Grand Haven Senior High School - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Grand Haven, MI)

Page 14 text:

1834- E Reverend William llflontague Ferry arrived at Grand Haven with twenty per- sons on Sunday morning, November 2, 183-I-. This event marked the beginning of Grand Haven as a settlement, and Rev. llflr. Ferry has been rightly called the Father of Grand Haven . The little band came from Mfackinac where Rev. lN'Ir. Ferry had devoted twelve years of incessant toil among the Indians and whites. He had been called there from his home in Nlassaehusetts in 1822 by a friend who was aware of the lawlessness of the post. He journeyed to Grand Haven with his beautiful and charming wife, Amanda VVhite Ferry, who was ever a source of comfort, aid, and cheer to all who came in contact with her. Her influence in the new settlement was very great. A LOG DRIVE ON GRAND RIVER. Mr. Ferry was rather quiet, more inclined to listen than to talk. His tastes and habits were simpleg he was strong in purpose and persevering in his course. He was of slight build and of medium height. On a former trip extending the length of Grand River he was impressed with the possibilities for business at the mouth which was wide enough to afford an ex- cellent harbor for medium-sized vessels and which was protected by immense sand- hills to the west as havens of safety in storms. There was ample water power and its tributaries flowed through densely timbered regions. 0100

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L 1934 Grand River the Owashtanong'l which means far-flowing water . Michigan de- rives it names from the Indian words lN'Iitchi-Asugyeganl' which meant to them the 'lGreat Lake or Lake Country . The fact that Michigaii was in the position that she was, destined her to be such an important trading section, for the routes of travel in pioneer days were largely the waterways. Her shores Washed by four lakes and connected by the Straits of Mackinac, she was linked with the Atlantic on the East and with the Mississippi on the West. lylichilimackinac, the most important trading center of the fur regime, located on the Straits of Nlackinac, was the central depot of the American Fur Company, establish- ed by John Jacob Astor in 1815. He employed Rix Rob- inson, a man of ex- traordinary ability in dealing with the Indians, to take over about twenty posts in western Nlichigan, one be- ing at Grand Hav- en, which remained the headquarters un- til 1832. Cedar and birchbark bateaux carried heavy fur- packsfrom the cgrand River Val- A FUR TRADER IN OTTAVVA COUNTY. ley to Mackiliac once a year. The Hudson Bay Fur Company was a strong rival. Robinson was married twice, both times to Indian women. He was a man of firmness and fairness, of honor and esteem. He later became much associated with Grand Rapids as did Louis Campau. Both were well-known in early Grand Haven. With this background it is possible to relate the history of Grand Haven. 0 9 0

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TIE! Although Rix Robinson and his family and another fur agent were there when the party entered the harbor, it did not mean that these were settlers: they were fur traders. At the coming of the settlers they realized the doom of their fur trade, but being intelligent, they claimed and capitalized the land: thus did Rix Robinson be- come intimately connected with the early settlement and development of the village of Grand Haven. He was its original proprietor and had platted it with Grand Haven as its name. Reverend llflr. Ferry had intended to call it, Stuart, in honor of a friendg and this was the first name applied to it, but in less than a year the name was officially changed to its present form. 3 FIRST SCHOOL, ON SECOND STREET. GRAND HAVEN 1836 The first Grand Haven Company was organized with Robinson, Ferry, Stuart and White, as equal partners to buy lands, erect mills, etc. Other companies were formed for similar purposes. The year 1836 saw many things of interest in the infant city. The first schoolhouse was erected on Second Street. lt was a small frame build- ing used as a public meeting place also. The first sawmill was built at the foot of Columbus Street. It was to usher in numerous others and to begin a lumbering busi- ness which was to ZlCt as a means of income to thousands in coming years.