Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2026 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet Data Repository Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= The Bay City Times Thursday, 10 January, 1889 CAPTAIN CHARLES AVERELL died at about 10 o'clock last night at his home on the corner of Center avenue and Jackson street, of an attack of heart disease. He was one of the foremost men of this city, highly esteemed, and until recent years was engaged in active business. His taking off, coming wholly unexpected, was learned by the community with deep regret. He had been ailing for some time but there were no expectations that he was so seriously affected. CAPT. CHARLES M. AVERELL was born in Philadelphia. His father was a sailor and CHARLES inherited his fond- ness for the water. When but eight or nine years of age he commenced sailing with his father and followed the ocean for several years. At length his father removed to Buffalo to sail upon the lakes, and he purchased an interest in a vessel called the Aurora Borealis, and sailed in her as master for a time. His first visit to the Saginaw river was in 1851 or 1852. He continued sailing the lakes, and about 1857 he removed his family to Bay City. A few years later he gave up sailing and ran a tug on the river for short time. Then he engaged in the stave business and afterwards built a lime kiln, which he operated for about two years and then leased. Since that time he had been dealing more or less in real estate. He was asignee of the pipe works, and also of the Lake Huron & Southwestern railway company, and was frequently called on to settle private estates. Being a gentleman of sound judgment and unquestioned integrity, his services in matters of this kind were especially valuable. He also owned a vessel trading on the lakes. In 1855 he married Miss AGNES HUMPHREY, of Barry county, who survives him. The Averell block on Center avenue, and the handsome New Averell block, on Washington avenue, were built by him, and he had vari- ous other real estate interests in the city. He super-- intended the erection of the First Baptist church, and placed the bell of the new church in position under circumstances that constituted quite an episode in the history of the society. MRS. JAMES FRASER, afterwards MRS. JAMES McMASTER, of Toronto, Ont., besides paying $10,000 in money to- ward building the edifice and presenting the society with an organ costing about $6,000, conceived the idea of making them a present of a church bell, and at the same time treat the community to a surprise. In Septem- ber, 1873, as MRS. FRASER was about to depart for To- ronto, she had an interview with CAPTAIN AVERELL, who was an intimate acquaintance of the FRASER family, and said she had some work for him to do, provided he would promise absolute secrecey, not even reserving the privi- lege of telling his wife. The captain, being a cau- tious man, hesitated at first, but, upon being assured that the work required was within his ability to perform, and if performed in perfect secrecy would be beneficial to the society and the community, he finally promised to comply with her request. MR. (sic) FRASER said she desired to make the society a surprise donation of a bell, provided one could be procured of the same tone as the one belonging to the city that had melted in a fire that destroyed the engine house, and provided further that this one be placed in the tower of the church without any one knowing of the affair until the bell should ring for service on a certain Sunday morn- ing. The bell was shipped in due time from Troy, N.Y., to East Saginaw, there to remain in a sealed car un- til wanted. When the time arrived for hoisting the bell CAPTAIN AVERELL had the car forwarded to Bay City. He first arranged to put it up on Friday night, but a balky horse belonging to a drayman "balked" the pro- ceedings, and he had to adjourn until the next night. He had the timbers and everything necessary to the work in readiness, and a crew of men in his employ at the lime work were engaged as assistants. About 10 o'clock they transported the bell from the car to the church and the bell-raising was begun. The darkness of the night, unfinished condtion of the tower, in- experienced men, and strictness of secrecy all com- bined to prevent a successful termination of the undertaking. But by use of timbers, tackle, horses and a good deel (sic) of ingenuity the bell was in place the next morning at 6 o'clock. CAPTAIN AVERELL, being a gentleman of domestic habits, and uniformity at home evenings, his wife was greatly surprised at his being out so late the first night, but when he returned home Sunday morning after an all night absence, without a word of explanation, the domestic tranquility that had pervaded the household for so long was seriously threatened. Before leaving the church the captain had sent for the janitor of the Presbyterian church, MR. GORDON, and engaged him to ring the bell at the proper time, leaving him locked in the tower until that duty was performed. The astonishment produced when the ringing peals of the bell issued from that tower cannot be described, and it is uncertain whether worship or wonder occupied the larger place in the thoughts of the congregation that day. But the secret was explained and harmony was restored in CAPTAIN AVERELL's household. The time for holding the funeral has not yet been decided upon, but it will in all probability, take place some time Saturday. ===============================================================================