7 responses to “Who Were Elberta’s First Settlers?”

1. 

   sixthstreetff

   July 3, 2015

   Reblogged this on sixthstreetff and commented:
   I already commented on this article on the Alert Facebook, but just to cover all bases, I’ll say again: this historically accurate article is a very important contribution to Elberta’s meaningful history. Mr. Bolander is areal asset to the community.

   Loading…

   Reply
2. 

   sixthstreetff

   July 3, 2015

   I guess I don’t want to miss out on commenting on the importance of this article for Elberta’s history! This is the third “Comment” and place that I’ve posted. Thank you, Andy!

   Sent from my iPad

   >

   Loading…

   Reply
3. 

   Susan Greenwood-Renard

   July 5, 2015

   Mr. Bolander, Although I find your arguments against the proposed signs thoughtful, I think John & Caroline Greenwood’s contribution to the the settling of Elberta is noteworthy. As a direct descendent of John & Caroline Greenwood, my grandfather Harold Cornelious (Eugene) Greenwood of Manastee, was the son of their son John George, my family is very supportive of the Village Council motion to support MDOT creating and posting the new signs. As far as the facebook post saying the picture of John Greenwood is not accurate, My brother Dan is a dead ringer for John Greenwood as was my father.
   Susan Greenwood – Renard, St Louis MO

   Loading…

   Reply
4. 

   Andy Bolander

   July 11, 2015

   Mrs. Greenwood-Renard,

   Thank you for taking the time to read my post on this topic.

   I would like to clear the confusion on the image of John Greenwood. I do not recall say that the picture is inaccurate. On the contrary, I can verify that the image is of John Greenwood as it is held in the Allen Blacklock collection at the Archives of Michigan and is identified by Mr. Blacklock. (Blacklock’s History of Elberta is a respected resource on the history of Elberta. The image of John Greenwood is included in the book)

   I do remember posting an image of the sign placed under the village limit sign of Elberta. I remember saying that it was unfortunate and inaccurate. An explanation:

   Unfortunate
   -The signs were unsolicited by members of the community.
   -The signs are not factual (see inaccurate), the statements are not sourced.
   -The signs are an embarrassment to Elberta due to, but not exclusive to, the above two entries.
   -The signs are a highly visible example of how sourcing is important, with the identification of respected sources of particular concern.

   Inaccurate
   I am just going to include a few clips that counter the statements printed on the sign:

   —————————————————————————-
   “Before the first regular school the children of the Green-
   woods, Martins and others were taught by the adults of the
   family in the Greenwood home. This covered the years 1855
   to 1859. In 1860 Mr. B.W. Perry came to the area, set up his
   business and taught the first school. The building was cal-
   led the “Cedar Log School”, a former home of the John W.
   Greenwood, and located at the corner of the present Frank-
   fort Avenue and Sherman Street, where the American House
   Hotel stood for years.” (Blacklock’s History of Elberta, 137)

   “When Joseph Robar and Frank Martin came here in the fall
   of 1855, John Greenwood had already settled on the south
   side of Lake Un-Zig-A-Zee-Bee (Betsie). Martin took up tem-
   porary residence in Joe Oliver’s trapping shelter on the North
   side of the outlet from Lake Un-Zig-A—Zee—Bee to Lake
   Michigan. The high winds off Lake Michigan piled the snow
   and sand high around the Martin place and Robar and
   Greenwood helped Martin erect a wall of logs and brush on
   the Lake Michigan side of his home to protect it. They called
   it Frank’s Fort because of this likeness. This is said to have
   been the inspiration for the name “Frankfort” which later
   became widely used in the area, and was related to me
   personally by the early descendents of the Martin and
   Greenwood families.” (Blacklock, Introduction)

   “In June, 1855, John Greenwood, a 24-year-Old Canadian
   Blacksmith and his bride, settled in what is now Elberta.
   Greenwood was a man of great industry and ingenuity and
   well fitted to face the trials of the wilderness. He was born in
   Three Rivers, Canada, February 2’7, 1827, and was married
   to Miss Caroline Robar, of Ludington, July 3, 1850, in
   Chicago, Illinois. They built a cedar log house, where the
   American House Hotel stood later, and gleaned a living from .
   the wilderness by hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming.
   Later, Greenwood operated Benzie County’s first place of
   business, a Blacksmith Shop in the same area as the log
   house. The old shop stood for years and was torn down in
   1944, few people realizing its historical importance. The
   cedar log house was later used as the first schoolhouse in
   the County.
   Sometime later, the Greenwoods moved to a farm located
   on what was known for years as “Greenwood Lane” which is
   now the West one—half mile of the Grace Road, from M-22 to
   Lake Michigan. Here on the shelves of their large kitchen,
   were kept the scanty supplies of the community which John
   Greenwood brought in on foot from Portage and Manistee.
   Here, many a Weary traveler traveling the “Traverse City
   Trail” found food, warmth and lodging. Here, many a group
   of victims of the many shipwrecks along the Lake Michigan
   Shore, following the shoreline South to “Civilization”, found
   shelter and supplies. Here, they often rested for days at a
   time, and the woods sometimes rang with their cries of
   merriment as the Greenwoods entertained in their French-
   Canadian folkstyle, which often saw Greenwood kick off his
   slippers and proclaim his prowess as the best dancer from
   “Quebec to Hell”.

   John Greenwood was the first to carry the mail from Manis-
   tee to the few settlers along the route to his home. On one
   occasion, he left Manistee in the forenoon, on snowshoes. to
   go along the shoreline to his home. carrying about 50 pounds
   of provisions and mail on his back. A fierce storm of wind
   and snow arose, at times almost smothering him. He
   reached Herring Creek about four p.m., removed his snow-
   shoes, and started to cross the ice of the dangerous and
   treacherous stream. When near the middle he broke through
   the ice into deep water. Beginning to sink, he threw his load
   over his head onto solid ice, and himself forward on his
   hands and face and crawled ashore. Pouring the water from
   his boots, he went on. Two miles further on, finding his wet
   feet freezing, he removed his snowshoes, boots, and socks,
   wrung the water from his socks, reclothed his feet, and went
   on. It is claimed by oldtimers who have heard of this experi-
   ence more directly and at an earlier date, that he poured
   some whiskey, which he was carrying home for medicinal
   purposes, into his boots to keep his feet from freezing. He
   tried to mount the bluff opposite his home on Greenwood
   Lane and fell back down the bluff twice because of the icy
   slope. He followed the beach North to the Indian Camping
   Ground at the river’s mouth, and then followed the Indian
   Trail South to his home. He arrived there about 11 p.m., his
   cap and clothing frozen to his person, and his feet so much
   frozen that he was unable to leave his residence for some
   time.

   The Greenwoods prospered on their beautiful farm, hav-
   ing over sixty acres under cultivation, which included over
   30 acres of Orchards. They produced apples. plums, cher-
   ries, peaches, and grapes. Also other small fruits and ber-
   ries in abundance. His large red barn on “Greenwood Lane”
   was a well known landmark for the ships sailing Lake
   Michigan and could be seen for miles from the Lake. Green-
   wood was the first to have harvesting machinery, some of it
   homemade. His threshing machine did work for the farmers
   for miles around. The culmination of their lives work in
   success compensated to some extent for their sacrifice and
   toil.

   During the Greenwoods time a great many ships and
   schooners sailed Lake Michigan and there were a great
   many ships lost. Many valuable objects were salvaged from
   these wrecks and along the beaches. There is a story told by
   oldtimers that Mr. Greenwood came into possession of a
   large anvil. When questioned as to how he came into pos-
   session of such a large anvil in this wilderness, he claimed
   that the anvil had floated up on the beach and that he had
   salvaged it from there. An old timer who knew him, told that
   he talked in broken French—English, and when his prize bull
   would wander off Greenwood would go about the Coun-
   tryside looking for the bull, and would say to those of whom
   he inquired, “If you see big bull, she mine”.
   Born to John and Caroline Greenwood were six sons and
   five daughters. George of Manistee, Jerome, John, Alfred,
   Eugene. and Louis went West. Mrs. Addie Sims and Mrs.
   Jewell Cash of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Elizabeth
   Deuell, of Chicago; Mrs. Josie Burtker, and Mary M. Luxford
   of Elberta. John Greenwood passed away in the year 1885, at
   the age of 58 years. Mrs. Greenwood survived him 27 years.
   passing away at the home of her daughter, Mary M. Luxford
   in Elberta, December 20, 1912. Mrs. Greenwood was highly
   esteemed by all who knew her for her Christian life, and
   sterling worth, a devoted wife and mother. and a counselor
   and friend to all. When Caroline Greenwood, Elberta’s first
   white woman settler, passed away, the entire community
   felt the loss of one who had contributed so greatly to the
   needs of so many people in the trying days of early settle-
   ment.” (Blacklock, 3)

   “After Greenwood and his family moved to their farm
   Martin moved to the “Cedar Log House”. “ (Blacklock, 5)

   “The first actual business in the village was carried on by
   John Greenwood. He kept a store of supplies, brought in on
   foot from Manistee and Portage. There were only 3 families
   here from 1855 to 1859, all on the south side of Betsie Lake.
   Greenwood also operated a blacksmith shop before moving
   to the farm just south of the present Village Limits.” (Blacklock, 71)

   “John Greenwood, in addition to being a hunter, trapper.
   fisherman, and farmer was a blacksmith and had a shop in
   both South and North Frankfort at one time. His shop in
   South Frankfort stood on the southwest corner of Lot 7. Block
   8. Plat of Frankfort City. It will be remembered by many
   older residents as the upholstery shop of Hod Brink. It was
   torn down in the 1930’s no one realizing its historical impor-
   tance as the county’s first place of business.” (Blacklock, 81)

   “When the white people first came to this area there were
   no roads. There was an Indian Trail from the vicinity of the
   present harbor along the base of the hill and along the route
   of the present Frankfort Avenue, which joined another In-
   dian Trail where the present Grace Road (Greenwood Lane)
   joins M-22. This became a wagon trail later. For those who
   wished to go north along the shore of Lake Michigan, “ (Blacklock, 114)

   “Nov. 4- (1885) On Monday Evening the large two story frame dwelling in South Frankfort, known as the John Greenwood property was destroyed by fire. It is not known where the flames started, but it is thought from a defective flue. The loss of the house and contents is estimated at about $2500, with insurance at $1600.” (Elberta Alert, May 3rd 1912)

   Summary from “Our Land and Lakes” by Sivert Glarum

   -Born Three Rivers, Canada on 27Feb1827.
   -Age 17 moved to chicago-Michigan City-New Buffalo (stayed 6 years, learned blacksmithing)
   -Moved to Cedar River, WI then to Ludington.
   -Married Caroline Robarge on 3July1850 in Chicago
   -Moved to South Side Lake Aux Becs Scies in 1855
   -Cedar Log House SW corner of Furnace(Frankfort) Ave and Sherman St.
   -Blacksmith Shop on Lot 10 of Block 8
   -Second shop in Frankfort
   -Died 7Jul1885, Age 57 Buried Gilmore Cemetery

   Pg 30 “Herring Lake”

   Pg 125 “Historical collections / Michigan Pioneer and … v.31 (1902).”

   Benzie Banner “Frankfort Department”. 4Oct1888

   ———————————————————

   A more fitting location to honor your ancestors would be the extension of Grace Road from M22 to Lake Michigan. It has been known as Greenwood Lane in the past and touches the location of Greenwood’s Farm.

   These signs are an embarrassment to the Village of Elberta and misrepresent the history of the Greenwood family. These signs need to come down.

   Andy Bolander
   Elberta, MI

   Loading…

   Reply
   1. 

      Kimm X Jayne

      July 12, 2015

      Thank you Andy for such a thoughtful and well-researched response. How does one start the process of taking the signs down? Seems that all it took was a petition and presentation at a council meeting (without documentation) to get it up. I like the idea of renaming west Grace Road Greenwood.

      Loading…

      Reply
5. 

   Aubrey Ann Parker

   May 15, 2017

   Question: Isn’t the road called Greenwood Landing, not Greenwood Lane…? At least, that’s what Google says: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Greenwood+Landing,+Frankfort,+MI+49635/@44.605965,-86.2277024,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x881e7508d6d25e1f:0x44f583a0d0b60b26!8m2!3d44.606072!4d-86.22855

   Loading…

   Reply
6. 

   Aubrey Ann Parker

   May 15, 2017

   And another question: this source says that Joseph Oliver arrived in 1854, which would make it just one year earlier than Greenwood, but you say 10-15…? Just wondering about that discrepancy. Thanks! http://www.benzie.migenweb.net/Gillmore.pdf

   Loading…

   Reply