The Old River Driver

By Henry Dodge

as printed in the Tuscola County Pioneer Times

July 29th, 1949

I found him down there by the Cass upon a summer day,

His eyes were dim, his form was bent, and locks were thin and gray,

A relic of the days gone by, that I could plainly see,

And a trembling voice he spoke, and told this tale to me:

"The old Cass has a friendly look, it breathes to me of fate,

It whispers to me of those times way back in '68;

Of all the rivers in our state, 'twas in the brightest ranks,

the finest pine in Michigan were standing on its banks.

"I hired out at Saginaw, to work with Avery's men,

Twas on the north branch of the Cass where they were lumbering then,

"Twas a weary tramp to reach the camp, the road a line of mud,

First night we stayed in Watrousville, of course, we stopped with 'Bud'.

"Bud's place that night was crowded full, we camped upon the floor,

And of his best we took it straight and poured it down galore.

Next morn we took a drink for luck and started on our way.

We reached to town of Centerville (Caro) at ten o'clock that day.

"Twas Cross' Tavern where we stopped and early dinner had,

Of course we took a few more drinks to make our hearts feel glad,

Then poured some whiskey in our boots to help our galkied feet

Then on up towards the Forks we went to Ren Teachout's retreat.

"We reached Ren's place long in the night and tired most to death,

I think we took a drink or two to help us draw our breath;

Then into bed we dove at once with boots yet on our feet,

The only thing we cared for then was just a chance to sleep.

"Next morn we took an early start to reach the camp that day,

"The trail was getting dimmer now, 'twas hard to find the way.

"The rain came pouring down in floods as onward we did tramp.

"the wolves were howling on our trail before we reached the camp.

"Four six long months we heard the crash as pine trees met their doom,

At night we sang the songs we learned when driving to the boom;

But when the winter days were past, then came the spring and thaw,

Our drive was started for the mills that lined the Saginaw.

"A drive upon the old Cass then was something grand to see.

From bank to bank 'twas filled with logs and now and then a tree;

With tree tops, logs and ice piled high, while wild the waters roll,

And every year the old Cass claimed, a driver for her toll.

"Twas o'er the Vassar dam one day, down through the mist and foam,

There Arthur Harmon's body lay, Van's horses brought him home.

And up here where the high banks are, Tom Sayres was killed one day,

The old Cass rolled its waters on , resistless to the bay.

"O, many driver that I knew, went to an early doom,

Between north rapids on the Cass and limits of the boom;

But when the drivers at last were down for Saginaw we flew,

The money we had earned so well, it went like morning dew.

"Two weeks at best in glad carouse, our money we would spend.

Then back into the mills again to work 'Till summer's end;

Then back into the woods once more the winter days to pass;

This was the life the driver lead that lumbered on the Cass.

"Of all the drivers that I knew way back in '68,

I wish I knew their resting place and how they met their fate.

"Twas in the mad house we are told there Avery met his doom.

His fevered brain yet drove the Cass from Forks down to the boom.

"And Warren Malcolm, brave and true, the drivers' pride as well,

A mad house closed behind him too, he died within a cell;

And I am left a few more days upon this earth to pass,

Before I meet the friends I knew, that lumbered on the Cass."

The driver's story done at last he gazed down in the stream,

The sunlight o'er the waters now put on a brighter gleam;

His face lit up with sudden light, a spell seemed o'er him cast,

As if he saw reflected there the glories of the past.

Elm Lawn Musoleums

!Churchill

The Churchill family mausoleum in section 12 was also designed and built by the Harrison Granite Co. of Barre, Vermont and completed in Sept. 1910. This mausoleum and the Bradley family mausoleum described earlier are the only two mausoleums for which the builder is known. The Churchill mausoleum is in the neo-classical style and is constructed of five courses of rock faced gray granite. The four lower courses are of equal width with a narrow upper course which in turn is covered by a single stone roof slab. The four upper courses of stone are stepped inward from the rusticated base course. The tomb measures11 ft. wide by 16 ft. deep. The front façade has a shallow porch reached by two steps flanked by two smooth columns with Doric capitals. The porch lintel stone has the name W. L. CHURCHILL carved in relief while the lintel stone over the double bronze doors within the confines of the porch has the date 1909, also in relief. The window openings in the bronze doors have been closed with pieces of steel plate and the interior of the tomb is not visible. The rear façade of the tomb has a window opening 2.5 ft. wide by 3 ft. high but this has also been closed with a piece of steel plate (Alan Flood 2005)






!Smith

The Smith Mausoleum






























!Eddy

The first mausoleum erected on the grounds is that of the John F. Eddy family located in section 12. Its dimensions are 12 ft. wide by 20 ft. deep. The structure is in the Romanesque style and is constructed of three courses of rock faced gray granite in massive slabs. The lower two courses slope inwards at a slight angle off the vertical. The roof line has a center ridge running on the long axis and the entire center section of the roof is stepped higher than each of the sides wherein the crypts are located. The front entry is framed by two polished gray granite Romanesque half columns topped by a Romanesque arch. These half columns are recessed into the front façade and rest upon plinths formed by the lowest course of stone. These half columns and arched entrance define the width of the stepped center section of the roof line. Within the semi-circular arch is the name EDDY with the date 1899 carved in relief. The front entry has two decorative bronze gates that are immediately outside of two smooth granite doors into the interior. There were three window openings into the interior, one to each side, and one on the rear façade but these have all been sealed with pieces of granite. The interior of the tomb cannot be viewed but is thought to contain eight crypts





























!Ford

The Ford family mausoleum in section 21 is a neo-classical structure with a heavy cornice and a flat roof. The structure measures 12 ft. wide by 10 ft. deep and is constructed of smooth gray granite on a stepped granite base. The front façade has the name FORD incised into the lintel of the door surround. The entrance is closed by double bronze doors, each with a window opening covered by a decorative grill. The rear façade is broken by a window opening, measuring 2 ft. wide by 3 ft. high containing a leaded stained glass window. The interior contains eight crypts, four to each side and is finished in pink marble. The mausoleum was completed and the family burials were moved into the structure in 1928.

(Alan Flood 2005)
















!Van Haaren

The Van Haaren family mausoleum in section 20 is neo-classical in style and like the Davidson mausoleum described above, resembles a Grecian temple. The walls are smooth finished gray granite upon a three stepped granite base. The structure measures 17 ft. wide by 23 ft. deep. On the front façade, a recessed porch 50 inches deep is supported by two Grecian Doric columns. The entablature has the name Van Haaren incised into the frieze portion topped with a heavy projecting cornice. This in turn is surmounted by a classical pediment on the two end facades. The recessed portion of the front facade, within the confines of the porch, has the date 1948 and Masonic symbols incised over the lintel to the door opening. The entrance is secured by double bronze doors. Each door has a window opening covered by a decorative grill. The rear corners of the structure each has pilasters while the rear façade itself is cut by an opening 42 inches wide by 60 inches high containing a leaded stained glass window. The interior to the tomb is in the shape of in inverted T. Immediately within the doors, the room is the full width of the structure and then narrows to the center aisle. This aisle is flanked by a total of eight crypts, four on each side. Anecdotally, the story is told that this mausoleum was purchased, moved from the Detroit area, and reconstructed at Elm Lawn when the previous owners defaulted on payment. No evidence can be found to support or refute this story. (Alan Flood 2005)



!Sovereign

In section 20 is the mausoleum of the Wm. J. Sovereign family. This structure is neo-classical in style with all the surfaces being rock faced gray granite with the exception of the front façade which is smooth faced and then framed by rusticated pilasters and topped by a heavy rock faced pediment. The mausoleum measures 10 ft. wide by 13 ft. deep. The front façade of the tomb has the name W. J. SOVEREIGN incised on the smooth area of the façade above the door surround. The entrance to the tomb is guarded by two bronze doors, each having a window opening covered by a bronze grill. The rear façade of the mausoleum has a leaded stained glass window 2 ft. wide by 3 ft. high. The interior is finished in pink polished marble and contains eight crypts, four to a side flanking a center aisle. The date of construction of this mausoleum is unclear. Evidence in the burial lists at the cemetery suggest a date of 1923 while materials in
the Aladdin Co. records (of which Wm. J. Sovereign was founder and president) suggest a much later date, around 1950.







!Pearll


At the north point of section 9 is the Pearll family mausoleum constructed about 1917. The structure measures 5 ft. wide by 11 ft. deep and is fabricated of a rock faced lower course 28 inches high topped by a smooth gray granite course 60 inches in height. Overall, the structure presents a simple neo-classical design. The front façade is framed by two simple pilasters with carved oak leaves in relief at the top of each. The lintel over the pilasters and crypt faces has the name PEARLL carved in relief. There are four crypt faces framed within this opening, slightly recessed, stacked one above the other. Urns, each 16 inches high mounted on attached 16 inch high pedestals are on either side of the front façade.



!Bradley


In section 7 is the Bradley family mausoleum completed in late 1907 or early 1908. The structure, 13 ft. wide by 16 ft. deep is constructed of four courses of gray granite. The lower three courses are massive in size. The bottom course of stone is rock faced 52 inches in width while all surfaces above that course are smooth faced. The structure’s four corners are rounded. The roof of the structure projects on all sides from the walls to form a heavy cornice and has a very shallow pitch with a stepped center section running on the long axis of the tomb. The roof is constructed of three single stones; two side stones and the raised cap stone. The front façade has recessed bronze doors framed by four recessed half columns in pairs, each half column being 50 inches tall resting upon a plinth formed by the lower rusticated course of stone. The door surround curves inward and has an egg and dart style cornice immediately above. Each bronze door has a window opening with a bronze grill to protect the window glass. Above the lintel over these doors is a rectangular transom window of stained glass. Above this window and beneath the projecting cornice of the roof line the name BRADLEY is in relief. On the rear façade of the tomb is a leaded stained glass window 3 ft. wide by 5.5 ft. high. Both windows are protected by bronze grills. The interior of the tomb contains a total of twelve crypts. Two are under the floor and the remaining ten line the side walls, five to each side. The interior is of polished pink Tennessee marble. This tomb was constructed by the Harrison Granite Co. of Barre, Vermont. Written specifications for this tomb still exist and the Harrison Granite Co. agreed not to duplicate this design within 150 miles of Bay City.

(Alan Flood 2005)

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!Rouse

The second mausoleum erected at Elm Lawn is the Rouse family tomb in section 13. This neo-classical structure is constructed of smooth gray granite with plain pilasters at the corners. It measures 11 ft. wide by 14 ft. deep. On the front façade there is a recessed porch 28 inches deep framed by two Ionic columns. Above the porch a simple entablature supports the pediment which has a laurel wreath surrounding the letter R, both carved in relief. Within the confines of the porch and immediately over the solid bronze doors to the interior is the date 1902 carved in relief. The rear façade of the structure has a window opening three feet square containing a leaded stained glass window. The interior of the tomb cannot be viewed. (Alan Flood 2005)
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!Davidson

The Davidson family mausoleum at the south point of section 13 is neo-classical in style resembling a Grecian temple. The structure is constructed of smooth faced gray granite and rests on a three stepped base. Each of the four corners of the structure has pilasters supporting a classical Doric entablature which in turn is surmounted by the pediment on the two end facades. Four equally spaced Grecian Doric columns rest on a 36 inch deep porch on the front façade. The architrave over the columns bears the name DAVIDSON in relief. The entrance to the interior is secured with double bronze doors, each with a window opening covered by a classical style grill. The stone lintel above the door opening has the date 1918 in Roman numerals carved in relief. On each side wall of the structure is a window opening 30 inches wide by 38 inches high. These openings have been closed and sealed with pieces of granite matching that of the rest of the façade. The interior of the mausoleum which is finished in pink marble has a room running the width of the structure with the back wall containing a total of sixteen crypts. A marble bench seat is attached to each side wall of the interior allowing family members privacy for meditation. Outside the mausoleum on the front lawn are two free standing round granite urns 30 inches in diameter each, standing 36 inches tall upon its base. These urns define the approach to this temple.
(Alan Flood 2005)
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!Hughes

Near the Bradley mausoleum in section 7 is the Hughes family mausoleum completed in 1909. This tomb measures 11 ft. wide by 13 ft. deep and is built of five courses of rock faced gray granite. The bottom course of stone is 29 inches wide and is followed by three courses of 21 inch width stone which in turn is followed by a 12 inch wide upper course topped by the roof stones. The roof is of three single stones; two side stones and a center cap stone. The lintel stone over the doors on the front façade has the name HUGHES beneath the date 1908 both carved in relief. The bronze doors each have a window opening with clear glass behind a bronze grill and a raised letter H on the lower panel. The tomb contains six crypts in pairs stacked three high with no center aisle. The interior of the mausoleum is finished in white marble. (Alan Flood 2005)
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!Northcott

Also constructed around 1907 or 1908 is the Northcott mausoleum in section 14. This small tomb is in the neo-classical style and measures 6 ft. wide by 13 ft. deep. The tomb is built of two courses of rock faced gray granite topped by a single roof stone which has a center ridge slopping to each side. The lower course of stone is 36 inches wide and forms a foundation for the massive second course stones 57 inches wide which form the body of the side walls. The lintel stone over the doors has the name NORTHCOTT carved in relief. Double bronze doors each with window opening and bronze grills guard the interior which contains two crypts, one above the other. The crypt faces are of polished white marble.

Also constructed around 1907 or 1908 is the Northcott mausoleum in section 14. This small tomb is in the neo-classical style and measures 6 ft. wide by 13 ft. deep. The tomb is built of two courses of rock faced gray granite topped by a single roof stone which has a center ridge slopping to each side. The lower course of stone is 36 inches wide and forms a foundation for the massive second course stones 57 inches wide which form the body of the side walls. The lintel stone over the doors has the name NORTHCOTT carved in relief. Double bronze doors each with window opening and bronze grills guard the interior which contains two crypts, one above the other. The crypt faces are of polished white marble. (Alan Flood 2005)

!Osborn

The Osborn family mausoleum in section 14 was completed around 1910 and is neo-classical in design. It measures 8.5 ft. wide by 13.5 ft. deep and is constructed of four courses of gray granite. The lower three courses are each 31 inches high while the top course is 12 inches high. The lowest and highest courses of stone are rock faced while the two mid courses are smooth faced. The roof of the tomb is a single piece of granite. The front façade of the mausoleum has a recessed porch 25 inches deep flanked by two Tuscan half columns, one on each side, each being 5 ft. high on a 31 inch plinth formed by the lower course of stone. The top course of stone forms the lintel to the porch and has the name OSBORN carved in relief. The entrance has two bronze doors with window openings protected by bronze grills. The window glass in the doors has been replaced with opaque plexiglass which makes the interior of the tomb difficult to view. The interior is of white marble with six crypts side by side, stacked three high.(Alan Flood 2005)




!Luden

The Luden Musoleum is also in Elm Lawn

George Wellman, Deputy US Marshall

George Wellman Personal History
George Wellman was born in 1859 in Canada.
Before going to Wyoming, Wellman served on the Lakes.
Lucy Clark married George Wellman then John Vail.
George Wellman made 3500-mile trip with Hard Winter Davis when he first came to Wyoming.
Wellman came to Wyoming in 1881 when he was 22.
Wellman went to Wyoming in 1878 when he was 19
Wellman worked for Henry C. Blair of Chicago at the Hoe Ranch
The Cattle Situation and the Economics of the Time
The shortgrass county makes beef without concentrates
Scotch, English, French, Irish and U.S. Cattle Companies were involved,
Settlers fenced water
The frontier was ending and the courts were replacing the six-shooter.
Johnson County had about 300 incidents against cattle thieves
The county attorneys would dismiss cases because convictions were not possible.
Moreton Frewen owned the Powder River Cattle Co.(sometimes called the ‘76’ ranch
The great dieup of 1886-7
Several score of cowboys were laid off
Ranches started after 1879 were going under by 1892.
Cattle prices were low by 1892
Most small ranchers had a problem with the roundup situation where the Wyoming Stock Growers Association held the money until title was proved
Fred Hesse had a group of about 12 cowboys to watch thousands of cattle over an area of 200 miles square.


Political Anarchy
The Rustlers used intimidation to gain political control.
Vigilante justice was used in Montana but the Wyoming cattlemen continued to count on the law
By 1891 the rustlers had control of local government.  They planned their own roundup in violation of custom of the range
In the fall of 1891, ranchers planned the invasion,
They had a force of 40 odd men
They needed a skilled force commander.  Bad field tactics ruined the invasion

Martial Law to be imposed by President Harrison
Major threat never achieved
The evidence Wellman collected was to be used to write an alarming report to the Attorney General that proved the existence of chaos in Johnson County which would require establishing Martial law
Rustling & The Invasion
The big ranchers, the white caps, hired about 44 hired gunmen from Texas and other places.
Small ranchers and the Red Sash gang were called Rustlers
The Red Sash Gang had about 30 members
Senators Warren and Kendrick had U.S. Marshall’s sent to Buffalo
Marshall J. P. Rankin
Deputy Jeff Carr
Officials in on the plan of invasion
The Governor  
The adjutant general
The United States Senators
Warren
Carey
Arranged cooperation with the justice dept
The US Attorney’s office
The US Marshall
Rankin
Was in charge in Buffalo
He along with deputies was to protect the interests of the imprisoned cattlemen
Samuel Traves Clover covered the expedition for the eastern press
The Siege at the TA Ranch
April 11 to April 13, 1892
Prisoners taken to Cheyenne
Looting of Ranches after the Invasion
Furniture, clothing and whatever else could be taken was removed
Cattle and other livestock ‘disappeared’
Wellman was to collect evidence of these thefts and turn it over to Rankin
Many strangers had entered the county after the invasion
Their status was unknown
Men rode the ranges and walked the streets armed
Wellman at the HOE Ranch
Wellman offered employment to several cowhands at the Hoe Ranch.  All turned them down.
One of the men said that working for Gibson was to invited personal attach.  
Gibson was known to be a “white cap”

Wellman’s Death
Wellman was riding his horse ‘pet’
Wellman was leading Hathaway’s pack horse named Polmana
Killed by Ed Starr, May 9, 1892
Thomas J. Hathaway was riding with him when he was killed.
Hatheway quickly rode to Buffalo to tell his story
Hatheway’s story changed with the retelling and he was jailed
Sheriff Angus thought Hatheway had killed Wellman
Hatheway and Wellman had fought before
Hatheway had been foreman before Wellman
Mayor Barritt thought the Red Sash Gang killed Wellman
Ed Starr was a member of the Red Sash Gang

Wellman was killed about 12 miles from the Hoe Ranch
Sheriff Angus got news of the killing about 4PM, May 15, 1892.
Angus didn’t start for the death site until 6-6:30pm
Angus slept the night at the George Harris Ranch.
Angus got to death site Wednesday morning.
A rumor circulated that Wellman was not killed at all but was being used to draw Sheriff Angus out of town to kill him.
Several of his friends left town to help him
Other men were sent out who disproved Angus’s story.
Wellman was killed by a short .44 Winchester saddle gun
Taylor made a threat of a life for a life
Many believed Wellman was killed to prevent a threat of Martial law
Bleep said lots were drawn to see who would kill Wellman
Ed Starr was framed in the drawing
Ed Starr bragged about killing Wellman
Starr imitated Wellman’s cry when he saw he would be killed
Burial Ceremonies May 13
Rev. Duell buried an invader, Jake Dudley, who was shot in a raid
Rev. Duell also had George Wellman’s funeral in Wyoming.
Duell carried arms at Wellman’s Funeral.
The Red Sash Gang said that Wellman should have no funeral and be buried in Potter’s field
Wellman’s Body transported to Bay City
Mr. E. B. Mather accompanied the Body to Bay City
The body was held in Chicago for an autopsy
The autopsy showed Wellman was killed by one shot in the middle of the back.

Wellman’s Model 1878 Double action Colt .45 proves the identity of the killer
Lora Reed said the gun Jim Potts found was Wellman’s
Colt made 43000 from 1878 to 1900
Elmer Brock said he had some history of the gun prior to Wellman’s death

The link below has a picture and a brief write-up on May Stocking Knaggs.




May Stocking Knaggs: Michigan Women's Hall of Fame -

Wenona or Wehonah-which would it be?
By Fred Welsh

The beautiful Sioux Indian woman raced forward with a long stick with a circular frame on the end of it in her hand. The beauty was named Wenona, which means first born daughter among the Sioux. Wenona was the swiftest runner in one party. An ugly hag with an evil heart but great speed and ability opposed her. The beauty seized the ball while one of her teammates who matched the old hag for beauty quickly struck the evil woman with her stick. Wenona made the goal. The hag’s revenge would unjustly shame the young woman and use the weakness of a rejected suitor to carry off an evil ploy. The Virgin’s Feast was about to take place. When Wenona entered the circle, the lover falsely claimed she was not worthy. The beauty ran from the circle to the forest. She seized a knife and killed herself. The next spring fever took the lover. As his body was being carried away, great guilt overcame the old hag. ‘Wenona was innocent’. ‘She was falsely accused’ the hag said. How often did the Sioux maidens draw near and admire Wenona’s constancy, devotion and firmness.

This story is from Dahcotah, or Life and legend of the Sioux around Fort Snelling by Mary Henderson Eastman. The book was published in 1849 by J. Wiley of New York and received very positive reviews in the Critical Notices of Cornell University for June of that year.

In the same book, Mrs. Eastman tells the story of a Sioux Indian maiden, who rejected a wealthy suitor and the demands of her family by throwing herself from the Maiden’s rock. The book says that Indian girls often take control of their lives in this way. They are not victims but are powerful participants in their own future.

The program for the formal opening of the Wenonah Hotel noticed that Longfellow referred to another Wenonah, the mother of Hiawatha, in a sort of a desultory way. Virgil J. Vogel, writer of Indian Names in Michigan, is not as kind. He says she was an earthbound woman who was impregnated by a spirit.


Longfellow says it almost as quickly in ‘The Song of Hiawatha’ published in 1855.

And Nokomis warned her often,
Saying oft, and oft repeating,
“Oh, beware of Mudjekeewis,
Of the West-Wind, Mudjekeewis;
Listen not to what he tells you;
Lie not down upon the meadow,
Stoop not down among the lilies,
Lest the West Wind come and harm you!”
But she heeded not the warning
Heeded not those words of wisdom,
And the West-Wind came at evening,
Walking lightly o’er the prairie
Whispering to the leaves and blossoms,
Bending low the flowers and grasses,
Found the beautiful Wenonah,
Lying there among the lilies,
Wooed her with his words of sweetness,
Wooed her with his soft caresses,
Til she bore a son in sorrow,

Vogel credited Keating, Eastman and Longfellow for the popularity of Wenona/Winona/Wenonah for place names in the Midwest in his book. Keating spelled the name Winona. Eastman used the Wenona form and Longfellow used Wenonah. Vogel states that two-dozen places in eighteen states have some form of the name

The writer of the Wenonah Hotel program added some original story telling to his reference to Longfellow’s Poem. He changed the historical story Eastman related about the young Indian girl who threw herself off Maiden Rock to avoid a marriage into a love triangle between Wenonah, Minnehaha, a name Longfellow created, and Hiawatha, who in his Midwestern guise was also Longfellow’s creation. Wenonah throws herself from the rock in despair from the loss of her lover, a victim of love’s entanglements.

The hotel opening was held on November 9th, 1908. Henry W. Sage, John McGraw and their wives named the city of Wenona in 1865. Forty-three years and some very different personalities were involved.

.

Henry W. Sage and John McGraw were deeply involved in the beginning years of Cornell University. Both gave very large amount of money to the university. Sage was very interested in many different branches of study and in the character development of the young. Sage was particularly interested in higher education for young women.

Sage’s gifts to Cornell include:

Sage College for Women with endowment fund, 1873 $266,000

Sage Chapel, 1873 30,000

Contribution toward indebtedness, 1881 30,000

House of Sage professor of philosophy, 1886 11,000

Susan E. Linn Sage chair of philosophy, 1886 50,000

Susan E. Linn School of Philosophy, 1891 200,000

University Library building, 1891 200,000

University Library endowment, 1891 300,000

Costs of Archaeological Museum, 1891 8,000
$1,155,000

Sage also contributed money to the Sage Library in Bay City.

Henry W. Sage’s remarks at the laying of the corner stone of Sage College for Women on May 15, 1873 shows how strongly he felt about women’s education. Sage spoke these words;

“ It has been wisely said that “who educates a woman educates a generation,” and the structure which is to be erected over this corner-stone will be especially devoted to the education of women, and will carry with it a pledge of all the power and resources of Cornell University to “provide for and forever maintain facilities for the education of women as broadly as for men.” This may be truly said to mark a new era in the history of education; for although the education of women with men has been heretofore practically conducted, notably at Oberlin, Ohio, for many years and at Ann Arbor, Mich. For three years past, this is the first university in this country, if not in the world, which has at the same time bodily recognized the rights of woman as well as man to all the education she will ask, and pledged itself to the policy and duty of maintaining equal facilities for both. It is, then, no small matter of congratulation that this university, a State institution, endowed by our general government with a princely gift of lands and by Ezra Cornell, its founder, with his own fortune, and more than that with his own great, earnest heart and zealous love for man, is fairly committed to the education and elevation of woman, and that henceforth the structures now standing here and those which shall hereafter be added to them are to be used forever for the education of woman with man, to who God gave her as a helpmeet, and as the mother and chief educator of his race”




Mrs. Susan E. Linn Sage laid the corner stone with the following words

‘I lay this corner-stone, in faith
That structure fair and good
Shall from it rise and thenceforth come
True Christian womanhood


John McGraw was one of the first trustees and had built the first library. When he died in Ithaca, May 4, 1877. He left his fortune to his daughter, Jennie, with the intention that it be given to the university with her passing.

These men and their wives were well-educated, great respecters of accuracy in reporting and interested in liberal education especially for young women. Sage was a great friend of Henry Ward Beecher, who was his pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church in Brooklyn, New York. Beecher had a friendly eye toward the women’s movement. Beecher was challenged for his tendencies toward free love and Sage stood by him in that struggle.

Henry W. Sage and his wife demonstrated a long-term desire to empower women. John McGraw was trustee of Cornell and showed a similar desire through that post. These men and women with their Cornell connections that reviewed work like Mrs. Eastman’s and their involvement with thinkers of the day like Henry Ward Beecher would have surely named their town, Wenona, Michigan for an image of a strong, principle driven woman and not for Longfellow’s example. With their great ability and literary connections, I doubt it possible that they would misspell Longfellow’s Wenonah when they named their town if their intention was to use his creation. I could find no mention of the Longfellow connection to the town in the earlier sources. The History of Bay County says it is an Indian name of unknown significance. Butterfield fails to mention the source of the name in Bay County Past and Present in his 1918 edition but picks up the Hiawatha explanation for the name in his 1957 edition. The Bay County Story by Les Arndt states on page 86 that Sage and McGraw admitted being inspired by Longfellow’s poem Hiawatha. Arndt uses the Eastman spelling, Wenona, and not the Longfellow spelling, Wenonah while he is explaining how the Longfellow character was used. An original source for Sage and McGraw’s admission would be very helpful.

Wenona’s character, and active involvement in life would have fit with what Sage and McGraw deemed important in life. Mrs. Eastman’s Sioux Indian girl is the likely source of Wenona, Michigan’s name.

The headstones of Pine Ridge Cemetery tell only a small hint of the interesting stories of the Bay City founders who rest there. Dr. C.T. Newkirk is worthy of notice.

Hero Physician was St. Williams native

An unedited transcription of an obituary published in the 23 Sep 1909 Simcoe Reformer. [Most paragraph breaks inserted by the transcriber.]

Death of Dr. Newkirk of Bay CityDr. Charles T. Newkirk, a prominent physician of Bay City, Mich., was found dead in his bed at his home at 6.30 o'clock last Thursday morning. The cause of death was heart disease, from which he had been a sufferer for some years, having contracted it in Cuba during the Spanish-American war.Dr. Newkirk had lived in Bay City for 37 years. He is survived by a widow and two children, Dr. Harry Newkirk, of Iron Mountain, Mich., and Mrs. Delores Crockett of New York city, besides two grandchildren and two brothers, Dr. M. F. Newkirk, of Bay City, and Dr. Moses Newkirk, of South America. His widow, to whom he was married in 1862, was Miss Mary J. Anderson of Woodhouse, a sister of Mr. J. E. Anderson of Port Dover.Dr. Newkirk was born in St. Williams, Norfolk County, December 10, 1841. He early manifested his desire for study, but there being a large family to support and educate, his early opportunities were somewhat restricted.Acting upon the advice of a friend, he taught school when but 14 years of age and, with the money thus obtained was enabled to finish his literary course at the high school at Hamilton, Ontario. He afterwards studied medicine with Hon. John Rolph, and in the twenty-first year of his age was graduated from the university of Victoria college, at Toronto, of which his preceptor was dean.He practiced his profession for a short time in Canada, when, with his family he removed to South America. He spent nine months learning the Spanish language, and immediately on passing his examination, was appointed by the governor, director of the province.He was also made a doctor to the Argentine hospital, which position he resigned in three months to accept a similar one in the Brazilian army. He afterwards became first surgeon with the grade of captain. This position he held for three years when he returned to Canada.After a brief visit among his friends there he again went to South America and at Assumption in Paraguay, began the practice of medicine in connection with the drug business. He passed through several epidemics of small pox, yellow fever, and cholera. Of the first mentioned, his brother, Dr. Daniel Newkirk, with whom he was associated in practice, died. This event, together with the constantly failing health of his family, so disheartened him that he determined to return to Canada, and engage in but quiet practice.With this intention he closed up his business in Assumption; but, on arriving in Buenos Ayres, where he had engaged passage, he learned that the yellow fever had broken out there in the most malignant form. Hundreds were dying daily, and those of the citizens who were able, fled the city. Only a small number of the resident physicians could be induced to remain.Dr. Newkirk, with a degree of heroism and self-denial characteristic of himself, decided to remain. Having sent his family on to Canada, he again devoted himself to the work of saving life and alleviating suffering. He was in constant communication with the authorities for the prevention of the spread of the disease; and, by his advice, many sanitary precautions were taken which doubtless cut short one of the most frightful epidemics ever known.An idea may be formed of the danger which Dr. Newkirk was compelled to face from the fact that 26,000 persons died in twenty-five days of this disease alone. He was engaged four months in Buenos Ayres during this plague, rarely working less than eighteen hours daily.His heroic conduct during this time was highly applauded by the press of Buenos Ayres, and the commission of Montsorrat [sic] presented him with a splendid album in testimony of his services to the sick. The ovation paid him upon his departure was a most distinguished compliment.On his way home he stopped a short time in Rio Jansiro, where he was warmly welcomed by the old army officers and surgeons with whom he had served in Paraguay.Immediately on arriving home he set about finding some good location in which he could again enter upon the practice of his profession. After visiting New York, Chicago and other places, he decided to settle in Bay City. His previous experiences soon secured for him a good practice.