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MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION
A State Departhient of History and Archives
BULLETIN NO. 8
PRIZE ESSAYS
WRITTEN BY
PUPILS OF MICHIGAN SCHOOLS
IN THE
LOCAL HISTORY CONTEST
FOR 1915-16

LANSING. MICHIGAN
WYNKOOP HALLBNBKCK CBAWFORD CO., STATE PRINTERS
1917

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
THE prize essay contest for the pupils in Michigan schools
was arranged by the Michigan Daughters of the Ameri
can Revolution and the Michigan Federation of Women's
Clubs. The four essays published in this bulletin are the
prizes for 1915-16. The essays for 1916-17 will be published in
due course.
A few words in general may be said about the conditions
and administration of this contest. The Daughters of the
American Revolution have charge of it in towns where there
are Chapters of that organization, and the Women's Clubs in
towns where there are Clubs but no D. A. R. Chapters. The
Superintendent of Public Instruction has charge in towns
where there are neither Chapters nor Clubs.
Any pupil in High School, Parochial School, or Eighth
Grade, is eligible to compete.
The subject of the 1915-16 contest was, "The Settlement and
Development of the City or Town in which the Essay is Writ
ten." The subject for 1916-17 is, "The First School and the
Children who Attended It," in the city or village iu which the
writer lives.
Two State prizes are offered, a first and a second prize,
to each of two groups of writers. In 1915-16 first and second
prizes Avere awarded for the history of a town of over ten
thousand inhabitants, and similar prizes for the history of a
town of under that number. In 1916-17 these prizes will be
awarded, in one group to all contestants under fifteen years
of age, and in another to all over fourteen.
Local prizes are also offered, for which two suggestions are
made iu tbe announcement : (3)

4 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
A. A framed picture of Lewis Cass, Territorial Gov
ernor of Michigan, as a first prize, the picture to bear
a plate on which is inscribed the honor-child's name.
B. A framed picture of Stevens Thomson Mason,
Boy Governor of Michigan, as a second prize, the pic
ture to bear a plate on which is inscribed the honor-
child's name.
The order may be reversed, or each contestant be given a
copy of the same picture if desired.
A local committee for judging the essays is composed of the
Superintendent of Schools, the Regent of the D. A. R. Chapter
and the President of the Women's Club. Where there is no
Chapter or Club in the town, the local committee consists of
three people chosen by the Superintendent of Schools.
When the Local Committee has selected the first and second
prize essays, it sends them to the chairman of the State Com
mittee, composed of the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
the Archivist of the State Historical Commission (chairman),
the State Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution,
and the President of the State Federation of Women's Clubs.
All essays are passed upon by each member of the Committee,
and those essays which receive the highest number of all votes
are awarded the prizes. In case of a tie, all essays tied upon
are awarded the State prize, which consists of publication of the
essays in bulletin form by the Michigan Historical Commis
sion. The contest closes on Washington's Birthday (Feb. 22), and
the announcement of the winners is made by the State Com
mittee on or before June 1. The essays are published as soon
thereafter as may be.
It is required that the essay be written by each pupil with
out help from any person in its composition. No essay should
be over two thousand words in length.
The essays are judged according to the following standards :

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 5
A. Original work done by the writer. This includes the
use of original sources, such as interviews with participants
in the events described, consultation of original documents,
and contemporary letters and newspapers.
B. Accuracy in the use of dates and citation of author
ities. The authority for a specially important statement of
historic fact is required to be given in a footnote.
C. Method of treatment. Pupils are advised to write sim-
l^le, idiomatic English, and not to attempt fine writing; to
avoid the use of slang, provincialisms or unnecessary technical
phrases ; and not to use foreign terms when there are English
equivalents. On. the other hand, picturesque phrases, good
anecdotes, novel ways of looking at things, words in use dur
ing the time of the events described but now obsolete, when
taken from original sources, add vivacity and flavor to the
essay, and should be used.
Teachers are requested to make the writing of the essay a
part of the course in English as well as in history, and to lend
their active interest in promoting the contest.
State prizes in 1915-16 were awarded as follows :
In towns over 10,000, to
1. Mabel F. Potter, Manistee High School
2. Harold M. Sherman, Traverse City High School
In towns under 10,000, to
1. LeRoy Johnson, Three Rivers High School
2. Helen Colby, Cadillac High School
The following were accorded honorable mention:
Katharine Boss  Houghton
Elsie Brandt  Onekama
Betty Brown  Cadillac
James Bruneau  Ontonagon
Francis Burgdurf er  Battle Creek
Violet Burgert  Three Rivers

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
Foster Clark  Bay City
May Clark  Bay City
Mabel Ellen Cotter  Auburn
Ruth B. Crittenden  Chesaning
Marion Crosby  Three Oaks
Jay Darlington  Hesperia
Frederic Donner  Three Oaks
Iva Doty  Battle Creek
Hildah Eastwood  Chesaning
Annabel Filkina  Chesaning
Gertrude Green  Ionia
Helen M. Gnewuch  Manistee
Walter Jack  Cadillac
Gladys Jubb  Howell
Ida Keiss  Niles
Marie L. Knapp  Ionia
Dorothy E. Mackenzie  Houghton
Josephine McGuineas  Owosso
Catherine I. McMillan  Ontonagon
Alice Pierce  Three Rivers
Claribel Rahn  Three Rivers
Gustav Reynolds  Manistee
Will Rossiter  Hesperia
Majell Schenck  Elsie
Adella Schumacher  Auburn
Martin J. Stiles  Traverse City
Lucile Woodard  Elsie

A HISTORY OF THE CITY OF THREE RIVERS
BY LEROY JOHNSON
THE St. Joseph River has been an important factor in the
exploration and colonization of this part of Michigan
and in the development of the cities along its banks.
Especially is this true of Three Rivers. The river rises in the
uplands of Hillsdale County and flows into Lake Michigan at
St. Joseph. Along its lakeward course it passes through many
beautiful lakes and drains the southwestern part of Michigan
and a part of Northwestern Indiana. It drains all of St.
Joseph County. Entering at the northeast corner, it pursues a
sinuous southwesterly course across the county, uniting with
many smaller rivers, including Fawn River, Pigeon River,
Prairie River, Rocky River and Portage River. At the con
fluence of the St. Joseph with the two latter is the present city
of Three Rivers. The scenery along the river is exceedingly
picturesque and beautiful. Indeed the St. Joseph is one of the
most beautiful streams in the Middle West.
In the daj^s when the greater part of travel was carried on
by means of canoes, the St. Joseph was much used in traversing
the southern part of lower Michigan. A portage between the
headwaters of this river and the Miami River furnished the
connecting link in a trail between Lake Michigan and Lake
Erie. Not only the Indians but also the French traders and
Catholic priests who came into the Lake Region in the latter
part of the seventeenth century used this course as a highway
(7)

8 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
of travel. There were no roads, and large swamps made over
land traveling very difficult. With the advent of the traders
begins the interesting history of the city.
First, however, we must turn aside to see the Indians, who
were the original inhabitants. The Potawatomi Indians, a
tribe of the Algonquins, lived in this section of the country.
They were of a semi-nomadic disposition like most of their
brothers. They raised small patches of Indian corn and veg
etables but relied mainly upon their weapons and cunning
snares for their food and clothing. If we assume the Mound
Builders to have been their ancestors, these Indians were far
on the road toward civilization. Although clinging to some of
their ancient customs, they were certainly progressing; more
over, they were never as cruel and warlike as some of the
other Indian families.^ Their braves made long journeys to
the Upper Peninsula to procure copper and iron for utensils,
ornaments, and weapons. Excavations recently made by Mr.
Beerstetcher in Canada on the site of one of their burying
grounds, have brought a number of interesting things to light.
A crude pounded copper kettle and cover were unearthed.
Many metal pieces which from their blurred inscriptions were
apparently from Montreal were found. These led people to be
lieve that French fur traders operated in this region many
years prior to the establishment of a trading post. Several
Indian skeletons were also found the bodies of which were
thought to have been buried about the year 1800.
After the Indians came the French — LaSalle, the fur trad
ers and the Jesuit missionaries. The name of LaSalle is
closely linked with the exploration of the Great Lakes Region.
At an early age he was fired with a consuming desire to ex
plore that wilderness whose very solemnity drew him towards
it. Having obtained pecuniary aid in France he set out with
a few traders and priests on that career of exploration which
eventf ully led him from the snows of Canada to the canebrakes

'Sauganaah, one of the Potawatomi chiefs, is buried on a beautiful wooded knoll
overlooking Prairie River. He was very friendly toward the settlers. The Abiel Fel
lows Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in the fall of 1911 erected a
stone to mark his grave.

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 9
of Louisiana. His was a Titan's task, for jealousy, hatred
and avarice ever confronted him with their diabolical machin
ations. In the year 1697 with a few followers he canoed down
the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and landed at the present
site of St. Joseph. While he was engaged in building a fort,
one of the priests. Father Hennepin, came up the river as far
¦ as Colon. Soon after this a mission was founded where now
the concrete bridge on Flint Avenue spans the St. Joseph. The
majority of the Indians assumed at least an attitude of
friendly toleration and curiosity toward the mission, but
some malevolent character incited the Indians one night to
destroy the church with fire. Perhaps it was this unfriendly
feeling shown toward the priests which kept other priests
from coming to this region for many years, for no records can
be found of any similar attempts to convert these savages.
Undoubtedly LaSalle sent traders up the river to ascertain
the prospects for a lucrative fur trade, but the Iroquois In-
• dians whose enmity Champlain had brought against the
French years before, burned his fort and caused the intrepid
explorer to leave the region.
Not a great number of years passed before a trading post
was established west of the river on what is now the Hike Mil
lard property on Constantine Street. It was a double log-
house, very strongly built, for Indian attacks were still a
source of danger. The traders must have carried on a success
ful business, for from all accounts the country was full of fur-
bearing animals. The traders disappeared between the years
1829 and 1836. The names of Louis Chevalier, a Frenchman,
and of William Bennet, an Englishman, are also associated
with the £ur trade at this place. A beautiful memorial, suit
ably inscribed, was erected on the spot by the D. A. R. on the
30th of September in 1911.
The year 1829 is a memorable one in the history of Three
Rivers, for that year saw the arrival of the first settlers, in
the persons of Jacob Mclnterfer and his family. They came
from Wayne County in wagons. The building of corduroy

10 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
roads, the dragging of wagons from hub-deep bogs, and the
fording of swift and dangerous streams, were a few of the daily
incidents of overland travel. The spirit that urged Mr. Mc
lnterfer to move into this new country is the same spirit that
is conquering the West, by changing large areas of forest land
into tillable fields and the plains into pastures. Mr. Mclnter
fer located on the west side of the river in what is now
"Canada." Other men soon learned of the advantages of the place and
in a comparatively short time several hundred settlers located
along the river. Among the earliest arrivals were George
Buck, Jonathan Brown, Benjamin Sherman and John Bow
man. Some lived for a time in wagons, but later all built rude
cabins. And rude they were indeed. Clay was used to chink
up the spaces between the logs and to build a generous fire
place and a broad chimney. Later, whip-sawed boards were
used to board up the sides and to cover the dirt walls. Nearly
every family brought some furniture from their former homes.
If they did not, their ingenuity, their tools, and the forests,
had to supply that deficiency. Each cabin had its airy garret
and its "Jacob's ladder," the settlers' first staircase. The
flickering fire-light or cheap candles furnished the only illum
ination at night. The candles were sometimes made in the
homes. Provisions were brought from Mottville or Flowerfield, and
from four to six days were required to make the journey.
There were not many articles that had to be purchased.
Fresh meat was easily procured, and the streams abounded in
fish. Strawberries, cranberries, huckleberries, dewberries and
raspberries were very plentiful.
The trials of the early settlers, especially of the children,
were many. The adult pioneers seem to have been seldom in
fear of the Indians, although several people were murdered by
them. Intoxication of the savages was usually the cause of
these tragedies. The settlers' children however had ever a ter
rifying dread of the Red Men. One remarked when an old

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 11
man, that for many years after the murder of a neighbor by
an Indian, the most heart-crushing nightmares would disturb
his slumber, in which he was repeatedly chased, captured and
even scalped by blood-thirsty savages. When we consider the
harrowing tales of ghosts, murders, and deaths that were told
in the presence of children it seems strange that many of them
did not die simply from terror and fright. When death visited
a pioneer family their woes certainly must have reached a
climax. The burial ceremony was made purposely trying.
That sermon was best which caused the deepest grieving and
the hardest weeping. The dead were buried in Bowman's
Cemetery in the First Ward or in a cemetery located in the
eastern part of the Second Ward.
The building of roads was not undertaken zealously. In
1833 Mather Rowan started work on the first wagon road lead
ing from the villages. The only road previous to this date was
a stage road from Kalamazoo. The pioneers relied upon the
river for news from the outside world and for an avenue of
trade. Large flat boats called "arks" were much used to con
vey products down the river. They were capable of carrying
500 barrels of flour and cost from |125 to |175 to build. Ed
ward Moore and Abraham Prutzman operated a shipping dock
and a warehouse. The "arks" when loaded were worked down
to St. Joseph and were usually sold along with the cargo.
Some keel-boats were built in a shipyard in Lockport after
1835 but were never used as extensively as the "arks" because
of the shallowness of the river in some places. However, in
the annals of river traffic it is recorded that a small steam
boat called "The Ruby" made severaL trips to the villages. The
coming of the railroads slowly but persistently forced the
"arks" from the river and caused the decline of river trafiic.
The early settlers, following the prevailing western frontier
influences, platted villages very soon after their arrival. Moab,
Three Rivers, and St. Joseph were laid out before 1837. Moab
originally contained a trifle more than 138 acres west of Rocky
River and would today include part of King's Addition. On

12 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
May 21, 1830, this land became the property of Christopher
Shinnaman. Streets were indicated and the offices of Justice
of the Peace and of Register of Deeds established. George
Buck and Jacob Mclnterfer and their neighbors are thought
to have platted a village called St. Joseph in what is now
Second Ward in 1836. The name was changed to Lockport
in 1840. From the first this village prospered. That section
of land between the Rocky and Portage rivers in what is now
First Ward and called "Three Rivers" by Mr. Mclnterfer be
came the property of John Bowman through the Federal Gov
ernment in 1833. In the fall of 1836 he there platted the vil
lage of Three Rivers. The rivers were then recognized as the
natural dividing lines between villages which later became
wards in the same city.
In 1840 there were perhaps 500 people in and about the vil
lages. Much of the timber had been felled, thus clearing the
land and furnishing lumber. The work of plowing the ground
and of raising the first crops was particularly arduous. Many
times several yoke of oxen were hitched to an enormous break
ing plow. But what crops the pioneers raised ! Radishes two
feet in circumference and pumpkins weighing several hundred
pounds are said to have been grown. Doubtless the virgin soil
was very productive. The stirring of the soil, however,
brought on the ague, a disease prevalent in new damp coun
tries. Each settler in his turn shook with chills and burned
with fever. The medical practitioners among whom was Dr.
Eagery, one of the city's first physicians, reaped a harvest in
exorbitant fees.
Mr. Bonfoy did the first manufacturing in this vicinity in
1839, in a woolen mill erected in "Canada." His successors,
Wilcox and Caldwell, ran a sash and door factory in the build
ing. When later Cox and Throp obtained the structure they
added a foundry and a blacksmith shop. Long before 1839,
however, sawmills were droning along the rivers. Shortly
after 1840 Luther Carlton built a flourmill on the Portage.
Bowman and Hoffman bought the mill, and when it was re-

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 13
built after a flre in 1851 it became the property of Hoffman,
whose name it bears today.
The St. Joseph River seems to have been much higher in
those days than at present, for a huge swamp existed between
Three Rivers and Lockport. A ferry was used for many years
to transport people across the river. The power on the Rocky
River and Portage River having been developed, attention was
turned to the St. Joseph. The panic of 1837 had prevented
the development of the power by eastern capitalists, but in
1851 the Lockport Hydraulic Company dug two races and built
a dam on the present site.^ The water power from these two
races was used in turn by a number of small manufacturers.
A plow factory, a sawmill, an axe handle and spoke factory, a
planing mill, an ashery, and soap factory, a factory for making
potato diggers and planters, and other industries in time, used
this power. About the same time a carding mill was estab
lished in "Canada," and Mr. Z. Ruggles began the manufacture
of road vehicles in the First Ward.
Two years before the village of Three Rivers was incorpo
rated (1855) the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
ran a spur track to the villages from Constantine. Public
subscriptions were to a great extent instrumental iu obtain
ing this road. Those enterprising merchants, Moore and
Prutzman, were successful in getting dependable "T" rails for
the track, and an extension of the line to Kalamazoo. Not
long afterward the Michigan Central extended its line from
Niles through Three Rivers to Jackson, thus furnishing ample
shipping facilities. River trade was now a thing of the past.
Railroads brought travelers, and travelers made a demand
for hotels. About 1870 the American House in Lockport and
the Three Rivers House and the Central House in First Ward
were built. Prior to this date Buck's "Half-way House" in
Lockport, Moor's "Shanty Row" and Carlton's Hotel were the
only hostelries in the village.
While providing for their material good the people were not
uumindful of their spiritual and intellectual welfare. In al-

'The Masonry dam has been constructed since that date.

14 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
most every region into which civilized man has gone to live,
he has built churches for worship, and schools for mental de
velopment, and has established or organized orders, societies
or clubs for strength, mutual benefit and betterment. This
community was no exception. The first religious services
were held at Jacob Mclnterfer's funeral. The Presbyterians
and Methodists held services at an early date in school build
ings, in log cabins, and in good weather in the open air. The
former denominations built a church in 1841, and the latter
in 1846. The Lutherans built in 1873, and the Catholics in
1904. At present there are nine beautiful churches for as
many denominations, while several hold services in rented
rooms. The first school was held in the Mclnterfer cabin and
was taught by William Arney. In December, 1837, a regular
schoolhouse was built on the Kellogg Farm. In 1851 a brick .
schoolhouse was erected on the present site of the First Ward
school building. The building was enlarged in 1859 but burnt
in 1890, and again in 1904. The structure as it stands today
was erected at the latter date. The Lockport school was built
in 1868, and enlarged thereafter. Both the Third and Fourth
Ward buildings were erected in 1884. The Three Rivers High
School was built in 1905 and is one of the finest high school
buildings in Southern Michigan. There are more than thirty
secret societies represented in the city, besides literary, social
and historical organizations.
The year 1854 saw the publishing of the first newspaper in
Three Rivers, which was called the Western Chronicle. For
a time Mr. Welper printed the Herald, while W. and H. E.
Chute published the Three Rivers Reporter. In 1895 J. A.
Parker established the Hustler. The Herald and the Com
mercial, the latter of which was printed in 1906, were merged
the same year and published since then as the Three Rivers
Daily Commercial.
There are two strong banks in the city, namely, the First
National Bank, organized in 1864, and the First State Sav
ings Bank, organized in 1891. Previous to the former date

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 15
private banks of small capital were the only sources of bank
currency in the city.
Above all, Three Rivers is a manufacturing city. A number
of thriving manufactories have located or developed here
mainly because of the cheap water power and splendid ship
ping facilities. In 1859 W. Willetts, E. B. Linsley, R. H.
Webb, and George Sheffield began the manufacture of hand
cars and velocipedes. So successful was the venture that the
Sheffield Car Company was incorporated in 1883, with a paid-
up capital of 1200,000. Today it employs about 1,200 men,
and the cars, wheels, gas and oil engines, and the track equip
ment are known throughout the entire civilized world. In
1848 Roberts, Throp and Company began the manufacture of
wheels and small machines. They were very successful and
were later absorbed by the Sheffield Car Company. Both
factories used water power from the St. Joseph River races.
The Whitmore Purifier Company manufactured grain fanning
and grading mills for many years. Other thriving industries
are the Eddy Paper Mill, the Major Gladys Furniture Com
pany, the Specialty Manufacturing Company, the National
Robe Tannery, the Three Rivers Robe Tannery and The Three
Rivers Press. Here also is located the R. M. Kellogg Com
pany, the world-famous growers of strawberry plants. The
Three Rivers Gas Company furnishes artificial gas to all parts
of the city.
Public utilities are growing. The city water works fur
nishes pure well-water under pressure for fire protection, for
drinking, for household purposes, and to manufacturers. An
efficient flre department with excellent equipment insures pro
tection from fire. The streets which for many years have been
lighted by the Constantine Hydraulic Company will soon be
lighted by the municipal lighting plant whose power comes
from the Rocky River.
Riverside Cemetery is one of the best kept and most beau
tiful burial grounds in Southern Michigan.
At the present time (1916) the city has more than 5,000

16 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
inhabitants and is in a good condition economically. Its fac
tories are busy, its merchants are prosperous and its people
on the whole contented. There are good schools, wholesome
amusements and general good moral surroundings. The en
tire city has good drainage and a very low death rate and is
situated in a splendid fruit and vegetable section. It has
broad level streets and avenues lined with large shade trees
and possesses several beautiful parks. The federal postoffice,
an imposing structure which has just been completed, adds
greatly to the appearance of the business section.
Eighty-seven years have elapsed since the first settlers came
to Three Rivers. During these years we have seen the scatter
ing settlements grow into villages and the villages into a city
that is prosperous, beautiful and progressive. But improve
ment does not cease. The civic pride of the citizens, which has
been a great force for advancement in the past, will continue
as a greater force in the future.
REFERENCES
Michigan Historical Collections, XXXVIII, 386-417
Cooley, Michigan.
Tuttle, History of Michigan, page 102.
Bartlett and Lyon, LaSalle in the Valley of the St. Joseph.
John Finley, The French in the Heart of America, page 63.
The D. A. R. Manuscript Copy.

THE SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH OF MANISTEE
BY MABEL F. POTTER
MANISTEE is a beautiful city situated on northern Lake
Michigan. The first people to dwell here were a primi
tive people allied to the Indians, who have left their
traces in the river sides and their bones in the sand hills.
Later, the land along Lake Michigan became the home of the
Chippewas, and here were also a few Tawas and Hurons. The
first white man to gaze upon the site of Manistee was prob
ably the French Jesuit, Father Marquette, whose morning and
evening devotions were the first Christian song and prayer
that broke the stillness of the primeval solitude.
Most of the early settlers of Manistee came from New Eng
land. They were people from Christian homes reared in the
land of churches and schools, and they came to Michigan not
because they loved the pioneer life but to build for the future.
They brought with them the life lessons they had learned, and
with their strong A\ills they soon conquered for themselves a
place in the wilderness. They came with the thought that the
Michigan forests had no depths that could hide them from
the Father's all-seeing eye. Hence we find in the early records
of the settlements the early introduction of religious and edu
cational facilities.
In 1832 a party of men from Massachusetts came to the site
of Manistee and commenced to build a dam and blockhouse
about thirteen miles up the river, but just as it was completed
(17)

18 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
they were forced by the Indians to leave. Captain Humphrey
came to Manistee in 1833 with machinery for a mill, but on
account of the shallowness of the river he was forced to leave
and to re-ship his machinery. In 1835 the river valley was set
off as far up as where Chief Creek empties its water into the
river, into the township of Brown.
Up to the year 1840 there had been no permanent settle
ments except the Jesuit Father's mission in an old log build
ing near Christy Ashe's place, the present home of S. C.
Thompson. In April, 1841, James and Adam Stronach con
structed a sawmill in what is now Manistee city. They were
closely followed by Joseph Smith. Between 1841 and 1849
Roswell Canfield, William Ward, Samuel Potter, William
Hall, and Henry L. Brown, after whom Browntown was named,
came and made their homes here. Most of them on arriving
started in the lumber business on account of the abundance of
the timber, for when Mr. John Canfield came here in 1849 the
present site was one vast forest. In the same year he and his
father took up land near the mouth of the river and began the
erection of a steam mill. Up to 1854 the mouth of the river
was so shallow that boats could not get up to the mills, thus
lessening the business of the mill owners, but in 1850 the chan
nel was changed and made deeper, by Samuel Potter. The
jjopulation in 1852 was only two hundred. The people were
closely clustered about the location of the mills in small vil
lages. How different it would seem if we of today should for a
little while go back and live in the time of about 1853. The
people of the present day little realize the hardships their an
cestors went through in order to build up the city that we live
in today. When Christian Hauser came to Manistee in April,
1853, the city of Manistee was simply a hole in the woods,
with plenty of fever and ague to satisfy everyone, and the mos
quito a permanent resident. Mrs. Sarah Secor, an old resi
dent now living who came here in 1860, says that what now
comprises the business street was then only a sawdust road.

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 19
and that when Mr. Canfield built his fine home on Cedar
Street in 1863 he hauled all the lumber up an old side-hill road
from the mouth of the river.
Before 1855 there were no mails brought regularly to Man
istee. All letters and mails were sent to Grand Haven or Mil
waukee and brought here by an occasional vessel. Today the
mail is brought into the city by three different railroads and
within the last three months mail has been brought in over one
route on Sunday.
In 1849 the land that had been set aside for the Indian
reservation Avas taken up by the Government and put on the
market for sale, but in the selling of the land the kindly rela
tionship that had existed between the Indians and the whites
since they had been given the reservation was broken up. The
Indians scattered, most of them going to different parts of
Michigan; a few remained on the eastern camping ground
near the mouth of Chief Creek, but they did not long remain
here; as the land became settled they moved eastward up the
river. The Indians are today often spoken of as a harmless,
thriftless, vanishing people.
The date 1860 marks the coming to the city of the first at
torney at laAA'. He appeared with a one-horse sleigh and a box
of law books at one of Canfield's mills, looking for a boarding
place. This young lawyer was T. J. Ramsdell, who has been a
very prominent man in Manistee ever since. In 1867 he be
came a member of the Boom Company. He also advocated the
erection of the Union School house, and became the con
tractor. Mr. Ramsdell was followed by S. W. Fowler, who lo
cated here in 1868.
At the time the war broke out, "the shot" that was "heard
round the world" disturbed the peace of Manistee. Small as
the village was in 1861, she did her share toward the preserva
tion of the nation, not only by the patriotism of those who
went to the front but also by the sacrifices of those who re
mained at home. Those who could not go at the nation's call
raised money and helped in other ways. From Manistee alone

20 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
were sent sixty-seven volunteers. A few returned in as good
health as when they went away, but many never returned, and
few returned without the scars of battle. Most of the volun
teers from Manistee entered the Sixtieth Michigan Cavalry,
Company I, the rest the Third Michigan Infantry. Two men
T,ho paid with their lives the full measure of devotion to their
country, were Lieutenant Jacob F. Seibert and Adjutant-gen
eral James F. McGinley. These men were notable examples of
tlie patriotism shown by the backwoods towns.
In 1864, just before the close of the Civil War, Manistee was
visited by a fire which started in the eastern part of the vil
lage and destroyed much that had been achieved by the hard
work of the settlers. However, the people were not discour
aged, for between the years 1865 and 1869 the men were re
turning from the war and Manistee began to prosper more
than ever before. The city was again built up, but only to be
again laid waste by fire. Sunday, October 8, 1871, at 9 :00 a.
m., a fire started just south of the city which swept away the
heart of it, leaving only a few scattering houses on the west
ern outskirts. The loss was about |1,000,000. The fire depart
ment had just arrived at the scene of the first fire when the
shrill whistle sounded the call for help in the direction oppo
site. A strong wind from the south blew the sparks to all
parts, till at last what had composed the city of Manistee was
one surging sea of fire. The fire department could do noth
ing, the engine being burned before their eyes as the fire swept
through the city in the dry piles of saw-dust. Within a few
moments one thousand people were made homeless and what
had been a prosperous town was a fire-swept waste. A mill
and thirty houses at the mouth of the river were burned also.
The land east of Oak Street almost to Manistee Lake was
swept clean, leaving only the Catholic Church and a few scat
tered houses standing.
Manistee has seen tragedies also of another kind, of which
the Vanderpool and Field tragedy is the most notorious. These
two men were partners in the banking business. Vanderpool

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 21
became angry with Field and killed him, afterward throwing
his body into the river. After the disappearance of Field,
people became suspicious of Vanderpool, who was held in the
county jail, while every possible means were raised to find
Field. A few weeks afterward Field's body was found near
Orchard Beach on the lake shore. Several trials were held to
prove Vanderpool guilty, but he was finally freed. He left and
never returned to Manistee.
By the census of 1910 Manistee is a city of 12,381, situated
on Lake Michigan and connected with Chicago, Milwaukee,
and other large cities by steamship lines. About one mile up
the lake shore from the city is the beautiful park called Or
chard Beach, while on the southeast is Reitz's Park. Both
parks are beautiful places of which the people of Manistee
may well feel proud.
The commercial product for which Manistee is most noted
is salt, in the production of which Manistee now ranks first.
Salt was first discovered here through patient and careful
study by Mr. Reitz. Even when after some difficulty he finally
gained the confidence of some of the prominent citizens, the
salt-well digger from Saginaw after going down about five
hundred feet gave up the job. He said that salt would never
be found here. Mr. Reitz was not discouraged but hired an
other to come. At the depth of 1,936 feet rock salt was struck.
The diggers bored thirty-two feet deeper, going through a
solid rock of salt. Thus Mr. Reitz through his determination
added many thousand dollars a year to Manistee's wealth, be
sides giving employment to hundreds of men. The following
men succeeded Mr. Reitz in sinking wells for salt: Michael
Engelman, Canfield and Wheeler, R. G. Peters, the Stronach
Lumbef Company, and the Buckley and Douglass Lumber
Company, who now have the largest salt plant in the world.
Manistee excels today not only in the production of salt but
also in many other industries. She has great iron works,
known as the Manistee Iron Works, employing hundreds of
men and producing the most efficient pumps manufactured in

22 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
the world. She has a fine gas and electric system, the latter
receiving its power from the swift Manistee River. Besides
these industries are the different factories, a shirt factory, a
shoe factory, and the Manistee Furniture factory. Much of the
furniture that is manufactured in Manistee is sent to other
cities, though a great deal of it is used at home. Two planing
mills, the Olson Planing Mill and the Noud Planing Mill, have
taken the place of the large sawmills of the earlier times. As
the timber was cut away and logs became scarce some of the
mills were torn down and the lumber hauled away to be used
for other purposes. Other industries gradually sprang up
giving employment not only to men but to women and girls.
As Manistee has seen a steady growth of its industries in
the past there seems a clianCe of its seeing still greater growth
in the future. Manistee has many natural advantages, being
situated on the shore of Lake Michigan and having a large
harbor to accommodate the boats of the Great Lakes. In the
past many of the people of the city have gone away to find
employment, especially young people starting out in life, but
the people are now looking forward to the time when these
young people need not go away, but may remain at home and
settle down in the city whose great future was foreshadowed
by the pioneers of early days. Well may it be said, "The
pioneers builded better than they knew."
REFERENCES
Mrs. Sarah Secor, personal interviews.
Mr. William Potter, personal interviews.
Hi-^tory of Manistee County
Anniversary number of Manistee Daily News, May, 1899.

THE HISTORY OF CADILLAC
BY HELEN COLBY
CADILLAC, our own beautiful prosperous Cadillac, has
been aptly called "the biggest little city in the country."
There are few if any residents of this city who could re
late precisely its history from the beginning to the present
time, but there is one who has witnessed the entire develop
ment — the most competent of all historians. Father Time.
Listen to the story of the growth of Cadillac as he told it to
me. During my long life, says he, which has extended from the
day that God finished the Creation until the present time, I
have witnessed the development of every city in the world, and
the instances indeed are rare where the growth has been as
rapid and marked as in your city. Do you know, it was not
quite fifty years ago when the site which Cadillac now occu
pies was a dense forest where rare indeed was the voice of a
human being. It seems sacrilege that such beauty, which
has taken nature centuries to produce, should have to yield to
the woodman's axe.
You know that Cadillac was named in honor of Antoine de
la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit, who it is said ex
plored this region at an early date, but the city did not adopt
that name until 1877. The real beginnings of Cadillac, or
Clam Lake, came with the appearance of the "iron horse" in
this region in 1871. In the first survey of this line it was con-
(231

24 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
templated that the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad should
follow a course between Little and Big Clam lakes, renamed
respectively lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. But Mr. George A.
Mitchell, owner of a tract of pine timber on the east shore of
the little lake, saw the disadvantages of the proposed location
and the advantages to be gained if the railroad wei"e passed
around the east end of the lake. So the railroad company was
induced to make the change, and unlimited benefits have been
realized. One of the first buildings in Cadillac was a log hotel, per
haps the most famous in Clam Lake's history, built by Mr.
Ferguson in 1871. It is interesting here to note that every
foot of flooring, ceiling, and siding used had to be dressed by
hand, for there was no planing mill nearer than Traverse City.
This hotel was called the Mason House, and stood where the
Michigan Iron Works now are. In spite of the then existing
prohibition law. Clam Lake sold liquor, the flrst saloon con
sisting of a beer-keg near the Mason House, tipped against the
side of a sawed-off stump which held the glasses.
Previous to this year of 1871 there had been no public
schools, and no religious services held. The flrst schoolhouse
was erected in 1871. The first religious service was conducted
on June 30, 1870, in front of the Mason Hotel by the Rev. John
Redpath, Presbyterian. Dr. John Leeson, compounder of the
famous "Tiger Oil," and still a resident of this city, was Clam
Lake's first doctor and druggist.
An important year was 1872. The flrst newspaper pub
lished, the Wewford County Pioneer, appeared on May 1 in
that year ; Chas. E. Cooper and A. W. Tucker were its editors.
On June 1 of the same year another paper, the Clam Lake
NeiDS, was issued. By this time Clam Lake had become a pros
perous little village, and the need of a postoffice being realized,
one was constructed by the first postmaster, J. S. McClain ; in
1878 the postoffice entered the presidental class and in 1881
became a second-class office. The first township election was
held at the Mason House in April, 1872. It is said that ex-

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 25
actly one hundred votes were cast, but in order to reach this
result the Negroes employed at the hoted were allowed to vote.
The year 1872 is important also for the promising lumber in
terests which were then really inaugurated. Previous to this
there were two sawmills. Noav two more were built and the
total manufacturing capacity of the four mills reached nearly
fifty million feet of lumber per year.
In the fall of 1873 the first M. E. Church building was
completed and Rev. A. P. Meade of Chicago (after coming
from Big Rapids on a hand car) preached the dedication ser
mon. In the same year the Presbyterian Church was erected.
In 1872 Clam Lake came under township government. In
1874 it was incorporated under the general village incorpora
tion law. The first village election was held on May 11, 1874,
at the office of George A. Mitchell. The village council met
for the first time on the 18th day of the sameunonth. The vil
lage government, however, did not prove satisfactory, and
Clam Lake was again put under township government.
Even at this early date, agricultural fairs were not lacking.
They were of course far different from the fairs of today.
There were no aviators to challenge the powers of the air, but
there were things equally as interesting. The fruit on display
at the first fair was a plate of grapes grown by H. J. Car
penter. An idea of the primitive conditions of the streets may be
had from a resolution of the village council June 3, 1875, in
which the street commissioner was ordered to clear all logs,
brush, and stumps previously pulled, and to pull all stumps
having a diameter not exceeding six inches, in all the resident
streets of the village.
On October 6 a beautiful cemetery was given to the town-
f-hip by George A. Mitchell.
The Cummer lumber interests which have added so much to
the city's prosperity were established in 1876 when a firm
known as J. Cummer & Son located here. They purchased the
Harris sawmill and built and equipped the Cadillac and

26 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
Northeastern Railroad. Later W. W. Cummer entered into
copartnership with H. J. Hollister and J. M. Barnett of Grand
Rapids under the name of the Cummer Lumber Company. J.
Cummer & Son finished manufacturing timber in 1892 and the
Cummer Lumber Company in 1893.
In 1877 Clam Lake, thinking that it had outgrown its vil
lage garments, asked to be incorporated as a city ; and accord
ingly the legislature of the same year granted the request,
recognizing the village as the city of Cadillac.
The next step in the city's career was taken when plans
were formulated for the city water works to be located on the
shore of the little lake. A storage reservoir was also erected
on the top of the hill in block thirty-eight. This system has
undergone a number of changes. The water and light power
have been combined, and today we have a modern up-to-date
plant, with Mr. Westover as superintendent.
Mr. Cobbs bought the Yale mill in 1873, and in 1877 entered
a copartnership with George A. Mitchell. They had two mills,
mill No. 1 and mill No. 2. In 1899 the firm was succeeded by
the Cobbs & Mitchell Incorporated. On the 5th of August,
1878, Cadillac hearts were greatly saddened when Mr. G. A.
Mitchell received an injury from the effects of which he never
recovered. Mr. A. W. Mitchell came to Cadillac in 1897, and carried on
a lumber business in his own name until in 1882 when with
his brother, W. W. Mitchell, the efforts of the two were com
bined. They built a planing mill in 1884. The milling inter
ests were much aided by the building of the Ann Arbor Rail
road through this city in 1888.
The present firm of Cummer & Diggins was organized in
1892. The company now operate a sawmill and a planing mill.
It is worthy of note that mill No. 1 was the first mill in Mich
igan to replace a circular saw with the band saw. It should
be added that the first Shay eugine ever operated was used
just outside of the city.

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 27
In 1884 Cadillac after a contest which began in 1872 became
the county seat.
In this limited space all of the successful enterprises can
not be noted, so I will mention only a few of the most import
ant. The D. A. Blodgett & Co. banking house was erected and
established in 1883 by D. A. Blodgett and D. F. Diggins. Upon
the retiring of Mr. Diggins in June, Mr. Knowlton became
cashier. When the Blodgetts sold their interest iu 1895 the
name was changed to the Cadillac State Bank. Cadillac now
has another strong bank, the Peoples' Savings Bank.
The Daily Enterprise, a paper which was instrumental in
helping to get the county seat removed from Manton to
Cadillac, was the third newspaper venture. The Cadillac
Weekly Times made its initial bow in June, 1882. Following
is a comment on the Wexford County Citizen which was
started in 1884 by 0. T. Chapin & Co. : "No. 1, Vol. 1, of the
Wexford County Citizen has reached our table. It is a six
column quarto, very neatly printed and ably edited, all of
which was no surprise to us when we saw that C. T. Chapin
was at the helm. He always did run a good paper and we do
not expect to see him make anything else of the Citizen. We
wish him success." The Saturday Express was published in
1886, and a weekly paper known as the Arbetaren was
started in 1890.
From this date forward Cadillac's growth was rapid, though
steady. The progressive character of the people is shown in
the general public improvements. "The City of Quality" is
indeed an appropriate name for our thriving city. At present
it has eight school buildings valued at over $225,000 and em
ploys fifty teachers. This makes an education available to
1,800 pupils. The High School building, a gift of the late
Mrs. Diggins, is valued at 1125,000 and is exceptionally well
equipped. A good many branches are taught, including man
ual training, domestic science and public speaking. In short
the High School is the pride of the community.
Cadillac has fourteen churches and missions, which have

28 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
accomplished a notable work, and plans are now made for a
union tabernacle compaign. The city owns a large number of
public buildings, including the Carnegie Library of over 10,-
000 volumes, an opera house, a |70,000 Y. M. C. A., a |75,000
hospital, a city building valued at |60,000, and a courthouse
and jail costing |80,000. A new |100,000 postoffice was com
pleted in December, 1915. The Evening News, edited by Mr.
Perry F. Powers, is the daily paper and has a very large cir
culation. Cadillac has a beautiful city park, besides a forest park of
ninety-tAvo acres across Lake Cadillac. The two lakes not only
add beauty to the city but afford comfort as Avell. The little
lake is completely encircled by a seven mile boulevard. A con
crete drive of three miles now takes the place of the graveled
road, and the remainder will be finished in the near future.
Cadillac is not only a lumbering town. Among other in
dustrial products are fiooring, veneers, handles, folding crates,
tables, chairs, chemicals, iron, structural steel works, boilers
and engines, ten pins, motor boats, heading, brick, last blocks
and charcoal products. An auto-truck establishment has re
cently been located here.
Cadillac is especially proud of her streets. Practically all
of the resident streets are graded, and lawns are well kept and
present a beautiful appearance in summer. Horatio Earle,
former state highway commissioner of Michigan, remarked of
Cadillac's streets, "These streets are the best kept and most
beautiful I have ever seen in any city under 20,000 population."
Cadillac has been under the city manager form of government
for two years. The present mayor (1916) is Dr. B. H. McMul-
len. The first municipal Christmas tree service in the city's
history was held on December 25, 1915, and proved a great
success. With a past of rapid development, and a present of indus
trial and commercial greatness, Cadillac's future cannot be
other than bright and prosperous.

THE SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF
TRAVERSE CITY
BY HAROLD SHERMAN
A little clearing in the woods that stretched for miles away.
And clustered close around the shores of our Grand Trav
erse Bay —
A wondrous bay, whose crystal depths refiected heaven's hue.
Or, when the sunset glories flamed, each gorgeous opal hue —
'Twas this they found, our pioneers, who came, all undis
mayed.
To seek a home in northern wilds, where still the Red Man
strayed.
TOO much credit cannot be given to the courageous pioneers
who came to this region when the present site of Traverse
City was but an opening in the forest, who struggled
through many long and toilsome years against great hard
ships and privations, and whose sacrifices and efforts in be
half of this community materially helped our city to reach its
present stage of development.
In the year 1847 Captain Boardman furnished means to his
son, Horace Boardm'an, to build a water-power mill at the
spot now known as Traverse City. Michael Gay, sailing Mr.
Boardman's boat, "The Lady of the Lake," arrived the same
year with supplies for the group of men engaged in building
the sawmill and became the first settler.^ The impenetrable
^Dr. M. L. Leach, History of Grand Traverse Region.
(29)

30 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
forests, the vast wilderness which surrounded the newly
founded settlement, the hardships that had to be endured,
caused much homesickness among its pioneers. Tribes of In
dians, the Ottawas and Chippewas, roamed through the coun
try and encamped near the white settlers, causing alarm
among the women folk. LaAvless bands of Mormons from their
kingdom on Beaver Island kept the people around Grand Trav
erse Region in constant terror of an attack, until the tragic
death of King Strang in 1856. Shut in from the world during
the long hard winters, suffering many times from lack of food
and clothing, living under rude shelters, even in this deplor
able condition the sturdy pioneers found time to enjoy nature's
beautiful surroundings and to better the community they were
living in; these early settlers were not unlike the people of
today, and had their social gatherings, their old-fashioned
dancing parties, and their husking and sewing "bees."
To shelter the few employees who came here in the interests
of Horace Boardman, a rude one-story building composed of
pine logs and cedar Avas erected. As the little colony grew,
a boarding house and other dwellings were added. On the
twenty-ninth day of April, 1851, a party of men forming the
firm of Hannah, Lay & Company, bought out Captain Board-
man's interests, which under the guidance of his son had
proved unsuccessful. This day marked the real beginning of
Traverse City.^
The next year Mr. Hannah let the contract of clearing off
the site for Traverse City to Hugh McGinnis, and at that early
date, the second year of the little colony's existence, steps were
being taken toward the development of that tract on Avhich is
now our thriving city.'' Noting the abundance of pine timber
throughout the region and the inability of Boardman's Mills
to take care of it, Hannah, Lay & Company built a new steam
mill upon the lower part of the river, a river later called the
Boardman.* The company also constructed a small store, put
ting in a stock of supplies for their employees and erecting

2W. S. Anderson, An Old Settler.
'Scrap book belonging to Mr. S. E. Wait.
*Dr. M. L. Leach, History of Grand Traverse Region.

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 31
several dwelling places together Avith another boarding house
to accommodate them. This store was the first building
erected for business purposes in Traverse City. Thus the en-
terprize started by Captain Boardman and energetically
pushed by Hannah, Lay & Company proved to be the laying of
the foundation for a populous and thrifty community.
People seeking employment with Hannah, Lay & Company
began to arrive, most of them by boat, and others more tedi
ously by land, making settlements in Avhat was then called
Grand Traverse City. In the year 1851, the region around
Grand Traverse City was by an act of the legislature laid off
as a separate county. The act established the county seat at
Boardman's Mills until otherwise provided. Further acts
Avere passed to complete the organization of Grand Traverse
County. As the little colony grew into a village and acquired
the name of Traverse City, the county seat still remained, and
is with us yet today.
The population of the settlement, formed mostly by Han
nah, Lay & Company's employees, was still very small. Fcav
improvements were attempted which were not demanded by
the lumber trade. The only road was that from Grand Trav
erse City to Old Mission. This was almost an absolute neces
sity, as Old Mission possessed the only postoffice in the region
and mail was carried back and forth mostly by volunteers.
In the winters of 1852-53 Mr. Lay, Avhile in Washington, D.
C, was successful in his efforts to get a postoffice established
in the new settlement. When Mr. Lay proposed as the name
for the new office "Grand Traverse City," the clerk suggested
that he drop the "Grand" and call it simply the "Traverse
City Post Office," as the latter name would have less resem
blance to the one at Old Mission. This suggestion was
adopted, and from this originated the name subsequently given
to this thriving village and city.^
In 1861 the Traverse City postofiice receipts amounted to
f 140.40. From April, 1914 to April, 1915, the receipts for the
postoffice were |42,018.90, a vast increase over that of years
'Dr. Leach, History of Grand Traverse Region.

32 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
ago. This alone demonstrates the wonderful growth of the
city.= As the children of the pioneers grew in physical stature
their intellectual development Avas not forgotten. One of the
first thoughts of the pioneers was for the mental training of
the boys and girls who were one day to become instruments in
the material development of the little settlement which is now
a city of wealth, progress, and importance.'
In 1853 a small log cabin, originally intended for a stable,
Avas secured and converted into the first schoolhouse. Miss
Helen Goodale was the first school teacher, her class consist
ing of eight pupils. Reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic and
geography were taught in the old-fashioned way. At the ap
proach of cold weather school closed. For only a few years
school was taught in this building. In 1855 it was found "nec
essary to have a schoolhouse," and a one-story structure was
built which for several years answered the purpose of a
church, school and opera house. Froni time to time, as the
demand grew, appropriations were made for new additions.
Other buildings were secured and built over for schools. In
1876 a* committee was appointed to select the site for a high-
school building. The site being selected, a frame building was
erected in 1878, but this gave jjlace in 1885-86 to a structure
which in those days was considered a stately edifice, and
Avhich being enlarged upon is still used by the high-school
pupils of Traverse City. The fine school buildings of today
Avhich have grown from the first school in the little log cabin
testify eloquently of the manner in which the start was made.
Until 1867 there was no building erected to serve the pur
pose of a church, although from time to time religious services
Avere held in the school and boarding houses. On October thir
teenth of this same year the Methodist Episcopal Church was
dedicated, the first church in Traverse City. The following
year was dedicated the Congregational Church, and from then

'Receipts for Traverse City postoffice secured through the kindness of Mr. E. Wil-
helm, postmaster, and Mr. HaskeU, assistant postmaster.
'Scrap book belonging to Mr. S. E. Wait.

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 33
on church activities and denominations increased quite
rapidly.^ All this time the little settlement was fast developing. In
fact, in the year 1872 it rightfully deserved to be called a vil
lage. That year Avas marked by an event which aided very
much in bringing settlers to Traverse City. Through the united
efforts of the early pioneers a subscription was taken up by
means of which the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was ex
tended from Walton to Traverse City. When the last rail was
laid November 15, the event was called "Traverse City Day
out of the Woods." Other railroads followed. The Pere Mar
quette — then knoAvn as the Chicago & West Michigan — the
Manistee & Northeastern, and the Traverse City, Leelanau &
Manistique, were built in the years 1890, 1892 and 1903, re
spectively.' Hannah, Lay & Company in the year 1856 had established
a small bank which Avas incorporated twenty-six years later
(1882) as a State bank. The company erected in 1903 a
splendid five-story building. The First National Bank and
the People's Savings Bank followed in 1885 and 1902. No
reasonable estimate can be made concerning the deposits for
the first year of a banking establishment in Traverse City, but
it is known that they were very small. The total deposits for
the three banks during the year 1915 amounted to |3,403,688.
59, which shows the great wealth of the community in and
around Traverse City.^"
Little was knoAvn abroad in the early days of the attractions
and advantages of Grand Traverse Region. It was not readily
accessible by land, and inexperienced lake captains imagined
the bay too shallow for boats to enter. The building of good
roads was an agency of no small importance in developing the
resources and increasing the population of the city. During
the years 1863-68 a series of roads were constructed to join
various portions of the country, especially points throughout
'Information regarding churches secured from Mrs. J. J. Sherman.
•W S Anderson, An Old Settler. Dates at which railroads came to Traverse City
were given me by Mr. J. Kehoe, Mr. J. F. Jenks, and Mr R. S. Stuart
MliSormation and dates regarding the banks were supplied to me by Mr. W. M. Kel
logg Mr. B. Church, Mr. L. J. Baker, and Mr. M. O. Robjnson.

34 PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
the Grand Traverse Region. Even today infiuential men are
actively engaged in carrying on the good-roads movement,
realizing its vast importance.^^
The Homestead Law, giving to every actual settler from
eighty to one hundred and sixty acres of land for a nominal
sum, aided greatly to hasten the settlement in and around
Traverse City.
The Grand Traverse Herald, established by Morgan Bates
in 1858, has aided materially by its widespread distribution
in advertising the region and luring many settlers.
Some of the larger industries which have helped greatly in
the development of Traverse City are The Oval Wood Dish
Company; The Wells-Higman Company's basket factory; the
Greilick Manufacturing Company, furniture; Potato Imple
ment Company, planters and sprayers; Traverse City Iron
Works, machine shop and foundry; Straub Brothers &
Amiotte, candy factory; Brown Lumber Company, lumber and
interior finish; the W. E. Williams Company, maple flooring.
Many smaller industries have contributed their share to the
city's progress.
The best way to show Traverse City's growth is to contrast
the present state of development with that of 1854. In 1854
settlers in this region found a sawmill, blacksmith shop, some
boarding houses, a general store, and five dwelling places ; the
population of the little settlement amounted to a scant hun
dred. Today Traverse City has a population of 14,000, approx
imately 200 business houses, and 3,000 residences, 17
churches, 4 railroads, 2 boat lines, a 1100,000 postoffice, a Cen
tral High School, 4 ward school buildings, municipal water
and electric light plants, a daily newspaper, 3 banks, a State
hospital, 10 miles of paved streets, and 61 miles of cement side
walks.^^ In closing, we love to cast a lingering thought upon the old
pioneers — the self-sacrificing people who have transformed the
Grand Traverse Region from an unbroken forest to its present

"Dr. M. L. Leach, Hislory of Grand Traverse Region.
I'W. S. Anderson, An Old Settler. Information concerning present stage of develop-
ent was partly secured from a card given out by M. B. HoUey.

PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST 35
state of beauty and advancement, who have contributed
much toward making Traverse City Avhat she is today, "The
Queen City of the North."" It seems fitting to quote here from
Mrs. Buck's beautiful poem, "Our Pioneers" —
But Avhere are they, the pioneers, that brave undaunted
band !
To them Ave Avould a tribute bring and grasp each toil-worn
hand.
A feAv still Avalk our busy streets Avith step, alas, more slow
Than when they trod these sandy shores in days of long ago ;
They've seen the labor of their hands established in the land,.
And noAv can take their Avell-earned rest Avhere once they
worked and planned;
And some have sought a milder clime, a kindlier soil than
ours,
'Mid orange groA^es of Florida, or California's flowers;
And some in quiet OakAvood sleep ; O eyes, keep back thy
tears !
In that far land we all must seek, they are but pioneers.

"In compiling this sketch of "The Settlement and Development of Traverse City,""
I have been greatly helped by Mr. S. E. Wait, with whom I have spent many delightful
hours, and through whom I have received much valuable information regarding tbe-
early times. I have found hia scrap books, which he has kept from boyhood up, a
source of much information; they contain newspaper clippings, letters, pictures, an*
practically everything pertaining to the activities of the early pioneers. Were this-
essay not limited in words, I am sure the knowledge that I have secured from a few
of the oldest pioneers would make a most interesting booklet.

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