HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

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RIVER NAVIAGATION

The history of Saginaw River navigation extends over a period of about fifty-two years, and the exhibits of its traffic at the present time indicate to what extent the industries of this region have attained. The first craft to dispute the right of way upon the highway of this river, was a vessel or sloop called the “Savage,” probably so called from its appearance rather than anything it was likely to accomplish. This craft was of about forty tons burden. And owned by the American Fur Company. It made occasional trips to the company’s station at Saginaw from about 1831 to 1837 or 1838.

In June, 1832, a vessel that could carry fifty tons came into the river, and after discharging some freight for the Fur Company, sailed up the Tittabawassee and took a load of potatoes from Duncan McLellan’s farm, and carried them to Detroit. This was the first export of farm produce from the Saginaw Valley.

In August, 1837, Capt. George Raby sailed into the Saginaw River as master of the schooner “North America.” He settled his family at Portsmouth. He died about the year 1860.

Capt. J. Davis Smith, brother of Dr. George E. Smith, of Bay City, commanded the “Richmond,” formerly the “Conneaut Packet” for a year or two, until she was wrecked on the Canada shore of Lake Huron. Dr. George E. Smith, was sailing with his brother on the boat at the time. About this time Capt. Wilson commanded a little schooner called the “Mary,” which sailed between Saginaw and Detroit. She was also wrecked on the Canada shore.

About 1850, the steamer “Columbia” ran weekly between Detroit and Saginaw. She was commanded at one time by George H. Cottrell, and his brother, C. B. Cottrell, now of Bay City was clerk. The “Columbia” was afterwards purchased by Capt. Cole. Then came the “Charter” and “Snow.”

In 1853, the tug “Lathrop” was brought here for towing purposes.
In 1854, the steamer “Fox,” commanded by Capt. Wolverton, ran on the river.

Then came the “Ariel,” “Ruby,” “Magnet,” and Evening Star.”

In 1858 the Bay City & Alpena Line was started by Capt. Cole with the “Columbia.” This line is still operated by the firm of Cole & Holt. There are three boats on the line doing a good business.

About 1866 the “L. G. Mason” came here and is still running. The bar at the mouth of the river was for a long time a serious obstruction to navigation, but nothing definite about its removal was reached until 1867, when the work of dredging was commenced, and completed the following year. This work elevated the port of Bay City to rank with any on the Lakes.

There are now two established passenger steamboat lines-the Bay City & Alpena, and Saginaw River Line of steamers.

There are also a large number of tug, propeller, barge and towing lines.

THE SEASON OF 1882.

The Bay City Tribune reviewed the season of 1882, as follows: “This season of navigation on the Saginaw River has closed, and most of the crafts have gone into Winter quarters. The river is covered with ice except in a few spots, and it is doubtful if another boat can enter this port this year after to-day. The propeller “Saginaw Valley’ left Alpena yesterday for Bay City, and she is the last boat to start for this port. She was at Tawas last evening and will endeavor to feel her way in to-day. She is well ironed off, and being broad and of light draught can travel through the ice without much difficulty, if last night did not make too much of the congealed liquid.

“The season opened in April with lumber freights at $2 per thousand to Buffalo and $1.75 to Ohio ports. The large lumber fleet rushed into port, and by May freights had taken a drop of 25 cents per 1,000 feet. As the season advanced a further reduction of 25 cents took place, making it $1.50 to Buffalo and $1.25 to Ohio. Loads became very scarce with wages and expenses high, and the worst season on record was looked for. The lowest charter reported was a barge from Crow Island to Buffalo at $1.25, which rate was accepted in order to fill out the tow of the propeller ‘Passaic.’ Freights remained steady and quiet at the figures named until September 1^st, when a reaction took place, an advance of 25 cents being made upon the demand of owners of lumber carriers. Another 25 cent advance speedily followed and then another, making the rate $2 to Buffalo and $1.75 to Ohio. A brisk demand for Buffalo boats sent the rate up another quarter, only on Buffalo and Tonawanda boats, however. As soon as the chilling Fall winds set, freights again increased a quarter, fixing them at $2.50 and $2, and from then until the close of the season they remained firm at those figures. Better freights were obtained, in some instances, but as a rule, those were the going rates. The steam-barge ‘Ontonagon’ and barges ‘Wm. Lewis’ and ‘R. J. Carney,’ were the last regular lumber traders to leave for Buffalo. The tug ‘Albert J. Wright’ and barges ‘Mills’ and ‘W. A. Sherman’ came here and loaded, and they were in reality the last craft for Buffalo, where they reached safely on Monday morning last. The barge ‘B. B. Buckhout’ was the last craft to load for Ohio. She was towed out to Tawas by the tug ‘Cheney’ and from there was towed to Cleveland by the steam-barge ‘Geo. L. Colwell.’

“The season, on the whole, has been a very fair one for lumber carriers. All that were properly managed, made money. The season, as favorable as it was, is a surprise, when the fact that there was nearly 25 per cent increased in tonnage is taken into consideration. The past season same of the best and largest crafts have been added to the lumber marine, each carrying from 400,000 to 800,000 feet. The largest shipments of any season in Bay City’s history were made the past season.

The boats laid up at Bay City for the Winter of 1883, were as follows:

Steamers—“Dove,” “Dunlap,” “Metropolis,” “E. T. Carrington,” “Luther Westover,” “Emerald,” “Sea Gull.” 7

Propellers—“Arundell,” “C.A. Forbes.” –2

Steam barges—“Geo. King,” “Baldwin,” “J. P. Donaldson,” “D. F. Rose,” “Nelson Mills,” “Mayflower,” “Fred McBrier,” “Sanilac,” “Benton.”—9

Barges—“Brightie,” “Boscobel,” “Marine City,” “Racine,” “Jupiter,” “Leader,” “Yankee,” “Bahama,” “Tailor,” “Gibhart,” Florence M. Dickinson,” “Lilly May,” “Emerald” “Colorado,” “Fannie Neil,” “levi Rawson,” “C. L. Young,” “Galatea,” “Ajax,” “Oneonta,” “E. A. Mayes,” “Nelson,” “Favorite,” “Roscius,” “Icsman,” “Grace Whitney,” Melbourne,” “G. W. Bissell,” “J. S. Austin,” “Amaranth,” “Wm. Treat, “ “T. G. Lester, “ “J. L. Ketchum, “ “ L. B. Crocker. “—34

Tugs—“ Music,” “Ella Smith,” “Peter Smith,” “S. S. Rumage,” “A. F. Bartlett,” “William Park,” “Charles Lee,” “C. M. Farrar,” “Marian Teller,” “E. V. Mundy,” “Witch of the West,” “W.E. Quinby,” “W. A. Avery,” “Annie Moiles,” “Buffalo,” “Cora B.,” “E. M. Peck,” “C. C. McDonald,” “T. M. Moore,” “Geo. B. Dickson,” “E. Haight,” “Maud S.,” “Harley,” “Challenge,” “Laketon,” “Toledo.” –26

Steam Yachts—“Handy Boy,” “Jos. Gordon,” “Col. Camp,” “C. B. Hull,” “J. G. Hubbard,” “Cora K. D.” – 6

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SUMMARY.

Steamers………………………………………………………….. 7
Propellers………………………………………………………… 2
Steam-barges………………………………………………….. 9
Barges……………………………………………………………… 34
Tugs………………………………………………………………… 26
Steam Yachts…………………………………………………. 6
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Total…………………………………………………………….. 84

THE FIRST VESSEL BUILT ON THE SAGINAW RIVER

Was built by Nelson Smith in 1846-’47. She was built at Saginaw and named the “Julia Smith,” that being the name of the proprietor’s only daughter. At that time the Carrollton bar was an obstruction to the navigation of the river, and this vessel was modeled to adapt itself to that difficulty. It was of about seventy tons burden and when loaded drew four and a half feet of water. In 1848, when Judge Miller removed his family from Saginaw to Portsmouth, they made the trip on this vessel n about two days. The “Julia Smith” left the Saginaw trade about 1850, and as late as 1871 was sailing on Lake Michigan, and was staunch and sound.

The first vessels of any importance built near the mouth of the river were built by the Braddocks, at Portsmouth, in 1857-’58, and were the “Essex” and “Bay City.” The latter is still afloat. The “Java,” a small fishing vessel was built at Lower Saginaw, in 1854.

FIRST STEAMBOAT ON THE RIVER.

Of the first steamboat on the Saginaw River, Judge Miller writes as follows:

“In July, 1836, the writer of this article, accompanied by Eleazer Jewett, the county surveyor, and one or two other parties who were to assist in making a preliminary survey of the site of Portsmouth, preparatory to making a plat of the village, came from Saginaw in a canoe (accompanied by the late James Fraser, who expected to meet a vessel in the river with some articles on board which he would have need of before the wind would permit the vessel to sail to Saginaw,) to the point where the village of Portsmouth is now located, and after completing a survey of the outlines for a village plat, proceeded down the river to the residence of Leon Trombley, Sr., which was then located at a point near the present corner of Fourth and Water Streets. While there partaking of some refreshments, Louis Trombley (who was then a lad ten or twelve years old,) came into the house crying, ‘A steamboat! A steamboat!’ We all rushed out of the house to see what had deceived the boy into the idea of a steamboat, when, to our great delight, we saw a steamboat proudly making headway against a south wind and the current of the Saginaw River; these obstacles had been a great detriment to the navigation of the river by sailing vessels, and seriously retarded the arrival of supplies for the citizens of Saginaw. We hailed the boat, which proved to be the ‘Governor Marcy,’ commanded by Capt. Gorham, piloted by Capt. Rhodes, and chartered by the late Norman Little, who was acting in behalf of himself, and Mackie, Oakley and Jennison, who then owned Saginaw City, and had just commenced active operations in building up the town. Mr. Jennison, who was interested in the charter of the first steamboat that entered the Saginaw River, was the father of our respected Charles E. Jennison. With much ado, after losing some of our things in endeavoring to transfer them form the canoe to the boat, we all got on board, and had the satisfaction of riding on the first steamboat that ever floated on the waters of the Saginaw. The ‘Governor Marcy’ made regular trips to Saginaw once in two weeks during the balance of that season. Some of the early settlers may remember Capt. Gorham who commanded her. He was a complete dandy; I have known him to change his dress three or four times after entering the river before landing at Saginaw. He would sometimes appear of the pilot house of the boat dressed entirely in white, with a broad brimmed Leghorn hat on, motioning as if piloting the boat, when the wheelsman, Capt. Rhodes, who knew every foot of the ground, paid no attention to him. He was superseded in the command before the season was out.

“FIRST STEAMBOAT BUILT ON THE RIVER.

“In 1847 the business of the Saginaw Valley had begun to revive somewhat; the lumber business was carried on in a small way, and at that time a great want was felt for a better means of communication between different points on the Saginaw River, and for some mode of navigating the streams that form the said river. It must be remembered that at the time above mentioned every man had to paddle his own canoe; there was no road between the upper and lower towns on the river that any one but the late James Fraser dared to ride over. At this time Capt. Addison Mowry, a native of Pittsburgh, who was well acquainted with the navigation of the shoal waters of the upper portion of the Ohio River, conceived the idea that a steamboat modeled after those running on the Ohio, would not only serve for the wants of the Saginaw River, but could be made useful in navigating the streams above. At the suggestion of Capt. Mowry, the late James Fraser, Dr. Daniel H. Fitzhugh, Daniel H. Fitzhugh, Jr. , Emerson and Eldridge, and some other parties entered into the project of building such a boat as has been mentioned; and in the Summer of 1847, Mr. Fraser and Daniel H. Fitzhugh, Jr., went to Pittsburgh and contracted for the engines for a boat, procured a model from which to build one, and commenced in earnest the great undertaking that it then was to build a steamboat on the Saginaw River. The work of construction was carried on near Emerson’s mill, at Saginaw, on the eastside of the river, for the convenience of getting sawed lumber at the mill. The work on the hull had progressed considerably during the season of 1847, but the boat was not launched till 1848, when she was cosigned to the element for which she was intended, and named the ‘Buena Vista,’ upon which occasion there were great festivities at the ‘Hall of Montezuma.’ I think the responsibility of providing the materials and superintending the building of the boat was assigned to Daniel H. Fitzhugh, Jr., and notwithstanding the many difficulties attending that duty, they were all overcome, and in due time the ‘Buena Vista’ was constantly employed in carrying passengers and towing vessels on the Saginaw River. Addison Mowry was her first captain, and Orrin Kinney, now of Portsmouth, was engineer. The ‘Buena Vista,’ notwithstanding her awkward appearance, with her stern wheel, answered the purpose for which she was constructed, with the exception of making money for her owners, and the successful navigation of the upper streams. As an illustration of her failure in the last named point, I will give a little sketch of her first trip to the forks of Bad River. This was before the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad was built, and the people of Shiawassee County were looking for a means of conveying their surplus produce to market, by constructing a plank road to the forks of Bad River, and from that point the

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produce was to be carried by the ‘Buena Vista,’ or some other light draught boat, to a shipping point on the Saginaw River. To further the project above referred to, a delegation from that county, consisting of Gov. Prasons, of Corunna, and Mr. Gould, of Owosso, came to Saginaw in the Summer of 1849, and when they got ready to return home, it was determined, in order to show the feasibility of the project, to take the delegation on their way, as far as the forks, on board the ‘Buena Vista,’ and at the same time give an excursion to the citizens of Saginaw. The writer was notified of the intended excursion and was on hand to start with the boat, upon which had congregated for the excursion, a large portion of the male population of Saginaw City, (East Saginaw then was not.) The boat started out in the morning under favorable auspices, expecting to be ack at Saginaw b a little past noon, so no provisions for the comfort of the inner man were made except by those who took their rations of fire-water. The boat proceeded on her trip without encountering any difficulties, till we left the Shiawassee and entered the Bad River. That river was so narrow and crooked in places that it was with difficulty that we made any progress; in a short turn in the river the length of the boat was so great that it would rub both banks at the same time, and she had to exercise all the power of her engines to squeeze through. It was near night when we reached a point in the river where the navigation was attended with less difficulty, when a strange whistling sound proceeded from the engines, and the engineer was walking in the water by the side of the boat endeavoring to accomplish something by punching at its side. It was soon ascertained that the pipe which supplied the boilers with water had been filled with mud in dragging over the shoals, and that the boat was being propelled by heated gas. Had the engineer succeeded in letting water into the boilers when thus heated, there would inevitably have been an explosion which would have caused great loss of life. Before reaching our destination all the metal joints in the steam pipes were melted, and so far as the propelling capacity was concerned, the boat was a complete wreck. It was then near night, and we had all fasted since morning, and the prospect for the night was not very pleasant; when Daniel L. C. Eaton and E. F. Bird volunteered to take a canoe and paddle to Saginaw, sixteen miles, and return with provisions for the famishing crowd. They performed their duty faithfully, for which service they will always be held in grateful remembrance by all who partook of the bountiful supply of provisions, which they brought to the crown about one o’clock in the morning, and which the good ladies of Saginaw City had supplied them with, by emptying their larders of cooked provisions. The next day the excursionists exercised their muscles in performing a pedestrian tour through the wilderness, by way of Swan Creek and the Tittabawassee to Saginaw. The ‘Buena Vista’ remained at the forks a few days till her steam pipes and boilers were repaired, when she returned to her duties on the Saginaw, which she performed till other boats came to take her place.

“The ‘Buena Vista’ is described as having been a ‘homely’ affair, being all hold and no cabin, and supplied with rows of benches for seats.

“The machinery of the ‘Buena Vista’ was afterwards transferred to the ‘Whitney,’ which was the first steamboat built at the lower end of the river. She was built at Bangor by Thomas Whitney & Co., and was commanded by Daniel Burns, of local notoriety.

“The next steamboat after the ‘Buena Vista,’ to ply these waters, was the ‘Gen. Wolcott,’ brought here in 1850 by Capt. Darius Cole, to run between Lower Saginaw and Saginaw, thus forming the first river line ever operated here.

“One of the incidents of the early days was a race between the ‘Buena Vista’ and the ‘Wolcott.’ Daniel Burns commanded the first named boat, and getting in too great a hurry at the outset, started all the joints in his racer before he was five miles out, thus losing the $100 stakes.”

“Capt. Darius Cole is one of the pioneer vessel men of Michigan, and particularly of the Saginaw Valley. He was born in Wales, Erie Co., N.Y., October 11, 1818. As early as 1835, before Michigan became a state, he came West to Detroit, and afterwards helped to survey the territory of Iowa. Most of his life has been spent in the management of boating interests, and at an early day he sailed on the lakes. As early as 1848 he came to Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, with a vessel, bringing supplies and taking back a load of furs. In 1850 he came here with the steamer “Gen. Wolcott” and ran it between this point and Saginaw, this forming the first river line ever operated here. Before that the business had been done with canoes and skiffs. In 1854 he bought the steamer “Columbia” and run her between this point and Detroit. He operated the river line until a few years ago, when he sold out. In company with Capt. Holt he now has three boats and operates a line between Bay City and Alpena. Captain Cole is a genial gentleman and is a well stocked encyclopedia of early reminiscence and events. He has had a successful business career and amassed a handsome property. He owns considerable real estate in Bay City, but his family residence has always been in Detroit. His business office is in Bay City, and most of his time is spent here, especially during the season of navigation.

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