HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

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FIRST SYMPTOMS OF TOWNS

THE FEVER OF SPECULATION

By 1836 the spirit of land speculation, that had been rising for some time in the country, had reached its highest pitch. After Gen. Jackson, in 1833, caused the deposit of the surplus revenue of the United States to be withheld from the old United States Bank and deposited with the state banks, large amounts accumulated in the vaults of the latter, which President Jackson encouraged the banks to loan to individuals by saying that it was by means of the trade of the merchants in paying the import duties on their merchandise into the treasury that the money had accumulated, and it was no more than right that they should have the use of the money to facilitate the operations of their business. But by this hint to the banks they were not particular as to the business which the parties were engaged in who desired loans, and almost anyone who was thought shrewd enough to make a good speculation by investing money could obtain loans. After the money was borrowed the point was to make a profitable investment of it, and nothing looked more attractive than the virgin soil of the West, where Uncle Sam possessed millions of broad acres which he would dispose of in parcels of forty acres or in other subdivisions of sections at the rate of $1.25 per acre. Michigan was then, in 1836, considered the El Dorado of the West. A heavy emigration from New York and the New England States had for three or four years previously directed its course to the beautiful peninsula, so that at the time above mentioned parties having money to invest thought it beyond a doubt that if they should forestall those immigrants and purchase the land from the United States, they would receive a large advance on their purchases, from those who wished to make actual settlements. In view of the above mentioned facts it was not likely that those speculators, in casting their eyes over the map of Michigan, seeking a point within it borders for a place to make their investments, would overlook the Saginaw country, where the deep indentation of the Saginaw Bay penetrates the heart of the peninsula and the braches of the broad river spread out in every direction like the branches of an enormous tree, the base of which is the medium through which the sap flows, as the outlet of the river is for the trade and commerce of a large portion of Northern Michigan.

INCIDENTS OF THE LAND CRAZE

During the Spring and Summer of 1836 the land in this region was subject to sale at the Detroit land office. The office was removed to Flint in September or October of the same year. The office of the Register was situated on Jefferson Avenue, just above the Biddle House, and so great was the rush for land in business, that parties wishing to locate lands formed themselves into a line and awaited their turn to present their minutes; but a favored few found access by way of the back door or through a window, and would get their locations secured ahead of the crowd. Looking land and furnishing minutes was a lucrative business and furnished employment to many of the early settlers. The description of the land selected was usually kept a secret until it was located at the office, but some parties coming from the East were not so cautious.

Judge Albert Miller relates an instance of this kind, as follows:--"A gentleman largely interested in the purchase of government lands told me of an occurrence, some years after it happened, in which he was interested. He said he was staying at one of the hotels at Detroit when a man came in from the country, very much elated with his good luck in finding some excellent land for a farm, which he intended the next morning to locate for that purpose. The speculator said that in a friendly conversation he got him to describe the land he intended to purchase. In the morning the man was very much disappointed to find the land he wanted had just been located, but not being discouraged he started again to select more land, and after a few days returned and met his friend the speculator, and disclosed to him the fact that he had selected other land, that so far exceeded the first selection in value that he was amply paid for his first disappointment. He incantiously gave him the description of second intended purchase, and when he went to the land office the result was the same as on the first application, --the land had just been taken. He left Detroit this time, probably, somewhat wiser that before, and on returning with his third set of minutes met his old friend, as usual, and disclosed to him the fact that this time he had found some land so much superior to either of the other selections that he should purchase double the quantity that he first intended to, and confidentially disclosed the location of it and the fact that it was surrounded by a large tract of vacant land of equal value with his selection. When he met the speculator after his third application at the land office it was not with the disappointed appearance of former occasions, but with a pleased and satisfied expression said to him, "Well, old fellow, I guess you have got swamped this time." The sequel proved that the last minutes described lands in the center of an extensive swamp, and the speculator

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had purchased a large tract of land that was entirely worthless. The name of the narrator of the incidents related above has passed from my memory. I knew him about twenty-three years ago. He said he was operating with money furnished by a bank, in which his uncle was an officer. When he got through with his purchases he turned all the land over to the bank and took up his paper and saved himself from bankruptcy."

After the land office was removed to Flint that place was thronged with land speculators. Purchases of government land were then made with gold and silver. "Bill Gifford" kept a small hotel at Flint, and during the Autumn of that year there were nights when, it is said, more than $40,000 in specie was laying in different parts of the house, which had been brought by guests who were waiting their turn to do business at the land office.

About this time an incident occurred that illustrates the will of men intent upon securing a prize. The facts as gathered are related by Gen. Partridge, of Bay City, as follows: Joseph Trombley and Dr. D. H. Fitzhugh took a fancy for the same piece of land at the same time, neither knowing that the other wanted the land. At noon Joseph Trombley learned that Dr. Fitzhugh was to start for Flint from Saginaw to purchase the said land,

Which was on the west side of the river. On the next morning early, Trombley being then at Portsmouth, collected his gold and started in his canoe, and rapidly sped his way to Flint, expecting to overtake Fitzhugh on the road, who was to start on horseback, ut found nothing of him. Arriving at Flint on a good smart run, he entered his land, took dinner and started on his return to the Saginaws. On his way back he met Mr. Fitzhugh, who was greatly astonished to meet him going toward Saginaw, and suggested that he , Trombley, had bought certain land, when Trombley showed his certificate of purchase. Dr. Fitzhugh, seeing there was no use in going further, returned. Trombley kept company awhile, but finding that the Doctor was too slow even with his horse, left him and arrived at Saginaw City, at a store owned by one named McDonald, where he had left his canoe. Trombley told his story about his getting the start of Fitzhugh, but McDonald disbelieved him even after seeing his certificate, and bet a gallon of wine that Trombley had not been to Flint that day. Now the mail-carrier was on his way from Flint to Saginaw on horseback, and Trombley met him before arriving at Flint, and then overtook and passed him on his way back. So they waited a few minutes for the mail-carrier, who verified Trombley's statement. Trombley treated out his gallon and took his canoe for home, arriving there before 10 o'clock at night of the same day. Mr. Trombley says no man, mot having an iron frame and constitution, could stand the strain to run that distance as he had to run.

PORTSMOUTH AND ITS PROJECTOR

A large trade in village property had also sprung up. Parties would select land with some advantages of location that would commend it to the public, lay out a town, and go into the market to sell either interests in the whole tract, or lots in the village. Owing to difficulty of access, Saginaw had but a small population at the commencement of the year 1836, but it had attained some notoriety. Saginaw City had been platted four or five years previously, and was supposed by many to be the only point on the river where a town was likely to be built. But others who were aware of the difficulties of ascending the river with heavy laden craft, and anticipating the vast commerce which the products of the valley must eventually induce, conceived the idea of starting a town nearer the mouth of the river. With this in view, Judge Albert Miller, who had become familiar with this entire region, purchased a tract of land of the Trombley's in July, 1836, and in the same month had the village of Portsmouth surveyed and platted. This was the first attempt to start a twon with the present boundaries of Bay County. This whole region was then in Saginaw County. Judge Miller, the first to project a town near the mouth of the Saginaw River, is now a resident of Bay City, and still engaged in active pursuits. We append a brief biographical sketch of him as follows:

ALBERT MILLER was born in Hartland, Windsor Co., Vt., May 10 1810. His father, Jeremy Miller, was a native of Middletown, Conn. His mother, Sarah Miller, was a native of Hartland.

The ancestors of Judge Miller on his mother's side were among those who landed at Plymouth Rock, in 1620. A plate now in the possession of the family, was brought over in the "Mayflower," by Sarah Clark, whose name it bears. It is to this woman that Judge Miller traces his ancestry.

His father belonged to an old English family that settled in Massachusetts in 1640. Judge Miller is the youngest of a family of four children, three of whom are still living. When he was seven years of age his father died; his mother living until 1863, when she died at the advanced age of eighty-four. At a very early age Judge Miller was obliged to provide for himself, his mother having but limited means. At the age of ten he engaged with his uncle, who gave him his board and a pair of boots, in return for his Summer's work.

From the time he was eleven years old until he was fourteen he lived with another uncle, who gave him his board and clothing and allowed him the privilege of attending the district school during the Winter.

The next year and a half were spent at home on the farm; the following three Summers in farm labor; and the Winters, until he was eighteen, were spent in school. After that, two Winters were passed in teaching a district school in his native town.

About this time Mr. Miller resolved to fit himself for Dartmouth College, and entered Kimball and Union Academy, at Meriden, N.H., in 1830, with this intention.

Shortly after entering the academy, he was prostrated by a severe illness, which compelled him to change his plans; and in the Fall of 1830 he started for the West.

It was the first time he had traveled more that twenty miles from home; and every day

's progress had the charm of adventure and novelty.

He went by stage and canal to Buffalo, at which place he took boat for Detroit. The latter city, at the time Judge Miller passed through it, contained two thousand two hundred and twenty-two inhabitants. In the Spring of 1831, his mother and sister having arrived from Vermont, he settled with them at Grand Blanc, Genesee Co., Mich. Here he remained until the Fall of 1832, when he visited Saginaw, and purchased a tract of land at the junction of the Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers, to which he removed February, 1833. Judge Miller, during his stay at Grand Blanc, taught school, and finished the second term that was ever taught in Genesee County. During the Winter of 1834-'35, he taught in a building which was occupied by the united States troops in 1823. This was the first school taught in the Saginaw Valley. In the Spring of 1833 Mr. Miller was elected to an office that constituted him one of the inspectors of elections for his township; during his residence there of fifteen years he was a constant member of the board of inspectors, and was never absent from an election. Upon the organization of Saginaw County, in 1835, he was appointed judge of the territory; this office he held for nine years. He was a justice of the peace for the township of Saginaw for thirteen years.

In 1847 he represented the county of Saginaw in the state Legislature; at this session the capital was removed from Detroit to Lansing. In 1836 Judge Miller purchased a tract of land near the mouth of the Saginaw River, and laid out the town of Portsmouth, which now constitutes the Sixth and a part of the Fifth and Seventh Wards of Bay City. This was the first effort made in building a town in that vicinity. In 1836-'37 he with two partners erected a steam saw-mill on said tract, which was the second saw-mill put in operation on the Saginaw River. He was a stockholder and director in the company that put in operation the second salt manufactory. Judge Miller was influential in securing to Bay City the first railroad. He takes a great interest in all matters relating to the early history of Michigan, and is an active member of the Sate Pioneer Society, having been its first president. He is now president of the Saginaw Pioneer Society. He was the first postmaster of Portsmouth, having received the appointment, in 1837, from Amos Kendall, postmaster-general under Jackson. Judge Miller married, at Detroit, on the 6th of February, 1838, Miss Mary A. Daglish, a young lady who had recently emigrated with her parents from London, Eng. They united with the Presbyterian Church the same year. He has been an elder in the church at Bay City for more than twenty years, and has three times been a delegate from the Presbytery of Saginaw to the General Assembly. He was a Jackson Democrat until the Republican party was formed, since which time he has given it his hearty support. Judge Miller has bravely endured the hardships of pioneer life, and is a present strong and active. He is well acquainted with the history of the valley, and his fine memory, combined with great originality of expression, renders his narration of early experiences very entertaining. He has contributed interesting and important information to his publication, and in various was aided in the work of gathering various material for its contents.