History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, profusely illustrated with portraits of early pioneers, rare pictures and scenes of olden times, and portraits of representative citizens of today, [Vol. 2]

BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

223

FREDERICK E. CASE
Among the older residents of Saginaw City who, by reason of their
occupation or profession, are well and favorably known, is Frederick E. Case.
Coming here during the ascendency of the great lumber and salt industries,
he early engaged in the livery business
and gained a wide acquaintance among
all classes of people, not only in the city
but in the outlying townships. By strict
integrity and fair dealing he won their
confidence and esteem, so that now in
the autumn of life he rests from business
cares in the consciousness of a life well
spent.
Frederick E. Case was born at Canton,
Hartford County, Connecticut, July 25,
1835, his parents being thrifty farmers of
s New England. The father, Eli Case, was
a native of Canton where the Case family
had lived for several generations, while
the mother, Rosanna Bandel Case, was
born in Boston. At an early date in their
married life they went to Pennsylvania
and settled in Bradford County, where
FREDERICK E. CASE their great industry and perserverance in
the cultivation of the soil brought substantial returns. Eli Case died in 1900, twenty-two years after the death
of his estimable wife, and was interred beside her at Orwell Hill, Bradford
County, Pennsylvania.
The schooling of Frederick was compressed within about eighteen years
from his birth, and consisted of more or less irregular attendance of the
public schools of Bradford. In 1853 he started to work at farming and
school teaching, varied occupations which broadened his mind and gave him
a true insight into human life and character. But the lure of the West and
stories of the great opportunities in the pineries of Michigan, to men of
energy and ambition, fired his imagination, and in the eighteen-seventies he
came to this State and settled in Saginaw City. At that time this place was
a rough border town feverishly engaged in cutting millions of feet of pine
logs into lumber and shingles, and in the making of huge quantities of salt.
Communication between the scattered parts of the town and East Saginaw and Salina, its neighbors across the river, was then limited to a single
horse car line to the former city, a condition which suggested to Mr. Case
the practicability of the livery business, and in this he engaged successfully
for many years. To this business he added undertaking, and his name became well known to thousands of households in the city and vicinity. His
kindly manner and quiet sympathy for bereaved families elevated and dignified his profession; and he will always be remembered for his good deeds
and public spirit.
In 1862 Mr. Case was united in marriage with Miss Nancy A Lott,
who was born at Van Etten, Chemung County, New York, in February,
1839. Four children were born to them, namely: Harriet, who became the
wife of Alexander Porteous, and now deceased; Martha, who married Albert
Bauer; Montaigne H. Case, now a Post Office Inspector; and Winfred L.
Case, successor to the long established livery and undertaking establishment
at 409-13 Adams Street. For a long period the family home was at 614
Hancock Street.