History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Mackinac County 

Source: History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan: containing a full account of its early settlement, its growth, development, and resources, an extended description of its iron and copper mines : also, accurate sketches of its counties, cities, towns, and villages ... biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers. Publication Info: Chicago : Western Historical Co., 1883. Pages 361-366

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The Island Cemetery

The only headstone now standing is the one erected to the memory of Mrs. Mary Puthuff, wife of Maj. William H. Puthuff, U. S. A., who died in June, 1823. The stone is a soft red sandstone and is well preserved, though the hillock covering the sleeping dead is level with the ground. This Maj. W. H. Puthuff was the Indian Agent and Magistrate of Mackinac from the close of the war in 1812, and was the bete noir of John J. Astor, being in a continual quarrel with the agent of the latter—Ramsey Crooks—as the records still show. What his further history was is drowned in the forgetfulness attendant upon the history of men, possibly more worthy of perpetuity, but on the tombstone of his wife Mary, his name is given again to the world. The next was dug out from beneath a pile of rank alders and noisome weeds, broken in pieces, which, on being for the time reunited, proved to be the stony record, nearly obliterated, of Mrs. Eliza Abeth Mitchell, who died February 26, 1827. This was the deserted wife of Surgeon David Mitchell, the man who traitorously betrayed the fort into the hands of Col. Roberts and his Indians of the British Army. He (Mitchell) had to fly to Canada on the conclusion of peace, leaving his wife and family, who occupied the long, low house on the front street, with the old-fashioned dormer windows. Here the wife of the deserter lived, and finally died, and was buried in the old graveyard.

The third stone found was prostrated and broken. Placed together, it proved to be the record of the death of Mrs. Abigail Reed Legate, wife of Capt. Thomas C. Legate, U. S. Artillery, who was buried August 11, 1821. Nothing remains to record the fact of his existence save the broken and defaced stone which once marked the resting-place of a loved wife.

The following is the record of interments in the Post Cemetery at Fort Mackinac so far as it seems now possible to render it correct:

*Capt. John Clitz was grandfather of R. E. De Hussy, so that on the death of De Russy, his body was interred in the Clitz family lot, No. 14, Post Cemetery.
**Charlotte O'Brien and A. H. O'Brien were members of Post Chaplain O'Brien's family, who were interred in the family lot, No. 16.
The total number buried in the cemetery is sixty. The tenants of nineteen graves have their names recorded, while the remaining forty-one names are unknown. The list was prepared under direction of Lieut. D. H. Kelton, Tenth United States Infantry, and its correctness certified to by him.

MACKINAC VILLAGE.

The village of Mackinac was one of the first organized in the State. It was incorporated in 1817, a year before the county was organized. Since that period, it appears to have observed all the requirements of its charter in the matter of elections, even as it has survived the changes of time, like the rocks, which guard it from the north wind—the terrible kiwedin.

The settlement of Mackinac was commenced in 1764, a year after the massacre at Old Mackinaw. In 1793, it was surrendered to the American Government; taken by the British in 1812, but restored by the treaty of Ghent two years later. The island on which it stands lies 728 feet above the level of the ocean, is 350 miles north from Chicago, about 344 from Detroit, and ninety miles from Sault Ste. Marie by steamboat route. The mean annual temperature is 41° Fahrenheit.

Regarding the derivation of the name Michilimackinac, ancient and modern writers in alluding to it have erroneously stated that it was derived from the Indian word or name for Great Turtle, which is Me-che-me-kin-oc-e-nung-gonge.

The Indians do not use this word in speaking of this island, but rather the word Me-she-ne-mock-e-nung-gonge; which means Island of Great or Giant Fairies.

In 1825, this extraordinary name gave place to Mackinac from Mikkina, a turtle.

The town of Mackinac contains three churches, a schoolhouse, old court house, six hotels, a number of summer boarding houses, stores and shops of all kinds, and quite a sprinkling of handsome dwellings.

The Astor House, built by old John Jacob in 1822, and long used as the headquarters of the American Fur Company, contains the books and records of the company from 1815 to 1836, including a correspondence with Gen. Winfield Scott soon after the battle of Lundy's Lane. The bar and billiard room is an immense hall with low ceilings and huge pine cross-beams, on one of which is chiseled in rude, sprawling characters: "417 pines used in this frame." The hand that cut the inscription has long been dust. The other hotels are the Mackinac House, Island House, St. Cloud, Palmer and Lake View. Excellent boardinghouses are kept by Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Franks in the old mission-house, and Mrs. Todd, mother of H. A. N. Todd, the first native-born "President of the Island," which position he is now filling. The Todd House was built in 1818 by Capt. Pierce, a brother of President Frank Pierce, and a brother-in-law of Gen. John McNeil, the rival of Winfield Scott for the hero ship of Lundy's Lane. The present mission-house was built by the Presbyterians in 1824, Rev. W. H. Ferry, the father of Senator T. W. Ferry, of Michigan, being in charge. The Senator was born in this house. The old Indian Dormitory, now used as a schoolhouse, was erected in 1838, as a lodging-place for the Indian chiefs and the more prominent members of their tribes, who constantly visited the place on business connected with their treaties, annuities and reservations.

Table of Distances.—The following is a table of distances to various points from Mackinac Island: Round Island, 1 mile; Bois Blanc Island, 3 miles; Point St, Ignace, 4 miles; East Moran Bay, 5 miles; Mackinaw City,

8 miles; St. Helena Island, 13 miles; Waugoshance Light-House, 20 miles: Chenaux Islands, 15 miles; Cheboygan, 18 miles; Cross Village, 30 miles; Middle Village, 38 miles; Detour, 35 miles; Beaver Island, 45 miles; Petoskey, 60 miles; Sault de Ste. Marie, 90 miles; Alpena, 110 miles; Port Huron, 275 miles; Detroit, 344 miles; Chicago, 400 miles.

Since the establishment of the Island Post Office, in 1819, to 1825, it was known as Michilimackinac, and from that period to the present time as Mackinac. The Postmasters are named as follows: Adam D. Stewart, 1819-22; John W. Mason, 1822-25; Jonathan N. Bailey, 1825-29; Jonathan P. King, 1829-49; James H. Cook, 1849-53; J. P. King, 1853-59; John Biddle, 1859-61; James Lesley, 1861-66; John Becker, 1866-67; James Lesley, 1867-77; George C. Ketcham, 1877-80, and James Lasley, 1880-82.

Village Wardens. —Wardens or Presidents of the borough or village of Mackinac since its incorporation in 1817:

The election of March 7, 1882, resulted as follows: President—Horace A. N. Todd; Independent, 64 votes; William P. Preston, Democrat, 55 votes; Todd's majority, 9 votes.

Trustees (two years)—James F. Cable, Independent, 63 votes; Thomas Chambers, Democrat, 53 votes; Cable's majority, 10 votes. John H. Chapman, Independent, 64 votes; Ed A. Franks, Democrat, 53 votes; Chapman's majority, 11 votes. Nicholas Biddle, Democrat (no opposition), 119 votes.

Trustee (one year)—Alfred G. Couchois, Democrat (no opposition), 119 votes.

Recorder—James Lasley, Independent, 64 votes; D. Murray, Democrat, 56 votes; Lesley's majority, 8 votes.

Treasurer—Joseph Willmet, Independent, 64 votes; James Hoban, Democrat, 55 votes; Willmet's majority, 9 votes.

Assessor —James Biddle (no opposition), 119 votes.

The pioneers of the village other than the French, the officers and employees of the fur company, were Charles O'Malley, Thomas Chambers, Dominick Murray, Martin Durkin, Charles Mulcrone, Matthew Geary, William Geary, Patrick Hoban and four sons, Michael and John McCarthy, John McCann, Thomas Donnelly, Patrick Durkin, Stephen Dowd, Owen Carrigan, John Carrigan, Frank Brogban, Thomas Garrity, Patrick Garrity, Edward Chambers, Michael Early, Frank Chambers, John Gallagher, James Walsh, Tulley O'Malley.

In the general history of the Island, the names of French, German and American pioneers are recorded.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The Catholic Church established a regular station on the Island so early as 1824, in which year a house of worship was built under direction of Rev. Metchichelli. Previous to that time, the missionary priests visited the old Island Church at intervals or the inhabitants crossed en masse to attend service within the old church of St. Ignace. In the history of the last-named mission, that of the Catholic Church of the Island is regarded. The church building is commodious, and possesses some architectural pretensions. In 1882, the building was refitted, painted and otherwise improved. Within, the old pews of olden times still hold their place.

The condition of the Island, in 1881, religiously, is shown in the following paragraph, from an address issued by C. B. Brown, W. W. French and E. B. Chamberlain, a committee of the M. E. Church society, authorized to solicit aid toward building a house of worship. The address was issued in August, 1881:

"Scarcely two years have passed since the commencement of this new impetus to progress, and yet we have a population variously estimated at from 1,500 to 2,000 souls. Most of the old inhabitants are Roman Catholics, and many of them are thoroughly devoted to the church in which they were born. They have a good comfortable church and a zealous and able priest. Most of the Protestant denominations are represented here, but few of them as yet have any organizations. The Congregationalists, Methodists and Episcopalians have each recently effected small organizations. The Congregationalists and Methodists have erected, with rough boards, temporary places of worship. A church lot has been tendered to the Trustees of the M. Society, on condition of the building of a church within a limited time. We have carefully canvassed the matter, and find we must decline to accept this generous offer unless we can secure help from abroad."

The Baptist and Lutheran societies have directed their attention to the Island, so that within a few years all forms of worship may be introduced.

Protestant Episcopal Church.—The services of this branch of the Christian church were held on the Island during its occupation by the British. The old organization had services at intervals, but for many years no effort was made to organize a religious society of this communion until 1881. At a meeting of the Mackinac Protestant Christian Association, held at the Island House in the village of Mackinac, on August 5, 1881, there were present H. Van Allen, Chairman, F. B. Stockbridge, John R. Bailey, George Truscott, James F. Cable, and, by proxies, Sigfried Highstone, John W. Davis and George C. Ketchum. Col. B. Stockbridge was elected Chairman, and George Truscott, Secretary. The meeting proceeded to consider the feasibility of re-organizing the association, and, after deliberation, did unanimously resolve: "That the Mackinac Protestant Christian Association be reorganized under the name and title of the Trinity Episcopal Church Society of Mackinac, and under the laws of the State of Michigan, so far as they relate to the Protestant Episcopal Church, and in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations governing the Episcopal Church within the State of Michigan." And further: "That all property rights and franchises heretofore acquired by the Mackinac Protestant Christian Association, and by the old Trinity Church Society of Mackinac County, are hereby transferred to the Trinity Episcopal Church Society." Without delay, steps were taken to build a church, so that, on August 6, 1882, the Protestant Episcopalians worshiped for the first time in their new chapel. It is a neat, tasty structure, occupying a commanding position, and its erection is mainly due to the persevering labors of Rev. M. C. Stanley. It has several memorial windows, Lieut. Kelton, C. B. Fenton, Dr. J. W. Bailey and Mrs. David Carson being among the donors.

The First Presbyterian Church of Mackinac was incorporated under the authority of legislative act approved March 4, 1831. Its establishment is noticed in the general history, and also under the head of the "Mission House."

INDIAN AGENTS.

Gen. Lewis Cass, writing in October, 1821, says: "Since 1813, and including part of that year, I have been the Superintendent of Indian Affairs upon the Northwestern frontier of the United States. The agency of Michilimackinac is the only agency that was originally within the territory of Michigan. That of Green Bay was attached to the Territory at the close of 1818 or the commencement of 1819. All the others under my superintendency are without the Territory, and the supervising power exercised by me over them is not within the pale of my official duties. I have, then, superintended the following agencies, for which I have a just claim for compensation: The agency at Green Bay till 1819; at Chicago, Fort Wayne, Piqua and the sub-agencies at Upper Sandusky and Blanchard's Forks since their establishment. In the settlement of accounts with Gen. Hull, in 1811, he was allowed $250 per annum as Superintendent of Upper Sandusky Indians. I superintend ten times the number."

The agents for Mackinac and vicinity since 1816 are named as follows:

1816-24—W. H. Puthuff.
1824-33—George Boyd.
1833-41—H. R. Schoolcraft.
1841-45—Robert Stuart.
1845-49—William A. Richmond.
1849-51—Charles P. Babcock.
1851-53—Rev. William Sprague.
1853-57—Henry C. Gilbert.
1857-61—Andrew M. Fitch.
1861-65 —D. C. Leach.
1865-69—Richard M. Smith.
1869—William H. Brockway.
1869-71—James W. Long.
1871—Richard M. Smith.
1871-76—George I. Betts.
1876-82—George W. Lee.

The Island in 1844.—In speaking of Mackinac as a business center, James Jesse Strang, whose work appeared in 1844, says: The most profitable, and, at the same time, the most ruinous, trade Mackinac ever had is that in whisky. Indian whisky is made by putting two gallons of common whisky, or unrectified spirits, to thirty gallons of water, and adding red pepper enough to make it fiery and tobacco enough to make it intoxicating. Its cost is not above 5 cents per gallon. Thousands of barrels have been sold every year, the prices generally being 50 cents a quart by the bottle, and 6 cents a drink.

More than half the fish taken by the Indians for thirty years have been paid for in this article, and more than half the annuities they have received from the United States have been laid out in the purchase of it. The most wealthy and respectable traders have not been ashamed to deal in it. The outlaws and felons who found a hiding-place in the country were seldom without a supply of it, and, being the instruments of wealthy traders in disposing of it, became to some degree necessary to their success in business, and thus secured their protection. By their means, the horrors produced by this trade were kept out of Mackinac until the place became filled with an unprincipled class of small traders, who had as little regard to appearances as their more wealthy competitors had to integrity.

The Fisheries.—The fisheries of Michilimackinac were, to some extent, a source of subsistence to the Indians, before the country was visited by Europeans. The Indians only fished on the shores, in the streams and in the shallow inland lakes. The first Frenchmen in this country introduced the French modes of fishing, by which the fish were pursued to the deep waters, and thus a supply was obtained all the year.

As early as 1824, small quantities of whitefish and trout began to be sent to Buffalo for market. In the space of thirty years, this branch of trade has increased from 2,000 barrels to 250,000; of these it is supposed one-half are taken in what were formerly known as the Mackinac fisheries, extending from Death's Door to Middle Channel. Formerly, these were all taken to Mackinac, where they were repacked and sent to market. The merchants at Mackinac furnished the fishermen, and purchased all their fish, and the entire profits of the business accrued to them.

The fishermen, until within a few years, were all Indians and Frenchmen, who lived in a state of barbarism and misery, and were almost, and in some instances, quite, slaves to the traders. Their summers were spent in wigwams of the worst kind on the lake shores, nearly destitute of clothing and not unfrequently reduced to subsist on fish alone for weeks. The traders so conducted their business that the fishermen generally were in debt. But if by any means one had a continual run of good success and got a little capital at command, he was induced to lay it out in whisky, and return to the fishing-grounds, where, with all his companions, he remained drunk till the supply was gone.

Gradually, a few Americans and Irish went on to the fisheries. Some of these took with them small stocks for trade, and divided their time between trading and fishing. As these received their outfits from and sold their fish at Mackinac, it did not materially change the course of trade. But, taking the supply of intoxicating liquors more among the Indians, made their use more common and fatal. But these were men bred to civilization, who had gone among savages to get beyond the restraints of law. They were the worst class of men scattered among the most inoffensive and defenseless—and it is needless to say they let slip no opportunity of plundering them.

Numbers of them are known who boast of the amounts they have made by taking fish out of the open barrels of the Indians from night to night and placing them in their own. On a fishery where a dozen Indians were engaged, they were often plundered in this way to the amount of one hundred barrels in a season. Since the Sauk and Fox war, the Indians did not dare resent these or greater outrages, when discovered.

As a natural consequence, a set of outlaws and felons were scattered throughout the country, and found on all the fisheries, hated and feared, and living in security on plunder. The control of the fishing business gradually fell into the hands of this class of men, the merchants of Mackinac being their factors. These intermediates were no less formidable by their crimes than their numbers, and their intimate connection with the Indians and mixed French and Indian. Over them they obtained all the influence of dependence and fear, strengthened by intimate association. In the hands of such men, the most productive inland fisheries in the world afforded only a miserable and uncertain subsistence to the fishermen, even through the summer.

In winter, the Indian fishermen retired to the various Indian towns, and the French to Mackinac. The Indians procured a precarious subsistence by hunting, and the French did such labor as they could get to do for their board. That failing, they took what fish they could for food through the ice, and when reduced to starvation, as they were more or less every winter, they fell back on the traders for support, who furnished them on credit. On these debts they were frequently sold, of which mention is made hereafter.

Since 1843, merchants and traders have established themselves at other stations, more convenient to the fisheries than Mackinac. Most of the fishermen had their outfits of provisions, barrels of salt, and many were in debt, also, for boats, nets and the balances on their winter's support at Mackinac. But the interlopers or traders at other stations, who made them no advances, carried on a trade ruinous to the Mackinac merchants, by purchasing the fish put up in their barrels and salt, and caught by men provisioned and furnished by them.

The village, the military post and the Island itself have been so often and vividly described, that little remains to be written. The following extract from one of these descriptions is not an overdrawn picture of this magnificent ornament of the lakes:

"The beautiful little island, with its traditions, its many romantic and historical associations, some extending way back into the dim reminiscences of days long since gone by, others still within the remembrance of honored actors at the present age of life, lies within the Straits of the same name, but a few miles from the main land, and is easily accessible to either the Northern or Southern Peninsula. It is the most picturesque of any on the lakes, and here nature displays all her grandeur. Indian tradition makes this island the home of the giant fairies, hence it was regarded with awe by that race, by whom it was called Moe-che-ne-mock-e-nung. The French name of the early settlers was Michilimackinac. Picture after picture has been drawn, extolling the beauties of the turreted castles, the walled-in cities and fair fields, hills, rugged mountains and peaceful valleys of ancient and foreign climes. Songs have been sung and great minds have spoken in their praise; but to them all Mackinac—with her 'Lover's Leap' around which circles a pretty story of maiden's fidelity; the Arched Rock, 'a great natural wonder; the `Devil's Punch Bowl,' a wierd appellation to a singular freak of nature; the 'Giant's Stairway,' 'Pontiac's Lookout,' the 'Chimney Rock,' the whitened walls of old Fort Mackinac on the hillside, built by the English in 1780, with the original block-houses still standing intact; the Soldiers' Cemetery, carrying one back a century and a half, when some of those lying there were true men and brave defenders; the remains of old Fort Holmes, the 'Parade Ground,' the buildings of the old Fur Company, some of them nearly a century old; the quiet little village—beautiful because of its quietness—all these and much more make her the peer of any resort in the world."

MACKINAC VILLAGE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN R. BAILY, M. D., surgeon and druggist, was born in New York July 23, 1833; received a good education, and graduated at the age of twenty at the State University of Michigan; was then employed as Government Surgeon at Port Mackinac in 1854; in 1861, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Eighth Missouri Regiment; was promoted rapidly for meritorious services, and served on the staff of a number of prominent generals, and held many places of distinction; he was mustered out January 29, 1864, for disabilities received; returned to Mackinac Island in 1864, and engaged in the mercantile line, and practice of medicine; has several times been Post Surgeon of the Island; has held many of the town and county offices; has been and now is one of the most successful practitioners of medicine, and receives calls 2,000 miles from the Island; has been instrumental in having many way bills passed by Congress for the benefit of the Island and his country; has done a large amount of work for the benefit of the schools of his Island; has taken steps to protect the American fishermen of the lakes; now has in charge a bill for the improvement of the National Park of the Island; was married to Miss Sarah Grey, of Mackinac Island, in 1858. They had four children. His wife died in 1876; was married again to Miss M. E. Marshal, of Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1881; was in many of the terrible battles of the rebellion, and was always on hand in time of action.

JAMES BENNETT, steamboat agent and forwarding merchant, was born in Pennsylvania October 1, 1822; began sailing at the age of seventeen, and followed it twenty-eight years, as mate, master, etc., and in the meantime purchased many steamers; left the lakes in 1872, but business has connected him more or less with the lakes and sailing since; resided in Ohio with his family till 1865, at which time he came to Mackinac Island, and has since resided here; has done business since 1872, for several lines of steamers; was married to Miss Fannie N. Ketchum, of Ohio, in 1855. They have one son—James W. Bennett.

MRS. MINNIE CARSON, Mackinac Hotel, was born in Millbrook, Ontario, Canada, November 18, 1843; was married at the age of twenty-three to Mr. David Carson, of Ireland; came to the Island in 1868, and lost her husband in 1873, and then went to Canada and stayed six years. She returned to the Island in 1879, and took charge of the hotel which she now manages.

JOHN W. DAVIS, of the firm of John W. Davis & Son, general merchants, was born in New York January 25, 1826; began sailing at the age of sixteen on the lakes, and continued sixteen seasons, at the end of which time he went to Wisconsin and farmed eight years, then returned to New York; lived there two years, and then came to Mackinac Island, and sailed two seasons, and clerked eighteen months, and then went into business for himself here in 1871; owns fine timber lands and other wild lands. He was married to Miss Priscilla King of New York. They have two children—John D. and Ray.

BENONI LACHANCE, Justice of the Peace, Mackinac Island, was born in Canada January 20, 1841; went to Montreal at the age of thirteen to learn the shoe-maker's trade; and came to Mackinac Island hi 1857; he worked at his trade, sailed, baked and went to school and worked on the canal and in other business in different parts of the country until 1861, at which time he enlisted in the army for three years; went in as a private and was mustered out as Sergeant Major; came to Mackinac Island in September, 1864, and again began shoemaking; kept the light-house at Detour; kept store at Scott's Point; was again shoemaking, and in 1870 was appointed to take census of the district; was also appointed Deputy United States Marshal. In 1876, he went into the real estate business, and in 1879 started an abstract office in connection with real estate at Mackinac Island; he has also a branch office at St. Ignace; is Judge of Probate; was Township Clerk, and held many other town and county offices; he was married to Miss Mary P. Metervier, of Mackinac Island, September 27, 1864. They have ten children.

JAMES LASLEY, Postmaster and Deputy Collector of Customs, was born on Mackinac Island September 29, 1816; received a common school education, and went into a store as clerk at the age of eighteen, and remained there ten years; he went to Muskegon in 1838; in the fur business for nineteen years, and then returned to the Island and went into the dry goods business five years, and was appointed Postmaster in 1861, which office he has held to this date; was clerking in the post office in Chicago in 1834, one year under John Hogan; was married to Miss Elizabeth Cowan, of Muskegon, in 1839. They have eight children. Mr. Lasley is a full-blooded Virginian.

MICHAEL McNALLY, meat market, was born at St. Ignace, Mich., October 28, 1845; was engaged in fishing until 1880 on the lakes, and shipping fish to Buffalo, Chicago and other points; took charge of a meat market in 1880, and has continued in the same line of business since; was Sheriff of the county two years, and was Deputy Sheriff four years; is a member of the Catholic Church.

WILLIAM P. PRESTON, real estate dealer, was born in Maryland January 19, 1846; received a good education; enlisted in the army in 1861, and came out as First Lieutenant in 1865. In 1867, he went to Indianapolis and joined the regular army, and was mustered out in 1869; was then speculating till 1875, at which time he took an active part in politics on the Democratic side, and was elected Chairman of Mackinac County. In 1877, he was elected President of the Village of Mackinac Island; was re-elected five consecutive years. In 1878, he was elected Chairman of Board of Supervisors. In 1880, he was elected member of Democratic State Committee; was re-elected to same place in 1882; was elected Justice of the Peace; was Superintendent of Schools; was Chairman of Board of Inspectors of Schools, and has held many other offices of trust and honor; is largely interested in real estate in Mackinac Island and St. Ignace, and in various other portions of the county.

WILLIAM SULLIVAN, liquor dealer, was born in Ohio May 26, 1854; has spent most of his life on the turf, and is still interested in turf matters; in meantime, he has been interested in the hack business, and has also been clerk on the docks; has an interest in pine lands.

CAPT. AUGUSTUS TODD, deceased, was born in New York State March 26, 1808; was educated in Ohio, and at the age of eighteen began sailing, and was on the water for twenty years. Capt. Todd, widely known at one period throughout the lakes as commander of vessels and steam crafts, resided at Mackinac since his retirement from the lakes; he came to the Island of Mackinac, and began the general merchandise business, which he followed until 1855; was with the light-house business five or six years; was Village President for nine years; was School Director and School Trustee, and filled several other offices. Capt. Todd was married to Miss Sophia Hamel. They had eight children. Capt. Todd died October 2, 1873.

JACOB A. T. WENDELL deceased, was born in Albany, N. Y.. in 1823; came to the Island of Mackinac with his parents at the age of three years; received a good education by his own exertions, after which he turned his master mind in the direction of the commercial world, and was largely instrumental in improving the Island, and in developing the surrounding country. He served many sessions in the Legislature of Michigan, in both Houses, and was the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, but failed of election; he visited Europe, and has traveled much in the United States, but has always made his home on the Island; he was Collector of Customs for several years; was Supervisor of the county at the time of his death, and held many other offices of honor and trust; began life without any pecuniary aid, and was self-made; gathered around him a large share of this world's goods, his wealth being largely in real estate; he left large tracts of real estate in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Dakota. Prince Napoleon, while visiting this country, was entertained by Mr. Wendell at his Island home. When the Prince returned home to Paris, he sent Mr. Wendell a solid gold medal which was a beautiful profile of the Prince; the Prince invited Mr. Wendell to visit him at his palace in Paris, which he did the following year after the Prince was here. While in Europe, he visited the Pope, and the greatest attention was bestowed upon him. When Mr. Wendell's father died and left a large family, Mr. Wendell at once took upon himself the care of the family, and exercised more than a father's care, and never lost sight of that care to his death. The generosity and kindness of Mr. Wendell to the Ottawa Indians of Michigan, caused them to elect him as their chief, and he went with a deputation of them to Washington for the purpose of having some wrongs corrected; at another time the Indians of Emmet County, Mich., were in fear of losing their lands and deeded them to Mr. Wendell for safety. Mr. Wendell was married to Miss Annie Marie Hale of Washington, D. C.. February 8, 1869; they have three children—Eva Marie, Margaret Romaine and Madge B., deceased. Mr. Wendell died November 25, 1879. Mrs. Wendell and family are still at the Island home which Mr. Wendell built in 1846.

JOSIAH E. WENDELL, St. Cloud Hotel, was born on Mackinac Island June 18, 1838; received an academical education, and began business at the age of sixteen, in the mercantile line, in which he continued twenty-five years. In the meantime he dealt largely in fish and furs up to 1876, at which time he opened a hotel as a first-class summer resort.

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