Biography of Hon. Twonsend North, Vassar, Tuscola County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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HON.  TOWNSEND NORTH

Taken from The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and Illustrations, 
H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. Thanks to Bonnie Petee.


Among the pioneers of Tuscola County there is no one better known or more universally 
respected than the gentlemen whose name is at the head of this sketch.  And if he is 
well known in his own county his name is also a familiar one in most parts of the State 
of Michigan, of which he has been a citizen for about forty-seven years.

HON.  TOWNSEND NORTH was born September 24, 1814, in Ulster County, N. Y.  His parents 
moved from that part of the state when he was an infant, and for a number of years 
lived in the towns of Fayette and Tyre, in Seneca County.  His father, who farmed in a 
moderate way, was a carpenter and joiner by trade, which avocation his son learned.  
In 1835 the father removed to Washtenaw County, Mich., and the year succeeding the son 
came to Michigan and followed his trade in the counties of Washtenaw and Lenawee until 
1899.  In 1840 he was one of the sub-contractors on the first dormitory building for 
the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he lived some five years.  During his 
residence in that part of the State he also had a farm in Washtenaw County, which he 
commenced to improve.

In 1845 he removed to Flint, Genesee County, where he opened a lumber yard and also 
kept a hotel.  He remained in that city for some three years.  During the time he kept 
the hotel an incident occurred which completely changed his plans for the future.  The 
capital of the State was then Detroit, and the members of the legislature from Saginaw 
county used to stop at his house on the way to Detroit.  One evening he got into 
conversation with Charles Palmer, who was the Saginaw member, and among other things 
asked him what measure he had in view for the benefit of his country.  He replied that 
he had no special thing in contemplation.  Mr. North then called his attention to the 
fact that the United States government had made a grant of five hundred thousand acres 
of land for internal improvements in the State of Michigan, and suggested that an 
appropriation for a bridge across the Cass River at Bridgeport might be procured and 
the building of the bridge would be a great benefit to Saginaw County.  Mr. Palmer, to 
whom the idea had not occurred up to that time, during the session introduced a bill 
which was prepared by Judge Edmunds, Mr. North's brother-in-law and also a member of 
the legislature.  It made a grant of 3,000 acres of land to build the bridge and was 
passed by the legislature, the grant to be expanded under the sanction of the board of 
supervisors.  They let the job of building the bridge to the lowest responsible bidder, 
and a tender made by Mr. North was accepted.  In his bargain with the board he 
stipulated that they should make him their agent to select the lands which he was to 
receive for building the bridge.  In locating them he was impressed by the fine quality 
of the pine timber along the Cass River and also the excellent quality of the soil.  
In addition to the amount received for the bridge, he, in company with Judge J. M. 
Edmunds and his brother, Newton Edmunds, bought other lands.  In 1849 they built the 
saw-mill (which is now standing) south of the bridge in the village of Vassar.  The 
firm was known as North & Edmunds.  J. M. Edmunds and Newton Edmunds carried on the 
firm's store at Ypsilanti, and Mr. North was the resident partner at Vassar, 
superintending their lumber and other operations at that place, with occasional aid 
from the Edmunds.  They also had a mill at East Saginaw, which was built in 1853, which 
was managed by the Messrs. Edmunds.  In addition to the saw-mill at Vassar they also 
kept a general stock of merchandise at Vassar, it being the first store in the county.

In 1854 the firm was enlarged by the addition as members of William W. Carpenter, 
Thomas W. Lockwood and Samuel Barstow, all of Detroit.  In 1858 Judge Edmunds and his 
brother Newton retired from the firm.  The duration of the co-partnership was limited 
to six years, but was continued until 1864, when Mr. North bought the interests of the 
three Detroit members.  Judge J. M. Edmunds, now deceased, was afterward commissioner 
of the United States land office and postmaster of the city of Washington, D. C., and 
Newton Edmunds was at one time governor of the Territory of Dakota and now a banker at 
Yankton.  During the continuance of the co-partnership, his partners being 
non-residents, Mr. North was unable to tender such aid to any proposed local public 
improvements as he would liked to have done, as he feared that his zeal might outweigh 
his judgment to the detriment of his partners.  After the dissolution he was in a more 
independent position, and he has largely aided in many works which have been for the 
benefit of his chosen home and Tuscola County.

In 1849, when operations were first commenced at what is now Vassar, there was no 
settlement nearer than Tuscola, the present site of their village.  The village of 
Vassar was surveyed, and the plat recorded in August, 1854, for the company, by D. A. 
Pettibone, a surveyor who then lived in Bridgeport, Saginaw County.

In 1865, he sold his saw-mill, grist mill, a quantity of pine lands, etc., to B. F. 
McHose.

In 1867 he and his son James E. (who had charge of the mill) purchased another saw-mill 
and run it until after the death of this son in 1874, when he sold it to Worden & 
Delano.  The mill was originally owned by Stephen Bunnell, from whose hands it passed 
into those of Col. William B. McCreary, of Flint, who sold it to Mr. North.

In 1867 he started the Vassar woolen-mills, an institution which is known all over the 
State for the excellence of its products.  In 1882 a joint stock company was organized 
and a new factory built.  The capital stock of the company is $25,000.  Operations in 
the new building which is a large three-story brick structure, will be commenced in 
1883 and about thirty operatives will be employed.  

In 1875 he and Bostwick Noble, of Lowell, Mich., opened a bank.  After about a year, 
Mr. North purchased Noble's interest, and recently took into partnership his only son, 
Frank, and the institution was known by the firm name of T. North & Son. until July 5, 
1883, when the First National Bank of Vassar commenced doing business with Mr. North 
as president.

In 1872, when the D. & B. C. Railroad was in the course of construction, he built a 
number of miles of it, commencing at Otter Lake and extending about a mile and one-half 
beyond the village of Vassar toward Bay City. He was also a stockholder in the road to 
the amount of $5,000.  Although the investments, both stock and contract, were far from 
being paying ones, yet they aided in giving to Tuscola County a much needed outlet to 
better markets for its agricultural and other products.  He also built some ten miles 
of the State road to Blumfield, which was continued from Goodrich to Bay City.

In 1862 he was appointed assessor of internal revenue for the Sixth District of 
Michigan, by President Lincoln, holding the office four years, and in 1871 was 
re-appointed by President Grant, holding the office until it was discontinued in 1873.  
Mr. North never has been what is known as an office-seeker, the foregoing appointments 
having been made without any solicitation on his part. He has held a number of other 
public positions, all of which have been more of honor than profit.  He was the first 
register of deeds of Tuscola County after its organization in 1850, member of the State 
senate in 1875, supervisor for Vassar six years and member of the school board sixteen 
years. He was also president of the board appointed by Gov. Croswell to locate the 
Michigan school for the blind.

Mr. North has been married twice and has had seven children born unto him by his first 
wife, only two of who survive, and three by his present wife, who are all living.

Aside from his banking and other business in the village he is an extension farmer, 
having two farms, one in the township of Fremont and the other in Denmark.

Mr. North's residence at Vassar is very handsomely situated, presenting a fine 
appearance and being on an eminence it commands a view of the village and a large 
extent of surrounding country.  The grounds are tastefully laid out and the interior of 
the  house is finished in a manner in which elegance and comfort are combined.









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