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

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

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buried envy and all uncharitableness. Mourners there are none."
Benjamin's blacksmith and wagon shop with six men at work.
"The carriage of 1776." An ox cart. Willard Shattuck, with a
Buckeye Reaper of 1876. G. Spatz's Bakery. Alex. Hurtubise,
shoeing a horse, and three other blacksmiths at work.
These, with all the other features of the procession, rendered it
one characteristic of tlhe great event which was then being celebrated. Here in this northern city the self-same enthusiasm prevailed which marked the day at the political center of the Union,
and few there were who did not give thanks to Providence for beiug permitted to be present at the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Republic.
FIRST HAPPENINGS IN THE COUNTY.
Among the most interesting chapters of a local history is that
which embraces a list of first events. To such belongs the history
of everything connected with the county, and in such a list many
of those events, any one of which would scarcely afford subject for
a chapter, are noted. Beginning with the year 1819, when one of
the brightest characters on the pages of Michigan history visited
this region to negotiate a treaty with the Saginaw Indians, let us
pass the years which have elapsed in review.
In 1822 the United States troops took possession of the Indian
campground, and erected the first fort built by Americans north
of Detroit. During the same year the first deaths were recorded
among the white inhabitants, a few of the infantry having died
here.
In 1823 the first white children born in the district claimed the
old fort as their birth-place and the wives of soldiers as their mothers.
Harvey Williams, John Hamilton, E. S. Williams and Schuyler
Hodges arrived at Saginaw in 1822.
In 1824 the American Fur Company established the first regular
trading-post here, under McDonald. Rev. Mr. Hudson was the
first missionary appointed by the Government to administer to the
spiritual wants of the Indians. Provencal was the first Indian
blacksmith. On account of the red man having no "spiritual
wants,'" Mr. Hudson left the district, while the man of iron remained.
The first deaths among the white inhabitants occurred in 1822,
when four or five members of the garrison fell before the advance
of disease.
First celebration of Independence Day, July 4, 1832.
The first house was that eregcteod by LoQis Campeau in 1.816.
The first farmer, Asa Whitney, purchased his land in 1822, and
began farming in 1826.
Dr. C. Little located Saginaw City in 1822.
Eleazer Jewett was the first American settler within the county
as now constituted. Having arrived in 1826, he made it his home
until his decease.
The first orchard was set out in 1828.