Beaverton Historical Society
Gladwin County Obituary/Death Notice
 
Willard Grout, SR.

WILLARD GROUT, SR
PIONEER DAYS INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A GLADWIN MAN RECALL THEM AND OLD MIDLAND COUNTY NAMES

  Willard Grout, sr., of Gladwin county, died Feb. 28, the day after he had completed his 91st year. The Record gives some interesting incidents of Mr. Grout's life. Having run short of money he at one time gave his note for $3 to Captain Bean, of the famous steamer Belle Seymour, for transportation from Saginaw to Midland, the remainder of the journey being completed in a canoe which was poled up the river. He was the first farm settler in the county and moved, with his family, to the land where he has since lived in 1865. The Record says:

  Mr. Grout's journey with his family to this county from Port Huron was by boat to Bay City, and from Bay City to East Saginaw by stage. At East Saginaw there was only one "tavern"---just across the street from where the Bancroft house, now stands. The country between Saginaw and Midland was just settling, Freeland was the first stopping place, and had a hotel. At Midland Benj. Ball kept a hotel and at Edenville John McMullen kept a hotel, soon after Charlie Axford established his famous hostelry. The journey from Saginaw to Gladwin took three days, all by river, poling by canoe from Midland. At Edenville, or "Sixteen" then called, Alex Bowman, S. Erway, D. Burton and Zenas Weaver were their among the few settlers. Ralph Dunton started his store there soon after..

{Note: Actual Recorded Date of Death is: unk. Name: Willard Grout, SR.}
 
 
Personal Information
Death Date
Burial/Final Location
Service
unk
unk
unk
 
Publication Information
Pub. Date
Publication
Pub. Page
3/10/1899
Midland Daily News, Midland, MI
P:5
 
Transcription Information
Date
Transcribed by
Source Media
January 2005
Tom Ladner
Microfilm
Use your browser's BACK button to return or go to Obituaries Main Page
You may also want visit Beaverton Historical Society or Gladwin County Historical Society

This transcription is copyright 2005 by the transcriber. Private use is permitted,
but republication may be only with written permission of the transcriber.
Posted by Bob Frei with the assistance of Nicole Colmus