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PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
by Florence McKinnon Gwinn
Huron County Pioneer & Historical Society, 1922

[page 45]

CHAPTER III
EARLY TOWNSHIP HISTORY
PINE TIMBER ATTRACTS ATTENTION

      Early in 1851 the splendid pine timber in the county
 began to attract the attention of lumbermen and specu-
 lators from states adjoining Michigan.  In 1851 LEONARD
 CASE, of Cleveland, purchased 20,000 acres of pine land
 on the Pigeon river.  The next year WILLIAM RATTLE,
 representing the interests of Mr. CASE came and built a
 saw mill at the mouth of the river.  The little settlement
 that gathered around this place was named PORT ELIZABETH
 in honor of Mr. RATTLE'S wife.  In 1856 Mr. CASE sold this
 property to FRANCIS CRAWFORD and GEORGE MARTIN, of
 Cleveland.  This partnership continued for two years
 when Mr. CRAWFORD became sole owner and the village
 was re-named Caseville.
 
      Another name familiar to every lumberman was
 that of MOSES C. GREGORY.  He had lumbered in his na-
 tive state, Maine, and about the year 1851 went to
 Cleveland, where he entered the employment of JOHN
 G. WORTH, who sent him out in search of pine timber.
 In 1853 he landed at STOCKMAN'S Point (now Point Aux
 Barques summer resort) and followed the Indian trail
 to Pigeon river.  Here he found REUBEN DODGE and
 CHAS. SMITH.  He spent some time in getting out shingle
 bolts which he shipped to Cleveland on the first floating
 craft other than a canoe landing at Caseville.  This was
 the schooner Ohio with Capt. JOHN ARMOUR in command.
 In 1857 he entered the employment of FRANCIS CRAW-
 FORD with whom he remained for over 16 years.  During
 that time he married SARAH DODGE LOVERAGE, daughter
 of REUBEN DODGE.  For a number of years he had large
 lumber camps on the Pigeon river and also had charge
 of many of the log drives in the spring of the year.  After
 he left the employment of Mr. CRAWFORD he was con-
 nected for a number of years with the hotel interests of
 
 
[page 46]          PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY 

 Caseville.  Of strong and striking individuality to meet
 him once was always to remember him.  He was also 
 postmaster of the town under President HARRISON.
 
      The first hotel in Caseville was opened by ROBERT
 SQUIRES in 1856.  It was situated at the head of what is
 now main street.
 
      Rev. J. B. VARNUM held the first preaching services in
 this vicinity.  His circuit reached from Lexington to
 Bay City, then Hampton.  Educational opportunities were
 limited but the children of the village were given private
 lessons by Mr. WHEELER, the first supervisor, and the first
 school was taught by Miss ELIZABETH FOX.  The second
 teacher was Miss SETTON.
 
      After Mr. CRAWFORD became owner of the Pigeon
 river property he not only built saw mills but later a grist
 mill, the foundation of which is still to be seen.
 
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