Chesaning in the News (1859-1869)

Chesaning may have had a few early newspapers reporting on village happenings, but no real records have survived from before The Chesaning Argus began it’s run in October of 1877.

Below are a selection of news items that appeared in other sources from across the country that give us brief glimpses into the early history of Chesaning.

PIKE'S PEAKERS. - Four more of the citizens of Chesaning, Saginaw county, passed through here on Monday last, for Pike's Peak - Dr. S. W. Hammond, and Messrs. H. F. Neff, Jerome Neff, and Nolan Brace. Thus far, Owosso has not spared a single citizen to "bow down to the golden calf," only to raise up and see an elephant.

Owosso American, April 30, 1859.

"Chesaning, for the past year, has done well in improvements, and is destined to be a place of importance, on account of its position and vast lumbering interests.

"Three miles north of Chesaning we came spat upon McArthurville, which place is owned wholly by Alexander McArthur Esq., of Corunna. The hum of busy industry here greeted our ears; the sound of the ace, hammer, and saw, and the whizzing of the engine, bespoke this a place of business. There were surrounding us, huge piles of first-class lumber, rendering it evident that a vast lumber trade was carried on. Chauncey McArthur Esq., has charge of the mill, and the chicken fixings, which he freely dispenses to revive the drooping spirits of the dusty traveler."

East Saginaw Courier, September 7, 1860.

CORN. - Mr. Israel Parshall, of Havana (town of Chesaning), raised the past season from 42 acres of new land, 6,721 bushels of corn in the ear - or 160 bushels to the acre.

For storing the greater portion of his large crop, Mr. Parshall has a corn-crib which he styles a self-operator. It is 64 feet long, and holds 4,000 bushels. It is built up and down a hill at a quarter pitch, so that by tipping cart-loads in the upper end, the crib can be filled; then by drawing a slide at the lower end the corn discharges.

East Saginaw Enterprise, January 22, 1861.

LUMBER - If teams loaded with lumber is any indication of prosperity, we should judge that our neighbors at Chesaning and St. Charles must be prospering finely, as there is any amount of lumber, now-a-days, passes through this place to different portions of the State from these localities.

Owosso American, February 2, 1861.

SALT IN SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. - The Owosso American states that a Salt Company has been organized at Chesaning for the manufacture of salt. It has long been known that saline water can be obtained at that point at about the same depth as the salt wells now in operation on the Saginaw river. An amount has already been subscribed, and partly paid in, sufficient to sink a well six hundred feet in depth, if necessary, of six-inch bore.

The Grand Haven News, April 9, 1862.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS - In pursuance of an act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, entitled "An act to provide for the drainage and reclamation of swamp lands by means of State roads and ditches," approved February 11th, A. D. 1860, and the acts amendatory thereto, the undersigned Comissioner of the Saginaw and Genessee State Road, will proceed to let the work on that portion of said road which is located through the township of Maple Grove, embracing a distance of six miles, at 12 o'clock, P.M., on Thursday, July 31st, A.D. 1862, at the house of T.J. Parmelee, in the township of Maple Grove. Also, that portion of said road between the west line of Maple Grove and Parshall Mills, in Chesaning, will be let on the second day of August, A.D. 1862, at one o'clock P.M., at the Hotel of John Patterson, in the township of Chesaning.

Chesaning, June 28th, 1862

R.W. Andrews, Commissioner.

The Lansing State Republican, August 6, 1862.

HORSE THIEF IN LIMBO - About a week ago, Mr. D. Phelps, living on the Grand River road, had a valuable horse stolen from his inclosure, and the matter was placed in the hands of Frank Ackley, of Shiawassee, who tracked the thief and horse to Charlotte, in Eaton County, where the latter had been sold to a Mr. Sherwood of that place, but had not yet been paid. The thief was found to be a fellow named James Hill, living near Chesaning, in Saginaw county, and on coming to receive his pay for the horse, was suddenly taken captive and brought to this village, were he is now one of Sheriff Fuller's boarders.

Corunna American, July 3, 1862.

We hear from good authority that the long projected plank road between this place and St. Charles by way of Chesaning, is to be built this summer. The building of that road is of vital importance to the prosperity of Corunna - in fact, there is nothing we know of a public nature that would so much benefit this village.

Detroit Free Press, March 9, 1865.

VILLAGE OF CHESANING. -- An attentive friend at Chesaning, in Saginaw County; a village of some five or six hundred inhabitants -- some sixteen miles north of Corunna -- sends us the following items of business at that place. We see no reason why Chesaning should not become one of the important points in Saginaw County.

Wm. P. Allen & Co., are buildling a grist mill and are also enlarging their saw mill on the east side of the Shiawassee River, by the addition of a siding mill and lath works. In addition to these improvements, the firm has just finished a commodious store.

LaMunyon & Young (R. G. Young, late of Owosso) are building an extensive planing mill with steam power. Their machinery has been procured of the celebrated J. A. Fay & Co., of Cincinnati, who are reputed to be the best manufacturers in the United States. This mill , it is expected, will be finished and put in operation by the first of October.

Mr. James C. Goodale is building an extensive store on the east side of the river. Mr. I. W. LaMunion is also erecting one on the west side.

Mr. Ed. Haynes has a large tannery in successful operation.

A new blacksmith shop and also a new meat market have just been erected.

Mr. S. Kinman has sold the Chesaning hotel (west side) to Milo Harrington, of Vernon, who is giving it a general overhauling, and refitting it for the accommodations of the traveling public.

East Saginaw Courier, September 20, 1865.

CHESANING. On Saturday, 29th inst., one of the mill-stones in the new mill of Mr. F. F. Kenion, in this village, which had been running less than two weeks, burst into a thousand pieces. A large fragment struck Mr. Kenion, who was near the stone, on the under part of the thigh, throwing him across the mill and down the basement stairway, a distance of twenty feet, with ten feet fall, a large stone passing through the side of the building near him, and yet no bones were broken, and his injuries, though serious, are not considered dangerous. Another fragment knocked out an entire window and casing, and made a large opening in the siding. Only one other person was in the mill. He was struck in the face by the flying stones, but escaped serious injury. We are unable to state the damage to the mill. The mill is entirely new, and cost over $11,000.

Detroit Free Press, January 6, 1867.

A young man by the name of William Smeaton, who has been living with his uncle and aunt, Augustus and Nancy Emery, in the town of Brady, Saginaw county, Michigan, committed suicide on Saturday, January 26, by shooting himself. He had been unwell for about five months previous to his death, so that he was unable to work. On the morning of the day above mentioned he started from home to go to his uncle's, Alexander Smeaton, a distance of three miles, taking a gun with him. On the next day he was found dead about half way between the two places. It appears that he tied a string to the trigger of the gun, passed it around the breech, and fastened it to the forefinger of his left hand; then placed the muzzle to this mouth and fired, blowing the brains out of the back of his head.

The deceased said he had a brother in Hartford by the name of John Smeaton, a stone-cutter by trade, and these facts were written to Postmaster Cleveland of this city by a justice of the peace of the town of Brady, for publication, with the hope that they might come to his notice. If said John Smeaton sees this article he can gain further information by communicating with J. W. Card, Esq., Chesaning, Saginaw county, Michigan.

Hartford Courant, February 8, 1867

INSANE BOY AT LARGE - On Wednesday the 10th instant, George Cowling, son of E. A. Cowling, of Chesaning, supposed to be insane, jumped from the window of his bed room in his father's house and ran away. The last heard from him he was at St. Charles, and on the road to this city. - Owosso Press.

Detroit Free Press, July 20, 1867.

At Chesaning, on the evening of the 11th, a young man named Chapman, while in a yard milking his cow, was seized and held by two men, who demanded his pocketbook, which he refused to deliver. Thereupon two other men with revolvers also came upon him, presented their pistols and told him if he made any noise they would blow his head off. The robbers then threw Chapman to the ground and forced his pocket-book, containing $83 in money, from him.

Detroit Free Press, October 18, 1867.

A man named Whitehead was run over by a train of cars on the Lansing and Saginaw railroad, near Chesaning, on Christmas day, and instantly killed.

Daily Davenport Democrat, December 28, 1867.

RUN OVER BY THE TRAIN. - A man named Smith (Christian name unknown) was yesterday killed between St. Charles and Chesaning by the 3:52 p. m. train for Jackson. - The man was attempting to prevent his cattle from getting on the track, with his back to the track and his face to the cattle, waiving his hands and shouting, when the engine struck him throwing him some distance. - He was not killed instantly but died before the train left. Deceased was the son of a widow whose husband was killed last fall by a falling tree. The son was taken on the train an $28 50 raised, which was given to the widowed mother.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, March 12, 1869

HAY THIEVES - Three persons by the name of Joseph Holton, Serell Eldridge and Wolford, have been arrested for stealing several stacks of hay, in all amounting to $150, from the big marsh in the town of Albee. Complaint is made by the owner of the hay before Justice McNally, of Taymouth and the case will be tried to-day. As the parties were caught in the act, there can be little question of the guilt of the parties.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, March 17, 1869.

On Tuesday morning about 7 o'clock the building owned by W. P. Allen, at Chesaning, and occupied on the first floor as a clothing store, and the second as a Justice office, was destroyed by fire. Loss about $500, insured for $300.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, April 17, 1869.

NEW PAPER. - We have received the first number of the Chesaning Banner, an new paper published at Chesaning, in this county. It is a 28 column sheet, well printed, and commenced with an apparently liberal advertising patronage. It is neutral in politics, and devoted to the local interests of the place.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, May 26, 1869.

The Chesaning Banner has these items: John Pauling, who has been living in the vicinity of Chesaning for the past year, some months ago married a Miss Hattie Wood, and was arrested a few days ago upon the charge of polygamy, and brought before Justice Jones, who held him to bail in the sum of one thousand dollars.

Mr. William Armstrong, one of the professionals of John Stow's circus, met with quite a serious accident while in Chesaning, on the 5th inst. While examining a pocket pistol, belonging to one of the company, it was accidentally discharged - the ball passing through the index finger of the right hand.

About 3 o'clock this (Friday) afternoon the frame dwelling house of Mr. Henry Case, painter, was discovered to be on fire. The family had only left the house for a short time, but when discovered, the flames had made such headway that nothing could be done towards saving the building, and but little of the furniture could be saved, notwithstanding the strenuous exertions put forth by a large number of our citizens, who are ever ready to take any risk to save the property of a neighbor. The loss falls pretty heavy upon Mr. Case, who is an honest, industrious man. He had not insurance, and the savings of years are gone in an hour. A subscription was started, and in the course of a couple of hours about one hundred dollars was raised, which will doubtless be considerably increased within a short time. Loss $500 to $800.

Detroit Free Press, June 16, 1869

On the freight train on the J. L. & S. R. R., due here last evening, an individual named Frank Wilson, somewhat worse for liquor, was on board. Between Chesaning and St. Charles, he beset a boy on the train, hitting him a severe blow in the face. This enraged some of the passengers, and considerable feeling was created. Matters subsided, however, but a dispatch was sent to Saginaw City, and when the train arrived at that point an officer was in readiness who took the gentleman in charge. He doubtless spent last evening in the lockup.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, June 16, 1869.

A firm in Chesaning, this county, last week received an invoice of tea, 30 days only from Yokohama, China.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, July 14, 1869.

STRAYED OR STOLEN. - On the night of the 29th of June, from the premises of R. H. Nason, of this village, one large light dapple bay Horse, about 14 hands high, two white hind feet, light mane, and small star in forehead, and when last seen would weigh about eleven hundred pounds. Any person sending any information in regard to said horse, to Carson Walker at Chesaning, Saginaw county, Mich., will be liberally rewarded.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, July 14, 1869.

Complaints are made of the ravages of the potato bug in the vicinity of Chesaning. It has also made it appearance in other parts of the county.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, August 2, 1869.

Chesaning is organizing its first fire Co.

The Holly Register, August 5, 1869.

A new brick schoolhouse if now being built at Chesaning, in this county, costing about $10,000.

The new Methodist Church at Chesaning is almost finished and ready for use.

A young man, a few days since, by the name of Hess, was killed by the falling of a tree, near Chesaning, while engaged in chopping.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, August 23, 1869.

The Chesaning Banner says: On Sunday night last, the National Hotel, in this village, was entered by burglars, but before they succeeded in getting any plunder they disturbed the proprietor, Mr. Egelston, who seized a double-barreled shot-gun and proceeded to reconnoiter the premises, when he discovered one of them in the bar-room, and fired on charge at him, wounding him slightly, as blood was spattered on the wall and some drops on the floor leading to the back door, where he made his escape. Mr. Egelston got knocked down in the melee, but was not seriously hurt. A number of papers were found on the floor, which seemed to be instructions from another party as to what places are to be broken into, and giving a description of them.

Detroit Free Press, August 25, 1869.

INDIAN RELICS. - A large number of skeletons, with several guns and a number of other Indian relics, were dug out by Mr. R. P. Mason on his farm near the village of Chesaning in this county, a few days since, while grading down the bank near the river for the purpose of making a levee. The guns were very much eaten by rust. There were quite a number of silver ornaments, which are now in possession of Mr. Reuben Andrus of Chesaning. The village of Chesaning stands on Indian grounds, and the country all about is covered with Indian mounds, and traces of the aboriginal settlers.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, September 28, 1869.

The new Methodist Episcopal Church at Chesaning was dedicated with appropriate services on October 10th. Rev. J. S. Smart preached in the morning, and conducted the financial interests, and Rev. E. H. Pilcher preached in the evening. The church is a frame building, thirty-six by sixty feet, with twenty feet posts. There is a class room over the vestibule twelve by thirty-six feet. The audience room is being nicely finished and furnished, and will be as fine a sone when completed as can be found. The estimated coast of the whole is $3,973 17, of which $1,563 17 remains to be raised. The congregation responded to the appeal for means to provide for the debt with cash and subscriptions amounting to $1,820 91. Rev. A. Clough, former pastor, and R. P. Mason, Esq., Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, are entitled to much credit for their faithful efforts in carrying forward the enterprise.

Detroit Free Press, October 19, 1869.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT CHESANING - Albert Aptid, a brakeman on the J. L. & S. R. R. met a frightful death yesterday, at Chesaning, in this county. He was on the morning freight train, going south, which arrives in Chesaning about noon. Aptid was engaged in coupling cars. It appears that cars were being switched from the side to the main track, and Aptid was standing between the stationary care and the train which backed up. He had completed the coupling and was stepping out from between the cars, when his foot caught in the frog, throwing him on the track, the car wheel passing diagonally over one leg and across the abdomen, mangling him fearfully and killing him instantly. He was taken to Owosso, there put in a coffin and taken to his home at Niles. Aptid was about 25 years of age at the time of his death, unmarried, and has a brother and two sisters living at Owosso. He has been but a short time on the road, and was much liked.

Saginaw Daily Enterprise, October 21, 1869.

The numerous friends of Albert Apted, in this city and vicinity, will read with regret and sorrow, of his sudden death by accident on Wednesday, at 11 a.m. For a short time past, in connection with his brother, he has been keeping an eating house at Owosso, which is the Junction of the Detroit and Milwaukee, and Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroads, but at the time of his death, as an accommodation, was temporarily breaking on a freight train in place of a sick man. He was killed at Chesaning, 16 miles north of Owosso, while coupling cars. No one but a little boy witnessed the accident and he says that deceased apparently tripped on something and fell across the track. One wheel based over him about the centre of the body, severing it nearly too. His death must have been produced instantly as the boy says he never spoke. The deceased was a young man highly esteemed and respected by all classes of citizens in this community. At the time of his death he was twenty-five years and two months old. His remains were brought to this city Thursday morning, and the funeral services were held at the Episcopal church on Friday, at 2 o'clock. A large concourse of citizens followed his remains to their final resting place.

The Niles Democrat, October 23, 1869.

AN ABORTION MURDER - A correspondent of the Owosso Press states that Mrs. Sarah Jane Sutton, east of Wilcox Mill, near Chesaning, in this county, died on the 3d, in consequence of abortion. A rumor was circulated indicating foul play through the attending physician. On the 3d a Coroner's Jury was summoned from Chesaning and a physician from Corunna, who proceeded to the house of the deceased, where a post mortem examination took place, which developed a sad picture of professional ignorance. Numerous wounds caused by instruments were visible, and the jury gave a verdict accordingly.

The Saginaw Daily Enterprise, December 10, 1869.

The new union school house is completed at Chesaning...The school opened on the 13th under....auspices. Mr. T. E. Adams, a graduate of Oberlin College, assisted by Miss Almina Burrows and Miss Delap are the teachers. Mr. Adams is an excellent scholar and there is no doubt of the success of the school under this tuition. His assistants also, are well qualified and...teachers.

The M. E. Church has been painted and grained on the inside since dedication, which adds much to its appearance. A lot has been purchased adjoining that upon which the church is built, upon which to build a parsonage. The Saginaw Daily Enterprise, December 22, 1869.

The Saginaw Daily Enterprise, December 22, 1869.

The Chesaning Argonaut

Chesaning in the News (1859-1869)

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