I recently was looking at a list of people who received/bought land grants/patents in Larkin Township. The first sale of this government land was called a land patent. Later, when the land was sold again or mortgaged by the original owners, the document was called a deed. Since I know the land description of my great grandfather George Blackhursts farm, I spent this afternoon researching the first owners of his land. Quite interesting findings! Two people were granted land in section 20 where his land was. One or both of these men got Georges land from the government: (1) Joseph T. Copeland, 520 acres, 15 Aug 1854. Mr. Copeland, from Maine, studied law at Harvard and read law with Daniel Webster. He was sent to Michigan on a secret mission by President Andrew Jackson, liked what he saw, and decided to settle in St. Clair in 1844. He was elected judge of the St. Clair Circuit Court and then became a Michigan Supreme Court Justice from 1851 to 1857. Beginning in 1854 Copeland began amassing timberland in Midland, Saginaw, Bay, Ogemaw, and Gladwin counties. He owned a lumber camp in Midland, and reportedly built the first saw mill in Bay City. When the Civil War broke out, Copeland served as colonel and commander of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, and then the 5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. Later promoted to brigadier general, he commanded the wolverines of the Michigan Brigade, but was replaced by George A. Custer shortly before the Battle of Gettysburg. (2) James H. Hill, 120 acres, 01 Mar 1855. Mr. Hill was from Ohio. His father was a prisoner of war during the War of 1812 and also fought the British on Lake Erie as part of Commodore Perrys fleet. When Hills father died in 1825, his mother obtained 160 acres granted to soldiers widows in St. Claire County. In his twenties, Hill farmed during the summer and worked in logging operations on the Pine River during the winter months. He later traded his farm for several small ships which were chiefly employed in transporting lumber from St. Claire to ports in Ohio and New York. In 1854, he engaged in the lumber business himself, sold his ships, and went to Saginaw. He commenced operations on Sturgeon Creek, and then purchased the Whitney sawmill, which was situated near the west end of the Johnson Street bridge. In 1864, Hill built a new mill with the latest improvements on the Saginaw River near Carrolton. He later passed on the mill responsibilities to his sons. (BTW, Johnson Street Bridge is in Saginaw near the Dow Events Center.)
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 22:59:46 +0000