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. =========================================================================== PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN by Florence McKinnon Gwinn Huron County Pioneer & Historical Society, 1922 [page 10] CHAPTER II THE BEGINNING OF HURON CITY Prof. WILLIAM LYON PHELPS gave a splendid history of this well known pioneer in the memorial services held in his honor at Huron City a few years ago. He said: "The history of this town is simply a history of his life for 40 years. He built a road straight through the forest for 16 miles to Verona. His lumber business grew to gigantic proportions. Hundreds of men were in his employ. They cut timber in the winter, floated the logs down Willow Creek, sawed them into lumber, placed it on Mr. HUBBARD'S cars and took it to the end of the pier where it was loaded on his boat, the 'Huron City' and sent it to Detroit, Cleveland and Sandusky." Mr. HUB- BARD first bought land in the county in 1853. Among the men who came to Huron City in the '50's was Dr. DICK- INSON, who worked as a lumberman for two years for Mr. BRAKEMAN. When the Civil War broke out in '61 he enlisted. At the close of that struggle he entered a medical college in Cincinnati from which he graduated and again became an inhabitant of Huron County. The name of ANDREW SHAW is a familiar one to all pioneers. He came in 1850 and in 1858 bought 109 acres of government land. Was appointed keeper of the light house by President LINCOLN and at his death was the oldest settler in Huron township. The first life saving station was at Huron City in 1876. Five of the captains who had charge there are well known through- [page 11] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY out the county: KIAH, MORGAN, FERRIS and OLIVER. Captain KIAH'S story of the attempted rescue in April 1880, of the scow Sally McGruder, when the entire crew of the life savers lost their lives but him, is as thrilling as any sea story ever published. About three miles east of Grindstone City was the now vanished hamlet of New River. Here on May 12, 1845 J. SPIKEMAN and WALTER HUME bought some land. Other men who came here in the 50's were J. R. CHAM- bers 1851, JOHN GINN 1853, FRANCIS PALMS, 1854, S. SHARPSTEIN 1855, THOMAS DONAHUE 1856, and ALEXANDER MILLER in 1858. Here COOPER, CREEVY & Co. used to operate an extensive salt block, their headquarters be- ing at Port Austin. The first deed recorded in the coun- ty of which we have any trace is a conveyance from LORENZ M. MASON to the County of Huron. It is for a cosideration of $175 and describes what is now known as the New River Cemetery, consisting of four acres and described as being the burying ground now in use in the said township of Huron. I think the record was made by CHARLES B. COTTRELL. Where the village stood is now the farm of FRANK KINCH, one of the most enter- prising and modern farmers of the Thumb. As late as 1883 this town had a long dock where steamers regular- ly stopped for freight and passengers. Had a store, church and school house. When the salt industry de- clined the town began to go down. Finally every vestige of what had been a flourishing town disappeared. The soil in this township is a clay loam with a mixture of sand and is very fertile. ==========================================================================