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. ____________________________________________________________________ 1876 August - December 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, Aug 3,1876 Mr A. P. THOMAS, formerly in charge of the Copper Falls and Allouez mines, has been appointed superintendent of the Delaware mine, in Keweenaw county. Last Friday Mr Chas. ATWOOD, of this locality, a short distance east of Salmon Trout river, found the body of a man floating in the lake, which is supposed to be one of the unfortunates lost on the St. Clair............... Last Saturday a workman at the Quincy stamp mill named STELMLEY was engaged in assisting to hoist some castings into the second story of the building when two of them, which had not been properly secured, slipped out of the sling, and striking him on the head, inflicted wounds from which he died the next morning. He leaves a wife and 3 children. Birth: At the Clark mine, on July 30, the wife of Leon LAURANCE, Esq., of a daughter. Probate Order: Estate of Christian HANSON, deceased....... PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Aug 10,1876 Fatal Accident: Last Friday evening, as the tug Syphax was towing a scow in Torch Lake, Mr Joseph DESROSIERS, a workman employed in the lumber mill of Mr Joseph GREGORY, attempted to get aboard the scow from a small boat and was run down and drowned...............Mr DESROSIERS was a young man about 25 years old and unmarried. The Detroit Free Press, says: "Lake Superior has a citizen who is a poet, a scholar, a merchant, the owner of a museum, a mineralogist, a botanist, a hunter and a taxidermist. The foregoing has reference to Mr Thos. MEADE, of Marquette The wrestling match under the management of THOMAS & MATTERS, of this place Saturday, resulted in the first prize being won by William IVEY, of Calumet; second, by John FORD, Atlantic; third, by James WILCOX, Calumet; fourth, William BASTIAN, Red Jacket. William GROSE?, of Calumet, was unfortunate enough to dislocate his shoulder by an unlucky fall, but is not seriously injured............ Abe UREN, who lives in Frenchtown, was up before Recorder HITCHINGS last Monday, charged with disturbing the peace and quiet of the village..........fined $5.00 & costs. We, the undersigned, having in use the Perfect washing machine, introduced into the district by F.W. HEYN, take this method to inform the public that we consider it perfect in every respect............Mrs John HOAR, Mrs Wm WAGNER, Mrs Wm STRUCKMEYER, Mrs Philip SCHEUERMAN, Mrs John F. HUNT, Mrs C. HAFFENRAFFER, Mrs 3. HENNES, Mrs P. R. GOTTSTEIN, Mrs Seth REES, Mrs Jas. P. EDWARDS, Mrs Joseph RAWLINS, Mrs John FUNKEY, Mrs John HOSKING, Mrs R.H. BRELSFORD, Mrs Josiah PAULL, Mrs Fred KROLL, Mrs August HELMBACH, Mrs S. E. CLEAVES, Mrs Thos. PEARCE, Mrs J.R. DEVEREAUX. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Aug 17, 1876 Married: At Trinity church, Houghton, on Sunday, Aug 13, by the Rev J.H. BARNARD, Mr J.H. WILSON to Miss Gwyneth WILLIAMS. Died: At Akron, Ohio, Aug 9, Will WILSON, formerly a resident of this place, aged 20 years and one day. His remains were taken to Chicago for burial. Died: Last Friday James TRIVALL who was preparing a blast in the Quincy mine which exploded before its time, received injuries from which he soon after died. Killed: Tuesday Dennis LEARY fell down 140 feet in one of the shafts in the Quincy mine and was instantly killed. Probate Order: Estate of George HARRIS, deceased..................... Information wanted: LOW - Should this meet the eye of James LOW, belonging to the parish of Logleport, by Montrose, Scotland, or any party who may know of him, or have known him during the last 3 years, kindly communicate with William LOW, Logle, by Montrose, Scotland, as his family is desirous to know about him. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Oct 19, 1876 Mr and Mrs J.H. BLANDY, of this place, and Capt. Jno. HODGSON, sailed for England last Wednesday. The party will pass the winter on the continent Wm. WERN, of Hancock, is out as a "stump" candidate for sheriff Mr WERN is provoked on account of the democratic and republican parties in this county ignoring the German element. Democratic County Convention met in Hancock last Friday for the purpose of nominating candidates for the various county offices. John POWER was appointed temporary chairman, and E. P. KIBBEE temporary secretary. T. W. EDWARDS made permanent chairman, and E. P. KIBBEE permanent secretary; A. J. SCOTT and W. J. HAMBLY appointed tellers. A. RUHL was nominated for representative. B. SHEA was nominated for sheriff. R. H. Breisford was nominated for county clerk and register of deeds. George WERTIN and James D. REID received ballots for treasurer, with Mr WERTIN nominated for the office but he declined, however the convention refused to accept his withdrawal. The following gentlemen were, on motion, nominated by acclamation: T.M. BRADY, Prosecuting attorney; J.T. FINNEGAN, Circuit Court Commissioner; F. MACKENZIE, Judge of Probate; Jas. P. EDWARDS, County surveyor; Henry FISCHER Sr, and Chas. LAMBERT, coroners; John HAWLEY, Fish inspector. On motion the chair appointed Messrs. A.J. SCOTT, Jas. P. EDWARDS, Thos. PEARCE, Patrick RUSSELL, Wm. TONKIN, Jas. SULLIVAN and Henry FISCHER Sr, a committee to select names of 14 gentlemen as delegates to attend senatorial convention. ...Again George Wertin arose, and positively declined to accept the nomination of treasurer, and on motion the convention accepted his resignation. Jas. D. REID was thereupon nominated treasurer by acclimation. The committee reported the following persons as delegates to senatorial convention: Calumet - Frederick MacKENZIE, John C. RYAN, Jas. HEALY, Arthur H. DONALD. Franklin - Stephen E. CLEAVES, Patrick CUDDIHHY Schoolcraft - Henry FISCHER Sr Quincy - James MCCARTY Adams - William TONKIN Hancock - David KENDALL, Moses HANAUER Portage - Jos. P. EDWARDS, Joseph HENNES, Jeremiah T. FINNEGAN PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Oct 26, 1876 Phillip GOLDSTEIN left these parts some months ago for the Black Hills with $500 in his pockets and heaps of courage in his heart. A letter from him to a friend, dated from a town in Minnesota, states that he was flat broke and was hoofing it to Duluth en route for this locality. A Card: To the President and Board of Directors of the Houghton Copper Works: Gentlemen, I herewith respectfully tender you my resignation as secretary and treasurer and superintendent of your corporation, to take effect the 2lst day of November 1876. I regret exceedingly the causes which compel me.............................. Rees JAMES Mr Hubert DIXON has left this place for Missouri to accept a position in that State as an operator on one of the telegraph lines down there. Hubert is a "native" here................... PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Nov 2, 1876 Agreeable news comes to this section from Mrs DAVIS and her son Edward, whom old residents will remember. Leaving here in 1850, after the death of her husband, she removed to New York where fortune smiled upon her. Her son is now a partner in the house of Arnold, Constable & Co., and a young man of great promise. Last Saturday night a female domestic employed in Mr S.D. NORTH’s house on the Quincy Mine, discovered on retiring, a man lying under her bed. She gave an alarm which brought Mr NORTH on the scene who grappled with the intruder and after a desperate struggle, finally secured the rascal and lodged him in the county jail. The burglar, whose name is GERRY, has been in the neighborhood............... PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Nov 9, 1876 Last Tuesday the republicans of the 321 senatorial district elected Dr Reuben H. OSBORN, of Calumet, to represent them in the State senate at Lansing. Dr OSBORN has resided in this region for nearly a quarter of a century.............. The republicans in Houghton county at the polls last Tuesday elected their ticket by an overwhelming majority...........Hon. Seth D. NORTH, who has been selected to represent this county in the State legislature at Lansing has been a leading merchant in the district.............. ............ninth congressional district............Hon. Jay A. HUBBELL re-elected by a magnificent majority ranging between five and six thousand votes............. Mr Henry NORTHY, the successful nominee for sheriff.................... Mr J.B STURGIS, who was reelected treasurer......................... Mr Thos. D. MEADS, who has been selected as county clerk and register of deeds.... Col. C.B. GRANT, elected prosecuting attorney.......................... Judge Will A. CHILDS, who was reelected as judge of probate....................... Mr Thos. F. POWERS, the successful circuit court commissioner..................... The bronze equestrian statue of Col. Alf CLARK, who discovered the overland route from Sault Ste Mane to Mackinac has arrived from Florence, Italy. It will be placed on the west bank of the Soo Canal, near its Lake Superior entrance. The ceremonies of uncovering will take place on 24th inst. Rev. R.L. LANG WORTH, of Mackinac, is to deliver the oration. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Nov 16, 1876 Weather permitting a grand turkey shooting match is to take place at the Dodge mine tomorrow, Friday, under the patronage of Mr John HOFEN. Lake Superior’s Delegation at Lansing: Dr R. Ho OSBORN, senator, 32d district, residence, Calumet Hon. Edward BREITUNG, senator, 31 st district; residence, Negaunee Hon. S.D. NORTH, representative, Houghton Co; residence, Quincy Hon. A.C. DAVIS, representative, Keweenaw, Isle Royale, Baraga and Ontonagon counties; residence, Minong Hon H.H. STAFFORD, representative, first district of Marquette Co; res. Marquette Hon. Lester CURTIS, representative 2nd district of Marquette Co; residence, Ishpeming. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Nov 23, 1876 Houghton BENNETT, an employee in the Osceola mill, was accidentally killed last night while in the discharge of his duty. His remains will be buried tomorrow, Friday. Funeral from the residence of Mr. Geo. CARAH, South Side mine. Last Friday evening James GARRY, confined in the county jail on a charge of burglarizing the house of Mr NORTH, Quincy; and another scamp named Edward SMITH, escaped by knocking down an attendant, an old man. Up to date they have not been recaptured. Mr Rees JAMES, late superintendent of the copper rolling mill at this place, has gone to Nevada, where he will pass the winter. Among the arrivals the past week from the centennial were Capt. Wm. HARRIS and family, Allouez, and Mr Thos. J. BROWN. A special meeting of Houghton Lodge, No. 218 F.& A.M., is called for this Thursday evening, on account of the death of Bro. Houghton BENNETT. Wm.. CONDON, W. M. Capt. Paul PELKEY, an Indian, one of the best sailors on the lakes and well known in these parts, lost his life on the l3th inst. In the straits of Mackinac, by being suffocated, in company with four others, on the tug Bennett, of which he was master. Last Friday night an exploring camp, between the shore of Misery bay and the Winona mine, Ontonagon county, was startled from its propriety by the sudden appearance of herd of wolves, which rushed in from the direction of the bay. The occupants of the camp fled........exception of a French lad, who was acting as cook for the party. By the free use of a breech-loader he slaughtered nine of the ferocious brutes, and by scattering fire around the intrepid youth put to rout the balance. The name of this juvenile hero is Antoine LABRE, and he lives at Chokla, Marquette county. "Macdonald’s Peak, a pyramidal shaped rock over 280 feet high, overhanging the shore of Lake Superior a few miles east of Silver Islet, tumbled down a week ago last Monday. The peak was a column of granite, almost round and was about 100 feet in circumference at its base, gradually narrowing toward its top. The action of the waves had undermined it, but as subsequent events prove, to a greater extent than was supposed, for people living in the vicinity passed in a boat within a few feet of it the day previous. The towering stone was called "Macdonald’s Peak," in honor of Mr Fergus MACDONALD, a Hudson Bay company factor, who is credited with climbing to the top of it in the summer of 1822 and jumping into the lake to win a wager of 20 pounds. See Bancroft’s history of the Northwest fur company, pages 221 and 222. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Dec 7, 1876 Obituary: Died at his residence in Hancock, on the 6th inst., of hemorrhage of the bowels, Rev P.H. HOLLISTER, age 40 years. By the death of Mr HOLLISTER the Congregational church of Hancock loses a very faithful and devoted pastor.......... Having been in charge over eight years.................... Killed: Last Friday night a miner named Wm. FORD was killed underground in the Calumet and Hecla owing to the premature discharge of a blast. Tuesday morning a man named Roderick DINGWALL, while engaged in hoisting a piece of machinery on this mine was instantly killed by a heavy stick of timber falling on him. A gentleman who has visited within the past year all of the mining settlements in California, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and the Black Hills, says that in every one of them he found miners who at one time or another had worked in the copper mines of this district. Probate Order: Estate of Michael AURICH, deceased............petition......of Maria M. AURICH, relict Married: SNELL - VINCENT - At the residence of the bride’s parents, at Dodgeville, Wis, on the evening of Dec 9, 1876, Capt Joseph SNELL, of Hancock, Mich., to Miss Annie VINCENT, of Dodgeville. Died: STRUCKMEYER - At Houghton, on Wednesday, Dec 13, at 10:20 P.M., of consumption. William A. STRUCKMEYER, aged 49 years 9 months, 2 days. Funeral services at Trinity church next Sunday at 2:30 PM. Died: COWLES - At L’Amse, Dec 9, 1876, Proctor P. COWLES, aged 62 years and 10 months. Died: RAYMOND — At East Houghton, on Wednesday evening, Dec 13, of bronchitis, Charlotte Emma, infant daughter of C. Edward and Hattie M. RAYMOND, aged two mos. Dr. J. M. RHODES, of the Franklin mine, has been awarded a medal from the centennial board of awards, for the merit, mechanical and otherwise which his invalid bed, chair and fracture apparatus contain. Josiah DOGGETT, who is represented as a very worthy person, employed for years in the mines over in Keweenaw county, has fallen heir to a business property in a flourishing town in the coal regions of Pennsylvania, valued at $10,000. Mr Geo. BURROWS, a Portage Lake boy, one of the publishers of the Arkansas State Grange, Little Rock, was in the district the past week visiting his relatives. M.J. WHITNEY, principal of the school in this place, has been arrested by Capt. Wm. BUTTERFIELD on the charge of brutally beating a little son of his. An examination is to take place before Squire REES today, when the facts in the case will be brought to light. Last Saturday night, about 10 o’clock, a fire broke out in a boarding house on the Cliff mine, kept by David BARR, which burned to the ground. Two boarders named James WHITE and Jeremiah CROOK were consumed in the fire. A man named Patrick FITZPATRICK was rescued from the burning building after a very narrow escape. It is claimed that the parties named above were all drunk, and that through the carelessness of one them the house was set on fire. PORTAGE LAKE MINING GAZETTE, Dec 21, 1876 Going to Work: Captain Johnson VIVlAN, superintendent of the Franklin-Pewabic, is also in charge of the Mesnard, which adjoins the former mine on the north. Capt. VIVIAN has recently received instructions from Mr D.L. DEMMON, the eastern manager of the Mesnard, to unwater the mine, and he is now having put in order the engine at the shaft, and the necessary gear to pump, which will be running probably in a few days.......... Silver Islet Mine: The Thunder Bay Sentinel states the old active management of the Silver Islet mine has been displaced, and that Mr Carl O. WEDERKINCH, mining engineer, fresh from the silver mines of the Pacific coast, is to be superintendent. The company has been reorganized or consolidated............. Mr T. Florry DONAHOE, proprietor of the Red Star line of stages between Hancock and Houghton, is going to heat his stages this winter by hot air pipes arranged under the seats, connected with small blast furnaces at either end of the route. Mr DONAHOE has spent over eight years perfecting his improvement, and we hope the public will appreciate his efforts in its behalf. M.J. WHITNEY, principal of the high school, who was arrested last week on the charge of beating a son of Capt Wm. BUTTERFIELD, in a brutal manner, was tried for the offense Saturday before Justice REES, and was fined five dollars and costs or twenty days in the county jail. Mr WHITNEY is going to appeal his case to the circuit court. John KASPERS gives a ball on New Year’s Eve at his hotel, Hurontown. Married: MITCHELL - OLDS At the residence of James PRYOR., on the 14th inst., by Rev. John SWEET, Mr Richard MITCHELL to Miss Sarah Jane OLDS, both of Houghton. File contributed for use in Houghton Co. USGenWeb Archives by Dick and June Ross. plh revised 2001