The Great Fires of 1871 and 1881

In 1871 and again in 1881 the State of Michigan was devastated by catastrophic forest fires, together these fires took a devastating toll with countless lives lost and much of the state in ruins.

 The first recorded catastrophic forest fire happened in the fall of 1871 and thus October 8, 1871 was to become known forever as “The Day Michigan Burned.” Most of the northeastern region of the country had been in a drought for most of August and September of that year, and this combined with the settlers of the time burning brush and clearing land to make room for farm fields proved to be devastating to the state. The fire of 1871 is believed to have been a series of fires that joined together to make a giant conflagration that literally swept from one side of the state to the other leveling everything in its path.

 “On October 10^th 1871 news of the fires started reaching Detroit “Holland it seems has been “reduced to ashes”, Manistee nearly consumed;” Glen Haven “Destroyed;” and fires had swept across the state to Lake Huron. The Saginaw Valley and territory northwest as far as the Au Sable River was reported fire swept, and fires were said to be raging in Genesee County and the Thumb. On the 12^th word was received that Huron City, Sand Beach, White Rock and Forestville had been completely destroyed, that a number of persons had been burned to death, and that two thirds of the population of Huron and Sanilac County’s were left homeless.”

 This fire burned over two million acres between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and left countless people homeless or dead. This fire was termed a “tree-top fire” which left a massive amount of downed trees littering the forest floor to act as fuel ten years latter when the next holocaust hit our state.

 Although the fire of 1871 destroyed more area than the fire of 1881, it is believed that the second fire was much more devastating, as the fire of 1881 was far more intense and caused a greater toll in lives and suffering than the fire of 1871.

 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the USDA Forest Service estimated that the fire of 1881, commonly called the “Thumb Fire”, burned over one million acres, cost 282 lives and caused over two and a quarter million dollars in damage. Over 1520 homes were destroyed, and 3230 families were burned out.

The fire of 1881 was so intense it literally roasted entire fields of potatoes in the ground. The heat was so intense that it created its own wind that was strong enough to lift people off their feet and slam them back to the ground. The intense heat and wind fanned the fire to the point that it traveled the 20 miles between Bad Axe and Lake Huron in just 2 hours. People tried to run from the flames but were overtaken and burned to death in their tracks. Some of the bodies were found in a kneeling position as if they were praying when the fire overcame them. In one case the remains of a mother and her five children were found in this manner, with the hands of her children in her lap and she in a kneeling position all burned to a crisp.

Because of the amount of area covered and the ferocity of the fire storm, the Thumb Fire of 1881 ranks as one of the worst disasters by fire this nation has ever seen. Although there was a severe loss of life and property some good did come from these great fires. The fires are attributed to clearing large areas of land, thus expediting the growth of our state by making more land accessible for farming. The fire of 1881 was also the first time that Clara Barton’s “RED CROSS” was used to aid Americans in a disaster and proved itself as a vital organization in our country.

To see a larger image of the area burned by the fire of 1881 click on the map below.

    THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTING OF THE FIRE OF 1881 IS OF AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR.

With all its magnitude and intensity, the fire of 1871 did not consume all the timer, but in most places only deadened the green timer and prepared the way for a more terrible calamity ten years later. By the expiration of one decade much of the country had been cleared and since then there was a larger number of settlers. The eastern part of the county had become more generally free from fuel for running fires but the development of the central and western townships placed them in a better condition for the terror; and with the second growth of timber and the thicker settlement, the circumstances were possible for a vastly greater destruction of property and life. Though many of the inhabitants had had the experience and skill gained by battling with the former fire, it availed them little, as the disaster of 1881 was so sudden and appalling, that none could withstand it and all efforts to resist it were futile. It also came so much earlier in the season that the settlers most exposed were the least prepared.

The date of the last fire was September 5, 1881. On Wednesday of the previous week the fires swept over much territory and destroyed many buildings but it was left for the cyclone of Monday, the 5th to complete the wholesale destruction. It required little more than four hours for the fire to travel across Sanilac County. The wind blew a perfect gale and fanned every ember into a flame that consumed everything in its path and only ceased when there was nothing else to burn. In some townships in the northern part of the county every person was a subject of relief. In northern Sanilac and the adjacent counties, 150 people were burned to death. The record is a sickening tale. Hundreds received personal injuries from which they can never recover. The loss of property, though enormous cannot be compared with this. Many are now suffering from the effects of the fire that will be constant and lifelong. Among cattle, horses, swine, sheep and every living thing the loss of life was frightening and in many cases poor beasts, half burned to death, had to be shot to fee them from their agony.

One writer described the approach of the storm as follows:

For several days the wind had arisen during the day sufficiently to fan the fires into relentless flames ready at a moments opportunity to leap forward in the work of destruction. That opportunity was presented. Soon after noon on Monday the 5th, the wind which had been blowing steadily, began to increase in volume and force. Darkness settled like a vast pall over the earth, not having the appearance of being caused by smoke. It came on gradually, like the darkness of an eclipse and many almanacs were consulted to see if that was not the cause of the darkness. In many places lamps were lighted at noon; a little later Egyptian darkness prevailed. The wind became a gale, then a tornado, and in the midst of the darkness the flames rushed upon their victims with a rapidity that nothing could withstand. The gale seems to have raged with the greatest fury in the northern part of Sanilac County and southern part of Huron County. In some places in these localities it seemed almost as though the scenes of Sodom and Gomorrah were re-enacted and that the heavens rained fire. Survivors from the burnt districts described the scene as bordering on the supernatural. The fire did not move from building to building in the usual way but while the people were speculating as to the cause of the intense darkness they were suddenly overwhelmed by a billow of fire that rushed from out of the darkness and enveloped whole towns in flames almost in the twinkling of an eye. Many had not even time to commit the indiscretion of Lot's wife by looking back. As one passes over the charred and blackened earth where these scenes occurred, he can form some idea of the intensity of the fire; but no one, not even and eyewitness of the terrible catastrophe can conceive of the vast accumulation of heat that could swallow up farms and wilderness at the blink of an eye. The great fires were the occasion for the manifestation of some of the noblest as well as some of the meanest traits in the human character. What could be more generous and noble than the response to the call for relief that came from all parts of the world? There was no occasion to ask for anything; just as soon as the cause became known money, provisions and clothing poured in from every city in the North and by its abundance many were replaced in comfortable and some in affluent circumstances.

The distribution of the supplies were confined to men of well known business character and integrity and who had personal knowledge of most of the cases which came under their supervision. The men devoted their own time and means freely and generously to deal out the relief, neglecting their own interests.

Yet the supplies had hardly arrived on the grounds before those near made a rush for them and though a sufficiency was given them to supply their immediate wants many were disappointed and grumbled because they did not receive an abundance. The worse cases were those who suffered the least. Instead of eating the bread and accepting the relief with thankful tears their conducts was disgusting to many sensible persons. How different were they from the people who gave the donations. While there were many of this class, of course there were hundreds too timid to ask for necessaries.

In illustrating the difference between people who applied for relief, and the manner in which they appreciated the charity extended, a gentleman engaged extensively in the distribution related this: He met a woman and a man representing two families who had suffered. The man immediately demanded relief. When the committee man inquired, Have you received anything since you were burned out. Nothing to spake of, sor-r. What, nothing yet? Wale nothin' except this ould hat, sor-r. Is that all? Oh yes, this coat, sor-r, and so on through his entire outfit. Your house burned? Yes sor-r. Where do you live? Oh, in yon bit of a shanty. How was that saved? Shure, and it was not saved at all; the relafe give us the nails and lumber and wid me own han's I put it up; and so on until it appeared that he had received everything in abundance that the committee could furnish and in reality possessed much more now than before the fire. Further supplies were not ordered in this case.

Standing near was a poorly clad bareheaded woman. The member of the committee inquired what she had lost and if she had been supplied with the necessities. Oh we lost everything but I guess we can get along only if we had one of them bucksaws at the store house so I could saw the wood while my husband builds fence, but I didn't like to ask for it, we've had so much. Upon close examination it appeared she and her husband had asked and received very little.. She was bareheaded. Her bonnet had burned and she had not even asked for one thinking she could get along somehow. Producing a very nice hood the gentleman said, There my stood woman is a fine hood which a lady in Detroit gave me to give to some deserving woman and I think I have found one, and with it gave her an order for a bucksaw.

In Austin every person was a subject for relief for several months and what few houses were left standing were converted into hospitals for the sick and the burned. The dead bodies of people, cattle, horses, hogs and every living thing lay scattered over the township. Men were employed for several days in piling and burning the carcasses of the horses and cattle.

Forty families in Greeleaf were rendered homeless and destitute. Lamotte and Evergreen townships saw similar records. In Elk Township 15 buildings between Robert Coffron's and J. McClure's, a distance of 2 miles were destroyed.

In Argyle, Flynn, Marlette, Speaker, Fremont, Buel, Custer and Maple Valley townships there was but a repetition of the same sad story.

Huron County suffered fully as much as Sanilac. John Herrick was caught with his rig near Bad Axe and remained over night in a field. Next morning between Bad Axe and Sand Beach he overtook two women, each with a child, with not a single stitch of clothing upon the. He had two grain sacks, which he tore up and gave to them.

Martin Dumond of Paris, was engaged the following day in picking up dead bodies. By noon he had carried seven to the Catholic cemetery.

The general discouragement wrought by the fires is set forth in the case of Henry Rogers of Washington Township. A few weeks before the fire his farm was worth $3,000.00 but had a mortgage of $1,500.00 on it. After the fire there was not a thing left except the land. There were 11 persons in the family, eight of whom were children, the oldest but 13 years of age. Mr. Rogers was then in poor health and said after looking over the destruction; "If I were all alone I could laugh at it but I wouldn't go back and go through it again." Many people were entirely disheartened and left the country but prompt measures of relief soon stopped the emigration. Those who left generally returned.

Deeds of heroism were without number. Fathers and mothers stood in the breach battling for the lives of their little ones, and even children became heroes in their efforts to save their younger brothers and sisters. An instance in Sanilac Township is typical. The family of John Armstrong consisted of husband, wife and five children, the oldest a girl only 13 years old and the youngest a baby. The fire reached the  house late in the afternoon and great balls fell here and there kindling everything at once. The parents sent the children under the care of the oldest girl to Mr. Cudney's, the nearest and his barns were burning. They supposes everything else would burn too, so they stated north, wandering about, driven here and there by the smoke, flame and darkness. The girl carried one child in her arms, wheeled another in the baby carriage and the boy of 10 carried one on his back. When driven from her home the mother followed her children but not being able to find them at the neighbors' supposed them burned to death and she fainted. After Mr. Armstrong found it impossible to save his property he started to find his children. Learning that they went north he followed but was driven back by the fire. He traveled all night in search of them. The next morning he found them at James Farr's. They had traveled through 4 miles of smoke and darkness lighted only by the fires.

A remarkable escape was that of Matthew Tyson and his family who lived a little northwest of Croswell. In the previous spring Mr. Tyson and purchased 80 acres of land in Buel, built a house and cleared out a road. On all sides there were heavy slashings interwoven with huge fallen trees set with great stumps and the whole land covered with everything that would burn readily and lead the fire with the swiftness of the wind. About a month before the fire he had moved his family in and there was just space enough cleared around the house to make a way for a team. On all sides was slashing right up to the house. When the danger of ire became certain and it was seen that his house would be burned he prepared to move his family at once. Before he was ready to start he left the team in charge of his boy and returned hastily to the house for something. Before he could reach the wagon again he heard the cries of his boy calling to help put out the fire from the wagon, quench it also from the boy's own clothes. Before anything could be done their path was cut off by the huge flames. Providentially he had cleared a path through the slashing a day or two previously after some hay and it was only by the most strenuous efforts that he escaped through this.

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. To everyone 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 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 new to the family.

Moore Township was also the scene of many tragic occurrence and one will be remembered as long as they live by at least 28 persons. About 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon the 5th, they began to realize their danger and started for Cass River, a distance of 80 rods. Among the rest was a lady by the name of Hall who had a son Willie 11 years old, sick with typhoid fever. Mrs. Hall secured the services of another lady and the two carried the sick boy, until they were exhausted. The flames were so nearly upon them that they were obliged to abandon him. Mrs. Hall says her son was dead when they laid him down. Mr. Wells then carried the corpse a few rods further but at this time his wife became crazed by the intense excitement and started for the fire. Mr. Wells dropped the body of the boy and with great difficulty succeeded in securing his wife from her fate. The next morning the corpse of the boy was found where it have been left. The whole party waded into the river and were obliged to keep their clothes wet to keep from being burned by the flames which rolled over them from the shore. They were compelled to stay in the water most of the night, and in the morning only two of the party could see, being temporarily blinded by the fire and smoke. The water became so hot that fish died by hundreds.

Mr. H. Story was away from home on the terrible Monday but hurried back to rescue his family. As he approached the house, then enveloped in blinding smoke, he stumbled over an object which he thought to be a  hog. He seized it to throw it to one side when he made the awful discovery that it was one of his children suffocated and burned. A few feet from them lay his wife and another dead child.

Two miles south of Ubly, in Huron County lived Dennis O'Connell. As the fire approached he with his wife and 8 children went into the well 12 feet deep with 3 feet of water and soon three of a neighbor's family joined them there. Cramped in this narrow space in intense darkness, nearly suffocated by smoke, utterly helpless, the 13 persons, including one infant in its mother's arms, remained 5 hours before they dared venture into the upper world again. These are not isolated cases. The experience was common and can be multiplied a thousand times. Every family within an area of 3 counties suffered likewise.

SENATORS AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The constitution of the State provides that the Governor may convene the Legislature on extraordinary occasions. Such an occasion has been reached. An emergency of pressing character has caused me to exercise the power at an earlier day than would otherwise have been necessary.

A District covering portions of Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola, St. Clair and Lapeer Counties was widely devastated in September last by forest fires, the property of 3,231 families destroyed and 14,438 persons made dependent upon public aid. In this calamity 1,521 dwellings were consumed, together with 1,480 barns, hundred of miles of fences, domestic animals in great numbers and vast quantities of household furniture, clothing and agricultural implements, with accumulated stares of food. The losses of those who have asked and received aid by sworn appraisals amounted to $2,345,943 or an average of over $726 per family. To add to the terrible aspects of these dreadful misfortunes nearly 300 human beings perished in consequence by suffocation and burning. No reference is made in this estimate to the losses of those who have neither asked nor required assistance, which is known to have been a great magnitude; nor to those of public nature among which were 51 schools and a large number of churches and highway bridges.

The destruction thus wrought left men, women and children destitute of either clothing, food or shelter - all that was combustible has been swept away. It covered a territory of over 1800 square miles and in the progress of its ravages swept the entire district within from 2 to 4 hours after it began. no time was given to save even household treasures. With a furious wind came smoke and intense darkness followed quickly by a fervent heat that nothing could withstand. The wonder is not that so many perished, but that so many escaped.

The urgent necessities created by this calamity demanded instant relief. Before the fires were exhausted, food and clothing were being administered from neighboring communities The people of this State and of other States responded to appeals to their humanity with a broad and kindly generosity that can never be forgotten. Seldom within the memory of this generation has the kinship of mankind been demonstrated by more marked and tangible manifestations. The thanks of the State are due to every individual who came to the help of our suffering fellow citizens at this trying juncture and they especially belong to the men and women of our sister commonwealth and the neighboring British provinces. In addition to large amounts contributed for this relief by churches, societies and individuals directly to the sufferers, of which there is attainable record, but which is know to aggregate many thousands of dollars, there has been received by the State Fire Relief Commission, the Detroit and Port Huron committees, and committees of other localities as reported to me, the sum of $623,326.89 in cash together with donations in kind which when added to the cash contribution would equal the sum of one million dollars.

The country where the fires raged is purely agricultural without other local industries to furnish employment; consequently after the first distresses were relieved the unfortunate people whose wants we are now considering, being left with nothing but bare land, were compelled to elect between seeking new homes elsewhere or to depend upon being sustained by other than their own resources until they could reach self support from the product of their own farms. They chose the latter course with the most encouraging results thus far and have devoted their energies and labor to rebuilding houses and fences and to sowing fall grain, the returns from which can only be realized at the coming harvest. In order to succeed in the course adopted and to continue in the occupancy of their lands and homes these people must be sustained until their crops mature. They must have food until harvest and food for their animals until the grass grows. They also require seed for their spring crops. The contributed funds will soon be spent and the harvest is months in the future.

The exigencies of the case demand action and to afford relief is no longer a question of policy - it is an imperative duty. The State cannot permit its people to want for food. In 1859 under similar circumstances to a limited extent, citizens were aided from the treasury of the State and the act was in harmony with the judgment and sentiment of the people.

For information you are respectfully referred to the report of the State Fire Relief Commission that covers the transactions of committees at Detroit, East Saginaw, Bay City and Flint, and to the statement of the Port Huron Committee, both of which are hereby appended. I commend the wants of these unfortunate citizens to your generous consideration.

The tax rolls for the townships of Forester and Evergreen in the county of Sanilac were destroyed in general conflagration and legislation is now asked to legalize the action of their authorities in making subsequent provision for the collection of the taxes in those townships. I recommend that the necessary action be taken.

David H. Jerome, Executive Office, Lansing Feb. 23, 1882

The detailed account of the losses from this fire would make volumes. Over 14,000 people were rendered destitute and and 300 lost their lives. The record of the death of each of these is a book within itself. The awe, the effort to escape, the struggle, the exhaustion, the suffering, the suffocation, the death agony, the burning of live bodies, the hopeless cry for help of those who perished must ever remain sealed. For those who survived there was little left to keep them from wishing that they too had perished. House was gone, barn was gone, stock roasted alive, harvests consumed. There was not much to make life desirable. for miles and miles no mark of civilization could be seen, where but a few hours before all was green and flourishing, but now a charred skeleton of the past, surrounded by ashes blown far and wide that told a sorry tale.

In Richmondville the entire village was destroyed except R. W. Sherman's residence, which was the only building for miles around and was the only refuge for over 100 people for several days. In Delaware but few people escaped loss, and whole families lost their lives in the terrible ordeal. One illustration must suffice. Sylvester Richmond's house, 4 miles west of Forestville caught fire. In an 8 foot well, nine rods from the  house there was about 2 feet of water. Mr. Richmond placed his wife and 6 children in this and 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 2 days later. 87 families in this township lost everything they had and every one lost much.

Minden was about the center of the burned district. 37 families were rendered destitute, many lives were lost and everyone suffered. In Bridgehampton and Marion each, the entire property of from 25 to 30 families was consumed and nearly everybody lost something. Washington was similarly affected. 27 Families in Watertown saw their homes and all they possessed entirely burned. Everyone suffered.

Every class of relief was received from all parts of the world and from every class of people. $23,877.00 was sent from 27 respective Grand Lodges immediately following the fires to Arthur M. Clark, at that time Grand Lecturer of Masons of Michigan, to be distributed among some 200 Mason who lost their homes and were left destitute by the fire. In addition there was also sent a large amount of clothing and provisions which was distributed among those suffering Masons.