1 + t : “Hos ! * Map_ of Gladwin and Grout Townships in 1873 — still part of Midland County. ‘From Walling, H. F. % = Atlas of Michigan. R. M. & S. T. Tackabury, 1873. 4 s Official Souvenir OF THE Gladwin County Centennial AUGUST 3 - 9, 1975 Price $1.50 eke, fion We dedicate this booklet to James Holden and Eugene Foster, editors and publishers of the Gladwin Register and its successor, The Gladwin County Record, for their faithful and straightforward reporting of events as they occurred in Gladwin County's early history. a Pithrodicfion che This is not so much a history as it is an overview, touching here and there on some of the high: as well as low spots of our county's development as revealed through biographies and stories of some of the people who lived here and are living here now, and. events which have taken place. We have drawn heavily on the memories of people and on material which has been published in the county newspapers. We ask your indulgence for errors which you may notice. Correc- tions will be gladly accepted. This souvenir is written for enjoyment, and we hope it will bring a measure of that. The book "Gladwin County First Settler Centennial, 1861-1961," published in 1961 in connection with the celebration of our county's first permanent. settler, Marvel Secord, and under the editorship of Bernice Walker Ritchie, contains much of Gladwin County's early history. A republication of that book with the addition of an index is hopefully in the offing. There are many aspects of our county's history which would lend themselves to further research and investigation, and the results of which could very well be contained in what is called a definitive history. The celebration this year of our 100 years as an organized county may bring forth the leadership and devotional research necessary for this kind of publication. We wish to express our appreciation for the cooperation of the many _ individuals who have contributed their time, stories, pictures, research and writing ability, which has made this souvenir possible and to The Gladwin County Record for its publication. GLADWIN COUNTY CENTENNIAL CORPORATION Published by The Gladwin County Record and Beaverton Clarion Major Henry Gladwin for whom our coury is named. This painting, by « former Gladwin resident, hangs in the Gladwin County Library and is a copy of the original by John Holland. The copy was presented to the county by the painter, M. J. Hiscock in 1924. Of the several counties in this northern part of Michigan, Gladwin County is one of the few that did not receive an Indian name. With its boundries set at the completion of the U.S. Survey in 1831, it was named in honor of Major Henry Gladwin who so bravely defended the fort at Detroit during the year-long siege by Pontiac and the Indians in 1763. There had already been some activity in this area before the surveyors came, or perhaps during the period of their work, for the surveyor's field notes ‘indicate that some lands were already conveyed prior to the survey. Since the survey had been made in hope of finding two million acres suitable for bounty lands, to be awarded to the soldiers of the 1812 war, and since the reports from the survey further south in 1815 were so derogatory, one can only suspect that there were other interests at work. What the activity was and how much will only be revealed through time and research. That the American Fur Company had some interest in the area is revealed by the fact that land along the Tittabawassee River, the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4, T17N RIE, 40 acres and now submerged in the waters of Wixom Lake by virtue of the Edenville dam, was deeded to John Larkin by the company. John Larkin had various interests, one of them being the steamer “Belle Seymour” on which our first permanent settler, Marvel Secord, traveled from Saginaw to Midland. Later John Larkin provided surety for the bonds of some of our early county officers, among whom was John McGregor, treasurer and builder of the first county courthouse. The Williams Bros. of Saginaw, were agents for the American Fur Co., and it must have been through them that Marvel Secord disposed of the furs, the results of his trapping, which brought him more satisfaction and money that did the wagon business he had had in Owosso. By the completion of the second survey in this area in 1857, grants having been made to the railroads, the Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Co., and the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad, es to the St. Mary's Ship Canal, one could expect more activity. It was still unorganized but attached to Midland County when the U.S. Census was taken in 1860. The census revealed the presence of 16 people in 4 dwellings within the boundaries of our present county area. Collins Avery, his wife Clarinda, by a second marriage on December 14, 1853, and son Henry were probably on the land in the present city of —— for which he received a land patent in 1861. William A. Braden also appears in the 1870 census, if we read the name correctly. He may have been the first owner of the land which is now called the McClure Cemetery. More research is needed to substantiate this. With the Civil War intervening and only the name Braden to reappear on the 1870 Census, it is safe to assume that the war called the able men. Our one landholder, Collins Avery, had gone back to Midland yw" y Om aie’ | ‘Development of Our Townships | Gladwin Co. organized with these 3 lps. “vn lod aut ~ we ut onl ee OR HS | Gren we GA \s* \ \ Ah aw a | wr 4 WP 91? Soo Pio 2a /87/ 48975 o% \oov" gigas G yw" 6 mS too cw —— \3* -——___—-| -—- e ckey® B gor | guck el iecont | BH e ° ; ; \ > gillina® | Billws4 12 8R. 4S23S = See ee ane oe we fe t x, a t= . 0 ne ll of e wt * we genet | [geet] ae | Oe ge lose" | oe : -\ yi Ww wie e \oow e \v! seat ps , 7 4 Te ” 1 é @ € € Key’ Cw | ee oo | gudk®l] gos x | puc x0 i) i : iN oT ad & of} ns y\\nr Fi 1S 4004 Nl Koo 2 4 ae 8 ' a ee : ie@e4 1389 189] oe x | of vod yah |e | ow * er le e x we x v ~ & ge Laxe| ge ge gk ie fi i we {e s lee * e@ wt of Ng < - yp’ 50%. q\o® \o” a° o> ajo ae @ X “ee » e x, eN e\ é ~ NS Ya & > 4 & oo o| . + > . \oF or wes y ge : oe .\ Cy e cf ue gevhn AY Rela ae Xo Es 1992 1897 1909 Xv RS x, \ c iv } o* 1 of 8 ad eee ee ae Phe wl yet ge” bebe Lae [ae foe ler ae 1s = ya EE e | wl iel¥ oly je oat e | w* LaF | ae" oe ” os of ‘ mc. \ ca) 9 5 ' 7 * x e} x Choy | yo} y VENT | cS a yer y” o> a he Y é oy” gr ¥ Pt oie Z s oy “1a3 3 : . ‘ & ae 9] ° oe Poe ee) le le ce ee Se s 1912 19)b 19)4 We | % % «8 aw ie » County and in 1864 was found to be Justice of the ee ay e ® Peace in Lincoln Township. He also held a wedding in z » his home in 1866. The 1880 Census shows him in y* oe Jerome Township. The other names in the 1860 & \o ¥ ae Census do not reappear in the 1870 Census. . |& : = ¢ By 1869 there were sufficient people already eA Ho moved in for the area to become .an_ organized x ye Fe , \ township of Midland County, and by 1871 there were o” C x sufficient in the southwestern part to form Grout yf ye Township. The derivation of the remaining townships &% » may be followed by consulting the diagram. <\ ao Ye In 1875 then, the population was such that the y? ov YL Oy county could be organized on its own with the three ae” Ko 9 8 townships of Grout, Billings and Gladwin, the supervisors, Thomas F. Howland, James G. Dow and Elias Steele, respectively. 19é3 ee RUT a Sate Re Se CCL eZee re & y 5 on ea are a bee by me, on the aan N Ac# 4 ea 2 a bd) 1 110: P ra Vea 1 e 7 a Ore cat) OUR aie ase ee a Ley | place of abode on the first day of June, ne ECR ert Teg Aa BY ; BO a Ta Bee Paonia date 2 Ee ae EES Ga. A SS A oa ae § s LOE al AD V4. tye ie gd JS re Of Ma a aaale oa vA J ZI Pad ee Oi pay me la Mis Vy tis UP Gem VALE Ha Im Wes i Ge OE a rae nt VASA: "1 14 a hes Se, 7 ae Ly Ee fa ti ee Ly med ees IG Pa ’ hi BES Fae. ’ Jie f AEE ee ay eae (Seo g . LE ee ees Las ees eee ey “ Ze bakes Md WAT ha < Vara: hess eS ane har ae a ant Mean ay g Gla Mee. State a eee hy 2G 7 MABE be) te ty i 1213 ee VEEN & Ca PLEe Ne ee 4 “ uP Sf a Ca ose oP i ‘¢ ier eae su oe Le fe 4 LE fo oe Ke Leiecs Pore ed a wx fi hi o ee gen Aftpnie fo ee Fé vA (Mp VL ba od ves PS Ce a ae | >t mr) eth No. white males, —_ No. colored males, CMe ht a Mle CEC ey Pee ay Omar ye Cem te No. deaf and dumb, Po CMO Cay ORE ATC No. paupers, _ 1860 Census of Gladwin County Clement Township The township of Clement was organized by the Gladwin County Supervisor's in the year of 1884, and at that time it also included Bourret Township, but not as it is know today. In the 1880 Census there were 54 people in Diagram 1 mas Feb. 10, 1887 Map of the several roads in Clement Twp. Joseph Fournier, Twp. Clerk Gladwin Township, which Clement was then a part. James Rutledge recalls some of the earlier settlers were French Canadians, their religion being Catholic. Several of the saint’s of that church were named Clement, and this is how he remembers the township name was established. The first school was built of hewed logs by Jerome Raymond and Jerry Guyette in 1883. Miss Anna Parmer being the first teacher. Others that taught in the 1880's and 90's were Carrie Sherman, Leota Gillman, Myria Button, Lucey Danton, Katy McGinnis and Hanna Lovelace. A.great many of our roads were built around this time, and in 1884 the Highway Commission constructed a highway on the section line between Sec. 1 and Sec. 2, this is known as the Rutledge Road today. Also, at this time, a survey was made to construct a highway on the section line between Sec. 1 and Sec. 12, a small portion of the present M-30. To raise funds for this purpose, the tax roll was assessed 1/3 of one per cent of the cash valuation of the taxable property. In the early 1890's, one of the township officers misappropriated some township funds and _ in repayment he conveyed his property, located in section 12, to the township. This became known as the “township farm”. John Bench, in 1897, purchased this property for $300. Mr. Bench, a blacksmith by trade, came from Germany. He first settled in Butman Township and later located in Clement. In 1897 Clement and Bourret, because of many differences, was divided as two separate townships. A new school was built in 1905 on the one acre parcel purchased from John and Joanna Tolfree for $50. It being located in the S.E. corner of fractional Sec. 2, T20N RIE. This was to become known as North Clement, District 1. Wood was cut and delivered to. the school $1.40 a cord. In 1906, property was purchased from Ike Gessey, in Sec. 22, and a school constructed there. This was the South Clement School, later to be known as District 2. Specifications for the new school were as follows: to be built 18x26, 9’ walls. 3 - 8x8 long sills for |. B. Geesey and 2 - 8x8 short sills, to be set on good sound cedar blocks not less than-8"in diameter — to be set 2 1/2 ft. into the ground. Bottom joice to be 2x8, top joice to be 6x2 - 2' apart. A few of the teachers, Laura Cann, Mandy Woods, Marie Faler, John Booker, Edith Rilet and Mrs. John Hutson. Ike Geesey arrived in South Clement in 1880's ‘from Paulding, Ohio, and lived in the community for many years. In 1912 a one day vacation was granted to attend the local fair in September. Also that year, coal instead of wood was being considered for fuel. In June of 1920, the township was divided into 2 school districts. Diagram 2 oe QOgemaw CG. Line 8 hene : #1 3 2 / 46 2 nme q pistrigh 2” : : oe t /G 13 wl oe AB i : Di striet a 31 36 | Be ni 7202 ie re oes : Butman Town Line. , ing as SP ' MARES oe Ce et Schools Districts - Adopted June 11, 1920 Frank Fournier Twp. Clerk Prominent families living in the community around the 1880's and 90's included the Luther Ames William Shiek, John Rains, George Decker, John B. Bourret, John Lundquist, Aaron Albright, Jerome Raymond, Jerry Guyette, John Bench, Joseph Fournier, 1.B. Geesey, Charles Stevens, Hugh Chatlin and Frank Stillwagon. All of these citizens contributed much to ease the growing pains of a new township. James Rutledge recalls a Mr. Archie Belville, who arrived here from the Upper Peninsula, where he helped to build the original Soo Locks which were of log construction and in doing so became somewhat of an expert in log construction and built many of the logs homes in the township, some of which are still standing. Among them the Rutledge old home. From The Gladwin County Record July 10, 1891 — Clement and Edwards Townships joined forces and had a real old-fashion 4th of July celebration. Lemonade, nuts, firecrackers. All families brought a basket and a long table was spread. A string band played the day until 12 o'clock for the young and old to trip the light fantastic. Also, George Doane of Gladwin, is in thé township surveying for the, railroads. hihi Hatch house on Nakkula property. From The Gladwin County Record April 29, 1892 — Tis claimed that a Clement man went all the way to Bay City to learn how to vote, and then lost his vote by failing to use any cross. ; Logging was big business for the early settlers and many families made their living at it. The banks of the Tittabawassee River was the setting for 2 such camps in the township. The Chatlin Camp, located in Sec. 1 & 2, and the Glidden Camp in Sec. 35. The Tittabawassee, which branches throughout the town- ship, played an important role in the lumbering days as it was one of the main waterways to take the logs down state to the mills. The Gladwin County Record Jan. 22, 1904 — People are-afraid of the smallpox in this section. Any family that became infected, was advanced $20.00 from the township treasury to assist them in fighting this dread disease. One of the land marks in South Clement is known to the old-timers as the Hatch place. This is a log house and is located in Sec. 15, on Cedar Lake Rd. This property back ,in 1861 was part of the “second” 120 sections of public land appropriated by Congress for the railroad Co., being the Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay, and that said railroad shall be entitled to all the interest in the land. It changed ownerships many times down through the years and in 1928 John and Tressia Hatch received a tax homestead deed on it. They sold to Fred and Helen Trier and in 1943 Walter and Julie Nakkula purchased the property. Julie still lives on the premises. Walter Nakkula went on to become one of our better known citizens, as he served this district as State Representative for several years. Frank Stillwagon can remember as a young boy, when he and a cousin Marshall Stuck and one of their sisters was out exploring the countryside, and came upon this abandoned house. Being curious they entered and looked for lost treasure. Among the items left behind was a comb, which the boys promptly combed their hair with and in doing so took home a good case of head lice, much to the dismay of both mothers. Somewhere in the early 1930's, a Rural Agriculture High School was established at the North Clement School, District No. 1. However, this was short lived and in. 1938 Clement consolidated with West Branch, Ogemaw Co. Clement has the distinction of being the smallest township in Gladwin Co., also. it is the smallest inland township in the State, according to Fred Meier, our present supervisor. The State owns 50 per cent of the land, most of which makes up_ the Tittabawassee River State Forest. Sheridan and ~Grim Townships In the early 1870's, three men, forming a lumbering company, Mr. Gage, Mr. Wittier and Mr. Meier, bought 34,000 acres of timber in what became known as Sheridan Township, and hired George Boman to run the camps. in. 1868, George Boman had come up_ the Tittabawassee River from Saginaw on a 8x20 ft. scow, powered by a six-man pole team, taking three days to get to Camp Sixteen (Edenville). When hired to run the lumber camps, at the payment of 1/4 interest, he and his family moved to the NE part of the county and set up a-camp known as Bomanville. The area grew quickly and at one time had a large saw mill, shingle mill and stave mill from which the lumber was shipped out on their own branch of the railroad known as the “Bomanville line.” A school, a post office, and telephone service were all accomplishments of the Bomanville commv- nity during the lumber boom. : In 1896, when Bomanville was growing, the Merrill Lumbering Company, consisting of Charles Woods, J. E. Lucas and C. Merrill, set up a camp east of Bomanville that came to be known-as Hardluck. They convinced the Michigan Central Railroad to run a branch line from Pinconning to carry in supplies and carry out lumber and shingles. This area of the county had grown in population to about 700 when in the fall of 1908 a big forest fire struck. It spread from the west and when it became certain it would hit Bomanville, the mills were dismantled and sent out by rail. The residents~put all- ‘their valuables in their own wells and left the area. After the fire Bomanville was resettled, but several families homesteaded three miles to the south and began a settlement known as Cherry Hill. Matt Greaves set up a sawmill and the other families, Babcocks, Grays, Petits and Doanes worked at the mill and tried raising crops. Eventually, the people of Cherry Haill wanted a ditch to drain the lowlands so that its good soil could be used for farming. The project was begun by the county, but the residents couldn't afford to pay the ditch tax placed on them so much of their land reverted back to the state. In 1914, residents of the southern half of Bourret Township ‘in the NE corner of Gladwin County voted to become a separate township, since all township money seemed to be spent on the northern half. The County Board of Supervisors acted on the citizens request and on January 13, 1916, organized Sheridan Township. Named after Pat Sheridan, a foreman for C. Merrill and Company, who headed a big crew until the age of 70, this township lived while the lumber boom was on, but faded out of existence with the end of lumbering. In 1965 with less than 10 registered voters, Sheridan Township incorporated into Grim Township to the south; its three major settlements having little or nothing left to show from _ their existing lumbering days. GRIM TOWNSHIP Organized in 1919, Grim Township was the last of the county's 16 townships to be established. Since its reorganization in 1965, to include the former Sheridan Township, it decreases the number to 15. Largest of the townships, containing 72 square miles, most of it: state land, it also has the smallest er hall 12x14 feet which incidentally is its first all. Meetings and elections were formerly held in a school, now gone, and in the officers’ homes. The Elephant Hunters By L. Lyle Underwood About 1931, while picking up potatoes as my parents dug them with forks ahead of me in the rows, | found an “arrow head” fashioned in the more or less conventional form from native Michigan brown chert. Such a find was quite exciting for a 10 year old, and helped compensate for the more or less boring job | was doing at the time. Since this was late autumn and the snows came soon after, | was unable to continue my search for more until spring. When the snow had finally melted, and before the spring work really began, | returned to the potato field and searched very carefully row by row until | had covered some three acres, with not the faintest trace of man-worked stone. Convinced that | had found the only one to be found there, | strolled off about a hundred yards into an area near a_ small swamp. At the edge of a small depression, | saw 9 out of the ground, the point of an ‘arrow ead”. Upon extracting it from the ground, | discovered that it was nearly four inches long. Instead of the Clovis fluted point which was _ probably similar to that found by Lyle Underwood. normal tang, or protrusion at the base for mounting to the shaft, the base had been worked quite thin, it having been flaked from the base longitudinally, or fluted. | hastened home to show it to my parents in great excitement, as ony a boy of that age can express. After washing the sand off it, | found it was obviously fashioned from native brown chert, as had been the one | had found the previous fall. My father suggested we show it to Mr. Fred Trost Sr., a neighbor who had a rather extensive collection of oints that he had collected over the years he had ived and traveled in the western states. Mr. Trost had never in his travels seen one like it, and from its unusual length, and lack of the usual tang for mounting it to a shaft, concluded that it must have been a knife. And thus it remained identified for some 40 years. Unfortunately, while | was away in the Navy, this point, along with other artifacts, were taken from my farm in Gladwin Township. In 1965 when | wished to show it to my son, then 16, and quite interested in ‘such things, it was not where | had stored it and | do not know where it is now. In January of 1971, while touring and camping in southeastern Arizona, we stopped at the Army Base of Fort Huachuca (wa-CHOO-ka) and proceeded to the museum where | sought information on my grandfather's old unit, Co. G., Ist U.S. Cavalry, which was engaged in the Apache wars of the area in the late 1860s. While in the museum we decided to examine all the exhibits and one of them caught our eye. The elephant hunters of ancient Arizona. In this display were the tools and weapons used by the elephant hunters of the area of about 12,000 B.C., and the most startling discovery for me was that the spear points of these “Clovis” people were identical, except for material, with the one | had found in Sage Township, Gladwin County, Michigan in the spring of 19321 4 The official description of the land where | found this point is as follows: The southeast 1/4 of the southeast 1/4 of section 22, town 19 north, range 2 west. The point was found within 100 yards of the geographic center of this piece of land. That section of the property had been cleared about 1910 and had been plowed and harrowed many times before the point was found in the spring of 1932. The find therefore must be called a surface find, and cannot | be identified as to stratification, as is done with organized archeological excavations. It must remain an. isolated, undated find. The fact that it was fashioned in the style and type of the elephant found with remains of butchered Continued to Next Page hunters, first ae rena ae ean ae . Wea Speen ap aloes Mastodon tooth found in Gladwin by a dragline operator some 30 or 40 years ago. Weight - 7 Ibs. Length - 11 inches. Roots of the mastodon tooth — fragile because this is not a fossil. | Side view showing length of roots. specialists in hunting the native North American Elephant, and some finds have been made in Mexico and Central America. They are thought to have lived in the southwestern United States during the later phases of the last glaciation, when the area was watered: by much more rain than the arid region now receives. mammoths at Clovis, New Mexico in 1933, and the type since referred to as the Clovis Culture, and found in many locations in New Mexico and Arizona in association with the remains of the long extinct Mammoth, indicates that a branch of this elephant hunting culture was indeed located in Gladwin County, Michigan at one time. This type blade, then, is o style made and used by a. people of rather ancient times, who were As the glaciers receded, the original area where the elephant had lived. became too dry to produce the huge quantities of forage necessary to support the great mammals, and the animals migrated to the more northern areas where there was enough food. As the glaciers receded still farther, there was an area between the glaciers and the advancing conifer forest where there was plenty of water and forage for these huge beasts, and you can be sure that the specialized elephant hunters fallowed the herds northward and ever northward, until the herds were extinct. Since our isolated find of the “Clovis” point, and the circumstances surrounding it, does not tell us very much about the first post glacial residents of Gladwin County, Michigan, we must draw on_ the work done in the southwest, where more material is available. | know that remains of the the Mammoth have been found in many parts of Michigan, and perhaps carbon dating has been applied to at least: a Iker ‘ine % ¥ ee Laer Ev eee? Bly f 22 poe vowel 7 # 9% m ae £ ae ait, £ td ¥ * S 5 & z s a FAN A § a et Yes a tt ft eS AS VS AS some of these and would give us an idea of when the Mammoth was there, and therefore the time when "Clovis Man” practiced his distinctive culture in native Michigan brown chert. The Arizona State Museum, on the campus of the University of Arizona located in Tucson, Ariz., has an excellent display of the work of Clovis Man. There. they display no less than five of these distinctive points, just as they were found among the ribs of one elephant. It becomes obvious that the hunters made no real effort to retrieve the points, after they had done their work. They simply made new points before the next kill was to be made. Could it have been “Taboo” to reuse the points after they had made a kill? These hunters used flake knives and various kinds of scrapers to butcher the animals, and to prepare the hides for clothing and other uses. It is obvious that in the later times in the more northern climates they would of necessity have worn clothing made of skins to survive the cold climate. é These early residents of Gladwin County, Michigan did not know the use of the bow and arrow. They used spears and a type of spear thrower that tended to effectively lengthen the arm and impart much greater velocity to their projectile than could be done with the use of the arm alone. This spear thrower is called an Atlatl and was still being used by the Eskimo in historic times. ; We can be quite sure that these people were nomadic and followed the elephant herd as_ it wandered from. place to place. Their culture was built around the elephant, just as the later plains Indians of historic times were so entirely dependent on the buffalo and followed the herds to maintain their. culture. The fact that perhaps several thousand years had elapsed since they hunted the elephant on the high plains of the southwest, the fact that the Michigan craftsman fashioned his spear point in exactly the same manner and in exactly the same shape as did his forefathers in the southwest, indicates an unusually persistent culture, a culture that had changed little over a vast expanse of time, a culture that would come to an end only when there were no more elephants for him to hunt. What became of these people we do not know. But surely, the time came when they must of necessity have changed to hunting the smaller animals that outlasted the mightly Mammoth in time. Millennia passed, the coniferous forest marched northward, covering the grassy plains of Gladwin County, Michigan and advancing ever northward as the ice continued to retreat. There, hidden under the debris of time, Clovis Man's signature waited until a time when the plow and the harrow would bring it to the surface to tell us that “I, Clovis Man, hunter of elephants, was here.” After receiving Mr. Underwood's article we were ‘looking for a good illustration for the clovis point and saw in the book by Quimby, G. J.; Indian Life in the Upper Great Lakes, c. 1960, that indeed a mastodon or parts of one had been found but no - Clovis fluted point. A few inquires here and there elicited some information resulting in our being able to procure these pictures of a mastodon tooth found in Gladwin County, some 40 odd years ago. children indian Camp Meeting As Retold by Doris Bailey “My grandmother was doing some baking for camp and my mother, Mary Brown, was sitting on the porch at the time, as she was sickly, and she came rushing to the door and said; “Mama, Mama, come quick, there's a man coming up to the door with all feathers on him.” So my grandmother says, “Never mind. Don't be frightened. The screen is hooked. | will come out.” So she went out. The chief was standing there. “Lady, don't be atraid of me,” he said, “I'm from Frost Lake, just over here. | wanted to ask you, and tell you, that a lot of children are coming from Mt. Pleasant this weekend for a camp meeting at Frost Lake. They are going to be riding their ponies in all the color they can put on - - - and they'll be ki-yi-ing and going on - -. We want to know if the man would let us put the bars down on the different sections of land, if we put them back up? And some of them will jump the bars ‘cause they like to with their ponies. We'll be going through all weekend and will be making a lot of noise, but there won't be a harmful thing done, ‘cause they're all nice respectable children.” My grandmother said, “I! will talk to George about this situation and let you know in the morning.” In ee morning Grandpa decided it was all right with him. The chief said, “We'll make it right some day” and my grandfather replied, “That's perfectly all right.” After the campmeeting was over, all was back in place, all the bars were put back as was agreed. On the following Tuesday morning, my folks opened the door, and there between the inside door and the screen door laid a half venison, given to them by the chief, with respect. Frost Lake is in Ogemaw County and in order to get there they had to cross the Bliss Ranch, as it was called after the lumbering was finished, ‘cause that no the only road there was.” See map of Indian Trails. Note: This was evidently a special meeting for the and young people. From the notices appearing in the Gladwin County Record, Methodist Episcopal Campmeetings were held regularly at Frost Lake. One of their leaders was Moses Smith, the Indian pastor at Frost Lake. From the Gladwin County Record July 3, 1903: “Indian campmeeting will open at Frost Lake on Tuesday, August 25, and continue one week. The following rules and regulations governing the Indian campmeeting at Frost Lake were adopted at a meeting of the association's committee Thursday, May 21. The rules are to be strictly adhered to: 1) There are to be no intoxicating drinks brought or sold on the grounds. 2) No smoking shall be allowed within the circle. 3) No loud talking or other disturbances will be tolerated during the services or at any other time. 4) Any person or persons coming into this campground and known to be intoxicated will be immediately arrested. 5) The hukster stand must be closed during services. 6) We ask the white people to assist us in carrying out these rules. By order of Committee. the above Indian Artifacts were found in Gladwin County. They range in age of 4,000 B.C. until the advent of the ALL OF Europeans. The material used in_ the manufacture of the relics were mainly of Bay Port, Michigan flint (with the exception of the ax and the celts) and also with material possibly from Flint Ridge, Ohio - and Harrison County, Indiana. Nos. | thru 8 are projectile points of the side notched type that could be as old at 4,000’ B:C. Nos. 9’ and 10 are arrowheads of the corner notched type of more recent manufacture (2,000 B.C. and less). Nos. 11 and 12 are of the triangular type arrowhead used in the most recent times. No. 13 is a spearpoint. No. 14 is a hand knife used for cutting while held in the hand. No. 15 is a hand knife or a blank (flint is a rough form ready for further refinement). No. 16 is a grooved ax. No 17 and 18 are celts. The smaller one has had some rough. use. 4 a a a a a a Map 12 from Hinsdale Archeological Atlas of Michigan. .. U. of M. Press, 1931 6 neSLure SS WAGERVILLE WIEN =axn OLUCK J f§DAviDSO! : OSCEOLA = he me ISA BELLE Gladwin County (Map 12) — Gladwin County does not seem to have been conducive to. permanent Indian occupancy; at least nothing has been reported to, or discovered by, the Museum staff to warrant mapping any sites. It must always be kept in mind that the of subsistence determines population. population of the county is today only sixteen per square mile. ‘At Edenville, Midland. County, at the coming together of the Tobacco and Tittabawassee rivers, the main trail through the central means 11 San ty AL BAY C MIDLAND The rural white part of the state branched. One branch passed through Tobacco, The Lumbering Era Charles Sumner Bliss was born in Wacusfa; Osceola Co., Wisconsin, August 22, 1859. His father was a lumberman, previous to becoming a _ Methodist minister and a chaplain in the Civil War. Later the family moved to Saginaw, Michigan and Charles Bliss was employed in the lumber business owned by members of his father's family. He later branched out on his own and operated lumber camps and mills in several locations in Michigan. Gladwin County camps and mills were located at Howery in 1896, North of Coleman in 1898, one near Beaverton, another in North Butman Township on the West Branch of the Tittabawassee River and later several camps 1 1/2 miles East of Butman post office. The Bliss lumbering family had at one_ time extensive land holdings in Gladwin County, namely in Buckeye, Beaverton, Butman and Gladwin Townships. He, and a partner, Mr. Van Auken owned and operated a saw mill in Saginaw for many years. This mill burned in 1890 and was running again in 1899. In the late 1800's he purchased land in Butman Township and near Leatonville cleared land for a stock farm. In 1899 the dam on the West Branch of the Tittabawassee River and on Bliss Ranch went out and took with it the. iron bridge at Leatonville so travelers had to cross the river 1/2 mile below the bridge. The dam was soon repaired and then a new dam was built in 1900 and several large log drives took place in 1901* and in 1904. Mr. Bliss came to live on his Gladwin County farm after giving up: his last sawmill in Saginaw, due to a great lumberyard fire again, and remained on the farm until 1916-17 when he moved to West Branch, Michigan. The Bliss Ranch was purchased by a family. corporation and called the Gladwin Farm and Cattle Co., managed by Mr. Bliss’ son-in-law, Walter Hopson. : The property at this time was comprised of 3440 acres. The dam had gone out again some. years before, and where the lake had been, great crops were grown in the muck land. Hereford cattle were raised mainly, during World War I. : Mr. Bliss was married three times, first in 1884 to Miss Mamie Callam of Saginaw, whose father was a well known lIumberman of that time, and whose uncle, Peter Callam, built the first dam at Clare, Michigan. To this union were born a_ daughter, Catherine Jean, and a son William C., who died in infancy. Mrs. Bliss died in 1888 of consumption. in 1890, he married Miss Birdie Lenore Starker of Midland, Michigan, and they had one son, Ralph S.° They were divorced in 1913. In 1914, he married Miss Gertrude Leininger, a niece of Dr. Leininger of Gladwin, who survives him and now lives in Flint, Michigan. Mr. Bliss died June 27, 1944 in West Branch, Michigan and is buried in Highland Cemetery, Gladwin. Also surviving him are--an~-adopted daughter mill - onerthns 4s. fifth of OM... the | Jeft jqnd. Mr. Georgina, of California, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and eight great great grandchildren. His daughter, Jean Bliss Hopson died in 1967 and his son Ralph in 1973. A granddaughter, Sally Hopson Norton, lives in Gladwin and a grandson, Walter Hopson Jr., in St. Helen, Michigan. Forest Fires ... It Must Have Been a Nightmare The Gladwin County Record August 31, 1908: “It is so dry that the farmers can't plow for wheat.” September 1, 1908: Fires are raging not only in Gladwin County but in Presque Isle, Alpena, Cheboygan, and the city of Atlanta. There has been no rain for several weeks. In Grayling, thousands of acres of jack pine are being burned. Because of the extra dry vegetation, everything is being swept clean. Estey: The schoolhouse in District 2 almost burned by forest fire but was saved because of the heroic work of several people. North Billings: “Forest fires are still raging and dry weather still continues.” West Buckeye: "Forest fires are raging and crops are very much in need of rain.” September 5, 1908: “The fires have been somewhat subdued through these parts. There was quite a scare about the Forks Monday. The fire came raging and greatly alarmed the whole neighborhood,. oS pane st ssgaaectin Saw mill on Howland Creek. Mr. Mcllvenna CO. Buckeye, Sage and Sherman townships, and went on to the Grand Traverse region. The other trail passed through Billings, Hay, Secord, Clement townships and led to Cheyboygan. This latter trail, as the broken lines upon the map indicate, cannot be traced as accurately as the Grand Traverse path. Townships — 1. Sherman, 2. Butman, 3. Clement, 4. Bourret, 5. Sage, 6. Gladwin, 7. Secord, 8. Sheridan, 9. Grout, 10. Buckeye, 11. Hay, 12. Beaverton, 13. Tobacco, 14. Billings, 15. Bentley. Mr. Bliss owned the first automobile in Butman Township and several years ago a headlight from this auto was given to his granddaughter by the folks at Barnes’ Store on Round Lake Road, Butman Township. Their parents, the Nathan Louthans, had acquired the car from Mr. Bliss and had it around for many years. which came to the defense. We expected that the schoolhouse, and Mr. Jarvis’ house would burn, but with the aid of a team and plow, a few furrows were turned which kept the fire back.” September 7, 1908: Sugar Rapids: “Forest fires broke out last Monday and a hard fight was made to save the houses of Orea Babcock and John Bose from burning.” September 8, 1908: Winegar: “Fires have been prevailing here during the last week and some have narrowly escaped losing their buildings.” - Beaverton: “The forest fires in the outskirts of the city have been quite dangerous, and night watches were ordered to guard the city Friday night. Beaverton R.F.D. 2: Forest fires in these parts have destroyed fences and threatened crops. September 10, 1908: “Smoke from forest fires has covered Gladwin for several weeks. There has been no wide spread damage from the fires but in places fences, small timbers, etc. have been burned. At Howry, much damage has been done to timber. James Hoy, by hard work, has kept the fire from his mill, but has lost several hundred dollars by fire in his timber, and loas in the woods and a set of camps ' Continued to Next P e seventh from the left. ” a Campbell... <; bailaqn nesd eorl ontiok nodins evarieg We Sy: aa hronee ena 1 QU tts burning. A barn frame belonging to H. Rooke also . burned. * In the vicinity of Beaverton, the fires have been fierce and the smoke has made travel disagreeable. Bert Sutcliff in Billings lost his house and barn from forest fires, also 20 tons of hay and a stack of. wheat. His loss is $1,000. : The winds yesterday fanned niany of the fires into a blaze. Highwood was in danger and other places along the branch.” September 15, 1908: Estey: “Digging wells and fighting fire is the order of the day. Forest fires are doing some damage to timber but more good in clearing land.” Forest fires destroyed the railroad bridge in the Estey Branch. September 17, 1908: Round Lake: Our schoolhouse: rang for help Wednesday and Thursday to guard the schoolhouse and town hall from being burned. September 21, 1908: Elm Grove: “Forest fires are raging very badly in the Grove.” North McClure: “Forest fires everywhere. It is so smoky here that a certain man. got lost about 80 rods from home on a public road.” September 22, 1908: Sage: “Forest fires are still raging and smoke is terrible.” October 22, 1908: “Fires Renewed” “Spread with great rapidity and force.” Settlers suffer losses. Rev. Henry Wickes at Oberlin and Clinton Ostrander in Butman burned out. Forest fires which were nearly subdued, started with renewed vigor in various parts of the county a week ago, and have been raging fiercely. Last Thursday at Oberlin Rev. Henry. Wicke, German Lutheran pastor, lost his house and barn in the fires, which were raging there. The Record correspondant writes: “the farms of H. Flach and W. F. Bollert were one mass of flames, rolling at times 30 and 40 feet towards the sky. It was a grand sight never to be forgotten by those who were trying to save their buildings, Mr. Flach’s house, barn and straw stack caught several times, but were put out by willing workers. The smoke was so dense and hct that nothing could be seen more than 10-15 rods. Rev. H. Wicke’s barn, just north of Oberlin post office, took fire from spark, and in a short time was a mass of flames. From the barn the fire went to the woodshed, and from there to the house. In a few minutes all these good buildings were consumed. The loss is heavy, as the household goods, clothing for the family, and Mr. Wicke’s large library all burned. The family is living with F. J. Reithel temporarily. We extend our sympathy, and hope that the neighbors will join in helping to make them comfortable for the winter. Mr. Wicke is preparing to rebuild.” The loss is estimated at. $1,000. At Reithel’s mill John and Gillion Bueschlen and Dan Soldan lost 40,000 feet of lumber in flames. In East Butman Friday, Clint Ostrander lost his house and household goods, barn and a_ large amount of grain and hay. The goods and grain were taken from the buildings, only to be burned by the fires which were in progress. The loss is a heavy blow to Mr. Ostrander, but he keeps up good courage. | The fires driven by a fierce wind, Thursday at Sugar Rapids, nearly destroyed James Dunning’'s place, while the family were all away. They had backfired and felt safe but the wind brought the fire through and burned the hen house, two hog pens, calf pen, 2,000 shingles, new hay rack, new cultivator, and badly scorched a new pair of sleighs besides a scythe, some boat oars and other small things. Only by the most heroic efforts of John Bose and his father was the barn and house saved. John Bose Jr. caught fire himself several times, and one pant leg was burned clear to the knee, and his hair and mustache were slopes: Much praise is due them. | The stock was scorch ‘Gene Clark and Oscar Small had a hard fight but managed to save their places.’ ; The Record correspondent in Bourret writes Oct. 19: “An awful fire has been raging here for the last two weeks, but the last four days it has been fierce. Several of us have had hard and sharp work to save our buildings, but have lost most of our fences.” Near Skeels by hard work the buildings of E. F. Nash and on the Eldridge ranch was saved. The settlers were all engaged fighting fires. Bad fires are reported at Bomanville, Beaverton, North Sage and Sharkeyville. October 29, 1908: Round Lake: “Thank God!", was breathed from many hearts Saturday morning as at dawn the rain began to fall; it continued all day and we trust that the fires are a thing of the past. West - Stories Retold Mrs. Carl Bailey heard these stories as a child, and now she tells them, as she had them told to her. STORY OF THE AX This happened at the C.S. Bliss Lumber Camp years ago. John Good was hired to go with the surveyors to survey the fence lines, and Mr. Bliss told him to: do just as the surveyor told him. “No matter what,” he said, “do it. If it is a case of chopping something down or out — well, chop it. Take this ax along and do just as he says.” So John took the ax along. When they got through the woods part way and were workin’, there was something drawing the surveyor's compass off all the time. So the surveyor turned to John Good and said, “That goddamn ax is throwing my compass off. Throw the son of a bitch away.” Now John was very large, possibly weighed two, two fifty pounds. So at this time he picked up Shingle Mill. Mr. Taking shingles to mill. that ax and heaved it as far as he could, and it was never found again. of a When they. pot back to .camp, C. S. Bliss said, “What'd you that for?” And he said, “You remember you told me to do just what he told me to do, and that's just what.! done.” _ MEN’S LIB AT THE C.S. BLISS CAMP “Uncle John, whose home was within walking distance, was hired as a handy man at the C.S. Bliss Camp. Now it came Saturday: afternoon, and the teamsters mostly would be leaving, you know, to do whatever they was aiming to do on Saturday night. Maybe some of them went home or out wherever they did their drinkin’ and stuff. | don't know where. they went. This | don't know. Well, Uncle John was told, “You go down and strip all them blankefs off'n all the bunk beds.” He was supposed to take them down to the river and wash them, and get them all taken care of and ready. Yes, they was dirty all right. See, the men’d come lookin’ for a couple days work. They was roamers — and possibly brought lice with them. There were 40 blankets, 40 blankets at this time that needed to be washed. Uncle John said, “You shove them blankets you-know-where. To hell with you, I'm goin’ home.” So he quit. And right then and there he went home. Said he wasn't goin to start his weeks work at four o'clock on Saturday afternoon. ney contd come back and hire him later. And they id too!!" C.S. BLISS AND THE TURNIPS Mr. Bliss hired George Roy, my grandfather, to plant turnips. He did not say how many. He bought the seed and told him to plant it and he would buy all he could raise, and he'd give him 10c a bushel. "his was a sort of investment. He would take the ‘urnips down to Saginaw where they'd be used to feed cows. So my grandfather used all the bottom | land along the Tittabawassee River and planted all the seed. Now my grandfather was a good gardener, and there was a lot of turnips, | don't know how many, anyway several wagon loads — actually so many that Mr. Bliss wasn’t just really sure he wanted to buy that-many. My grandfather said, “Now Bliss, you told me to raise all ! could raise and | done all the work and now you're going to pay me, or Ill throw you into the *Tibbitawassee right now.” “ _ And he said, “All right George Roy. I'll pay you, you old s--o-b.” That’s what he called him. At least. that’s the way I've heard my grandfather tell this many a time. He was French you know and swore in every breath. *Many people in Gladwin County pronounce it this way. : | ; _ Bomanville Gladwin Co. Record - May 31, 1906 The abode of push, enterprise, and energy. Not a temporary boom for a year or two, but a guarantee of years of industry. o---- From the Arenac Independent: | After arriving at Alger, a representative of the Independent took an overland ride of 12 miles to the boom town of Bomanville. The industrious and happy people one meets on their arrival there more than repays one for the ride. The first gentleman we met after arriving at Alger was big jolly William Crumpacker, the manager of the “Black Joe” farm, 3 miles this side of Bomanville. Here is where the hay and grain is raised for the horses used by the Boman Lumber Co. and where also is raised the vegetables that are consumed by the settlers. : On our arrival in town, the first man to. give us a glad hand was G.W. Boman, the general manager. Mr. Boman is an exceptionally pleasant gentleman to meet and cheerfully furnished us with all information we desired. . The town was established in March 1905. Engines and machinery were brought in and they started to cut out lumber to build the mills, stores and dwellings for their help. It will be interesting for our readers to know that the company owns 34,000 acres of land, has a saw mill that runs night and day and has a capacity of 20,000 feet of lumber every 10 hours. A new shingle and lath is nearly completed. The town boasts of 40 houses, has electric lights, an ideal school of 35 pupils that is most ably managed by Miss Mable McMahon, also telephone connections with the outside world. James Secor, the pleasant and competent book- keeper, informed us that while the company extends credit to its help, it does not deal in “white horses” but pays their help in cash the tenth of each month. A faint idea will be conceived of the enormous — business done at Bomanville when we know that over a hundred men are employed in the mills and -woods; that 8 cars of lumber, 2 cars of shingles and a car of hoops are shipped out every week besides. 100,000 ties were sent out last year. Bomanville is: altogether different than most~ towns controlled by a company, for they court opposition in the store business. The company owns a large general store that is most creditably managed by Lou Boman, where the people can buy almost everything they need and at reasonable prices. Last year they did a $10,000 trade. Down the track a few yards is the general store of John W. Chubb where can be found everything to eat and wear. In the rear of the store is a hoop shanty owned by Mr. Chubb, where Will Parker and George Austin can be seen making hoops so fast it makes your head swim to watch them. There are two boarding houses. One managed by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Howard, at the saw mill, and the other by Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery McMahon down by the hoop camp. They are marvels of neatness an the cooking assortment of food is far above that usually ‘found in lumber camps. The feed barn is 30 x 45 feet and has 12 stalls. This is looked after by Ed Matthews who sees that your horses get every care and attention. We took a walk over to see the blacksmith and who should we find but John Trichel of Sterling. Over at the mill we met a bunch of as_ jolly goodfellows as ever put their feet under a dinner ‘table. There was L. Canell, the foreman, George Trumbull, the yard boss and scaler; Lester Decker -who is foreman of the shingle mills; Dan Horrigan, the sawer; George Nestor at the edger machine and Will Ferguson, the slab sawer. Down in the engine room we met Frank Fritz and John Stone, the engineers. Tom Millard is foreman of the hoop camps and he has 12 men working for him at present. There are over a million feet of logs on the mill yard now and Mr. Boman informs us that it will takd the mills running to its full capacity at least 10 years to cut out what logs they have on their 34,000 acres of land. The property controlled by this firm is of clay loam, and will eventually be fine farming land. Two things not tolerated by the manager are intemperance and immorality. To the industrious we say, “Go to Bomanville,” but to the drones “keep away,” for idleness is not tolerated in this booming town. Hardluck Hardluck was a busy little lumber town at the turn of the century in Section 12 of what is now Sheridan Township. Located near a branch of the Molasses River, the logs were being taken out at that time on a spur of the Michigan Central Railroad that came through Bentley from Pinconning. - According to the National Archives, a post office was established there April 26, 1904 in the general store of A. A. Geister with Sidney A. Swanton setving as postmaster, followed by Minnie Oetting in Oct. 1905. It was discontinued Aug. 31, 1906. - The: population was 200 in 1904 and served by a telephone line from Alger. No one seems to know just how the name Hardluck originated but Mr. Fred Boman, an early resident of the area, remembers the name “Peter Hardluck” written on the side of the switch engine that was stationed there. — My great uncle John H. Crosby operated a lumber camp at Hardluck purchasing standing timber and filling contracts for felled and delivered logs. He was associated with the Stone and Wells Lumber Company which was a member of the Tittabawassee Boom Company. John's wife Alice, daughter of John Brown, supervised the food preparation and general house- keeping of the camp. This was a sensitive position because while the hired “jacks” met the rigors and inherent dangers of the lumber woods with a rowdy good humor, they demanded good food and sleeping accomodations or they would move on to a better camp. The following story has been told in my family for over 70 years. Nelson Crosby came up from Camp. Sixteen (Edenville) to work in brother John’s Hardluck camp. One morning something seemed to have affected Nelson’s hearing, obviously leaving him deaf. When spoken to he would shake his head and dig in his ear saying, “Heh?, heh?” When he had the concerned attention of everyone at the long table. he mischievously grumbled, “The pillows in this camp are so small and uncomfortable | didn't sleep a wink. In fact, my pillow disappeared during the night and | . think it's caught in my ear!” While this drew laughing applause from the loggers, Alice certainly couldn't have been amused. The joke, however, turned out to be on Nelson. When he went to bed that night he found that his pillow had indeed permanently disappeared! Now just who took Nelson's pillow came to light in later years. My aunt Beatrice, Mrs. Russell Brown, tells that her father Guy Crosby and his bride Ethel Plummer of Billings Township, had just arrived to visit brother John’s camp and. thought Nelson should be taught a good lesson. At any rate the brothers . found the amenities of the camp. lacking. They sent home for a sad-iron. Their mother had always ironed West Grout. District No. 2 school pupils taken about 1905, Miss Mamie McKnight, all of their clothes including their underwear, and they just didn't enjoy lumbercamp wrinkles. A fire burned over the Hardluck area in 1908 clearning the land for farmers to move in. John and Nelson Crosby moved on west with the lumber industry as did G@ great number of Gladwin County folk. The pillow story became a part of the lumber- lore in Washington and Oregon. John’s grandson Lloyd Crosby lives and farms in Tobacco Township. Listed officially in “Michigan's Ghost Towns,” the new motorcycle trail goes through the vanished village of Hardluck. — Mrs. Richard (Rose Crosby) Steele A Near Tragedy at Cherry Hill The Matt Graves- family moved into ‘Gladwin’ County to the Sherman Township settlement of (Cherry Hill in 1906. The seven children helped their father operate a mill and get the lumber to market by a railroad spur that went into Bentley about six miles away. One evening, just before dark, the youngest boy fell across the saw slashing open a cut that went from hip to hip and deep into the intestines. After wrapping him in a blanket the father laid him on the handcar that stood nearby. Then the oldest son and the father each worked a side of the handle and took him to Bentley. The older boy told me later that he was afraid every minute the handcar would jump the track. But his father’s command, “Keep a goin’, keep a goin’,” “forced him to be courageous and they made it to Bentley “in nothin’ flat.” They went straight to. the doctor's office and” laid him on the table. After opening the blanket, the doctor turned to Mr. Graves and, shaking his head, said, “There’s nothing | can do.” Years later, the doctor told me this story when | questioned him about the incident. “The young boy's name was Josh. After telling the old man there was nothing | could do, | looked down on the lad and he was smiling up at me! | said to myself — I've got to save that boy! So | took off my coat, rolled up my shirt sleeves and began to work. “| tied off the bleeders and slowly began cleaning out the sawdust, dirt and torn clothing and washed the wound with green soap and water. Following the intestines, | found twelve or fourteen tears which | sutured and washed with saline solution.” “Although | worked for most of an hour the boy gave no sign of pain because he was in shock. When he began to have pain | gave him morphine and -worked for four hours until | was sure everything was clean and sutured together. After putting a dressing on, | washed the lad from head to toe, handling him as | would a baby. | took an old white shirt, cut off the sleeves, dressed him and carried him to my own bed. Then | knelt and prayed to God -to save him. | had done all | could — God had to do the rest.” cor “l went to the couch to sleep. When | awoke the sun was shining and Josh was still asleep and -moaning so | gave him some more morphine and wet his lips with water. For the next four days, | didn't leave the office. If anyone wanted anything they came to me. Little by little he began to react. | gave him water by drops down his throat. After about a week he commenced to respond. | had him there for about three weeks altogether but he recovered.” Mrs. Florence Seltz who told us this story, reports that yes he did recover and lived to be around 70. His oldest brother became her brother-in-law, so she heard the story from several angles. Dr. McCarthy, the doctor in this story, was a special friend of Mrs. Seltz and signed her recommendation to go into nursing. He went back to Canada while she was at nursing school, as he felt he was needed in the..war effort. It was the time of World War |. ~ -store, Markle Cream . teacher. Early Settlers Why They Came... JOHN M. KNOX 1846-1935 A Great Surveyor In 1922 he used to take his son's car to survey lots in Beaverton, Chappel Dam, Pratts Lake, Elk Lake, Indian Lake and Houghton Lake. He was the greatest penman any of us every knew. Used to do most of the work in the courthouse in his spare time, this we know. For hearsay, they tell us that in the old lumbering days, about the turn of the century, Johnnie would laugh at, and slap, the bullies and they couldn't lay a hand on him. John had his English terms. At parting he never said Goodbye. It was “twiddle dee wah", and a drink, instead of a shot, was a “little twirtle.” MR. AND MRS. CYRUS HINKLEY Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Hinkley were both born in Chesaning in 1882. They lived there until they were married November 26, 1901. On December 3, 1901, they moved to Gladwin and resided on a farm in Gladwin Township, up on the ridge. On March 1926, the Hinkleys took charge of the ‘Gladwin County Farm. And in 1936 they moved to Gladwin City. Mr. Hinkley worked as Clerk for Strohkirch feed & Feed Store and Caplings Hardware. Mrs. Hinkley kept herself busy knitting for Red Cross. She had devoted 1500 volunteer hours and had received several awards for her work. The Hinkleys were members of the Wagarville Methodist Church. They were very active in their church and other community activities. The Hinkleys had three daughters and one son. Mrs. Frances Nash and Albert Hinkley, both deceased: Mrs. Myrtle Mason lives in Vanderbilt, Michigan; and Mrs. Nellie Brushaber here in Gladwin. Mrs. Hinkley passed away in January 1946 and Mr. Hinkley died at_his home in Florida, November 13, TA6B8bosinis en Lernsit- aint Go.o2 -a! Written by Nellie Brushaber 1975 _ — Ce Ee Ce ee ee ZY | Z Home and store of B. J. Wheatley. BENJAMIN J. WHEATLEY In 1885 Benjamin J. Wheatley, a telegrapher for the Pere Marquette R.R. who had lived in Manistee and more recently in Port Huron, bought 120 acres of virgin timberland, Town 18 N, Range 2 W, in Grout Township. He built a two-story combined dwelling and store in 1898. This dwelling was increased in size later making the store 50’ x20’. The lumber was cut from the land and prepared at the sawmill on Howland Creek approximately 1/2 mile south of this area. Here he brought his wife and three children. The oldest entered the public school in the fourth grade. A fourth child was born in 1899. Dr. Leiniger was the attending physician. From a clipping, not dated, “Wheatley post office will commence doing business about Jan. Ist. Supplies have been received from the department for opening the same and Postmaster Wheatley has received his commission. He has been directed to. employ a carrier to transport the mail from Gladwin to Wheatley.” The post office was not closed until Jan. 31, 1914. Soe The first mail carrier was a Mr. Bogart who lived closed by. Charles Foster was the mail carrier in 1904 on Route 2 and for many years following. At this time Robert Anderson owned and operated a blacksmith shop in the NE .corner of the intersection of what is now Bard and Buzzell Roads. James Mclillversan owned and operated a store and cheese factory just north and west of the blacksmith shop. He also operated the saw mill on Howland Creek. Beth Northrup RICHARD J. SMITH Richard James Smith was born in Zephyr, Ontario, on April 7, 1876. He came to Michigan in or about 1903, first to Beaverton as a shoemaker and then in 1906 to Gladwin as a shoemaker and harness maker at Fred Laycock’s harness shop. In partnership with Glenn McClure and bought out the shoe and harness making business from Mr. Laycock. The firm of Smith and McClure continued on until Mr. Smith's death in 1959. Because of the lack of demand the shoe making, and then the harness making part of the business was dropped and after World War Il only shoe repairing along with other leather goods repairing was done. On March 26, 1908, Richard J. Smith and Byrde E. Pike were married in the Gladwin Methodist Church on Bowery Avenue. To this marriage five children were born, Manville C., Clarence A., Beatrice M., Norman A., and Isabelle M. During the flu epidemic of 1918, Mrs. Smith died. At the time of this writing the two oldest sons have passed on also. In 1912 Mr. Smith was Gladwin County chairman. for Teddy Roosevelt Bull Moose Party. He rode a bicycle around the county on his campaign duties. In 1917, he was elected city alderman from the second ward and served two terms. In 1931 Mr. Smith was elected city clerk a position he was re-elected to for 27 years. In 1958, he retired undefeated because of failing health. For over 25 years he attended every regular and special meeting of the city council and after that missed only because of illness. : In 1950 he was honored by the Gladwin Masonic Lodge for serving as an officer of that body for 28 years, 26 of those as secretary. He was also past grand and secretary of the 1.0.0.F. and a member of the Eastern Star Chapter. Mr. Smith was a businessman_on Cedar Avenue in Gladwin for 41 years until his death on July 3, 1959. Norman A. Smith 1918 he went into. FRANK LEONARD Frani, Leonard came to Michigan as a boy of 19 in 1877, and settled on a farm near Birch Run. Here he farmed and “ran logs” in the winter time. In 1883, he returned to Canada to marry -Miss Agnes McCracken. With his new wife Mr. Leonard moved to Gladwin county and bought a farm of four acres in Sage Township where they were among the early settlers. He built his house but got it on the 40 acres to the south just across the line from where it should have been built. He lived there for awhile before he found out it wasn't on his own land. It was there that Fred Leonard was born in 1884. Mr. Leonard built a new house on his own land and the old house became the new school house for Sage Township. | Their daughter Ella was born in the new house in 1886 and daughter Stella in 1888. Mr. Leonard first served as Supervisor from Sage Township and in 1892 he was elected County Treasurer. He served four terms as Treasurer of the county, finishing his final term in 1902. In 1902 their daughter Ruth was born in the City of Gladwin. In the year 1904, Mr. Leonard and his son Fred opened a grocery store in the Leonard Building. Later Mr. Leonard returned to farming, buying a farm in Gladwin Township. He moved back to the city of Gladwin in 1910 and shortly afterwards was named Mayor of the city. He served several terms in this position and also served the city as assessor for a period of 15 years and then as city auditor for 10 years. He was active in school matters and served on the City Board of Education for several years. He was a director of the First State Savings Bank of Gladwin for more than 30 years. Frank and Agnes Leonard celebrated their 50th. wedding anniversary in 1933. Mr. Leonard died in 1940 at the age of 82 and Mrs. Leonard died in 1944 at the age of 84. EVEN THE HORSES WANTED TO COME BACK In 1890, two brothers, Daniel and George Brown brought their families from Ohio by covered wagon to work in the lumbering. It took them two weeks to make the trip. They also brought three cows and two dogs with them. They located on the 40 acres of land bordering Lake Four, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bailey. oe The families lived in the covered wagons until they could get logs out and build a home. The logs were all hand hewed and were put together with wooden pins. The house was ready to move into before cold weather. came. It was an old landmark there until a. few years ago when the roof fell in and it was cleared away. Other children in the Daniel Brown family were, Andrew who married Mary Roy, whose daughter is Mrs. Doris Bailey, John, Frank and George, Mrs. Tillie Benjamin, Mrs. Lille Goheen, Mrs. Lottie Brill, Mrs. Annie Mansfield and Mrs. Mary Good. Daniel and Martha Brown, took a covered wagon and went from the home place in Butman to Indiana to visit their oldest daughter who had married and lived there. It took the team 16 days to drive down. But on the way home they made the trip in 13 days, the same number of miles. ; A large maple tree still stands on what used to be the lawn of the old log house. The beautiful maple stands’: were: it: was planted long-ago: ‘by Daniel~ Brown. The old spring from whith Paes & Lyle Underwood Norman Smith Nellie Brushaber Belvia Leonard Irene Elthorp Lena Cronin Mable Marble Roger Moon Gladwin Co. Library Staff Vera Smith Program Sales Matthew Welser Commemorative Souvenirs Caroline Sheehan, Chairman Coin Committee E. J. Doser Concessions Dennis Hall, Chairman First Lady Dance Charlotte Sutherland Tim Rowley Student Committee Tracy Brown Dan Greer MEN'S PARTICIPATION DIVISION Elmer Kerblewski, Chairman Brothers of the Brush Doug Loose, Chairman Richard Reid Homer Wyce Men's Hats & Ties Ross Koontz Kangaroo Kourt Robert Landskroener Activities Virgil Tudor Student Committee Carla Wooley Ed Ritchie WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION DIVISION Eloise Russell, Chairman Celebration Belles Paula Schumacher, Chairman Margra Grillo Vivian Kintner Ladies’ Sunbonnets and Dresses Christina Dunne, Chairman Eve Oliver Promenades & Caravans Doris Tudor, Chairman Onalee Kerblewski County Ng Betty Janice Erma Weiss Lena Hoard Verna Wagar SPECTACLE TICKET DIVISION Virgil Tudor, Chairman Advance Sale Committee Betty Nash Sally Campbell Audience & Gates Dick Johnson Student Committee _ Mark Nutt Sue Brubaker HISTORICAL SHOW DIVISION Peggy Neville, Chairman Historical Data Megan AtLee, Chairman Donald Ross Ken Kerswill Else Kelly Kathy Smith Properties Joan Baragar Cast Committee Connie Buzzell, Chairman Carrie Neville Patti Hager Debbie Larsen Costume Committee Megan AtLee Grounds and Construction Virgil Tudor, Chairman Jack Baragar John Janice Keith Swirles Tony Holarth Student Committee Carl Brown Michelle Barrett. PUBLICITY DIVISION Paul Pemberton, Chairman Press Releases Margaret Lloyd Radio Kevin Hawley John David Distributive Committee Doug Behnke Student Committee Kathy Sullivan Doug Behnke SPECIAL EVENTS DIVISION Eula Morrison, Chairman THE CAST LISTING Barbara Korstange Doris Tudor Betty Janice Chris Dunne Peggy Whitmer Denise Wyllys Carla Wooley Dee Dee Swirles Carolyn Speltz Margie Ballard Girls: Michelle Neville Heidi Eisenlohr Diane Athey Mary Janice Beth Neville EPISODE VIII Marvel Secord - Melvin Secord | Man in the bath tub - Rich Boyer Women and Girls: Barbara Korstange Carol Plude Doris Tudor Betty Janice Chris Dunne Peggy Whitmer Denise Wyllys Carla Wooley Dee Dee Swirles Carolyn Speltz Verna Richmond Barb Kroll Sally Abbotts Mary Janice Michelle Neville Heidi Eisenlohr Men and Boys: Bob Andrist Kevin Neville Tom Swirles Jim Abbotts Carol Kroll Ray Neville Jetf Clark Mark Janice Kelso Metheny Terry Koontz David Hutson Lewis Richmond Thomas Rodabaugh Rodney Neville = Jack Baragar EPISODE IX Drunken Lumberjacks: Wayne Clark Jim Andrist John Janice John McGivern Sr. Gene Riley Gene Gilford Man in car - Ken Hoesli EPISODE X Marvel Secord - Melvin Secord Flapper - Carrie Neville Man with Baby Buggy - Kevin Neville Keystone Kops: Doug Loose Jack Baragar Jeff Koontz Terry Koontz Plainclothesman: Elmer Kerblewski Brian Jungman Mark Janice Dick Andrist Dave Keeley Bathing Beauties: Carolyn Koontz Carolyn Speltz Betty Janice Dorothy Swirles Man No. 2 - Tom Swirles Life Guard - Rich Boyer Women: Kathy Neville Elaine Anderson Dee Dee Swirles Shelly Boyer Alayne Speltz Becky Morris Barbara Andrist EPISODE XI Judy Garland - Carla Wooley Adoph Hitler - Dick Andrist Storm Troopers: Arlie Russell . Brian Rise Walter Krompatz Keith Swirles Mike Grove Chuck Ford Dave Schmidt -4 ? mat VO bad ae we ie Merchants Committee C. M. Schwager Historical Windows Marilyn Heinz, Chairman Sandy Shell Cheryl Karp Russell Heinz Parade Committee Sandra Most, Chairman Susan Hawley Lonnie Becking . Music Committee Tim Rowley, Chairman Myrtle Wright Lee Barnes Donald Knight Steve Breece Pioneer Events Roger Bishop Lonnie Bishop Traffic & Safety Bertha Garvie Hospitality Center Leota Martin, Chairman Bonnie Beckwith Bonnie Swain Rose Knight Special Days Religious Heritage Day, Mae Nutt Senior Citizens Day, Jim Stange Ladies’ Day, Eloise Russell Children’s Day, Carol Speltz ~ Youth Day, Byron Haenke, Tammie Finney Men's & Merchant's Day, C. M. Schwager Grand Finale, Sandra Most ; Student Committee Byron Haenke Tammie Finney Headquarters Stores Beaverton Myrtle Wright, Manager Frieda Dull, Salesperson Irene Kittridge, “ Erma Smith, “ Vera Reader, Alta Murphy, ™ Eva Page, “ Edith Myers, “ Tilda Zigler, “ Helen Rock, “ Laurie Tapani Carla Wooley, Office Gladwin Olive Fleming,. Manager Volunteers from Maple Manor, Salespeople Terri Harris, Office Joanne Johnson, Office Don Landon World War I! Officer - John Murphy World War II Soldiers: Kevin Neville Tom Swirles Bob Andrist Terry Koontz Screamers: Shelly Boyer Denise Wyllys Cathy Stillwagon Lynell Northup Mary Hibbert Tina Taylor Elvis Presley - Marv Ockerman and group Marvel Secord - Melvin Secord EPISODE XiL John Adams - Lewis Richmond Entire Cast NARRATORS: Mary Ellen Agin Kathy Clark Florence Clark John David John Speltz Virgil Tudor Brian Jungman PROPS: Joan Baragar Jack Baragar Dutch Krompetz Dee Dee Kobrzycki Tony Hagoort Mark Legel Keith Swirles STAGE HANDS: Elaine Woiderski Chris Woiderski Paul Woiderski Kevin Wright Tom Rellinger COSTUMES: Jack Woodruff Donna Witer Cy Atlee . Jewell Morrow Anne Horner Lena Hoard Shirley Foreman Dusty Mansfield Sarah Terry | planned my work and worked my plans, for of my family | was fond, The old farm came back to life again and to my labors did respond. This life is what we make it, surely this seems to be the truth Then we would not try to shake it but face it boldly in our youth In ‘99 | was still young, my years were twenty-eight | had a desire to be among my friends in Michigan state. As | came home from work one night, my wife had been sorely grieved But at that moment came in sight a brother Will received. A letter from a friend you know, will always warm your heart : By the real kind words they do bestow as tho’ of your life they were a part. letter from We opened the letter, my wife and |, and read those welcome lines. We are all healthy, happy and spry, and baby’s face with laughter shines They went on to tell of land they'd cleared and crops which they had grown The place to them had become endeared for it was all their own. No mortgage now encumbered them, to taunt them . night and day But ease of mind they enjoyed where commenced the settlers’ way They also told of lands unsold, still lying thick with brush My patience, | then no longer could hold, and | to them did rush. they ‘Twas July the 6th 1899, the morning was cool and clear | said good bye to kiddies and wife and went up to Shakespeare and there | boarded the old noon train, and soon was on my way My mind now set on a home to gain for in Canada | could not stay. Not much to say about that ride, except that it was fast Soon into Sarnia we did glide, and there the tunnel passed and when to daylight again we came and stopped there on the main A conductor | asked the road to take, he said, jump on my train. We're off again, we're on our way, on the old Pere Marquette line ; and it's only right that | should say, the ride to Bay City was fine - Now here | must change to the Michigan Central line, | don’t know which way to go Give me a nickel, a small boy said, I'll show you the Michigan Central Depot. All right | said here you are my son, | know you'll guide me true | We start off right on the run. We're told the train to leave was due “While hurrying thru that zig zag way, to me all strange and new A conductor standing by his train called, Don't run I'll wait tor you. His surely was a friendly voice, and his face wore a kindly smile and always since | would rejoice, when we'd chat together a while i boarded now this Gladwin train, a slight fluttering in my heart : all right, now the conductor called, and for Gladwin we did start. This train ran along at a good fair speed not what you'd call a rush To drive slow, to see the land, there was no need, for on both sides was brush Great guns | thought, as we moved along, watching from this moving train Who would buy here, would sure be wrong, and have but little brain. Brush, sand, swamp, more brush, some country now I'm in and after more of brush, swamp, brush, our train came to Gladwin . But now, | must tell another side, while riding on this trian Ed Mathews, entertain. the kind conductor tried, me for to There is one thing you'll remember, and its not hard to do, you'll find _When you are a perfect stranger, you'll be glad for a voice that's kind : Now here | am in Gladwin, the day has well gone by and you I'd better tell again, it’s the sixth day of July. Well now, | want to find my folks, for the way, | ~ must inquire | started out for them that night, but | got hung up in the mire | got as far as Wirtzes, the rain began to pour and | was even mighty glad, for a shake down on the floor. arly Setters why they came... Not that | would reflection cast, in this man’s kind intent But to that old floor, | was nailed fast, and my back was sorely bent . Next morning, | got up early, the sun was shining bright, | thanked my host right kindly, for sheltering me that night. Again | started on my way, | could have used a boat For all around the Southwell corner, the corduroys did float There was water, and more water, there was water on every hand and | commenced to wonder, where the deuce they kept their land. Well those Corduroys were floating, three feet above where they were laid and the only way, for me to cross, was to pull off my shoes and wade So | pulled off my shoes and stockings, rolled my pants above my knees Two planks | used by turn about, to cross those corduroy trees. Those logs are all crossed over now, This scene is left behind Bare legged, | paddle, still knee deep, till higher ground | find | walk along upon a knoll, you would not say a hill A man, standing by his house, | asked, where lives my brother Will. He told me where my folks did live, and to me showed the way But | saw his grins, as he watched my shins, while | walked in the mud that day Well | kept right on a going, and sure received a a right good toast When |! plainly heard my brother Will say, there's John Capling, or his ghost. We were glad to see each other, we were both moved to the core For we had not been together, for about two years before It was good to see their family, on that beautiful July morn and now for the first time | saw their baby, Cora, lately born. And oh how well | recollect, while admiring those children bright My mind turned back, to my own little ones, Did they come thru safe last night : And how true is this old saying, In that book o books, often read A bee child shall lead them, Our Blessed Saviour said. The City That Almost Was After the county was organized in the spring of 1875, the County Supervisors met at the home of Elias Steele, a log house situated on the NW 1/2 of Section 30, TI9N, RIW, which is the 320 acres bounded on the north by Ridge Road and on the south by Pratts Lake Road, on what was the State Road, now called M-18. Here they held their meetings until April 29, 1878 when the courthouse was sufficiently completed to move in. At the meeting June 23, 1875, Supervisor Dow made a resolution, “That the petition of C. C. Chappell and 21 others in reference to changing the site of the county seat be recommended to the people.” It did not carry. Whether the “site” referred to Mr. Steele’s home or to some other site already settled on is not known. June 23, 1875, is the date of the first recorded minutes. Again on July 14, Supervisor Steele made the resolution “That the Board of Supervisors recommend to the: electors of the County Gladwin, that the county seat of said county be removed to the Village of Gladwin in said county.” Mr. Steele voted for it, Dow and Howland against it. This seems to be the last mention of moving the county seat. The Gladwin village referred to, according to the map published in the Walling Atlas of Michigan, c.1873 (see front of booklet) was situated in T19 R2W. It had good road connections with the Grout settlement and with Loomis on the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad, as well as the State Road running past the Steele farm. The map in the 1884 edition of the same atlas shows a Post Office at that location as well as at Cedar. The population figures of the Michigan census of 1884 are quoted giving Cedar a population of 40, and Gladwin 80. In 1880 the Federal census showed Cedar as having 36, so if these figures are accurate, ‘Cedar had only grown by 4, Cedar being the town in Grout Township presently known as Gladwin. The Village of Gladwin is not separated out from the rest of Gladwin Township. There is still much of this picture that is not clear. But the following story as told in the words of Eugene Foster, editor of The Gladwin County Record, is interesting: Friday, June 30, 1882. “A few weeks since, we made mention of a short visit to the Chapelle Dam, or otherwise called Gladwin City some 5 miles from this place up the Cedar and situated on the NW 1/4 of section 34 TION R2W. ; On our arrival we found Mr. C. C..Foutch who is pushing his mill enterprise, “up to his eyes” in work on timber for the mill. He kindly dropped his work and conducted us about the place. Several years since, Saginaw parties platted 101.32 acres here into village lots naming the place Gladwin City, built a mill, hotel, etc., but upon the county seat being located at Cedar, work for a time seemed to droe.. 2 Jan. 5, 1883 - quoting from the last part of the article first - “The property fell into the hands of the Cedar Improvement Company and from them Mr. C. C. Foutch has the village plat, hotel building, etc.,- and Foutch and Newton the use of the water privilege from the dam (one of the best hereabout) as soon as the hotel, store and mill are in operation. The excellent water privilege -was the principal induce- ment to the location of the mill at this point. (Ed. note: Mr. Foutch had Mr. Henry Newton of Farwell, associated with him.) The mill is one of the neatest and best constructed of the kind in the state and a credit to the builders. The mill house, constructed by Isaac Hanna... con- sists of a frame 36’x50'; 2 stories high and attic and roof with plates. (A very detailed outline of the construction and machinery of the mill with the various types of milling that can be performed is included.) Now we go back to the beginning of the article. Wednesday last was the day designated for grinding the first wheat in Gladwin County at Foutch and Newtons grist mill and in the afternoon, C. C. Foutch, E. G. Wilder, their families, the editor of The Record and S. Munson, teamster, started out from Cedar to view the exhibition. Duly arrived at the mill at .Chappelle Dam (Gladwin City) we found S. Raymond, Philip Brown, H. M. Carey, Isaac Conner and Thos. Muma of Grout, J. K. Humason of Gladwin (Twp.) and others present, all anxious for the honor of bringing the first grist to the mill in Gladwin, but found that Mr. Humason had brought the first wheat for custom grinding a day or so previous. The gate was hoisted and the mill put in motion at about 3 o'clock and the buzz of stones in grinding wheat was heard in Gladwin for the first time. Besides the mill at this place Messers. Foutch and Newton will have the hotel 26’x40', 2 stories, barn 38'x40' in connection, and store 20'x32’ well stocked with goods in operation. D. H. Servoss has charge of the store and hotel and William Rogers of Genessee County has been employed as miller. While The Record cannot help but regret the location of the mill not being at Cedar, still we are glad of the establishment and the enterprise in the county. The mill is convenient to a larger part of the wheat growing portion of our county, and can be no detriment to our town, but will benefit it as well as the county at large by keeping a large amount of trade at home which otherwise would go outside. This enterprise surely marks a new era in the agricultural development of our country...” This solves the dilemma that has- bothered newcomers, and some oldsters too, because they are not old enough, as to why the county seat could not be called Gladwin at the very beginning. From January 1883 until April 1886 the mill continued to grind; the hotel, to house people (hopefully, because we do not as yet know this to be a fact) but the store advertised goods, etc. for sale, — when — April 13, 1886 — The fire fiend has again spread devastation in its track — one of the most valuable institutions in our county this: time being destroyed. Without doubt, as with some former fires, the tend of an incendiary kindled the blaze. The person who applies a torch to property of his fellow man is not fit to reside in a civilized community, and every means should be taken to discover his identity. From Willis Davis, who had charge of the Gladwin Mills, owned by Foutch and Newton and _ located some five miles from the county seat up the Cedar, we learned that between 12:00 and 1:00 a.m. he discovered fire issuing from the mills. He was sleeping in a building nearby, and when he saw the fire, arose and promptly gave the alarm but to no purpose, as flames were issuing from basement to garret of the mills. The river crew are located at the dam. Also a man in a separate building who watches the dam. He had two companions from the settlement who were with him on a fishing excursion. The men were all in their places when the alarm was given. No fire had been used about the building for sometime. That the fire was the work of an incendiary is more than probable. The mills were completed in January 1883 at the cost of $7,000. The building was a_ substantial structure 36'x50'; two stories high with basement and attic roof. It contained two run of stone and other machinery, operated by a 60 inch turbine wheel. ° Messrs. C. C. Foutch of this place and Henry Newton, formerly of Farwell, are the losers. Besides the mill, about 300 bushels of grain belonging to the firm and 200 bushels left by customers were destroyed.” Thus the city that almost was, vanished in smoke. After this it was perfectly all right to call Cedar - Gladwin! After much agitation and advertising concerning the plight of the people now without a grist mill we find the following: The Gladwin County Record, March 20, 1891 — “F. Schulz of New Boston, Michigan — offered to build a roller process mill having a. daily capacity of 75 barrels, costing from $8,000 to $10,000 providing the village would provide him with a suitable site. Mr. Schulz desired to operate his mill by water power and selected a spot on the banks of the Cedar River, west of the village, owned by W. T. Johnson and C. C. Foutch. The businessmen agreed to secure this site for the mill, and Mr. Schulz returned to his home at New Boston expecting to commence the erection of the mill as soon as the title to the site was secured and the Board of Supervisors had granted right to dam the river.’ The Democrat, April 24, 1891 Joseph Schulz has commenced the erection of his dwelling house, near the site of the gristmill to be built by him. Work will be began on the mill as soon as the material is on the ground.” A First Look at Beaverton The city of Beaverton has an _ interesting back- ground. Examination of the map of the Indian trails in the county will show that there are areas along the South Branch of the Tobacco River in the City of Beaverton which were used by the Indians. The abstract of title for the area, which includes the cemetery and stretches across the river to include land on the opposite shore, is described as the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of section 12, TION R2W containing 40 acres. This land was originally given as a patent to the St. Mary’s Ship Canal Co.. and is some of the land which was conveyed prior to the completion of the second survey. The most interesting item on the abstract to this property is the mention that “reserved to the State of Michigan are all aboriginal antiquities, including mounds, earth works, forts, burial and village sites, mines or other relics, also the right to explore or excavate for same”. Just to the south of this 40 acres is the land purchased by Collins Avery (see 1860 census) for which he received the land patent from the es government, signed by Abraham Lincoln. It consists of a 40 acre plot, SE 1/4 of NW 1/4 plus an 80 acre plot S 1/2 of NE 1/4 of both: section 12 TI7N R2W, stretching over to Ross St. which is the line dividing Beaverton and Tobacco Townships. Sold to Peter Patrin the year following © his purchase of it, the 80 acre plot eventually became the Bliss, Brown and Ryan's additional to the City of Beaverton, the plat of which was approved Nov. 20, 1893. It was apparently on these 80 acres that. the first stores in Beaverton were built, the main. street of which is Brown.:The other 40 acres were retained by the Averys until 1896 when it was purchased by Henry C. Russell. - Somewhere on these 120 acres was the dwelling in which Collins Avery, Lucinda, his wife and Henry, his son, were living when the census enumerator — visited them in 1860. It is fairly safe to assume this, as Mr. Avery is the only person in the census to own property and this is the only area in which we find him owning land at this time. Home of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Smith of Billings. Mr. Smith with his horse, Jonny. Mrs. Ellen Smith holding, Myrtle Smith (Wright), Hazel Smith (McKimmy ) sitting in. chair and Percy Smith. Year, 1905. Located on Estey Road just across the river. Ly psp op aatEsS First Primary room in the Beaverton School, June 11, id Jiang Co ara lop up M, ‘ue T¢: D a ah Ba aL le oe TH Oe Jad te bits hse tj lee led f te iad Mi./ ee es oa oti Ved c am cal Lio TG the wpe of tee ag th of 620 ta i a wat Wat ELF god apne, oe 1 hs a Some Milestones in The Development of Beaverton In 1890, the first news items were beginning to be received from Cedarville — Grand Forks — 2 miles south of Ross Brothers’ Camp on the Cedar River (now Beaveton). Sept. 5, 1890. “Cedarville,” one of the newest settlements in Gladwin County, is 7 mi. from Gladwin at the point where the Cedar River empties into the Tobacco. Later called “Grand Forks.” The daughter of Mrs. Samuel Stratton, born Aug. 8, 1890, at Cedarville was the first child born in the settlement. The north, south, middle banches of the Cedar all four join the Tobacco there. - Gladwin Leader. Oct. 17, 1890. A village is being platted at Grand Forks, otherwise called Cedarville, by Ross Bros. who 1908. ah employ 125 men in their cohesion there. A large amount of cedar is also being floated down the rivers to their factory by the firm and its jobbers. March 27, 1891. Beaverton will now have. that long-sought-for bridge, a 2 mill tax having been voted for in Grout to build that township's apportionship of it. A bridge there will bring a large amount of trade to Gladwin, that now goes to Coleman. The Record is informed that a stage will run between Gladwin and Beaverton as soon as the bridge there is completed. Later — The bridge will have a 90-ft. span and cost in the neighborhood of $1,000. (Final cost, $1,300 — G.C.R. Oct. 2, 1891) : Captain Jolly Reid runs a stage from Gladwin to Beaverton to connect with daily train to Coleman. Leaves Gladwin 4:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and Beaverton at 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. 1892. Booming Beaverton. What the neighbors have to say about it, the little town of Beaverton had 4 houses on Monday, the number increasing to 20 on Thursday and more to follow. Lots are sering at $300 apiece. - Mt. Pleasant Tribune. Saainaiy Courier Herald. Beaverton,. a little town on the Tobacco River a few miles north of Coleman, is one of the places in Michigan that is enjoying a decided boom. Numerous new business places and. dwelling houses are being erected and new enterprises are being planned. Citizens are talking waterworks, paved streets and electric lights. Nov. 25, 1892. Three new towns, Beaverton, Rhodes and Highwood — platted in Gladwin. County inside 12 months is quite a record. The telephone line has been strung and now Beaverton has communications with the — outside world. The Beaverton office is in Ross Bros. office and the Coleman end is in the depot there. The line is operated by the F. & P.M. Beaverton Budget News to G.C.R. Beaverton has ‘lodges of Foresters and Maccabees. A churchisyauidii Continued to Next Page Geo CVO PEF Wear gy L327 Ow77 wre Locere ee Lia FF PRROGS Bros 22 Brow Pe s ZN BEAVERTON ana BEAVERTON & TOBACCO TWPS Scale 4o0 ft. to 1 inch LBS Uy, 47 0:339:3 Bras. 41he Spa spol als}alr»] - CPel glo safalulal- PLANING mary Brow7 Uy KcwerneterT: ¥ Co Heckhroar Coperage NK. Z i” Z PuBLiC : 17) 6 | 1S | 14] 1B i Cae ee eet eh . : WA 5 SCHOOL. 24 1g i Jolere Fiezt®Z o wlolegleétalel[sia qienty Bodder "lmolagiSlalels |[4]: IN Plo Kt7272 072 Frareh «DPT 2GUC we. Ao Pde Farc7. 4. BOS L7Os. 4.20 i LAO ACH: warre7ri SCOT. 10 xo Plat of Beaverton from 1906 Atlas Some Milestones Continued add to the appearance of Beaverton. Now what we need is a daily mail to Gladwin via the stage. The Beaverton Breeze published by Menerev Bros. has appeared. G.M. Menerev is the editor. A fine large hotel is to be built on Brown Street, east of the R.R. track by Mr. Brown of Vassar. Ross Bros. have sent samples of sapless paving blocks for exhibition at the Chicago Worlds Fair. July 28, 1893. Beaverton Record page. The dam “went out Tuesday night. ee 1895. The telephone from Beaverton to Gladwin is proving a great investment. : Brown Street is beginning to look’ like a_ street. When completed there will be a full mile drive, well graded and free from stumps. Beaverton Budget News. A big bear was run over by the incoming train a mile out of town Saturday evening. A change from the usual cattle. Who is in Frazer's well? Al Swayer’s horse and it took 25 able-bodied men to pull it out dead. Beaverton Budget News. River hazards. Ben Mcintyre fell off a log while sluicing timber by the dam and sluiced himself through. After much effort in hanging onto floating timbers, he managed to get on terra firma 30 yards below. ~ George Brown was arrested by marshal Burtch last Wednesday morning. Brown was on a boom in the river at the Beaverton Cooperage Company's mill working; Brown and the marshal both | fell into the river. We advise our Marshal to have his boots calked. Beaverton Budget News. 1896. Dr. Pierce is building in great style. Style is what Beaverton wants (He was a medical physician new to the town which also had an able doctor, Dr. Kenwendeshon and several months later a Mrs. Dr. Hazen. County Road Commissioners Kellog and Farrell and Surveyor and Supervisor Doan were at Beaverton. this week to take measurements for the county bridge to be built across the Tobacco there on the line of county road between Gladwin and Beaverton. The bridge will have a 90 ft. span. The approaches will be 318 feet long and will be 16 ft. wide. It will be Bridg David | on M-18 to Gladwin built of iron and have tubular foundations. In the approaches and piers 78 oak piles will be used. Jobs : of ditching and grading the south 1/2 of the road in Grout Township were let yesterday. Pat Norton is pulling stumps on the west side of Tobacco River on the county road. The county road bridge will be north of Beaverton Mercantile’s Company's store — the site was staked Wednesday. __ ips The iron bridge across the Tobacco is let to the Wrought Iron Bridge Co. of Canton, Ohio at $1,575. William Arnell gets the job of building the approaches at $435. There were 6 bidders. Money is being raised to buy a $55.00 bell for the Presbyterian Church. Our Marshal is so busy these days keeping animals off the streets that he cannot bother with common drunks. The latter only insult ladies while the 4-footed animals are a menace to gardens and sidewalks. Electrict Lights! April 21, 1899. The council of our village, being progressive and enterprising guardians of the municipal fate, granted a franchise Friday night to W. Lemnke of Saginaw, whereby he is permitted to erect an electric light plant and properly distribute the necessary apparatus. Illumination will extend from Harvey's docks to Doan’'s Park. Oct. 6, 1899. Seven glimmering glims dispell the gloam about our city now. At last our streets are lighted by electric lights and the midnight wanderer can see his way home. 1900 Beaverton now has a bank, 1 door west of the Central Hotel. The proprietors are C.H. & F.A. Niggerman & W.T. Smith who have integrity for business well established. The building has been repainted and new furniture added. Ross Bros. are preparing to put up a building near Tom Clark's to cover a turbine water wheel to be used in operating the electric light plant. A mill race will be constructed from the dam. Geo Doane, Co. Surveyor, was in town Tuesday surveying the site. The telephone company is building their line to: Gladwin and have their tents pitched in Ross Lumber Yard. 1917. This and That The only monument we know of in Gladwin County was erected in Beaverton in 1925. A. fellow named Helmuth Von Zinggen came over from Germany after World War | and built a monument in Beaverton, just north of the bridge on M-18 going out of town, of a couple of Soldiers with cannons and cannon balls and shell bursts, etc. At that time the road turned and’ went a’ block north to what is now Lang Road to Burgess Road then north to Calhoun Road then west to M-18. So the monument faces the drive now going into the Brown Machine Shop. Afterwards, the state built a new highway with a curve one and half miles long, which at the time was supposed to be the longest curve in the state, so now the monument does not face the highway. After this the builder went to Midland and helped on all the fancy work on the courthouse in Midland, then from there to do some work ‘in Florida for the Firestone Company. ae We all know that it was the pine and other timber . that was the big start for Gladwin County. and. the’ rest of the lower peninsula, but after the most of that was gone, about the turn of the century, and part of the land was cleared,-the farming started. One of the first money crops was Michigan Pea Beans and some of us can remember a line of teams” 3/4 mile long waiting to unload beans at the™ elevators. Besides that we had. the. so called. “beanery” at Beaverton, where about 40+ women worked as bean pickers, picking out the cull beans at the Columbia Sugar Co. and The Michigan Sugar Company besides another station that bought and weiged Chicory. . In the winters of 1919-1920 and 1920-1921 we shipped trainloads of ice from Beaverton to Saginaw. Another brief spurt in. 1930 was peppermint oil; we had three stills near Beaverton, and the price got up’ to $30 per pound. A five gallon oil can was worth $1,200. We had a rack built in the vault of the bank that is now the City Hall, and the A. M. Todd Co. of Kalamazoo came up with a pickup truck and took $30,000. worth ‘back to Kalamazoo, but the price went down and that didn’t last. The elevator in Beaverton burned on St. Valentines Day in 1934, and that stopped the Beanery and employment there. But to match, in October of 1934, Whitehill’s of Pennsylvania came here and brought in the first oil well in Gladwin County, in Section 11 of © Beaverton Township. Then on January Ist of 1937 the Wicklund Company of Mt. Pleasant brought in the first oil well in Buckeye Township, which brought in the oil boom with several hundred wells, since which time there have been several other small oil fields struck in different parts of the county, nothing like the Buckeye boom, but all welcome. Driving around the county we still see quite a few wells still pumping, possibly helping in the energy crisis. — Don Ross THE METHODIST CHURCH OF BEAVERTON [1904-1975] United Methodist 1968 Prior to 1904, Beaverton Methodist “Church services Bridge on Dole Road “1917, were held in local school houses, lodge’ halls and other available buildings. : The site for the Beaverton Methodist Church was given by A. T.. Brown Sr. with the stipulation that it must be used for church purposes. In 1904, the cornerstone was laid and the church was dedicat in September of the same year. The church is still in use and located on the corner of Brown Street and Church Street. Rev. R. D. Freeman was the first pastor and worked faithfully to complete the church building. During the first three months of his pastorate he spent much time in the woods helping to cut the logs from which the lumber was obtained. Hauling the stone was no small task which came from the present Dick VanWéeren farm. Rev. Freeman secured the stone from the Garlinger farm (1904): Mr. Garlinger donated his labor and wagon to haul the stone he had donated. The total cost of building the church was $4,000. The church edifice stands as a monument to the untiring efforts of the late Rev. Freeman who came here as pastor in September 1903: In 1935 the adjoining parsonage was built. Rev. Raymond Norton was pastor at that time. The Fiftieth Anniversary was observed on July 4, 1954. All pastors who had served the church were invited to help in celebration. Many came. On Sunday, Jan. 23, 1955, a fire broke out in the furnace area of the church. The Methodist Church was saved but many things were ‘charred or smoke ‘and water damaged. Rev. Larry Grubaugh was with an arch on the wall above the altar. serving as pastor at this time. The cleaning and Log house in Beaverton township as it few changes have been made in the outside restoring of the church took many hours. Members appeared in 1910, the home of Monroe J. of the building, but the trees and the foliage assisted in many tasks. The late Mr. Albert Adams and Ellen Marble. Monroe Marble, — their growing all these years almost belittles the Sr. did much of the redecorating. It was completed grandson, lives here now. We are told that size of the house and hides it from view. Rev. Gordon Showers served as pastor in 1960 to 1965. He helped to build membership and started a new addition on the basement. This new addition was needed for classrooms also for a new furnace room. The ground breaking ceremony was held on -June 2, 1963. a The General Conferences of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church voted in November 1966 to form the United Methodist Church. The action was ratified by the annual conferences of ‘both. denominations in 1967, and the union was formally consummated in April 1968.° This brought about many changes. The Womens Society of Christian Service was to become the United Methodist. Women, MYF became United Methodist Youth Fellowship and of course a change in the men’s group to the United Methodist Men. Along with change came new memberships. Unity is and was our theme. Helping with the changes were Rev. Lee Long who worked very much with our youth both in church, Scouts, and school and Rev. A. H. Kessler who continued to support the changes in the church and in the building, that had been started. Mrs. Joe (Mary) Walker gave the dates the newest addition war built. In June 1971, the front of the church was changed. The church steps were in need of replacement. The olds steps were torn out with much labor. Mike Kemp helped the contractor to accomplish this job. Remembering that things were built to last in 1904 it took some doing. They did save a stained glass window that had to be removed. The window appears at the front of the church entrance now. The new entrance was completed with nev steps enclosed and carpeted. the two. chan- _deliers were given to the church in memory of the late Mr. Floyd Nearing by his wife Lela. In 1972, Rev. Zina Bennett came to serve and helped to reorganize our church. He served both Beaverton and Dale charges until 1975. The ‘new pastor of the Beaverton and Dale United — Methodist Churches is Rev. Vernon Wyllys. People contributing information were Mr. and Mrs. Willis McCullock, Miss Alta Murphy, Miss Mary Stockton, Mrs. Eloise Russell, Mr. Ed Murray Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Earl Burr, Mrs. Mary (Joe) Walker with her diary, and Mrs. Don (Joyce) Russell and Mrs. Frank Engler for their encouragement. - Acting Librarian Mrs. Cecil (Margaret) Lan at Ray Marble with yoke of oxen about 1908. g , Y Fun in an auto about 1924. Far left: Albert Bruckner, Wilma Bruckner Ewener, Bill Valek, Myrtle D. Smith, age 9 years. Lyle As It Was There was Elijah Holycross (called Lije) who had five sons and two daughters. Two of his sons were Morton and Zack. Living in Union County, Ohio, they wee tenant farmers and had never-owned any land. land. _ Hearing that land was selling for $2.50 to $3.00 an acre in Gladwin County, Lije and his family came north in 1913 and settled in Section 26 in the Lyle area of Beaverton Township, purchasing 160 acres. Lije didn’t care for Michigan, so he left the farm for Morton and Zack and took the remainder of the family back to Ohio. Later Morton left and Zack took over the farm. His daughter Doreen Bobb owns it now. Lije’s cousin, Mrs. John Conklin had a daughter Blanche who suffered from asthma. She was told the child would be better further north. Neighbors round « The Ladies Ai Oe, 02 VN 29 Dorothy Bruckner Marble, Phil Cronin, Wesley Mott. d Society, August 1922. - Collins Grover, Monroe about like the Pennington Evans, Ozias Jackson, Ernest Phipps, Charlie Underhill, Bill Henry and their families were planning on following the Holycross: family to Michigan. So the John Conklins joined them and in the spring of 1914, came north. Those who had money to purchase land came into Gladwin County and settled. The Conklins, however, looked for land to rent and finding it in Midland County rented various farms mostly around Coleman. Blanche Conklin later married Zack Holycross and became the mother of Doreen. Her sister, Laura, married William Grant who also had come north from Ohio. Neighbors in Ohio remained neighbors in Gladwin County. There are not many left of the original group. who came, but many have descend- ants, though many do not farm but perform work elsewhere. ; Told by Laura Grant and her niece Doreen Bobb _ Built in 1887 as the Butman Methodist Episcopal Church, later changed to McClure and in 1975 the McClure Wesleyan Holiness Church. ancits The Ripke home, built after the log house was torn out, -showing .the log Post Office on the right, and members of the Ripke family, about 1912. oe The McClure Story McClure News, McClure Cemetery, McClure Church McClure Post Office, McClure Se Why McClure? | (Henry Ripke - Secord Postmaster) The lead came when we were out looking for the homestead of the county's first permanent settler, Marvel Secord, on the west bank of the Tittabawas- see just below where Sugar River enters into it. There, presently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Homer Smythe, we found them in the process of tearing down an old house. On the ground were papers which they had taken out from between walls of: what they explained had been additions to the house. Old, stained and matted together from moisture, _ dusty, smelling of heat, yet there were some that - moved with the breeze. One especially caught our eye. It was an advertisement written in both English and German which was aimed at the many foreigners who were reaching our shores. On the reverse was a map of the lands for sale, 23,000 acres, which could be purchased through the McClure-Stevens Land Co. The date was not readable, but one couldn't miss the message that there was a land as good as the proverbial “land of milk and honey”. = With the help of the Smythes and others known to have lived in the area, Nellie Kern Sampson, Nellie Breault Kern, Martha Klefoth Breault, Florence Kinyon Seltz and one of the former teachers in Secord, Maxine Nickless Breault, we were led to Mrs. Helen Ripke Menzel who had lived in this house and now lives in Midland. We learned that her father, Herman Ripke came north with his family in 1906, from Ohio, and purchased the Secord homestead from the widow Secord. It was thought that the northern air would be better for Mr. Ripke’s health. His friendship grew with Charles Kinyon, whom he met when he and his brother-in-law, Fred Jungman, were having coffee. Mr. Ripke was waiting for a real estate salesman from Clare. It was through Mr. Kinyon that Mr. Ripke himself became an agent. for the McClure-Stevens Land Co. Mr. Kinyon had been their agent and when he decided to take his family to Oklahoma, Mr. Ripke took over the agency. This then was why the map and other papers such as the Flint Journal, Toledo Weekly Blade, Saginaw: Post Zeitung, Chicago Examiner, Chicago Sunday Tribune were found, dated 1914 through 1918. They all carried ads of lands for sale, not only here but in the western states. These were great years because of the steady stream of people who were coming from the European countries. They were coming north into these lands which were ready for settlers, now that the pine was gone and the railroads had come in. There were still the hardwoods, sufficient for employment for many, and then the farming. Mr. Ripke was a faithful salesman. Many were the people he was instrumental in bringing in from Ohio and lowa because of ads he had placed, especially in the Lutheran Church papers. One of Mrs. Florence Seltz's uncles, a preacher in lowa, saw it, returned to Huron County and brought up with him many who purchased land in the Secord area. The house the Ripkes had moved into was the original two story log house of Marvel Secord. When Mr. Ripke was appointed the first Post Master in Feb. 5, 1908, for this area people called Secord, he built a log addition to house the Post Office. Mr. Ripke retained his office until Sept. 13, 1915, when it was moved to Elm Grove with Inez Nester as Postmistress _ and later Suzie Card. : Mr. Henry Zarnstorf carried the mail out from Gladwin, at first twice a week, later three times a week. This was'a blessing, for the people had been going all the way over to McClure for their mail and only picked it up every 2 or 3 weeks. Desiring a more commodious home, Mr. Ripke tore down the log house and built a two story frame house but leaving the Post Office. As did Marvel Secord, Mr. Ripke opened his home to travelers, and his wife prepared many a meal for them and prospective clients. The first Secord school was built on their land and can still be seen across the road. It has long been owned by the John MacDonalds. Teachers often boarded with the Ripkes, among them Rilla: Vannest Cady, Hellen Bellinger Ogg, Miss Davis, Evelyn Munson and Marie Fanslow. + : beng nomtvud mow mon ai eernods eit nen Pee pieaTRRSE A. | : oo: ae , ae And be Independent Pe » = You Can Easily do so in this Favored Locality There is no need of going away out west, far from the old folks and old ie '. apf ee oe i ee Le oe a we eee is 4 friends, when right at your door almost are the Choicest Farming eT : a : tt -. iy b eo, ° 2 tends ingpe country to be had at low prices aru op casy terms : _f-¢ & soot uit : Ci i: cl ftytand ig. oF 7 ee a eS : . a a —— .; PB eS RE ee I ec Dies ift leidit geian in diefer Beginftigten Gege ete oe es en ss : . . = 5 3 i t ni t natwer ia waded De > é ot hed is Hien a and Unimproved came Gladwin and Seca s ‘ois tagder GRahe find o1e gett AM Fico, ° . os : eee 2) Se ead ae @ re t b : ete .% bigh ote ie + ClaregCounties, Michigan, at from ~ a spnter 3 sngumgert 31 haben = tie Soe : pe ; a ‘ tae? > an ‘ ~~ + “19 60 to $18.00 per Acre + = Rir haven ier-30,000 Acres. verbeffertes wo Se ; , 'e O : e pe mh . ° ° ; D CI fees | ““ unverbeffertes Land in Gladwin uno Clare ges eae ; erm psn ere g 2 \ : 3 qj It x A Growing County z Gat ie, Dtidjigan, 4 Gladwin county is one of e most progressive counties in Michigan, and the lands ek : A -semunaprema $12 his $18 per Acre "" _ Highly Fertile--Easily Worked “aint =, 4g ha ina are wt i Byes as Tenover” andthe Shel fiber for all ; 3 Gin feet wadhfenBes Countr a . ae 2. The soil iss@ay, sand, and gravelly loam, wer eat : on eT Gladwin County ift eines ber beften Counties in Michigan, und bie von uns gebotenen Landereien wy lease cp verking. All kinds of crops can be grown and will yield heavily, as the soil is find in jeder Sinfict feb roiin{denswert. 4 ectn + especially adapted to wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, potatoes and all other Northern vege- oe ; ‘ : : ees co tables: Seah tia eg fe oe Sehr Prudjtbar—leidt gu bearbeiten. - ~ .. : oe ° = ‘ ne : ‘i : Bs : oe pers : : - Beit i Five Bushels of Clover Seed to the Acré we cede as bie Jes ocibn am ten ese rad an eit i a: stock raising there is no better land anywhere. Hay and grsss ‘graggpiicuriant- gmat it ttenes ; rs pe vo — owe rricie i : a rie . fre ee eect Oaks a lover seed yields five bushels to the acre. ie a ee “= tort und alle nocblichen Mime. ~ Riaige Griidjte jeder Wet gedeiben qui. i ‘@adwin, the county seat of Gladwin county, is a very bea e churches, schools, waterworks, electric oe ; Itis located igeonning — 28 miles. : Railroad, and 47 miles from Bay City. ~ 4 see aa ale hi The farmer can get his mail Deli: e phone. 7 ae Baa man and the telephone makes it unnecessary to Good Market Adjacent active city of 2,000 bog : light, and many flourishing men in the west cettral portion of the county, “goanected with the main line of the Michigan Central Railroad by a branch: tines f: bi age Gladwin is 8 miles from Beaverton, “.. Rural Delivery and Telephone “ Ze : of living on a farm in Michigan are 7 by an *¢ Be Ee . hie 9 oe ecg prt fiirif on the Cedar river, and on the Pere Marquette his dai OG CI hac RE “hitch up Sree rt ae Bibel pa en eBlecfamen’ sion Were. eves Land. Geu und Grad wadyft in dippiger Fille. & Be ets. oy ijn bhaite Stabt vor 2000 ‘Einwokmern, mit en emfigen abrifen.: €8 liegt etwad tlimie ber Michigan Central A. ben Bigbore 9 Meitensbon é Hay City. 4 : oy Coe t po ' Part of the advertisement of McClure-Stevens Land Co. Notice it is printed in both English and German. First Secord school — the front entrance was put on later. The Ripkes \were influential in building the first Lutheran church in Secord across the river. Until the church was built church services were held in the log house. A cemetery was also started. No longer in use and many of the graves moved, it is still there but difficult of access. Mr. Ripke remained with the land company many years. He died in 1928 at the age of 62 and is buried in Midland. Of his children, Alfred and Albert are both deceased, Mrs. Henrietta Behnke lives in Durand, Mich., Mrs. Hildegarde Brown and Mrs. Helen Menzel in Midland. Many people were disappointed in the land which they had purchased in Secord, finding it difficult to make a living. As Martha Breault says, “It was good land for huckleberries — and that is about all.” Some found better land on which to live and stayed in the county. Others left entirely. McClure Schools, Church and Post Office It would be interesting to know when the two Gladwin Township schools, District 1, built in 1884 on the southwest corner of SW 1/4 of Section 15 and District 5, built in 1885 first on the Wm. Deline farm and later on the southwest corner of the NW 1/4 Section 11 TI9N RIW, began to. be called McClure. The McClure Methodist Church was __ originally known as the Butman Methodist Episcopal Church, the land having been donated by Myron Butman, Amasa Rust and their wives in 1887. After the church was built, it was found to be off the land donated, so an exchange of deeds was made in 1891 to include the land on which the church was situated. At this time the donors increased the parcel from 1/2 to 1 acre. It is a very pleasant situation for a church, dominating the horizon for several miles around, and now is the property of the McClure Wesleyan Holiness Church of recent origin. When the change in name from Butman to McClure occurred, is not known at this time. However, we read in The Record a week before the McClure Post Office opened, that is was to be named in honor of W. C. McClure. The office opened Feb. 14, 1888, with James H. Campbell, township treasurer, as_ post- master. The. location is. not. known. The next postmaster Wm. W. Daniels assumed office May 28, 1889. The cemetery located in the same section as the church but east 1/2 mile and a little north, was purchased from W. B. Spike in 1905, the first burial occurring in 1906. Doubtless the reason for calling it the McClure Cemetery is the same as changing the name of the church. McClure Farm Again in Editor Foster's words: “The first clearing was begun by the lumber firm, W. R. Burt & Snell in the early 60's, the work of the first slashing being done by the late Willard Grout Sr.” (Ed. note: The cook in the camp was John Riley, for whom Riley Hill on M-18 is named). “The farm passed into the hands of Elias Steele who occupied it a number of years. From the organization of the county in 1875 until April 29, 1878, when the supervisors held their first meeting in the new courthouse in Cedar, the office of County Clerk and Register of Deeds was in the log house on the farm. It was the headquarters for official county business.” At the supervisors’ meeting on Feb. 19, 1876, there was a resolution that the “house of Elias Steele be designated as the place to hold the first Circuit Court.” On July 23, 1875, Elias Steele was appointed postmaster. The official designation of his office was NW 1/4 of Sec. 30 T19 RIW, which was his home. Previous to this, less than 2 miles away the first Post Office in the county had been opened at Ridgeville with William Wilson as postmaster. The Wilson property, bordered on the east by Dassay Road and. on the south by Ridge Road and described jas SE 1/2 of the SW 1/2 of Sec. 20, TI9N RIW which ‘would fit the descripition of Ridgeville, .so we conclude that the Post Office was in his home. It iopened May 15, 1872, and continued in his care until ‘December 9, 1873. This property is now owned by iLeonard Lemon. Just what disposition was made of the mail between the end of 1873 and July 23, 1875 we do not know, only that the Grout Post Office opened with Willard Grout as Postmaster Dec. 16, 1874, and continued until Sept. 2, 1880. “Following Mr. Steele's occupancy” we are told, “the farm was worked and owned by the Moore Bros. for some time. Later it came into the hands of W. C. McClure.” a Feb. 14, 1902: “W. C. McClure is having plans prepared by Clarence L. Cowles for a house for his farm at Gladwin. In the fall of 1901, 50 loads of stone were hauled for the building.” There were good sized barns on the farm and an even larger barn was planned. The farm was to be a place where Mr. McClure could spent a quiet holiday. His able foreman and wife, Mr. and Mrs. T. Hartwell, managed the extensive farming operations that took place on the 400 acre farm. In the accompanying picture you see a water tower and a building that served as a bunkhouse. It was later moved acorss the road, and lived in as late as the early 70's. Since then it has been moved back across the road beyond the house by James Sullivan, D.O., who is the present owner. _. McClure home. Notice the BOD aot Png water-tower, and the bunk house remaining from the lumber- ing operations of W. R. Burt & Snell. * Formerly McClure School No. 1, Gladwin Township. The original log school of 1884 was purchased from the school board for $6.50 by Robert Greer -in 1891 and reconstructed on Hoffman Road at his farm with some additional logs to make a loft. This comfortable log house, now sided with aluminum and provided with a_ basement, formerly the Marvel Secord home. The Post Office was in Ripke home showing their first car, an Overland, about 1918 after their summer kitchen was added to the back of the house. provides security for Mrs. Dell Greer and her grandchildren when the high winds buffet our area. Show in the picture are Mrs. Robert Greer and children in 1902, Earl, Mrs. Greer, Harry (or Dell) in arms, Eleen, Hazen, Lee and Lydia. Mr. and Mrs. Ripke with daughters Hilda and Etta. In car, Albert at the wheel, Helen and Alfred. WILLIAM C. McCLURE Gladwin County Record, April 29, 1904 - William C. McClure was born on a farm in Lima Co., Ohio, near Piqua, Oct. 17, 1842. After 2 years in college at Miami University in Oxford, Ore., he enlisted in the 86th Ohio Infantry. In 1867, he was sent to Saginaw Valley to buy lumber for the Mitchell and Rowland Lumber Co. becoming bookkeeper, general agent, and finally General Manager until 1879. Then in the’ same year he was offered a partnership in the Hamilton McClure and Co., comprised of John A. Hamilton, ‘Wm. C. McClure and Jethro Mitchell, which company succeeded the W. R. Burt and Co. upon Mr. Mitchell's purchase of Burt's interest.” “The firm began with about 400 million feet of timberlands in Gladwin County and a sawmill and salt works on the Saginaw River. Using the timber from Gladwin County, the: plant operated until the timber was exhausted in the fall of 1889. The firm was reorganized as Mitchell and McClure, Mr. Hamilton having died.” “The following 12 years until 1901, Mr. McClure Spent managing the company’s lumber enterprises in Minnesota, then in the south and on the west coast.” “In adjusting the business of Mitchell and McClure, the lumbered lands of the firm in Gladwin County were turned over to Mr.. McClure. These lands ores 23,000 acres were put on the market in 4." _ "On a trip to Europe the spring of 1904, he died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving 2 children Charles — W. and Clara B. and his wife, Helen.” "A. J. Stevens with. whom he_ was closely associated in business as the A. J. Stevens Land Co., remained associated with the McClure heirs as the McClure-Stevens Land Company.” Importance of the McClure Area That this area of our county has been important cannot be denied. The county's first Post Office opening on the “Ridge” and the County Supervisors meeting from the spring of 1875 to April 29, 1878 at what came to be known as the McClure Farm certainly contributed to its importance. The clue as to why this area is called McClure may be in the ‘obituary quoted above. Owners of land in this area may study the abstracts for their property, and if it has been acquired since the 1880's, in many cases the owner will find that the land came into the possession of W. C. McClure as a member of one or more companies, through the paying up of delinquent taxes resulting in what is called a tax deed. Using his method of acquiring land was to his advantage. That William C. McClure was a great financier of lumbering interests and land speculation is evident. Is this “Why McClure?” The First 25 Years A casual selection of events to give the réader a savor of the not-too-distant past. Unless otherwise indicated, all items are taken from The Gladwin County Record. 1878 Gladwin County Record advertises in issue: There is a kind of match that will not ignite unless you strike it on a box made expressly for it. This will make a great savings in pantaloons. 2 Wolves were plentiful in Gladwin County, frequent- ly seen and heard at the lumber camps. Many persons were cutting bee trees this summer. 25 million feet of logs were banked on the Cedar and its branches this season. Thomas Nester expects to put in 40 million on the Sugar River and by rail and steam. Editor's Complaint. “If folks don't keep their cows away from our office, we shall milk ‘em, that’s all! We was always very fond of milk.” Isaac Hanna, carpenter and joiner, advertised “all kinds of building” and a full assortment of ready- made coffins which he later called burial cases. The old Smith and Moore farm on the opposite side of the river from this village (Cedar) is where the first clearing was made in Gladwin County in the spring of 1864 by W. Grout. Dated May 7, 1878. The new library for Grout Township is at the express office in Loomis and will probably be here and ready for distribution in a few days. It will contain nearly 200 volumes which were purchased in March for about $250. (Grout town was 4 miles west of Cedar). ; Three months later: A listing of books of the first public library of any account in the county and rules of library. This library sponsored and governed by the Township Board of Schoo! Inspectors. The library ‘is open all days but Sunday. 1879 The Gladwin County Record issues all through the winter months of 1879 warned inhabitants of the county, especially near Grout Town “to look out for the dog train— several persons having been run over and some collisions. Listen for when the dogs yell!” they say. Bears and wildcats were plentiful in the woods and complaints of wolves disturbing the slumbers were heard in Gladwin. Township, especially in section 8. County clerk Townsend was pursued rather closely while on his way home several nights of late. 1880 The young folks at the Bowery July 5, looked on surprised to see “Uncle Secord’ one of the first pioneers of the county, and over 70, carry off the palm on dancing a quick-step jig with the nimblest, as he showed them how “he used to do it when he was young as he used to be.” The Bowery, 28x42 feet, known as Bowery No. 1, was erected for'this occasion (July 4 celebration. 4th was Sunday, celebrated on Monday), by J. A. Wright and was located on the north side of Cedar Avenue on Maple Street. The Record each week published a small column entitled Ringlets (Roller skating). The rink is open every day and evening — holidays and Sundays, too. Operated by Moore and McDonald. Meredith also has _ a skating rink. March 19, 1880. Passenger pigeons were observed flying south yesterday. We learn that the Tittabawassee is full of logs from Dick's Forks to Midland. . May 14. TAKE NOTICE! NO more credit at the Blacksmith Shop. Please call and settle your accounts. Credit is starting me out. Poor trust is dead; he died in bad pay. ‘Twas about time the street leading to the schoolhouse was cleared out — pupils having to climb daily over 28 trees in the road. Refers to present Cedar Ave. in Gladwin. The citizens accordingly made _a bee a few days since and did the job. Real Estate transfers were listed under the heading SHIFTING SANDS & DEALINGS IN DIRT. 1881 William Flynn of Shiawassee County, has purchased the-2 lots on the west side of block 4, Foutch block, at the consideration of $200, and intends to build a hotel thereon. (This is opposite Courthouse Sq. It was called Gladwin Exchange Hotel and had the “Boss” Bowery (dance hall). Several boweries were built for termporary special occasions and some were perma- nent, as this one was). ; In 1881 the Gerrish logging railroad extended from Pinconning to Sec. 28 T19, 2E - Gladwin County. (This enters Molasses River East of Gladwin). Don't say Gladwin County hasn't a railroad. This road connects with the J. L. & S. Railroad at Pinconning. (At this time, The Record ads were calling their business location both “Cedar” and “Gladwin” which leads to some confusion in taking notes.) 1883 The Board of Health of Gladwin Township have negotiated with M. E. Scrafford for the W 1/2 of the NE 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 12 T18 2W to be used by a cemetery, paying $150. A job of clearing 10 acres will be let. 1884 July 11. The Gladwin Presbyterian Church contract for building has been let to Isaac Hanna at $215, all material to be furnished. This building is to be 26'x40' with 16’ posts. The plank road from Coleman to the county seat of Gladwin County is expected to be open for travel in 2 or 3 weeks at the most. This is a distance of 20 miles. The job of building a bridge across the Molasses River in Gladwin Township has been let to Merrill & Co. for $500. It is to be a pile bridge and its total length including approaches will be 400 feet. All through 1884-1885 the agitation for a railroad to Gladwin (Cedar) continued. It. was__finally determined the line would come in by way of Pinconning. The work of stumping Bowery. Avenue is being completed. Later statistics show that lumberman’s wages paid in the winter of 1884-1885 averaged $18 per month. 1885 Gee Sypher of Rhodes Station has shipped 34 bushels of wintergreen berries this season. He is preparing to go into the huckleberry and blackberry business on a big scale. He says he will have 300 or 400 Indians picking for him, some of them coming from Waupoo Island, Canada. Detroit, Cleveland and Toledo will be the distributing points and he estimates the crop at 2,000 to 2,500 bushels. The effort to turn the course of the River Cedar at this place near the bridge by cutting a channel through the land of Isaac Hanna and placing a dam across the original bed of the stream is proving quite successful, and the body of the stream now cuts straight across instead of meandering around in its own old course. As this removes the course of the river from the side of the highway, it will be an immense help toward keeping the highway in repairs. The cells in the basement of the courthouse, Gladwin County's first jail, are ready for the reception of guests. Five paupers maintained this year. Those outside, 25. County Farm is located in Sage Township about 3 miles north of Village of Cedar. Superintendent of the poor is George Elthorp. The northérn part of the county has been opened up by numerous roads and a large bridge costing upwards of $1,000 across the Sugar River in Butman Township, opening travel to that portion of the county. Several miles of road and bridge built across: the east branch of the Tittabawassee in Clement Township. First election in Village of Gladwin, Inc. to be held on Monday next. (F. L. Prindle was elected first president). July 13. Forest fires have been very troublesome in all directions in the vicinity of Gladwin this week. Yesterday a.m. the news of the burning of a woman and child near Baker's Mills was received. The victims were Mrs. Lizzie Levice and her six-year-old son. A crew of men at Howrey Camp struck for higher wages and left camp. Their placés were taken by a new crew, however,.a portion of which also left. The wages ‘given were $12.00 a month, we understand. February. This winter. the thermometer has registered 39 below at, Gladwin. 1886 At this date Gladwin had no waterworks. No fire protection or siren. Death of Marvel Secord from effects of a tomahawk wound in the knee occurred last Friday, — Sept. 24. He was married five times. The Gladwin rate tite ee fe West Grout. James Mclilvenna County Record account of his life concluded with “Peace to his ashes.” To people seeking homes cheap and qood. we would say, “Come to Gladwin County. Land that can be purchased at low rates is rapidly appreciating in value. There is no need of any person being without a home when such opportunities are within reach of all. Don't go to the western Prairies and starve, but come to Gladwin County where there is peace and plenty. There is room for thousands.” March 12, 1886. 1887 The railroad is here. Service between Bay City and Gladwin commenced December 1. 1888 The Kirk mill in north Gladwin Village cut about 350 million feet of logs. Will put in Tittabawassee and tributaries. Smith Creek Sometimes called Bakerville. The new schoolhouse is completed and is a credit to the community. It is neatly furnished with automatic seats and desks. The belfry contains a 200 pound bell which discourses sweet music to the backwoodsman and calls his children forth to enjoy the benefits of a good school. First waterworks for Gladwin Village. The men engaged in digging the trench for laying the pipe for the waterworks struck Saturday afternoon. They had been working 9 hours per day for 15c per hour and asked to be paid $1.50 per day. The men went to work Monday a.m., the contractor agreeing to pay them $1.50 for 10 hours work. July. The material for the new school was all on the ground and Billings expects soon to have a good school building. As good as any in the county. Temporary mail service between Gladwin and McClure commenced last week. Later the contract will be let for tri-weekly trips. The contract to carry the mail for 3 years from July 1, 1888, on the new Star Route from Gladwin to ‘Butman 3 times a week has been let to J. E. Fall for $190. Connecting Gladwin by telephone with Mt. Pleasant, Clare, Coleman has’ been_ discussed considerably of late. Harrison people are taking steps to secure the extension of the Michigan Central from Gladwin there. 1889 The village well for the new Gladwin Waterworks is completed at 397 1/2 with a flow of 125 gallons per minute. Central Hotel is first party planning to take water. Inhabitants of West Butman petitioning to become residents of Sherman Township. They hope W. Butman will soon be dead and Sherman brought to life in its place. . The second story of F. E. Atchinson’s building will be occupied as a Masonic Temple. In a visit to Pratt's Lake we found J. R. Bush is fitting up his premises — The Bush House — in good shape to receive visitors. He has also built a boathouse and is building a float upon the lake for dancers and is about to build a new barn. Visitors at his resort receive hospitable treatment. Just across the lake, O. R. Dow had erected a neat cottage. Gladwin folk have been regular summer visitors at “Camp Comfort” for some years. Several cabins have also been erected on the east side. Bush’s dancing float will be dedicated June 5. There are also pleasure steamers on the lake for boating parties. Winegars. This is the name put up by the railroad company at the Rust and Eaton’s Marsh farm, otherwise known as Meridian. Lumber, shingles, hoops, square timber, etc., are being placed on the track here for shipment. A large tract of good farming land lies contiguous to the Railroad and for several miles in each direction. Eugene Foster and E. M. Fisher last week sold 160 acres on Sec. 36 T18 1W to Hugh Oliver and Jeffry McMahon who will make homes upon the same. A number of others contemplate purchasing land in this locality in the spring. Educational notes from schools and teachers of Gladwin County: School opens with an attendance of 110 pupils. Only 10 districts in Gladwin County have dictionaries. The school census shows that the village contains a population of 225 between ages of 5 and 20 years. An old experienced teacher is wanted for a small school. Salary $35 per month and board $3 per week. Must be able to avoid taking sides in a neighborhood quarrel they have on hand. Amanda Gelason opened school in Sec. 8 District Monday with contract of 10 months at $35 per month. Sept. 6, 1889. Isaac Hanna has the contract to build the Catholic home, store and cheese factory. » Church, lots next block N. of Presbyterian Church on Silverleaf. The building will be 36'by60’ with 18’ posts and cost about $2,000. 1890 Telephone wires for alarm purposes are_ being - extended on Bowery to D. J. Kennedy's on Silverleaf to the Presbyterian Church on Cedar Avenue to the to be erected on station buildings and mills. Alarm boxes will be placed at convenient points. Some fine new scenery has been placed in the opera house by Mr. M. Cleary, Prop. The stage has received a general renovating and the hall is now in fine shape for amusement. Seating capacity, 350. The daily passenger stage, Gladwin to Coleman, which has operated about 6 to 8 years, schedule: leave Gladwin 5 a.m. Reach Coleman in time for morning trains, after which leave Coleman _ for Gladwin. Gladwin village still has no fire protection. Jan. 31. Gladwin has a fire department now .and they were out for practice Tuesday. We are glad to see so many of our business men taking an active part in the organization (But still no alarm for fires). May 16. C. B. Wilmot arrives from Fenton, Michigan as lawyer in the firm of Swift & Wilmot. Advertisement 1890: SPECTACLES & EYEGLASSES We would like you to compare these prices with prices charged by peddlers; also to remember when we sell you a pair of specks or eyeglasses we give you the privilege of exchanging in side of three months. A common Speck fitted for 15c. Something better, steel frame for 75c. Others charge $1.00 to $2.00 for same. A nice nickel frame with A-No-1] lenses $1.50 with case. Gold Specks $5.50 to $8.50. Something you cannot tell from gold at $2.00. wo 25c per pair up. Croskery Bros. In 1891 there were 3 newspapers in Gladwin County: The Gladwin Record, The Democrat and The Leader. The job of building the iron bridge across the Cedar here has been let to King Iron Bridge Mfg. Co. of Cleveland, Ohio at $725. Building stone abutments will be done by Isaac Hanna for $700. Work to be completed in 60 days. 80 ft. span. At the sale of the old bridge, M. T. Pike was given material for removing it. Joseph Schulz will begin work on his mill as soon as the material is on the ground: !t will be a roller process mill, 75 barrel capacity, costing $8000 to $10,000, to be run by water power. Robert Colter started up his shingle mill at the south end of town with 8 men hired. It will cut 24,000 daily and do custom work. Meredith is gaining the reputation of being a liveiy Michigan town. The following items was published is: all the state papers last Saturday: This has been a week of sensations in Meredith. A wedding was followed by the arrest of the bride for polygamy. A wild and riotous fight between rival peddlers was allowed to progress by the officers present among the interested spectators until a justice of the peace had to step in and arrest the pugilists. Two prize bulldogs also had a fierce combat; a preacher was arrested while attempting to elope with a ewe lamb of his flock and Jim Carr, the notorious den-keeper died last week near here. Dated March 25, 1891. Meredith, 9 years later. The Corrigan House at Meredith has been taken down and sent to St. Charles and also the Reardon Bros. old red store. The some parties also say they will take away all the buildings from Meredith that are worth shipping. So that will be the end of once one of the most thriving villages in this part of the country. Tobacco Twp. Owing to diptheria in the family of Mrs. Freeman, her house was burned and a new one built in its stead. Later, there was rumored that the plans were being made to build a PEST HOUSE! The Democrat. 1891. Looks now as though Gladwin would soon have an electric light plant. J. H. Cook is outside looking one up. About 150 have signified their willingness to take lights, should he succeed. The Democrat. April 24, 1891. A train of 35 cars of logs left Gladwin last evening for Bay City. This is believed to be the longest train of logs yet from this - place. The Democrat. Whose insane notion was it to put the Bowery Avenue fire alarm telephone poles in the middle of the street? An accident occurred here that might have been fatal, although nothing serious took place. Ed Lansing had a party out for a ride in his flying machine and when they got 3 feet in the air one of the barrel Continued to Next Page- Ethel Dawe, Sybil Tubbs, staves broke. Not having the necessary material, Ed had to use staves which were the cause of the accident and down they came to the ground. They all escaped injury except George Lansing. His shrieks could be heard for a half mile but he was not hurt bad as it was supposed for he is able to be about again. Ed Lansing’s flying machine is laid up for repairs. The Leader. Herbison & Staves Shingle & Lumber Mill in Sherman Twp. blew up and 2 men were instantly killed, besides 6 others scratched & bruised. The Democrat. 1891. Charter members of the L.O.T.M. — Ladies of the Maccabees are: Mrs. B. F. Black, Mrs. W. E. Barber, Mrs. S. Raymond, Mrs. W. Black, Miss Florence Pike, Mrs. E. M. Fisher, Miss Lulu Foster, Mrs. J. A. Struble and Mrs) F. W. Clark. An exchange says that progressive hammock parties are the latest craze and it is said to knock the spots off progressive pedro or euchre. The game can be enjoyed anywhere, provided there are plenty of shaded locations for the hammock. Prizes are awarded to the most interesting conversationalist of either sex. The young gentlemen vote for the ladies and vice versa. Any young man found with a long hair or complexion powder on his coat sleeve, is subject to a heavy fine. It is stated that the game is to be introduced at Pratts Lake. “HE SOLD HIS WIFE. Sage Twp. near the north line. Agreement betwixt P. H. Chubb of the first Part and henry m. hudson of the sexent part he dose agre to sell Alice hudson, his wife to P. H. Chubb for those things what is named down below. Marsh hay and buckwheat and potatoes and one grain cradle one hand rake one plow one set of wiple tres and 3 clevases one grass sithe i barrel of salt 10 window sash one grine stone i have sold these things to henry m. hudson. Philip H. Chubb has sold these things to me” Henry Hudson Witness: Aice Hudson Sent to Record by Sherman correspondent Chubb and Mrs. Hudson are living together as man and wife. July 24, 1891. A large party of Indians came to Smith Siding Tuesday evening to look for whortle berries and they say they are scarce. Nov. 15, 1891. William Kent is a farmer who believes in his work and that farming pays. With the help of two sons he has in the last two years cleared 100 acres, 85% of which are under plow and has a fine farm, well stocked, good buildings and other conveniences. A recent inventory of the year's product of his farm places it at $1068.82. The Colbecks are going to make a great stride this season in testing what the soil will do here — James and his sons Franks and James. They will put in a large spring crop and endeavor to make a good showing for this part of Gladwin County (Billings.) By the way, Frank Colbeck has already put up a neat dwelling house and has placed therein a_ bran spanking new bride. Success to the Colbecks. The Democrat 1891. 1892 Jan. Spencer and Wilmot have purchased the. Gladwin Leader, a small paper, and its printing plant and The Democrat will appear this week as the Democrat Leader. J. A. Gedney has discovered a strong flow of natural gas on his farm in Grout. The gas bubbles up in large bulbs which when lit by a match flashes into flame for an instant. Coal has frequently been found -in the locality of Mr. Gedney’s farm and no telling what developments may bring to some enterprising prospector. 1893 The act to incorporate Gladwin as a city becomes a law — was passed last week and signed by the Governor Sunday. High School graduation of 1913: from left, Oley Mcllvenna, Fannie Goldberg, Ethel Foutch (Kerswill), Ben 1892. After the loss by fire on Jan. 22, Wheatley, Jara Atchison, Anderson, Susie _ Ferrell Wagar. (Booth), Gladwin County, the Elderade, for several days outside people have been continuing glowing accounts of a reported gold find in the eastern part of this county, namely Bentley Twp. If as some say it is only a bluff, Gladwin Co. is bound to get a lot of advertising out of it. A public wedding was held as part of the July 4 celebration and united in marriage were Jesse B. Babcock and Annie &€. McMillan of Butman Twp. A table posted in the Mich. Central Depot of this place gives the following distances by rail from Gladwin: Stevens’ 2.8 mi Mt. Forest 19.5 Howrey's 4.1 mi Bay City 47 mi Winegars’ 6 mi Chicago 371 Tubbs’ Mill 8 mi Bentley 24 mi Moore's Junction 29 Nine Mile 20.8 W. St. Johns 21.7 Pinconning 27.4 Jackson 161 mi Highwood 10 mi Smith's 12.6 Detroit 155 mi Rhodes’ 16.4 Oct. 27, 1893. Organization ot a creamery company has been very successful — $5,500, in stock | taken. It is to cost $4,500 — $1,050 surplus. Will be in operation Mar. 1, 1894. Stockholders’ meeting elected Frank Leavard, Chairman, and H. L. Dow, Sec'y. A site has been chosen: on State Road near the intersection of the old Sage Twp. line, on 2 lots donated for the purpose by Eugene Foster. (Finally opened June 8, 1894) 1894 First electrical street light turned on Dec. 21, 1894. The street lights placed so far are on trial and the one on the eastern part of the city seems to give the best satisfaction. Take notice. Keys to the hose house may be had in case of fire alarm at J. M. Shaffer's store, Craskery Bros. store, and Dr. Leininger’s drug store. Gladwin is now a station on the Michigan Long Distanct telephone line. 1895 The Baptist strawberry social at Section 8 on Fri. Eve, May 25. Price, 10c per dish served with cake. All are cordially invited. “The bloomer dress” says a Western correspondent humorist “is a pair of trousers very baggy at the knees, abnormally full where you strike a match. The garment is cut declotte’ at the south end of the bottoms, tied around the knees or ankles to keep the mice out. You can't put it over your head like you do a shirt, nor around you like a corset, but you must sit on the floor — pull it on just as you do your stockings, one foot at a time in by the buttons on the neck band. These garments were shown for the bicycle wearer.” Gladwin had a bicycle club that took trips as far away as Mt. Pleasant. A big bear was run over by the incoming train a mile out of town Sat. evening. A change from the usual cattle. Who is. IN Fraser's well? Al Swager’s horse. And it took 25 ablebodied men to pull it out — dead. The boys of the. high school have organized themselves into an Athletic Assoc. They have provided themselves with a baseball and a football and are now ready for business. At a recent meeting officers were elected and a committee on constitution was appointed. Among the ladies there is talk of a tennis club in the new future. 1896 A grand masquerade ball will be held at the opera house on Christmas night. -Suits for the occasion are for rent at the store of S. Goldberg. Good music has been secured and the dancing public are assured of a first class time. The porker which figured in the Independence Day program has been figuring in history every since. Benjamin Raymond of Grout claims the long-legged animal was his property and that his appearance was Principal Glass, Miss Harold Ladies Aid Society will give a. without his knowledge or consent. He assaulted one of his neighbors for the abduction of the hog and the question as the whether the assault be justifiable will be tried before Squire Robbins today (July 16, 1896). Meantime, John McKenna, another neighbor, has been charged by Raymond with having something to do with the hog’s attendance at the celebration and has commenced suit against him for the value of the hog. The Edenville baseball team had won the pig at the celebration — captured by S. Swanton. Beaverton Budget News: That notorious lean, greased hog of Gladwin’s and Grout is in town being fattened for next Thanksgiving dinner. The assault and battery case against Raymond resulted in an aquital. 1897 Gladwin’'s earliest hotel, The Gladwin Exchange, is to be no more. Mr. William Flynn, the proprietor, having decided to tear it down and use the lumber in a house on his farm. ARBUTUS HUNTING PARTIES are all the rage. Smith Creek News. Mrs. McCrea saw a_ lynx Sunday a.m. with in a short distance of the house. The animal is reported to have been seen by several in the last few months. Tobacco News: The heavy rain gutted the bridge hill causing Butcher Arnell of Beaverton to tip his wagon over. The only damage done was_ the smashing of his large advertising umbrella. We saw the whole catastrophe from the top of a tree, our usual place for collecting news. We always carry a long-range telescope. He did not faint or lose any of his self-control. Persons who eat good fresh beef regularly have good nerve, beef being a good nerve and brain feeder. Michael Dillon, late of Harrison, is opening a jewelry shop in the building west of the bank. (He operated this store and repaired watches until the 1920's — later his daughter Katherine did watch repair in their home on E. Grout Street.) nae will accept butter and eggs in trade. F. C. Smith has the first tandem bicycle brought to the city. It is a “Gladwin.” Still many wildcats being shot or clubbed and the scalps brought in for bounties. The funds are audited by the state and 1/2 of the bounty paid is ‘returned to the county paying it. Some Ohio people living in south Grout come in contact with a large den of wildcats. They captured about 2 bushels of kittens and took them to the city where they found a ready sale. Grout News: People living along the new Beaverton-Gladwin Road (now M-18) are in quite an excitement about a lady killing bear. As she was returning home the other evening with a lantern in her hand a monstrous big black bear appeared before her in the road. The lady having great courage and presence of mind hurled the lantern which struck the ground right under Mr. Bear and a powerful explosion occurred, killing it right on the spot. An exciting battle with a wildcat was had at the Foran homestead in Sage Twp. last week. Mrs. Foran and her daughter Tessie were at home alone when they heard something striking at the window —a large wildcat was surveying the inside of the room. They raised the. window a little and tried to push the animal off the sill, when it endeavored to crawl into the room. The two ladies fled to the upper story and left the cat sitting on the window sill. Michael Foran returned home shortly and discovered the situation. Mike never thought of his loaded gun, but killed the cat with a piece of iron sleigh shoe. Co. Clerk Townsend paid the usual $3.00 for the scalp. 1899 In the fall of 1899 after a 2-year struggle with the tribulations of a country newspaper, the Gladwin Enterprise has ceased to be. At the corner of Cedar and Arcade will be erected a 30 ft. arch deck in evergreens and spanning the street will be the word “WELCOME” in glowing letters. Under this beautiful arch and upon an elevated platform will take place on the evening of the first day, a cake-walk, in which artists from Bay City, as well as Gladwin, will, participate. No pains have been spared to make this event one that will be beyond criticism of those of the most fastidious mind. Don't fail to see it. (First street Fair at Gladwin, Oct. 4 & 5, 1899.) Oct. 6, 1899. First Gladwin Street Fair attended by 5000 people and the unanimous verdict is that it was a complete success. The parades both days were elegant affairs. People who had seen many _ such affairs said they never had seen anything to excell the bicycles in decoration. Having purchased the harness department of R. A. Smith, | would solicit. your patronage. | will carry a full line of harness and horse equipments. Harness made to order and repairing a specialty. The services of John Mcintosh will be retained in the shop in connection with Richard A. Smiths’ Shoe Shop. Fred Laycock. Gladwin has 9 groceries; 3 hardware stores; 4 dry goods and clothing stores; 2 harness and shoe shops combined; 2 jewelry stores; 2 millinery stores; 3 drug stores; 2 hotels; a bank; 4 restaurants; 4 blacksmith shops; 4 doctors; 2 veterinarians; 7 lawyers; saloons; a hotel bar; 2 barber shops; 2 tailors shops; 2 butcher shops; 2 liveries; 1 furniture and undertaking store; a grist mill; electric lights; a heading mill; a planing mill; furniture shop; saw mill; a shingle mill; etc. Seven days later: The electric street lights have been taken down. It is stated that they have not proven a source of profit to the electric light company. It is hoped to substitute a different. kind of lamps which can be operated at less expense. 1900 There has been about 25 bushels of blackberries picked in Archie Boals’ woods by people and neighbors surrounding. The_ family has picked and sold 5 bu. themselves besides canning for the winter. They are a good price, $1.60 a bu. This is the best year known for them. Sherman Twp. & Sage Twp. It is rumored that about 30 families are coming from Detroit to settle on lands here, bought from C. C. Staffield, agent. They are Germans and make good farmers and hard workers. aes May 4, 1900. 1/3 of the city in ashes. Origin: of conflagration unknown. (If reader is interested, a complete account of the big fire can be found in The Record for May 4 listing places burned, etc.) Gladwin City School news item. A new sink coking. glass, comb and towel have been placed in the hall. | REMEMBER WHEN — IN GLADWIN by Lena Graham Cronin Goldberg's Department Store was W. E. Atchinson, Drugs and Grocery House Hall's Pharmacy was Wagar's Drug Store later Barney Herschberg Drug Store Watson's Jewelry Store was Miller's Dry Goods Store Zettel’s Pharmacy was Dr. Leininger’s Drug Store Wards Store was R. C. Robbins Grocery Store Gladwin Hardware was Croskery Brothers Chamber of Commerce Corner was John Graham and Family Restaurant and Store. Mrs. Graham served fresh homemade vegetable soup and crackers. 5c a bowl. Ogden’s Grocery was Willard Walton's Bakery Mid Michigan Bank was site of John Capling and E. A. Coan Hardware Sears Catalog Store was Thomas Stock Grocery and Clothing, later Don's Grocery Behnke’s Auto Supply was ie Kinnies’ Restaurant and Livery Stables Silverleaf Discount was Mrs. Foutch’s Restaurant Dahlquists Five Cents to One Dollar was Fred and Max. Powell, Hardware and Furniture, also. was Harry W. Rogers and William Neely undertakers. Mill End Store was J. W. Myers and Englehardt Dry Goods Store Prokos Barber Shop was Dawe’s Meat-Market Special —10 Ibs. good beef $1.00 Gladwin News Agency was W. L. Maes Telephone Co. Manager. Myers for Tires was A. J. Stevens Real Estate Cashway Plumbing and Electrical was Mrs. L. M. Rutley — Confectioner The Country Shoppe was Alex and Fred Laycock, Harness Store Hall’s Funeral Home was The M. C. Scrafford home Mathews Funeral Home was Dr. Leininger’s Home Parking lot of the Gladwin Medical Center — Dr. Timreck, was Mrs. Ritchie's Boarding House, and before that Mrs. Coblinskey’s home and the only beg in that area that did not burn in the great ire. Jan Hillman’s Beauty Salon was William Nash family residence, then L. C. Smith residence, and .then St. Paul’s Episcopal Church rectory. As Burkhart Insurance Agency was Sisco’s Restaurant Masonic Temple was The Presbyterian Church and Opera Summers in Michigan Written by Irene Smith “No more classrooms, no more books, no more teachers’ sassy looks.” : Yes, it was the last day of school, and that was the annual chant heard as the children dashed from the school house for the last time, until the fall. It was June 1915. My brother, sister and myself were especially happy, for we were to leave Cleveland, Ohio, that very night for an entire summer in Hockaday, Michigan. This was the first’ of many such trips. Tippy, our fox terrier, was kept tied the first year so he would be on hand at departure time, but following years he sat by the luggage all ready to go. He knew what was in store for him, a whole summer of chasing rabbits and what not. Mother, we three children, and Tippy boarded the (D&C) Detroit-Cleveland steamer at 9:00 p.m. Tippy insisted on breaking the law pertaining to dogs wearing muzzles while traveling. He just would not keep it on no matter how tight we made it. He was a canine Houdini for sure. The attendants, after seeing what an independent but gentle dog he was, alowed him to travel with it dangling around his The steamer trip was always a joy. To me, a seven year old girl, it was like a floating palace with the great staircase leading to the upper decks, the sparkling chandeliers, carpeting everywhere, and all those bedrooms. After boarding, we settled Tippy in the baggage room and located our stateroom. And then to the beautiful dining room for a late snack. Here we were served in great style. There were large windows through which we could watch the engines with their huge piston rods. These made a pleasant, throbbing noise which lulled us to sleep after we retired to our comfortable berths for the night. The steamer docked in Detroit at 7:00 a.m. the next morning and we were ready for the next lap of | our journey. From Detroit we went by train, with one change in Bay City. Here Tippy got loose once, and porter and kids were chasing him all around the depot. We ended up in either Gladwin or Winegars where we would spend the night. In Gladwin we stayed at the Graham House, in Winegars Mr. Hoye put us up for the night. Mrs. Converse lived across the road from Mr. Hoye and always had baby lambs for us to play with, Mr. Archer would meet us the next day and take, us to our cottage, located four miles south of Elk Lake, on the Meridian (M-30). Mr. Archer was a. character and looked like Santa Claus with his white whiskers. He had moved up from Flint after deciding city life was not for him. He had a large fenced in apiary and sold honey for a living. Almost every year he would shoot a bear invading his bee yard and he had the hides to prove it. For companions he had horses, a dog named Hector, and Betsy his model T Ford touring car. He talked to them continuously, even Betsy the car. After the hub-bub of a large city like Cleveland, this was a drastic change, nothing but wilderness as far ds the eye could see. We were used to streetcars, interurban cars, and trains passing close by, and they did ratle, rumble and clang. Horses and wagons were used for delivery purposes at that time and they made quite a noise on the brick pavement. Also the horse drawn fire wagons roared by with bells clanging. Within a block there was every kind of store you can think of, grocery, meat market, ice cream parlor, candy store, and others. The noise we could do without, but would we miss the stores? | am happy to report we did not. Each summer a large order of groceries was shipped from Sears and Roebuck. This included a five pound -box of hard candy which had to last all summer. For milk and eggs we walked to Aubrey Smiths on Finkbeiner Rd. a hike of three miles each way. We had lots of johnnycake, baking powder biscuits, with Mr. Archer's good honey, eggs, bacon, potatoes with milk gravy and fish, if my brother caught any at Cedar. Lake. Fresh meat we could not keep as there was no way to refrigerate it. If necessary, we could walk to Day’s General Store in Hockaday, about six miles away. Day's is where we were introduced to pickled bologna, Ohio didn't seem to have such a thing. We sure did like it, and still do. For fruit, we had wild strawberries and later huckleberries. The Meridian was not much more than a sand trail at this time. Both sides were lined with up-rooted stumps. These made marvelous things on which to play. They could be horses, or anything our imaginations could dream up. Later, bringing the milk home in the dusk, these same stumps took on sinister forms, and with the help of stories made up to scare each other, they turned into wild animals, ready to jump on us. Tippy was always close by for protection, but was more interested in live game, like rabbits. Often he came out of the woods dragging a rabbit larger than he was. He tangled with a porky once and had to have a bunch of quills’ pulled out of his snout. Of course he was perfumed, : a few times, by skunks. Our worst enemies, while walking in the dusk, were mosquitoes. We always had brakes in both hands to swish them away. We walked about two miles for the mail, and of course we were always on the lookout for letters from school chums in Cleveland and from father. We wrote letters back on thin sheets of birch bark, and sent wintergreen berries and leaves, in small boxes, to show our friends part of Michigan. My aunt, Mrs. Kiehn, lived on Ritchie Rd., near the Meridian. We spent quite a bit of time there as she had three children about our ages. We had a swimming hole in the Tittabawassee River. The old bridge is still there, to mark the spot, near the roadside park on M-30 and Ritchie Rd. One day a forest fire broke out across from my aunts. A young boy had been to the house earlier asking for a loaf of bread. My | Aunt told him to come back that afternon after she had baked. He went back into the woods across the road and shortly after we saw smoke. He probably had.a bonfire and it got out of hand. The fire -burned ‘for 10 miles along the Meridian, but luckily for us it stayed south of Ritchie Rd. Mother, aunt, and the three boys formed a bucket brigade, and poured water over the roof to keep the sparks from setting the house on fire. We three girls were sent to the river where there was a space of clear air above the surface of the water so we could breathe other than smoke. Mother often mentioned how clean our clothes stayed up here. Well, one day we proved her wrong. It was a few days after the fire we three girls went into the woods and for some crazy reason we blacked our clothes and ourselves with charred wood. _ We were a mess. When Mother saw us she grabbed a bar of soap and a stick and switched us all the way to the river where we had to scrub and scrub to get clean. The rest of the day we spent in the barn loft, until our clothes got dry. We had very kind neighbors who helped to make our summers very pleasant. The Dunnings family, who lived on Dutcher Rd. would pick us up with horses and wagon and off we would go for a weekend of camping at Elk Lake. There were no buildings there at that time, only wilderness. We had the whole place to ourselves. Often the Kurz family, -who lived in Secord Township, would join us. Food Ate was cooked over an open fire and if the fishing was good we would feast on bluegills. The Dunnings usually had a freezer of homemade ice cream along and that really hit the spot. We went swimming in suits quite different from todays bikinis. Ours were = made of heavy blue wool material, which when wet, would about pull us under. One time when the boys were swimming some stray cows ate their black shirts. In those days boys wore black shirts for | everyday and girls wore black bloomers. We kidded about the cows giving black milk that night. Dunnings also took us for huckleberries. We went to Twin Lakes, near West Branch. It was slow going with horses and wagon, but fun all the way. We would stay about a week and usually ended up with la couple barrels of berries and loads of nice memories. , mel ape One year we brought two baby chicks up from Cleveland and before long we had them trained to perch on our shoulders and follow us around like a couple of puppies. We left them with the Dunnings for the winter, and expected to pick up the friendship the next summer. Well the rooster went for us with his hackles up and the hen had no recollection of the great friends ‘of the previous summer. That was the disappointing end to that relationship. There was one horrible experience. My sister and | got lost in the woods. | was sure | knew the way to ~ Dunnings via the short cut through the woods, but before long we were lost. As most lost people do, we panicked, and started to run and run and run faster and faster. We finally came to the trail that led to our house and ran the rest of the way, arriving completely exhausted. Our summers were never boring. In later yeanm, with cars more plentiful, we went to dances at Houghton Lake and Grass Lake. We could go to Gladwin -