Statewide

Obituary of John T. “Jack” Steadman, Sr.

Statewide

John T. “Jack” Steadman, Sr.(May 6, 1928-January 30, 2003) MARQUETTE — John T. “Jack” Steadman, Sr., formerly of Lost Creek Drive, Marquette, died peacefully Thursday morning, January 30, 2003. Mr. Steadman was born on May 6, 1928, in Marquette to the late Thomas and Laura (Nowak) Steadman. Jack worked for over 30 years for the former Nystrom Moving and Storage Company in Marquette. During that time, he saw much of the country and had numerous road trip stories to share with friends and family. An avid fisherman, one of Jack’s greatest joys was to go fishing with his son, John. …

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Fort Michilimackinac

Statewide

By Peter White [1]For memoir of Peter White, see Vol. XXXVII, pp. 620-639. Paper for the annual meeting, June, 1907, but not read owing to the illness of Mr. White. This is the last of several valuable papers given by him to this society. Old Fort Michilimackinac, (Mackinac) is known to more of the people of these United States than any other fortification now standing. Its snow-white walls have for 125 years attracted the attention of the passing voyager, and as he approached the shore below he marveled at the strange picture on the heights above, the mixture of medieval …

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Collections and Researches made by the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, vol. XXXVIII

Old Fort Holmes

Statewide

By Peter White [1]For memoir of Peter White, see Vol. XXXVII, pp. 620-639. Paper for the annual meeting, June, 1907, but not read owing to the illness of Mr. White. This is the last of several valuable papers given by him to this society. There is something about the magic words fort, fortress, fortification, that attracts the attention and arouses the curiosity of most of us. To those who have been permitted to live or travel in the region of the Straits of Mackinac the words have a deeper meaning. A circle described with its center on the Island of …

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The Route from Lachine to Baldoon, 1804

Old Baldoon

Statewide

By Mrs. Jane M. KinneyRead at the annual meeting, June 27, 1907 This settlement of Highland Scotch people led by the Earl of Selkirk, is in Canada up the river that empties into the St. Glair River, nearly opposite Algonac and the mouth of which is at the north end of Walpole Island. About five miles up the Sydenham River or Chenal Ecarte” we find in Dover Township south of and bounded by the Indian line of the 1790 surrender, on the north by the Chenal Ecarte on the southwest and by Bear Creek on the Sydenham River on the …

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Daniel Marsac

Daniel Marsac

Statewide

By John S. Hooker St. Anne’s Church Records of Detroit, give Daniel Marsac’s birth January 25, 1812, baptized January 26, 1812. He was the son of Rene Marsac and Eulalie Gouin. The subject of this sketch in 1828, through the kindness and influence of his uncle George Campau came to the mouth of Flat River (Quab-ah-quash-a), where he erected a small log cabin on the south bank of Grand River ( O-wash-te-nong, see-bee). There he opened a trading post, his only customers, of course, were the Indians, as he was the only white man for miles around. He made his …

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Collections and Researches made by the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, vol. XXXVIII

Methods of Securing Information for Local History

Statewide

By Dwight Goss Read by Mrs. Goss at the midwinter meeting of January, 1907. Mr. Goss died in 1909. See sketch, Mich. Pion. Hist. Colls., Vol. XXXVII, p. 693. The chief mine of information for writing local history is the files of old newspapers. These are not only original sources of information, but of inspiration. They echo town talk. It is not only the news they give, but the news they omit, which is important to the careful student. For example, the local newspapers of Michigan from 1840 to 1860 are filled with national political news, letters from Washington, abstracts …

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Governor Edwin B. Winans

Biography of Governor Edwin B. Winans

Livingston County, Statewide /

Hon. Edwin B. Winans, who began his duties as Governor of Michigan, January 1, 1891, is a son of the Empire State, of which his parents also were natives. From German ancestry on the father’s side, he derives the instincts of frugality and careful consideration of ways and means, and these are strengthened by the substantial traits of the Puritan forefathers of his mother. Both lines have transmitted to him the love of country and home that has led thousands into untrodden wilds where they might secure that which would be for the future good of themselves and posterity. John …

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Governor Cyrus Gray Luce

Biography of Governor Cyrus Gray Luce

Branch County, Statewide /

Cyrus Gray Luce, Governor of Michigan, combines in his character the substantial traits of the New England ancestry of his father, and the chivalrous and hospitable elements peculiar to the southerners, which came to him from his mother’s side of the house. The New Englanders, active in the cause of American Liberty, after this desired result was accomplished, turned their attention to the growth and development of the country which their noble daring had constituted independent of foreign rule. The privations they endured and the struggles from which they had achieved victory built up in them those qualities which in …

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Gen. Russell A. Alger

Biography of Gen. Russell A. Alger

Kent County, Statewide, Wayne County /

Russell A. Alger, Governor of Michigan for the term commencing Jan. 1, 1885, was born in Lafayette Township, Median Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 1836. Having lived a temperate life, he is a comparative young man in appearance, and possesses those mental faculties that are the distinguishing characteristics of robust, mature and educated manhood. When 11 years of age both his parents died, leaving him with a younger brothers and sister to support and without any of the substantial means of existence. Lacking the opportunity of better employment, he worked on a farm, in Richfield, Ohio, for the greater part of …

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Governor Josiah W. Begole

Biography of Governor Josiah W. Begole

Genesee County, Statewide /

Josiah W. Begole, the present (1883) Governor of Michigan was born in Livingston County, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1815. His ancestors were of French descent, and settled at an early period in the State of Maryland, His grandfather, Capt. Bolles, of that State, was an officer in the American army during the war of the Revolution. About the beginning of the present century both his grandparents, having become dissatisfied with the institution of slavery, although slave-holders themselves, emigrated to Livingston county, N. Y., then a new county, taking with than a number of their former slaves, who volunteered to accompany …

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