August, 2010
Sep. 8, 2010: Bio.: Oscar F. Forsyth (1827-1901)
- Mr. Forsyth was born in New York, and moved to Lowell, MI with his parents a year after his birth, and later to Flint before settling in Bay City where he engaged in the hardware and real estate businesses. He married Mary Elizabeth Beardsley, of New York.
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    August, 2010
    Aug. 31, 2010: Charles E. Rosenbury (1843-1912)
    Contributed by James Petrimoulx.
    -- Mr. Rosenbury was born in Petersburg, N.Y. He served in the Civil War while a resident of Oswego, IL. In 1877 he moved to Bay City where he owned a large furniture business, the building of which still stands on the s.e. corner of Water and Third streets.
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    Aug. 30, 2010: The Poles of Bay City (1895).
    -- The first Polish immigrant to settle in Bay City around 1870. Shortly thereafter, he began a campaign to get other Poles to come here. The were about 200 Polish families when they erected St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Dec., 1874.
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    Aug. 29, 2010: Frank P. Gmelin (1888-1923).

    -- Mr. Gmelin was born in Preston, Ontario. He was raised in Bay City where he began a career as an auto mechanic before moving to Detroit where he owned a large auto dealership. He was married to Lena Parreant of Bay City.
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    Aug. 20, 2010: First Saw Mills in Saginaw Valley.

    -- Historical article written by Judge Albert Miller and printed by The Lumberman's Gazette in 1872, describing the first saw mills built in the Saginaw Valley prior to the lumber boom period. Judge Miller founded the village of Portsmouth, which is now the south end of Bay City.
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    Aug. 19, 2010: Bio. - William F. Hicks (1840-1914)
    -- Mr. Hicks was born in Clinton Co., NY, and four years later his parents moved to Southfield, MI. He came to Bay City after the Civil War, and in 1878 hr moved to Hasting where he lived out his life. He was married to Catherine Campbell.
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    Aug. 13, 2010: Bio. - James E. Like (1860-1893)

    -- Capt. Like was born in Geneva, N.Y., and moved to Bay City with his parents at the age of six years. He went to work for his father for several years, then became owner of an excursion boat business. He was married to Laura Textor.
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    Aug. 12, 2010: Bio. - Louis Goeschel (1847-1922)

    -- Mr. Goeschel was born in Germany and immigrated to the American in 1854, settling in Bay City in 1868, where he established himself in the wholesale/retail grocery business. He married Nettie DeWitt, of New York.
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    Aug. 5, 2010: Bio. - Carroll Windiate.

    -- Mr. Windiate was born in 1873, near Waterford, MI. He began is work career as a traveling salesman, afterward owned a wholesale business in Bay City. He was one of the charter members of the Bay City Rotary Club, and was married to Maud Merrill.
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    Aug. 4, 2010: History - Rotary Club of Bay City
    -- The Bay City Rotary Club has remained active since was chartered in 1915, only 10 years after the founding of the original Rotary. This history document includes a listing clubs first members, and news from the Rotarian Magazine.
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    July, 2010
    Jul. 26, 2010: Bio.: Richard H. Fletcher (1858-1933)
    -- Mr. Fletcher was born in Bay City during its early history. His parents had moved in in 1853. He found work at a young age in lumbering, and later owned a farm. He held a number local offices and was state inspector for many years. He was married twice.
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    Jul. 22, 2010: Bio.: Rev. Brent Harding (1843-?)
    -- Rev. Harding was born in England, and immmigrated to Canada in 1873, and a few years later came to Bay City. Prior to his ministry he was in the painting business. He was married to Mary A. Polleycutt.
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    Jul. 3, 2010: Bio.: William E. Carney (1845-1899)
    -- Mr. Carney, born in Canada, was a son of Thomas and Mary (Roach) Carney, who came to Bay City in 1849. William a Civil War veteran and worked as a lumber inspector. He married Laura A. Merrit.
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    June, 2010
    Jun. 28, 2010: Bio.: Moses H. Kittredge (1846-1903).
    -- Moses was born in Johnsbury, VT. He attended college at Amherst and Yale, came to Bay City in 1871 where he owned a shoe and boot business. He married Augusta Reid.
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    Jun. 18, 2010: Bio.: Dr. John C. Nottingham.
    -- Dr. Nottingham was born 1842, in Muncie, Indiana. He joined the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil War. Afterwards he received a medical degree from the Bennett Medical College in Chicago. He moved to Bay City in 1879 where he practiced his profession. He was married twice, Mary Duling & Julia Scofield.
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    Jun. 18, 2010: Bio.: Dewitt C. Brawn (1851-1931)
    -- Dewitt was born in Canada and raised in Bay City. His fahter, Peter was lighthouse keeper for many years, and after his death his wife with the help of Dewitt continued to maintain the lighthouse. Dewitt was married to Ida E. Sharp, of Maine.
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    Jun. 16, 2010: Biography: William Goldie.

    -- William was born in Ayshire, Scotland in 1835, and came to America with his parents at a young age. He moved to Fenton, Michigan in 1864, where he was in the the cooperage business until 1880, when he moved to West Bay City and purchased the Wilson Hoop Co. William was married twice, Nancy Malone and Emma Hall.
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    Jun. 16, 2010: Biography: Fitzland L. Wilson.
    -Fitzland was born in 1838, at Akron, N.Y. After the Civil War, he settled in Michigan, initially in Ingham Co., the in West Bay City, where he started a hoop factory with Alexander Bush, based on a hoop machine designed and patented by Fitzland. The business was later sold to William Goldie. Fitzland was married to Eleanor S. Reed.
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    Jun. 16, 2010: Wilson Hoop Company.
    -- The Wilson Hoop Co., was founded by Fitzland Wilson in partnership with Alexander Bush in 1882, at West Bay City. Fitzland, a mechanical engineer, designed and patented a unque machine for cutting hoops several time faster than the standard at that time, making the business highly successful. The business was later purchased by William Goldie.
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    Jun. 15, 2010: West Bay City Manufacturing Co.
    -- This business was established in 1881, with the purchase of the former planing mill operated by Arnold & Catlin, which was located on the n. e. corner of Thomas & Linn streets.
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    Jun. 12, 2010: Rev. Willian Hendee Clark (1837-1910)
    -- Rev. Clark was born at Hudson, Ohio. He was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Bay City from 1891-96, and afterwards at the Immaneul Church in Detroit. He married Lucy W. Hoistington.
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    Jun. 12, 2010: Charles H. Frantz (1871-?)
    - Mr. Frantz was born in Bay City, Mich., where he established a successful pharmacy business. He married Edith F. Twist, formerly Mrs. Trahan.
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    Jun. 6, 2010: Theatrical News History of Bay City.
    -- A series of clipping of old news and stories on theaters and entertainers related to Bay City. Many of the entertainers gained prominence on a national level as comedians, singers, etc.
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    May 30, 2010: WWI History, Bay County, Mich.

    -- Added a brief history To the Heritage/Groups/Military section, which includes a page with 12 photos of WWI veterans, and links to other related pages on Bay-Journal.
    -- Pictured is Stanley W. Eddy, of Linwood.
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    May 27, 2010: William E. Zabst (1863-?)

    -- Mr. Zabst was born in Erie Co., Ohio, where he was raised on a farm. In 1879 he moved to West Bay city, MI, where he working in the Sage sawmill for several years, and was able to save enough money to attend college for a degress in music, then return to his last roots and established what became a very successful music school. His two brothers, Eugene and Frank, owned a blacksmiths shop in West Bay City. No marriage was found.
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    May 27, 2010: Eugene Zabst (1854-?)
    -- Mr. Zabst was born in Greenfield, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm. In 1882 he moved to Essexville, MI, working as a blacksmith in the J. R. Hall mill. Saving enough funds, he established a blacksmith business in West Bay City wth his brother Frank. William another brother, was a music teacher. Eugene married Emma Russell, also from Ohio.
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    May 25, 2010: George Dicey (1836-?)
    -- Mr. Dicey was born in Bath, N.Y., and came to Michigan with his family at the age of 16 years, and some years later, settled in Bay City where he worked ten years as boiler foreman for the Industrial Works, afterward he enter a parntership with John Carey in their own boiler manufacturing shop. Mr. Dicey married Sarah Woodward, from Waterloo, Jackson Co., Mich.
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    May 25, 2010: Capt. John Y. McKinney (1836-?)

    - Capt. McKinney was born in Detroit, and came to Bay City with his parents in 1850. He served in the Civil War, and afterwards engaged in the lumber business, then in farming in Portsmouth Twp. He married Harriet Hudson.
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    May 24, 2010: William H. Barse (1814-?)

    -- Mr. Barse was born in Mayfield, Montgomery Co., N.Y. He came to Michigan in 1832, engaged in sailing, and in 1867, he moved to Bay City, where he ran the Anchor Line agency and a gorcery business. He was married twice, Maria L. Nichols, then Amelia W. Schultz.
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    May 22, 2010: James W. Hogle (1812-1872)
    -- J.W. Hogle was born in Orleans Co., Vermont, and came Michigan in 1864, settling in Portsmouth Twp., where he started the first dairy business in Bay city, and became owner of the Tuscola plank toll road. He married Mary L. Dixon.
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    May 22, 2010: James S. Hogle (1850-1907)
    -- J.S. Hogle was born in Ohio, and came Michigan in 1864, settling in Portsmouth Twp., with his parents, James W. Hogle and Mary L. Dixon, where he engaged in the grocery business. He married Lillie Gordon.
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    May 22, 2010: Capt. Alfred Forrest (1851-?)
    -- Capt. Forrest was born in Sandwich, Ontario, Canada, and was captain of many Great Lakes vessels, include those of P.C. Smith and Benjamin Boutell. He and his wife Sarah Jessup resided in West Bay City, Mich.
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    May 21, 2010: Charles C. Fitzhugh (1821-1895)
    -- Charles was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., and was a son of Dr. Daniel H. Fitzhugh who was a partner in the Saginaw Bay Company that platted Bay City. Charles moved to around 1841 to help manage his father's properties. He married Jane M. Jones.
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    May 20, 2010: William Maxson (1837-1922)
    • -- Mr. Maxson was born in Orleans, Jefferson Co., NY. His parents move to Mich., in 1816. He enlisted in the Civil War, then afterwards settled on farm in Hampton Twp. He married Mary J. Woods.
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    May 13, 2010: Lucien S. Coman (1843-1887)
    - Mr. Coman was born in Morrisville, N.Y., and came to Bay City at the age of 19, where he established a drug business. He married Mrs. Harry J. Clark, whose maiden name was Helen F. Barclay, an active member in the Bay City's Woman's Club, and the Ann Frisby Fitzhugh chapter of the D.A.R.
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    May 12, 2010: Martin M. Andrews (b. 1839)

    -- Mr. Andrews was born on a farm near Flint, Mich. He attended Oberlin College, OH, while there enlisted in the Civil War. Came to Bay City in 1875, where he was cashier in Second National Bank, and helped organize the First Congregational Church. Married Mary Plum.
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    May 9, 2010: Charles Supe (1836-?)
    -- Mr. Supe was burin in Prussia, Germany, from which he immigrated to Bay City in 1850, where he opened a meat market, afteward entering the wholesale grocery business. He held several public offices, and was married to Caroline Rademacher.
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    May 9, 2010: William G. Tapert (1869-?)
    -- Mr. Tapert was born at Detroit, and came to Bay City with his parent at a young age. Following his father's footsteps, he engaged in the meat business as a salesmen for beef companies. He was married to Maude C. Thompson, and they had two children.
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    May 9, 2010: Christopher H. Ueberroth (1867-?)
    -- Mr. Ueberroth was born in Bay City, in 1856, to Leonard and Mary (Reinhart) Ueberroth. He was in the crockery, glassware and wall paper business, under a number of different partnerships. No record found on a marriage.
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    May 9, 2010: George Sangle (1836-1902)
    Contributed by James Petrimoulx. -- Mr. Sangle was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and came the U.S.A. at the age of 15. After service in the Cival War, he came to Bay City where he was a partner with Frederick A. Nichols in a harness shop. He was married to Henrietta Schmaltz.
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    May 6, 2010: Lydia Day Holmes (1870-?)
    -- Miss Holmes was born in Bay City, daughter of Harry Holmes and Emeline Day. She was educated at University of Michigan, and entered the teaching profession, first at Oxford College, OH, then returning to Bay City in the public school system. Singe.
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    May 6, 2010: John H. Holmes (1864-?)
    -- Mr. Holmes was born in Goderich, Canada, and came to Bay City at the age of two years, with his parents, Harry Holmes and Emeline Day. He engaged in the construction business, and was married to Lucia Eastwood.
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    May 4, 2010: George W. Hotchkiss (1831-?)

    -- Mr. Hotchkiss was born in New Haven, Conn., and came to Bay City in 1862, where he was a lumber dearler, and later, in entered the newspaper business working for the Lumberman's Gazette and the Saginaw Daily Courier. He then moved to Chicago working in the publishing business. He married Elizabeth St. John.
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    May 4, 2010: Edwin Lewis Gillette (1811-1892)

    -- Mr. Gillette was born in New York, and came to Bay City in the late 1840s, where he partnered with James Fraser building a saw mill at Kawkawlin, and another in Bay City. Later he moved to Chicago and became one of their most prominent business men. He married Jospehine Perley.
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    May 2, 2010: Descum Culver (1824-1884)
    -- Mr. Culver was born in Norfolk, Ont., Canada, and came to Bay City during the lumbering period. He married Agenline Descum. Their daughter Elva married G. Henry Shearer.
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    May 2, 2010: Hon. Sidney T. Holmes (1815-1890).
    -- Mr. Holmes was born in the state of New York, where he was a prominent attorney, judge and a represenative in the U.S. Congress. He came to Bay City in 1871, where he was a partner in the Holmes & Collins law practice. Marriage is unknown.
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    May 2, 2010: John G. Dehn (1875-?).
    -- Mr. Dehn was born in Saginaw, and later moved to Bay City, where he was employed in the lumber mill of Matthew Lamont. Dehn served as an alderman and as a representive in the State legislature. He married Marie Baker.
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    April, 2010
    Apr. 28, 2010: Bay City Societies, 1893-94.

    -- Community social clubs were abundant in the early days, and many of these clubs served a important community service. You may be suprise by the large number of clubs there were in the Polk Directory of 1893-94, and what they were about.
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    Apr. 27, 2010: Video: Industrial Works/Brownhoist.
    -- One Bay City's largest earliest businesses was a crane manufacturer, and it also one of the city's best promoters as its cranes were shipped world wide and each crane had a large name plate with "Bay City" on it.
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    Apr. 26, 2010: Louis R. Russell
    Mr. Russell was born in 1845 in New York, and came to Bay City, Mich., in 1870, where he engage in mattress manufacturing business. He was married Jennie Taylor.
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    Apr. 25, 2010: Rev. William W. Lyle (1828-1893)
    -- Rev. Lyle was pastor of the First Congregational Church in Bay city for 12 years, beginning in 1880. He was born in scotland, and came to America about 20 years later. He served in the Civil War as chaplain and surgeon. He married Margaret Adam of Scotland.
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    Apr. 24, 2010: Biography: Henry Fenton (1804-1905).

    -- Mr. Fenton was born in Fenton, Mich. He grew up in Flint, and in 1874, moved to Bay City, where he practiced law and was in the mercandise and real estate businesses. He married Isabella Thurbur.
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    Apr. 23, 2010: Biography: Jesse M. Miller.
    Mr. Miller was born in 1812, in Pennsylvania, and came to Bay city, Mich., in 1850, where he was a mail carrier, and later a justice of the peace. Name of spouse is unknown.
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    Apr. 23, 2010: Biography: Augustus Horn (1846-1935)
    -- Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx. Mr. Horn was born in Germany, and came to America when 8 years old, eventually settling in Williams Twp., Bay Co., Michigan. He was a veteran of the Civil, and lived out his finals years in Marine City, MI. He married Emma Gregory.
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    Apr. 23, 2010: 1908 Bio.: Roscoe H Dow.
    -- Mr. Dow was born in Booth Bay, Lincoln Co., Maine, and moved to Bay City with his parents when 12 years of age, and where he lived until 1903 when he moved to Santa Monica, CA. He was married to Nellie K. Gillard.
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    Apr. 17, 2010: Bay City Board of Commerce.
    -- Bay City's first board of commerce dates back to 1865, but it didn't last long as it lacked support from the business community. By the turn of the 20th century businesses interested in promoting the city, and at that time it called the Board of Trade.
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    Apr. 16, 2010: Bio. - Otavius A. Marsac.
    -- Otavius was born in 1856, in Bay city, and is the son of Joseph F. and Theresa (Rivard) Marsac. The father was a prominent figure in the early history of Michigan. Otavious owned The Boat & Pattern Co., in Bay City. He was married to Mary CONLEY.
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    Apr. 15, 2010: Bio. - Elias B. Denison.
    -- Mr. Denison was born in 1837, at Warren, Macomb Co., Mich., and came to Bay City in 1862, where he engaged in mercantile, real estate and banking businesses. He married Elizabeth F. Fraser, daughter of James Fraser, one of the founders of Bay City.
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    Apr. 14, 2010: Life in a Lumbering Town.

    -- Book excerpt from "The Blazed Trail," published in 1907, about life associated with lumbering. This writing describes what life was like for towns invaded by hundreds of lumberjacks after having spent months in the woods.
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    Apr. 13, 2010: Bio.: George H. Schindehette.

    -- Mr. Schindehette was born in 1858, in Germany and was about 16 years old when came to Bay City where he older brothers resided, and where he eventually became proprietor of the Republic Hotel. He married Lucinda Sennatt, of West Branch.
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    Apr. 12, 2010: Bio.: Mrs. May Stocking Knaggs.

    -- Contributed by Joni Hubard-Golden. Mrs. Knagg, of Bay City, was a prominent advocate in the development of the women's suffrage movement in Michigan. She was also a participant in the national movement, traveling annually to its convention, and lobbying political parties to aid in furthering the rights of women.
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    Apr. 12, 2010: History: Women's Suffrage in Mich.

    -- Women during America's early history were in power to the bondage of men. While they were loved, they were kept in their place as one step above a hired servant. Bay City had a number of women that were at the forefront of bringing equal rights to women.
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    Apr. 10, 2010: Bio. 1892 - George H. Azure.
    -- Mr. Azure was born in 1838, at Lansing, Thompkins Co., N.Y. He settled in Portsmouth Township, Bay County, in 1884, where he took up farming, and was for a number of years manager of the McGraw Farm. He married Sarah H. Gibbs.
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    Apr. 2, 2010: Jennison Hardware Company

    -- Donated by Cynthia C. Jones. The Centennial Brochure (1850-1950), of the Jennison Hardware Company. Includes many early photos and portraits of Jennison family, and the company's early history.
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    March, 2010
    Mar. 25, 2010: Video: Indian Mission Church.
    This church building dates back to 1847. Delta College engineering students took on the project of restoring this historical building. The video captures the celebration held during the installation of the church's bell tower in 2007.
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    Mar. 25, 2010: Video: Bay County Historical Society.
    A virtual tour of the society's museum in Bay City, MI. Historical displays, library, theater, gift shop and more.
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    Mar. 19, 2010: Video: 150th Anniversary Celebration.
    Scene taken in June, 2007, during Bay County's 150th Anniversary celebrations.
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    Mar. 19, 2010: Video: Veterans Day Service.
    Service held in Sept., 2008, at Viet Nam Memorial inside Veterans Memorial Park, Bay City, MI. Series of two videos includes honor guard, WWII veteran's story.
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    Mar. 18, 2010: Video: Perry Woodard Dance Studeo.
    Dance recital at Central High School in Bay City, MI. Full individual routines in a series of four videos taken in 2008.
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    Mar. 15, 2010: Video: Inside City Hall.
    Contributed by Bruce J. Flewelling. An excellent virtual tour of the inside of historical City Hall building in Bay City, MI.
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    Mar. 12, 2010: Frederick P. Browne

    -- Mr. Browne was born in 1848, at Joliet, Ind., and came to Bay City in 1875, where he worked his way up from cashier to President of the First National Bank. He was married to Marianna Foster, of New York.
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    February, 2010
    Feb. 28, 2010: Industrial Brownhoist Photos Added.

    -- Photos taken last October during the demolition of the old manufacturing buildings of the former Industrial Brownhoist. The city decided to have the property cleared for the Uptown at the River development project.
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    Feb. 17, 2010: Bio.: Franklin Johnson (1836-1916)

    -- Rev. Johnson was born in Frankfort, OH. He was the first pastor (1861-3) of the First Baptist Church in Bay City, when it was located on Washington Ave. Later in his career, he became a professor at the University of Chicago.
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    January, 2010
    Jan. 26, 2010: History on William Birney (1819-1907)

    -- William is the son of James G. and Agatha (McDowell) Birney. His father was an abolitionist leader, twice Presidential candidate and twice ran for Governor of Mich. William was a general in the Civil War, and reknown author. He was married twice, Catharine Hoffman and Mattie C. Ashby.
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    Jan. 16, 2010: History of Leonard Jewell (1815-1886)
    -- Mr. Jewell was born in Rome, Oneida Co, N.Y. He came to Bay City in 1844, which at that time was a sparsely populated pioneer settlement. He became one of the most prominent woodsman in northern Michigan. He was a Civil War veteran, a friend and guide for Daniel H. Fitzhugh, the two were recognized nationally by fishing and hunting enthusiasts.
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    Jan. 9, 2010: Bio.: John W. Shearer.

    --Mr. Shearer was born in 1830, in Albany, N.Y., a veteran of the Civil War, and the brother of James Shearer, who erected several business blocks in Bay City. Both lived in Detroit for several years prior to moving to Bay City in 1865. John married Mary E. Larued of Ohio.
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    Jan. 8, 2010: Wenona Beach Park History

    - Historical documents related to Wenona Beach Amusement Park, which was located on the shoreline of the Saginaw Bay in Bangor Township. Several documents, one included a listing of all employees in 1949. The park closed down in 1964. Also, links to other pages related to Wenona Beach.
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