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Mason County History CompanionOld Places Familiar Faces |
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Mason County History CompanionOld Places Familiar Faces |
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Aaron Burr Caswell
Birth: 03 JAN 1807 Glens Falls, Warren Co, New York
Birth of Son: 1829
Name: George A. Caswell
1830 Census: Kingsbury Twp, Washington County, NY, Page 359
Birth of Daughter: ABT 1835
Name: Mary E. Caswell
Birth of Daughter: ABT 1835
Name: Helen M. Caswell
1st Marriage:1837 Glens Falls, Warren County, New York to Hannah Green
Note: Date doesn't fit birth dates of children. Could be 1827???
Note: Advertised in the Glen's Falls Observer as a cabinet maker with
a shop near Spencer's Hotel (in Glens Falls, near the Hudson
Bridge)1840 Census: Charlotte Twp, Chautauqua County, NY, Page 284
Birth of Son: 07 FEB 1840
Name: Edgar B. Caswell
Place: IllionisMoved to: 1847
Place: Mason Co, Michigan, USA
Note: First white man to take a farm from Uncle Sam in the wilds of
Mason county.
Occupation: Fisherman and trapper
Event: 1849
Place: Built first frame house in Mason County, Michigan
Occupation: First Coroner, First Probate Judge and First Surveyor in Mason County, Michigan.
1850 Census: Pere Marquette Twp, Mason County, MI, Page 197
Note: Living with wife, Hannah, and four children in household.1860 Census: Pere Marquette Twp, Mason County, MI, Page 90
Note: Living with wife, Hannah, in household.Moved to: 1869
Place: Mitchell, South Dakota2nd Marriage: 11 NOV 1871 Mason Co, Michigan to Sarah Kellett
1880 Census: Pere Marquette Twp, Mason Co, Michigan
Death: 15 SEP 1896 Ludington, Mason Co, Michigan
Note: Died of old ageObituary: 17 SEP 1896
Note: Funeral services conducted Sep 17, 1896 at the residence
of his daughter, Mrs. Moulton.
Note: Aaron Burr Caswell was born at Glens Falls, in the State of New York, in January, 1807. At an early age he learned the cabinet trade in his native village, and followed it for several years. In 1837 he was married at Glens Falls to Miss Hannah Green. They remained at that place for a time, and then made several changes in the next few years. His health becoming poor, he tried trading on the lower Mississippi, and in 1842 came to Barrington Station, Lake County, Illionis and bought a farm where he lived for three years. In 1845 he came to the region of Pere Marquette in Mason County. Burr himself spent two seasons at Pere Marquette, most of the time fishing at Duck Lake.
He returned with his family in 1847. Along with his wife Hannah and their four children, they arrived aboard the schooner Eagle which was enroute for Manistee. As there was no convenient stopping place, the Eagle did not deviate from her course. The cattle were dropped overboard and swam to shore while the family was rowed to land in a small boat. Butt built a small house out of driftwood. He improved his farm as rapidly as possible, and worked some at lumbering. The Indians at once took a liking to him and were always his friends, ever ready to do him any favor or act of kindness. Nothing could be wilder and more uncivilized than the surroundings of the first family of white settlers. Their home was in the midst of dense wilderness, their neighbors a tribe of Ottawa Indians. There were two or three white men at work up the river, but there were no white settlers nearer than Manistee. The Indians introduced Burr into the mysteries of their religious rites, and were as friendly to the family as possible for them to be. For some time, Burr was engaged in getting out shingle bolts and shipping them to Chicago in a small boat named Ranger, which could only carry 20 cords. A Norwegian named Rogerson was the owner.
In 1849 he built the frame house which still stands in White Pine Village. It was the first frame building in Mason County
and there are still some of the trees and shrubs he planted around it growing there. At that time, the village which sprang
up around the Caswells was named Pere Marquette, in memory of the missionary.In 1855, Caswell turned the first floor over to the county to use for a courthouse and trading post with a jail below. The
family moved upstairs. Burr and his eldest son were fishermen and trappers at first, later working at Baird and Bean Lumber
Mill. Burr was also the first surveyor, the first coroner, the first judge of probate, and a fish inspector. The county seat
was placed at Burr Caswell's house from 1856 to 1861. He remained on his farm until the death of his wife, in February, 1870, when he moved to Ludington, and had charge of a shingle mill for a time. In 1871 he was again married to Sarah
and in 1873 he became the first lighthouse keeper at Big Point Sauble where he stayed for 5 years. Later he went to Mitchell, South Dakota and at the age of 87 was successfully operating a large hotel. Mr. Caswell then returned to Ludington and 10 years after his return he died at the age of 97 years. He was buried in Lakeview cemetery beside Mrs. Caswell.
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