THE MINING GAZETTE (under various names) of Houghton County, Michigan

Copyright (c) 1999-2001 by Dick and June Ross. This copy contributed 
for use in the USGenWeb Archives.  

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1877 September - October 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, Houghton, Lake Superior, Mich., September 6. 1877

On Friday last a miner named James RYAN was killed in the Hecla. His funeral 
on Sunday was largely attended.

The inhabitants of the village of Red Jacket held their annual election on 
Tuesday last: Marshal, John STROM; Trustees, William NORTHY, Joseph WERTIN 
Jr., Peter RUPPE Jr., assessors, Capt John C. RYAN, Richard BASTIAN; 
Treasurer, Joseph HERMANN.


Portage Lake Mining Gazette, Houghton, Lake Superior. Mich., September 13, 1877

The wrestling match at Stephens & Wilcox’s ring was brought to a close on 
Saturday last, and the following were declared the winners of the several 
prizes: John BLYTH (the old country man), $50, first prize; Peter CARLYON, 
$45, second prize; James WILCOX, $20, third prize; Walter WILCOX, $10, 
fourth prize; Uncle Jim WILCOX, keg of beer, fifth prize.

Owing to some financial difficulty, a certain amount of the paper of the 
Allouez mining company was allowed to go to protest the other day, and the 
result was there was no pay-day last week. The mine force stopped work, 
but after a consultation with the superintendent, Capt. Wm. HARRIS, went 
to work again, it being understood that the copper coming out is to used 
in paying employees’ wages.........................              

Wm. WITITE, as will be seen by his advertisement in today’s Gazette, has 
opened a blacksmith shop in town and intends making horseshoeing a specialty.

At a regular meeting of the common council of the village of Houghton, 
held.........Sept 6, 1877, had present:
C.D. SHELDEN, president; Wm MILLER. Josiah PAULL, Joseph CROZE, 
trustees...........          

William ROGERS has opened out a shop for job work in the tin shop formerly 
occupied by HOLLAND & SCOTT. He intends keeping a small stock of general 
hardware.

A little son of Joseph LLOYD fell from the hay loft in the barn and broke 
his arm.


Portage Lake Mining Gazette, Houghton, Lake Superior, Mich, September 20, 1877

In addition to the one built in the west of the village by Mr Geo. C. SHELDEN, 
Mr Peter GOTTSTEIN has commenced the erection of what is to be a sightly 
residence in the same locality.

A miner from Cornwall arrived here last evening who was just 11 1/4 days 
from Liverpool, Eng.

Last Thursday, John, son of Thomas DAVEY, who has charge of the Franklin stamp 
mill, was about starting away from the Pewabic dock in a row boat, when he fell 
over dead, the sudden snapping of life being caused it is supposed by heart 
disease. "Jack", as he was familiarly called, was a great favorite with all 
who knew him. His funeral on Saturday was a large one.

The young man, Mathias EGGAN, who shot himself while out hunting partridges 
last week, is improving, and is now considered out of danger.

John, a son of George CHAMBERS, employed by the M.H. & O.R.R as brakeman on an 
ore train, had his hand badly mashed while coupling cars at Spurr Mine last week.


Portage Lake Mining Gazette, Houghton. Lake Superior, Mich, Sept 27, 1877

On Monday next the delinquent tax lands of Houghton county will be offered 
for sale at the office of Mr. J.B. STURGIS, county treasurer.

On Friday last Mr Peter BELLEHEMEUR of this place captured at Pilgrim river 
one of the largest beavers ever taken in these parts.

On Friday last a miner named JEFFRY was killed in the Franklin mine by a 
premature explosion.

Alex SHIELDS is in the woods near Sturgeon river, exploring for slate.

E. EDGERTON has the best crop of potatoes in L’Anse.

A. THURLBY, superintendent Huron Bay slate quarry, has moved his family out 
to the quarry.

I. A. BENNETT has a fine lot of light Brahma fowls and bronze turkeys, from 
pure stock purchased in Henry county, Ill.

Win. MULOCH was somewhat injured at Pendry’s mill on Monday by the bursting 
of an emery wheel used for gumming saws. It was rather a narrow escape for him.

P. C. MURPHY, who left L’Anse to work on the new road, building at Menominee, 
was dangerously hurt one day last week. He has since had his leg taken off. 
Mrs. M. has gone down to care for him.

Geo. W. FEW of Fewsville, has been improving his property the present season. 
His numerous buildings have been painted white......................Mr. F. 
claims the honor of being the first man to raise watermelons successfully in 
the Upper Peninsula.


Portage Lake Mining Gazette, Houghton, Lake Superior, Mich, October 4, 1877

The total revenue of the village of Red Jacket for the year ending Sep 4, 
was $8658.981 expenditures, $8864.19. Total amount due the village, $2,855; 
indebtedness, $2,186.50.

Capt. W. HARRIS, of the Allouez mine, has purchased an interest in the mill 
erected for washing the sand made by the old Calumet stamps, and is to be 
the managing partner....................                       

L’Anse item: A new settlement has been started about 4 miles west of Baraga. 
James GUEST has located a homestead, and this year (his 3d one) he has 10 
or 12 acres under cultivation. His crops are the finest in the county and 
consist of.............Three enterprising Swedes have located near Mr. G. 
and are doing their share toward clearing up and making a permanent settlement. 
They are steady, industrious.................   

Capt. Richard UREN started for the Black Hills on Tuesday.

Died: CHADBOURNE - In Houghton, Oct 3, Eliza G., daughter of T.L. and G.K. 
CHAUBOURNE, aged 3 years. Funeral services from the house Friday at one o’clock.

Mr Robt. SLOAN, the night watchman on the Hecla mine, whilst on his way to 
church on Sunday last, fell down when near St Patrick’s Hall.............., 
but is now fast recovering             

Mrs. E. L. MASON, who has been dangerously sick for the past three weeks, is 
now improving.

Rev. Father JACKER, recently from Mackinac, preached in the Catholic church 
on Sunday 1st. His discourse was a very interesting one, being an account of 
the finding of the remains of Father Marquette.

Prosper ROBERTS is moving away from L’Anse. He is going into the woods back 
of his farm at "Boot Jack," where he has a heavy lumbering contract with the 
Eastern company, which is building the mill at Pe­qui-qua wa-rn ng Point.

Billy BART, son-in-law of Capt. BENDRY, went into the woods, directly back of 
his house, on Sunday last, hunting partridges. He did not arrive home at night, 
although when he started out he did not expect to be gone long. On Monday 
parties searched......And the mill whistle was blown at intervals..............
R M. STEAD was chosen captain, and an organized movement was decided upon......
about 9 o’clock Billy was found by an Indian, completely exhausted and unable to travel.................He had heard the whistle all day, but could not follow its 
sound.

A limited number of miners can learn of a locality in South America in which to 
"pitch work", by application to this office.


Portage Lake Mining Gazette, Houghton, Lake Superior. Mich, Oct 18. 1877

The special event of the week was the marriage of Miss HARRIS, the youngest 
daughter of Capt. HARRIS of the Allouez Mine, to Dr PLEWS of the Quincy mine. 
The marriage took place at the captain’s residence, the Rev. Jacob HORTON, an 
old friend of the bride, officiating. Shortly after the ceremony the happy 
couple started on their wedding tour East.

Meetings were held on the Calumet and Hecla locations on Saturday last for the 
purpose of organizing two fire companies.............For the Calumet fire 
company: Thomas HOATSON, president, James GRIERSON, vice-president, Fred 
MACKENZIE, secretary, John A. DAVIDSON, his alternate, John CAMM, treasurer, 
James RAMSAY, foreman, Duncan MACDONALD assistant, William DANIEL, 2d assistant, 
John HUTSON, 3d assistant.
For the Hecla fire company: James WRIGHT, president, R. WAREHAM, vice-president, 
P.H. SWIFT, secretary, John DUNCAN, treasurer, Will A. CHILDS, foreman, Jacob 
REUTHER, 1st assistant, J. P. RYAN, 2d assistant.

Married: PLEWS-HARRIS - At the Allouez mine, Oct 11, Rev Jacob HORTON, Calumet, 
officiating, Dr Bradford F. PLEWS, of Quincy mine, and Martha, youngest daughter 
of Capt Win. HARRIS.

Married: CHAMBERLAIN - CONNER - At Hancock, Mich, Oct 9, by Rev E.R STILES, Wm H. 
CHAMBERLAIN, of that place, and Miss Pauline CONNER, of Depere, Wisconsin.

Married: RICHARDS - LAY - At the Congregational church, Hancock, Oct 11, by Rev. 
E. R STILES, Richard S. RICHARDS and Miss Charlotte LAY, both of Quincy township, 
Mich.


Portage Lake Mining Gazette, Houghton, Lake Superior, Mich, Oct 25, 1877

The Minong Mine, Isle Royale, has started on its winter siege under the guidance 
of Mr JACKMAN as mining superintendent and Mr HITCHCOCK in charge of the surface, 
both of whom have been on the property for some time.

Mr J. R DEE, in charge of the Northwestern telegraph office at this place, has 
been experimenting with one of Professor A. Graham Bell’s telephones between his 
office, Hancock, Franklin and the Douglass House with the most satisfactory results. Conversations, laughter and songs, started at one end of the wire were distinctly 
heard at the other. Those familiar with the voice speaking at the time can readily 
distinguish it. Next week it is proposed to extend the wire into the parlor of the 
Douglass House and allow the ladies interested in the telephone to practically 
test its wonderful power in the transmission of the sound of the human voice.

Married: STEWART - BEDELL At the home of the bride’s parents, in Hancock, Oct 17, 
by the Rev. D.B. MILLAR, Robert STEWART, of Daresville?, Mich, to Mary A. BEDELL, 
of Hancock.

Charles L. AUGE has brought from his former home in Canada a pair of tamed wild 
geese, which he uses as decoys in hunting the untamed kind.....................                    

File contributed for use in Houghton Co. USGenWeb Archives by Dick and 
June Ross.

plh 2001