History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

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privations of every nature. It will be remembered that the Northwestern Company required its employes to carry each 200 pounds,
a task that few men of our day would accomplish. He was enaged in nearly every encounter of his company with the Hudson
av Company, and in their battles he received several severe
wounds. After serving 12 years in this company, he received
an honorable discharge, and soon after came to this county. He
has been, as near as we can learn, a resident of Saginaw countv 26
years. For several years past he has had charge of the ferry at
the upper end of Saginaw City. He was at his post as usual on
Nov. 15, 1853, and while crossing his scow with a horse and buggy
aboard, was precipitated into the river by the horse, which became
unmanageable from fright, and leaped from the scow into the river
with the buggy, taking with him Mr. Mashoue. It was supposed
that Mr. Mashoue received a severe blow on the back of his neck
from the horse's head, and was so stunned as to be unable to
make an effort for his life, and went to the bottom in about 14 feet
of water. His body was recovered after about 30 minutes' search,
but the skill of physicians in attendance could not restore him. He
was 70 years of age.
Capt. Joseph F. Marsac was born near Detroit on Christmas
Day, 1793. He was present on the treaty ground of Saginaw in
1819, in company with the U. S. Commissioner, Gov. Cass, and
became a permanent settler in the valley in 1838. The title
"Captain" was given him during the Black Hawk war, when
with a party of men he and Capt. Swarthout went to the front.
Marsac was the happiest model of the French-American. Genial
as a man can be, he endeared himself to all. IHe died a few years
ago, leaving behind him an honored name. As recently as March
20, 1878, Marsac filed an affidavit before Notary Public Wm.
Daglish, of Bay City, explanatory of the treachery which resulted
in robbing James McCormick of the magnificent Indian present of
640 acres of land. Ite was present at that treaty, in 1837, and
states under oath that Commissioner Schoolcraft promised that
that article of the treaty would be faithfully observed by the U. S.
Government, and upon this assurance the red men signed the
document.
Leon Suay, a hunter and trapper of great repute, dwelt in a log
house, erected by the American Fur Company, which stood near
the spot where the first school-house of East Saginaw was built,
now occupied by the Bancroft House. Ile belonged to the better
class of French traders, and held the military title of Captain.
For many years previous to 1840 Captain Suay was favorably
known to the American pioneers.
Jack Smith, an improvident trader,visited the valley for the first
time in 1821. His trading house was established in 1830, north
of Campau's on the river front. His trade was limited as the
house in which it was conducted,-a small log house, thatched
with salt-marsh grass. He left the country at an early day. His
property he left unbequeathed.