lage council for two consecutive years. Was for two terms elected county treasurer of Bay County, and many other offices of public trust, all of which he has filled with the entire confidence of the public. There are few men that are more identified with the growth and prosperity of Bay City than Curtis Munger, and who are so in¬ variably respected.

Edwin Park, one of the early pioneers of the Saginaw Valley, was born in Tioga County, N. Y., November 15, 1822, where he lived until 1842, when he came to Michigan and settled at Marengo, near Battle Creek, where he followed his trade of cooper. After working there for some time, and business getting dull, he went to Chicago, where he found work at his trade. He stayed there until January, when he went to Ottawa, on the Illinois River, where he worked at his trade until late in the Spring of the same year. Work getting scarce, he started on foot for Pontiac, Mich., where he found work at his trade until the following December, Work get¬ ting dull again, he went to Franklin, Mich., where he worked at his trade until 1846. He then went to Thunder Bay Island, on Lake Huron, to make fish barrels during the Summer of the same year. From thence he went to Au Sable, and in order to build a shop he had to go to Devil River to procure lumber. This was the first build¬ ing erected at the place. Here he worked until late in the Fall, when he, with five others, took their open sail boat and started for Detroit, as they could not stay all Winter in that isolated place, as there were no provisions to be had. They arrived in Detroit after a long and tedious voyage, being nearly ship-wrecked twice. It was a hazardous undertaking for five men in an open sail boat to cross the Saginaw Bay and down Lake Huron at that season of the year. Mr. Park said thirty-six years after that it was the hardest time he ever saw, and that he never expected to reach land alive. He stayed in Detroit until the Spring of* 1847, when he returned to the Au Sable, where he remained until the Fall, when he came to Lower Sag¬ inaw and with Mr. C. Munger went into the coopering and fishing business. During this time, he and his partner, C. Munger, made their home with Mrs. McCormick, widow of James McCormick, the old pioneer who had died the year before, whose residence, on what is now the corner of Twenty-fourth and Water Streets, is still standing, and is what is called the Center House. Soon after this, he and C. Munger built a small store on Water Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, and went into the grocery trade in con¬ nection with their cooperage business. It was not long before they found their little store was too small to accommodate rapidly increasing trade; they then had to build a larger store which they filled with a general assortment of hardware, dry goods, groceries, liquors, and drugs, when he took A. S. Munger as a partner. This was in 1854, and from that time the firm of Munger & Park was changed to Munger & Co., up to 1861, when Mr. Park withdrew from the firm and went into the hotel business as landlord of the Wolverton House, up to 1862. Previously he had made a contract for making the first salt barrels in Bay County, and he refrained from hotel business in order to ful¬ fill the same and other contracts. Some time after, he with C. McDowell purchased the comer of Third and Water Streets and erected a fine brick block. They then went into the wholesale liquor trade for eight years, when he sold out and went into the tug and barge business in carrying lumber from the Saginaw Valley to eastern and western ports.

Jonathan Smith Barclay, more familiarly called Uncle John, was born in Northumberland County, Penn., August 8, 1808. When sixteen years old he went to Mauch Chunk, where he learned | the trade of mill-wriglit. When twenty-two years old he went to Tam aqua, Schuylkill County, to build railroad. From there he went to Pottsville, where he worked at his trade six or seven years; thence to Lycoming County to build a furnace. When finished he started for Rochester, N. Y., hearing there was a great demand for mill-wrights at that place. Here he stayed two years, helping to build some of the largest flouring mills there. At this time the war between Texas and Mexico was raging, so he with a party of young men started as volunteers for Texas, but when they reached Cleveland, Ohio, news came that Santa Ana was taken and had sur¬ rendered to the Texans. At this time, the Toledo war had broken out concerning the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan, so instead of going to Texas, he with sixteen others took a boat for Monroe. When they landed, Gov. Mason was removing his troops. After the review was over, he with his party of sixteen went to the Governor and offered him their services, which he declined, saying he had nothing to feed them, and no arms to arm them with. He then started for Detroit, where he stayed a few days and started on foot for Jackson and from there to Albion, looking for work, but found none. He then went to Tekonsha where he took a contract to build a saw mill and afterwards a hotel. He stayed there three years, when he returned to Albion to help build the first flour mill, and tended it for five years. While here he was elected justice of the peace, which duty he attended for years, besides occasional pettifoging suits. He was also appointed agent for the Michigan Central Railroad, which position he held four or five years. During this time he married Miss Sarah Ann Sweeney; he then moved to De¬ troit and kept the Michigan Central Eating House in the depot for the accommodation of passengers. He then went into company with a man by the name of Hiram McKaint, in a general assort¬ ment for a country store, which they were to start at Lower Sag¬ inaw, now Bay City. They purchased their stock and started for Lower Saginaw, where they arrived the 20th of December, 1849.

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

Thomas Carney, Sr., was born at Landport, England, 1814. In 1883 he emigrated to America, and until 1862 was sailing on the lakes. In 1837 he was married, in Canada, to Miss Mary Roach, a native of Canada. In 1849 they settled in Bay City. In 1850 Mr. Carney built a house on the corner of Wsahington and Fifth, at that time the only house on the street. They lived in that house for twenty years. Mr. Carney bought village property, built houses and speculated quite extensively in real estate for several years, and still owns city property which he rents. In 1862 Mr. Carney left the lakes, and since that time has occupied himself chiefly with his property interests. He has occasionally taken contracts for public improvements, such as the Tuscola and State plank roads. Mrs. Carney is a most estimable woman, and at an early day, her kind¬ ness of heart was often manifested in times of sickness and suffering. Mr. Carney is an enthusiastic supporter of the tem¬ perance cause, and is one of the leading members of the Red Ribbon Club. They have had six children, only two of whom are now living, R. J. and W. E. Carney, both lumber dealers in Bay City.

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

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

"Whereas, a few evil-disposed persons have, from sinister mo¬ tives, circulated reports derogatory to the reputation of the present county treasurer of this county, and

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

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

In 1868 Mr. Cottrell was elected county superintendent of schools. In 1873 he resigned that office and returned to Bay City, and engaged in insurance, which he still continues, doing a very | large and prosperous business. He is a very prominent member of j the Masonic fraternity, and one of the oldest Masons in the city.

! He was married May 27, 1869, to Miss Bettie Rogers, daughter of the late Thomas Rogers, one of the early pioneers of Bay County. Their family residence since 1875 has been on the corner of Eighth I and Farragut Streets. Mr. Cottrell is something of a linguist, speak- | ing quite an assortment of Indian dialects, and is said to be the best story-teller in the Valley.

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

James Watson also came in 1850. He had long been known as a merchant of Detroit of the firm of J. & J. Watson, and determined to seek a location for his business in some of the new prospective cities of the state. In seeking a point at which to locate, his steps were directed to the Saginaw Valley. He came to Saginaw City, where he met his old time friend, James Fraser, who, being desirous of securing an acquisition to the business interests of the Valley, descanted freely on all the advantages that town possessed; for at that time Saginaw City was the only town in the Valley where there was any show for business. After looking the ground over at that point, they came together to this part on the river. Mr. Watson's remarks were few but his foresight keen. After satisfying himself and selecting such pieces of property as he desired to purchase, he told Mr. Fraser he had determined to locate here if he could make such terms as he proposed. Mr. Fraser being agreeably surprised to hear such a determination expressed, readily acceded to Mr. Watson's terms, and a bargain was soon consummated. With other property Mr. Watson purchased the dock and warehouse which was then standing at the foot of Center Street. The warehouse was soon converted into a store and filled with one of the largest stocks of goods that had ever been brought into the Valley. This was late in the Fall of 1850, and some of Mr. Watson's friends expressed surprise that he should have purchased so large a stock of goods for such an out-of-the-way place, but before the breaking up of Winter Mr. Watson had to send six teams to Detroit each to bring a load of goods to supply the demand. (It must be remembered that at this time in Winter the only method of transporting merchandise to points north of Pontiac, was by teams.) About this time was the first revival of business in the Valley, after the great depression in 1887 and 1888. A large amount of furs were brought to market, the fishing business was carried on quite extensively and the lumber business was just commencing. Mr. Watson was interested with Col. Henry Raymond in the lumber business - their mill being that afterward owned by James Shearer & Co., it having been built by Col. Raymond in 1850. Mr. Watson retired from the mill and car¬ ried on other branches of business, never forgetting to purchase real estate whenever an opportunity presented itself. By that means and through his indomitable energy and excellent business qualifi¬ cations, he was one of the leading men of the Valley.

Dr. George E. Smith was the first male physician who settled at Lower Saginaw and remained in practice for any considerable length of time. He came to Saginaw in 1887, where he learned the printer's trade. His health failing he tried sailing with his brother, Capt. David Smith, and received a satisfactory amount of experience by being shipwrecked on the Canada shore. He then returned to Saginaw and studied medicine with Dr. George Davis, and finally graduated at the Cleveland Medical College. In 1850 he came to Lower Saginaw and was for a time the only physician in the vicini¬ ty. He continued in practice until about 1861, when he turned his attention to other branches of business. He was engaged in the manufacture of lumber and salt, and in the grocery business with B. B. Hart. He kept the first drug store in the place, and was postmaster from 1858 to 1861. It was during his administration that the name of the office was changed from Hampton to Bay City. In 1878 he retired from business and resumed the practice of medi¬ cine as his health would permit. He is still a much respected citi¬ zen of Bay City.

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

Charles E. Jennison is another of the pioneers of 1850. He was born in Louisiana in 1829. Came North in 1884, and his parents lived in Brooklyn until 1841, when they removed to Dan¬ ville, Penn. In 1850 Mr. Jennison came to Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, to go into the mercantile business in company with the late James Fraser. After continuing in the partnership for about eighteen months he purchased Mr. Fraser's interest, and continued the business alone till 1854, at which time he was joined by his brother, the late H. W. Jennison. After that the business was en¬ larged and carried on under the name of C. E. Jennison & Bro., till the death of the brother, which occurred in 1864. He was cut off in the vigor of his manhood and usefulness, and the people of Bay City felt that they had been called upon to part with one of the most useful and prominent members of society. Mr. Jennison continued to be more or less interested in the hardware and stove business until about 1870, when he was burned out, and has not been ac¬ tively interested in mercantile pursuits since that time, though he is at present a member of the hardware firm of Tousey & Jennison. During the continuance of his successful mercantile business he was wise enough to invest all the surplus profits in real estate, which has made him one of the most successful business men in the Saginaw Valley, and perhaps the wealthiest in Bay City. Mr. Jennison's sterling business qualifications have served greatly to pro¬ mote the interests of the city, and it is hoped they will long con¬ tinue to do so. He was president of the Bridge Company for several years, and is vice-president of the Pipe Works. He built the Jen¬ nison Block on Water Street in 1870. In 1851 he built a dwelling house on the corner of Center and Washington Streets. At that time there were no improvements in. that part of the town, and beyond where the Court House now stands was thick forest. He rebuilt his house in 1864, and at the present time is building one of the finest residences in the city, on the corner of Ninth and Jackson Streets. He has made three additions to the city, and is interested in one other. He devotes his entire time to the management of his large real estate and other interests. He has a family consisting of a wife and six children. Mrs. Jennison is a daughter of the late Hon. James G. Birney, of national fame. Mr. Jennison is one of the men whose faith in a prosperous future for Bay City has been strong from the very first. He began early to invest in real estate, and always advised men in his employ to do the same with what means'they could save. The correctness of his judgment has long since been demonstrated.

William Catlin, deceased, was born February 26, 1817, in the town of Catharine, and what was then Chemung County, N. Y., and in May, 1849, he, with his family, started for Lower Saginaw, (as it was then called), Mich. They came by water to Detroit, ex¬ pecting to take a boat at that place and come the rest of the way, but after waiting a few days, decided to take the cars, which only brought them eighteen miles, when they took the stage as far as Pontiac, where they hired a private conveyance to bring them through to Upper Saginaw, the roads being so rough the men were obliged frequently to lift the wagon wheels out of the ruts to get along at all. Upon arriving at that place they made their way to a hotel kept by Mr. Jewett, where they remained a day or two, when they again proceeded on their journey, taking passage on the first steamboat running on the Saginaw River - and that as yet un¬ finished. Upon arriving at their place of destination they were met by his brother, Israel Catlm, and were taken to his home, where they enjoyed a good rest after a tiresome journey, and as soon as a house could be got in readiness, moved into a home of their own, situated where the Munger Block now stands. Mr. Catlin being a good sawyer, he soon found employment in a mill owned by Hopkins & Co., and afterwards worked in a mill at Portsmouth, for McCor¬ mick & Miller. But himself and family were sick a greater part of the time, and after remaining a little over a year, at the earnest solicit¬ ation of friends East, they returned to their former home in the state of New York. After the war broke out he, like thousands of other loyal men, felt it his duty to take up arms in defence of his country, and enlisted in Company A, Fifth Regiment, New York Volunteers, was wounded in battle and went home, remaining with his family several weeks, when being so much improved, he returned to the hospital in Annapolis, Md., but after a few weeks was taken sick with pneumonia, and died January 18, 18G5. In 1872, his widow, with her children, came to Bay City, where they now reside, with the exception of her daughter, wife of W. W. Hodgkins, who died August 24, 1882.

J ohn Drake is one of the early mill men of Bay County. He is a native of Scotland, and emigrated to Canada in 1884. In June, 1851, he started with his brother James and a hired man, from Delaware, near London, (in Canada West, the Province was then called,) and came to Port Huron, where they purchased a small sail boat, hired a boatman to manage it, provided themselves with a tent and supplies, and commenced a coasting voyage along the shores of Lake Huron and the Saginaw Bay, Lower Saginaw being their point of destination, at which place they arrived after six days' sailing, with many narrow escapes from capsizing their little craft, which proved to be a crank affair, and afterwards caused disaster to others by capsizing in the river. Mr. Drake's object in coming to Michigan was to engage in the lumber busi¬ ness, and on his arrival at Lower Saginaw he landed his boat at the dock of the Dunlap Mill, (now Gate's & Fay's) and the first person he encountered on the shore was the late James Fraser, who, under the circumstances, was the very man he should first become acquainted with in the Valley, Mr. Drake being a native of Scotland, which was of itself sufficient to interest Mr. Fraser in his behalf; but when the object of Mr. Drake's coming to the Saginaw Valley was made known, Mr. Fraser became doubly interested, as he was always on the alert to induce capital and business to center in this locality. Mr. Drake spent some time in viewing the different localities on the river, making several trips to the towns on the upper portion of the river where many tempting offers were made him of property for a mill site, but he rejected them all, and finally selected the point (now in West Bay City) where the well known Drake Mill now stands. In two different negotiations he purchased from Mrs. Birney, wife of the late James G. Birney, the forty-four acre tract which is contiguous to the mill, with eighty rods of river front for about $1,400, not a bad bargain when we take into con¬ sideration the present value of the property, which would probably be estimated at $150,000. He completed the mill and operated it until 1853, when he sold it to Kibbie, Whittemore & Co.

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

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

Philip Simon is a native of Germany, and emigrated to Amer¬ ica in 1848. After stopping about a year at Syracuse, N. Y., he came to Bay City, or Lower Saginaw as it was then cahed. This was in 1849. After settling here he worked in the mills for about a year, and then started a meat market, the first permanent market started in the place. It was located on the ground where Mr. Kittridge's shoe store now stands, at the corner of Center and Sag¬ inaw Streets. He built a frame dwelling, using part of it for his market, and the remaining portion he used as a hotel, which was called the Bay City House. He afterwards engaged in the mercan¬ tile business in the same block. He continued in the market until about 1857, and in the store until 1868. He built and still owns the block of buildings on Center Street, extending west from Saginaw Street. In 1864 he built his present residence at the cor¬ ner of Twelfth and Midison Streets. When in the meat business he purchased twenty-five acres of land in that locality at a nominal price, for his slaughter house. When he built his residence, it was in a wild region just bordering upon a swamp. The nearest buildings were a few shanties on Washington Street. Now, however, it is located in a delightful part of the city, and his property is very val¬ uable. He still owns a large number of lots which are a part, of the original purchase. By his industry and prudence, assisted by a good wife, he acquired a handsome property during his business career. For several years he has not been engaged in active business, but has occupied himself with his property interests. For some time he has been out of health and unable to get about. His family con¬ sists of a wife and twelve children.

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

William McEwan is one of the*pioneers of 1850. He w T as born in Glasgow, Scotland, in the year 1828, and emigrated to this country in 1848. In the Fall of 1850 he settled in Lower Saginaw. His brother, Alexander, had come with him, and they built a mill, since known as the McEwan Mill, and still in operation upon the original site near the northern limits of the city. In 1851 another brother, John, came and went into business with them. In 1858 Alexander died, and the business was continued by William and John. Mr. William McEwan continued in the lumber business until within a few years, when he retired to give attention to his I extensive real estate interests. In 1858 he married Miss Annie F.

I tive and delightful, was desolate enough, being covered with stumps, through which wound a tortuous path to the forest just beyond. Mr. McEwan and his brother built and operated the first grist mill in the Saginaw Valley. Mr. McEwan has been active in building up the city. In 1869 he built a brick business block on Water Street,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pioneer Pastimes

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

How Lord Got Even With Hart Getting A Cheap Horse

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

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

In early days when hotels were^scarce, new comers to the state of Michigan were forced to ask favors of the older settlers, which in these days would be looked, upon as the height of presumption. There was a young lawyer residing in the then small village of La¬ peer, having but recently taken to himself a wife and commenced housekeeping. There was no hotel in the place, and travelers ofttimes made use of the lawyer's barn, [sometimes without so much as saying "by your leave." He had decided to remove to Bay City, and was making preparation to do so, when his barn was appropri¬ ated by a new comer to the neighborhood, who put a load of hay into the loft, and drove a cow into the yard to eat the hay. The evening before he left for Bay City, the lawyer was in "the store" of the village, and met the Bev. Mr. Smith, a Congregational min¬ ister (afterwards settled in East Saginaw), who had but recently taken charge of the little flock about Lapeer. As they conversed, Mr. Smith remarked, "I wish I could buy a good cow." "Do you want a cow?" said the lawyer. "I'm; glad you mentioned it, for there's one up at my barn which I can't take away with me. You can have her, if you/will, and there's a load of hay in the barn to feed her with." Profuse were the thanks of the reverend gentleman afc so munificent a bequest. "But," said the lawyer, "I must tell you about her. She is the most pe¬ culiar cow you ever saw. She must be milked before five o'clock in the morning or you can't get her to give down a drop of milk. "Well, I am an early riser," said the dominie,G'I can milk her be¬ fore five, as well as after." The lawyer moved to Bay City, and the minister was careful to milk his cow "before five o'clock" each morning, and a noble mess of milk she gave, and with liber¬ ality was the hay fed to her. Things went well for several days, until while milking one morning, the parson's ears were shocked with the profane expletives of a voice which called'him a thief, a robber, and sundry other pet names which to a minister was simply horri¬ fying. "I've caught you at last, you hypocritical, thieving parson; preaching honesty to the people, and robbing your neighbors of his milking stool the parson faced the irate farmer, who for a time would give him no chance to get a word in edgewise. "But it's my cow," at last got in the parson; "the lawyer made me a present of her, and of the hay in the barn, the night before he left." Expla¬ nations ensued, and as both realized the sell, both enjoyed a hearty laugh, and were good friends. The lawyer has become a prominent member of the Bay County bar, and has contributed liberally upon it down cellar and tapped it, when old Tom drew a glass full and handed it to one of them. When the fellow had tasted it, he asked old Tom if he called that whiskey. "Yes, you have drank Saginaw water so long, you fool, you don't know what good whis¬ key is!" "Well, try it yourself!" Tom tasted, and threw it on the floor, glass and all. Then there was trouble; the first thing he out of the cellar, put it on the wagon and started back for the warehouse, swearing all the way there, saying he would kill "Jule." In the meantime, the crowd had taken their last drink out of old Tom's barrel, and filled it up with water and rolled it out where Tom could see it when he came back. The next thing was to hide "Jule" away, or old Tom would kill him. It was not long before old Tom came back determined to kill "Jule," but they told him "Jule" had just gone down on the Bay to liis fishery. "Well," says old Tom, "it is a lucky thing, or I would have killed him, sure!"

Too Big A Charge For The Game

There was plenty of good bear hunting in the woods where a large portion of Bay City now stands, twenty-five or thirty years ago. Jn those days Harry Campbell was a frequent and lively vis¬ itor, One time he came down to see the Judge, and have a little fun with the boys; he had not been here very long when the Judge rushed into the house where Harry sat, toasting himself by the fire, and exclaimed to him: - "Quick, Harry, there's a big bear just out in the woods!" Guns were always in readiness for sport, and it was but a few moments before Harry, led by his brother and one or two other friends, was hurrying through the stumps of the clear¬ ing which extended almost to Washington Street. Cautiously feel¬ ing their way through the woods, they reached a point not far from the present site of the court house, when Harry was shown the bear, which proved to be a very large coal black hog, belonging to the brother, his pilot. After a good laugh, the party wended its way back to the house. Harry watched his chance, by the way, to separate from the rest, and placed in the gun a charge of about six inches deep. On reaching the house the gun was care¬ lessly placed in the corner, and the company about the fire in¬ dulged in a series of jokes and the enjoyment of a good time gen¬ erally. Presently Harry left the house and went down to the river bank, about in the rear of the present Jennison Block, returning presently with the carelessly imparted information that there was "a thundering flock of ducks just settled in the river." "We'll have some for supper," exclaimed his brother, seizing the gun from the corner, cautiously picked his way to a favorite log on the river bank, behind which he was accustomed to lay in wait for the feathered tribe. Harry and the rest of the company followed behind, and watched the sport. With the breech to his shoulder, and the barrel resting on the log, sportsman blazed away at the innocent ducks.

It was hard to tell which end of the gun killed most. Sportsman fell back on the ground with his left hand to his right shoulder, in his agony, asking between paroxysms of pain, "What the thunder had got into that gun." "Why, you foolish fellow," said Harry, "you've been trying to shoot ducks with a bear charge." All pres¬ ent saw the point of the joke, and it is said joined in attempting to relieve the sufferer, by copious applications of whiskey internally and externally.

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

Pulling A Tooth

One day a stranger came into the settlement, and entering a place where were gathered a few of the early philanthropists, en¬ quired if there was a doctor about who could pull a tooth. His face was swollen and he appeared to be suffering severely from tooth¬ ache. They told him there was not a doctor around. But just then one of the party .caught sight of some one of the professional

1 tricksters, and told the stranger to wait a minute as the doctor was just coming. Calling the joker in, it was not difficult to make him understand what w T as on the programme. Assuming a wise ex¬ pression of countenance, he told the stranger to sit in a chair that stood there. Then looking at his tooth, pronounced it a bad case, and he said he would have to tie his hands to the chair, as he was frequently troubled by patients seizing hold of the instrument. Making his hands secure to the rounds of the chair, he then took his pocket knife and ploughed around the tooth,curing the tooth-ache by inflicting greater pain. He then took a piece of wood and crowded it between the patient's jaws to keep his mouth open, as he explained that they frequently would shut their jaws together on his instruments. Having securely gagged and bound the unsuspect¬ ing victim, the pretended doctor said he would have to run up stairs and get his instruments. Off he went, and there being back stairs leading from the second story, he made his exit and visited another part of town. One by one the occupants of the place had sauntered out, and the prisoner was left alone to wait and think. The result of his thinking was, in the course of time, a conclusion that he had been victimized. Tradition says, in a general way, that he got mad and finally broke loose, but did not afterwards seek the services of a Lower Saginaw dentist.

A volume might be filled with early day jokes, but the foregoing will give the key to the music of life among the early settlers. Separ¬ ated from surrounding civilization, they constituted a world by themselves; and while privileges have multiplied with development, it would be difficult to convince a pioneer that his real enjoyment, has been increased. The hearty ringing laugh has dwindled away to a feeble though artistic smile, and the vigorous shake of the hand has been superseded by a languishing touch of finger tips. Manifold have been the changes both in the physical features of the place and in its social life. Unseemly shapes have been rounded into artistic figures, and tortuous lines have become graceful curves. Most of the old landmarks are gone, and soon the stories of those early scenes will no longer be told by any who participated in them.

Municipal Organization

Bay City was incorporated as a village in the Winter of 1859, by an act of the Legislature. A number of saw mills had been estab¬ lished and the dawn of still greater prosperity was just breaking. The physical beauty of the place, however, was but little improved. The place was well supplied with churches and schools. The population of the village, at the date of its incorporation, was about 700 souls, the United States census of 1860 showing a population in the entire of Bay County, of only 1,519. This population was engaged prin¬ cipally in lumbering and fishing, this latter industry comprising a no mean proportion of the exports from the village, while the excel¬ lent adaptation of the soil of the county to agricultural purposes, had not yet attracted very general attention or interest. The first election under the village charter occurred on the 2nd day of May, A. D., 1859, at Birney Hall, on Water Street, Calvin C. C. Cliillson and Doctor Lewis Fuchsius, being judges of the polls, with Albert Wedthoff, clerk of the Board. At this election 155 votes were cast for the office of president, Curtis Munger being elected by ninety-two votes, against sixty-three cast for George Lord, and J. S. Barclay. Charles Atwood w T as elected to fill the office of recorder; John F. Cot¬ trell, as treasurer; Albert Miller, James J. McCormick, Henry W. Jennison, Israel Catlin, Henry M. Bradley and Harmon A. Cham¬ berlin, trustees. The first meeting of the council was held in a room over the store of Jennison Bros., at the foot of Fifth Street, on May 6, 1859. At a meeting of the Board on the 23rd of May, John A. Weed was appointed village marshal; Henry M. Bradley street commissioner, and Algernon S. Munger and William Daglish, assessors. Among the first acts of the village trustees was the or¬ dering of sidewalks on Washington Street, from First to Tenth Street, and the opening of Jefferson and Madison Streets, north of Center Street. At a meeting held May 80th, both of the gentlemen -who had been appointed village assessors having declined to act, A. G. Sinclair, and Charles D. Fisher were appointed; Mr. Sinclair declining,Mr. Henry Raymond was appointed in his place June 6tli. At a meeting June Bd, the salary of the village attorney was fixed at $75 per year, and James Birney was appointed as the legal ad¬ viser of the Board. On June 27th, a general tax for village purposes of $ 1,047 and a highway tax of one-half of 1 per cent was certified toby the assessors. On December 19, 1859, a committee on fire department was instituted, consisting of Israel Catlin,H. M. Bradley and H. A. Chamberlin, who on January 4, 1860, were instructed "to rent a sufficient amount of leather hose to use until Spring, and to procure a triangle for the use of the hose house." This seems to have been the germ whence sprang the present excellent fire department.

A Chartered City

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

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

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

First Mayor Of Bay City

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

Present City Officers

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

Present Mayor Of Bay City

Thomas A. E. Weadock, present mayor of Bay City, was born at Ballygarret, Ireland, January 1, 1850. His parents emigrated to America in 1850, and settled at St. Marys, Ohio, where his father died in 1868, and his mother in 1876. His early education was acquired at the district and union schools in St. Marys. In 1871, having earned some money at school teaching, he entered the law school of Michigan University, where he graduated Bachelor of Laws, March 26, 1878, and was admitted to the bar of the Su¬ preme Courts of Michigan and Ohio the same year.

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

In politics he has always been a Democrat; but previous to his nomination for mayor he had never been a candidate for any po¬ litical office.

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

Churches And Church History Reminiscences By Judge Albert Miller

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

"The first sermon I heard in Michigan was delivered by a pre¬ siding elder from the Ohio Conference. His name was Gilruth, - a large, portly man, with all the characteristics of an old-time Method¬ ist minister. That was in 1881, and I think the first sermon preached in that settlement. In 1882 Charles and John Butler re¬ sided in the southern part of the Grand Blanc settlement, (they had been connected with a Congregational Church in Western New Y T ork,) and in the Summer of that year the people gathered on Sabbath afternoons at the house of one of the brothers to hear a sermon read and prayer offered. In the Summer of 1888 Rev. James F. Davison, of the Methodist connection, preached occasion¬ ally in the settlement. During that same Summer a Congregational Church was organized, which was the first church organization be¬ tween Pontiac and the Straits of Mackinaw.

"In 1888 I removed from Genesee County to Saginaw, but I be¬ lieve the first church organization after the one at Grand Blanc was a Congregational Church in 1886, at Mount Morris, six miles north of Flint. The place was then called the Coldwater settlement, on ac¬ count of the strict temperance principles of the people. About that time a Presbyterian Church was organized at Flint. The Methodist Episcopal Church had a preaching station at Flint, but I believe no church organization till after the ones above referred to.

"In the Summer of 1888, the Ohio Methodist Episcopal Confer¬ ence attempted to establish a missionary station among the Indians at Saginaw, and also to furnish preaching for the white settlers at that point. They sent out a smart young minister named Frazee, well educated, a fluent speaker, and who was fond of a good horse, as I believe most Methodist ministers are. Mr. Frazee met with a rather cool reception among the Indians; the traders did not en¬ courage them at all in the matter of having teachers among them, telling them that their business was hunting, not looking at papers, as they expressed the art of studying. At one time, after preaching on a Sabbath at a white settlement on the Tittabawassee, Mr. Fra¬ zee was inquired of as to his congregation. He said there were some women present, but the men he believed had all gone hunting. After visiting Saginaw once or twice, he found that the besetting sin of a portion of the people was selling whiskey to the Indians, and on one occasion in his sermon he boldly denounced such practices, which caused as great an uproar, in a small way, as Paul's preach¬ ing at Ephesus did; for like Demetrius and his followers, they knew that 'by this craft they got their wealth.' During the night, after the sermon, 'certain lewd fellows of the baser sort' entered the stable where the minister's horse was kept, and sheared the hair from the animal's mane and tail. In passing through the country on his return the horse displayed a prominent sign of the depravity of human nature. The next minister that came to the Saginaw' Circuit, was the Rev. William H. Brockway, a young man particularly well adapted to his work, and subsequent years have shown him well adapted to other positions in life than a pioneer missionary. Mr. Brock way mingled freely with the people, assisting them in whatever labor they were engaged in. He would rebuke every sinful practice that came within his knowledge, in such a way as to give no offence, thereby gaining the respect of the people and doing much to check the evils of profanity, drunkenness and Sabbath breaking. I recol¬ lect on an occasion of a quarterly meeting he preached in the 'messhouse,' attached to the American Fur Company's trading house, to a congregation of about twenty, not one of whom was a professor of religion, and the collection amounted to $ 17. Mr. Brockway left Saginaw early in 1886, and his immediate successors did not fill his place. After the Indian title to the land in the vicinity of Saginaw had been extinguished, and before it was offered for sale by the United States Government, the locality was visited by Dr. Charles Little, of Avon, N. Y. He was greatly pleased with the country and had great faith in the future of the Saginaw Valley. Dr. Little made some choice selections of land in the vicinity of the Fort, at Saginaw, and on his return to Detroit left money at the land office to purchase land when it should be offered for sale.

"Rev. H. L. Miller, who married a daughter of Dr. Little's, came with his family in 1886, to reside permanently at Saginaw. There was a great accession to the population during that season, and in the Fall a Presbyterian Church was organized, which was presided over for the next two years by Mr. Miller as pastor, during which time a marked improvement was made in the religious and social status of the people.

"In December, 1888, a series of meetings were held at Saginaw by the Rev. O. Parker, under the- auspices of the Presbyterian Church. There were a number of conversions and several acces¬ sions to the church at the next communion season. Among the number were the late Dr. George Davis and wife, myself, wife and wife's sister. Rev. C. C. Foote preached for the church during that Winter. There were times when the church was without a minister, but when there was no preaching, worship was kept up by reading a sermon on the Sabbath, and I believe the Sunday-school was a live institution from its organization. Rev. Harvey Hyde supplied the church in 1842 and 1848, or thereabout. He was a strong Congre- gationalist, and prevailed on the younger members of the church to change its government and connection from Presbyterian to Con¬ gregational. I well remember that Hiram L. Miller, who was pres¬ ent when the vote was taken, refused to unite with the new organi¬ zation, and stated that he felt that it would be his duty to organize a Presbyterian Church as soon as one could be sustained. The church remained in the Congregational connection for a time, but did not prosper much. About the same time I took another move away from church and social privileges - coming to Portsmouth to reside, when there were only four or five families within a mile of us. There were a few families living then at Lower Saginaw 7 who had so far advanced in civilization as to build a small sehoolhouse about twenty feet square, which, I believe, now stands connected with another building near the corner of First and Washington Streets.

A successful mission among the Indians had been established, and as a result many Indians had been converted from heathenism to Christianity. I recollect an incident in my travels in 1846, while far up the Tittabawassee looking for pine land. I had started from my camp at daylight, and while paddling my canoe down the river, about sunrise, my ears were greeted v 7 ith music, and I was ne^er more charmed by its sound than while listening to a familiar hymn tune sung in the wilderness by a family of Indians at their morning devotions. The Rev. Mr. Brown, the Methodist missionary at Kawkawlin, preached occasionally in the little sehoolhouse at Lower Saginaw 7 , when the people at Portsmouth had the privilege of at¬ tending religious worship by walking tw 7 o or three miles over a rough road, which privilege some of them almost invariably availed themselves of. The first church that was built in the Valley and dedicated to the worship of God was the missionary church at Kaw¬ kawlin.

"In 1850 and 1851, the firm of Russell, Miller & Crowd were engaged in the lumber business at Portsmouth, employing a number of men, many of whom had temporary residences for their families. The resident members of the firm desiring some religious privileges for their families and for those in their employ, in the Fall of 1850 hired Rev. B. N. Paine, a young man belonging to the Wesleyan Methodist connection, to come to Portsmouth and preach. His first sermon was delivered in the cabin of a propeller that had come to that point for lumber. Soon afterwards a rough building, 20x80 feet on the ground, was erected and formally dedicated to the worship of God. The building was afterwards enlarged and im¬ proved for a sehoolhouse, and was used for school and religious pur¬ poses till the new sehoolhouse (the one that was burned) and the Baptist Church were built. Mr. Paine did not remain long at Portsmouth, and after he left, the house above referred to was open for all denominations to preach in, and was for some years a regular preaching station for the Methodists. During the revival of 1857-'58 it was the scene of many rich spiritual blessings. In the Spring of 1851 I was staying over night at the Northern Hotel, at Flint, where the office of the Flint and Saginaw stage was kept. In the evening a very fine looking young man came in and engaged a pas¬ sage for the next day to Saginaw, saying that he would be found at Mr. Atterbury's, the Presbyterian clergyman. At that time tri¬ weekly stages were able to do all the passenger business between Saginaw and the outside world. The plank road was not completed, and a passage from Flint to Saginaw was anything but pleasant; and it was a wonder to some of his fellow passengers what should call the young man to Saginaw at that time when the roads were so bad. It was suggested to him on the way that there must be some female attraction at Saginaw. I afterwards became acquainted with the young man, (who was none other than the Rev. D. M. j Cooper,) and knew him long as the beloved pastor of the Presby¬

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

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

Methodist Episcopal Churches

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

First Methodist Episcopal Church of Bay City. - In 1852, at the annual conference held in Niles, Bishop Levi Scott presiding, George Bradley was assigned to Lower Saginaw. He was the first Methodist minister appointed^*) this charge. During his ministry in 1852-'58 the society was fully organized, and the present church building erected on Washington Street. This has been enlarged' and modified from time to time, and with such improvements as were imperatively called for, has faithfully served its purpose as a place of worship for thirty years.

The economy of the church in its methods of pastoral over¬ sight has required several changes, but has not allowed the suc¬ cession of yearly appointments to be broken. Since the pastorate of George Bradley above named, there have been the following: -

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

Difficulties, many of them peculiar to the early settlements of the Saginaw Valley, others common to all localities, have been encountered and overcome in the years past. The church has steadily gained in strength and numbers. Within the territory formerly occupied by this charge there are now four Methodist churches, each working in its own sphere. Ten years ago this charge reported* 145 members. If none had died or removed or backslidden there would to-day be 506,but deaths,removals, with and without letters, and other causes have reduced this to 280.