Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. 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 U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1884 [page 435] CASEVILLE THIS pretty little village is located on Saginaw Bay, at the mouth of Pigeon River. The residences and most of the business houses are built on the bluff, which is about 30 feet above the Bay. The Pigeon River, bordered by beautiful forest and shade trees, meanders gracefully through the town. It is in township 18 north, of range 10 east. It is 108 miles north and eight miles east of Detroit, 20 miles southwest of Point aux Barques, and 48 miles north of Saginaw River. There is a natural harbor here, with a depth of from 10 to 11 feet of water. It is con- sidered the best harbor north of Sand Beach. With a moderate expenditure of money it could be made one of the best harbors on the coast. There are two docks for the accomodation of steamboats and vessels, which come regularly, bringing goods and carrying away the products of the town and surrounding country. Caseville has been recently supplied with another means of transportation, in the Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin Railroad, which was commenced in 1881 and completed in 1883. The terminus of the road is at this place, with headquarters at Pontiac. The first settlers were REUBEN DODGE, wife and two children, who came in 1840, from Maine. He built a little cabin at the mouth of Pigeon River on section 35, and settled down in life, devoting himself to hunting, fishing and farming. Mr. DODGE is dead, but his widow is still living and resides in the vil- lage. The first child born here or in the township was their son, REUBEN DODGE, Jr., who was also the first child born in the territory now embraced by Caseville Township. In 1852 WILLIAM RATTLE, representing the interests of LEO- NARD CASE, of Cleveland, came and put up a saw-mill. The name then given to the town was Port Elizabeth, in honor or Mr. RATTLES wife. Mr. CASE'S interest here consisted of 20,000 acres of land. Mr. RATTLE managed the business until 1856, when the Pigeon River property passed by purchase into the possession of FRANCIS CRAWFORD and GEORGE MARTIN of Cleveland. At this time the nearest postoffice was Port Austin. In 1858, Mr. CRAWFORD purchased GEORGE MARTIN'S interest, and has since made Caseville his home. The first hotel here was opened by ROBERT SQUIERS, in 1856, and was built at the head of what is now known as Main Street. Mr. J. W. KIMBALL carried the first mail into town, in 1858, bringing it from Port Austin. The first wedding celebrated in the village and the first in the township, was in 1855, the contracting parties being MOSES C. GREGORY, who located here in 1853, and SARAH DODGE. They now reside on Section 1, where they have a fine, large farm, surrounded by a numerous family of worthy and affectionate children. The first floating craft, other than a birch-bark Indian canoe, that landed at Caseville, was in the spring of 1853. It was the schooner "Ohio," Capt. JOHN ARMOUR commanding, who took on a cargo of shingle bolts for Cleveland. BUSINESS INTERESTS There are now five salt wells in the village and three salt blocks, one pan and two steam, all owned by Mr. FRANCIS CRAW- FORD. In connection with these great enterprises, he manu- factures lumber, shingles, lath and salt barrels for his own use. He also has a grist-mill, with two run of stone, a gen- eral supply store and a hardware store, keeping in this depart- ment all kinds of agricultural implements. The first salt well was opened in the spring of 1871, at a depth of 950 feet. Later it was sunk down 1,764 feet, the present depth. Recently the fifth well was opened at a depth of 1,850 feet. The annual production from the three salt blocks is from 40,000 to 50,000 barrels. The capacity is about 400 barrels daily. The saw- mill cuts out about 3,000,000 feet annually. In former years, they manufactured from seven to eight million feet. The tim- ber is rafted or floated down the Pigeon River and bought by mail. The flouring mill, erected in 1870, was the first built in the township. The lumber manufactured now is principally pine, with some ash, oak and elm. The Pigeon River salt and iron works were started in 1873 by Messrs. Edison, Sanford & Crawford. The furnace was moved from Black River, Ohio, and has a capacity of 30 tons of pig iron daily. The ore was shipped from Marquette and Escanaba. The works were run about a year, and then the blast [page 436] CASEVILLE went out, owing to the depression in the iron trade and the high price of fuel. In 1879 the property changed hands, additional works were put in and the furnace was started again. It ran for awhile and then closed. The property again changed hands, and is now owned by A. G. STONE, of Cleveland. J. A. HOLMES is one of the enterprising merchants of Case- ville. He has a large assortment of dry goods, groceries and general merchandise, which includes an extensive line of furniture. He cast his fortunes with the good people of Caseville in 1871. Dr. J. W. JACKSON opened in the spring of 1882 a very fine line of drugs, medicines, etc. He is also a practicing physician, with a good list of patrons. Dr. S. J. HENDERSON has also a drug store in connection with his practice. The POSS House is a fine hostelry, presided over by J. R. POSS, and was opened to the public in 1877, being the second hotel started by him in the village. He is also an extensive farmer, having three large farms under cultivation. There are two other hotels in the place, besides the POSS house, namely: The Central House, kept by E. MIDLINE, and the GONDER House, kept by CONRAD GONDER. W. J. DELL keeps a general grocery store, and a meat market adjoining. There is also a market, kept by W. LOOSMORE. JAMES ADAMS, an old resident of Caseville, showed his faith in the future of the town last spring by opening a store with a large stock of general merchandise at the head of Main Street. The ladies of the village and vicinity are supplied with those indispensable articles of millinery so necessary to their adorn- ment, by Mrs. ALICE LLOID. There is also a blacksmith and wagon shop at Caseville, owned by NEIL CONNELLY, and a shoe shop by R. LANKIN. The legal profession has in it an able representative at this point in the person of T. B. WOODWORTH, the present worthy County Attorney. HIRAM KELLSEY is the representative of Uncle Sam in the post- office. Mails are received daily by rail, and daily each way by stage. In January, 1874, T. B. WOODWORTH, Esq., started the Case- ville Advertiser, a weekly paper. He published the same until 1876, when, to the regret of the citizens of the town, he sold out to the Huron County News Company and the paper was moved to Port Austin. CHURCHES Methodist Episcopal Church - was organized on the 26th of Sept- ember, 1868, under the laws of the State, by the Rev. MANASSEH HICKEY, Presiding Elder of the Flint District, with 12 members. The Trustees were, T. B. WOODWORTH, Mrs. FISHER, EDWARD HARDY, FRANCIS CRAWFORD, HORACE MURDOCK, D. L. LIGHTHALL and HENRY CAMPO. The first minister sent here was Rev. WM. CROSS, in 1867. Services were held in the school-house until their church edifice was built, which was in 1874. It was dedicated November 15, same year, Rev. JOCELYN RUSSELL, of Albion College, officiating. The Pastor at this time was the Rev. R. WOODHANS. It is a large, fine frame building, of Gothic architecture, and cost $4,279. Present member- ship, thirty-six. The Rev. J. B. RUSSELL is the present Pastor. In addition to this charge, Mr. RUSSELL holds service at Wild Fowl, Maple Grove and Bay Port. There are a Sabbath-school and Bible Class connected with this society. Catholic Church - This society has a membership of twenty-six families. There is no resident priest. The Rev. Father N. L. MASCHINO, of Port Austin, officiates, holding service here every six weeks. In March, 1875, they purchased the school building which had been vacated upon the completion of the new school- house, and fitted it up for a church. It was dedicated the fol- lowing June, by the Rev. Bishop BORGESS, of Detroit. They are intending to build a fence around the church, put up a bell and furnish an organ, when their arrangments for the present will be completed. German Lutheran - There is a German Lutheran society in the village, but we regret that we were unable to procure any intelli- gent information regarding it. SCHOOLS In educational matters the citizens of Caseville have been pro- gressive. The first school opened in this place was in 1859, in a frame building, and was taught by Miss NINNIE QUINN. The pre- sent school building, which is the third one built since the first settlement, is located on section 35, and, in the enumeration of township schools, is in District "No. 1." It is a large two-story structure, with three large, airy apartments, and cost $6,000. There are 200 scholars on the rolls. Mr. M. MEDAUGH is [page 437] CASEVILLE Principal, Miss MARY MILWRICK has charge of the intermediate, and ETTA ADAMS the primary, department. There is an exceedingly well assorted library connected with this school. MASONIC LODGE Caseville Lodge, No. 368, F. & A. M., was organized in September, 1883, and received a charter from the Grand Lodge at its session in January, 1884. The lodge started with thirteen charter members, viz.: JOHN CONLIN, GUSTAVE A. FLACH, JAMES CURRAN, NEIL CONLEY, JOHN McKINZIE, JOHN HARDER, GEORGE GARDNER, S. J. HENDERSON, CHARLES P. SEIPPARDT, HECLER McLEAN, L. S. JOHNSON, WESLEY E. BAILEY and RICHARD LANKIN. JOHN CONLIN is Master. The membership has increased to twenty. They have leased a hall for five years and fitted it up for their meetings. While the fires of 1871 and 1881 did a great deal of damage, yet they facilitated the clearing up of the country, and to this extent they were a benefit. This beautiful little village has the elements of growth, and the possibilities of a prosperous future; yet it is not likely that there will be any material change for her until her business interests are more evenly distributed. ===========================================================================