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OSCODA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES AND HISTORICAL FACTS
JOHN CALGROVE'S HALFWAY HOUSE
John Galgrove was one of the earliest pioneers to settle in Oscoda County, Michigan. He settled near Nine Mile Creek and its junction with the AuSable River in September 1867. This was on the west side of the AuSable about a mile east of the present town of McKinnley.
The only other settler in the area at the time was Ebenezer D. Curtis who settled in Curtisville in May of the same year.
John Calgrove operated a halfway house from this location suppling meals and fresh mounts to the teamsters and travelers using the Tote road that ran from Tawas to Potts (now McKinley).
One of the earliest schools in the area was at John Calgrove's. Children from the Curtisville area boarded at John Calgrove's halfway house to attend school during the week and returned home to Curtisville on the weekends.
John & Fanny (Francis) Stutzman
I'm submitting the following information on my great great grand parents, John and Fanny (Francis) Stutzman, for your consideration for inclusion in the Biography section of Oscoda county.
It was written as an introduction to a genealogical research book by the late F.F. Stutesman entitled DESCENDANTS OF JOHN AND FANNIE STUTZMAN 1951.
"The direct descendants of John and Fannie Stutzman had a major part in the development of the northern part of Oscoda County, known as Fairview."
John Stutzman was born in Holmes County, Ohio, the son of Jacob Stutzman, on October 22, 1832. He died at the home of his daughter, Barbara Kaufman, at Fairview Michigan on April 17, 1917.
Francis Troyer, (we have always known her as Fanny), was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 4, 1836, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Troyer.
John and Fanny were married in 1855. Both were members of the Amish Church and grew up on the farms of their parent. The communities were small in those early days and no doubt their homes were not far apart.
After marriage they lived on a farm in Holmes County Ohio, until 1873. In that year and the following several years there was a general migration from Holmes County to Howard and Miami Counties, Indiana.
Lands were cheaper and any young man with a strong back could hew a home out of the forests. Grandpa and his family were among these migrants. They lived in Miami County, Indiana, for 27 years during which the community grew and became prosperous. Their family grew up, married and settled on farms near them."
In 1900 there was a general migration to Oscoda County, Michigan. Grandpa and Grandma were among the families to make the move, largely because some of their children migrated. There were ten children: Teracie, Benjamin, David, Lydia, Jerry, Barbara, Kate, Sarah, Fannie, and Mary."
Autobiography of Freda Kurtz Kauffman
Just thought I'd drop you a line to tell you that Freda Kauffman of Fairview has just released an autobiography. I am featuring it on one of my web sights. Everyone is welcome to drop by and read segments I will be featuring. She has a delightful way of telling of her years growing up in Oscoda County and beyond.
Copyrightedby Norman M. Vance, Webmaster
