THE MINING GAZETTE (under various names) of Houghton County, Michigan Copyright © 1999-2001 by Dick and June Ross. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. ____________________________________________________________________ 1874 January - April Issues - Some issues may be missing. ........denotes there was more to the article and the article with in is a shortened version. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Jan 1, 1874 Mr Frank G. WHITE enters today upon his duties as superintendent of the Osceola mine. Local Memoranda of Note for the Past Year: Feb 18 Mr Geo. SHELDEN, father of Mr Ransom SHELDEN, died. Age 82 years. July 9 Edward Fenner DOUGLASS, postmaster, Houghton, died. Age 53 yrs. Aug 16 The tug Ed. Gallagher exploded in Torch Lake, instantly killing Mr James H. OLDS and badly scalding the engineer. Nov 5 John MCDONALD was instantly killed at the Sturgeon River Lumber Co's mill. The foundering of the propeller City of Detroit, on 4th of last December: Of all those who went down with illstarred craft the fate of Capt Redmon RYDER and his son and nephew seems the most afflicting. His widowed mother and bereaved family live in Detroit He was born in Kingston, Ont., Nov 12, 1821; went to Detroit in 1836, and the same year engaged as a cabin boy; ten years later he was mate under Capt John STEWART, on Lake Superior.......and was made master of the steamer Independence....Capt BARRETT testified that when the City of Detroit went down Capt RYDER was in his place, and disappeared with his craft. (after 37 years upon the lakes). PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, JAN 8, 1874 Board of Supervisors, Houghton County: Present: John DUNCAN1 Calumet Twnshp, Chairman; Edward, Hancock Twnshp; A.J. COREY, Quincy Twnshp; Michael FOLEY, Portage Twnshp; P.R. ROBERTS, Adams Twnshp; Louis HAFER, Webster Twnshp; K.L. MASON, L'Anse Twnshp. The Historical Society of Houghton Co. invites the public to a paper read, by Mr W, BATH, on the "Morals of Commerce", on Friday evening next in the auditorium of the Court House............ Died from injuries: John YOKER, a wood chopper, employed near the Albany & Boston station of the Mineral Range railroad, was so badly injured the other day by a tree falling upon him that he died soon after. L'Anse: Mr Joseph LLOYD, proprietor of the brick yard here, is now getting out clay and will commence making brick at the earliest possible moment............ L'Anse: New Years eve Mr D.D. HENDRICK, on returning to his residence at a late hour,.. .discovered two men inside, in the act of disrobing and dressing again in clothes belonging to Mr H. He pitched the intruders out, almost naked as they were, but they returned. The next attempt to eject them was more successful. They are now in the county jail under the names of John RAY and James MOLTEN.....Mr Bert SMITH, the Lloyd brothers, W.H. HENDRICK and other citizens deserve credit for arresting these brazen scoundrels............... PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Jan 15, 1874 Died at the Calumet Hospital: The unfortunate man, MCGOWAN, who met with serious injuries last week, by carelessly jumping from a wood train on the M.R.R.R. while in motion, died last Thursday at the CaIumet Hospital. Mr J.H. CHANDLER, of Portage Lake, has been appointed Collector of the Port of Marquette, which embraces the customhouse business of the entire Lake Superior region, vice Mr H.A. BURT, whose time has expired. A man named Simon T. HOOPER had an examination last Wed. before Justice REES, charged with being a trespasser on the property belonging to the Calumet & Hecla mining company, and endeavoring to prevent the laborers on the mine from going to work.............. A melancholy coincidence: The brothers Redmond and George RYDER- old Lake Superior sailors- lost their lives by the vessels they were in command of, foundering in Saginaw Bay. Several years ago George went down with the Water Witch in this illfated bay, and Redmond passed away with the City of Detroit, which disappeared last December. Dr M.D. SENTER, of the Calumet mine, and Mr John SENTER, of Eagle River left Wednesday morning for a trip south. Both gentlemen are invalids. Mr James MERCER, of Ontonagon, has been in this section during this week. Mr M. was formerly a resident of Portage Lake. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Jan 29, 1874 The old residents of Portage Lake will no doubt readily call to mine Dr ISLER, who lived for a number of years in Hancock. This gentleman is the father of a young man who, chafing under home restraint while his family were residents of Detroit, ran off from his parents at the age of nine years, and for nineteen years this wayward boy was mourned as dead by his kindred.....an advertisement of a volume of poems by "Arnold ISLER" was seen by Mr A.F. ISLER (a brother...) of L'Anse, who followed the clue up, and the result was the poet turns out to be the long lost child......he had made for Holly, Michigan joined the 23d Regt of Ohio Volunteers and distinguished himself in the field...... Last year he published his first volume of poems.......and today occupies an agreeable social position in Columbus, and is altogether a young man to command respect. Died: Last Tuesday evening a liquor dealer, residing at Eagle Harbor, named Julius MICHAELS, owing to domestic difficulties, it is reported, committed suicide by shooting himself through the heart. Married: Below will be found a copy of the first marriage certificate ever issued on Lake Superior: "No all men by these prescens that I have jinned Antola DESSHAPPELS and Nancy LAFARGE in marriage. Sined, Joseph HART, justice of piece given at sant St Mary August 23, 1841" Funeral Memorial of the Late Mrs Thos. CUDDIHY, of Houghton by F.E. (a poem follows) Hancock: The next social for the benefit of Trinity church will be given by Mrs E.H. TOWER, Mrs J.H. CHANDLER and Mrs W. Carr, on Wed evening, Feb 4. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Feb 5,1874 Probate Order: 2 Feb 1874 In the matter of the estate of Eliza NANCARROW, deceased, Elizageth (sic) OSBORN, executrix named by will of said deceased, approved.... Probate Order: 2 Feb 1874 In the matter of the estate of Frederick HEHRING, deceased. On reading and filing the petition, duly verified, of George WERTIN, proving that letters of administration be issued unto him. Thereupon it is ordered Probate Order: 2 Feb 1874 In the matter of the estate of Ellen GAILIVAN, deceased.......... It is further ordered, that the adminstrator, Thomas B. GAILIVAN, of Calumet, Michigan shall have one year........ Probate Order: 17 Jan 1874 In the matter of the estate of William DAWE, deceased. John HOAR prayed that letters of administration be granted him....... Dr Frank E. FLETCHER, late of Detroit, is the newest acquisition to the mine medical fraternity of Houghton county, with headquarters at the Allouez. I am more than grateful to the members of Calumet Masonic Lodge for their kindness to the family and the respect shown to the remains of my deceased brother........Frank DAWE Dr I. M. RHODES, physician and surgeon at the Franklin mine, has invented and patented a combined fracture apparatus called "lnvalid's Bedstead and Chair".............. Mr Jerry CRONIN for many years known hereabouts as the mail contractor and stage line proprietor between Hancock and Keweenaw Point, has watched with an anxious, if not a jealous eye, the diversion of travel from the stage road between Portage Lake and Calumet to the Mineral Range railroad ....hereafter he will make the round trip upon the cars, shortening his time by stage to points beyond, and better accommodating the public.... Hon. R.M. HOAR returned here last Saturday from the East, and will leave again shortly to attend the extra session of the Legislature, which convenes at Lansing on the 3d of next month. Died: At the Cliff mine, Keweenaw county, Michigan, Jan 22, 1874, at one o'clock A.M., Mary Jane, the beloved wife of Andrew NICHOLLS, age 29 years. After L'Argent: James ALLEN has commenced suit against Charles EDWARDS for damages in the sum of $10,000. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Feb 12, 1874 Mr Thos. L. CHADBOURNE having resigned the position of Superintendent of Schools in Houghton county, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction has appointed Mr M.J. WHITNEY, principal of Houghton High School, to fill the vacancy. Mrs ENDERICH, Houghton, is the only person on Lake Superior who is the authorized agent for the celebrated Butterick system of ladies', children's and infants' clothes patterns. Spring style of patterns just received. Argonauts in Council:...........old settlers of the copper region of Lake Superior, met to plan for an Old Settlers party; D.D. BROCKWAY was called to the chair and W.P. RALEY appointed secretary.......... .......the following list of managers were selected: Floor Managers: Jos. RETALLACK, jr, Wm. HOAR, J.N. SCOTT, Arthur BROCKWAY, Carlos D. SHELDEN, Wm. VAN ORDEN. Committe of Arrangements: D.D. BROCKWAY, Joseph RETALLACK, jr, Johnson VIVIAN. Committe to procure orator: D.D. Brockway, Wm. A. CHILDS, F.G. WHITE. Managers: Ontonagon County. James R. PAULL, L.M. DICKENS, Edwin SALES, James E. HOYT, Capt PARKER, James M. HERRING, James MERCER, John CHYNOWETH. Houghton County. Ransom SHELDEN, John HOAR, Geo. H. FULLER, John ATWOOD, C.E. HOLLAND, F.W. ANTHONY, Richard UREN Johnson VIVIAN, John DUNCAN, John Q. MCKERNAN, Frank G. WHITE, Seth REES, Capt. Wm HARRIS, Edwin J. HULBERT, James A. CLOSE, L.G. EMERSON, R.H. OSBORNE, George W. SHEARS, Will (?) H. CHILDS, E.L. MASON, T.W. EDWARDS, J.A. DONALSON. Keweenaw County - D.D. BROCKWAY, John SENTER, Thos. PAULL, A.A. BENNETT, Joseph RETALLACK, sen, W.E. WRIGHT, Justin SHAPLEY, W.P. RALEY, Chas. KUNZ, C.B. PETRIE, Perkins BARNHAM, Ed. GUILDBAULT, Thos. O'CONNER, James CRAWFORD, Joseph PAULL, O.A. FARWELL, John BATH, John ALEXANDER, John VIVIAN, Frank HOPKINS, John FOLEY, H.H. BOUCHER, Geo. H. SATTERLEE, Geo. BAILEY, Jules DORIE. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Feb 19, 1874 Fatal accident at Phoenix mine in keweenaw county: The following is a list of the killed: Captain John HOATSON, a highly respected citizen of this district for a number of years, age 46, native of Scotland, leaves a wife and four children; Captain Richard JOHNS, English, unmarried; Fred STRIKER, German, wife and eight children; William DUNN, English, unmarried; James MARKS, English, unmarried; and Joseph MARKS, English, leaves a wife and four children. The remains of Capt Hoatson left Phoenix on Tuesday morning for burial at Calumet, headed by the Eagle River Lodge of OddFellows, and followed by a large number of sleighs containing relations and friends. At Allouez the sad funeral cortege was joined by the Calumet OddFellows and additional mourners, and when the procession passed through the Schoolcraft mine, on its way to the churchyard, it contained nearly one hundred teams. The "old settlers"' ball at Eagle River on Mar 5th promises to be a festive occasion.......Mr James K. PAULL, who shook the dust of Kit BULLARD's mill, on the Big Pigeon in "Wisconce," from his feet in 1842 and made for Ontonagon county, where he has since resided, has signified his intention to be present and entertain his old time companions with early day reminiscences, anecdotes, etc. Mr John CHASSELL has received one of the best preserved and oddly shaped copper tools of "ye ancient make" we have yet seen........It was found near the shore of Portage Lake, in making an excavation on the land of the late Geo. CHURCHES, and will be added to the collection of the Historical Society. At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Mineral Range Railroad, held in the office of the company, Hancock, Feb 16, for the purpose of selecting officers for the coming year. Mr Charles E. HOLLAND was reelected President; and Mr R.M. HOAR, VicePresident. Mr A.H. VIELE was chosen Secretary and Treasurer. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Feb 26, 1874 In today's Gazette will be found a word from Mr Geo. S. HARRIS about farming lands in Iowa and Nebraska. Mr. James Hoyt, local swamp land commissioner, Ontonagon, offers a chance for some contractor to make a fortune................... Rev Edward SEYMOUR, at one time in charge of the Episcopal church at this point, is now visiting his friends in this district. Mr SEYMOUR, with his family, is now living at Negaunee. Rev Edward JACKER, Catholic clergyman, who for years discharged the duties of his priestly office in various parts of this county - now a resident of Mackinac -was in the neighborhood this week. Father JACKER, aside from being a zealous priest, is a gentleman of marked and varied literary attainments. The scene from a pioneer's life, on the flyleaf of the invitations (Old Settler's Ball) was sketched and engraved by Thomas NAST, the great Harper's Weekly artist.........Old Settlers, of course, remember the bloody set-to that Judge BACON had, on the North American mine when it first started with WAZUS-CHE-KA, the Indian chief. .........Before the sanguinary savage has succeeded in taking Judge BACON's scalp off entirely, he was shot in his tracks by Major BODEN, who happened to be in the whim house... and was attracted to the spot by the demoniac yells of the frenzied WA-ZUS-CHEKA. Judge Bacon is now a resident of Detroit, and never refers to this incident in his life without the cold chills running over him................. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Mar 5, 1874 Marriage: Joe Easterday DANIELS and one of Red Jacket's fairest daughters, last Wednesday evening. Capt John BRAKAS, the first licensed navigator on Lake Superior, who used to sail the schooner Aster for the American Fur company, when she was first built, passed through this place last Tuesday on his way to Eagle River to attend the Old Settlers' party. The captain, for a man who carries 80 odd years upon his shoulders, looked well. Killed: Last Saturday morning a miner named Thomas KEAN, while "tamping" a hole with the wooden handle of a pick, in the Calumet & Hecla mine, was instantly killed by the premature explosion of the blast he was preparing............He leaves a wife and four children. We understand he had an insurance policy for $1000 on his life. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Mar 12, 1874 Joseph GREGORY has at his mill at Torch Lake between six and seven thousand logs ready to cut. It is estimated that they will make two and a half million feet of lumber and timber. The mill will start the 10th of April, newly fitted with machinery for all kinds of work and with a capacity for getting out 5,000,000 feet of lumber. Panel for the April Term of the Circuit Court: The following is the list of petit jurors drawn to serve at the next session of the Circuit Court of Houghton County: Charles HODGE, Franklin; John CORAH, Hancock; James L. NANKERVIS, Calumet; D.E. WAHBU RN, Portage; Lawrence SUPRENANT, Calu met; Fred. MUTTER, Webster; Oscar J. FOOTE, L'Anse; Paul SCHMIDT, Schoolcraft; Albert M. PRIEST, Hancock; Michael BUCKLEY, Webster; Joseph CHOSA, Baraga; James N. COX, Calumet; Robie DOBLE, Calumet; Phillip C. SULLIVAN, Hancock; E.F. PARKER, Calumet; James BEESLEY, Schoolcraft; Samuel TRUSCOTT, Hancock; Joseph FALLEDEAU, Schoolcraft; John LOWREY, Sr, Calumet; Norbert SARAZIN, Schoolcraft; Andrew JOHNSON, Baraga; John PETERS, Hancock; William HARRY. Hancock. The Old Settlers Achieve a Great Success:........One hundred and thirty couples were on the floor of the dancing hall at one time..... ............Responding to the toasts were Mr D.D. BROCKWAY, Mr James CRAWFORD, Col. W.B. WRIGHT, Mr W.P. RALEY; Capt James Bendry (by telegraph), Mr George BAILEY, Captain Johnson VIVIAN (who was a chum of General Grant when stationed at Copper Harbor in 1848), Mr Justin SHAPLEY, Mr Wm. VAN ORDEN, Mr Jerry CRONIN, Mr Jules BORIE, Mr James A. ROONEY. The contract for carrying the mails between Champion and Hancock, for one year from July next, has been let to James and Luke WELSH. Wm. ANDERSON, of Eagle River, was the successful bidder for the same service between Houghton and Copper Harbor. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Mar 19, 1874 Died: At Hancock, Mich, March 12, 1874, Neil Orrin, only child of W.W. and Cornelia ROBINSON, aged 5 months and 13 days. Died: At Willoughby, Ohio, March 17, 1874, Mr Hezekiah FERGUSON, the father of Mrs Dr FULLER, of Houghton, aged 81 years. Some readers of the Gazette yet on Portage Lake may remember the little sensation which the case of Mary SCHECK created, who worked in the Pewabic stamps for some time in the disguise of a man, and was known as John KEELER. This woman's sex was discovered owing to her falling into Portage Lake early one spring before the ice was out. John or Mary was in town last Saturday. After her sex was found out she moved to Sheboygan, where she soon after married a farmer named HADWIN. She and her husband are now residing at the Superior Iron mine, Marquette county, keeping boarding house and trying to raise five children. The Hancock Reading Circle meets at the home of Wm. R. NOBLE this evening. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Mar 26, 1874 Married: At Houghton, Mar 25, 1874, by Rev P.H. HOLLISTER, Mr F.P. FOX to Miss Julia A. NORTHRUP, all of Houghton. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Apr 2, 1874 At the last meeting of the Houghton Village Board the resignation of Mr. Wm. HARRIS was accepted, and Mr. T.W. EDWARDS elected to fill vacancy. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Apr 9, 1874 Railroad accident: Last Wednesday evening as the wood train on the Mineral Range RR was backing out from the Osceola mine branch, a brakeman on the rear car, named Roderick ANDERSON, jumped from the train to turn the switch, and striking the lever, was thrown back under the wheels Master John DELZELL, of Lake county, has received the appointment to West Point recently offered by our member of Congress to the boys residing in the Ninth District. Died: At Houghton, Apr 3, 1874, Emma I., wife of Reb J.R. BARNARD, rector of Trinity Episcopal church in the 29th year of her age. Married: On Saturday, Apr 4, 1874, by Rev J. FRAZER, Mr. Wm. HITCHINGS to Miss Mary A. MARTIN; all of Houghton. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Apr 16, 1874 Mr. James PATOR, agent of the Portage Lake Improvement Company, is getting dredges ready and making other preparations to work on the eastern approach to Portage Lake as soon as navigation opens. Mr. J. Dwight PALMER, of Marquette, has succeeded one A. P. HIEBOLD, who resided at the Soo, as revenue agent on Lake Superior. Mr. PALMER will probably surprise his friends if he don't serve the government efficiently. Letter from Arkansas: Hot Springs, Ark, Apr 5, 1874, I have to inform you that Wm. FECHBEIMER, of this place, ex-sheriff of Houghton County, Mich. and for some years past a resident of Hot Springs, died this morning of apoplexy..................His wife and children are in Cincinnati, 0., where he had sent his children to school........... I would say that Mrs. SHELDEN and myself are receiving great benefit from the use of the spring water. We walk daily three miles, and we have climbed to the top of one of the highest mountains here. Yours, R. SHELDEN Circuit Court: James RAMSAY, John S. MORRISON, Richard B. MARCHAM, James HOATSON and Allan McINTYRE were admitted to become citizens of the USA. Robert DOBBIE, Ludwig WOLF, Frederick MACKENZIE and Wm. DANIELL were admitted to become citizens of the United States. Willard BRAMAN, the young man who was charged with writing a threatening letter to Charles EDWARDS for the purpose of extorting money, was found guilty in the Circuit Court last Tuesday. Mr. T. L. CHADBOURNE represented the people. Messrs. CHANDLER & GRANT defended. We understand the case is to be taken to the Supreme Court. Mr. R. H. BRELAFORD, County Clerk, has forwarded to the several Supervisors the necessary blanks to aid them in the work of taking the regular State decennial census. A lively spring business is indicated in and about the wagon and carriage shops of Chris. BROEMER, where a busy lot of men are employed on new work and refitting and painting numberless vehicles, which will soon be needed upon our roads. Mrs. Mary TAFT, of Elk Point, Dakota Territory, called at the World's Dispensary, Aug 19, 1873, to acknowledge a debt of gratitude due Dr. PIERCE, having been entirely cured of Catarrh. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Apr 23, 1874 Mr. Edward SALES, of Ontonagon, in connection with Mr. W. D. WILLIAMS and other gentlemen at Marquette, has entered a body of land on the eastern prolongation of the presumed course of the Island (Isle Royale) mine conglomerate, and it is the intention to do a certain amount of exploring the coming season.............. During the years 1872-3 a system of exploration for copper was carried on under the guidance of Mr. S.W. HILL, on land owned by Mr. Thos. F. MASON, resulting in the discovery of a belt of conglomerate in town 64, range 37............. The late fire at Ishpeming destroyed 22 buildings, which together with other property, involved a loss of something over $125,000, with an insurance not exceeding 25 percent of the amount. Negaunee lost five buildings the same evening by fire. There is a report that the fires in both places were the work of incendiaries, for the purpose of plunder. ...............Mark MATHERS, formerly of Hancock, was burned out at Ishpeming, and his wife died from the effects of excitement incident to the occasion. Some one sends us a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle containing an account of a brutal prize fight between a couple of bruisers named respectively HOGAN and TREVILLIAN. The winner of the encounter, James TREVILLIAN, an Englishman, used to work at the Pewabic mine. Spring Millinery: Mrs. John PRYOR, in Mrs. STROBEL'S building, Houghton, has the latest styles of ladies' hat and bonnets. Also agency for Madame Demorests patterns. Birth: At the Albany and Boston mine, on the 13th inst., at the residence of R. R. GOODELL, Mrs. J.C. RODGERS, of a daughter. Died: At L'Anse, on the 19th inst., Mrs. N. A., wife of Wm. H. HENDRICK, aged 41 years and 10 months. Probate Order: .......in the village of Houghton , on Saturday, the 18th of April, 1874, in the matter of the estate of Richard STOPPERT... .. administratrix, Theresa STOPPERT. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dick and June Ross. plh revised 2001