Four centuries freedom was clinging
To Liberty's wonderful Rome,
Leaving the fickle Greek waters

To build on the Tiber her home,
From four winds of heaven she beckoned
The greatest and wisest to come;
No wonder the renting asunder,
At last shook the capitol's dome.

With eagle and emblems in keeping
In time to the westward she hied,
The old world in fetters left weeping,
To gladden the new, the untried;
Ten decades ago she was stringing
Her harps, for ages unstrung:
Her sons were exultantly singing
Her songs, for centuries unsung.

Shall honor with which she's been crowning
Her chieftains and soldiers decline?
Shall the flood of the coming be offered
As the passing was, free as wine,
To save from ambition and envy,
To save from the parricide's hand,
To save from idolatrous worship

For God's chosen people the land?

Or shall gross, luxurious living,

The hearts of the people ensnare,
Till Bacchus control their affections,
And Midas their pass'onate prayer?
Their votes that are openly sold,

Till red, white and blue is forsaken
For Tyrean purple and gold?

Shall our household gods be dissolving
By restless fanatics desire,

Till abandoned freedom has lighted
For us an unquenchable fire,

And age, youth and weakness dependent

By merciless strength is oppressed,

Till they seek a passage, despairing,
To Stygean waters for rest?

Great Father! all nations protecting,
Avert, we beseech, every blow,

That could turn from Thy rock of safety,-
Make waters of bitterness flow:

Let our stars with those of the morning
Live, as our eagle shall soar,

Till time has finished the problem
Of life, on eternity's shore.

The novelties of the procession were a car containing 13 young ladies representing the original States, surmounting the Goddess of Liberty, and one containing 37 misses representing the States of that day. Benjamin, with two hearses, one the pattern of long ago, its board sides labeled "Luxuries were unknown to Patriots of 1776." And the other a beautiful affair, on the plate glass of which was shown the inscription, "The sister cities have this day

"

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 the 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 erected by Louis Campeau in 1816. 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.

Saginaw township was organized in 1831, and comprised the county of Saginaw as then known, the counties of Midland, Tuscola, Alpena, Iosco, Bay, Cheboygan, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare, Gladwin and Oscoda. Gardner D. Williams was first supervisor.

The first local roads were laid out by Deputy-Surveyor Jewett. The French traveler, De Tocqueville, visited Saginaw.

In 1834 the first saw-mill was built by Harvey Williams, G. D. and E. S. Williams.

The first frame house was built by Eleazer Jewett, in 1831.

Miss Mary Jewett, now Mrs. Dr. N. D. Lee, was born Feb. 11, 1834. She was, therefore, the first white child born in the county within the American pioneer period.

The first cargo of lumber was shipped from the Emerson mill in 1836.

William Williams, born March 12, 1834, was the first white male. child born in Saginaw county.

Judge Albert Miller taught the first school in the valley.

In October, 1835, the county of Saginaw was organized under authority of the Territorial Legislature. The plat of Saginaw was enlarged and the first map of the city drafted. Wheat was harA clearing

vested that year for the first time and sent to mill.

was made on the east bank of the river.

C. A. Lull raised the first crop of wheat, in 1835. He brought the first sheep into the district.

The Presbyterian Society was organized in 1836, being the first religious association established.

The same year Norman Little purchased the United States' Government block-houses and military reserve, from Dr. Millington, of Ypsilanti. He also brought with him type and newspaper press from New York, and projected the Saginaw Journal. The "Citizens' Library Association" was formed, and the era of improvement entered upon.

The first steam saw-mill at East Saginaw was built in 1836.
The first dock was constructed at Saginaw City in 1836.
The first boring for rock salt or brine was done by Douglass
Houghton in 1838.

The financial crisis was brought under control in 1838.
The first turnpike road was begun in 1840.

The first ferry was chartered in 1842.

E. W. Perry made the first attempt to clear the rivers of driftwood in 1837.

The same year Nelson Smith built and launched the schooner Julia Smith."

The first plank road to Flint was made in 1850.

The first stave yard was established by Humphrey Shaw in 1850. The first Union school building was erected in 1851.

The first brick-yard was established at East Saginaw in 1852. The first secret society organized here was the Odd Fellows' lodge, No. 42, in 1849. The first Masonic lodge was formed in March, 1854.