Grand Traverse County Early History
Submitted by Colleen Pustola while in Germany

The following was extracted from "The Traverse Region." Chicago: H.R. Page and Co., 1884, pp. 58-59. Republished by Windmill Publications, Inc., Mt. Vernon, IN in 1991: This book is available at: Traverse City District Library, Grand Traverse Pioneer and Historical Society, Kingsley Public Library.

"The names of all who came to the new settlement in an early day, have not been preserved. Some remained only a short time, and then returned to the places whence they came, or wandered to other parts; others identified themselves with the interests of the community and became permanent citizens.

"At the setting in of winter, in 1851, the following families are known to have been in the settlement: Michael Gay's John Lake's Henry Rutherford's Benjammin Austin's T.D. Hillery's William Voice's Seth Norris' Robert Potts' a family named Barnes a German family whose name has been forgotten an old couple of the name of Lowery

"The following names of unmarried persons, resident at that time, have been preserved:

Henrietta Baxter, who afterward became Mrs. J.K. Gunton. Catherine Carmichael, sister to Mrs. Hillery and afterward wife of H.D. Campbell. Dominic Dunn, William Rennie, Cuyler Germaine, Dougald Carmichael, brother to Mrs. Hillery and Catherine James K. Gunton Richard Meagher

Francis Hannah was also there having charge of the business of Hannah, Lay & Co. D.C. Curtis, foreman in the employ of the firm [Hannah, Lay & Co.] Thomas Cutler, who had come out as an engineer, to take charge of the steam saw-mill about to be built. His family arrived the following year [1852]. John B. Spencer, who was getting out saw-logs for the mill and timber for building a dock, and who soon afterward removed to Elk Rapids. There arrived also in 1852, John Garland and two men of the name of Evans, with families, and unmarried, Henry D. Campbell Thomas A. Hitchcock R. McLellan Hugh McGinnis

Dr. Charles Holton and wife came either in the spring of 1852 or the fall previous. Dr. D.C. Goodale, with his family, arrived in April, 1853.

"The population of the settlement was yet small. They were surrounded and shut in by an almost impenetrable wilderness. But few improvements not demanded by the immediate exigencies of the lumber trade, had been attempted. Only one public road -- that from the head of the bay to Old Mission -- had been opened. This road had been made in fulfillment of an agreement between the inhabitants of the two places, entered into, probably, at the raising of Boardman's saw-mill. The people at Old Mission were pleased to have a mill so conveniently near, and all could see that connection of the settlements by means of a passable road would be a public advantage. The inhabitants of each settlement, by voluntary contributions of labor built the half of the road nearest themselves.

"The first marriage in which the ceremony was performed within the limits of the settlement, was that of James LEE and Ann DAKIN, which took place probably in 1853. William M. MC KELLIP, a justice of the peace, officiated."

"The first white child born at Traverse City, was Josephine GAY, daughter of Michael GAY, afterward Mrs. Neil MORRISON. The date of her birth was May 15, 1849."

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Updated29Sept2003