HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

 

 

Pages 14-17

 

EARLY TRADERS AND FIRST RESIDENTS

 

     The Saginaw River was visited by white men, long before any lodgment was made within the present limits of Bay County.  In 1792, a grandfather of  Joseph Trombley, of West Bay City, and Medor Trombley, of South Bay City, was a trader along these shores, and became a victim at the hands of the Indians.  He was a goldsmith by trade, and made silver medals and ornaments for them, and also worked at various other trades.  He built two small vessels for coasting in, as he carried a small stock of goods which be bartered for furs and game.  He is said to have perished under the following circumstances:-- Having made a muskrat spear for an Indian, who thought it was not quite as good as one previously made for another Indian, a quarrel ensued, during which the spear maker was stabbed in the back, and had to take to one of his boats, in which he set sail for Detroit.  On his way there he fell or was knocked overboard, being wounded and weak, and was drowned.  After he was gone the Indians destroyed his remaining vessel, which was on the stocks uncompleted, and made way with his effects.

     Gassette Trombley, an uncle of Joseph and Medor Trombley, was also a trader here, about the same time, and was at one time "Indian farmer."  An Indian farmer was one employed by the government to teach Indians how to cultivate their land.  This was more than fifty years ago, and yet, even to this day, Indians as a class are but indifferent farmers.

     Jacob Graverot, sometimes called "Old Grave-rod," was another trader in the valley.  Some have named him as being the first white settler in Bay County, but the statement is not correct.  His wife was said to be a daughter of a chief called Kish-kan-ko.  They roamed over the valley, planting their wigwam wherever there was a favorable place for hunting, fishing or trading with the Indians.  He was a well known character to every one who came into the valley while he lived.  During the latter portion of his life he had charge of an Indian trading post at the "Forks," established by the American Fur Company.  He was then a very old man and claimed to have been a trader for John Jacob Astor, in the early days of Astor's business as a fur trader.  He was of Dutch descent, and many amusing stories used to be told of his sayings in broken English.  One is related of his being in a court of justice, where information was desired from a letter he had formerly written.  The lawyers tried in vain to decipher its contents, and passed it to him to read.  "Me read it," he said, "how do you suppose I can read it if you learned lawyers can't make it out?"  At another time he was railing against the half-breeds, in the presence of two respectable persons of that class, and not wishing to be personal in his remarks, attempted to explain by saying, "I don't mean you, Charley, nor you, Pete, but I mean de whole lot of you."  That, of course, made plain the rule of exception that applies to "present company."  This last anecdote has been harnessed to nearly every eccentric individual who has lived in this region during the past fifty years, but Graverot was the real author of it.  Upon this fact we have the testimony of Judge Miller, who was present and heard him utter it.

     In 1829 Joseph Trombley was along the Saginaw River from Saginaw City to the bay, in pursuit of land, but being told that he could not locate nay land near the mouth of the river, as it was an Indian reservation, he went away, but returned again a few years later.

     One Masho, a Frenchman, who had married a lass of the forest, had a log cabin where the Wooden Ware Works now stand in South Bay City, along in 1831-32.  He was also a trader.

 

FIRST RESIDENTS OF BAY COUNTY

 

     Who the first settler of any given locality may have been, is not of itself a matter of material or historic value, that the question should be determined with exactness.  But there is a natural curiosity,

 

Page 15

 

 not to be despised, --a fondness for reminiscence and things associated with early days—that causes characters and events to be rescued out of the past and transmitted to posterity.

     Divesting history of its romance, we have revealed the procession of events, headed by the missionaries who have penetrated the waste places upon some errand that is designed to result in benefit to the world, whether it be to humanize the savage, or to discover some new field for the advantageous exercise of human industry or genius. Then follow the elements that combine to develop and utilize resources hitherto untouched, and to plant centers of business.  It is of no credit to any man that he was a pioneer, unless his axe was laid at the root of some tree, or his shoulder put to some wheel to aid the labored movements of struggling progress.

     The first person to settle and reside permanently within the present limits of Bay Bay County, was Leon Trombley, an uncle of Joseph and Medor Trombley, and father of Mrs. P. J. Perrott and Louis Leon Trombley, of Bay City.  He came early in 1831 and erected a small log house on the bank of the river at a point now about the middle of Water Street, and just south of Fourth Street.  About half and acre of ground was cleared for an Indian camp ground, and for a garden.  Mr. Trombley was the  professional agriculturist employed by the government to instruct the Indians in the practical science of raising corn instead of scalps, and of becoming "horny-handed sons of toil."  After he had built his house and cleared his half acre he planted a patch of potatoes in order to have some for his next Wenter's supply at hand.  On leaving for Detroit, where his family lived, he made arrangements with an Indian and his squaw to hoe and take care of his potatoes through the Summer of 1831.  In the Fall, on arriving at his house with his family, Mr. Trombley discovered, to his astonishment and great disappointment, that the potatoes had not been hoed or cultivated at all, and mourned over the instability of character of the red man and his want of the expected supply of potatoes, and paid but little attention to them for some time.  After getting well settled in his home it occurred to him that there might be a few small potatoes that would do to plant the next year, and he proceeded to secure them; but on digging them found to his great astonishment and happy disappointment, that he had an abundant supply of nice large potatoes, the first crop of potatoes raised in the limits of Bay county.  Mr. Trombley interspersed his lessons in agriculture with fur trading, thus making his stay one for usefulness and profit.  He continued to occupy that house until after the town of Lower Saginaw was laid out by the Saginaw Bay Company.  Mr. Trombley, however, did not come here with any intention of permanent settlement.  Soon after coming here he was offered a section of land upon which Bay City now stands in exchange for a horse he owned which he considered worth three hundred dollars; but he wouldn't trade.  As he afterwards said, who would then have thought that a city would one day stand where there was nothing but swamp, with long grass, in which a man could stand and be hid—where there was scarcely an opening in the woods around it, in which wolves howled continually?

     In 1834, John B. Trudell, who married a daughter of Benoit Trombley, built a log house at a point near where the late James Watson lived, in the Fifth Ward.  Mr. Trudell continued to live there until about 1850, when he removed to the west side of the river, not far from where the Twenty-third Street bridge now is, and for many years did the Indian blacksmithing, and assisted traders in their traffic with the Indians.

 

JOSEPH AND MEDOR TROMBLEY

 

     The name of Trombley has been associated with that portion of the Saginaw Valley now included in Bay County for more than tree quarters of a century, and while none of those yet mentioned came here expecting to locate permanently, yet the two named above and several other Trombleys became permanent settlers, and are now the oldest residents of this part of the valley, having resided here continuously since 1835.

     In the Spring of 1835 Joseph Trombley left the employ of the American Fur Company and turned his attention to some land he had previously entered in what was afterwards the township of Portsmouth.  He and Medor, his brother, were to open a store here for the purpose of trading with the Indians.  After selecting a stock of goods, to be shipped on board the "Savage," he started for his new location, and Medor was to follow with some cattle.  Joseph arrived here in July and erected a log store near what is now the corner of Water and Twenty-fourth Streets, in Bay City.  This spot was selected as being the most advantageous point for the purpose intended.  The land lay high and dry, and was sheltered by trees which grew not too thickly to spoil the picturesque, and yet dense enough for shade.  It was a romantic looking spot, and a choice camping ground for the Indians, who had their place of burial near by.  It commanded a good view of the river and the arrival and departure of canoes.  His experience in building a store was illustrative of pioneer life.  It was built of pine logs flattened on two sides.  The foundation was made of oak, and lumber with which it was finished was brought by boat from Detroit, the freight upon it being $4 per thousand.  The lumber was clear stuff, and was manufactured at Black River, now one of the exhausted pine streams.  The price paid for the lumber was $16 per thousand.  Then the timber had to be hewn, shingles split, and part of the lumber whip-sawed.  The building was 25x 30 feet in size.  It is still standing in the rear of the Center House, on Water Street, Bay City.

     About September Medor Trombley arrived with the cattle.  The goods had been shipped to Saginaw, as there was no place here to take care of them before the store was finished.  The flour and pork that were shipped had been confiscated at Saginaw, as there was great scarcity of provisions.  They got their store open in time to attend the Indian payment in the Fall.  They continued in trade for some time, and did a prosperous business, dealing in fur and pioneer experiences.

 

FIRST FRAME HOUSE.

 

    In 1837 the twin infants, Posrtsmouth and Lower Saginaw, were battling for places upon the map and in history.  The Trombleys had prospered and were inclined to have a more pretentious habitation, and commenced the erection of a frame building.  It took the carpenter, a Mr. Case, one year to do the inside work.  For a long time it was known as the "Big House, " and when built was considered the finest residence in the Saginaw Valley.  For many years it has been known as the "Center House."  This was the first frame building erected in what is now Bay County, and for several years was the home of James McCormick.  A very correct view of this building is given in this work.

     Joseph Trombley was born in the city of Detroit in the year 1809, where he remained until his twentieth year.  His uncle, Gassette Trombley, who had been an Indian trader, as well as what was known as an "Indian farmer," had in his travels been in this part of the state, and he advised young Joseph to go up to the Saginaw country and buy some land, and if he was not suited there to go to Sebewaing, on the east shore of the bay.  Taking his uncle's advice, he accordingly made a trip up here in the year 1829.  At that time there was a turnpike road only as far as Royal Oak, about fourteen miles from Detroit and from there to Pontiac a sort of an unfinished wagon road.  From Pontiac to Saginaw he had to make his way on foot through an unbroken wilderness following an Indian trail.  Saginaw at that time was the site of a government fort, or block house, being the point at which the Indians received their annual payments and hade their supplies given out to them.  At Saginaw he hired two Indians as guides—their names were Wash-wa and Be-chance—who accompanied him to Sebewaing and back, the trip being made in a canoe.  At what is now Bay City, he learned that there was no land to be had, it being an Indian reservation---at least, he was so told.  On arriving at Sebewaing, he found what is now called the Sebewaing River to be a river without any water in it.  Like all other Frenchmen of that day, in locating a home he wanted it on the banks of a running stream.  So he returned to Detroit.  On this trip, with the exception of a few vegetables purchased from a man named Ensign, who had a small farm near what is now called     Carrollton, he and his guides had to depend for food upon what he shot.  Game was plenty, however, in those days, and with an old gun he borrowed from one of the Indians, he managed to supply their larder. The house in which the man Ensign lived was built by Gassette Trombley in 1819, ---the year that the "Saginaw Treaty" was made with Indians living in this part of Michigan.

     On his return to Detroit he learned at the United States land office that there was a piece of land with about a mile front on the river, which he could enter.  Some two or three years after he entered the lands, Maj. Causley being United States land agent at that time.  Michigan was then a territory, and Gen. Lewis Cass the governor  This land was afterwards a part of the township of Portsmouth, and is now within the corporate limits of Bay City.

     Form 1830 to 1835 he was in the employ of the American Fur Company, as a fur buyer, and in the prosecution of which business he had to travel, mostly on foot, to various parts of the territory, the greater portion of which was then a wilderness.

  When he left the employ of the Fur Company, he turned his attention to the land he had purchased on the Saginaw River.  His operations for the next ten years have already been given.

     In 1844 o4 1845 he removed to the west side of the river, where he had purchased two thousand acres of land, and has remained there until the present.  On some of this land he commenced making a farm, and his mode of plowing and dragging the land, planting and hoeing his corn, produced so much larger crops than his Indian neighbors did in their crude style of cultivating the soil, that they used to say, "It takes a white man to make corn grow."  In addition to farming, he was also engaged in the fishing business continuing in it until a few years ago.  His sons Joseph and Theodore succeeded him in the business, and are known as successful fishermen.

     In 1837 he was married to Miss Sophia Chapaton, daughter of Eustache Chapaton, of Detroit.  They have a family of four boys and one girl, all grown up and now living in the First Ward of West Bay City.  That part of Mr. Trombley's land which lies in the First Ward of West Bay City has been divided up into building lots, and the rapid increase in the value of real estate for the past few years has made him what might be called a very well to do man.  He has earned it, however, for in the early days the "pioneers" had many privations to endure and much hard labor to make a living.

     The dwelling occupied by Mr. Trombley and family is a fine two-story brick residence, and was the first brick building erected in the First Ward of West Bay City.

     Medor Trombley was born in Detroit, November 16, 1813.  His father ws Thomas Trombley and his mother was a daughter of the trader "Tebo," already mentioned in this work.  He remained on the farm until 1835, when he came to what was afterwards Portsmouth, and engaged in trade with Indians, as already narrated.  He had entered a tract of land which he afterwards sold to the Portsmouth Company; also another tract south of that, and also fronting on the river.  In 1845 he built a frame house upon his last purchase, which is still standing near the Wooden Ware Works in South Bay City.  August 26,k 1847, he married Miss Sarah McCormick, daughter of James McCormick, a well known pioneer.  They were married according to the simple style of those days, and their wedding tour was the journey of life, which they are still continuing.  They commenced keeping house in the home Mr. Trombley had built two years previous.  After Mr. Trombley had taken possession of his land, he proceeded to look it over, and found it mostly swamp, and, and it looked to him then, just about worthless.  After going out of trade he turned his attention to hunting and fishing, more especially the latter.  Subsequently he gave some attention to farming, and as the settlements began to thicken, his land came to have a value which has been increasing ever since.  For many years he has devoted his attention to the management of his real estate interests, which are still large.  Mr. Trombley has been one of the hardy pioneers.  In his younger days few men would care to compete with him in physical exertion, and even now, though seventy years of age, the recollection of younger days will sometimes quicken his step, and he will walk a half mile at a rate of speed that would leave many younger men far in the rear.  For the last fifty-five years he has never been sick enough at any time to prevent his going about his business.  Mr. And Mrs. Trombley now live in a commodious home on South Center Street.   Of their seven children, two daughters are married, one to John Greening, and the other to L. F. Rose, both of Bay City.

 

INCIDENTS OF JOSEPH TROMBLEY

 

     W. R. McCormick relates the following incidents of Joseph Trombley's early life.  He says:--"Mr. Trombley was the finest specimen of a man, when I first became acquainted with him,  forty-five years ago, that I ever saw.  He was about six feet, weighing about 190 pounds, and at that time was considered one of the most athletic men in northern Michigan.

     "Among the Indians at this time athletic sports were held in high esteem, and he who could travel the greatest distance in a day, was considered a great man.  Mr. Trombley had been brought up with the Indians and had followed the life of an Indian trader from boyhood.  There was not an Indian in the tribe that he could not out-run, out-jump, or throw, and he could travel further in a day than any Indian or white man in the country.  Or his first visit to Saginaw, in 1828, then a young man, he started from his home, eight miles above Detroit, with a pack on his back and with moccasins on his feet, and arrived at Flint at four o'clock of the same day, with no road after leaving Pontiac but an Indian trail, --a distance of seventy miles.  The next day he arrived at his uncle's at Crow Island, just as the family were sitting down to dinner—a distance of thirty-six miles on a Indian trail.

     "Here is another incident in Mr. Trombley's life: --Mr. Thomas Simpson, who is his after life was called by the early settlers, Les-a-bo-go, had been editor, printer and lawyer, was first editor of the Western Emigrant, published at Ann Arbor, in 1829, afterwards editor of the Oakland Chronicle, published at Pontiac, in 1830.  Mr. Simpson was one of the most athletic men I ever saw.  He used to boast that he was never put on his back in his life.  He had the name of being the smartest man in northern Michigan, in athletic sports in those early days.  Soon after coming to Saginaw he said he would like to meet that man Trombley, he had heard so much about.  An opportunity soon occurred.  Joseph Trombley came up to Saginaw one day, to do some business with the American Fur Company.  It was soon noised around the little hamlet that Joseph Trombley was in town, and that there would be some fun.  Mr. Simpson, alias Lexaboga, was informed, and soon made his appearance at the American Fur Compay's store, to meet the man he had heard so much about.  He was introduced to Mr. Trombley, whom he challenged to a trial of strength and skill in wrestling.  Mr. Trombley said he was no wrestler, but would try him running eith for one mile or fifty, for $100.  Mr. Simpson weighed about two hundred pounds, was six feet two inches high, without an inch of waste flesh about him—all sinew and muscle,--while Trombley only weighed one hundred and ninety pounds, and stood about six feet high.  Trombley was afraid to take hold of so powerful a man.  By this time most all the inhabitants had come to see the fun.  But if I did not wrestle with him the people would laugh at me, said Trombley.  ' I took hold of him and I might as well have taken hold of an ox, he was so strong, but after a long while, by a dexterous effort I threw him on his back.  This did not suit the crowd, as they had bet heavily on their favorite.  He appeared to be much chagrined, but to retrieve his character he said he would try me back hold , a favorite way of Indian wrestling, which I had been accustomed to from boyhood, with the Indians, --which pleased me much, for I was afraid he would challenge me again at arms length.  I readily consented to take him back hold.  We took hold and I threw him four times before he gave up.  Thus ended Mr. Simpson's (Lexaboga's) wrestling; for, said he, ' I will never wrestle again,' and he never did.  This is to show the wonderful endurance and strength the man possessed in his young days, who could go from Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, to Flint, and return the same day, on an Indian trail and afoot, a distance of ninety miles, beating his opponent on horseback over thirty-four miles—a feat that very few men in America could accomplish.  I have seen Mr. Trombley when a young man take a large wolf out of the trap, put a crotched stick over his neck, tie his mouth and legs, put him on his shoulders and bring him home alive."