Fire of Sunday night, October 8, 1871 through October 10, 1871.

In reviewing the 1871 death records it is apparent that all deaths occurring in that year were not recorded or reported to the County Clerk. There are only 73 deaths recorded for that year and several townships are not listed. Of the deaths recorded, none occurred on the days of the fire.

Townships reporting deaths are: Austin, Bridgehampton, Elk, Forester, Fremont, Greenleaf, Lexington, Maple Valley, Marion, Marlette, Minden, Speaker and Worth.

Townships not reported are: Argyle, Buel, Custer, Delaware, Elmer, Evergreen, Flynn, Lamont, Moore, Sanilac, Washington, Watertown, and Wheatland.

There are 26 townships in Sanilac County, only 13 were recorded in 1871.

Fire of September 5, 1881

Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County, Chapman Brothers, 1884; pg. 531.

IRA HUMPHREY was a mail-carrier during the autumn of the fire, and his is a sad record of devotion to duty. Along the route for several miles before reaching the spot where he met his fate, Mr. HUMPHREY was warned by the people not to proceed further, as his road would lead him through terrible danger. But to every one he made the same reply---he must go; he was carrying the U.S. mail, and must make connections. When within a short distance of the fatal spot, he was halted by Mrs. SNELL, who told him that the fire had blockaded the road just ahead, and that it would be impossible to proceed. He only repeated his former declaration that he must go. Yielding to her earnest importunities, however, he turned about and drove back a few rods, where a number of people were gathered, hitched his horse and went forward to examine the road. Returning, he said he thought he could get through, and started, against the protests of all. For a few rods two or three persons accompanied him, but an awful wave of flame rolled toward them, and the men separated. Mr. HUMPHREY ran forward a few rods, turned one side into a field, and fell. When he started to run his clothes were on fire. He pulled off his vest, containing his watch, and threw it on the ground. When found, the crystal of the watch had melted. His horse was found by Mr. S. MOORE, who could not leave home on account of the fire, but fixed a note to the horse's neck and started him home to carry the sad news to the family.

Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County, Chapman Brothers, 1884; pg. 530.

SYLVESTER RICHMOND'S house, four miles west of Forestville, cough fire. In an eight-foot well, nine rods from the house, there was about two feet of water. Mr. RICHMOND placed his wife and six children in this, then fought the fire until the heat could no longer be endured, when he himself took refuge in the well. The terrible force of the wind soon lifted the roof of the house, carrying it off toward the well, over which it was dropped. Suffocation followed, and in this condition they were found two days later!

The following are the deaths caused by fire on September 5, 1881 unless otherwise noted. Extracted from the Sanilac County Death Records, Vol. #1.