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MICHIGAN CHAPTER 16 Influx of Settlers
William Tucker was a Virginian who was captured when eleven years old, his father having been murdered by the savages. He was brought to Detroit. After a time he escaped and returned to his old home where he married. With his young wife he came back to Detroit and in 1784 they settled upon the Clinton river about six miles from its mouth. His land was bought directly from the Indian chief. Others who came under somewhat similar circumstances and settled in the same vicinity were John Lovelace, Joseph Spencer, Joseph Hayes. Thus although the Moravians had departed, their places were speedily filled and a settlement of promising dimensions sprang up. John Brooks built a distillery and this was an incentive to the farmers to raise rye. In 1800 Christian Clemens, after whom the town was named, came from Germantown, Pennsylvania. He was possessed of considerable means, built a good dwelling, operated a tannery and was always ready to lend a hand to every worthy enterprise. Elisha Harrington married the daughter of Connor and became a prosperous farmer. John Stockton married a daughter of Mr. Clemens and built the first frame house in the place. Detroit was the accessible point and the market for whatever the farmers might raise. This attempt at an interior settlement was clearly a success. It was the leader of other advances in the wilderness. Those who had ventured found their prospects satisfactory. Their friends were induced to follow and so, the impetus having been given, the pioneers became more and more numerous.
Naturally the points first reached were those accessible by navigation. So there early appeared settlers along the St. Clair river. Captain William Thorn was among the earliest. He was a lake captain who had been familiar with the banks of the St. Clair and who selected a goodly site for his home near the present Marine City.
MICHIGAN
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