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17760

TH E

18761

COUNTY OF BAY

BAY

CITY,
EM BR A CIN G

MICH.,

-A BRIEF SKET6H 01' THEIR
ORGANIZATIIN, PIONE~ER HISTORY, GROWTJH & DEVELOPMiENTI,
From 11857 to 11876.
Compiledl under Authority of the Common Council of Bay City
and the Boardl of Supervisors of Bay County.
By GEORGE W. HOTCHKISS.

13AY CITYPRINTED) BY A. M. BIRNEY AT THE CHRONICLE PRINTING HOUSE.
1876.







DEDICATORY.
S      d0 the Citizens of Bay County, in the Centennial
year of the Nation's history, and as well their
successors in the far distantfuture of her growth
and progress, is this little volume respectfully dedicated
by the Common Council of Bay City, and the Board of
Supervisors of Bay County, as an index of the early
history, struggies and triumphs of the present inhab.tants of what promises to become a still more important
center of Commercial manufacturing, and Agricultural
wealth and influence. Through your humble servants,
the committees in behalf of

BAY CITY.
DARWIN C. SMALLEY.
ORVILLE A. WATROUS.
HERSCHEL H. HATCH.
SIDNEY S. CAMPBELL.
GEORGE W. HOTCHKISS.

BAY COUNTY.
BENJAMIN F. PARTRIDGE.
LEMAN L CULVER.
ELBRIDGE W. OAKES.
JOHN BULLOCK.
WINSOR SCOFIELD.

GEORGE W. HOTCHKISS,

Bay City, July 4th, 1876.

Historian.







INTRODUCTORY.
     H iE advent of the centennial year of the Republic, lends a great and ever increasing charm to
all those facts connected with the early history
of the country, and as well, to all those individual surroundings, which the experience of States, Counties and
Cities have realized in emerging from the wilderness,
which only one hundred yearsago involved almost the
entire of the American continent, and assuming those
important relations which now unite them in the bonds
of commercial unity as component parts of a nation whose
watchword is " Progress," and whose civilization is the
envy of the world. With a view to perpetuating in history
a record of the growth and development of the nation,
His Excellency, President of the United States, Ulysses
S. Grant, has recommended in the centennial year of the
country's existence as a nation, that each village county
and city, should prepare a history of its settlement
organization and progress, a copy of which should be deposited with the proper officials of the locality described,
and with the State and Congressional librarian. This suggestion having been endorsed in a proclamation by His
Excellency John J. Bagley, Governor of the State of
Michigan, the Common Council of Bay City did on the
29th day of May, A. D. 1876, adopt the following resolution:




INTRODUCTORY.
RESOLVED-That the chair appoint a committee, to
prepare a history of the city of Bay City, to be read on
the coming 4th of July, and afterwards filed in the
County Clerk's office, and in the office of the State Librarian, in accordance with _the resolution of Congress,
and the proclamation of the President of the United
States, and of John J. Bagley, Governor of the State of
Michigan. Which resolution being adopted, the chaiiý
appointed as sucb committee, Aldermen D. C. Smalley
and Orville A. Watrous, ex-Aldermen H. H. Hatch and
George W. Hotchkiss, and the Hon. Sidney S. Campbell.
The Board of Supervisors of Bay county, at a session
held June 14th, 1876, passed a similar resolution and
appointed Supervisors B. F. Partridge, Leman L. Culver, Elbridge K. Oakes, John Bullock, and Winsor Scofield as a committee in their behalf, to carry out the object
of thP President and Governors recommendation.
In accordance with this resolution the saidjoint committee have undertaken the task of presenting to the world a
brief resume of the settlement and organization of Bay
County, and of its growth and progress to the present
date, including in the same, a history of Bay City from
the date of its incorporation as a village, with the more
important circumstances in its history, which will enable
the reader to draw a contrast between its first conditions,
and its wonderful development during its brief historic
existence, but almost magical growth.
In January, 1876, a history of the early struggle of
the territory comprised within the limits of Bay County,
to obtain a seperate and distinct organization, was prepared by Mr. Benjamin F. Partridge, and read before the Pioneer Society of Bay County, which the compilers of this
work have adopted as the preliminary chapter of this
volume, endeavouring to take up the history of the county




INTRODUCTORY.
at the point where it is left by that paper, and collecting
the principal points of interest in the subsequent development of the County of Bay, and Bay City, trusting
tihat it may be of interest to the present inhabitants of the
County, and an index to future generations engaged
in extending the work so nobly begun in the present, of
the enterprise and energy of those who toiled at the
foundation walls, to prepare for a structure which should
do credit to the builders.




BAY' CITY1 XlTT 1838.

8. b. Campbell's  Bn ney Barn.  J. G. Birnev's     First Residence S. S. Campbell,  J. G. Birney's
Residence.                     Residence.              now Globe Hoeel.          Law Office.
Leon Trombley Residence.            Ice Cellar.

Dry Kiln.

Smoke House.                                                                   Bay County WarehouseThe Warehouse stood at the foot of Center St.  The Globe Hotel and the i ffice of Jas. G. Birrey (who was the original Abolition
Candidate for Presidency), were at the foot of 5th Street.  The Birnev residence was on the corner of the rrese nt Water and 4th Sts.
Leon Trombley's house was on the north side of Water and 4th Sts.  Judge Campbell's residence between 3d and 3d Sts. This view
embraces all of the city at that date, comprising a clearing of fifty acrcs.




BAY COUNTY.
ITS EARLY STRUGGLES FOR EXISTENCE.
PREPARED BY B. F. PARTRIDGE, FOR THE BAY COUNTY
PIONEER SOCIETY.
<      HE present passing events in a few years become
a matter of history, memory, or tradition. MemSaory may and does fail; tradition founded on the
memory, and the caprice of the memory, is more liable to
be far from the facts; and about the only safe deposit of
passing events is written history. made by those who were
the actors in the events of which they chronicle. And as
one such, upon request of many, I shall try, unbiased
and unprejudiced, to write the history of our county in
its efforts tfor organization, to its final admitted consummation, and thence to this date.
Of the fi st efforts I only know in part, from others I
glean the rest. The first efforts for its organization, were
made in 1855, when the Hon. J. S. Barclay, who was
elected a member of the Legislature from Saginaw county,
in November, 1854, and who resided in Lower Saginaw,
then a part of Saginaw county, now Bay City, saw
a favorable opportunity   for pressing the scheme,
with hopes of success. The Hon. Judge Albert Miller, and




10

BAY COUNTY.

the irrepressible Daniel Burns, (Mr. Burns was then in
the prime of life, with a bright future betore him, more so
than the common lot of man) were sent to the '" Third
House " for that purpose, and two more fitting men at
that" time, and at that juncture, could not have bee-u
selected for the mission; but such was the opposition
to the bill at that early and first effort, that although
the bill came near passing, it was defeatedby a small
majority..The opposition to the bill in the "third house" was
strong, numerous and influential. The icndiffrent, yielded to their influence and importunities.
At this time Lower Saginaw was hardly known, save
to our 'up town" neighbors (those above Carrolton bar),
and was their bugbear and coming rival, while East
Town and Saginaw were in all their glory and prosperity; and the then   "Little Giant," Lower Saginaw, was struggling for an existence, against odds that
seemed impossible to overcome, but with will, and dare,
to do, it finally succeeded.
At that time the indifferent consented to the claims of
its opponents, that the matter was too premature-" wait
and see," and if necessary the organization, if hereafter it
should be deemed proper, could be allowed. Just as if a
right was to be allooed, and not at once conceded! The
argument generally submitted to by the indifferent, arl
urged by our opponents-those whose interests opposed
our organization, or thought their interests were so
opposed, claimed thoy could defeat all subsequent bills
of the kind. The effort, although it failed, was not without. its effect. It brought the matter somewhat before
the public, and the indifferent ones began to inquire
more particularly in regard to it, and many of them
admitted the justice of the claims for our organization.




BA.Y COUNTY.

11

In 1857, the Hon. James Birney, Col. Henry Raymond, B. F. Partridge and some others were selected
as a committee to the ''third house," to press the matter
of our organization, and if possible to procure the passage of an act for the same. The Hon. T. Jerome, of
Saginaw City, Representative from Satinaw county, and
Henry   Ashman, from Midland county, were elected
in November, 1856, to that session of the Legislature,
both of whom, as they undoubtedly supposed their interests demanded and their supplorters required of them,
opposed our organization.   They undoubtedly acted
conscientiously in their opposition, and consistent with
their pledges before election, but I will s ly here, I do not
know, and it is not charged, and.never has been to our
knowledge, that either of theni did anything in their
opposition, dishonorable or unmanly. I give them credit
that they acted, without doubt, as they thought their
duty demanded. The Legislature, at this time, one may
say, was the same as unanimously Republican, and those
sent to the " third house " to represent our interest and
organization were wholly so; we hoped therefor a 'fellow
feeling " might arise, and thereby the former opposition
might abate somewhat. Such was the general effect.
After a great deal of effort on the one side to secure our
organization, and of the other to oppose and defeat it, a
compromise was finally settled upon by the members of
the " third house," and tihe members for Saginaw and
Midland counties, by the efforts and advice of the friends
of the several parties interested; and as it was a local
matter, and the members of the counties interested therein finally approved of the bill, it passed, the Legislature,
and was approved by the Governor February 17th, 1857.
The territory of Bay county at that time contained but
few voters compared to Saginaw county, for Bay county




12                  BAY COUNTY.
only took a small part from Saginaw county. Its largest
territory came from Midland county, viz: The unorganized county of Arenac, in which territory at that time,
aside from Indians, perhaps not ten voters resided.
As long, stormy and arduous as the efforts were, to get
the bill for our organization through the Legislature,
yet more difficult and arduous were the labors to firmly
determine and consummate the same-that is, our sure
and settled organization. Section 1. of the act organizing Bay county reads as follows
" That the following territory [described] shall be
organized into a county, and shall be known and called
Bay county, [refer to the act of organization for the description, etc.,] and the inhabitants thereof entitled to all
the rights and privileges to which by law the inhabitants of the other organized counties of this State are
entitled."
The original act presented, or to be presented, to the
Legislature, was drawn by C, H. Freeman,then and now
of Bay City, and practising law. The description,f
territory was made by B. F. Patridge, and had that bill
passed as then drawn, no question would ever have
arisen, as to the legality of our organization as a county,
but the opposition to it was so great, that the compromise heretofore spoken of was effected, and changes were
necessarily made in the bill, and sectio.i 2 was added,
*which became the bone of future c ntention.
The said section, when first added, originally read at
the commencement and end, as follows: "This act
shall be submitted to a vote of the electors of Saginaw
county, at the township meetings to be holden in said
county [here providing how the vote should b) taken,
and the section ending,] and in case a majority of the
said votes upon the approval of this act shall be in favor
of such approval, then this act shall take effect upon the
20th day of An pril, 1857; but it a majority of said votes




BAY COUNTY.

13

shall be against such approval, then this act shall not
take effect, but shall be void."
The honorable member from Saginaw county, was perfectly satisfied that the act should pass in this shape,
provided it was left to his constituents to say whether
they should oppose it or. not, or kill it and relieve him of
the unenviable honor, as that would remove the contest
from the Legislature to his constituents, who would kill
it at once, for it was well known that there would be
ten againstto one for the act, if Saginaw county people had
any right to vote on the question. Therefore the member for Saginaw, and others who opposed the organization,
ceased their opposition to the bill in the Legislature, expecting to kill the whole thing at the polls; but ere the
bill passed, there came in this good fortune for Bay
county, if so it may be called. The member for Midland
county, thought Saginaw county should not have all the
honor of slaughtering in its embryo the, future organization of this county, but thought, and perhaps justly so,
that his constituents also should haive a hand in the
game of killing the "Little Giant," while yet its nurse
was trying to dress it in its swadding clothes; and for
such purpose offered an amendment to said section, by
adding immediately after the words " Saginaw county"
the words "Midland and Arenac counties," so that the act
as passed reads:
" This act shall be submitted to a vote of the electors
of Saginaw county, Midland and Arenac counties, at the
township meetings to be holden in said county."
The said vote was taken on the said first Monday, of
April, as provided for in the act, Saginaw and Midland
also voting thereon.  In the territory comprising Bay
county, the vote was almost unanimous in favor of organization, there being 204 for, to 14 against; but in Sagi



14                  BAY COUNTY.
naw and Midland counties it was largely against, so much
so, one may say it was unanimous against us.
Great were the rejoicings of those opposed to the organization of Bay county, especially in Saginaw City, as
the county seat of Saginaw county was there. About
one-third of the cases in the Circuit Court, hailed from
this part of SaLinaw county, and necessarily contributed
largely to their prosperity, we having to go there to
court and leave what little money we had, in the h:ins.
of lawyers and hotel-keepers, and as court fees, etc.; dand
besides, as long as we were on the tail of their kite, we
tended to assist in their prosperity an. to correspondingly diminish ours.
Mr. Freeman always claimed that the act only left
the vote of its approval to the voters of " said county,"
-that is, Bay county,-and he now more vehemently
than over, as he saw from the opposition from the upper
towns, thai the truthfulness of his position was the
only probable chance of success, set the same forth as
the only true construction of 4the act, and advised the
election of the county officers, to take place as provided
in the act of organization, Accordingly the election was
held on the first Monday of June, 1,857, when there were
elected the following county officers: Sidney S. Campbell, Judge of Probate; James Watson, Treasurer
Nathan Simons, Sheriff; Elijah Catlin, County Clerk;
Stephen P. Wright, a young and promising lawyer, and
who afterwards went to the State of California, where he
represented his county in the Legislature and his district
in the Senate, and held the office of District Attorney
for several years, and all with the highest honors to himeelf and his constituents, was elected ( ircuit Court
Commissioner; Theodore M. Bligh, a young physician,
was elected Register of Deeds. Both the last named




BAY COUNTY.

15

have passed to their final rest, respected, h)nored  and
beloved by all who knew them. And C. H. Freeman,
still a resident of Bay City, was elected Prosecuting Attcrn ey. All qualified, as provided by the act of organization, and prelpared themselves for business in the dischatrge of their several offices.
As I have heretofore said, the bone of contention was
section second--or, I should say, its true construction
was such-and as the approval of the act, incident upon
the vote of Saginaw and Midland counties, was largely
against its aplproval-that is, if the vote of Saginaw and
Midland counties was counted, but not otherwise-Saginaw and Midland now claimed that the act was not " approved," and that therefore it "rnever took effect, and
was void,". and claimed jurisdiction severally of that portion of Bay county set off from themn; and more especially so did Saginaw county, for its interests were greater,,
and in proportion to the magnitude of its supposed or
real intemests, it set forth its claim. It set the sami
fbrth, and claimed jurisdid'tion over that portion of Bay
county taken off, as described in the act, the same as if
such act hact never been passed, claiming that the same
wam null and void, for it bad l filed to be a-pproved by the
votes of Saginaw, Midland and Bay countis, an-d the
writs from the Circuit Court of that county continued to
be issued by their County Clerk, and to be served by the
Sheriff thereof, the same as if Bay county did not in fact
exist, in all the territory taken from Saginaw county, including that in Bay county.
The citizens of Bay county saw the dilemmua and confusion matters were getting into on account of the conflict of jurisdiction, and many of them-and we may say
the principal of them-advised an acquiescence in the
claim  of Saginaw. And allow me here to say that a
very fortunate thing it was for Bay county that Mr.




16.

BAY COUNTY.

Freeman had an urdying and irrepressible belief in his
position-that is, that the intention of the Legislature
was to submit the approval of the act to the electors of
Bay county only-and who now, in this crucial time of
our existence (for as a fact we did thea exist; although
it may be it was in a doubtful state, yet, as a fact, nevertheless true), put forth and urged his position more vehemently and persistently than ever, and a few-and I believe I am justified in saying a very few-partly to
encourage him and stay his hands, and partly because
they say no other hope of success, gave him eneouragement, hoping against hope that he was right, yet doubtful of the correctness of his position-still willing to give
him all the encouragement they could, until a final decision of the Supreme Court might settle the matter.
Some of the most prominent persons of the upper
towns who opposed our organization, as I have always
understood. consulted quite a number of the best lawyers
of the State on the question, and all were of but one
opinion, and expressed but, one, and that was that the
vote was left to Saginaw, Midland and Arenac counties
(Arenac was then an unorganized county, and was attached to Midland for judicial purposes), and that the
vote was in the negative of the act of organization, and
that therefore the same was not " approved," but was
' null and void."
Thus matters drifted with clash of jurisdiction, and
confusion was getting worse, when an opportunity was
presented to test the question in a suit, wherein Mr.
Freeman was attorney for the defendant, and the -Ion.
John Moore, Prosecuting Attorney of Saginaw county,
was for the prosecution. For the opportunity so to test
this question Mr. Freeman had long been waiting, and as
he knew   some such    case must. come, he patient



BAY COUTNTY.

17

ly abided hIis time.  The late Hon. Wmi. M. Fenton
was   associated  with  Mr.   Freeman   as   counsel,
and  when   he   was' retained  by   the   defendant,
(pronounced at first sight, as all others had done, against
the organization of Bay county; but when his attention
was called more particularly to the wording of the act,
and a few of the plain rudimentary princilpies of the construction of statutes, he saw at once his error, and entered into the spirit of the case. From that moment Mr..
Freeman had a powerful assistant, true and faithful.
Before going on with this case further, I will return to
the winter of 1859, when there was an extra session of
the Legislature. Mr. Freeman and Mr. Daniel Burns
were sent to the " third house " of that short session, to
see what could be done in settling the organization of
Bay county, and if possible to get the county definitely
and permanently organized by the Legislature. Mr.
Jerome, of Saginaw, and Mr. Ashman, of Midland, now
as strongly as ever opposed us, or any act tending to
legalize the organization. They saw the confusion matters were in, but said it was all ourselves and our figuring which had brought it about, by preteading to organize when we ought not to have done so. But on this
point, they were informed, others differed with them,
and, as there weie differences of opinion, even if nearly
all were one way (here I will men ion the fact that the
chairman of the committee on towns and counties believed that section 2 could have no other construction than
such as Mr. Freeman gave to it, and he felt the necessity of something being done in the matter), yet the few
had some right to demand respect. This they admitted,
but still set themselves against anything like an organization. Many members of the Legislature, however,
after they were shown how matters stood, thought that




18                 BAY COUNTY.
if we were not a county, we ought to be one, and had
shown ourselves worthy and well qualified to have an
organization; but then, as it was a rule, although an
unwritten one, that all local matters should be left to
the members representing the district to be affected
thereby, they did not wish to interfere, but they thought
something should be done to settle the matters that were
in litigation, by appeal or otherwise, and they were willing to assist in such a way.
The chairman of the committee on towns and counties
was in favor of our organization, and assisted greatly in
getting the bill through the Legislature.
Quite a number of suits had been commenced in the
township of Hampton. Some laid their venue in Bay
County, and some in Saginaw County, just as the
caprice of the plaintiff might suggest. The most of
these suits were commenced in justice courts, and in
most cases the defendant in the case, where judgment
was rendered against him, appealed to Bay or Saginaw
County, knowing that if it were Bay County~the appeal to
Saginaw County would end the suit, and vice versa
and the record shows that nearly all the suits were appealed, and a few cases had been commenced in Bay
County Circuit Court.
Mr. Freeman had carefully prepared three bills before
he started for the " third h use."  These bills were approved. by those interested for Bay County, and it was
understood that if the members for Bay County to the
' third house " could not get the one through that they
wished, then they were to do the best they could.
The chairman of the committee on towns and counties
readily approved bill number one, which had been prepared, which would, if passed, at once settle our organization. But Messrs. Jerome and Ashman had to be con



BAY COUNTY.

19

sulted. They could not. be induced to be silent, should
either of these bills be offered  to the Legislature,
and then, the Governor would recommend only such a
bill as all parties could agree upon, as general business
demanded   attention  before  local bills.  However
just the Governor may have supposed he was, it only
had the effect to give the members from Saginaw and
Midland more power to kill the efforts made by our
members to the "third house."  But the latter went to
work with a will, and Mr. Freeman then made an effort
to prepare such a bill as the members from Saginaw and
Midland would not oppose, if they could not approve.
So after several days it was accomplished.
The bill provided that the Circuit Judge of the district in which said county of Bay was situated should
hold court in Bay City, in said territory, and should hear,
try and determine all suits commenced in said Circuit
Court, in said territory, and all appeals to the same, etc.,
with other sections confirming jurisdiction, in said territory.
This bill meeting the approval of the members for
Saginaw and Midland Counties, was duly recommended
by the Governor and passed unanimously. The Governor had promised to approve the bill, but it having passed on Friday, too late to be approved by the Governor
before he left the Capital, he did not receive the bill
until the next week. Messrs. Freeman and Burns left
the Capital for home on Saturday evening, well satisfied.
When the Governor received the bill for approval, he
saw   at  once  its  force,-that is, that the   bill
really established the organization of Bay County-and
he sent for MNessrs. Jerome and Ashman, as I am informed, and drew their attention to this fact, and wished to
know  if they desired him  to approve the bill. Mr.




20                 BAY COUNTY.
Jerome did not wish the bill approved, and it was not
approved, although seveiral other members urged the
Governor'& promise, that the bill should be approved.
Here it will be proper for me to say, tbat one great
objection raised to our organization was, that it would be
a Democratic county. But all joined in the asnsrance
that thiswas nothing like a certainty, and that the probability was, that a Republican member from Bay County
would be chosen in the person of James Birney, and Mr.
Freeman stated that under the circumstances Mr. Birney
would be his choice. But, I am   told, that instead',of
abating or cooling- opposition, it rather added to it.
This was the last effort ever niade through the Legislature toward,An organization. Mr. Freeman and his
friends now saw that any further effort must be through
the courts, based upon the act of 1857, and acted accordingly, resolving to fight it through on that line, and
the war went on,
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Wright arranged a suit to be
sent up to the Supreme Court for a decision. But the
suit upon which the. question was finally settled had been
bona fidaly commenced. I now give the parties, as well
as the attorneys, in this suit, and they were all interested on either side equally, as to the organization of Bay
County, and the battle now must be fought on that line.
It was Bay County or no Bay County. All parties prepared for action, each sure ot the case in his favor.
The case waQ, one by the people.  The late Dr. Dion
Birney was the complainant vs. Daniel Burns. Burns was
charged with perjury, said to have been committed June
29th, 1857, at the township of Hampton. The defendant filed a plea of abatement, alleging that "the said supposed offence, if any was committed, was committed
within the jurisdiction of Bay county, and not within




BAY COUNTY.

21

the jurisdiction of this court-meaning the jurisdiction
of the Saginaw county Circuit Court.  Upon this plea,
issue was taken, and a case was made and certified to the
Supreme Court, and was heard at the May term, 1858,
at Detroit. Mr. Freeman had staked his reputation as
a lawyer upon the result of this suit, and he prepared a
full and exhaustive argument in the case, and whoever
may read the same, will come to the same conclusion.
A little incident in the passing events of the suit I
feel called upon to relate quite fully, as it tends to show
the opinion of the legal profession on the question, and
the worth and character of the late Hon. Win. M. Fenton, of Flint, perhaps as no other thing could do. And
this is my apology.
It was well known that Mr. Freeman did not attend
the Supreme Court on the argument of this case, for the
reason, that a few days before the case was to come on
*      for argument, Mr. Freeman was confined to his bed with
a fever, and was quite as insensible of what was going
on in the case, as "Rip Van Winkle," except that the
suit was uppermost in his wild and feverish head. Now,
Mrs. Freeman comprehended the situation,,and knew
that Mr. Freeman could not possibly recover to be in
Detroit to argue the case, so she sent all the papers
with the argument prepared     (in  writing), to Mr.
Fenton, informing him of the situation of her husband. Mr. Fenton replied to her, " All shall be attended to," and the result shows that it was. The first time
Mr. Fenton met Mr. Freeman after the case was decicldd, he said to him that when he arrived in Detroit,
several of the most prominent lawyers (giving names)
advised him to drop the suit, and not expose himself to
ridicule, but to let Freeman alone, to fall, etc. HIe informed them that Mr. Freeman was sick and could not be




22

BAY COUNTY.

there, and Mrs. Freeman had requested him to see to the
suit, and he had written her that he would; that he
was of their opinion, till his attention had been called to
some of the words and language of the act, and he should
soon call theirs to the same points; that he had not gone
far in the argument when it was conceded that his premises in the case were correct, and that when he had
reached the close of his not very lengthy argument, there
was nothing for the Hon. John Moore to reply to with
any force.
But allow me here to say, that I am told Mr. Moore
did all that he could in the premises.
The case was submitted, and the next morning the
court on opening gave the decision, which may be found
commencing on page 114 of 5th Michigan Reports, (1st
Cooley) sustaining the plea, and thus declaring Bay
county organized.
The next morning after the decision was made, the
news was received here by the Detroit boat, that being
the most reliable and shortest route we had. There
was a route by rail, stage and canoe, and sometimes
steamboat by the river, in the season, and by skates and
sleighs on the ice of the river in its season, but not any
road for general travel nearer than East Saginaw on this
side the river, and Zilwaukie on the other. There being
no cannon here, and no military company with fire arms,
with which to sound the glad tidings of the reality of
Bay county, the only anvil in the county was pressed
into service; and( the cannonading would drown, and did
drown, the sleepy ideas of some of the sleepy people of
this infant city, and send them along the path to prosperity and to wealth. The news broughtf the people to
their right senses, and the city and county have rushed
along thE rough track of building up, and burning down,
and rebuilding in more substantial style.




BAY COUNTY.

23

So long as we belonged to Saginaw county, our progress was slow. We might, we would grow, and did,
but we were at the mercy of the upper towns, and thus
the growth was nothing like rushing business, as was
done up the river-like mushrooms, soon reaching their
limits, and then! But our growth has been steady,
substantial and rapid, as predicted by all far-seeing business men, and hence the joy over our success was universal.
As a city,-I mean Bay City,-from a little hamlet
on the Saginaw river, we have superceded Saginaw City,
and in a year or two more will be second to none in the
valley. And besides, there has sprung up in the immediate vicinity of Bay City, the villages of Salzburg, Wenona, Banks and Essexville, all lively, thriving places,
the smallest of them larger than Bay City was, when she
became the county seat of Bay county; and when the
county commenced its career, she could not count more
than 1500 inhabitants. At this date we can safely
count near 30,000, and our material and financial interests have grown in proportion, and from two towns,
we have now seventeen organized in the county, in which
there are found at this date, at least twelve villages, besides the thriving city of Bay City, with her seventeen
thousand, inhabitants.
Also, this county has grown from a Board of Supervisors of two only, (Judge Campbell and Mr. Smock)
to that of twenty-eight on the present Board. The first
Board had but little to do, and never disagreed about
the finances of the county. They paid the prosecuting
Attorney $50 a year; now he is paid. $1,800. Other
officers were paid in the same proportion. Sheriff Simons moved irom the county, and his office became
vacant. The proper authorities appointed B. F. Part



24

BAY COUNTY.

ridge to fill the vacancy. Immediately after this the
Sheriff leased a. place for a court room, and prepared a
jail. The jail occupied the lots where the Rivet Bros'
blacksmith shop now stands, and was swept away in the
fist great fire in Bay City. The court room  building
now stands as it did then. We now have a Court
House in which all can have a feeling of just pride; a jail
second to none in the State, many stately private residences and bnsiness places, many very fine churches,
several large and elegant hotels, two fine bridges (o'ne
being rebuilt of iron), several railroads and fine depots.and railroad bridge, machine shops and iron -foundries,
manufactories, mills, salt blocks and lumber yards, that
bespeak the cultivated taste and business abilities of the
people of the city and county, and furnish employment
for thousands of people and that required an investment of an immense amount of capital. The banks in
the connty, rank among the best in the State.    The
farming interests of the county have kept pace with
every other branch of )u;iness. From 21 farms in Bay
county in 1855, the number now runs up to 2,600. All
this goes to show the thrift and prosperity of the
whole people. As a city, Bay City surpasses all others
of the same number of inhabitants in the State, for its
safety from fire, and convenience for water, using the
Lake Huron water through pipes from the latke to the
city; her streets are beautifully laid out and ornamented   her  street railway   is finely firnished, and is
a paying.institution; her places of amusement and
public library are of the finest class, Westover's Opera
House being the best place of the kind in the valley;
and the numerous vessels and steamers and tugs in the
harbor of Bay City at all times, show her great commnercial advantages; her custom  house reports and clearances beinggreater in number than those of any other
city in the whole State of Michigan. No man need be
ashamed to register his name in hotels in other cities,
as a resident of Bay City.




BAY COUNTY.

25

Bay County Court House.

BAY COUNTY.
THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS OF BAY COUNTY.
(5ý'HISTORY of Bay County would be incomplete
without, in at least a measure, tracing its growth
and progress. While from sparcity of population
the county, at its organization, consisted of but the two
organized townships of Hampton and Williams, with a
county board consisting of but two members, the territory
comprised within its boundaries was of' sucient er tent,
when settled, to create minany more, and we find the pro



26

BAY COUNTY.

gress and development to have been so great that in 1876
we have seventeen townships and one chartered city,
with two village corporations, embraced within the
county limits, represented upon the Board of Supervisors
by a membership of twenty-eight. The first meeting of
the Board of Supervisors was held August 10th, 1858,
and was attended by Supervisor Sidney S. Campbell,
who was chairman, and represented the township of
Hampton, and Supervisor George W. Smock, representing the township of W'illiams. At the October meeting
of that year, the equalized valuation of the county was
set down. as follows: Hampton, $486,423.00; Williams, $44,166.59-a total for the county of $530,589.59. In the light of subsequent history, we are constrained to think, that the valuation of property was at that
time, as high as the law would warrant, in order to make
a good showing for the new county. The first incumbents of county offices in the nlw county, as shown by
the county records, were as follows:
Clerk-THOMAs M. LYON.
Treasurer-JAMES WATSON.
(-wonnd lMayor of Bay City.)
Register-THEODORE M. BLIGH.
Sheriff-NATHANIEL WHITTEMORE.
Judge of Probate-SIDNEY S. CAMPBELL.
Prosecuting Attorney-JAMES BIRNEY.
Circuit Court Commissioner-WILLIAM L. SHERMAN.
County Surveyor-GUSTAVUS OTTO.
Coroners-GEORGE E. SMITH and WILLIAM C. SPICER.
The above named officers were, in fact, the second
officers elected to fill their respective positions, the difficulties attending the first efforts to organize the county,
having evidently led to a suspension of records. The
first election in the county was held on the first Monday
of June, 1857, being a special election, under the act




BAY COUNTY.

27

number 171 of the Session Laws of 1857, section 3, at
which time the following board was elected, although the
records nf the county do not set forth the fact, so far as
is now kinown;
C', Ik--ELIJAH CATLIN.
Treasurer-JAMES WATSON.
Register-THEODORE M. BLIGH.
Sheriff-WILLIAM SIMON.
Judge ot Probate-SIDNEY S. CAMPBELL.
Prosecuting Attorney-CHESTER H   FREEMAN.
Circuit-Court Commissioner-STEPHEN P.WRIGHT.
Surveyor-BENJAMIN F. PARTRIDGE.
Coronelrs-WILLIAM C. SPICER and
The term of office of these officers expired subsequent
to the general election of 1858, the Supreme Court having, meantime, decided on the validity of the organization, the facts concerning which are fully set forth in the
commencement of this history.
THE COUNTY BUILDINGS.
In the act incorporating Bay County, it was provided
that in January succeeding the organization, the Board
of Supervisors should locate the county seat, and fix
upon the site for county buildings; Accordingly, the
present site of Bay City was selected as the county seat,
and two lots of each of the blocks cornering on Centre
and Jefferson streets, in the plat of the village, by the
Saginaw Bay land company, having therein been set
apart for public purposes, the two corners on the east
side of Jefferson street, were designated as the sites for
the County buildings, and the selection was approved
by the proprietors of the village plat. Temporarily, a
wooden building was erected on 6th street, between
Water and Saginaw streets, which for several years was
used as a county jail, meeting with the common fate of




28                 BAY COUNTY.
the neighborinig buildings, in the great fire of 1863,
Meantime a wooden building belonging to James Fraser, one of the enterprising and far seeing founders of the
village, situated on the river bank, at the foot of 4th
street, was used as a Court House, and by the officers
of the County. until 1868, when the present Court
House was built on the site before designated, at a cost
of about $40,000.
-= -_L-~-         -~-----' ----=- -"__
Bay County Jail.
This building combines all the modern appliances
suited for the needs of the Cou'nty and its officials.
After the destruction of the jail in 1863, the Board of
Supervisors secured the. lease of a wooden building of one
story, erected for the purplse by James Fraser, situated
on the corner of Monioe and 7th streets, which did
good service as a jail, and city iock-up, until 1870,
when an elegant nmodern style, two story, white brick




BAY COUNTY.

29

building, was erected on the south-east corner of Centre
and Jefferson stieets, combining a residence for the
sheriff, with iron lined jail in the rear, the cells of boiler
iron being two stories in height in the center of the
main room, with large corridors between the gratings,
and the outer walls. The upper story of the building
is fitted with accommodations for females, and fraudulent debtors; the whole structure is furnished with the
most approved modern appliances for the safe and
healthy  detention of prisoners, pending their trial.
Water pipes, and closets are arranged with an eye to
the comfort and health of the prisoners, while measures for their proper use of the same, a'e fully provided for. The jail is esteemed a model one, and both
it and the Court House are taken as patterns by surrounding counties in similar erections.  The cost of the
jail buildings and fittings has been $40,000.
THE LEGAL FRATERNITY.
The legal fraternity are well represented in the county,,
and its members enjoy a well deserved reputation throughout the State. In 1875 one of its members, the Hon.
Isaac Marston, was appointed by hi- Excellency Gov.
Bagley, to the position of Attorney General of the State,
to fill. a vacancy, winning warm encomiums from his
legal brethren throughout the State in his discharge of
the duties of that position, and in 1875, Mr. Marston
was elected a judge of the Supreme Court of the State.
The Hon. Sanford M. 'Green, now presiding over the
Eighteenth Judicial district, in which Bay County is
included, is a member of the Bay County Bar, and has
served with distinction in the capacity of Judge of the
Supreme Court, and for a good portion of hib life as a
Circuit Judge, while " Green's Practice," is a text book
and authority in all the Courts of the land. The Hon.




30

BAY COUNTY.

S. T. Holmes, who is also a member of the Bay County
bar, achieved an enviable reputation as a lawyer and
jurist in New York, and at one time represented the
district in which he resided, in the Congress of the
nation. Bay County Bar now numbers 42 members,
including the presiding judge.

Watson Block.
In February, 1859, the township of Arenac was constituted by the board, from territory theretofore attached to
Williams, and Supervisor William Markham~vas the first
representative upon the county board. In March, 1859,
the townships of Bangor and Portsmouth were admitted
by the board, the former from the territory of Williams,
being first represented by Scott W. Sayles, the latter
taken from the territory of Hampton, sending as its first




BAY COUNTY.

31

representative, Appleton Stevens, who subsequently, in
1874 and 1875, served, for two terms, honorably, as
Mayor of Bay City, and in the State Legislature, as
State Senator, for two terms. The census of the year
1860 gave to Bay County a population of 3,164. No
more additions were made of new townships for several
years, but, in 1865, a portion of Hampton being first incorporated a village, and then, by act of the Legislature,
Bay City receiving a charter, each of her three wards became entitled to representatives on the Board of Supervisors, and George W. Hotchkiss, from the first, Alexander M. Johnson, from the second, and John McDermot from the thhd ward, were admitted to seats in the
councils of the county. In this year the equalized valuation of property, gave the city of Bay City $633,000
and the townships $717,000, a total of $1,350,000. The
war of the rebellion had, at this time, shown its influence in giving a fictitious value to property, and, while
the assessments had been made as low as was possible,
in order to avoid an undue apportionment to Bay County
of its proportion of the expenses of the State, as deteimined by the State Board of Equalization, it is unquestionable that, in the view of the Supervisors of Bay
County, the real estate of the county was worth, in
market, seven times the amount of the valuation, or $9.550,000. In considering the valuation of 1876, after a
financial revulsion and depression of three years duration, in which a great shrinkage in ideas of value has
taken place, this fact will become worthy of notice.
In 1867, by act of the Legislature, the township of
Beaver was organized out of the territory of Williams,
and Levi Willard was added to the Board of Supervisors. In January, 1868, by act of the Board of Supervisors, the township of Kawkawlin was organized out of
the territory of Bangor, and Alexander Beard was ad*




32

BAY COUNTY.

mitted to the board, as its first representative. In 1869,
the Legislature took another slice from Bangor, and the
new township of Monitor sent Supervisor William H.
Needham as its first representative. In 1870 Arenac, by
order of the Board of Supervisors, gave the township of
Au Gres, which sent W. R. Bates (subsequently county
representative in the Legislature) to represent her. The
census of this year gave the population of the county at
15,900. In the same year Arenac and Beaver contribuHon. James Shearer's Residence.
ted territory to form the township of Clayton, whose first
representative was William Smith. In 1873 a division
of Portsmouth was decided upon, and Henry F. Shuler
was duly accredited as the supervisor of the new town of
Merritt. In 1873 the towns of Pinconning, Standisl,
and Deep River were organized by act of the Legislature,
and Supervisors Joseph   U. Meech, of Pinconning,
Menzo R. Havens, of Standish, and John Bullock, of
Deep River, became m, mburs of the Board of Supervisors. In 1874 the townships of Mason and Moffat were




BAY COUNTY.                   33
organized by the board, the former sending Henry M
Smith, and the latter Alvin N. Culver, as their, first
represenrtatives. The township of Frazer was organized
by act ot the Legislature, in 1875, and William Michie
became its first representative. The charter of Bay
City having been amended in 1867, by the addition of
two wards, the fourth ward sent John O. Woolson, and
the fifth ward sent William Gordon as their first representatives. The boundaries of the city being again enlarged in 1873, by the addition of what had been known
as the village of Portsmouth, the sixth and seventh
wards of the city became entitled to representation, and
the former sent George Lewis, the latter Charles Stevens,
as their representatives. The amended city charter of
1867, giving an increased representation to the city
upon the county board, City Recorder N. Whittemore
and City Controller Robert McKinney became members
of the county legislature, and the city representation was
again increased in 1875, by the addition of City Attorney Winsor Scofield, and City Treasurer Charles S.
Braddock to that body. The Board of Supervisors of
Bay County therefore, in 1876, has increased to twentyeight members, representing seventeen townships, and
one city, whose aggregate population has increased from
3,164, in 1860, to 24,832, in 1874, the date of the last
authentic census, which figures may, no doubt, at this
date, be increased by at least 6,000, making a population in 1876, for the entire county, of 30,000 souls.
The development of the county since its organization
has been largely agricultural, although no data exists by
which its progress in this direction can be even approximately given with any degree of correctness.     The
manufacturing interests of the county embrace, in 1876,
fifty-four saw and shingle mills, of an average yearly
capacity of four hundred million feet production; ten




34                  BAY COUNTY.
planing mills; one tub and pail factory; one oar factory;
one lock factory; four foundries and machine shops;
and thirty salt blocks, mostly connected with the saw
mills, and manufacturing salt by steam from the same,
with a yearly capacity of 600,000 barrels of salt; a large
number of cooper shops, for supplying barrels for the
salt; two ship yards, and a variety of other industries,
contingent upon the developments above enumerated.
=--;
Jennison Block.
Coal has been discovered in the townships of Deep River,
Standish and Pinconning, and a shaft is being sunk at
the former place to test its quality and value. In addition to the coal interests at Deep River, a shaft has been
sunk on the flats of the Rifle river, by the Eureka Coal Co.,
which has taken out a few tons of coal from a vein of
nine feet depth, at a point twenty feet fIrom the surface,
and have prospected to a further depth of fifty feet, passing through a vein of eleven feet in thickness, an analy



EAY COUNTY.

35

sis of which, shows it to be of a superior quality of cannel coal. This company has, for the present, suspended
operations, on account of the stringency of the times.
Plaster',r, gy)osum is known to exist in large quantities
in town twenty, north, township of Au Gres, but no
endeavor has yet been made to develop it. The extent
of the manufactured products in timber, lumber and
salt will be found in tabulated statistics in another part
of this work.
The' territory of Bar County comprises all that portion of the peninsula, lying between, and including
towns thirteen north and twenty north, or, the length of
eight townships, its breadth being the five townships included between ranges three and seven east. The county
forms a,;part of the Eighth Congressional district, the
Twentvy-tv itth Senat.orial district', the Eighteenth Judicial district, and by the last apportionment, has become
entitled to two representatives in the State Legislature.
The value of' property, real and personal, in the county,
as equalized by the Board of Supervisors at the June
session, 1876, is $3,186,768, representing an actual market value of' probably $19,000,000, and the bonded
indebtedness of the county at this time is $45, 199.88,
the last of which is payable in 1888. The amount of
taxes for State and County purposes authorized to be
levied in 1.875 was $70,540, of which 838,546 was apportioned to Bay City.
UNINCORPORATED VILLAGES.
The principal uuincorporated villages of the county
are as follows: Salzburg, Pine River, Standish, Deep
River, Kawkawlin, Sterling, Culver, Skinner, Pinconning, Saganin and Essexville. These are all prosperous
centres of' growth and enterprise, having postoffice fcilities, and-in many cases, excellent school buildings in con



36                  BAY COUNTY.
nection with the township school organizations, the system throughout the county being in a most excellent condition of advancement. In nearly all of the villages
named, are to be found church organizations, several of
them boasting comfortable and commodious houses of
worship.
M unger Block.
The agricultural interests of the county, are each year
being more fully developed, giving promise in the future
of placing Bay county in an enviable position in competition with the hitherto more highly esteemed agricultural
counties of the State, the quality of her soil being dem_
onstrated already, as above the average. In fact, as the
agricultural interests are yearly developing, it becomes a
matter of no small surprise, even to the old citizens of
the county, to find that Bay County is susceptible, with
comparatively little effort, of taking a forward position
as a producing section, and each year is adding to its
development.




BAY COUNTY.                  37
COUNTY FARM.
In the year 1866, the Board of Supervisors purchase I a tract of Prairie land on the east side of the
Saginaw River, near the Bay, comprising about 120
acres, upon which, suitable buildings have been erected,
including a hospital, and retreat for mild cases of insanity, and the grounds have been thoroughly ditched,
drained, and cultivated to a point relieving the county
of a large proportion of the expense attending the care
of the few paupers, who make claim  as charges upon
the County. The present value of the County farm
property is about $7,500.
PIONEERS OF THE COUNTY.
The first saw mill was erected in Bay County in the
years 1836-7 by Judge Albert Miller, B. R. Hall and
Cromwell Barney, at Portsmouth, now 7th Ward of
the city. This was soon followed by mills erected by
James Fraser, Hopkins and Pomeroy, Henry Riaymond
and James Watson, Elijah Stanton, Judge Albert
Miller, B. F. Partridge and John C. Baughman,
Thomas Whitney & Co., John Drake and Moon &
Vose, in the order named. Since the erection of these
pioneer establishments, others have succeeded so rapidly,
that the number is too great for specification in detail,
within the limits of this work.
The first mercantile establishment was opened by
Benjamin F. Pierce in 1840, he finding a competitor
soon after in Frederick W. Backus.
The first known white settler of the county was Jacob
Graverot, a German from Albany, N. Y., who mariied
the daughter of Kish-kau-ko, the chief of the Saginaw
band of Chippewa I1dians.
The first white child born within the present limits of
the countv, was ElizaLeth, daughter of Cromwell Barney.




38

BAY COUNTY.

The lady still resides in thecity, and is the wife of our
respected fellow-citizen Albert G. Sinclair.
THE BOOMS.
At the mouth of the Kawkawlin. Rifle and Au Gres
rivers, booms have been constructed by stock companies,
who assume the care and charge of all tiiber and logs,
cut upon the lands contiguous to such streams, sorting
out the timber according to marks lplaced ii pon each
piece by the owners thereof, and delivering the s ame in
rafts to the steam tugs employed to tow the same across
the lake to the r iver mills, where thlie timber is to be
manufaictured.  The cap ital iinvested in these boo(ms aggregates probably 875,000.
---- -~- ~ ______
Clana ge Block.
BRIDGES.
Previous to 1866, the only means of transit aciross the
Saginaw River was by row boats or rope ferry, until the
latter was, in 1863, superseded by a steam flat boat,




BAY COUNTY.

39

which was in time superseded, in 1866, by the bridge
between the foot of Third street, Bay City,-and Midland
street in Wenona, elsewhere mentioned as recently rebuilt of iron. In 1876 a second bridge was constructed
from the foot of Twenty-third street to Salzburg, and in
1873 the Michigan Central R. R. Co. erected a solid
frame bridge across the river at a point about fifteen
hundred feet above the Third street bridge. This latter
is used exclusively for railroad purposes, the former fir
general travel.
BAY COUNTY OFFICIALS IN 1876.
The present representatives of' the interests of Bay
County are as follows:
Member of Congress-Nathan B. Bradley.
State Senator-Towasend North, of Vassar.
Representative-Andrew Walton.
Judge of Circuit Court-Sandford M. Green.
County Clerk-Henry A. Braddock.
County Treasurer-Will H. Fennell.
County Register-Harvey M. Hemstreet.
Prosecuting Attorney-Grmtne Mi. Wilson.
Judge of Probate-John W. McM'ath.
Sheriff--Martin W.Brock.
The townships and city are represented upon the
Board of' Supervisors, as follows:
Arenac-William H. Fleming.
Au Gies-Elbridge VIT. Oakes.
Bangor-Frederick W. Bradfield.
Bay City-ist Ward, Robert J. Campbell.
'      2nd   "    Leman L. Culver.
"      3rd   "   Christophler McDowell.
"      4th   "    Thomas Carney, Jr.
"      5th * "   Richard Padley.
E      6th   "   Leondras A. Miller.
"      7th   "   Ansel W. Watrous.




BAY COUNTY.

Recorder-Isaac G. Worden.
Controller-Patrick J. Perrott.
Treasurer-Charles S. Braddock.
City Attorney--Winsor Scofield.
Beaver-John Farquharsoni.
CJlayton-Anthiony Jackson.
D)epp River-John Buillocký.
Hamipton-Nathan3 Knjight.
Kawkawlin-Jererniiah McC uddy.
Merritt-Belthasar Shoex-el.
IMonitor-XWiffiani Gaffiwey.
Pinconning-Edward B. K~night.,
Portsi-outh-Benjamin F. Pai-tridg('.
Standish-Peter M. Aiigus.
Williamis-Int LSwart.
Mason-Henry M. Smnith.
Moffatt-Alvin N. Culver.
Frazer-Willianm Mitchie.




BAY  CITY.4

41

BAY CITY.
ITS LOCATION AND ADVANTAGES.-A SKETCH OF ITS
RISE AND PROGRESS.
AY CITY, located at the mouth of the Saginaw river, five miles from the Bay of the same
name, was incorporated a village in the year
1859, by act of the legislature of that year.
The territory comprising the village, was situated in
the township of Hampton. Its advantages as a commercial point, were embraced in the excellent adaptation for the manufacture of lumber, in which Bay County
and its surrounding neighborhood did, and still do most
richly abound. This adaptation consisted of a river front
suitable for the erection of saw mills, and booms for holding the stock to be sawn, while at the same time convenient for receiving the logs floated from the streams tributary to the Saginaw river, the navigable waters of the river
enabling the shipment of the manufactured product, to
all points watered by the great lakes. At the date
of the incorporation of the village, several saw mills
had already been established on the river, within, and
contiguous to the territory comprised within its limits.




42

BAY CITY.

The population of the village, at the date of its incorporation was about 700 souls, the United States census of 1860, showing a population in the entire of
Bay County of only    1,519,   This population  was
engaged principally in lumbering, and fishing,'this latter
industry comprising a no mean proportion of the exports from the village, while the excellent adaptation
of the soil of the County to agricultural purposes, had
not yet attracted very general attention or interest. In
this year, the attention of capitalists and the community in general, was called to the existence of vast
reservoirs of salt in the vicinity, and a salt well was put
down within the limits of. the new village, as an experiment, the unbounded success of which, speedily led
to the development of inte.ests which in 1876, have
led to the production within the limits of Bay City, ot
not far from 400,000 barrels ot salt per year. The lumber and salt interests of the village in their rapid
development, called fo-r a growth and increase in wealth
and population, which may be set down as almost
unprecedented in the annals of' the nation. The first
election under the village charter, occurred on the 2nd
day of May, A. D., 1859, at Birney hall on Water street,
Calvin C. C. Chillson, and Doctor Lewis Fuchsius, b.ing judges of the polls, with Albert Wedthoff, clerk
of the Board. At this election, one hundred and fiftyfive votes were cast for the office of President, Curtis
Munger being elected by 92 votes, against 63 cast for
George Lord, and J. S. Barclay.     Charles Atwood
was elected to fill the office of' Recorder, John F. Cottrell, as Treasurer, Albert Miller, James J. McCormick, Henry W. Jennison, Israel Cathn, Henry M.
Bradley, and Harmon A. Chamberlain, Trustees. The
first meeting of the Council was held in a room  over




BAY CITY.

43

the store of Jennison Brothers, at the foot of 5th street
on May 6th, 1859., At a meeting of the Board on
the 23rd of May, John A. Weed was appointed Village
Marshall, Henry M. Bradley, Street Commissioner,
and Algernon S. Munger, and William    Daglish, Assessors. Among the, first acts of the village trustees,
was the ordering of sidewalks on Washington street,
from 1st to 10th street, and the opening of Jefferson
and Madison Streets, north of Center street. At a
meeting held May 30th, both of the gentlemen who
had been appointed village Assessors having declined
to act, A. G. Sinclair, and Charles D. Fisher, were
appointed; Mr. Sinclair declining, Mr, Henry Raymond
was appointed in his place June 6th. At a meeting June
3rd, the salary of the village Attorney, was fixed at
$75.00 per year, and   James Birney was appointed
as the legal adviser of the Board. On June 27th, a
general tax  for village purposes of $1,047.00, and
a highway tax of one-half of one per cent. was certified
to the assessors. On December 19th. 1859, a committee on Fire Department was instituted, consisting
of Israel Catlin, H. M. Bradley, and H. A. Chamberlain. who on January,4th, 1860,' were instructed " to
rent a sufficient amount of leather hose to uqe until
spring, and to procure a triangle tior the use of the hose
house."  This seems to have been the germ whence
sprIag )ou'r 1present efficient fire department, a small
hand fire engine, named '" Tiger," afterwards " Peninsula," (John McEwan being captain of the company)
and which still remains the property of the city, constitutiug the entire of the equipment. In April 1861,
it was thoulghlt that more efficiency was requisite,, and
W. L. Fay was duly commissioned to       procure an
efficient engine, and purchased a thi rd-class mac:hine




44

BAY CITY.

at Chicago, This engine was known as " Red Rover,"
and H. M. Bradley was appointed Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department, and organized the department in an
efficient manner. There was but little use for the fire
department, until the ]2th of July 1863, when a fire
broke out on the south side of Centre street, between
Water and Saginaw    streets, sweeping  both sides of
Water street for two blocks, involving in its destructive course the "Red Rover" engine and its engine
house, leaving the village not only in ashes and in
mourning, but as well, in danger of greater conflagrations. An attempt was now made, by Councilman Louis
Bloedon, to establish fire limits, but without success.
On August 10th the bonds of the village, t> the extent
of $6,000, were ordered by the Council, for the procuring of more apparatus, and a "sufficient amount" was
ordered to be expended in a steam fire engine (which,
however, was not done for several years), with not to
exceed $500, to repair or rebuild the "Red Rover'"
engine; aand, at the same meeting, the President and Recorder were instructed to procure a site for an engine
house. This committee' purchased a lot o    Saginaw
street, at the price of 475.00. An endeavor wai made
to organize a hook and ladder company, but failed, as
have all similar efforts to this date. In October of this
year the Council purchased 'two hand engines from the
city of Rochester, N. Y., with hose carts and other apparatus. These engines were designated as "Red Rover'"
No. I'and "Protection" No. 2. These engines cost the
village $1,500, and were subsequently sold by the city,
for nearly the same price. On the 14th of December,
1864, an ordinance was adopted granting a charter to
the Bay City.and Portsmouth Street Railway Company,
the track of which, from  Third street in Bay City to.
south Centre street in Portsmouth, was laid during the
following year. In February, 1865, the village board




BAY   CITY.                   45
granted a charter to the Bay City Gas Light Company, which soon entered upon the erection and completion of its works.
A CHARTERED CITY.
The   next point    of  public  interest  in   the
history of Bay City, centers in its organization by
act ot the Legislature as a chartered city, which was accomplished in the spring of 1865, the city being divided
into three wards. A   charter election was held on the
first Monday of April, and the following officers elected.
Mayor, Nathan B. Bradley (Mr. Bradley was elected as
Representative to Congress in 1872, serving two terms
or until the election of 1876 shall terminate his term of.
office); Recorder, William T. Kennedy. Jr.; Treasurer,
Ernest Frank. The board of aldermen consisted of the
following named citizens: 1st ward, George W. Hotchkiss and Jeromo B. Sweet; 2nd ward, Alexander M.
Johnson and Jeffrey R. Thomas; 3rd ward, James Watson and Herschel H. Hatch. On April 11th the bonds
of the Treasurer were fixed at $3,000. Thomias Carney,
Sr., was elected Street Commissioner, Theophilus C.
Grier was elected City Attorney, C. Feige, City Marshall, Andrew Huggins, City Surveyor. The new Council now  rapidly got themselves into.working order. but
no event of m(ment is found on the records, until Sept.
12th, when, in accordance with the decision of the citizens expressed at a special election, a Silsby steam fire
engine was ordered to be purchased, which was donethe steamer being accepted by resolution, adopted Nov.
18th, 1865. On Sept. 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.
The question of sewerage, about this time, was warmly agitated, resulting two years later, in the laying of a




46

BAY CITY.

box   sewer  on  Centre   street,  from  Washington
to  Johnson.   and   from   Washington    to   Fifth,
and thence to the river. In this year fences were
constructed around the parks of the city, and several
hundred dollars expended for trees, grading, etc.

Frnser House.
During this year the Fraser House, being the third
brick building in the city, was erected on the corner of
Water and Centre streets, and the city began to assume
a metropolitan aspect. The first brick building had been
erected by Thomas Watkins, in 1862, on the corner of
Washington and Centre streets; the second by James
Fraser, on Water street, between Third and Fourth
streets. The receipts of the city during its first fiscal.
year fron all sources were $27,081.97; the expenditures,
$26,867.65; leaving a balance on hand at the end of the




BAY CITY.

47

year of $214.72. During this season strong efforts were
put forth in the Council to establish fire limits, but without success, until in the month of October, a large fire
having swept both sides of Water street from Centre to
Fifth streets, the Council established fire limits, and from
that time the city has grown with rapidity, and in a substantial manner. Provisions for the suppression of vice
and disorder were early adopted by the Council, the good
effects of which remain to this day.
In May, 1867, the Council decided upon a system of
paving, and Water street, from Third to Sixth street,
and Centre street, from Water to Saginaw street, comprising the business portion ot the city, were laid with
Nicholson pavement; at a later date the work on Centre
street has been continued with the Wyckoff system of
wooden blocks, to Johnson street. Fifth street has been
paved to Jefferson, Third street to Johnson, and Saginaw
street from First to Sixth street, with the same blocks,
making fully three miles of paving now in use in the
city. The city has also purchased the right to use the
Wyckoff device during the life time of the patent. In
1868 permission was given to the East Saginaw & Bay
City Railway Company to lay its track through the city
in the center of Jefferson street, and from the completion
and operation of said railroad, giving conveniences of
communication with the outside world, may be said to
date the growth and importance of the city. In 1870-1
the line of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad
was extended to a point opposite the city, and the benefits and advantages thereby accruing to the city speedily
became manifest. In this year the census of the United
States showed the population of the city to be 7,064;
while the assessed valuation of taxable property was
$1,166,475.
In the year 1871 it became evident that with the rapid
growth of the city, a system  of water works must be
speedily inaugurated. A Board of Water Commission



48

BAY CITY,.

ers was provided for, on August 28th, to carry out the
intention of the citizens as expressed at a special election,
July 14th, at which time $118,000 was voted as the beginiing of a fund for tLe purpose of supplying the city
with water from the Saginaw Bay. The first members
of the Board of Water Commnissioners were: James
Shearer (President), Michael Daley, William Westover,
John McDowell and Henry MI. Bradley. Erastus L.
Dunbar was appointed superintendent and engineer of
colnstruction, and the work was soon got urder way. The
_----
Campbell House.
BIoalrd of Water Commisssioners decided to adopt the
[lolly system of direct pumnping thinough the mains to
the consumer. A factory hav1ing been put in operation
in the city for the anufactue mannf actue of w iooden water pipe,
there has been laid to this date 78,703 feet of the same,
together with 16,377 feet of iron pipe; making a total
of 18 miles and forty feet, with 253 stop valves and 127
double discharge ]hydrants, connected with the street
mains. The water supply is brought from Saginaw bay,
at a point four and a half mi;iles f'omi the pumping machminery, b1y meains o1 a wooden stave conduit of 30 inches
diameter. The total construction account of the entire




BAYY  OITY.                  49
system to this date has been $351,088.22, the monoreyr for
which has been raised npon the bonds of the city, -having
froom fifteen to forty years to iunn from  their date, with
interest at 8 per cent. per annnm. These bonds have beeni
readilr negotiated, and in the expenditure of -the inouey
it is worthy of note, that no suspicion has ever been excited, that a single penny of the money. has been inisappropriated or used improperly.  Sevleral fires which havce
in their inception promised to be fruitful of disaster,
have been speedily checked, and the general sentiment of
the citizens is congratunatory, npon the completion and
successful management of the. work.
`7     I
Industrial W~rlts.
(ýidNEnAL INTERESTS.
'lhe medical fraternity of the city is wvell represented
by- N practitioners of all schools, bnt the fact that the inc(,reased deniand for cemetery lots has not been at all cornmiensurate with the growth, of the popnlation, warrants.
Us in sayinog that bnt few localities can boast a greater
immunity from udisease. than can the deniizens of thlii
favoredi citir.
The bridge which connects Bay City with the village
of Wenona, on the opposite bank of the river, wiias a wooden
st'ricture, -built in 1,865 6, at a costof $128,000. The




50                   BAY CITY.
bridge has been rebuilt during the past winter and
spring, a handsome iron structure upon pile foundations,
replacing the original structure.
THE ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLAT.
The village of Bay City was laid out in 1837 by the
Saginaw Bay Co., and was called the village of Lower
Saginaw. Its boundaries were the Prairie road (now
Woodside avenue) on the north; a line 400 feet south
of Tenth street on the south; Van Buren street on the
east, and the Saginaw River on the west. The original
boundaries have been enlarged, so that the city comprises at this time over six times more territory, and extends along the river bank for a length of six miles, with
a depth easterly averaging one and a half miles. The
original saginaw Bay Co. was composed of Governor
Stephen T. Mason, Frederick H. Stevens, A. McReynolds. Henry Hallock, John Hulbert, Henry R. Sawyer,
Electus Backus, Henry R Schoolcraft, James Fraser,
and Phineas Davis. Doct. D. H. Fitzhugh, who is still
at times seen upon our streets, at an early day became
by purchase, the possessor of a large portion of the plats,
some of which he still ietains, each year adding more
than the original cost of the whole, to the balance still
remaining in his hands. " The original stock of the company was divided into 240 shares, representing the number of acres embraced in the village plat, one acre to
each share.
TRAVELING FACILITIES.
The city is connected with the outside world by the
Flint and Pere Marquette R. R. to Detroit, built in 1867,
as also by the Detroit and Bay City branch of the Michigan Central R. R., which went into operation in 1871.
By means of the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw branch
of the Michigan Central, built in 1869-70, communication is had with the State capital, Jackson and the south,




BAY CITY.

51

and with Chicago in the west, while the same road to the
north is opening up a tributary country to the trade of
the county, and, ere many years, or when completed to
the Straits of Mackinaw, the government park on the
island of Mackinaw, and the immense trade of the Lake
Superior mineral productions, by means of the Mackinaw
and Marquette R. R., recently placed under contract by
the State, will be almost at the threshhold of the city,
contributing to her wealth and advancement.
Steamboat routes are maintained daily as follows:
With East Saginaw by two boats, making three trips
each. With the north-west shore to the towns of
Tawas, Au Sable and Alpena, by a daily line of boats
each" way. With Goderich, Canada, Cleveland and
Toledo by two lines of propellers carrying passengers and
freight. With Sebawaing and the east shore of the bay
by two lines of small propellors, and with Pine and Rifle
River on the west shore, by a line of small propellers.
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.
The spiritual interests of Bay City are watched over
by seventeen churches of the following denominations,
organized in the order named:
1st Methodist Episcopal, 2nd ward, organized 1845.
St. Joseph's R. C. (French) 2nd ward, organized 1852.
German Bethel, Lutheran. (Mich. Synod) 4th ward,
organized 1852.
1st Presbyterian, 3rd ward, organized 1856.
Protestant Episcopal, 3rd ward, organized 1854.
Methodist Episcopal, 6th ward, organized 1858.
Baptist, 6th ward, organized 1858.
1st Baptist, 3rd ward, organized 1860.
Universalist, 3rd ward, organized 1864.
St.James' R. C. (English) 4th ward, organized 1868.
Presbyterian, Memorial Chapel, 6th ward, organized
1871.
Anshei Chesed (Hebrew    congregation) 2nd ward,
organized 1872.




52                   BAY CITY.
Sisteirs of Charity, R. C., (Educational) 4th ward.
organized 1873.

First Baptist Church.
St. Stanislaus Kots-ka, R. C., (Polish) 5th ward, organized 1874.
Congregational, 3rd ward, organized 1875.
St. Bonifazins, RI. C., (Gerinan) 3rd ward, organizeel
1875.
Each of these congregations (except the Hebrews) has
a com0fortable and cominnorliois church building, some of
whrlich may properly bt called elegant, the Baptist church
en (entre street [see cut] being a brick structure costing
$80,000. Each of the denominations maintain Sabbath




BAY   CITY.                  53
schools, with excellent libraries, and each society is in a
flourishing condition. The total value of church property in the city is not far from $250,000.
CEMETERIES.
The city cannot at this date boast of any thing elaborate, in the way of' providing appropriate grounds
for the reception of the mortal remains of its citizens,
when life's fitful fever shall be over-past.  The first
Cemetery of the older settlers was situated in what is
now the 4thl ward, between 11th and 12th streets,
on Saginaw and Washington streets; this was abandoned
fiially in 1860, and an enclosure of about five acres.
situated in the 4th ward, at the east end of 12th street,
belonging to James Birney7, Esq., and known as " Pine
Ridge Cemetery," has been principallyy used since that
time.  Each year evidences more care in its adornment, and it. will, no doubt in timle, assume that beauty
whichl should ever mark the last resting place of the
loved ones gone before; although the time cannot be
far (listant, when a more extensive plat, will be required
c(imuinensurate with the growth and extent of the rapidly increasing city.
S On the opposite side of the road, now    known
as  the   Tuscola, Plank   Road, Mr. E. Eickermeyer an enterprising German citizen, has laid out a
plat of about the same size, which is slowly growing in
publie favor, and td ere many years will be at least the
equal, it' not the superior of Pine Ridge in beauty of
adornment.   The Heb-rews of the city, have a small
Cemetery plat to the east of, and adjoining Pine Ridge,
which will. no doubt, in time become a portion of the
salelle enclosuire. ThIe St. Patricks (Catholic) Cemetery
comprising five aceres of gronund, lies a, quarter of a mile
east of this place, and is now well fenced, and tastefully arranbged. These grounds which but a few years
since were more than a mile removed from    the city
limits, are-now nearly all within the limits of the city,




54

BAY CITY.

which is fast encroaching upon them, necessitating no
doubt, in the not far distant future, the selection of
grounds more remote from proximity to the crowded
population of a prosperous city.
THE PRESS.
The first newspaper published in the city, was known
as the Bay City "Press," and was established by Perry
Joslin, and edited by James Birney, at the present time
United States Minister Resident, at the Hague. It cominenced in 1856, and lived but a few weeks.
In 1859 Mr. Williaml Bryce commenced the publication of the " Press and Times," which was discontinned in 1864, to be succeeded in the same year by
the Bay City "Journal," Mr. John Culbert, editor,
which in 1871, became a daily as well as a weekly publication, under the editorial management and proprietorThip of Robert L. Warren, being discontinued in February, 1873, to  be
__.     again reissued by the
lI-Ion. James Birney,
- "'as the daily and weekv Chronicle, ceasing
as a daily in  1875;
the weekly Chronicle
still  continuing  at
1 this time under the
charge and proprietorship (,f Mr. Arthur M. Birney. The
-  Ipaper h as al way s
been Republican in
politics.
In 1864, Mr. William T. Kennedy, commenced the
issue oft a weekly Ilewspaper iin the interest of the Democracy, whichl was suspended in 1870.




BAY CITY.

55

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, and being
at this time without competitor in'the daily field. Mr.
Henry S. Dow, was its first Editor, Mr. Geo. K. Shaw
being its present Manager and Editor.
The Lumberman's Gazette a weekly journal devoted to the ihterests of the vast Lumber and Salt resources of the valley, and nation, was established in
1872, by Henry S. Dow, and is yet gaining ground in its
field of usefulness, under the proprietorship of Edwin T.
Bennett.
The Saginaw Valley Growler, published by Daniel R.
Curry, was established in 1869, and still continues a
weekly publication.
The Michigan Odd Fellow in the interest of the I. 0.
0. F., was established by Doctor Joseph Hooper, Editor,
Edward Newkirk and Charles C. Gustin in 1874, and
is an influential representative of the tenets of the Order.
THIE POST OFFICE.
Judge Albert Miller was the first post master of
Portsmouth, and Thomas Rogers of Lower Saginaw,
both localities being now within the limits of Bay City,
receiving their commissions, the former in 1837, the
latter in 1840, at which time a semi-occasional ma il
transported on the back of a man or beast, was all that
was required to accommodate a sparse p)opulation.
The p]resent incumbent of the Post Office of Bay City,
is Theodore- C. Phillips, and the business of the office
aggregates $150,000 per year. The average number




56

BAY CITY.

of letters sent and received daily, is 2,200, or 800,000 per
year, weighing over three tons, while the- weight of all
mail matter received and sent from the office, aggregates
a half ton per day, or one hundred and eighty tons per
year, while offices are maintained in the 7th ward of the
city, and at Wenona., Salzbunrg, Banks and Essexville,
all within a radius ot three miles from the Bay City
office, and all absolutely necessary for the convenience
of' a teeming population.
BANKING.
The first banking institution was established in the
village in the year 1863, by Chauncey W. Gibson, whose
cash capital is stated variously at from $1,000 to $5,000.
The name adopted was that of Bay Bank, which it retained until reorganized by Mr. Gibson arid others,ts the
First National Bank, with a capital of $50,000, receiving
its certificate of organization January 15th, 1864. The
bank capital has from time to time been increased, until
it now does business with.a capital of $400,000--James
Shearer, president; B. E. Warren, cashier and manager.
The State Bank was organized under the State laws,
in November, 1869, and is-now doing business on a capital  of   $150,000-Alonzo   Chesbrongh, president,
Orrin Bump, cashier and manager.
The Bay City Bank was organized under the State
laws, and began business iin 1869, with a capital of
$100,000-George Lewis, )president; George H. Young,
cashier. This institution also combines the advantages
of, and includes a savings department, known as the Bay
City Savings Bank.
The Second National Bank commenced business in,May, 1874, Nwith a capital of $100,000, and still remains
under the management of William XWestover, president,
and Wheeler L. Plum, cashier. The banking capital
of the city at this time is $750,000, without taking into
account the heavy surplus accumulated by each.




BAY CITY.

57

SECRET    SOCIETIES
The secret and civil societies of the city and county
comprise the following organizations:
MASONIC.
Bay City Lodge, No. 129, F. & A. M.
Joppa Lodge. No. 315, F. & A. M.
Portsmouth Lodge, No. 190, F. & A. M.
Blanchard Chapter, No. 59,, Royal Arch.
Bay City Commaudry, No. 26, Knights Templar.
Wenona Lodge, No. -, F.: & A. M.
These societies comprrise at this time a combined membership of about 600.
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Bay Lodge, No. 104, I. O. O. F.
Valley Lodge. No, 189, I. O. O. F.
Grace Lodge, No. 19, D. R., I. O. O. F.
Excelsior Lodge, No. 60, D. R., I. O. O. F.
Humbolt Lodge (German), No, 154, I. O. O. F.
Kanonda Encampment, No'. 36, I. O. O. F.
Eden Lodge, No 260, I. O. O. F.
Wenona Lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F.
Essexville Lodge, No. 225, I. O. O. F.
Kawkawlin Lodge, No.. 145, I. O. O. F.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
Portsmouth Lodge, I. O. G T., No. 109.
Bay City Lodge, I. O. G. T., No. 104.
MILITARY.
Co. D (Peninsular) 3rd Regiment Michigan State Troops.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Teutonia, Musical, organized 1867.
Harmonia, Musical, organized in 1874.
Arbeiter Verrein, Benevolent.
Knights of Pythias, organized July, 1875.
I. O. O. Bnai Brith, organized 1872.
Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society, organized 1873.
Bay County Bar Association.
Bay City Typographical Association.
St Andrew's Society.




58                   BAY CITY.
St. Patrick's Society.
Bay County Medical Society.
Homeopathic Medical Society.
Lafayette Tmrnperance Society.
German Workinginen's Society.
St. James R. C. Total Abstinence Society.
St. Joseph R. C. Benevolent Society.
Bay County Agricultural Society.
St. Stanislaus Kotska (Polish) Society.
THE SCHOOLS OF BAY CITY.
The first school taught in Bay City, by Miss -_-,
Robinson (on a salary of $1.50 per week and " boarding
round") was opened in the year 1844 in.a school building
costing $200, erected near the north end of Washington
street, which was made to do service as a school house,
Church and public. building.
In 1854 a new building was erected on Adams street,
between 4th and 5th streets, whose accommodations calculated for the children of the entire township, provided
for the instruction of about 160. This building enlarged
and improved, now   affords accommodation for 500
pupils, and is but one, of the at present extended
and useful system  of school buildings in the city,
consisting as they do, of a brick two story building in
the 1st ward, a two story frame building in the 2nd
ward, an elegant and costly High School building in
the 3rd ward, two, two story wooden structures in the
5th ward; a new and elegant two story brick building
in the 6th ward, and another in the 7th ward, the
valuation of all the school property of the city being
'135,000. The Board of Education of Bay City, was
incorporated by the legislature in 1867.
The High school building having been decided upon.
and commenced in 1866, was completed ready for occupancy in 1868. At that date the site selected, was considered by a majority of the citizens as too remote from




BAY CITY.              59

ig h SCn oo'.
the probable center of population to be advantageous, but
already has the growth of the city, not only reached,
but extended far beyond it, while the city lines have
been l)cated a full mile to the east of it, and the building has for several years been fully occupied, with an
ever increasing demand upon its accommodations, while
the system of graded schools which was adopted in
1870, is showing good results in the constantly enlarging class of graduates, which each year bids farewell to its halls, fitted to undertake a collegiate course,
or to cope with the duties of commercial life.  As the
efficiency  of our public school   system,  was first
made manifest under the administration of Prof. D. C.
Scoville, it is but just to name that gentlemen as the
father of' its development.  The present school census
embraces 4,400 scholars, of which number 2,700, are




60                  BAY CITY.
in attendance at the public schools, a goodly proportion
of the balance being in attendance at the various private  schools of' the  city, the  scholars in the
public schools being taught in the various grades
by 37 teachers. The expenditures for the schools of
Bay City, for the fiscal year ending September 3rd,
1866, were $3,114.89. while the estimates for the
period from  September 3r1, 1876 to September 3rd,.
1877, as certified to the common council are, $26,000;
being $16,750 less than the estimates for 1875.
The present organization of the school system of the
city is composed as follows:
BOARD OF EDUCATION, 1876.
President, Andrew Walton.
Clerk, Isaac G Worden.
1st ward, Andrew Walton, George H. Shearer.
2nd  "   Samuel G. M. Gates, Peter S. Heisordt.
3rd  "   Eldridge M. Fowler, Oscar Forsyth.
4th   "  Thomas Kelley, Thomas Carney, Jr.
5th   "   Richard Padley, Wm. W. Hargrave.
6th  "   John D. Lewis, Duncan McGregor.
7th   "  Alexander Logan, Charles ". Braddock.
Superintendent Public Schools, Ira W. Morley.
Principal of High School John W. Sleppy.
"     1st ward, Miss Juliette Baker.
c     2nd  "   Frederick W. Lankenau.
"     5th  "  Mrs. Julia C. Hawkesworth.
"     6th  "  Robert McLaughlin.
"     7th  "  Mrs. L. J. Whitney.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The public buildings of Bay City are justly her
pride. No city of equal age can point to a greater number of first-class buildings erected within an equal length
of time. At the date of her incorporation as a village in
1859, with but a sparse population of barely 700, it may
well be imagined that the character of the buildings was
in keeping with the poverty of the people. The venture
of Thomas W. Watkins, who in 1863 completed the




BAy 'CITY.

61

main part of the building, named in the cut as the residence of the Hon. James Shearer, which was by no
means as extended or ornamental in its' first conception
as it has since become,' was looked upon as a wild
scheme, which would swamp the "old bachelor lumber
inspector."  Mr Watkins, however, lived to see several
other piles of brick buildings established, and at his
death, in 1868, knew that his venture had not only
been a well advised one,but that it was a good legascy fbr
his wife and only child. Mr. James Fraser erected the
second brick building in the city,on Water street, between
Third and Fourth streets, and was soon followed by Mr.
Hiram Cooper, who built a small two story store on
Water between Centre and Sixth streets. Mr. Fraser
commenced the erection of the hotel which bears his
name, in the year 1864, and it is to-day the pride of our
citizens and the equal of any hotel in the State.
The "big fire" in 1865, leading to the establishment of
fire limits, was the first incentive to a more substantial
style of building than had heretofore been thought necessary, and from this time the erection of brick blocks
throughout the city, has kept pace with the increase of
its population and the development of its interests. It is
not the purpose of this work to describe in full all the
beautiful buildings, or all the surroundings of Bay City
and its inhabitants. We may, however, point to a number of cuts which, being obtainable on short notice, are
well calculated to give to the reader an idea of the architecture of the more notable buildings of the city, which
will evidence the public spirit of its inhabitants; these
views we submit without further particularization, simply adding that the city contains a large number of
elegant and Costly private mansions, several of which
have been erected at a cost of from $10,000 to $30,000.
The wisdom of the founders ot Bay City, is shown in its
wide streets, laid out at right angles to each other, and
in the provision which was made by them for the needs




62

BAY CITY.

of a growing city, in providing in the 1st and 3rd
wards small parks of three acres each, and in what is now
the central or business portions of the city a smaller
park, comprising an opening of 260 feet by 300 feet,
which can never be encroached upon for the purpose of
building, but will remain so long as the city endures,
breathing places for a vast multitude of people who will
bless the foresight and wisdom of those who provided
for them in the laying out of the city. In front of the
Court House a handsome fountain throws its spray into
the heated atmosphere of a summer's day, while a smaller
fountain adorns the park by its side, and as well one
on the opposite side of the street in front of the jail.
The streets of Bay City are yearly growing more beautiful, as the large numbers of elm, maple, horse-chestnut
and other shade trees, approach more nearly a condition
of usefulness and maturity. The extent of the shade
tree culture, by her citizens, is a matter of much comment among strangers visiting her borders, and is an
heir loom of inestimable value to posterity.
In the year 1873 Mr. William D. Fitzhugh donated to
the city a tract of twenty acres of ground, situated about
one mile east of the river, and between First and Centre
streets, as a puiblic'park, and some labor in grading and
fencing has been undertaken by the city. This will, no
doubt, in a few years be a favorite resort for our citizens.
MAN UFACTURES.
Bay City, while essentially a manufacturing town,
cannot as yet boast so great a diversity of manufactures
as would be desirable. Lumber and salt are her great
staples, and the larger proportion of her endeavors culminate upon these two articles and their manipulation.
Still she is making rapid strides in the direction of other
industries, and when her forests shall fail will be prepared in the utilization of her vast resources in salt, nearly
one million of barrels of which annually leave her docks
or pass her doors as it leaves the adjoining county on its




BAY CITY.

63

way to a western or eastern market, to add such other
industries as the exigencies of a growing nation may demand. The twenty-four saw    mills within her limits
have a sawing capacity of three hundred million feet of
sawed lumber per year, two shingle mills, producing
twelve million of sawed shingles, and seventeen salt
blocks of a producing capacity of four hundred thousand
barrels of salt per year, may well be esteemed no mean
foundation on which to base the prosperity of a growing
city.  Supplementing these however, we may amlong
the industrial developments of the city,name six planing
NorIthlvcestern Gas tn, Water P:pe F Icto y ~
mills which prepare the rough stock for immediate use,
or shipment to the consumer; one tub and pail factory,
turning out a car load per day of finished work, and one
manufactory of gas and water mains from the tree, this
latter being a recent adaptation of wood to uses heretofore monopolized by iron, which is meeting5 with great
favor wherever tried. There are also five foundries and
machine shops, one of which has a paid ui capital of
$100,000, three of the others vieing closely with it as to
the ability to do, and the extent ol work done, both in
the manufacture of new or repair of old machinery; fotb,
boiler miaking establishments. for confining to utilizatioe n




64

BAY CIrTY.

the only reliable motive power which.has yet availed to
take the place of water, one lock manufactory, for the
manufacture of a recently introduced and excellent device
in automatic, safety or combination locks, one oar
factory, and  an immense number of blacksmiths,
carpenters, masons, and artizans of every    nature.
There are two grist mills in the county,, one being located within the limits of Bay City, the other at Wenona.
These mills have heretofore depended largely for their
supplies of grain upon importations from abroad, but for
the past two years have been able to obtain from the
farms of the county, not only sufficient for their needs,
but a small amount for export. The development of the
agricultural interests of the county, must inevitably soon
place her in the list of export counties.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The present Fire Department of Bay City consists of
the following organization
OFFICERS.
Chief Engineer-Benjamin F. Ray.,
1st Asst.-Engineer-John Fowler.
2nd Asst.-Engineer-Robert J. Campbell.
COMPANIES.
1st Ward Hose (single h-,rse reel; 1000 feet hose)Foreman-George Wan less.
Driver--T red Hamlin.
Pipemen--Gotleib Wortz, Joseph    Fraser, John
Currant, Robert Watson, Patrick McCullough.
2nd Ward Hose (single horse reel; 1000 feet hose)--
Foreman--Henry Woods
Driver-Cyrus McGregor.
Pipemen--Luther Tobias, Richard Woods, Richard
Cuthbert, William Truesdale, Henry Wackerly.




BAY CITY.

65

4th Ward Hose (single horse reel; 1000 feet hose)Foreman--Lawrence McHugh.
Driver-Edward Atkinson.
Pipemen-Matthew Ryan, George Trombly, WilWilliam Madden, Nathan Laird, Silas Larkin.
7th Ward Hose (single horse reel; 1000 feet hose)Foreman-Charles J. Rouech.
Driver-William Cherriman.
Pipemen-Leondas M.*Miller, John Y. McKinney,
Wm. H. Wilbur, Henry Stark, Daniel Buckman.
The department also have one hand engine and two
steam fire engines, which are held without organizations,
as a reserve in case of extremity; and also hold a reserve of 2000 feet of hose. The force depends upon the
street hydrants supplied by the water-works of the city
for its power, and has repeatedly shown itself to be an
efficient organization. The department is a paid one,
the salaries being, to the Chief Engineer $300 per year,
to the Foremen and Pipemen each $10 per month, and
to the Drivers $45 per month. The city is furnished
with Pond's Patent Fire Alarm Telegraph system, there
being now located and in operation fourteen public
alarm boxes, beside those located at the offices of the
Chief Engineer, Superintendent of Water Works, and
Chief of Police.
POLICE.
The orderly character of the city may be inferred from
the fact that it is watched over by a police force composed
but of one Chief of Police or City Marshal, and nine
patrolmen, the former receiving a compensation of $1,200
per year, the latter $60 each per month. The City
Recorder acts as Police Justice, and has jurisdiction over
all offences committed in violation of the ordinances of
the city.




66

BAY CITY.

MILITARY.
The city is justly proud of Co. D, 3rd Regiment of
State Troops, which under the cognomen of " Peninsulars," is a well drilled, handsomely uniformed body of
72 men, from the trades and professions, and has in its
brief career, having been organized in 1874, already
gained warm encomiums from    other companies of the
State, and from  the State'officials, for proficiency of
drill and soldierly bearing. The company is under the
command of Captain (recently elected Reg.mental Major)
Frank H. Blackman.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR BAND.
The Knights Templar band was organized in 1873 by
the secret order of that name, and at this time, in a neat
uniform, and with excellent proficiency in music, does
credit to the body which fosters it, and to the city at
large.
KANONDA ENCAMPMENT BAND.
The Kanonda Encampment, I. O. O. F. have also
fostered an excellent musical organization in the 7th
Ward, which, in handsome uniform, fully shares in the
favors bestowed upon the Knights Templar organization,
both being at once the honor and pride of the city. This
band was organized in 1874.
STATISTICAL.
The following table will exhibit the contrasts in population and manufactures, from the incorporation of the
village of Bay City, and practical organization of Bay
County in 1859,with several dates, ending with the present year, 1876:
BAY CITY.
186).  1865.  1870.   1874.  1876.
Population...............  7   3,359  7,064  13,676  17, 00
Assessed  Valuation,....  530,589 59  633,000  $1,166,475 1 1,782,25'1  $1,718,175
The apparent decrease in assessed valuation from 1874
to 1876, is attributable to the modification of ideas of




BAY CITY.

67

value, induced by a three years period of commercial depression, the most serious in the history of the Nation.
BAY COUNTY.
18619  1865   1870.  "  1874.  1876.
opulaton.............. 1,519  5,517  15900  24,801  0,000
Assessed  Valuation,.......  652,391  $1,35,000  32,670,198  $3,30,.. 00  $3,168,000
SHIPMENTS.
The following table will show the growth and increase
of the lumber and salt product of Bay County from 1865
to 1876, as shown by the statistics of' shipment
LUMBER.
1865.         1868.         1873.         1875.
154,727,945 feet.  194,40,000 feet.  265,408,193 feet.  338,609,304 feet.
Of the cut ot 1875 the mills of the city contributed
223,350,287 feet.
SALT.
1865.         1873.    I    1874.          1875.
'59,061  barrels.  352,000  barrels.  426,256  barrels.  493,546 barrels.
Of the products of 1875, 389,758 barrels were from
blocks within the city limits, 103,788 being contributed
by the balance of the county, the salt blocks being
wholly on the banks of the Saginaw River.
As an index of the growth and extent of the salt
interest of the Saginaw   Valley, the following table,
showing'the shipments from the earliest development uf
the business, will be of interest:
1860-.. ---- --.----------4,000 barrels.
1861-------..-.-- ------- -125,000 "
1865 ---------               477,200     "
1870................... 646,516         "
1875. ---------  --------1,081,875     "




68

BAY CITY.

MUNICIPAL     ORGANIZATION.
BAY CITY TN 1876.
Mayor-ARCHIBALD McDONELL.
Recorcer-ISAAc G. WORDEN.
Controller-PATRICK J. PERROTT.
Treasurer-CHARLES S. BRADDOCK.
City Attorney-WINsoR SCOFIELD.
City Marshal-JAMES A. WELLS.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN..1 st Ward, JOHN McEWEN, MERRILL F. WILCOX.
2nd   "  BENJAMIN SHEPHARD, HENRY HOLMES.
3rd  "   S'ANFORD V. WILKINS, JOHN WILD.
4th   "  SAMUEL KAICHEN, DARWIN C. SMALLEY.
5th   "  JAMES LAING, DONALD McDONALD.
6th   "  WILLIAM DAGLISH, ALBERT MILLER.
7th   "  ORVILL A. \XATROUS, CHARLES STEVENS.
Street Commissioner-JoHN KILLDUFF.
-Iealth Officer and Director of Poor-THOMAs CARNEY,
SEN.
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
The Board of Water Commissioners as existing in
1876, is as follows:
President-William Westover.
1st Ward, -Andrew Walton.
2nd   "  -Thomas Cranage, Jr.
3rd  "   -William Westover.
4th  "C  -William Smalley.
5th  "   -Henry M. Brndley.
6th   "  --James Clark, M. D.
7th   "  -William C McClure.
Superintendent and Secretary--Erastus L. Dunbar.
1st Engineer-.A. B. Verity.
2nd   "    -Fred H. Holly.




BAY CITY.

69

TELEGRAPHS.
The city boasts two lines of telegraphic communication with the world, the Western Union established in
1863, and the Atlantic and Pacific established in 1874.
The telegraphic business of Bay City during 1875 was
in excess of that of any other locality in the State excepting the city of Detroit.

First National Bank Building,
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The city enjoys the advantages of a public library
comprising 5,500 volumes, the joint property of an
association of public-spirited citizens, and of the Board
of Education, being under the management of the latter.
The citizens generally are in the enjoyment of the facilities thus afforded, free of expense, and its use is almost
universal among them.




70

WENONA.

70               WENONA.

WENONA AND BANKS.
EXT in importance to Bay City, rank the vi!lages of Wenona and Banks in their respective
order. Both are situated in the township of
Bangor, on the west bank of the Saginaw river, and are
noted for their enterprise, and, especially in the case of
Wenona, for rapid growth and substantial development.
Wenona, in 1863 containing but two buildings, now
boasts a population of probably 2,200 souls, and contains
a number of elegant and ornamental brick blocks, including a school house, accommodating 600 pupils, second in its appointments to no other school building in
the county. The village has a Presbyterian, Methodist,
German Lutheran, Episcopalian and Roman Catholic
church organization, instituted in the order named, each
possessing good church buildings and properties, and
maintaining efficient Sabbath schools. An opera house
has this spring been completed, and the business blocks
of H.W. Sage & Co. and others, rank in point of size and
appearance among the best of its more pretentious neighbor, Bay City. An excellent iron bridge, elsewhere mentioned, connects Wenona with Bay City, while the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad connects her with the




WENONJ.

71

outside world. The saw mill of H. W. Sage & Co. is
one of the finest in the world, and gives employ and business to hundreds of laboring men and merchants.  The
Lumberman's State Bank, of Wenona, S     0. Fisher,
President. H. H. Norrington, Cashier, is doing a good
business on a capital of $50,000.
The village of Banks was settled at an early day in
the history of Bay County, and was incorporated a village in 1873. The progress of this village has not been
as rapid as that of the other village organizations, but it
is the center of a growing and active population. It is
situated opposite to the north portion of Bay City, and
has within its limits three extensive saw mills, each of
which has salt works attached, while the salt works of
Leng & Bradfield are run independent of mills. The
population of Banks is largely engaged in the catch and
packing of the excellent fish with which the river and
bay abound. The value of the white fish, lake trout,
pickerel and other kinds of*fish shipped from the river
aggregates probably $75,000 per annum. There are
Episcopal and Methodist church organizations, the latter
having a commodious house of worship. The village
boasts of an excellent school building; and an extensive
ship yard and a good tannery are within her limits.




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Westover Blook,, Bay City, Mich.