Saginaw County Archives — Page 3 of 4

Stage Coach Mail in Early Richland Township

This article traces the evolution of the postal system in Richland Township, highlighting its significance in the lives of early settlers. From the initial lack of communication channels, the establishment of a post office in Hemlock City in 1869 marked a pivotal development, facilitating the exchange of letters and news with distant friends and relatives. The narrative details the progression from stagecoach mail delivery to the integration of mail service with local businesses, and eventually, the introduction of Rural Free Delivery and Parcel Post services. Through the appointment of various postmasters, including the first, Jacob King, and notable figures like William McBratnie, the article underscores the postal service’s role in connecting the community to broader national and international networks, thereby contributing to the township’s growth and integration into the material progress of the nation.

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Biography of Philo Thomas

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This Biography of Philo Thomas, introduces one of the earliest settlers in Richland Township, whose life story is pieced together through external sources rather than direct biographical records. Making his first settlement in 1850 and a subsequent one in 1865, Thomas’s pioneering efforts laid the foundation for future developments in the area. Not only a general farmer, Thomas also owned a blacksmith shop, contributing significantly to the early infrastructure and daily life of his town. His legacy includes a family lineage that continued to impact the community through subsequent generations, with descendants running local businesses. This narrative explores the adventurous life of Philo Thomas, underscoring his role in shaping the community’s history.

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Biography of Civilian Phelps

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This biography of Civilian Phelps chronicles the life of Civilian Phelps, an early settler in Richland Township, who made significant contributions to his community despite facing personal tragedies. Born in New York in 1834, Phelps’s early life was spent farming and teaching before serving in the Civil War. Post-war, he married and moved to Michigan in 1873, where his family endured the smallpox epidemic, resulting in the loss of a child and their home. Despite these hardships, Phelps rebuilt his life, cultivating a successful farm and serving as Superintendent of Schools and Justice of the Peace, exemplifying resilience and dedication to community and country.

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Biography of William McBratnie

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This concise biography of William McBratnie highlights his significant contributions to Richland Township’s early development. Born in Scotland in 1834 and emigrating to America in 1851, McBratnie became a pivotal figure in the community, notably as Richland’s first supervisor. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to open a general store in Hemlock City in 1874, which also housed the post office, enhancing the convenience for residents. McBratnie’s civic involvement extended to serving as Postmaster, treasurer, supervisor, clerk, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, and School Director. His marriage to Armanda Cone, a local schoolteacher, and their adoption of two children, further rooted him in the community’s fabric. Through his business acumen and public service, McBratnie played a critical role in shaping the township’s destiny.

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Biography of Fred Fiting

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This article is a brief biography of Fred Fiting, a Prussian wagon-maker who, along with his family, emigrated to America in 1856, eventually settling in Saginaw County, Michigan. Despite initial financial hardships, the Fitings persevered, contributing significantly to the early development of Richland Township through farming and running a ferry. Fred Fiting’s life story is a testament to the resilience and pioneering spirit of early settlers, showcasing their ability to overcome adversity, adapt to a new land, and lay the foundations for future generations. Through the Fiting family’s narrative, we gain insights into the early settler experience, highlighting the challenges, sacrifices, and achievements that shaped the community.

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Biography of Rev. George Carson

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This article provides a brief biography of George Carson, a distinguished individual in Saginaw County known for balancing his dual roles as a farmer and a Methodist Episcopal Church minister. Born on December 21, 1826, in Harrison County, Ohio, Carson moved to Michigan in 1876, where he became a respected community figure in Richland Township. Alongside his religious duties, he contributed significantly to local governance and education, serving as a Supervisor and School Director. His household, marked by an old apple orchard, was a nurturing home to twenty-one children, showcasing Mrs. Carson’s remarkable compassion. Their contributions have left a lasting legacy in the community, embodying service and familial dedication.

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Biography of Henry Bemish

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This article presents the life of Henry Bemish, who significantly impacted Richland Township and Hemlock City after settling there in 1878 and operating its sole hotel. Born in 1830 in Rochester, New York, Bemish’s life journey from New York to Michigan embodies the pioneering spirit of the era. The narrative extends to his family’s involvement in the community, particularly through commercial hunting, as highlighted in excerpts from “RECOLLECTIONS OF MY FIFTY YEARS HUNTING AND FISHING.” This biography not only chronicles Bemish’s personal and business achievements but also illustrates the vibrant hunting culture of the time and its contribution to the local economy.

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Hunting and Fishing about Richland Township, MI

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This article sheds light on Henry Bemish’s significant role in Richland Township’s history through his management of the Hemlock Hotel, once owned by Mr. Sproul. It draws on William B. Mershon’s “Recollections of My Fifty Years Hunting And Fishing” to provide a vivid snapshot of the era’s hunting, fishing, and lumbering life in the 1870s and 1880s. Mershon’s account of a hunting expedition and the construction of the Gratiot Plank Road offers a nostalgic look at Saginaw City’s pioneering days, showcasing the community’s deep connection to its natural surroundings and the profound changes that have since transformed the landscape.

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Richland Township, Michigan Town Hall

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This article narrates the journey of establishing a town hall in Richland Township, starting from the collective decision in 1889 to raise funds for its construction, through the selection of a suitable location, to the eventual building process fraught with debates, delays, and a fire that destroyed the partially completed structure. Highlighting the community’s perseverance, the narrative underscores the town hall’s symbolic importance as a venue for public discourse, decision-making, and the exercise of civic duties. Through the lens of Richland Township’s experience, the article illustrates the broader theme of how such institutions embody the principles of representative government and serve as a testament to the pioneering spirit and democratic values of early American settlers.

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Richland’s Sons and Daughters honoring the memory of its departed pioneers. Pictured above (left to right) Miss Mary Raucholz, John E. Fuller, Mrs. Ruth J. Phillips, Mrs. Oscar Bauer, Miss Anna Hase and Mr. Oscar Bauer.

Early Pandemics in Richland Township, MI

Saginaw County / Richland Manuscript

This article delves into the harrowing experiences of early pioneers grappling with diseases in mosquito-infested swamps and forests, highlighting the grim reality of death as an omnipresent threat due to typhoid, diphtheria, swamp fever, smallpox, and more. With medical science in its infancy, the settlers faced these challenges with limited knowledge and resources, relying on traditional methods for diagnosis and treatment. The narrative underscores the establishment of makeshift hospitals and the community’s efforts to contain outbreaks, particularly the smallpox epidemic of 1873, through the actions of Dr. Hilary Savoy and others. It paints a vivid picture of the hardships endured, the communal response to health crises, and the evolution of medical practices in a time when every sickness was a battle against the unknown.

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Saginaw County

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