Forestville Bicentennial History Page 5

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When they went to Fostestville for supplies they found the Cass road so bad that it was hardly fit for oxen to draw the stoneboat . Most of their supplies were brought in an foot. West of Minden the trail entered the swampy lowlands of the north branch of the Cass, so it turned north to gunning mill (Trye) on the county line. A little west it joined a long- forgotten trail angling southwest from Shepherd’s Mill (Ubly) to Cass City. The Forestville road was named for the Cass river, whose pineries produced 105, 000, 000 ft. of cork pine by 1872. The logs were floated down the Cass to Caro or beyond. 

A rough trip to Joiners sawmill in Paris township in 1864 was described in the Sanilac Jeffersonain. The writer complained that, " The cut -over road plunges and flounders in mud, climbs over roots and stumps- through legions of hungry mosquitoes", "if you have dyspepsia", he adds "just try this jaunt once a month." 

The Czech -speaking Bohemians west of Minden complained loudly about "Ward’s road job". as they called it. So, in 1870 the state under took improvement of the road, but partly because a mill stage was planned to run as far as Bay City. The new road was not graveled; in fact as late as 1915 it was a little more than a mud trail. Six hours were allowed for the one way trip of the mail stage from Forestville. All of the lumber, shingles, hoops and hemlock bark from the interior, and whatever hay and grain was raised no the new farms, had to be hauled to the Fostestville docks over this one road. In 1862 alone, Issac Green "teamed" six millions shingles from Austin and Minden mills over the Cass road. It can well be imagined what traffic like this did to the make shift roads of those days. In rainy seasons they reverted to swamp, and long stretches of poor corduroy floated on top. Teaming had to be discontinued early in spring and "Shank mare" became the vehicle of the day. Early mail deliveries were on horseback, and Forestville’s mills mail carrier of the 80’s. Albert Hirztel, always "rode his route during the wet spring season. Oxen were plentiful on the highway and were "more nimble " and didn’t break their legs climbing over logs like horse were apt to do. Loaded oxen traveled at the rate of about two miles per hour! When postal service was establish along the shore in 1856 a new road was laid out along the old Indian trail between Lexington and Bird’s Mill (Pt Austin). In 1863 more then 100 men were employed clearing and improving (not gravelling ) the right of way and bridging the creeks in Sanilac and Huron counties. Part of the "state roads" that passed through Foerestville, and that did not erode down the banks and into gullies, is still to be seen today. It is now Lake Street, but has not been a thorough-fare. Since 1896. The shore mail served a number of towns almost forgotten now. Among them were Elm Creek, Rock Falls with (300 inhabitants), Forest Bay and New River. Heavy rains undermined the log bridges, and washed out the road down the steep, unguarded gullies, but when the boat were "laid up" passengers had no choice, unless they chose to walk. Many did, since a ticket from Forestville to either Sand Beach or Port Sanilac cost a dollar- which in those days represents two hard days work in the lumber camps. Besides in the summer the sand was so deep in various places around Forester. Port Sanilac and Lexington that passengers had to get out and walk. In 1916 it was still necessary to push their automobile through these same sandy stretches. Back in 1866 "Lewie" the local stage driver, gave his passengers a thrill for their money when team, coach and fares all plunged into five feet of water when the bridge over Hurds Creek just south of town collapsed. They all managed to crawl out safely and arrived in town very et but only a few minutes late. Three LITTLE, 2 LITTLE, 1 LITTLE INDIAN In 1855, to rid the Thumb of the diehards who hated to leave home, the government made a reserve and a grist mill for them in Isabelle county. 800 Chippewa settled there soon afterwards. More of these came from Huron county than Sanilac. There the bays and islands afforded year round fishing and abundant water fowl near their village of Sebewaince. (Sebwaing) Shedbon and on Fish Point. But a number still stayed on or at least came back to hunt trade or beg among the pioneers. One band that my mother often mentioned came regularly until the big fire. They swapped berries for bread or potatoes or just asked for a hand out. Only the hunters could have butter on their bread. Women and children were not allowed such luxuries. Some Chippewa still made "summer camp " In Indianfields township, near Caro, in 1940 and latter. My wife and I had once bought an ash splint paper clothes basket from a women whose tina nd tar paper shack was furnished with a broken stove, a table, 4 boxes for chairs and a bed with mesh spring but no mattress. She asked us to take a picture of her new born son, just 5 hours old. He was already wearing a little skull cap. The last resident Indian in Sanilac county was 

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