Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Rachel Fuller 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 [261-265] ANDREW SHAW, farmer, sections 2 and 3, Huron Township, and light-house keeper at Point aux Barques, was born Aug. 18, 1824, in the capital city of Ireland, Dublin. He is the son of JOHN and ANN D. (ERASMISON) SHAW, and both parents died in Ireland. The death of his mother occurred before he came to the United States. His father died at the age of 80 years. MR. SHAW left his native country to come to the United States when he was 24 years of age, in 1848. He first engaged as a farm assistant, in Orange Co., N.Y. Four months later he went to Paterson, N.J., where he was occupied about one year in the boiler shops of that city. His next employment was on the depot of the New York & Erie Railroad at the foot of Duane Street. The following year he went to Canada with the expectation of buying cheap land, on the representation of a friend who informed him of the possi- bility of the thing, but the plan proved a mistake; no such lands were obtainable; work was scarce, and that year he considers as totally lost, as he made no progress. He started to try his chances in Illinois, and reaching Chicago found the daily tide of emigra- tion through that city 300 strong; and, disheartened by the cheap- labor outlook, he returned to Detroit. On arriving at that city he went to the Land Office and purchased 40 acres of land situated in St. Clair County, Emmet Township. Coming to Port Huron, he encount- ered P. F. BRAKEMAN, who was looking for laborers; and, making an engagement with him, he came to Huron County to make himself useful in the lumber woods. He arrived at Huron City June 19, 1851, and remained in the service of MR. BRAKEMAN two years, when his employ- er sold his property to Messrs. DOWLING & FORBES, and he continued in his former capacity in their interests more than a year. In 1853 he had bought 109 acres of the Government, and in 1855 he bought the farm he now owns containing 240 acres of land. It was in its original state, covered with forest, and MR. SHAW removed the lumber in his own interest. MR. S. received his appointment as keeper of the light-house in 1861, during the administration of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, and has since continued the incumbent of the position. (A full account of the establishment, construction and management of the light-house may be found in the historical part of this volume.) MR. SHAW was first married May 22, 1854, to MARY MEADON, who died June 7, 1866, leaving four children: MARY J., born Feb. 1, 1859; EMMA, April 13, 1861; GEORGE A., March 6, 1864; and ANN, June 6, 1866. The last child was born the day before the death of her mother. Two children had preceded her in their flight from earth: JOHN A., born Feb. 20, 1855, and died Feb. 7, 1859; and JANE, born March 5, 1858, died March 21st of the same year. MR. SHAW was a second time married Oct. 28, 1870, to RACHEL CLARK. Five children have been born of this union, as follows: ANDREW B., Feb. 14, 1872; MAGGIE M., Dec. 16, 1874; CARRIE M., Dec. 1, 1876; ELIZABETH, May 5, 1879; ARTHUR E., Feb. 1, 1881. MRS. S. was born May 13, 1842, in Caledon, Peel Co., Ont. The subject of this sketch is a Republican in political views and sentiments. He has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Clerk many years, also the positions of School Officer and Highway Commissioner, and has been the incumbent of the four at the same time. He is the oldest living settler in Huron Township. No roads had been built at any point in the county, and the harbors on the lake side were in the condition over which the stars of heaven had shone and the breezes of summer and the wild winds of winter had played in mildness or howled in fury for ages. When settlers began to come in and human wants and needs became the grand concern, human device developed and in the same way the solution of the problem of ways and means was reached. Emigration and transportation hither were accomplished by the water route, and as there were no docks or harbor conveniences of any description, debarkation was consummated as it could be done most effectively and speedily. Ox teams were brought on boats and the animals pushed overboard to swim ashore, which they would do instinctively. The boilers, engines and other paraphernalia for building and equipping saw-mills were conveyed hither by vessels, the boilers floated ashore and the other fixtures landed by means of lighters. One incident in his life will give a complete reproduction of the tout ensemble of affairs. On the Fourth of July, 1856, he was sowing turnip seed on his farm, which was about one mile from his residence at that time. A heavy thunder shower came up, and as he had been having the ague, his wife, fearing the consequences of his receiving a wetting, set out to carry a coat to him. It was nearly dark, and the route was traceable only by the "blazed" trees along the line. MRS. SHAW had traversed a part of the distance when she made a mistake in the direction and lost her way. Soon after she left home, MR. SHAW returned there and found that she had set out to meet him. As he had not seen her, there was but one conclusion. Supper was ready, but appetite had fled, and a picture of a forlorn woman wandering in the trackless woods was constantly before his mental vision, and continually intensified to his understanding by the thought that the solitary figure, vainly struggling to restore herself to her friends, was that of his wife, and his children's mother. He retraced his steps, while word went quickly through the settlement that MRS. SHAW was lost in the woods. On reaching a certain point MR. SHAW became impressed with the belief that it was there she had wandered from the path, and he plunged into the forest, shouting with all his might. In half an hour she answered him, and in a few minutes she was in his arms. But the only im- provement in her condition was that she was no longer alone; her husband was lost with her. They took what they believed to be the route to the water's edge, and they estimated correctly. On reach- ing the beach they turned their steps toward the wharf, and re- gained their home. The whole settlement had turned out to join in the search, and parties had gone in every direction. The fires in the mill were rekindled to blow the whistle and recall the searchers. In the fire of 1871, MR. SHAW'S loss was small, his fences only being burned. In that of 1881, he lost three good frame barns, a great quantity of sheds, fences and other farm belongings, 75 tons of hay, about 400 bushels of grain, all his agricultural implements, including mowing-machine, wagons, and all of the best and most improved kind. His insurance was taken in the "Home," of New York, and the adjustment and payment were made without delay. He received $1,600, which afforded material aid in replacing his barns, etc. His house escaped the flames. The first light-house was built at Point aux Barques, about 1847. It was constructed under a contract, and was built of stone collected on the beach of Lake Huron. The walls cracked, and the evident insecurity of the structure alarmed the keeper of the light, and he notified the Department at Washington of his appre- hension. MR. SHAW was then a Magistrate, and on being solicited, gave the Government authorities formal notice of the condition of the building, and an inspector was sent on, who at once condemned the structure. The present light-house was begun and completed in 1857. It is built of Milwaukee brick chiefly, much of the material in the former building being utilized in the construction; and the stone trimmings are from the quarry near Grindstone City. The old light was kept burning most of the time with the exception of a few months, when a temporary scaffold was erected to support the light while the finishing strokes were being added to the new structure. The lens used at present was made in Paris, and cost about $10,000. The first keeper of the light at Point aux Barques was drowned, and his wife kept the light for some time after. A man named SWEET succeeded her, who was in turn followed by CHAUNCEY SHELDON. He served through the administration of PRESIDENT PIERCE, and on the accession of JAMES BUCHANAN, MR. DODGE was appointed. JACOB M. GROAT was his successor, and on his vacating the position its duties were taken in charge by the present incumbent, who has kept the light since. The publishers of the HURON COUNTY ALBUM take pleasure in pre- senting, on a preceding page, a fine lithographic portrait of MR. SHAW, whose features as there delineated will doubtless be of interest to all the citizens of the vicinity. =========================================================================== 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/ ===========================================================================