The first select school was established at East Saginaw in 1852. The first steamboat, "Buena Vista," was launched in 1848. The first German settlement was made under Rev. Geo. Cramer in 1845.

The first efforts to detach Bay county from Saginaw were made in 1855.

The first bank was opened by W. L. P. Little in 1855.

Gardner D. Williams was elected first Mayor of Saginaw City in 1857.

Captain Leon Snay was the first white settler of East Saginaw. The first association of salt manufacturers was formed in April, 1859, and the first salt well sunk the same year. The same year the city of East Saginaw received a charter, when W. L. P. Little was elected mayor.

C. W. Grant was the first town clerk of Buena Vista, and Curtis Emerson the first supervisor. The former was the first American pioneer to settle on the east side in 1849.

The first ice-house was built in 1862.

The first school on the east side of the river was built in 1851. The first teacher was Miss Carrie Ingersoll.

The Saginaw street-car track, 2 miles in length, was laid down in 1864.

Alfred M. Hoyt was the first postmaster at East Saginaw, and M. B. Hess the first mail-carrier.

The first birth was that of Lyman Ensign, in 1850.

The first death which was recorded at East Saginaw occurred in 1852.

The first free bridge across the Saginaw was constructed in 1878, at a cost of $19,000.

The first business men of East Saginaw were Curtis Emerson, C. W. Grant, W. F. Glasby, M. B. Hess, Geo. Hess, Alfred M. Hoyt. James Little, Col. W. L. P. Little, S. W. Yawkey, Alex. English, John Elsffer, A. Ferguson, F. H. Kochler, Thomas Willey, Mengo Stevens and Seth Willey. The first lawyers who opened offices there were Wm. L. Webber, J. L. T. Fox and Charles Hunt. The first rail of the F. & P. M. R. R. was laid Aug. 19, 1859. The J., L. & S. R. R. was completed in 1867, and the first through train from Jackson entered the city.

In 1864 the first bridge was built across the river by the citizens of East Saginaw, and in 1865 those of Saginaw City constructed another equally substantial viaduct one mile south.

The Holly water-works were constructed in 1872.

The Mayflower mills were built in 1851, being the first flouring mill of the valley.

Warner and Eastman erected the first iron foundry in 1854. The first military encampment was held in the valley in September, 1860. The commands present were Flint Union Grays, Saginaw City Guards, East Saginaw Guards, and the East Saginaw Light Artillery, all under Col. T. W. B. Stockton.

First organization of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Union, September, 1879.

What changes have been effected since these events were first chronicled are noticed in other pages. The march of progress has not for a moment been impeded. Commercial, political, religious and social organization has so advanced that each has risen almost to that standard which the civilization of our time demands.

LIGHT AND SHADE OF EARLY TIMES.

Among the many stories in circulation, connected with pioneer times, a few have been handed down through the press. That there is every reason to believe them is conceded, and as they tend to give a good idea of the habits, customs and manners of the early settlers of Saginaw county, as it was known previous to 1857, they are given in these pages.

THE LOCAL FISHERMEN.

Among the pioneers of Lower Saginaw were Julius B. Hart and George Lord. Both gentlemen were the proprietors of fisheries on the bay shore, and carried on their fishing operations within a short distance of each other, where, in proper season of the year, they caught and shipped to Detroit and other points the results of their endeavors, often realizing large amounts of money in successful seasons, and at other times resulting in "fisherman's luck" generally. Both enjoyed, and each knew how to give and take a joke.

Thun

One cold bright morning in the fall of 18-, the two met near the foot of Third street, and after passing the time of day, turned to separate, when Hart exclaimed, "By the way, Lord, I'd nearly forgotten; I was down to the shore this morning, and Joe (Lord's foreman at the fishery) told me to tell you that the fish were running like blazes, and he wanted you to send him down a lot of dressers [men to dress and pack fish], salt and barrels." der!" shouted Lord, "Is that so?" and away he sped to pick up all the adepts in dressing fish he could find, and in an hour his large boat was loaded with fish barrels, salt and men, and ready to start. for the shore, with Lord along to enjoy the rich harvest in prospect awaiting him. Just as the boat was shoved away from the dock to start on her trip, Hart came hurriedly to the dock with, " Hold on, Lord; I've just heard from the shore again; the fish have stopped running, and Joe don't want anything more than he's got."

66

Lord saw that he was sold, the boat was hauled to the dock and unloaded, and with vengeance in his eye, Lord went home. Weeks passed by, and the joke was almost forgotten by those who had enjoyed a hearty laugh at Lord's expense. Not so with the chief victim, however. His opportunity came at last. The saloon in the basement of the Wolverton House was the fashionable resort of that day, and looking in at the door one afternoon, Lord esp ied

Hart at the table with some friends, playing an innocent game of "Penny Ante." While he looked, an Indian entered with a muskrat skin, a commodity in which Hart dealt, and which it is said at one time bore the same relation to "legal tender" as shingles have often done at a time of scarcity of money. "Ugh!" said Lo, "Jule Hart, you buy um skin?" "Yes," was the response; "give you ten cents; throw him over in that corner; here's your money. The Indian took the money, threw down the skin and departed, at which Hart turned his attention to the game, which was becoming interesting. Lord picked up the skin, and unnoticed left the saloon. It was but a few moments before a young boy entered the saloon, and sold Hart a rat-skin, throwing it into the corner as directed, and receiving his pay. The game went on, interrupted every few moments by a rat-skin trade. Skins came in stretched on shingles, on double twigs, and unstretched. Hart bought them all. At last the day was drawing to a close, and the game came to an end. Hart arose from the table, remarking, "I've lost at the game, but I've bought a thundering pile of skins this afternoon, and he threw his gratified eye over toward the corner where his skins had been disposited. "Whew!" was his exclamation, as but a single skin met his vision; "who in thunder has stole my skins?" Lord, at that instant edging toward the door, remarked, "It's been almost as good a day for rats, as that morning was for fish. Jule Hart saw that he was sold, he had paid out about $5 on one rat skin, and Lord was made disbursing officer, to see that the price of that skin was duly appropriated for the general good, in the manner common to those days.

THE SURROGUGEON COURT.

This tribunal did not approach that of the golden age known as the Secret Tribunal in extensiveness, though it may have equaled it in utility. In the earlier years of the county many good soulsintellectual men-sought a vein through which the blood of pleasantry might course, and among other things formed the Surrogugeon-so named from the fact that one of their number indulged in a lapsus linguae, and in an attempt to name the Surrogate court, called it the Surrogugeon.

It had its faults. Though founded, perhaps, without a thought of its effect upon the moral being of the citizens, it was no less beneficial in its tendency to nip vice in the bud by checking the passions of men. Every little social error had to be scrutinized by its officials, and this inquiry was carried out with such a demonstration of legality and authority that not a few innocent men came before the bar in obedience to its summons. Whatever means were taken to uphold its authority, or by whatever influence men allowed themselves to be convicted, punished or acquitted by that tribunal, is a mystery. All the terrors of the law proper surrounded it, all the finding of jurors or judges were made out in regular form, and in fact it differed from the circuit court only in the terrible character

262

of its judgments, which consigned its gullible victims to life-long imprisonment for some trifling crime, or perhaps imposed upon them some ridiculous penance, the performance of which on the morrow would both amuse and delight the initiated members of the tribunal.

THE LAWYER AND THE MINISTER.

In early days when hotels were scarce, new-comers to the State of Michigan were forced to ask favors of the older settlers, which would now be looked upon as the height of presumption. Andrew C. was a young lawyer, residing in the then small village of Lapeer, having but recently taken to himself a wife and commenced housekeeping. There was no hotel in the place, and travelers oftentimes made use of A. C's. barn, sometimes without as much as saying "by your leave." A. C. had decided to remove to Bay City, and was making preparations to do so, when his barn was appropriated by a new-comer to the neighborhood, who put a load cow into the yard to eat the of hay into the loft, and drove a hav.

The evening before he left for Bay City, A. C. was in the store of the village, and met the Rev. Mr. Smith, a Congregational minister (afterward settled in East Saginaw), who had but recently taken charge of the little flock about Lapeer. As they conversed, Mr. Smith remarked, "I wish I could buy a good cow."-"Do you A. C. "I'm glad you mentioned it, for You want a cow?" said there's one up at my barn which I can't take away with me. can have her if you will, and there is a load of hay in the barn to feed her with." Profuse were the thanks of the reverend gentle"But," said A. C., "I must man at so munificent a bequest. tell you about her. She is the most peculiar cow you ever saw. She must be milked before five o'clock in the morning or you can't get her to give down a drop of milk." "Well, I am an early riser," said the dominie, "I can milk her before five as well as after."

A. C. moved to Bay City; and the minister was careful to milk his cow before five o'clock" each morning, and a noble mess of milk she gave, and with liberality was the hay fed to her. Things went well for several days, until while milking one morning, the parson's ears were shocked with the profane expletives of a voice which called him a thief, a robber and sundry other pet names, which to the minister were simply horrifying. "I've caught you at last, you hypocritical, thieving parson; preaching honesty to the people, and robbing your neighbors of their milk. I'll break your -head," etc., etc. Rising from his milking stool, the parson faced the irate farmer, who for a time would give him no chance to at last got in the put a word edgewise. "But it's my cow, parson; "A C. made me a present of her, and of the hay in the barn the night before he left."

in

Explanations ensued, and as both realized the sell, they enjoyed A C. still lives, and a hearty laugh, and were good friends.

persists in saying that he enjoys a practical joke and loves to play one on his friends.

A REMINISCENCE OF 1845.

The following sketch was written by a grand-daughter, "Lena," of one of the American pioneers of the valley, and is characteristic of life in the German settlements of 30 years ago.

"The first German settlement made in Saginaw county was at Frankenmuth, about 1845. From Saginaw, by the path through the woods, it was 14 miles; but the traveled road, where they went with their teams, was much farther. One of the German girls, Margaret, came to my grandfather's, as a servant, and she was such a specimen as is seldom seen now-a-days,-five feet five in her stockings, with broad shoulders, great brawny arms, and feet in thick cloth shoes nine by fourteen, lined with sheep-skin with the wool on. She always wore a red and black petticoat, and a thick, close jacket, as did all the German girls.

"Now, Margaret had a lover, and it would have made the most sober person in the world laugh to have seen them together, for this lover was a small, thin, white-haired youth of eighteen, who did not look as if he had the ambition of a snail. Very comical they looked, the tall, strong girl, and the little, thin, weak boy. He did not come to see his fraulein' very often, for it was a good distance to walk. At last came the time for the wedding; my mother made Margaret a large, frosted wedding-cake; so, with this and her bundle, she started for home one morning, bright and early. She arrived safely within a little way of her home, when being tired she sat down to rest. She fell asleep, and when she awoke it was dark; being sleepy and bewildered, instead of going home, she went squarely in the opposite direction. Great was my grandmother's astonishment, when Margaret's lover came the next day to see why his 'schatz had not come home. If she had not been home, she must be lost; so men went in every direction to search for her.

"My grandfather was one of them, and the first night he was obliged to sleep at Margaret's home. He got into a bed four feet long (very comfortable for a man six feet tall), with a feather bed over him, as well as under; and he was not without company, for under the bed he found a pig, and roosting on slats above the bed were the fowls. Very good companions, but not exactly to my grandfather's taste. You can imagine how much sleep he obtained, with the mother wailing in the next room, the roosters crowing overhead, the gentle hum of the mosquito, broken by an occasional bite, and the pig grunting under the bed.

"But about Margaret. Three days and three nights she wandered through the woods, and at last came out at Portsmouth. She was brought to Saginaw in a canoe, and the cannon was fired (the only one on the river) to let those searching for her know she had been found. But not once had she tasted the wedding cake, which she had