·A THE PIONEER SOCIETY. MERICAN settlements had grown up in the regions adjoining Detroit at a date anterior to the year 1800, notably at Monroe, Mt. Clemens, St. Clair, Port Huron and other points, which afterward became sources of supplies to pioneer husbandmen and lumberers, who in those early days ran the gauntlet of the pine district. Indeed it would seem strange, but is nevertheless true, that the settlement of St. Clair by Americans was delayed beyond that of other points possessing no more fruitful sources of wealth or advantages for settlers. Roving traders and agents of fur companies who operated throughout the Northwest could hardly have overlooked the value of sites since fringed with flourishing cities and villages that have been built up and have become the homes of intelligence, enterprise and wealth. They may have · come into the wilderness annually, and, remaining long enough to exchange their commodities for furs, returned to their abiding places without leaving any trace of their temporary existence here to guide the historian in his pursuit of facts. Thus far, records of such occupation have been discovered, and positive evidences of settlements are available after decades have elapsed. In this connection the surprise is expressed that among those who came during the first years of the building up of the county, a greater number of them have not put in permanent and enduring form a reliable record of events as they transpired here in those days. Possessing leisure which they have justly won, literary tastes and devoted attachments to the county to whose growth and prosperity they have so liberally contributed, familiar with early history, rapidly passing into tradition, it is truly strange that they have not perpetuated the material in historic form which they could successfully command. At the date when the first American settlement of St. Clair was ventured, the present county was almost an uninhabited wilderness, possessing, as would seem from the presumed refusal of traders and strollers to remain within its interior, but few attractions, and those few of the most limited character. The nearest towns were Detroit, Monroe and Mt. Clemens, at that time landings of some importance, but struggling for existence. The population of Chicago was then less than nothing, while Detroit was yet in its infancy, giving few promising indications of what was reserved for the future to disclose. was little then, as compared with the present, between the flourishing cities of the East, and the impromptu municipal weaklings in the great West, which since reflected back the star of empire. The confines of civilization were then limited to the towns and settlements along the lakes of the West, and he who struck out for a home in the Territories was regarded as an adventurous soldier of fortune whose return was a question of chance rather than probability. This, then, was the condition of affairs as they existed long years ago, according to sources of information in that behalf, presumably correct. There was little to attract save the intrinsic merit of the location and surroundings, which, combined with the hopes of a future, were sufficient to direct the residents of the Eastern States to this Territory. To those at home who were independent, the country furnished inducements that would enable men of means to add to their accumulations; to the imprudent or impoverished, pulling with steady stroke against the current of adversity, both pitiless and uncompromising, a hope for better days; to the speculator, it appeared a field of operations incalculably valuable; to the scientist, an opportunity for discovery; to the scholar, the Christian and the husbandman, the occasion for labors that have since returned to bless their inventors. As a consequence the class of people who established themselves in St. Clair County, and have since been identified with its growth and the development of its wealth, generally were men of rare excellence. Earnest, frank and kind, they made all men friends by being the friends of all men. Illustrating by example rather than precept, they bridged the brief interval between purity and sin, by the power of kindness, and looked with eyes of charity upon the mistakes and failings of their fellows. Brave, but tender, they were, in short, the most generous of men who have ever loft "the shore touched by a mysterious NAMES. sea that has never yet borne on any man the image of a homeward sail," their deficiencies made up by the recording angel, from the love they bore humanity. And so, too, the pioneer women, those who braved the absence of home, friends and congenial associations to accompany their fathers, husbands and sons into the trackless waste of the Northwest, and contemplated the present as also the future, the horizon of which was darkened by discouragement and gloom. And yet they faltered not, but sustained their husbands by a trust in the outlook that was constant, and bore an abundant harvest. As wives, they were the most agreeable of companions; as friends, the most affectionate; as mothers, gentle as children ever had the misfortune to Jose, who corrected the most pernicious of evils by the most tender management. Prudent from affection, though most liberal by nature, they practiced economy from the love they bore their husbands, and at critical periods, preserved order in affairs from the care of which those hus bands weie relieved; they reclaimed their husbands from despair, urged their indolence to exertion, and constantly admonished them to industry, integrity and manhood. In the accounts furnished regarding the first settlements of the county, it is found that the principal events have ever kept pace with the rapid improvements of the age. The site of the city seems to have been a resort for the Indians from time immemorial, and this is said to have induced French traders to meet them there, at an early day, for the purpose of trade. Who they were, where they obtained supplies, and other factors of importance, regarding the occupation of the present county, either permanently or as transients, are all noted in u former chapter. The names of those pioneers, and their relation to the county the day it was organized, may be gleaned from the following valuable paper, taken from the public records: Hezekiah Adams. William Brown.. John Brown. Joseph Chortier.. David Cottrell George Cottrell John Elliott.. F. Fleuver ORCHARDS. THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS. OXEN. In addition to the property named and valued in above list, there were fcur wooden clocks, divided between L. Bcaubein, William Brown, John Elliott and Joseph Minnie; William Brown, D. Cottrell, K. Harsen, Mariann Minnie, W. Thorn and Andrew Wesbrook owned each a cariole; William Brown, Samuel Ward and Harvey Stewart had each a wagon; J. S. Fish, Samuel Ward and A. Wesbrook had each a silver watch; F. Chortier, David, George and Henry Cottrell, Mariann Minnie, Joseph Minnie, O. Kickard, William Thorn and A. Wesbrook owned a pioneer cart each. All these articles were valued and taxed by James Wolverton and Joseph Minnie, the Assessors of the county. This record of the original property owners in the county has an equally valuable sequel in the transactions of the pioneer society and the varied reminiscences given in this chapter. ST. CLAIR COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY. October 14, 1875, was selected as an appropriate day for the meeting of the pioneers of HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. the county for the organization of a county association, because it was thought that it, being the last day of the county fair, would insure a large attendance, but the result showed that though there were a great many old settlers in the city, the fair proved a counter-attraction. ing meeting at the court house the attendance of pioneers was very small, and though larger in At the mornthe afternoon, not as many were present as it had been hoped would turn out. meeting Samuel Russell, of Algonac, had been chosen temporary chairman, and B. C. FarAt the morning rand, of Port Huron, Secretary. When the meeting re-assembled at 1:30, a committee was appointed, of which Col. Wesley Truesdail was chairman, to report permanent officers for the association. The committee reported recommended the following as officers of the society: President, D. B. Harrington; Vice Presidents, W. B. Barron, of St. Clair; A. P. Stewart, of Algonac; Solomon Kingsley, of Clyde; Secretary and Treasurer, B. C. Farrand. Mr. Stewart said that he believed active men ought to fill all the positions of the society, and on account of ill health asked to be excused from serving, and that Mr. Samuel Russell, his townsman, be substituted in his place. With this amendment the report of the committee was adopted. Mr. Harrington then assumed the chair, making a few appropriate remarks, thanking the society for the compliment, and pledging himself to do all he could to aid in building up a strong and prosperous organization. Mr. W. B. Barron, of St. Clair, moved that besides the other Vice Presidents at large, already elected, a Vice President be chosen for each township, who should be charged with the duty of enlisting the interest of his locality in the association. following gentlemen were nominated and elected as sujh Vice Presidents for their respective The motion passed, and the towns: Berlin, Elihu Granger; Brockway, John Grinnell; Burtchville, Jonathan Burtch; Casco, Orange Fenton; China, Samuel Carleton; Columbus, George S. Granger; Cottrellville, James D. Brown; East China, John Clarke; Fort Gratiot, Lucius Beach; Grant, Nelson Potter; Kenockee, David Bryce; Kimball, John S. Kimball; Mussey, D. C. Walker; Port Huron, Z. W. Bunco; Riley, Oel Rix; St. Clair, Alex. St. Barnard; Wales, Joshua Tompkins. No nominations were made for the other towns, but the vacancies were to be filled at the next meeting. It was expected that all these Vice Presidents would attend the next meeting of the society, and a failure of any one of the number to do so, was to be considered as a refusal to act, and warrant a notification that some other person must be selected to represent the society in that locality. Mr. Truesdail moved the appointment of a committee of three to prepare a constitution and by-laws of the association to be reported at the next meeting. The motion prevailed and the chair appointed as such committee, Col. W. Truesdail and William B. Barron. of St. Clair, and Samuel Russell, of Algonac. The committee was also intrusted with the work of preparing a programme of exercise for the next meeting of the association. The meeting then adjourned to meet at the City Hall in St. Clair, Tuesday, November 16, at 11 o'clock A. M. Though the attendance was not large, the meeting was far from being a failure. terest in the enterprise was evidently very great, and a good start was made. The in At the meeting there were present quite a number who have been residents of this county for over half a century. The following is a list of some of the earliest settlers who were in attendance: Aura P. Stewart, of Algonac, born in Canandaigua, N. Y., May 20, 1804, settled in this county with his father in 1815. He is one of the oldest emigrant residents of the county. Barzilla Wheeler, of Kimball, came to Detroit as a soldier in 1815; was discharged in May, 1817, and came to St. Clair County with Fulton & Brooks in 1819, and helped them to lay out St. Clair. Alex. St. Barnard, of St. Clair Township, was born in 1809, on the Canada side of St. Clair River, his father moving across to about the spot where Mr. St. Barnard now lives, when the latter was a mere child. D. B. Harrington, of Port Huron, came with his father, Jeremiah Harrington, to this county in 1819, stopping here while on a journey to the Saginaw region. George Morttenger, of East China, born in Columbiana County, Ohio, came as a member of the militia to Fort Gratiot in June, 1814; helped to build that fort but did not remain here then; settled here about thirty years previous to 1875. Jonathan Burtch, of Burtchville, came to Detroit July 20, 1828, and settled in this county the same year. 1831. A. J. Palmer, of St. Clair, came to St. Clair County in 1829. Lucius Beach, of Fort Gratiot, came from Connecticut, and settled in 1830. Solomon Kingsley, of Clyde, born in Vermont, came to this county from that State in William B. Barron, of St. Clair, born in New Hampshire, and settled in St. Clair County in 1836. Samuel Russell, of Algonac, came from Ohio in 1836. W. Truesdail, of St. Clair, came from New York in 1836 as cashier of the old bank of St. Clair, the only bank in Michigan that did not suspend in 1837. Timothy Barron, of Port Huron, came in 1831. B. C. Farrand, of Port Huron, came to Detroit in 1825, and to this county in 1843. Elihu Granger, of Berlin, came here in 1835. Mr. Morttenger gave some interesting facts about his visit to this region in 1814. He had enlisted in the militia in Fairfield, Columbiana Co., Ohio, and in the last year of the war came to where Fort Gratiot now stands. Here was stationed a small force of regulars under command of Col. Codgrave. Maj. Rowland was another of the officers; the captain of Mr. Morttenger's company being Israel Warren of Fairfield. There was no fort there when this company of militia arrived on the 1st day of June, 1814, and they were net to work constructing one. Within six weeks or two months, a very good embankment was thrown up on the west, north and south sides. The fortifications on the east or river front were stronger, logs entering into the construction His company was ordered on to Mackinac before the fort was fully completed. November 16, 1875, was the day appointed for the adjourned meeting of the County Pioneer Society, at St. Clair, to perfect the organization begun at Port Huron October 14, 1875. The inclemency of the weather for the previous week had rendered the roads well nigh impassable, and the bleak wind and storm of Tuesday morning made the occasion an unpropitious one for the old settlers, many of whom doubtless remained at home on that account. Notwithstanding these adverse circumstances, however, the meeting was held, was quite fairly attended, and all in all, was an interesting and profitable gathering. The organization of the society was fully completed and preparations made for beginning systematic and earnest work. The meeting convened in the city hall, at 11 o'clock, about forty pioneer settlers of the county being present, as well as a few St. Clair citizens who dropped in as spectators. President Harrington called the meeting to order, and in the absence of Mr. Farrand (unavoidably prevented from attending) Mr. James H. Stone was called upon to act informally in his stead. The President called for the report of the Committee on Permanent Organization as the first business in order, and William B. Barron, from that committee, in the absence of Col. Truesdail, the chairman (from whom he had just received a telegram that he was detained at Detroit by serious illness in his family), reported that the committee had prepared, with considerable care, a constitution and bylaws for the government of the society, which they submitted. These instruments were read by the Secretary, but their consideration was not fully completed before a recess was taken. Re-assembling after dinner the consideration of the constitution and by-laws was proceeded with and after immaterial amendments were made, the same were adopted. According to the programme of exercises agreed upon at the morning session, the signing of the constitution and by-laws was the next business in order, and the following persons, among others, gave in their names and the additional information required by Article II of the by-laws, the date of their immigration to the State alone being given here: |