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. ========================================================================== Marine History, The Lake Ports, Historical and Descriptive Review of the Lakes, Rivers, Islands, Cities, Towns, Watering Places, Fisheries, Vessels, Steamers, Captains, Disasters, Early Navigators, Mineral Wealth, Trade, Commerce, Transportation, Etc., Etc. DETROIT: Historical Printing Company - 1877. [Page 37] PORT HURON Its Early History - Trade and Commerce - Business and Business Men - Advantage of Location - Progress it has Made - Great Results from Small Beginnings. The first authentic accounts of the settlement of the country along the St. Clair River have of necessity been obtained by tradition. Until 1686 there were no settlers in the neighborhood, but during this year a mili- tary station was established at the point where Fort Gratiot is now located. This post was called St. Joseph, and was occupied until the fall of 1678, when it was abandoned. From this time no further settlement was attempted until one hundred and four years later. During this time the whole of this country was occupied by roving bands of Chippewa Indians and a few French half-breeds. It was their favorite camping ground, frequent- ly as many as two thousand being assembled at one time. The earlies account of white settlers in this neighborhood dates back to 1790, when Anslem Petet and six other Frenchmen with their families settled here. One Jarvais built a saw-mill on what is now known as Indian Creek, but was then named La Riviere Jarvais, and Black River was called La River Delude. During the war of 1812, in which many tribes of the neighboring Indians took a prominent part, these early settlers were obliged to leave their homes, but early in 1815 they they (sic) returned reinforced and re-took them. [Page 38] The late Edward Petet was the first white child born in the settlement. This important event took place in a log house at the foot of what is now Court street, on the 7th of February, 1813. Mr. Petet was a large pro- perty owner in Port Huron and vicinity. He died a short time since, be- loved for his many social qualities, and respected by all classes as an upright business man and gentleman. His father, the Anslem Petet before mentioned, built the first frame house ever seen in these forest wilds, about nine years after the birth of young Edward, who could in after years accurately describe the way in which it was built and many of the minor details connected with it. In 1819 the Hon. Daniel B. Harrington located here, and at once became a leading spirit in the little community. Mr. Harrington, in conjuction with Judge White, purchased a considerable tract of land and laid out the first village lots. The township of Desmond was organized in 1826, and the first election of officers was held at Fort Gratiot on May 6th, of the same year. A part of the present city south of Black River, was platted and offered for sale in 1835 by D. B. Harrington, Ed. Petit and Mr. White. This village was called Peru. Two years later, Major John Thorn platted a piece on the north side and called it Paris. But the name of Port Huron was first given the village by Mr. Harrington; it was at first strongly opposed, but eventually became the recognized name of the village. Port Huron remained a village for over twenty years, but in 1857 a city charter was granted, and William L. Bancroft was elected the first mayor. The records of the village government are very incomplete, and the infor- mation obtainable respecting changes and improvements during the time is for the most part unreliable. As near as can be ascertained the villages became a corporation in 1842 or '43. In 1833 a military road was cut through from the Fort to Detroit, which considerably assisted the town of Desmond, and was a main feature in assisting Port Huron to become an in- corporated village. The first hotel of which the village could boast was built by Louis Facer in 1827; it was a log cabin of rude construction, and occupied a site on Quay street, near the Black River. Soon after this a bridge was built connecting the northern and southern sections of the village. Many important branches of business have for many years been carried on in Port Huron. Those perhaps which in past years more materially aided in building it up were ship building and the cutting of lumber; but of late years, owing to the latter industry being removed nearer the lumber supply, and the general stagnation in marine matters combined, have led to a more careful and general prosecution of agriculture, and at the present time but few portions of Michigan can boast such a number of valuable, well-cultivated farms, or a more prosperous and contented agricultural [Page 39] community. The Port Huron & Lake Michigan Railroad, completed to Flint in December, 1871, and since carried through to Lansing, and the Grand Trunk Railroad of Canada, give employment to several hundred men the year round. Several other industries are also in active operation and employ a large percentage of the population. The marine interests of the city are very large, most of the principal vessels and tugs navigating the upper lakes being owned here, and many captains and sailors reside here. The city is divided into four wards, the first and third lying north of Black River, and the second and fourth embracing the territory along the southern bank of the stream. Under the city charter the government consists of a mayor, clerk, treasurer and street commissioner, elected annually on the first Monday in April, on a general ticket; a recorder, elected once in three years; four justices of the peace, holding office for four years and elected one each year; and eight aldermen, holding office for two years, one being elected for each ward, every year. The Common Council also elects yearly a city marshal and a deputy, a city attorney, and such other officers and assis- tants as may be required. The Board of Education consists of eight members, two for each ward, holding office for four years. Every three years a city assessor is elected, who is ex-officio a member of the Board of Supervisors. One supervisor is elected each year from each ward. The mayor yearly appoints one member of the Board of Public Works, subject to the approval of the Council. The Board of Public Works consists of four members, one from each ward, holding office for four years, and having general charge and management of all public works in the city. The principal public buildings and works in the city are, two school buildings on the south side of Black River, the city hall and county court house in the third ward, the engine house on Water street, and the new water works building; Pine Grove Park and the City cemetery in the third ward. The city also owns a Clapp & Jones steam fire engine, hose and carts, hook and ladder wagon, a hand fire engine, and other equipments. The city gas works and the Port Huron and Fort Gratiot street railway are owned by private companies. By the State census of 1864 the population of Port Huron was 4,025, but at the present it is estimated that it amounts to at least 8,000. Port Huron is the county seat of St. Clair County, and is located a little below where the lake empties itself into the St. Clair River. It is sixty- two miles northeast of Detroit, and by a direct line about one hundred and ten miles east of Lansing. Directly opposite on the Canadian side is Port Sarnia, a town of about 2,500 inhabitants, and which is connected with Port Huron by admirable ferry accommodation. The Grand Trunk Railway approaches the city no nearer than Fort Gratiot, but the Port Huron and Lake Michigan Railroad runs directly into it. With the American and Canadian railroads Port Huron has direct communication with all parts of the continent. [Page 40] Black River, which takes its rise in the pine woods of Sanilac and La- peer counties, flows into the St. Clair River at Port Huron, and practi- cally divides the city into two parts. It is employed for the floating down large quantities of logs, a greater part of which are manufactured into lumber at Port Huron. The river within the city limits is crossed by two elegant iron bridges, costing a large sum of money each. Two large dry docks and several shipyards are located here. There are fifteen hotels in the city, the principal one being the Huron House. There are two ably conducted papers, the Times, daily and weekly, and the Commercial, semi-weekly. The naturally beautiful location of Port Huron, just below the rapids on the St. Clair River, its position on an elevated terrace overlooking a vast extent of country, its salubrious atmosphere and beautiful rural surroundings, makes it one of the most attractive spots in Michigan. A perusal of the following pages will readily convince the most skeptical that it promises shortly to become not only a favorite place of residence, but one of the leading manufacturing points of the Northwest. Port Huron, as compared with other western cities, affords unusual ad- vantages to capitalists, manufacturers, and others desirous of extending their operations or seeking new fields of enterprise. The Black River and Pine River, which have their rise in the great pine regions of Northern Michigan, empty themselves in the St. Clair through this city, and annually float down many million feet of logs, which are manufactured into lumber for home and eastern markets. These, with several smaller streams in the vicinity, offer most elible sites for the building and operating, at a small cost, woolen mills, chair factories, paper mills and various other industries. Possessing a large extent of river front, exceptionably adapted to manufacturing purposes and contiguous to the northwestern terminus of the Grand Trunk Railroad, and the recently constructed extension of Chicago and Lake Huron Railroad, the facilities for shipping to any part of the continent, either by boat or rail, are at this point unequaled by any western port. Hitherto the principal iron manufacturers of the United States have been devoted to the anthracite regions of the country. But that these industries can be as advantageously prosecuted in closer proximity to the mineral deposits of the northern peninsula has already been demonstrated. Indeed, there can be no reason why blast furnaces, steam forges, steel works and other iron manufacturing interests should not be as successfully operated in Port Huron, Michigan, as in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the former case, it is true, the greater part of the coal needed in its manu- facture would have to brought from the fields of Pennsylvania; but, on the other hand, the ore has to be transported in its native state, at a great expense, to those cities which now control this manufacture. That the many advantages this neighborhood possesses should so long have been over- looked is astonishing; with the most expeditious means of transportation the United States affords, with close and continuous connection, both by [Page 41] boat and rail, to all the principal cities of this country and Canada, surrounded with plenty of the best timber that the country produces, and which can be bought, manufactured and shipped to any point at much less cost than it could be in eastern cities, with the thousands of tons of iron, copper and silver ore that are produced annually in the State, and which could be smelted and manufactured here as cheaply as at any other point, yet in the face of these indisputable facts there are no great manufacturing interests represented in this city. Why should our farmers be compelled to use harvesters, reapers, mowers and other agricultural implements of eastern manufacture, purchased through agents at exhorbitant prices, when the very elements of which they are made are first produced from Michigan soil? Why should the millions of timber annually felled in this State be manufactured into lumber with eastern machinery, when the very components out of which man's ingenuity has manufactured the circular saw, the planer, and the edger, exist in rich abundance under their very hearthstones? Aside from all these conclusive reasons for making Port Huron a great manufacturing center, it possesses geographical features of undeniable ad- vantage as a place of residence. Located on one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, surrounded by a rich and thickly settled agricultural country, and enjoying all the pleasures of a delightful watering place, the existence of a more healthy and delightful locality can scarcely be imagined. The local government, taking pride in all that adds to the comfort and convenience of its citizens, have from time to time made numerous extensive improvements. Broad, well-made streets and side-walks, and lighted by gas, a most complete system of water-works, having mains running to all parts of the city, an efficient fire department, two excellent lines of street railways, superior ferry accommodation to Sarnia, Ontario, handsome brick school buildings, under the control of a board of education and officered by efficient teachers, costly churches, a handsome new opera house, city hall, custom house and post office, are some of the public improvements and institutions that adorn the city. Large, handsome and convenient brick blocks, occupied by prosperous and wealthy business men, line the principal thoroughfares, and broad streets and avenues, studded with hand- some residences, surrounded by well-kept gardens and lined with stately shade trees that shelter the pedestrian from the scorching sun of summer, while the cool breezes from the broad space of Huron's blue waters murmur lovingly among their branches, lends a charm to the suburban retreats of this delightful city, that to be appreciated must be enjoyed. For the benefit of those who live at a distance and who cannot person- ally investigate the numerous advantages, commercial, social and otherwise which this article has endeavored to depict, we add the names of a few of the most prominent and wealthy citizens and oldest inhabitants of this city, who will be pleased to answer any enquiries respecting building sites, etc., that those desirous of locating in this city may desire to [Page 42] ask: Mayor Boyce, Hon. D. B. Harrington, banker; Trustees Sanborn Estate, Messrs. Howard and Son, lumber merchants, Edgar White, Esq., O'Brien J. Atkinson, Esq., William Stewart, Esq., and John Johnson, Esq., banker, either of whom will promptly answer any communications addressed to them.