Villages
Copper Falls, Central, Phoenix, Allouez and Ahmuk (Ahmeek)
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 Falls is about three miles southwest of Eagle
Harbor, and adjoins the Ash Bed (Petherick), which together
form the settlement. There are about sixty houses, two
boarding houses and one store at the location.
Death of Seven Miners. -The only serious drawback to mining
is the unstable character of much of the hanging walls. A
great deal of timbering is required to sustain them, and
even then very many of them fall, sometimes in great bodies,
crushing the timbers and all beneath them. One wonders that
the workmen do not get killed working beneath these
ponderous rocks that seem liable to fall at any moment, but
they do not. When working beneath a roof that gives
indications of falling it is carefully watched. The men
insert wedges in the seams or cracks, and observe the
progress of loosening which takes place. Besides, when about
to fall, there is generally a preliminary movement and
slight noise, which men working in danger are quick to
observe and thus to make their escape. The most lamentable
instance of a fall of this kind in any of the copper mines,
occurred at the Copper Falls in 1874, when seven men were
crushed beneath an extensive fall of the roof, and before
their bodies could be recovered from the ruins, they were so
badly eaten by the rats as to be almost unrecognizable. Rats
infest the copper mines, and they are of great value, acting
as scavengers-removing all the refuse and filth which,
otherwise accumulating, would be unendurable.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CAPT. OTMAR BAUR, surface captain of the Copper Falls
Mine since 1868, and an employe of the company seventeen
years, was born in Germany in 1847; came to America in 1851,
with his parents, who located at Adrian, Mich., where he
passed his boyhood and received his education. In 1864, he
went West; spent some time in Iowa; crossed the plains to
Fort Laramie; he returned to Lake Superior the following
year, and engaged with the Copper Falls Mining Company,
and, in 1868, was made surface captain, and has retained
that position to this date, 1882.
B. F. EMERSON, agent of the Copper Falls Mine, was born in
Middleton, Essex County, Mass., December 22, 1838; he was
educated in the East, and, in 1868, came to Lake Superior;
he spent two years at Houghton; was away two years, and, in
1872, entered the service of the Copper Falls Mine; he was
appointed agent of this mine in 1873, and has held that
position to this date. Mr. Emerson is a thorough student,
and even in the wilds of Lake Superior has supplied himself
with a library of very liberal proportions, having a keen
appreciation of everything bearing on the early history of
this region; he has procured the best and most interesting
information on this subject. The publishers of this work are
under obligations to him for the use of his valuable
collection.
GEORGE FISHER, Superintendent of the Copper Falls Stamp
Mills, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, December 13, 1847; came
with his parents to the Sault Ste. Marie in 1849, and from
there to the North American Mine, Lake Superior. In1867, he
began work at the Calumet & Hecla Mine machine shops, and
continued with that company till 1880, when he changed to
the Copper Falls Mine, where he was employed one year; he
then made a trip to Leadville, Colo.; spent a few months in
that region, and returned to Lake Superior; he accepted his
present position in October, 1881.
CAPT. WILLIAM JACKA, first captain of the Copper Falls Mine,
was born in Cornwall, Eng., January 30, 1832; was brought up
at mining work. In 1852, he went to South America for a
London mining company; spent two years in that country, and
returned to England. In 1859, he came to the United States,
and direct to Lake Superior, where he engaged with the
Minnesota Mining Company; he returned to England again in
1861, and, in the fall of the following year, came back to
Lake Superior; he then engaged with the Amygdaloid Mining
Company; he continued with the company until 1867; during
three years of this time, he served as mining captain. From
1867 to 1870, he was assistant mining captain of the Calumet
& Hecla Mine; in the spring of 1870, he went to Wisconsin,
and from there to New York; he was engaged in mining in the
latter State until 1875, when he returned to Lake Superior
and accepted the position of mining captain at the Minong
Mine on Isle Royale, which position he held five years and
three months; he was next employed as mining captain at the
Allouez Mine one year, and in August, 1881, accepted his
present position.
CHRISTOPHER J. WOOLWAY, M. D., C. M., physician and surgeon
at the Copper Falls and Ashbed Mines, was born in St.
Mary's, Canada, October 28, 1854; was educated at the
Collegiate Institute of St. Mary's, from which he graduated
as prize man in 1869. He then began the study of medicine,
and entered the medical department of McGill University in
the city of Montreal, in the session of 1869-70, and
graduated with honors in the spring of 1875. He began the
practice of his profession at Grand Rapids, Mich., in May,
1875, and came to Lake Superior in the spring of 1879, as
physician and surgeon to the Copper Falls and Delaware
Mines. His practice extends to Eagle Harbor. Since 1880, he
has been physician of the Poor House of Keweenaw County, and
one of the County Superintendents of the poor.
Central is located south of Copper Falls on adjoining
property. There are 130 houses on the location and a
population of about 1,200.
In 1868, a Methodist Church was built, mostly by the
company, and has never been transferred to the Methodist
Episcopal Society. It has a membership of about sixty. Rev.
R. Nichols is the pastor in charge of the district.
The Central Schoolhouse was built by the Central Company in
1878, at a cost of about $7, 500. It is forty by seventy
feet, and three stories high, including the Mansard roof. It
stands upon a commanding position, well up the greenstone
bluff, which rises to a height of 700 feet at this place.
The two lower floors are divided into four rooms for the
graded school, and the upper is used for a hall. Three
teachers are employed at a salary of $191.61 per month.
There are 359 children drawing school funds, with an average
daily attendance of 138 pupils.
The store has been owned by the Central Company since 1868,
and has been in charge of Perkins Burnham since 1872.
Average stock, $30,000.
The Philanthropic Society of Sherman, a secret society,
local to the mining districts, has a lodge here--Conquering
Hero, No. 4-chartered April 6, 1872, numbering about seventy
members. They have $550 in the treasury. Thomas Morgan is W.
G. M., and John T. Holman, W. S.
The Good Templars are represented by Keweenaw Lodge, I. 0.
G. T. , No. 23, which was chartered by the Grand Lodge of
the Upper Peninsula, May 6, 1882. It has thirty-two members
in good standing. Miss Jennie Bennett is W. C. T., and Emil
T. W. Damue, W. S.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CAPT. SAMUEL BENNETTS, First Mining Captain of the
Central Mine ; was born in Cornwall, Eng., September, 1830.
He was brought up a miner, and came to America in 1854, and
direct to the Cliff Mine on Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior.
He worked as a miner and was made Mining Captain in 1861. He
continued with that company till 1872, when he went to the
iron district, and served as Captain at the Pittsburgh &
Lake Superior Mine one and a half years. He next engaged at
the Allouez Copper Mine, on Keweenaw Point, and served as
Captain of that mine six and a half years. In February,
1879, he accepted his present position with the Central
Mine, one of the most prosperous and successful mines in
this region.
CAPT. JAMES DUNSTAN, agent of the Central Mining Company,
was born in Cornwall, England, December 5, 1827. He began
working in the mines in early life, and followed that
business in his native country until 1853, when he emigrated
to America, coming direct to Lake Superior. He engaged as a
miner at the Ohio Trap Rock Mine, Ontonagon County, and was
subsequently Captain of the same mine. In the spring of
1860, he accepted the agency of the Carp Lake Mine, which he
surrendered in the fall of the same year to accept the
position of Captain at the Amygdaloid Mine. He operated the
underground work at that mine until June, 1866, when he
changed to the Central Mine, where he served as Mining
Captain until January 1, 1879; he was then appointed agent
of the mine, and is still holding that position. Under his
management the mine is being worked successfully. This mine
produced, in 1880, mineral to the value of $372,950.20. For
later statistics, see history of the mine.
CHARLES KINGSTON, contractor of the Central Mine, has been
connected with this company for more than twenty years. He
was born in Hampshire, England, May 22, 1824; was brought up
a farmer, and emigrated to America in 1851. He came direct
to Lake Superior; landed at Eagle Harbor, and engaged in
wood chopping. He was next a miner three years. About 1862,
he located at the Central Mine, and engaged in contract work
for this company, getting out wood and timber and doing
their teaming. He also has had charge of the road work for
the township of Sherman, as Road Commissioner, some
seventeen years. In 1874, he made a visit to his native
country, spending about four months abroad. Mr. Kingston is
one of the old pioneers of this region, and is widely and
favorably known.
CHARLES PAULL, foreman copper dresser of the Central Mine,
was born in Dodgeville, Iowa Co., Wis., September 5. 1856.
In 1863, he came to Lake Superior and made his home at
Copper Falls. In 1869, he began work with the Schoolcraft
Mining Company, as copper washer. He spent three years in
the mills of that company. He was next employed nearly a
year as copper dresser at the Phoenix Stamp Mills. From
there he went to the Franklin Mills, where he spent five
years as copper dresser. From there he came to the Central
Mine, and has been foreman copper dresser at these works
since July 1, 1880.
JOHN F. ROBERT, clerk of the Central Mining Company since
October, 1875, was born in the State of New York July 15,
1848. He attended the Oak Hill Military School, of Yonkers,
and received a thorough education, and for several years was
cashier of a mercantile house. In 1871, he went to sea as
captain's secretary, on the United States ship of war,
Narragansett; made the Pacific cruise, and returned to New
York. He then spent one and a half years as bookkeeper in a
bank, and in 1875 came to Lake Superior to accept the
position he now holds. The company is to be congratulated
on possessing one of the most competent, diligent and
courteous clerks in this region.
THOMAS SATTERLEY, Second Mining Captain of the Central
Mine, is one of the oldest employee of this mine; has been
in the employ of this company nineteen consecutive years. He
was born in Devonshire, England, in January, 1838. He was
brought up a miner, and came to America in 1856, and came
direct to Lake Superior. He began work with the Caledonia
Mining Company, working with that company one year. Next in
the Minesota Mine one winter, with the Rockland two years,
and a short time with the Northwest Mine. In 1863, he
engaged with the Central Mining Company, and has continued
with that company continuously since. He has served as
Mining Captain since June, 1879.
CAPT. WILLIAM TRETHEWAY, of the Central Mining Company, was
born in Corn wall, England. He was brought up a miner, and
came to the United States in 1873. After spending a few
months in this country, he returned to England. In 1874, he
came to the States again. Spent one year in the State of New
York, and then came to Lake Superior, arriving in this
region in July of that year. He began work with the Central
Mining Company as a miner, and in February, 1880, was
appointed Captain, under Capt. Samuel Bennetts, First Mining
Captain.
ALLEN YOELL, master mechanic of the Central Mine, was born
in St. Louis, Mo., July 24, 1837. He served a regular
apprenticeship to the machinist's trade in St. Louis, and
followed the Misissippi River eight years as a steamboat
engineer. In 1866, he went to St. Paul, Minn., and spent two
years erecting machinery. From there he came to Lake
Superior, and was engaged three years at Superior City in
the same business. He then went to Houghton, Portage Lake,
and was employed in running tugs for Capt. Bendry two years.
He was next employed two years in charge of the machinery of
the Copper Falls Mine. In 1878, he came to the Del aware and
was employed as machinist; also had charge of the machinery
of the Amygdaloid Mine. In October, 1879, he was appointed
to his present position.
This place is located about two miles south from Eagle
River, on lands which belonged to the lease taken out in
1843 by the old Lake Superior Copper Company. The mine gives
employment to about 125 men. These and their families, with
a few others, constitute the settlement.
The company have built a schoolhouse and a Methodist Church
at this place. The post office is kept at the store of G.
Kloeckner & Co., who succeeded M. Frend in 1873 in the
mercantile business at this place. They carry an average
stock of $45,000.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
RICHARD BAWDEN, First Captain of the Phoenix Mine, was
born in Cornwall, England, in April, 1836. He was brought up
a miner, and emigrated to America in 1860. He came direct to
Lake Superior and engaged as a miner at the National Mine,
Ontonagon. Remained at this mine only one year, and then
engaged with the Minesota Mining Company. Continued at that
mine five years, and then changed to the Franklin in 1869,
and in 1870 went to Rhode Island, where he was engaged in
coal mining till 1874. He then returned to Lake Superior and
accepted his present position.
D. D. BROCKWAY, agent of the Cliff Mine and resident agent
and principal owner of the Atlas Mine; was one of the
earliest pioneers of the Lake Superior country, he having
located at L'Anse in August, 1843 as Government blacksmith
to the Indians. He was born in Franklin County, Vt., May 2,
1815. He moved to Franklin County, N. -Y., with his parents
in childhood, and from there to Washtenaw County, Mich., in
1831. He was married, in Kalamazoo County, in 1836, to Miss
Lucena, daughter of Dr. James Harris a well known pioneer of
that region. After his marriage, Mr. Brockway returned to
Franklin County, N. Y., where he spent three years. While
there, he was appointed blacksmith and mechanic to the
Indian Department of Lake Superior, with headquarters at
L'Anse, under Robert Stewart, Indian Agent. Taking his
family and accompanied by his brother, A. W, Brockway, who
was assistant blacksmith, and at present Cashier of the
Savings Bank at Brownsville, Tenn., he proceeded on his
journey to the then almost unknown wilderness of Lake
Superior. Arrived at the Sault Portage June 19, 1843, and
were obliged to wait there six weeks and three days for a
vessel to take them to L'Anse. They got off August 4 on the
old brig John Jacob Astor. They were accompanied by Dr.
Douglass Houghton, State Geologist, and party, as far as
Grand Island. They reached L'Anse Mission August 8. The next
three years were devoted to the peculiar duties of his
office. Hoping to improve his prospects, Mr. Brockway
determined to remove to Copper Harbor, which was then
attracting considerable attention from the accounts of rich
copper discoveries in its neighborhood. So setting out May
1, 1846, in a small boat with his wife and three small
children, their crew consisting of two Indians, they coasted
L'Anse Bay and around Keweenaw Point, being out two nights.
They reached Copper Harbor May 3. The few inhabitants of
Copper Harbor were living in tents. Mr. Brockway had come to
stay, so he built a substantial house, the first in the
place, and opened it as a hotel. Mr. B. was a potent factor
in the development and improvement of the country. In 1849,
he was employed at the Northwest mine as agent, and
continued with that company two years. Mr. B. discovered the
Cape Mine, and was instrumental in organizing that company,
and was agent there one year. In 1861 he removed to Eagle
River, where he kept hotel until 1863. He then returned to
Copper Harbor and engaged in the mercantile business with G.
W. Perry, a son-in-law, under the firm name of Brockway &
Perry. Continued that business three years. In 1869, he went
to the Lower Peninsula and engaged in farming on the old
homestead, where he married his wife, he then being the
owner of said farm. Returning to Lake Superior in 1872, he
opened a store at the Cliff Mine with his son, Albert A.,
under the firm name of D. D. Brockway & Son, dealers in
general merchandise. They continued the business to this
date. His son, Albert A., is the present County Treasurer of
Keweenaw County. Mrs. Sarah L. Scott is the oldest white
person now living that was born in the mining district of
Lake Superior. A daughter of C. T. Carrier, who was
Government farmer at L'Anse, was the first white child born
at that place. It died at the age of only a year or two, in
the State of New York, to which place its parents moved in
1845. In 1879, Mr. B. spent seven months in the Black Hills
country in search of gold. Returning in the month of
December, while crossing the plains, was overtaken by a
fearful storm, and with seven other passengers narrowly
escaped death by freezing. The stage having been tipped over
in the storm, had to remain on the open plain for about
fifteen hours, with the wind blowing a perfect gale and
mercury at 42, below zero. For the past year, Mr. B. has
been the superintendent of the Cliff Mine, and has been very
active in the discharge of the duties of his position. He is
now in the sixty-eighth year of his age, but is still hale
and hearty, and always found in the harness. His motto is
wear out rather than rust out. He is still active as most
men at forty-five, and we would count him good for twenty
years to come.
OTIS B. BRYANT, chief clerk of the Phoenix and St. Clair
Mines, was born in Hingham, Mass.,June 4, 1860; was educated
at Fair Haven, and came to Lake Superior in the spring of
1880, to accept his present position at the Phoenix Mine. He
entered upon the discharge of his duties April 14 of that
year.
P. T. BROWNELL, bookkeeper at the general store of G.
Kloeckner & Company, was born in Fair Haven, Mass., March 5,
1855 ; was brought up in Massachusetts, and received a
business education, coming to Lake Superior in 1876 to
accept his present position.
M. A. DELANO, agent of the Phoenix and St. Clair Mines, was
born in Fair Haven, Mass., October 30, 1848 , came to Lake
Superior in 1868, and engaged with the Calumet & Hecla
Mining Company as clerk. In 1872, he left the Calumet &
Hecla, to accept the position of clerk at the Phoenix Mine,
and in 1874 was appointed agent. Appointed agent of the St.
Clair Mine, lying adjacent, in 1880.
G. KLOECKNER, merchant, of the firm of G. Kloeckner & Co.,
succeeded M. Frend & Son in 1873; average stock $45,000; is
also interested with Charles Briggs, of Calumet, in the same
line (gene- ral merchandise). He was born in Prussia
November 30, 1848, and came to Lake Superior with his
parents in 1853; he spent his boyhood at the Minesota Mine,
Ontonagon County; he began as clerk with S. D. North and
Charles Briggs in their general store at the Minesota Mine;
was with them nine y ears at that point, and in their branch
store at Calumet six years. In 1873, he entered upon his
present business at the Phoenix Mine. Since his location
here he has held the appointment of Postmaster.
ALBERT LAWBAUGH, M. D., physician and surgeon of the Phoenix
and St. Clair Mines, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in
September, 1814; he was educated at the high school of
Trenton, Ohio, and took his medical degree at the Long
Island Hospital, graduated at the medical college, and
practiced fourteen months as house physician and surgeon. In
1871, he came to Lake Superior and accepted the position of
assistant physician and surgeon under Dr. Alexander,
deceased, of the Phoenix Mine, and one year later, 1872, he
was appointed to his present position. Dr. Lawbaugh is
justly classed among the best skilled in his profession on
the Upper Peninsula.
WILLIAM NICHOLS, foreman copper dresser of the Phoenix Mine,
was born in Wales August 9, 1851; he came to America with
his parents in 1856; lived in Grant County, Wis., till 1861;
he then came to Lake Superior and engaged as copper washer
at the stamp mills of the Quincy Mine. He was employed at
those mills three years; next at the Hancock, and
subsequently two years at the Calumet under Capt. Richards;
he has also worked at copper dressing with the Schoolcraft,
St. Clair, Aetna and Amygdaloid Mines. At these latter mills
he was foreman copper dresser. In 1874, he engaged with the
Phoenix Company in his present position.
JAMES C. TREUBATH, clerk of the Cliff Mining Company since
1876; was born in Cornwall, England, September 26, 1849; was
educated in England, and came to America in 1862, arriving
in the Lake Superior country September 29, of that year; he
located at the Cliff Mine where he was employed in the stamp
mills of that company for some time; he subsequently engaged
as teacher of the Cliff School, and continued in that
vocation six years. In 1876, he was appointed to his present
position.
Allouez, named after the missionary priest of that name,
is now a thriving mining town, having new life infused into
it by the operations of the Allouez Mining Company, who,
since the expiration of the tribute lease, have taken hold
in good earnest to improve and develop the property. They
employ 310 men on the mine, with an additional force of 100
choppers and teamsters.
A new Methodist Episcopal Church has just been built. There
are at the mine two wood school buildings and a total of 175
pupils.
When the mine started, a Miners' Accident Club was
organized, to which each miner was obliged to contribute 50
cents a month, subject to further assessment if required.
This, in case of accident, secures to each $30 a month
during continuance of the disability. Three hundred dollars
are paid to the heirs in case of the death of a member from
accident.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WILLIAM KLINE, proprietor of Allouez boarding-house, was
born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, March 18, 1832. He came to
America at the time of the Revolution in 1848, and direct to
Lake Superior; he made his home at the Minesota Mine; worked
as a miner there two years and seven months; he then came to
Eagle Harbor, and worked as a miner in the Connecticut and
Copper Falls Mines. In 1868, worked at the Allouez Mine; he
kept the boarding house at the Copper Falls Mine in 1860 and
at the Allouez Mine the past nine years, commencing April,
1874.
CAPT. NED B. ROSCORLA, first Captain of the Allouez Mine,
was born in Cornwall, England, January 14, 1850; he was
brought up a miner, and was made a Mining Captain. In 1870,
he emigrated to America; spent one year in New Jersey and
came to Lake Superior in August, 1871; he commenced work at
the Phoenix Mine as a miner one year, when he left and came
to the Allouez Mine; he was second Captain here three years
with Watson & Walls Tribute Company; when the company
resumed work, he was ap- pointed first Captain.
FREDRICK SMITH, agent of the Allouez Mine, was born in
Germany March 5, 1835; he was educated in his native
country, and emigrated to America in 1855, and came direct
to Lake Superior, and has resided in this region since,
excepting a period of six months. He was first employed at
the old Northwest Mine, and subsequently at the Minesota
Mine; he was also bookkeeper at the store of the Huron Mine;
he was also bookkeeper in the store of Smith & Harris, at
Houghton, three years; he next clerked three years at the
Copper Falls Mine. In 1877, he was appointed agent of the
Allouez Mine, which position he now holds. The Allouez is
one of the important mines in the copper region, and under
Mr. Smith's management is working very successfully. The
product of mineral for the first half of 1882 has been 571
tons.
W. H. SOLIS, M. D. physician and surgeon of the Allouez,
Wolverine, Ahmuk and Centennial Mines, was born in Ohio July
1852; he was educated at Detroit and Pontiac, Mich.; took a
regular course at the medical department of the State
University of Michigan and graduated in 1873; he commenced
the practice of his profession at Pontiac, and eight months
later came to Lake Superior; he practiced at the Quincy Mine
as assistant a little more than a year; he was next employed
as physician to the Copper Falls and Delaware Mines, and
practiced also at Eagle Harbor. September 1875, he went to
Isle Royale as physician and surgeon to the Minong Mining
Company; he was on the island one year and eight months; he
then returned to the south shore and practiced at Hancock
eight months. In January, 1878, he accepted his present
position.
WATSON & WALLS, merchants. This firm is composed of Isaiah
C. Watson and William Walls, and was established in the fall
of 1873. They now carry an average stock of $50,000. In the
years 1877-78-79, they worked the Allouez Mine on tribute,
and produced an average of 1,000 tons of copper per year.
Isaiah C. Watson, senior partner of the firm of Watson &
Walls, was born in Canada November 15, 1843; came to Lake
Superior in 1859, and came direct to Hancock; was employed
at the Franklin Mine twelve years as assistant clerk; went
to Iowa and spent two years; he then returned to Lake
Superior and formed the present partnership.
WILLIAM WALLS, of the firm of Watson & Walls, merchants, was
born in Cornwall, England, May 12, 1846; he came to America
in 1849 with his parents, and passed his boyhood days in
Pennsylvania, and in May, 1863, came to Lake Superior; he
located at the Copper Falls Mine and engaged in mining, and
worked at mining eleven years in the copper region; he was a
merchant clerk for four years. In September, 1873, he formed
the present partnership with Mr. Watson. (See business
history of Watson Walls.)
AGATE HARBOR
AGATE HARBOR, six miles east of Eagle Harbor, is virtually
abandoned as a town site. The harbor is used only by
coasters who know the channel, it not being kept in a
condition for the entrance of large vessels.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
CAPT. JOHN M. RICHARDS, of the Ahmuk Mine, P. O. Clifton,
was born in Cornwall, England, November 30, 1829; he was
brought up a miner from early boyhood; he came to America in
1853, and direct to Keweenaw Point; worked as a miner at the
South Cliff, Central, Isle Royal and Portage Lake Mines.
While at the Cliff, he served five years as Mining Captain.
In 1879, he went to Colorado and Idaho Springs; he returned
to Lake Superior the following year, and June 16, 1881, was
appointed to his present position of Captain and Manager of
the Ahmuk Mine, Keweenaw County.
