Villages
Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor
Source: History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
containing a full account of its early settlement, its
growth, development, and resources, an extended description
of its iron and copper mines : also, accurate sketches of
its counties, cities, towns, and villages ... biographical
sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers.
Publication Info: Chicago : Western Historical Co., 1883.
Copper Harbor is near the extreme end of Keweenaw Point
in North Latitude 47° 30', West Longitude 80°, and is an
excellent harbor. It is 250 miles distant from Sault Ste.
Marie, and about the same distance from Duluth, lying in the
direct route from Marquette to Isle Royale and Silver Islet.
The speculative fever which ran so high in 1846 and made
things so lively all over the mining region, filled Copper
Harbor with the adventurers, speculators and miners who
thronged the shores of the Upper Peninsula. The waters of
the beautiful harbor were enlivened by the various sloops,
small vessels and canoes which were moving upon its surface,
and the shores were dotted over with the explorers' tents.
That year, the first house built at Copper Harbor was
erected by D. D. Brockway, at the head of the bay, and was
kept by him as a hotel. Nearly opposite the Brockway House
is Porter's Island, a small rocky islet, upon which the
"Government House" was built, and occupied by the Land
Commissioners, and favors in the shape of "permits" were
granted "by the lord thereof," to the anxious seekers after
wealth.
In the summer of 1843, Walter Cunningham, who had been
appointed special agent for the mines of Lake Superior, in
company with some twenty persons, landed at Copper Harbor,
where he established his agency. This agency remained at
Copper Harbor until the spring of 1846, when it was removed
by Gen. John Stockton to the Sault de Ste. Marie, with
assistants stationed at the Copper Harbor, at the mouth of
the Ontonagon River and La Pointe.
From August, 1844, to November, 1845, 595 locations were
made upon permits from the War Department, and applications
to the Mineral Agency at Copper Harbor.
It was named Copper Harbor on account of the cupriferous
veins outcropping there and plainly visible, and for a time
much interest in the search for copper centered there. Not
meeting with the success that was anticipated, parties have
withdrawn from further search at that point for the present,
and the once thriving town has fallen into decay—there being
now, in 1882, six families and only about thirty inhabitants
in all in the place. Two pupils are in regular daily
attendance at the school, and sometimes the number reaches
as high as seven scholars in a day.
The largest settlement is now on the Clark Mine location
about a mile from the harbor, and where the Copper Harbor
Post Office is kept. The only stock of general merchandise
kept in the vicinity of Copper Harbor is the store kept by
Leon Lauvaux, the agent of the Clark and other mining
property.
The stockade known as Fort Wilkins, located about a mile
from the landing, formerly a United States military post, is
beautifully situated on the banks of Lake Fanny Hooey, and
between it and the bay, which is but a little distance away.
Nestling upon the banks of that lovely lake, protected by
groves of poplars, birches and firs, it seems to invite one
to it as a retreat to be desired; but its deserted buildings
going to decay, its dreary solitude and isolation from the
busy, bustling world, recalling to memory the poet's lament
over "Tara's halls deserted," surrounds it with a remote
gloominess which destroys the desire. It was established in
1844 by Capt. Clery, of the Fifth United States Infantry,
and was garrisoned by his command, consisting of two
companies. He was relieved by Capt. Albertis, who remained
until June, 1846. He was ordered to Mexico with his command,
and was decapitated by a cannon ball in front of Vera Cruz.
August 8, 1846, Col. William B. Wright was appointed
custodian in charge, and, from September 6 following, to
November, 1855, it was garrisoned by Col. Wright and wife.
As a fortification it has been abandoned.
Joseph Sahl came to Copper Harbor in 1844, has a log cabin
on the hill on the road to Eagle Harbor, about one mile and
a half distant from Copper Harbor, where he has a small
garden and some lands for pasture. He has been hunting for
the hidden wealth of that region ever since he landed there,
and is today as poor as ever; an illustration of the
pertinacious visionary prospector, of the class to which a
Colorado operator, in referring to their numerous and
constant failures, once remarked: "If they want to find
mineral they must look where God Almighty has placed it."
Thus far the mining operations in this vicinity have proved
unprofitable, with the exception, perhaps, of the working
out of the pocket deposit of black oxide ore found adjacent
to Fort Wilkins. Upon the Clark Mine, lying south of the
fort, on the opposite side of Lake Fanny Hooey, much money
and labor have been expended, and some fine copper obtained,
but the results have been far from satisfactory.
A vein of protoxide of manganese has been opened on the
Clark mining property, to the east of Lake Manganese, and
about 1,200 tons of good ore taken out of an open cut which
has been worked down to a depth of seventy-five feet, under
a lease given to a Pittsburgh company. This company
suspended operations, and gave the option of their lease to
the Cambria Iron Co.
Near the dam, at the outlet of the lake, the vein can be
distinctly traced dipping to the West, and evidently
underlying the bed of the lake. As an article for the
manufacture of Bessemer steel, it is an important factor,
and will, doubtless, be worked to its full extent.
The Star Mine and the Copper Harbor Mining Companies are
the only others which keep up an organization in this
vicinity, but no work is attempted on either.
The Copper Harbor Light House is built upon a point of land
which forms the sheltered bay at the east end of the harbor.
It was kept by Charles Grogan for nine years previous to
1881, and is now in charge of Edward Chambers.
The Range Light was established in 1866, the tower erected
that year, and the house the following year. Napoleon Beedon
was the first keeper, succeeded by Edward Bennett, followed
by William Tresise, the present keeper, in 1870. The light
is one of the sixth order stationary white light.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHARLES CORGAN was born in Ireland in 1822; he came to
America in 1842; made his home in Canada till 1864; then
came to Lake Superior in 1866; he was appointed keeper of
the Manitou Light, and held that position seven years; he
was then assigned to the Copper Harbor Light, of which he
had charge nine years, or till November, 1881, during which
time he had charge of the Government property at Fort
Wilkins; he has made his home at Copper Harbor since 1868,
where he now keeps hotel.
LEON LAUVAUX, Superintendent of the Clark Mine, was born in
Belgium, of French parentage, December 27, 1845; he was
educated for the profession of mining engineer; he entered
the office of Mr. Estivant, of France, proprietor of the
great smelting and copper rolling works; he became Mr.
Estivant's confidential clerk, and accompanied him to
America in 1872. Mr. Estivant having become proprietor of
the Clark Mine, Keweenaw County, Mich., Mr. Lauvaux was
employed as clerk in that location. In 1874, he was made
Superintendent, and has held that position to this date;
during, the years 1881-82, he has also had charge of the
Star Mine of the Amygdaloid, Resolute (Empire Copper
Company), Girard, Vulcan and Etna Mines, comprising in all a
property of 25,000 acres in extent.
WILLIAM TRESISE, keeper of the Copper Harbor Range, Light
Station, was born in England November 11, 1839; came to
America when two years of age with his parents, and made his
home in Pennsylvania, and soon after went to Wisconsin. In
1851, he came to Lake Superior; when old enough to work, he
engaged in mining, and was employed at various mines on
Keweenaw Point till August, 1862, when he enlisted in
Company C, Twenty-seventh Regiment Michigan Volunteers; he
was wounded in front of Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864, by
a gunshot wound in the neck and shoulder, and was discharged
for disability July 27, 1865; on recovering sufficiently, he
went to Colorado, where he spent one year, and then went to
New Mexico and Arizona in Government employ; thence to
Southern California, and thence to San Francisco; he
returned to Lake Superior in 1869, and the following year
was appointed to his present position.
Eagle Harbor is located sixteen miles west of Copper
Harbor and is a good steamboat landing. It was first
occupied by the Eagle Harbor Mining Company, who worked a
party of men there in the summer of 1845, a Mr. Sprague
being agent. The 17th of October following, Mr. F. Hopkins,
still a resident of the town, arrived with a company,
thirteen in all, and lived in a tent. He arrived at Copper
Harbor the night Dr. Houghton was drowned, and laid to there
four days on account of the memorable storm of October 13,
1845, which deprived the copper region of its most able and
accomplished explorer. Men were then working for the Eagle
Harbor Mining Company, and everything for the mines was
landed and the groceries and general provisions kept there.
At that time, there was one house in the place, constructed
of rough logs and covered with "shakes"-thin strips split
from logs. The village plat was afterward made by Mr.
Slaughter, who laid out the town. During these early times,
intemperance ran riot when parties of miners congregated
there, and fights and brawls were matters of frequent
occurrence.
Eagle Harbor was opened with a channel thirteen and a half
feet deep, in 1877, and is a fine refuge for vessels, except
in a severe northeast wind. The Government appropriation
used in opening the harbor was $90,000. The new light-house
and range lights were built at the time the channel was
opened—a tower on shore and house 1,000 feet in range
inland, each fitted with marine signal lens lantern lights.
The Eagle Harbor Light-House stands upon a projecting point
of rocks on the west side of the harbor. A large, high rock
which formerly stood on that point, by the side of the old
lighthouse, has been blasted away to make room for the
present lighthouse, materially changing the aspect of the
place from former days. The light is of the fifth order,
fixed white and varied by flashes, and is distinctly visible
twelve and a half miles.
The first piers were built by Edward Taylor, the pioneer
settler of Eagle Harbor, in 1844, and a small log warehouse
was erected with the ground for a floor. This was afterward
purchased by James Bawden, and a small frame warehouse,
since removed and used as a shoe shop, erected. This was
purchased by Mr. Charles Kuntz and moved to its present
location, in 1855, to give room for the large building
afterward destroyed by fire.
Additions were also made to the dock, to which improvements
have been added from time to time, forming the present pier
and dock. A two story warehouse had been erected and filled
with grain and provision for the winter supply, in 1860.
Some lime was stored upon the lower floor. So much weight
had been stored in the building that the timbers gave way
and settled until some of the lime reached the water and set
fire to the building, which, with all its contents, was
destroyed, on the night of November 10, 1860.
The eager citizens, seeing their provisions for the winter
being thus ruthlessly destroyed, would have rushed forward
to rescue at least a portion of it, but were kept back from
so doing by the determination of Bawden, the clerk, who told
them to "keep back as there was powder stored there." Many
lives were doubtless saved by his keeping the crowd at a
distance, for soon the entire structure was rent and
scattered by a terrific explosion.
The citizens stood appalled. Winter was at hand and their
supplies had been destroyed. Judge William P. Raley, the
leading merchant and warehouseman, immediately started for
Detroit, chartered the steamer Planet, purchased and loaded
his supplies and started back with them. On the voyage they
encountered such a terrific storm that all the cargo on deck
had to be thrown overboard to save the vessel. Arriving at
Marquette the 24th day of November, the thermometer stood
12° below zero, and the snow was two feet deep. After a
tedious struggle with the elements, the remaining cargo was
finally landed at Copper Harbor and the vessel safely
returned to the Sault. At the present time, some eight to
ten thousand tons of freight are handled annually at Mr.
Raley's docks. On the opposite side of the bay, the Central
Mining Company built a dock and warehouse for the use of the
mine.
There are two church edifices in the place—the Methodist
Episcopal Church, which was erected in 1846-47, and the
Catholic, built in 1849.
A fine schoolhouse was erected on the southwest side of the
harbor in 1872. There are ninety-six children of school age
in the district, with an average daily attendance in the
winter of forty. They pay from $60 to $70 per month for a
male teacher.
The first lodge of Odd Fellows in the Upper Peninsula was
Houghton Lodge, No. 68, I. 0. 0. F., instituted at Eagle
Harbor, in October, 1859, with F. Hopkins, formerly a member
of No. 3 Lodge, Pontiac, Mich., First Noble Grand. This
lodge was afterward removed to the Cliff Mine, and became
extinct.
Keweenaw Lodge, No. 82, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted at the
Harbor October 14, 1863. Has a present membership of
sixty-three, and $1,683 in the treasury. Regular meetings.
The first merchants in the place were John Senter and his
partner.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1853 or 1854. The first
school was a private enterprise. It was opened by a Mr.
Keeley in a log building between where Capt. Conner's house
and George Rice's house now stand. A Mr. Wallace was the
first teacher after the district was formed.
The first sermon was preached in the place by Rev. John H.
Pitezel, of the Methodist Mission.
The first services of the Catholic Church in recent times
were held by Father Baraga, of the Baraga Mission.
Hiram Joy was keeping a log boarding house in Eagle Harbor
in 1846. This was purchased by Charles Kuntz in 1848. At
that time there were four buildings in Eagle Harbor.
Ed Taylor and a company of men came to this point and
wintered on the shore between Copper Harbor and Eagle River,
in the winter of 1842-43. In 1844, Mr. Taylor came to Eagle
Harbor and built a log tavern, where the present hotel
stands, which was afterward burned down. Another structure
was erected and additions made, a part of which was also
burned, January 17, 1852, the frame dining-room and kitchen
being saved from the devouring flames by the most strenuous
efforts and the favorable turn of the wind. The front of the
present large hotel was soon erected by James Bawden and the
place again put in order. It is in good repair and is the
largest hotel in Keweenaw County, having thirty-six rooms.
It was purchased by James Rasewarn, its present proprietor,
and has been kept by him since June, 1881.
The principal merchants are Foley Bros. & Co., Stephen
Cocking and Joseph Dahn.
Foley Bros. & Co. have been established in general
merchandise since 1854. Average stock, $15,000. They also
have a branch store at Red Jacket, carrying an average
stock of $40,000.
Mr Cocking has been in trade since 1879, carrying $2,000 in
general merchandise. He is also keeper of the Harbor light.
Joseph Dahm established in 1867-hardware and tin ware.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
GEORGE H. BOTTOMLEY, surface foreman and Superintendent
of the stamp-mill at the Ashbed Mine, was born in Macomb
County, Mich., May 29, 1846; he came to Lake Superior in
1862, and engaged in the stamp-mill of the Cliff Mine; was
in the employ of that company ten years; a part of that
time, he was employed at the stamp-mills, and a part was in
charge of the company teaming. He returned to Macomb County,
Mich., and spent two years, and, in 1874, returned to Lake
Superior, and engaged with the Phoenix Mining Company. In
1880, he accepted his present position.
STEPHEN COCKING, merchant and keeper of the Main Light, was
born in England July 27, 1836; came to America in 1847; made
his home in Dodgeville, Iowa Co., Wis., until 1852. He then
came to Eagle River, and acted as engineer at the South
Cliff Mine three years. Then spent one year in Wisconsin;
returned to Lake Superior, and worked with the Copper Falls
Mining Company till August, 1862, when he enlisted in the
late war in Company I, Twenty-third Michigan Volunteers, for
three years, and was appointed Brigade Bugler; served till
the close of the war. At the expiration of his term of
enlistment, he returned to Eagle Harbor. In 1869, he was
appointed keeper of the Gull Rock Light, Lake Superior, and
held that position eight years. He was then transferred to
Eagle Harbor as keeper of the Main Light, and has kept it to
this date. In 1879, he began business as a merchant at Eagle
Harbor; carries a general stock of $2,000 average value.
JOSEPH DAHM, dealer in hardware, stoves and tin ware;
business established in 1867; was born in Prussia March 3,
1825; came to America in 1854; spent one year at Detroit.
The following year, he came to Lake Superior; worked in the
Copper Falls and Central Mines as a miner eight years. In
1865, he removed to Eagle Harbor, and, in 1867, started his
present business. Has the only hardware and tin store in
town, and is doing a very successful business.
JOHN FOLEY, of Foley Bros. & Co., merchants, was born in
Ireland in 1830; came to America in 1848, and direct to Lake
Superior; landed at Eagle Harbor, going almost directly to
Isle Royale, where he spent three years. He then returned to
Eagle Harbor, and, in 1854, started in the liquor trade. He
subsequently engaged in the meat market business. In 1857,
he began as a dealer in general merchandise in company with
his brother. Mr. M. Smith was subsequently taken in as a
partner, and the business has since been continued under the
above name. Mr. Foley has held various official positions.
He has been Constable many years, Town Treasurer six years,
and Under Sheriff two terms.
FRANKLIN HOPKINS, one of the earliest pioneers of Lake
Superior and an early mining agent, was born in Trenton,
Oneida Co., N. Y., November 29, 1817. He moved to Lower
Michigan in 1836, learned the carpenter's trade, and came to
Lake Superior in 1845. He located at the North American
Mine, Keweenaw County, as mining carpenter; remained with
that company two years. Then went below to Lower Michigan.
In 1848, he was appointed carpenter to the Methodist Indian
Mission at L'Anse. He made the trip to L'Anse on foot, and
entered upon the discharge of his duties; the position not
proving to his liking, he only served fifteen months; he
then returned to the copper region, and engaged as surface
foreman of the old Northwest Mine, now the Conglomerate, and
continued at that mine for six years. Next served as agent
of the Central Mine two years. He then served two years as
agent of the Isle Royale Mine at Houghton. He has also had
charge of the Pontiac Mine a short time. He then kept the
Phoenix House at Eagle River two years during the liveliest
business times of Eagle River. During that time, he lost his
wife and one child on the wrecked steamer Lady Elgin,
September 8, 1860. He then moved to Eagle Harbor, and has
since been connected with the dock and warehouse business.
CHARLES KUNTZ, blacksmith, was born in Germany, in
Barkenfeld, Township Niederbrombach, village
Wennenbergerhoff, November 25, 1822; he emigrated to
America in 1844; landed at New Orleans, where he spent six
months; he then worked his way North to Chicago; thence to
Milwaukee, Wis., and from there to Lake Superior; he engaged
as blacksmith in the Northwest Mine, and remained there two
years; he was blacksmith at the Copper Falls Mine during the
years 1847, 1848 and 1850. In 1849, he located at Eagle
Harbor, where he opened a blacksmith shop and kept hotel.
The former business he has continued to this date; but his
hotel business he gave up in 1864; he was a large real
estate owner and still has several buildings; for four
years, he was Under Sheriff of Houghton County, and, on the
organization of Keweenaw County, he was elected Sheriff of
this county; he made an efficient officer. In the turbulent
days while Under Sheriff, Mr. Kunz performed some feats in
the way of making captures and quelling disturbances, the
history of which can better be appreciated by those who know
the man than by the casual reader of these pages. Mr. Kuntz
stands six feet three inches in height, and possessed of
cool nerve, supported by the muscle of a Hercules;
good-natured, as most powerful men are, but a holy terror
when aroused; when Sheriff Kunz was known to have a warrant
for one man or more, it made no difference how well they
were backed by friends, they had to go along, and they
usually did it quietly. Although sixty years of age, he
swings his hammer with his usual ease.
CAPT. THOMAS O'CONNOR is one of the pioneer mining captains
of Lake Superior, and served for many years under the
well-known mining agent, surveyor and explorer, Hon. Samuel
W. Hill. Mr. O'Connor was born in Ireland December 5, 1811;
he came to America in 1845, and direct to Lake Superior; he
worked one year for the New York Mining Company, next with
the Lac La Belle Company; he was mining captain of the Iron
City Mine, from 1852 to 1858; he was also three times mining
captain of the Lac La Belle Mine; he was also captain at the
North Cliff Mine under S. W. Hill, and of the Dakota,
Hancock and Pennsylvania Mines; also with the Clark Mine
under the French Company, and of the St. Clair Mine. About
1874, he retired from active mining; he has made his home at
Eagle Harbor since 1867. Mr. O'Connor has seen the Lake
Superior mining region when it was almost an unexplored
wilderness, and has borne his part in opening it up, having
always proven himself efficient and reliable in all work
entrusted to his care. Probably no man, single-handed, ever
accomplished more work in a given time than Capt. O'Connor.
WILLIAM P. RALEY, Probate Judge, forwarding and commission
merchant, does a general warehouse business; was born in
Columbiana County, Ohio, August 16, 1825; came to Lake
Superior in 1849; landed at Eagle Harbor and soon after went
to Isle Royale as bookkeeper and cashier for the Siskowit
Mining Company; was there only one year when he came to the
Northwest Mine, Keweenaw County as bookkeeper and paymaster;
was with this company four years. In 1855, he went to Copper
Harbor, where he was, in company with William H. Stephens,
in the merchandising and forwarding business until 1859; he
then came to Eagle Harbor, and engaged in the mercantile
business with Justin Shapley, under the firm name of Raley &
Shapley, with a branch store at Copper Falls. They also
bought the piers and warehouse at Eagle Harbor; they lost
the warehouse by fire in 1860; then built their present
substantial building about 1860; in 1879, Judge Raley
bought out his partner's interest, and has since operated
alone. He has held various offices; was appointed Judge of
Probate by the Governor, to fill a vacancy in 1878, and was
elected to the office in 1880, for the term of four years;
office at Eagle River.
JAMES RASEWARN, proprietor of Eagle Harbor Hotel; the
subject of this sketch was born in Cornwall, Eng., July 7,
1835; he was brought up a miner; came to America in 1854;
worked one year in New Jersey. In 1855, came to Lake
Superior; worked eight months at the Flint Steele Mine; also
in the Douglass, Houghton, Toltec and Evergreen Mines. He
then returned to England, where he spent four years; then
went to Brazil, South America, where he remained three years
and eight months, and then returned to England. Three
months later, he returned to America, and located at the
Central Mine, Keweenaw County, Mich., where he was employed
as a miner three and a half years; he also worked at the
Copper Falls eight years. In the fall of 1880, he moved to
Eagle Harbor, and the June following he leased the hotel he
now keeps.
MICHAEL SMITH, of the firm of Foley Bros. & Co., merchants,
was born in Ireland November 17, 1834; came to America in
1854; spent six months in Massachusetts, and then came to
Eagle Harbor. He spent three years as an employe of various
mining companies (the Northwestern, Copper Falls,
Connecticut and Quincy). In 1858, he bought an interest in
the mercantile business of the Foley Bros. (See sketch of
the Foley Bros.' & Co). This firm has a branch store at Red
Jacket. Mr. Smith has held the office of Town Treasurer of
Eagle Harbor eight years.
JACOB SWARTZ, watchmaker and jeweler, was born in Bavaria,
Germany, October 25, 1826; was apprenticed to the
watchmaker's trade, but before completing the term of his
apprenticeship, he emigrated to America; he reached New
Orleans in June, 1842; he spent a year in that city,
perfecting himself in his trade; he then came to Lake
Superior; spent one year at Copper Harbor; then went to
Ontonagon, where he remained till 1837, when he came to
Eagle Harbor, and engaged in business. During his residence
here, he has served three terms as Town Treasurer.
CAPT. JOHN WILLIAMS, of the Ashbed Mine, was born in
Cornwall, Eng., June 27, 1841; he was engaged in mining in
his native country in his youth. In 1862, he came to
America; stopped awhile in Massachusetts, and, in the latter
part of the same year, came to Lake Superior; he worked
three years in the Phoenix Mine; then worked in the Garden
City and Central Mines, and returned, after a year and a
half, to the Phoenix; he was employed there several years,
and then worked awhile at the Schoolcraft, Copper Falls and
Hecla mines, and returned to the Phoenix again. In 1880, he
was appointed captain in charge of the working of the Ashhed
Mine.
