Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2026 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet 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 USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= The Port Huron Times Herald Thursday, 29 September, 1881 JONATHAN BURTCH Sketch of the Life of an Old Pioneer of St. Clair County JONATHAN BURTCH died at the residence of his daughter (MRS. CHARLES POTTER) at Jeddo, Thursday evening, Sept. 22, 1881, of congestion of the lungs. Deceased was one of the old pioneers of St. Clair county, having come here in his youth, and helped to make the country what it is. His remains were followed to the tomb by his numerous relatives and by man friends, who, through many acts of kindness at his hands, fully realized the truth, "that a friend in need is a friend indeed." After a busy life, surrounded by the difficul- ties that encumber all those who go into a new country comparatively poor, he has now passed over the river, to join the others of that venturesome pioneer class that have passed over before him. Thus - They're gathering homeward from every land, One by one, one by one. As weary, their feet touch the shining strand, Yes, one by one. Their brows are enclosed in a golden crown, Their travel stained garments are all laid down; And clothed in white raiment, they rest in the mead Where Jesus doth love his saints to lead. Gathering home, gathering home, Fording the river one by one; Gathering home, gathering home, Yes, one by one. The incidents and dates of the following sketch of his life were narrated by himself and published in the St. Clair Republican in May last. JONATHAN BURTCH was born Nov. 15, 1792, at Warren, Herkimer county, N.Y., and lived with his parents, re- ceiving such schooling as the generality of boys of that day received, until 18 years of age. He then, in company with another brother, went to Chenango county, N.Y., to start a farm for their father, and stayed there over a year, when he returned to Herkimer co., and followed farming and lumbering, furnishing lumber for the markets of Washington and Alexandria. In 1828, he then having been in New York city about five months, started for the west, and went by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo. At that place he intended to take passage on the steamer Wm. Penn, but failing to make a satis- factory bargain with the officers of that boat, he contracted with CAPT. ZIMRI BELDEN, of the schooner Mariner, for his passage to Green Bay, and started the 13th of July; 1828, and made the trip without an inci- dent of note happening to them, or seeing anything but wilderness and water, excepting a few scattering settle- ments of whites and Indians. Upon looking the ground over at Green Bay, he concluded that he did not like it well enough to stay, and also that it was a little too far from home. Having arrived at this conclusion, he en- gaged passage on the same schooner for Desmond. In coming into the river she ran her bow into the mud and they were sometime in getting off. It being in the night and the Indians quite noisy and not knowing what accomo- dations there were at the place, he did not relish the idea of being set ashore, and concluded to go on down the river to "Billy Brown's," just below what is now Marine City, and did so, landing there about the 20th of Sept. Here he made the acquaintance of DR. HARMON CHAMBERLIN, well known to all the early settlers of St. Clair county. October 4th he procured the services of some Indians, who took him and his effects to Desmond in canoes. Here he began operations by purchasing an old hotel that had been used as a stable and cleaned it out, and purchased 2,000 feet of lumber of MR. WADHAMS, who was located a few miles up Black river, and enclosed his shed and commenced business as store-keeper. This store was located on or very near the place, now occu- pied by the First National Bank (Port Huron.) Here he did business until the next season, when he put up a frame store (the first one in Desmond.) This afterwards did duty as a kitchen to the old "Central Hotel" and is still standing. In 1832 he built another store on a wharf about two rods above the bridge across Black river. Here he did business until October 4, 1834, when he moved up to what has ever since been called Burtchville, on Lake Huron, where he operated in lumber, carrying on a mill and farming. The mill was purchased of T. S. KNAPP, of Detroit. He continued in business at this place until 1857, when he sold the mill but continued farming. He was married in April, 1833, to ELIZABETH ROBERTSON, at Desmond. The old couple are now living at Jeddo, St. Clair county, Mich. Their children are LOUISA, born in Desmond, February 1, 1834, now the wife of EDWARD POTTER, ex-sheriff of St. Clair county, and living at Port Huron city. JANE, born at Burtchville, (as were all the rest of the children) April 16, 1837, now the wife of DR. WALTER P. BROWN, of Lexington, Sanilac county. RANSOM, born Nov. 23, 1847, living in Grant. OLIVER D., born July 12, 1850, living in Grant. JULIA, born Sept. 11, 1858, now the wife of GEO. GEROW, living in Port Huron city. FRANKLIN P., born St. Patrick's day, 1856, clerk in S. L BALLENTINE'S store, Port Huron city. They have had five other children, now dead. The eldest of them was in the army and was wounded, first at Fredericksburg and again at Petersburgh, dying from the effects of these wounds, four weeks before he would have been 24 years old. MR. BURTCH enjoys good health, being able to walk from the Narrow Gauge Railway depot to his son-in-law's, ED- WARD POTTER, whome he visits about every three months. He has lived to see, what was a vast forest, pass away and become dotted with cities, towns, villages and farms, under the steady blows of the sturdy pioneers, who, like himself, plunged into the wilderness of the then far west to make homes and fortunes, or wear out in the attempt. He has never united with any church, or professed any religion, except that of the "Golden Rule," to do unto others as he would like they should do to him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transcriber's Note: This biography was also published in "History of St. Clair County, Michigan - A. T. Andreas, 1883. Both omit PHEBE ADELE BURTCH, daughter of JONATHAN and ELIZABETH BURTCH, born 24 Sept., 1843. She died Sept. 15, 1924 at Lexington, Sanilac county, MI. Per her death certificate she was the wife of DR. WALTER P. BROWN. It also gives her mother's name as ELIZABETH FOWLER. ===============================================================================