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William Dana Fitzhugh (28 Aug. 1824- 23 Mar 1889)
Son of Dr. Daniel H. and Anne Frisby (Dana) Fitzhugh.

Transcribed October, 2007.

The History of Bay County, Michigan - Augustus H. Gansser (1905)

WILLIAM D. FITZHUGH
________

The late William D. Fitzhugh was identified so closely with the early interests of the Saginaw Valley, to which he came with his bride in 1849, that a history of the notable men of Bay County, men whose enterprise, energy judgement and capital contributed to its development, must include his name among the leading characters. Mr. Fitzhugh came of a family of substance and influential connections. He was born in Livingston County, New York, and was a son of Dr. Daniel Fitzhugh and Anne Frisby Dana, his wife.

William D. Fitzhugh was descended on his father’s side from William Fitzhugh, of Bedford, England, who was born in 1570. The latter’s son, Henry Fitzhugh, also of Bedford, was born in 1615. Col. William Fitzhugh, son of Henry and great-great-great-grandfather of the subject of this writing, was born in Bedford, England, in 1651, and was the first of the family to locate in this country, settling in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was married to Sarah Tucker on May 1, 1674, and died in Virginia in 1701. His son, George Fitzhugh, of Stafford County, Virginia, married Mary Mason. Col. William Fitzhugh, of Stafford County, Virginia, the son of George and great-grandfather of our subject, was born January 11, 1721, and died February 11, 1798. He married Mrs. Anne Rousby, nee Frisby, of Cecil County, Maryland, January 7, 1752. She was born September 15, 1727, and died March 26, 1793.

Col. William Fitzhugh, the grandfather of our subject and son of the Col. William Fitzhugh just named, was born in Calvert County, Maryland, October 6, 1761, and died December 29, 1839. His wife, Ann Hughes, to whom he was married October 18, 1789, was born April 1, 1771, and died March 28, 1828. Col. William Fitzhugh, with his friends and neighbors, Nathaniel Rochester and Charles Carroll, visited Western New York in 1815; they purchased lands in Livingston County, including the site of the present city of Rochester, which was named in honor of one of the party. Colonel Fitzhugh settled his family in Livingston County in the following year.

Dr. Daniel Hughes Fitzhugh, the father of our subject, and son of Col. William Fitzhugh, of Livingston County, New York, was born April 20, 1794, in Washington County, Maryland, near Hagerstown. He studied medicine and secured his degree but never followed the profession, having become interested in land values at an early date and continuing to be thus interested until his death, which occurred April 23, 1881, at the age of 86 year.

On April 11, 1820, Dr. Daniel Hughes Fitzhugh was married to Anne Frisby Dana, who was born at Geneva, New York, December 22, 1803, and who died February 21, 1850. To Dr. Fitzhugh and wife were born 10 children, four of whom still survive. Mrs. Fitzhugh was a daughter of Capt. William Pultney Dana, who was born in Shrewsbury, England, June 29, 1861. He was a son of Rev. Edmund Dana, who was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 18, 1739, graduated from Harvard in 1759, and was married about 1765 to Helen Kinnaird. Rev. Edmund Dana lived during great portion of his life in England, where he died May 7, 1823. He was a son of Richard Dana, who was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1699, graduated from Harvard in 1718 and died in 1772. The wife of Richard Dana was Lydia Trowbridge, of Boston, Massachusetts. His father was Daniel Dana.

In the period just preceding the admission of Michigan to statehood, a great exodus from the East took place to a locality which was justly represented to be one of the finest farming districts of the Union, in addition to being rich in mineral wealth and transportation facilities. Among those who came to see this land of promise for themselves, were a little party of capitalists from Livingston County, New York, who made the trip in 1834. Satisfied as to the future of this county, then but a dense woodland wilderness, they in invested in large tracts of land, Dr. Fitzhugh and Judge Charles H. Carroll buying many acres in the rich Saginaw Valley. After the admission of Michigan to the Union, in 1837, and the establishment of a stable government, Dr. Fitzhugh purchased more land, becoming possessed of all that tract along the river which is now the site of West Bay City, and later became one of the proprietary owners of Lower Saginaw (now Bay City).

The late William D. Fitzhugh grew to manhood surrounded with every influence to develop his mental faculties and physical strength. He remained in Livingston County until his marriage in December, 1848, to Anne Carroll. This lady is a daughter of the late Hon. Charles H. and Alida (Van Rensselaer) Carroll. Mrs. Fitzhugh was born at Utica, New York, May 1, 1828. Judge Carroll came from a distinguished Maryland family, and was born at Bellevue and was educated at Georgetown. After his admission to the bar in 1820, he settled in Livingston County, New York, and there became prominent in law and politics. He was the first judge of Livingston County and served both as Representative and as Senator from that county in the State Legislature. He accompanied Dr. Fitzhugh in his prospecting trip to Saginaw Valley and invested largely in land here. He had participated in the War of 1812. For some years prior to his death, in 1865, he had given his whole attention to caring for his real estate investments.

William D. Fitzhugh and his bride came to Michigan in 1849 and were among the earliest settlers to found homes in this locality. Mr. Fitzhugh was led to select this section in order to look after his father’s and his father-in-law’s land interests, but he later became personally identified with the locality and the people and to such an extent that Bay City has always numbered him with her own representative men. In point of fact, Mr. Fitzhugh lived in Bay County but four years, but continued his identification with here interests as long as he lived and testified, during his numerous visit, to his devotion to her welfare and to his pleasure in commingling with her people.

Shortly after coming here, Mr. Fitzhugh, in company with a Mr. Alberta, made a complete survey of all that portion of Michigan, including Tuscola and other counties adjacent to Bay. He was quick to note public improvements needed and the great enterprise of draining Bay County was accomplished by following his example of extensive ditching. While Mr. Fitzhugh resided at Bay City, the great cholera epidemic swept the country and it is still recalled how he accompanied and assisted his friend, the noble Dr. August Nabert, in caring for the sick and in burying the dead. Mr. Fitzhugh survived his humanitarian labors, but his friend was a victim. During one season, in order to ensure the carrying of the mail from Saginaw to Bay City, Mr. Fitzhugh attended to this public duty himself. He was supervisor of his township and many of the early improvements were inaugurated by and through his personal efforts.

Mr. And Mrs. Fitzhugh’s first residence in Bay City was located on the corner of Third and Water streets, the seventh dwelling erected within the corporation limits. It was built by his brother, Daniel Fitzhugh, Jr., and was destroyed by fire in 1850. In the following year he built a new home on the corner of 10th street and Washington avenue, the present site of the City Hall, a spot then surrounded by a dense forest. After Mr. Fitzhugh decided to return to his native surroundings, his brother purchased this house and subsequently sold it to the city.

In those early day, Mr. And Mrs. Fitzhugh were not only the center of social life here, but were also leading factors in the organization of religious affairs and educational opportunities. They were the founders of Trinity Episcopal Church and Mrs. Fitzhugh was one of five communicants who attended the first service held in Saginaw, and still holds here membership with Trinity Church here. For some years she has resided in Bay City with her daughter, Mrs. Richard F. Conover, Mr. Fitzhugh having died in Livingston County, New York, in 1889. Of their eight children, six grew to maturity and three still survive, viz: Anne Dana, who is the wife of Judge Hamilton Mercer Wright, of Bay City; Cornelia, who is the wife of Richard Field Conover, a prominent business man of Bay City; and Edward F., who is a resident of Idaho.

Mrs. Fitzhugh’s recollections of a half-century ago are clear and her relation of them gives a vivid picture of times and conditions which it would take pages of this history to record. The time is not so long, measuring by years, but in the light of achievements, how remote it seems! When she and her husband came to this section, it was very close to the beginning of the history of Bay City. She has in her possession a number of legal papers with the signatures of Presidents Jackson and Van Buren, relative to the lands purchased by her father and the Fitzhughs.

In 1878, Mr. And Mrs. Fitzhugh deeded to the city a valuable tract of land to be used for a public park. This land was formerly owned by Judge Carroll, her father, and was presented to her by him. In turn she gave it to Bay City, under the name of Carroll Park, and this public improvement will continue for all time to recall not only her honored father, but a lady whose beautiful life and character have endeared her greatly to those in the midst of whom she has chosen to spend the evening of life.