Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 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/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County, Michigan Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884 [269-270] CAPT. AARON G. PEER, of Grindstone City, is pff|p one of the earliest settlers of Huron County, and is second to none in its business history, having begun the development of one of the re- sources of the county in 1834. He owns the quarries at Grindstone City, and is the manufacturer of the first grindstone made here, and put up the first engine used in the prosecution of that business. The engine was prominent among he "first things" of Michigan, as it was the first built at Detroit, and was the motive of the "Argo," the first steamer that plied between Port Huron and Detroit. The land he "claimed" in 1836 was the first entered in Huron County. CAPT. PEER was born Feb. 27,1812, in Dundas, Ont. His father, JACOB PEER, was a native of New Jersey, and in 1821 removed to Algonac, St. Clair County, where he settled on 160 acres of land. He continued its management until his death, when he was 79 years of age. JACOB, another son, is now its occupant. Their mother, MRS. LUCY (POWERS) PEER, was born in New Jersey, and died at the age of 74 years, at Algonac. The subject of this sketch was a farmer after reaching manhood until 1833, when, in company with his brother JAMES, he superin- tended the construction of a schooner, of which he took command and operated in the transportation business between Grindstone City, Port Huron, Detroit and Buffalo, conveying lumber and flour. In 1840, his brother JAMES assumed command of the schooner, and two years later she was lost between Huron and Vermillion, Ohio. She had on board her captain and a crew of six men, and was laden with iron, coal and merchandise. She went down in a gale and all were lost. CAPT. PEER then built a top-sail schooner, the "Henry Clay," to ply between Buffalo and Chicago. After running her several years he sold her and built the brig, "F. C. Clark," at Marine City, which he sold, and bought the brig "Crispin." She was loaded with stone and ready for a trip, when she sunk, opposite Grindstone City; the loss was $7,000. He afterward owned the schooner "Blish," and in 1865 was on board with a crew and fastened to a crib in the lake, when a furious gale came up, the moorings were broken and the vessel went ashore, a complete wreck. The captain and crew escaped by small boats. He was also the proprietor of the "John Owen," a freight and passenger steamer, and he used her as a tow-boat a number years, when she war finally burned, at Algonac, with a loss of $12,000. He was the master of the steamer "Canadian," which he ran in opposition to the line of the WARDS of Detroit one season. He has had a long and eventful career on the lakes, which he finally abandoned in 1861. He quarried the first stone at Grindstone City in 1834, and they were used in the pavement of Woodward and Jefferson Avenues at Detroit. In 1836 he made his claim of 400 acres of land, which included the stone quarries, and in that year made the first grindstone, and established the works to prosecute the business. He brought with him the necessary help and facilities, and shipped the products to Chicago and other points. The mills now standing also contain machinery for the manufacture of whetstones, which is of the most improved character. He employed about 40 men when conducting the works himself. They have been rented since 1881, the lease running until 1891. The farm of CAPT. PEER contains 225 acres, with 120 acres under cultivation, devoted to grain and hay. A fire-proof stone building, 28 X 50 feet in dimensions, was erected by CAPT. PEER at Grindstone City, in 1884. It is two stories in height, and he has his residence on the upper floor. The lower story is occupied as a store. The marriage of CAPT. PEER to EUPHEMIA WESTBROOK took place on his farm near Marine City, St. Clair County, in 1839. Four children were born to them, viz.: ARTHUR H., who resides in Chicago and has been the owner and captain of a vessel a number of years; CHARLOTTE E., who is the wife of WILLIAM H. COOPER, a merchant at Port Austin. Two children are deceased. The mother died in 1859, at Port Huron. She was the daughter of CAPT. ANDREW WESTBROOK, who was prominent in the war of 1812. The second marriage of CAPT. PEER took place at Port Huron, Nov. 16, 1869, to SARAH L. HAWKINS. She was born in Geneva, N.Y. CAPT. PEER is President of the Pioneer Society of Huron County, and has been a member of it since its organization. Being, of all the residents of Huron County, probably the one most deserving of a representation in the portrait gallery of this Album, as a conspicuous pioneer and still a most prominent citizen, the publishers of this work take special pleasure in placing a likeness of the Captain in connection with the above brief history. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================