History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical

Front matter

NY PI-

RESEARCH

LIBRARIES

Preface

SIXTY years ago, when the whole region of Saginaw Valley was little mure than a wilderness, a printer by the name oi Fox gave the scant population a "History of Saginaw County." It was a small pamphlet of about sixty pages, paper bound, set up and printed entirely by hand, but it contained valuable information for posterity. Unfortunately this book has become very scarce, and only a few copies are known to exist. In 1868 Mr. Fox published a new and revised edition of his history, containing eighty-six pages, also hand made, which now is also rare. The first directory of Saginaw, published in 1866, contained a comprehensive and interesting history of early Saginaw, by Thomas Galatin ; and eight years later W. R. Bates presented his "History of the Saginaws."

From these early histories, valuable in their accounts of pioneer days, of persons and events; from the tiles of early newspapers; from scrap hooks and albums of settlers who preserved records of primitive times; and from interviews with many old residents whose recollections were still keen, the historian has gathered materials for this history. It is the first work of the kind, to he dignified by the title of "1 [istory," published in thirty-seven years; and in its broad scope and purpose represents many months oi research and study.

The fund of information, containing stories of border lite, narratives oi personal adventures and public events, is almost inexhaustible. < hie might go on and on for years gathering true and faithful accounts, often musty and dim with age, but with plenty of color and atmosphere to lend interest, and filling volumes of interesting history. The human element never is wanting in Saginaw's history. Few sections of the country, at least in the Middle West, can produce such material, thrilling and often startling, and replete with heart interest. The difficulty experienced by the historian has been in the selection and elimination of his materials, for he has ever had in mind the use of that which casts a searchlight on human events, and lends the most absorbing interest. Romance is not lacking in the stories gathered, and possibly some of it may be reflected in the historical narratives.

The purpose and aim of this History of Saginaw County, published in nineteen hundred and eighteen, is to give the people of Michigan a reliable, comprehensive and interesting story of our past and present life; to show the development of this industrial and agricultural center of the State from the once primeval forest; and to hand down to generations to come the facts of early history from which may lie formed a proper conception of what pioneer settlers and others suffered in laving the firm foundation upon which our prosperity stands. This work will be a practical basis for the study of local history in the public schools, both in city and townships, ami will he a reference book in public libraries here ami elsewhere. This has been constantly in mind si > that a proper balance between personal and material things might be maintained.

Each subject has been treated as a separate and distinct monograph, with events and things arranged in chronological order. For the must part all matter pertaining to one general subject will be found together in its proper place, although in some instances, such as the romance of lumbering, interesting; accounts will be found in the chapters on early pioneer life. This is because logging and lumbering operations were inseparably linked with the daily experiences of the pioneers, two generations literally growing up in the atmosphere of the pine forests, in the hum of saw mills, and the wild and reckless life of the frontier.

The logical arrangement, therefore, necessitated a division of the wdtole work into four separate books, incorporated and bound into two volumes. The first book. Historical — comprises fifteen chapters (from I to XV, inclusive), and deals with our local history from the earliest times to the present, including many illustrations of town and river scenes, and portraits of early pioneers. The second book, Industrial History — (chapters XVI to XXV), is devoted to our manufacturers, mercantile and banking interests, in which pictures of factories (both outside and inside), wholesale houses, prominent buildings and street scenes, are interesting features. These two 1 ks

are bound complete in Volume I, with convenient indexes of pioneer biographies and subject titles. The third book — Biographies of Representative Citizens — gives the life histories of the men whose collective efforts have made Saginaw the prosperous city it is today. The fourth book — Townships anil Towns — comprises the local history of each township and biographies of leading pioneers, merchants, professional men, and progressive farmers who have developed agriculture in this county. Books three and four are bound complete in Volume II, with proper indexes.

History and Biography are terms identical in meaning ami purpose. They are words expressing practically the same thing, although in somewhat different form. History is a record of human events, political, economic or industrial. Biography is a record of purely individual endeavor, as expressed in the form of a life history, and treats of the more intimate affairs of a man's life. Both History and Biography, therefore, are essential to a complete and perfect record of any community or commonwealth. As treated in this History of Saginaw County, one is as necessary and important as the other. The closer and more intimate relations of our leading manufacturers, jobbing houses and banking institutions, as found in their individual histories appearing at intervals in Volume I, pages 461 to 774, are essential to a proper understanding of our commercial advancement. No history would approach completeness without them. A perusal of these accounts will be found interestc ing and instructive, and to many will prove a surprise in the revelation of growth and importance of the industrial and commercial prosperity of this city. A summary of industries, in which Saginaw leads the State and in some instances the Nation, appears in Volume I. page 679.

Likewise, the personal element interwoven in the biographies of our leading- citizens, contains features of the highest interest. Their achievements in business and professional life are related in a modest and unostentatious style, befitting the character and lives of the subjects, yet are intimately and purely personal in treatment. Much of the most vital and important history of Saginaw County is told in these biographies. For instance, some of the most interesting history of lumbering in Michigan is incorporated in the sketches of Ammi W. Wright, Charles H. Davis and other- of that enterprising group of men, whose names are indelibly stamped on the history of the Northwest. The same is true of the simple yet dignified biographies of other business and professional men, a reading of which will reveal interesting sidelights on histor\ .

While this history has had the endorsement and encouragement of our leading ami representative citizens and townsmen, a few have assumed a different attitude toward it. These men undoubtedly regard themselves as deserving a place among progressive men. but from extreme modesty or other reasons have refused to recognize the work by giving any information conerning their personal affairs. Generally such cases are forgotten. In some, however, because of pioneer antecedents or circumstances of importance, the historian has felt bound, in justice to those who have identified themselves with the work, to present an unbiased account of a man's life. Hut without information derived first-hand, it has been necessary to resort to such data as could be obtained from outside sources and which seemed true and reliable, but the veracity of which could not be substantiated. It is hoped that nothing has been published distasteful to the persons whose affairs are thus related. History in its highest form, it should be borne in mind, is selective and critical.

For personal interest and aid in his researches and study, in the loan of old histories, scrap books, newspaper clippings, pioneer portraits and views, the historian is greatly indebted to Fred Dustin, Mrs. Aaron T. Rliss, Mr-. S. C. J. Ostrom, Fred J. Buckhout, Mrs. Ferdinand Brucker, William B. Mershon, Fred L. Eaton, Jr., John A. Co,, nibs, William 1'. Powell, John F. O'Keefe, Benton Hanchett, Ezra Rust, Mrs. James B. Peter, Langley S. Foote, George L. Burrows, Jr., Miss Nellie Brown, William S. Linton. John Moore, George W. Wallis, late chief of the lire department, Patrick Rain, chief of the police department, the commissioner of park- and cemeteries, W. W. Warner, superintendent of schools; and to Miss Harriet H. Ames, and her associate. Miss Blanche Topping, of Hoyt Library; Miss Dow ,,| the Public Library; Miss Benjamin of the Butman-Fish Memorial Library; and the Detroit Public Library; and the Michigan Historical Commission. To all these, and many others who have rendered incidental aid. the historian

extends his grateful acknowledgements.

R C. M.

Contents

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