ness in 1854, and has carried it on for the past twenty-eight years—a greater length of time than any one else in the same business except Mr. Saunders. Mr. Weyers carries a large stock of goods and has a large established trade, and for some years has done the leading business here. He married Miss Emily Stoddard, of New York State, July 22, 1855. They have seven children—Anna M., Juliette, Eleanor, Edith, Josephine, Franklin, Alice; have lost three children, two sons and one daughter.

L. B. WHEELER, lumber and real estate dealer, is a native of Hancock County, Me., and was born in the town of Greenfield, October 23, 1819. He grew up and attended school there, and came to Michigan in October, 1853, and located in Port Huron and engaged in lumbering, and since then for a period of about thirty years has been connected with that business and real estate interests.

EDGAR WHITE, Postmaster, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., October 3, 1820, when only sixteen years of age, in July, 1836, he came to Port Huron to look after lands which had been purchased by his father the year previous, on the south side of the river. He remained here only a short time, then returned East. He visited the West several times during the next ten years; in 1846, went to Ann Arbor, and three years later, in 1849, came here to reside permanently, giving his attention to the improving of his father's property, and improved some 600 or 800 acres of land, and since then has been identified with the real estate business here. In 1858, he was elected second Mayor of Port Huron; in 1859, was elected Supervisor of the Second Ward, and for the last twenty years has represented that ward in the Board of Supervisors. He was President of the Port Huron & Lake Michigan Railroad from 1865-71, and after its consolidation with the Peninsula Railroad, he was President of the Chicago & Lake Huron Railroad, until it went into the control of the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad. In the spring of 1882, he was appointed to his present position—that of City Comptroller; in March, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster at Port Huron. In 1850, Mr. White married Miss Adelia Jones, of Ann Arbor. She died in 1869, leaving three children; in 1871, Mr. White married Mrs. George Millen, formerly Miss Jane Jones, of Ann Arbor. They have one son—Frank J.

JAEMS H. WHITE is a native of New York State, and was born in Whitesboro, Oneida County, April 28, 1822. Having received an academic education, he was engaged in business in Utica from 1842 until 1844, when he removed to Ann Arbor, where he carried on mercantile business two years. In 1847, he returned to New York and located at Yonkers, remaining there two years. In 1849, he came to this county, and since then has been a resident of Port Huron, where his business has been farming, real estate dealing, insurance and banking. In 1854, he was elected Sheriff of St. Clair County, and re-elected in 1856; served as Alderman of the city four years; in 1867. he was appointed Special Deputy Collector of Customs for the District of Huron, and resigned in the fall of 1876; in 1878, he was elected one of the Board of Estimates of the city. Mr. White was a member of the House in 1879, and was re-elected in 1881. Mr. White has been actively identified with the interests of the city and county and its material progress and growth for one-third of a century.

FRED WHITE, business manager of the estate of James W. Sanborn & Co., is a native of the State of Maine, and came to Port Huron in 1853, and for three years was book-keeper for Avery; after a short time, he engaged in lumber business. He entered the employ of James W. Sanborn January 1, 1865, and remained with him as book-keeper until his death, and since then has had the active management of the business of the estate.

J. M. WHITE, artistic photographer, is a native of Genesee County, N. Y., and was born May 24, 1837; he grew up and learned his business in that State; worked in Fredonia and Buffalo; opened a gallery at Randolph, and put in the first skylight ever used in that section of the State. He came to Port Huron in 1869 and established his present business, giving special attention to fine work in crayon, water colors and India ink also does a great deal of viewing along the river and lakes. In 1864, Mr. White married Miss Mary Wheeler, of Randolph, N. Y.; they have two children—Clara and Nellie.

FRANK WHIPPLE, attorney at law, is a native of Grafton, Windham Co., Vt., and was born March 7, 1838. When eight years of age, his parents moved to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., where he received his education. He came West to Michigan in 1856. Upon the breaking-out of the rebellion he enlisted August 21, 1861, in Company C, Berdan's First Regiment United States Sharpshooters, and served with the regiment until February, 1863; was then transferred to the First Regiment Michigan Sharpshooters, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and promoted to First Lieutenant Company B, and served until the expiration of his term of service; was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania. After the war, came to Port Huron in 1866, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871. Two years later, he engaged in the practice of law, and since then has successfully practiced his profession here. He has held the office of Supervisor of the Sixth Ward and Alderman of the Second Ward. Mr. Whipple was united in marriage to Miss Abbie J. Riddle, of Beloit, Wis., October 27, 1869; they have four children—Benjamin R., Frank B., Abigail and Mary.

JOSEPH D. WHITNEY, owner and proprietor Pacific House, corner Mt. Huron avenue and Butler street, is a native of the State of Maine, and was born at Lisbon Falls March 16, 1817. He came to St. Clair County and settled at Port Huron April 23, 1854. After coming here, he put machinery in a shingle mill, and engaged in lumbering for several years. In 1858, he built a hotel on corner opposite Pacific House, and run that house four years; in 1862, bought the Huron House, and remained proprietor of that house until 1870, when he retired from business for some years. In 1880, he bought the hotel property corner Huron avenue and Butler street, and enlarged it, and since then has been proprietor of the Pacific House. Mr. Whitney has had a large practical experience as a landlord, and gives every part of his house his personal supervision. In January, 1859, he married Mrs. Margaret Masterson, a native of Monroe, Mich.; they have three children, Charles J., Fred A. and Jessie. Mr. Whitney has one daughter by a former wife.

F. M. WILCOX, cooper, is a native of Michigan, and was born in Richmond, Macomb County, May 22, 1855. He learned his trade in Port Huron, and on the 1st of May the present year engaged in business for himself, and is building up a nice trade, and makes all kinds of work. He married Miss Dora R. Leonard August 1, 1881; she is a native of Canada.

DAVID G. WILLIAMS, proprietor flour and grist-mill, is a native of Michigan, and was born in St. Clair County November 8, 1850, and grew up here; engaged in lumbering and sailing on the lakes. He engaged in the milling business in 1877, grinding flour and feed, and also has carding machinery for carding wool, the only one in Port Huron. He intends increasing this braneh of his business. He is also engaged in the wood business, and saws his wood by machinery. In 1878, he married Miss Catharine Richardson, of Brockway Center; they have three children—Polly, Sallie and Myron.

MORTIMER WILLSON, physician and surgeon, is a native of Canada, and was born August 2, 1847. He received his education in this State at Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, then studied medicine at Ann Arbor and Detroit, and graduated in 1874 at the Detroit Medical College. After graduating, engaged in practice at South Bay City. He came to Port Huron in 1881, and associated with Dr. Mills in the practice of his profession. In 1880, Dr. Willson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie C. Chase, of Carthage, Mo.; they have one daughter.

L. D. WILSON, attorney at law, is a native of Stark County. Ohio, and was born in Massillon September 26, 1852. He received his education in that State, and spent two years in Western Reserve College and two years at Alliance College and entered Mount Union College, and graduated in 1872. After graduating, he accepted the position of Principal and Superintendent of Schools at Lexington, Sanilac County, and remained there three years. He studied law and graduated at the Columbia Law School in 1877. He came to Port Huron the same year, and was associated with Judge Mitchell in the practice of law until 1880. Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Emarette Waterbury, of Lexington, Sanilac Co., Mich., November 14, 1873. They have one son—John D.

OSCAR A. WILSON, of the firm of Huner & Wilson, dealers in fresh and salted meats, is a native of Oswego County, N. Y., and war born October 10, 1834. He grew up and attended school there and came to Port Huron in 1853. He worked at the harness trade three years, and was clerk in a grocery store three years. In 1862, he associated with Martin Huner and established their present business, and since then, for the past twenty years, they have successfully carried on the business here, and are the oldest and leading house in their line of business here. He has held the office of Collector, and was a member of the Board of the Board of Estimates two years. In 1857, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Fidelia Hogan, a native of Port Huron They have one daughter—Florence.

FRANK WOLFSTYN, dealer in groceries and provisions, is a native of Belgium, and was born October 29, 1848. He grew up and received his education there. He came to the United States with Rev. Father Van Lauwe, his uncle, in 1872, and came to Port Huron the same year. In 1880, he established his present business and has a good trade. He also sells articles of Catholic devotion for church purposes. He holds the position of leader of the choir of the Catholic Church here. He was united in marriage to Miss Katie Gleason in this city October 13, 1879. They have one son—Edward W.

ABEL M. WOOD, carpenter and builder, Section 21, P. O. Port Huron, is a native of Canada, and was born in Norfolk County March 28, 1827. He grew up and learned his trade there. He came to Michigan in 1860, and lived in Lapeer four years. He came here in 1864, and since then, for the past eighteen years, has been engaged in building here. He married Miss Nancy Hilliker, of Oxford County, Canada, May 9, 1846. They have one daughter—Emma.

A. H. WRIGHT, manufacturer of carriages and buggies, is a native of Orange County, N. Y., and was born April 7, 1831. He grew up and learned his trade there. He came to Port Huron in July, 1864, and established his present business, and for the past eighteen years has been successfully engaged in manufacturing carriages and buggies, and has a large established trade. He is the oldest in the business here who exclusively manufactures light work. He is Ward Collector, and has held that office for the past three years. Has been Treasurer of the Baptist Church for the past eighteen years. Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Harriet B. Hammond, from Dover Plains, N. \., June 17, 1858. They have two children—Harry Howard and Bertha Hammond.

P. M. WRIGHT, of the firm of A. N. Moffat & Co., steamboat and vessel agents, is a native of England, and was born May 6, 1831. His parents came to Michigan during his infancy, and located on the St. Clair River. Upon reaching manhood, he engaged in the milling business in Canada, and came to Port Huron in 1864 and entered the bank of John Miller and kept books there for about five years, and afterward with the First National Bank two years. In 1877, he came with A. N. Moffat & Co., and in 1879 was admitted member of the firm. He is also a member of the firm of Wright & Eldridge, dealers in coal. He has held the office of City Treasurer and a member of the School Board. In 1854, he married Miss Clara St. Clair Monson, a native of St. Clair. She died May 21, 1882, leaving three children—Mary E., John M. and William K. T.

CAPT. L. W. YOUNG is a native of Michigan, and was born on Mackinac Island May 5, 1847. He began sailing as cabin boy on the brig Black Hawk when only twelve years of age, and sailed as Captain of the Kentucky when only nineteen years old. He sailed the schooner Evaline Bates, and was Captain of the losco five years. He also sailed the Kentucky and the tug Mary, and since 1877 has been master of the steam barge Burlington. He has been in the marine service over twenty-three years. Capt. Young married Miss Lena Flemings, a native of Sanilac County, May 11, 1872. They have three children—Lizzie, Kittie and Lulu.

FORT GRATIOT TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.

The country is one of beauty. The Creator fashioned it in His smiling moments. As it came from His hands, before man had furrowed it with the plow, and scratched it with the harrow, and divided it off with fences, and dotted it with barns and houses, it was one of nature's most perfect landscapes. There is just as much scenery left in it as is consistent with a high degree of usefulness; if there were more scenery some of the land must be waste; if there were less, tameness would begin to mar the perfectness of the scene. There are oak openings and timber, water and stone, hill and vale, bluff and ravine; and none of them in excess. But what makes the township of Fort Gratiot? There was nothing, or at least not much, in the vicinity, or in the surrounding country, to determine the fact that there should grow up one of the handsomest and most vigorous railroad villages in the Northwest. Du Luth established a military post there; later a mission was established, and in after years a United States fort was built there. Its settlement by American pioneers was an accident, or a series of accidents. It was that of those early settlers who first looked upon this beautiful spot, and said to themselves, This is good; I will plant myself and my family here, and help to make a town, and grow up with the country. A large number were men of strongly-marked characteristics. They were clear-headed, liberal, brave and persistent men; and this was the secret of the early success of the village. Such men were not going to stick themselves down here, or anywhere, and grow up like so many transplanted Eastern basswoods; it was not in their nature to do anything of the kind. They had to contend with the older American settlements on the Black and Pine Rivers—no easy task. In later years, the Grand Trunk Railroad Company selected the southeast corner of the township as the head of their railroad system in the United States. In 1859, the beginnings of the true progress of the township were made. The financial crisis of 1873-78 retarded, if it did not effectually check, advancement; but in 1879 returning prosperity began to show its existence throughout the county, and nowhere were its signs more manifest than in this township. The old settlers, together with those who came during the last few years, co-operated heartily in the work of improvement, so that, at the close of 1882, the town takes a most important place among the civil divisions of the county.

In the geological descriptions of Port Huron Township, Fort Gratiot is described. The bluffs are well stocked with timber of various kinds, oak of several species being in the preponderance. Poplar, birch and hickory are found in small quantities. The valleys all furnish more or less wild grass; while on many small streams are excellent water-powers. Soft woods of many kinds grow on the bottom-lands of the creeks and rivers. The banks of the smaller streams put forth rank growths of alder and willow bushes. The town is productive of all the cereals, grasses and vegetables common to the latitude; wheat, oats, corn, barley and rye, which return a good yield. On the lak^ shore north of Huronia Beach, large crops of the finest potatoes were raised.

From the above description it will be noticed that the district is peculiarly adapted to, and possesses all the requisites for a fine stock-growing, grazing and dairying district. The number of small streams, with their adjoining marshy lands, and many springs oozing from the bases of the bluffs, form excellent facilities for butter and cheese making; while the bluffs, with their heavy timber, are a natural shelter for cattle from the winter winds and storms. On the same farm may be seen the spring of pure water, the valley for cultivation, the hills for grazing and the timber for shelter. In later years, farmers are turning their attention more to stock, and their results justify their investments.

ORGANIC.

Fort Gratiot Township was organized in 1866, with Henry Stephens, Supervisor. The name is derived from the post, erected under Capt. Gratiot in 1814, to which the title was

given in honor of that engineer officer. The population of the township, including the village, was 1,902 in 1880. Since that time, the summer retreats of Huronia Beach and Ros were established, the village attained an important commercial position, so that it is not too much to state that the population of town and village in June, 1882, approached 3,000. The area of the township is 13,067 acres; the equalized valuation, $366,140, and the number of children of school age, 668.

Supervisors—Henry Stephens, 1866; S. P. Mason, 1867; Stephen Moore, 1868-69; J. McMartin, 1870-73; T. Lymburner, 1874-76; J. A. McMartin, 1877; Townsend Lymburner, 1878-82.

Justices of the Peace—Joseph Davis, 1874; Thomas Sutherland, 1874; Julius Granger, 1875; James Quail, 1876; James Hall. 1877; Daniel Mooney, 1877; Joseph Davis, 1878; R. E. French, 1879; Daniel Mooney, 1880; Julius Granger, 1881; Joseph Porter, 1882. In April, 1882, the Citizens' ticket was elected, as follows:

Supervisor—Townsend Lymburner, 311.

Clerk—James Sutherland, 158.

Treasurer—James S. Button, 180.

Justice of the Peace—Joseph Porter, 179.

Highway Commissioner—Daniel Mooney, 164.

School Inspector (Two years)—Edward Hollis, 304.

School Inspector—(One year) George W. Howe, 300.
Drain Commissioner—Thomas S. Skinner.

Constables—James Richardson, 183; Jay Shaw, 290; Christian May, 309; Duncan McKellar, 309.

UNITED STATES LAND BUYERS.

The original land buyers in this township, from 1825 to 1836, were Jeremiah Harrington, Hartford Tingley, De Garmo Jones, Lucius Beach, Gilbert Elliott, Samuel Wilson, William Lamb, Fortune C. White, John Desnoyers, A. Coburn, S. N. Dexter, A. B. Eaton, C. Masten, James L. Kolsey, Charles Butler, D. D. Dualsy, J. J. Andrews, Edward Bingham, James Scott, Charles G. Glover, John Howard, Simeon Cummings, Alexander F. Ashley. Eben Batcheller, James W. Sanborn, J. M. Wade, Phineas Davis, David Oakes, Isaac R. Stone, John Kennelly, John Brooks, Orus Field, A. W. Campbell, F. H. Stevens, Samuel C. Webster, and John Brookes. A portion of Sections 34 and 35 was reserved.

FORT GRATIOT VILLAGE.

The region now known as Fort Gratiot is historic ground. Nearly two centuries have elapsed since the first white man set foot upon its soil. It is necessary in this work to divide the record into two periods. We shall speak of the early history as an epoch ending in 1836, and of the recent history as dating from that year. Assistant Surgeon Taylor, of the United States Army, writing in 1871, deals very minutely with the history of the post. He states: "The location of the Recollet Mission in this vicinity is uncertain. According to Bell's History of Canada, it was an important one, and known as St. Marie. As the Jesuits had one also of the same name located among the Hurons at the head of the Georgian Bay, it would seem that some confusion has arisen in relation to these missions, both as to their importance and position. Judge Campbell is of the opinion that the Recollet Mission was located at the present site of Sarnia, and nearly opposite this post. Furthermore, it is known that the Hurons had a large village near the present site of Detroit, called Teuchsagrondie, and that the intercourse between this village and the main tribe on the Georgian Bay was by the water channels. Intermediate, there were several other villages along the lake shore and St. Clair River, all of which had been. visited by the Coureurs des Bois long before La Salle and Hennepin made their famous voyage through the Straits."

There were several practicable routes for the traders to reach this section. The original and most noted one was by the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing and Georgian Bay, which, though long and very hazardous, was the principal channel of intercourse between the Huron

country and the headquarters of the trading interests on the Lower St. Lawrence. Its chief advantages consisted in its immunity from predatory excursions of the tribes on the side of Lake Ontario. The second was by the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario to the Trent River, thence up that stream to Lake Simcoe and the Georgian Bay. This was the usual route of the Iroquois in their forays against the Hurons, and was one of the best. The third was from the present site of Toronto and thence to Lake Simcoe. The fourth was by the head of Lake Ontario, the Grand River to Lake Erie and Thames Rivers and Lake St. Clair. This became a very important line of traffic, except during the time of open hostilities with the Iroquois. It was the safest and easiest route to reach the great Saginon or Saginaw fur producing region. The fifth was by the Niagara River, but probably seldom resorted to for the transportation of valuable goods, because of the proximity of the hostile tribes in what is called Western New York.

Parkman states that the earliest recorded visitation of this region by the French was in 1669, when the Sulpitian priests, Dallier and Galinac, in connection with La Salle, made an effort for a systematic exploring expedition of the lake country. They selected the western extremity of Lake Ontario as their starting point. La Salle, however, becoming dissatisfied with the purposes, delays and trammels of the priests, severed his connection with them and proceeded in the direction of the Ohio River, while the priests proceeded by the Grand River route and thence along the north shore of Lake Erie, passed this point the spring following, and thence to Mackinac and the Sault Ste. Marie, and finally returning to Montreal by way of the Huron Missions at the head of the Georgian Bay. The earliest map made of this region is said to have been inade by Galinac, partly from his own observations and partly from sketches made by Joliett three years before, that is on his return from Mackinac in 1666. La Salle traversed this route the following year on his private account and alone. By this he obtained sufficient data to warrant him in making a formal voyage of discovery in the name of the provincial authorities, and at the same time improve his financial condition by engaging in the lucrative fur trade. It was not, however, until ten years thereafter, that he succeeded in organizing his expedition, and started in the Griffin,* accompanied by the priest Hennepin, to make the famous voyage round the lakes. Instead, therefore, of dating the discovery of this section from the time of this voyage of La Salle, it should be from Joliette's return from Mackinac in 1666, if not as far back as Champlain's excursion to the Georgian Bay in 1612. All the circumstances attendant upon the organization of this expedition of La Salle, the orders he gave to some of his party the year before to proceed to certain points indicated, particularly the islands at the mouth of Green Bay, hardly admit of question that in this matter he acted from previous knowledge of the country derived in part from his own observations, those of Joliette and the adventurers preceding him; and that this expedition was for the purpose of taking formal possession of the great lake country, in the name of the King of France under nominal governmental authority, and at the same time to gratify his personal ambition, and improve his fortunes, sadly reduced from his previous unthrifty investment.

Leaving his anchorage in the Niagara River, he traversed Lake Erie, and on the 23d of August, 1669, being Sainte Claire's day, he entered the beautiful expanse of water to which, in honor of that personage, he gave her appellation, and the day following he passed this point into Lake Huron, thence round the lakes to the Illini country. The history of that voyage is too well known to require further attention here, save to remark that in La Salle's account of it, as well as in Hennepin's narrative, there was a manifest want of proper acknowledgment of the previous explorations of Joliette and the Coureur des Bois.

HISTORY OF THE POST.

In a military and commercial point of view, the geograpical importance of this post was very early appreciated. Seven years after La Sa le's expedition, M'Du Lhut, then commanding at Mackinac, was instructed by the Governor General, Count Frontenac, to establish a fort on the Detroit, a term applied to both the connecting rivers between Lakes Huron and Erie, and garrison the same with fifty men. The English had been, and were still making strenuous efforts to connect their interests on Hudson Bay with those in New York, and there*

The Griffin wtu Bo named from the figure of a griffin on her prow.