Story of Flynn Valley

Page 1

Mitchell township is located in the northwest corner of Alcona county. The highest altitude is 1250 feet. This is called Pikes Peak.

The township was named after Dr. Mitchell who was amount the first to farm in the area.

These may not be exact dates, but are mainly as my friend Glen Conrad, cousin George Crowell and my husband J.B. Wilcox have related them to me.

At one time the Flynn Valley was a booming farm area with as many as thirty (30) families living these in at one time. The families were as follows: Ralph Jacobs, Lyman Lince, son Gib Lince, Archie Flynn, Art Flynn, Bill Flynn, their father Tom Flynn, Roy Fitch, Rev. Wm Greene, Frank Crowell, David Keith, I.G. La Dew, Otto Van Wagener, son Merlyn Van Wagner, Zak Des Jardin, sons Clare and Oddley Des Jardin, Wm Bugg, sons Lloyd and Harry Bugg, John Litt, James Conrad, son Glen Conrad, Jack Crowell, Gene Crowell, Herb Crowell, sons Lyle and George Crowell, Thomas O’Leary, Lyman Sutton, Dave Watson, Bert Longpree, Dr. J.W. Weed, Ray Blank, Bill Hoskin, Ed Shook, Roy, Woodmancie, Joe Moore, Frutchie, Clare Gair, I.M. Wilcox, son J.B. Wilcox, Fred Phetteplace, Irie Ray, Geo. Coulter, Jimmy ray, Hugh Nolan, Harry Vine, Jimmy Othout, Roy Smith, Doves and Kingsleys.

These folks were the proud parents of well over a hundred children. About 1890 L.R. Door started a ranch about two (2) miles from the McGinn creek.

Art Flynn settled in what is known as "Flynn Valley" in 1906. In the spring of 1916, the snow went off with a heavy rain and flooded the family from their home. Water was so high it came through the windows of the first floor. In Oct 1924, Jarvis was riding alone in the woods and was thrown from his horse and found dead. He was the third person to be buried in the Flynn Valley Cemetery. At the south end of Arts Valley field he planted a stand of Norway pines. This required a great deal of time as he would bring tree by tree home where ever he found a small one that could be dug and transplanted.

The James Conrad family moved from Geddes South Dakota. On February 19, 1914 they held a farm sale and arrived in the valley May 17, 1914. Glen Conrad still has in his possession, one of the original sale bills and the original list of all articles as sold at the sale. Rev. Greene, their Methodist minister came with them. Mr. Conrad and the Rev Greene bought a tract of 3100 acres of land.

Dr. J.W. Weed of Tawas moved here in about 1912. He run a lumber camp. Both limber and shingles were produced.

Page 2

Harry Vine who had a boilers license operated the Steam engine which provided power for the mill. This camp employed eight to ten men.

Harry vine also farmed and used oxen to till the soil as did some of the other valley folks.

Frank and Mary Y. Crowell moved from Plankington South Dakota in 1916. He bough the Rev Greene property. In May 1932, Hugh Nolans came from Oregon to help Frank with his farming. Later they moved to the J.B. homestead. Dave Keith moved also from Plankington South Dakota in 1916. Their son Glen was the first to be buried in the valley cemetery. He was buried Aug 1921. As was common practice, the neighbors held a bee to help the Keiths’ build their home.

Jack and Celia Crowell came from Nora Spring Iowa in 1919. Gene and Clara Crowell and family also of Nora Springs, came in 1920. The two families settled on the banks of the McGinn. In 1922, Clara, wife of Gene, passed away. She being the second person to be buried in the valley. Shortly after their arrival, Jack and Gene built a store and post office and the operated this from 1922 to 1938. Mail was brought in via Star route three times a week and three times a week McGinn was a booming little place. Along with the post office and their farming, they would lend a helping hand to club people who were beginning to be a part of the area. The late Dr. F.L. Tucker told how Gene would load their provisions n a sleigh drawn by a team of mules and take them into camp and on preset day, he would return and bring them out. One day when buying provisions, Dr. Tucker asked for a broom and upon looking around Jack says "I guess we are fresh out". The Crowell’s had the one and only ultra modern home in the valley for many a year. A light plant furnished their electricity and a Ram pumped water from a spring on the banks of the McGinn to supply the modern plumbing.

Prior to the McGinn post office, there was a post office by the name of Ponca on the county line which Ralph Jacobs was postmaster of for several years. In 1921, the post office was disbanded and neighbors took turns going to hardy to get the mail.

The O’Leary’s and Linces’ lived across the line in Alpena County but were very much a part of the settlement.

The Joe Moores’ moved from Deckerville Michigan in 1919 to a tract of 120 acres which they homesteaded. Mr. Moore and son Kenneth brought all the families worldly goods with them with a team and lumber wagon. The rest of the family followed later. Later they moved to Watson Ranch and then later returned to their homestead. Mrs. Moore was blind for many years and never saw this country with her own eyes but with the eyes of her children who took great pains to describe every thing to her.

Page 3

The body of Bill Flynn was buried on a point facing an open valley on the property that now belonging to the Mains Hunt Club. Only a depression in the earth, a lilac bush, the remains of what was a fence around the grave and boards standing crossed at the head of the grave is there to tell us that some one was laid to rest there. I’m told it was his desire to be laid to rest in this spot as it was his favorite hunting spot. When asked Glen said, I don’t know what year he was buried there but I do know that Mary Y Crowell and I sang at the Funeral.

Archie Flynn farmed in the same section as the cemetery lies in. His wife, Aunt Vinie as everyone called her, carried mail for Ponca post office via horse and buggy.

I.M. Wilcox of Bangor Michigan, came to this area in February 1916 to cut logs for a house. The family came in may and stayed with the James Conrad family till their home was built. J.B. with a broad smile and fond memories says Glen was the first pal I ever had in this country. Father and sons spent many happy hours fishing on the McGinn. J.B. caught probably the largest trout to be taken from the stream. It measured over eighteen inches long. This may also well have been the start of J.B.'s hair cutting career. One hot summer day, Merlyn Van Wagner thought he needed a hair cut decided to let J.B. try his hand at it. His hair was wet with sweat which no doubt didn’t help but never the less they got the hand horse clippers which were so large they required two hands to use them. Well J.B. proceeded to cut but alias! The clippers twisted in his hands but Merlyns’ head didn’t. There seemed to be a very sudden pull and I need not say it hurt or that Merlyn hollered. The Wilcox house burned in 1928. Origin of the fire is not known. Mr. Wilcox was one of the ardent promoters for the township to buy the land now known as the Mitchell Township park.

In 1926, J.B. Wilcox homesteaded the last tract of land available which was forty acres. This has been sold and is now called Whispering Pines. About a mile from Ponca, Roy Fitch built a little store on the property now known as the Sure Horn Club. When he held open house opening day, over eighty people came to wish him well. He later married a girl who was blind. he was also very nearly blind.

Bert Longprees’ was famous for the sheep they raised. They came here from South Dakota. He being a very progressive farmer joined forces with the conservation and a high deer fence was erected in 1936 for experimental purposes.

Wm Bugg was originally from Sanilac county but lived some time in Alpena county before coming to the valley. Sons Harry and Lloyd both married valley girls and farmed in the area for some time.. Lloyd was a school board member for several years and also was the star route mail carrier carrying mail to the McGinn post office.

Glen Conrad also married a valley girl and farmed in the area. Glen says he had eight cows and like all the neighbors the cows run free range. Many was the time they weren’t found at night for milking. I, coming from a closed range farming country had never heard the music of a cow bell till I came to this country. It was a great experience to go with my uncles or cousins and have them sort out which bells belonged to whose cows. Glen cut hay on the Frutchie Ranch in 1927 with the help of George Crowell who he says was an excellent hired man.

Page 4

Herb Crowell who had the misfortune in Iowa to have had a steam engine blow up causing him to loose both legs. He and his family came to the valley in 1924. They left Nora Springs Iowa and about ten days travel saw them in the valley greeting the other Crowells. Their mode of travel was a Chalmers car and they brought with them a rug, a broom, a sled, a pair of ducks and a cat. Now Lyle and George being the main bread winners seem to tell the best stories and especially about the dog that wouldn’t leave a porcupine alone. I’d say he was the smartest yet dumbest dog around. The story goes that the first time they put his head though the spokes of the wagon wheel to hold him to pull quills and after that the dog would proceed to go on his own accord and put his head through the spoke and wait for them to pull the quills out. They first bough the George Coulter farm and later farmed the Frutchie ranch and Lovda says lots of history was made there. Maybe such as when Lyle, George and Lennard hid in the hay and again maybe having the bull corner Herbie or having to kill a rattle snake or two.

Bill Hoskins land laid across the road to the north of the Longspree property. Hoskins was a carpenter by trade. Lyman Suttons’ land joined the Hoskins property. he raised his family in a log house. Some of the house still stands. Lyman was a school board member for many years.

Fred Phetteplace come to the valley in 1915. Not a better farmer or neighbor could be found.

The first school was established in 1911. The first term was taught in a logging camp by Valerie Douville. Grace Greene (nee Pattee) started the next term and about thanksgiving time the new school which was called Daisy Dell was ready for use. The Daisy Dell still stands on the original site. It is used for a hunt club. In 1914 and 1915 the Flynn and Sutton schools were built. The Sutton school burned. The Flynn school was bough by George Simons of Flint and he moved it to Curran to live in while building a home. It still stands on his property. The Flynn school served a dual purpose as on Sundays all the neighbors gathers for Sunday School. Sunday school was being held there as late as 1936.

In 1924 Neighbors that owned model T fords gathered and went to Glennie to get cement to start a township hall. Building continued for nearly three years. Doors and Windows were brought in by team and wagon from Alpena. In 1927 an open house was held and an old time square dance was the order of the night. Art Flynn later bought the hall and removed the top half then reroofed the bottom and then sold it for a hunt club.

At one time valley folks controlled the politics of the township. Both the town board and the school board were held out there. There was even strong talk of having the township divided into two townships. Along the county line there lies a pond which neighbors called "Dollar Pond". It was here they gathered in the water to make ice for their summer supply.

Page 5

In 1931 the conservation erected what is known as the Pikes Peak Fire tower. Pikes Peak was located on the Birmingham Club, now known as the Oakland Hunt Club. It was first manned by J.B. Wilcox in 1932 and every season there after for nineteen (19) years. In September 1936 Earl Crowell and two daughters of Minnesota visited the valley relatives and it seemed that it was a must for the prairie folks to climb the fire tower. A lasting friendship started and in August 1939 the prairie folks climbed the tower again and it was here the friendship ended in a proposal. In December 1939, J.B. Wilcox went to Minnesota and brought back his bride in March.

There was a round house built on what was known as the Pacc Farm. A man named Dove hauled in rails from Alpena to build the much needed spurs for lumbering. Machinery was also brought in and every thing needed was assembled there for use on the railroad. In March 1956 a jet plane went down not far from the Bill Flynn grave. All in the plane lost their lives there.

Last spring (1966) I saw my first Kirkland Warbler up close near the Flynn valley cemetery. This brings to mind we have one World War Two veteran buried there namely Daimien Noel Jacobs, born March 9, 1922, died January 22, 1958. He was the son of Isabell and Ross Jacobs. There are two memorial plots for the two boys that lost their lives in World War One. One for the late Rex Conrad, son of the James Conrads’ and brother of Glen Conrad and the other for Ward Wilcox, son of I.M. Wilcox and brother of J.B. Wilcox.

While the cemetery was plotted prior to 1922 the first lots were recorded in 1923 and at that time a good many were recorded at the same time.

1912 to 1930 saw the peak of the valley population. In the late twenties, deer become so thick the natives started to abound farming operations and move away. The peak of the deer herd was 1936.

Now not being happy at not knowing when Bill Flynn was buried I wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Otto Van Wagner to get information on that as well as when they came to the valley. I received a very informative letter and will quote part of it.

"..I got busy making calls but I didn’t gain any definite information, like ourselves, every one remembered but not the date. I called Howard Flynn, her thinks about the year ’17 or ’18, not sure. The Lince girls, not sure, Des Jardin girls, not sure. I then called the court house and they will search the records. Now I am told Mrs. Art Flynn is in a wheel chair, she is older that I am. I thought Bill Flynn died before Rev Greene but evidently not. Rev Greene dies November 10, 1916, I do remember that because that was the day we moved on our homestead, the first day of deer season, then and OH how it did snow that night. We had no shelter for our cattle and they were covered with snow in the morning. We rode to Rev. Greene’s funeral which was at their house with the Conrads in the sleigh. The Methodist minister from Alpena was there and had services before taking him to Alpena for burial. Otto and Mr. Wilcox sang "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" and they almost couldn’t do it. The community was saddened at his death. He was a wonderful person. ... You ask about our trip to the valley, I told Otto I was going to tell you that we went via Ox cart -- We lived on the Richmond ranch two summers -- Otto worked helping build the Wilcox house. Then he had to build our house which still stands. We had some very good times -- and some very sad ones while living there. We lost a baby in ’22. Well say I’m rambling now - I’m sorry but maybe you can get an item or two out of this narrative for your story -- I’m glad you wrote us. I’ve enjoyed it twas fun digging into the past and thinking of things that were almost forgotten. We moved on our place in the valley in ’16 and moved away in ’48 but I guess our hearts and minds are still up there. While we lived at the Richmond ranch Merlyn went to the Daisy Dell school and Grace (Pattee) Greene was the teacher. Now I have heard from the court house and this is what they found.

Wm Flynn, age 49. Died July 1, 1917. Parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Flynn. Killed by lightening."

Page 6

Another way of life in the valley was trapping. About two miles west of M-65 on the north bank of the McGinn a man by the name of Chapman had a cabin which he built of logs and chinked it with mud and moss. He spent one season there. His son stayed with him part of the time also. The next season he moved in east of M-65 perhaps a mile or more and again built a cabin to stay in while trapping.

Now the valley has been deserted save for George Crowell, his wife Phyllis and son Neil; Lyle Crowell and his wife Lovda and their son Donald and wife Ardith and three daughters, Gwyn, Sandie and Deneta. Once a friendly and gay country side and now we drive for miles and the only friendly signs we see is a keep out, no trespassing or like signs to greet us along the way. The rest of the story does with the movies I have taken of the area.

Written May, 1967 for Michigan week program given at evening services at Methodist Church.

by Goldie P. (Crowell) Wilcox.