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,…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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,…
