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

CITY OF EAST SAGINAW.

549

Mr. Catlin passed down the river to Bay City, which at that time
was a village of 15 families. He remained in Bay City until 1859,
when he came to East Saginaw, where he has since resided. Mr.
Catlin informs us that the first salt of Saginaw Valley was made in
East Saginaw in 1860. While in Bay City he was a clerk, and
after coming to East Saginaw, became bookkeeper for a lumber
firm, which position he held for five years, when he engaged in
the commission business, also inspecting and shipping lumber,
which he has followed until the present time. Mr. Catlin was
born in Schuyler Co., N. Y., May 14, 1826, and is a son of Leeman and Betsey Catlin. Ile was married in 1858 to Miss Martha
E. Wellman, by whom he has 3 children —Joseph E., Carrie and
Charles S.
Alexander H. clark, of Clark Bros., grocery and meat market
was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, June 6, 1848, and is a son of
Robert and Hannah (Clark) Clark. IHe attended school, and at 15
years old was apprenticed to the slater's trade, where he remained
four years. In 1866 he came to the United States, locating at
East Saginaw. In 1871 he started in business, and in 1878 his
brother entered into full partnership. They have $1,500 invested
in groceries, $1,000 in the meat department, and $1,000 worth
of slate for roofing constantly on hand. Mr. Clark was married
at East Saginaw, April 4, 1871, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas
and Elizabeth (McGregor) Steel, who was born near Detroit, Mich.,
July 18, 1850. Of their 3 children, 1 is living, Robert,
born Nov. 2, 1874. Esther was born April 1, 1872, and died in
July, 1872, and Elizabeth was born Oct. 12, 1876, and died April
1, 1877. Mr. Clark is connected with the Masonic order, and his
wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
S. G. Clay, formerly manager of the Academy of Music, East
Saginaw, was born at Bath, England, in 1818. When 12 years of
age he went on board a man of war, where he practiced instrumental music for three years. At the end of this time he went on
board the vessel " Spit-Fire," off the coast of Algiers, and subsequently came to America, locating at Philadelphia, where his
parents had previously settled. Mr. Clay has been engaged in
managing theaters and theatrical companies for over 30 years. In
1852 he was the manager of the Bidwell Hall at Adrian, Mich.,
and was subsequently a teacher of band nmusic at Detroit, Flush
ing, Flint and East Saginaw. He has been in charge of the
Academy of Music fron 1859 to 1881.
H. Coleman, proprietor livery establishment, East Saginaw,
was born in Livingston Co., New York, where he was also educated. In 1862 he enlisted in the 136th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and
served three years fighting for "UIncle Sam." He was for one
year on a detached service. In 1865 he went into partnership with
J. J. Harvey, of East Saginaw, and they opened a hotel and livery
at Howell, Mich., where they remained two years. They then
opened a livery at East Saginaw, and were in partnership until