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. =========================================================================== Historical Collections Made By The Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society Volume 2, 1896 Page 164-165 Mrs. SUSAN BOHNE - Mrs. Susan Bohne was born in the state of New York, June 23, 1809. When but 3 years of age one of her parents died, followed within a week by the other one. Arriving at the age of 15 years, Mrs. BOHNE went to Paris, Ill., where at the age of 17 she married THOMAS W. DILL. In 1837 they boarded the steamer Columbus at Chicago and went to Grand Haven. From there they attempted to come to Muskegon in a small canoe by way of Lake Michigan. Before pro- ceeding very far the canoe was swamped by the huge waves and they were compelled to walk the rest of the way. Stopping over night at a house in what was the principal locality on Muskegon lake, they con- tinued their way up the river in a canoe to Newaygo. They lived one year there and then returned to "Mill Iron Point," a place eight miles up the Grand river and for one whole year they were not favored with even a glimpse at the face of a white person. Shortly after moving to "Mill Iron Point" a daughter was born to them. She is now Mrs. JOHN A. CURRAY, living at 5 W. Muskegon avenue, and was the first white child born within miles of Muskegon. She was born June 10, 1837. A few years later they came to Muskegon and have lived here ever since. In 1840 they started the first hotel ever kept here, it being known at that time as the Muskegon house. It was located near the site now occupied by the RODGERS Mfg. Co.'s factory, and was built by LOUIS BADDEAU, an Indian trader who made the first land purchase from the government. Mr. DILL died in 1854 and she married LOUIS BOHNE, who died the same year and she remained a widow since. Mrs. SUSAN BOHNE died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. EMILY PENNY, 46 Walton street, Muskegon, Mich., February 17, 1895. She was 85 years and 8 months of age and what a history went with her passing. She who gave birth to the first white child in or for miles about Muskegon, she who came to Mus- kegon the year the great State of Michigan joined the union, the same year that the first of Muskegon's many sawmills started that subse- quently made her the queen lumber city of the west, she who has lived in Muskegon since its infancy, has at last joined the great majority and has taken with her, no doubt, more of the real early history of Muskegon than has ever been recorded. ===========================================================================