History of Watrousville, Tuscola County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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THE VILLAGE OF WATROUSVILLE

This village is located in sections 9, 10, 15, and 16 of the town of Juniata.  In 
February, 1851, Patrick McGlone settled on section 9 and built a log house.  This the 
necessities of travel compelled him to turn into a tavern, this being on the 
thoroughfare for lumbermen, settlers and prospectors seeking pine or farming lands.  
Mr. McGlone was also a woodman and well acquainted with the surrounding country, which 
fact caused his aid to be constantly sought by seekers after homes in the wilderness.

In October, 1852, came to McGlone's Aaron Watrous with a crew of men to commence 
lumbering on the Cass River, and made his home with McGlone during the winter.  The 
latter proposed to him to build a mill at that point, to which Mr. Watrous assented, 
provided sufficient pine could be located to warrant a mill.  Returning in June, 1853, 
with A. B. Weaver and Wright, and finding from Mr. McGlone's report that the necessary 
pine could be secured, a site was purchased of D. G. Wilder in the northwest quarter of 
section 15 and the mill built in 1853.  In the same year Mr. Watrous built a frame 
"lean-to" to his log boarding-house and put in a stock of goods.  This point thus 
became established as a center of trade.  It was for many years the depot of supply for 
all the country to the north and northeast.  Mr. Watrous put in a run of stone and at 
once tended to this point the steps of settlers from every direction, bringing, 
generally, on their backs their small bags of grain. The miller was A. B. Weaver, and 
never did a miller have a more motley array of grists to grind.  The average did not 
exceed a half bushel, and it was mostly corn.  The elevating at first was very 
primitive, a box beneath receiving the meal which was carried up by hand, for bolting.  
This, however, was a great improvement on the more primitive coffee-mill method, and 
was welcomed accordingly.

Not only for his business enterprise is Mr. Watrous remembered, but also for his kindly 
heart and for the ready aid he gave to many an early settler about whose door the world 
of privation, hunger and distress was prowling.  Many instances are related of his 
prompt response to the appeal of the struggling pioneer, and many a pack was loaded by 
him with flour and pork, for which his only payment was a promise of an honest man and 
the pleasant consciousness of a kindly act.

We find the following paragraph written by E. E. Caster while on a visit to 
Watrousville in May 1867.  He says:  "Watrousville is in reality only about eight or 
ten years old.  I remember sleeping in the woods one night, near this place, and 
listening to the howling of the wolves until nearly daylight, when they ceased their 
music.  Mr. McGlone's log shanty then stood here, a one sentinel in the wilderness.  
Now there is a very tasty little village here, which contains, by actual count, upward 
of seventy buildings of various dimensions.  One steam saw-mill, which also drives a 
run of stone for custom work, two hotels, six stores of various sizes and kinds, a 
good school building, which is used for church purposes also, and three residences 
especially noticeable for their elegance"

POSTOFFICE

Prior to 1856 the people of Watrousville and vicinity had received their mail by 
private conveyance from Vassar.  Uniting together for that purpose they employed a 
messenger who came in on foot or on horseback once a week, usually on Saturday or 
Sunday, and was paid one dollar for the trip.  Chauncey Furman was the carrier most of 
the time.

In 1856 a mail route was established from Vassar to Sebewaing by way of Watrousville, 
Mr. Furman being contractor, and a post-office was established at the latter place with 
Aaron Watrous as postmaster.  In 1861 B. A. Wood became postmaster.  The following 
persons have held the office since, viz:  Henry B. Wilber, R. C. Burtis, Geo. Rogers, 
B. A. Wood, a second term, John Walton, J. A. Hamilton, and again B. A. Wood, the 
present incumbent.



  





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