December 15, 2004
Book brings local legends to life
Bob Wilson's book covers the years 1838 -1860 in T.C.
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
There's Mr. Congeniality, Lumber Man Extrordinaire, a Civil War Spy, not to mention Fervent Abolitionist, Bull of the Woods and Bohemian Elder.
These are just some of the four dozen people who populate "Grand Traverse Legends: Volume I The Early Years," a book published last month by Bob Wilson. Covering the years 1838-1860, the ten chapters of the book span from the earliest settlers and logging camps through the arrival of Perry Hannah - the Father of Traverse City. Wilson also stirs in other entrepreneurs, the first doctor and schoolmarm (a father-daughter team) and developers of the land.
Through it all, the people are the focus: the names and faces, personalities, visions and quirks of those who influenced Traverse City's founding and growth.
"This was not just 'look at what these people accomplished and the important dates,'" Wilson said. "But to find out what the people were like and what their character was."
"Traverse City became what it is today because the people who came here were really special people," he noted.
Wilson discussed his book and signed copies Monday evening at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.
He told an audience of 50 how it began ten years ago as a research project in the archives of the Grand Traverse Pioneer & Historical Society. Wilson combed through pictures and newspapers, diaries, letters and journals. He fleshed out his favorite people, such as Rev. Peter Dougherty, the first Protestant minister, and Lewis Miller, whom he calls Traverse City's Daniel Boone.
As the years passed, Wilson grew determined to discover how Traverse City evolved into a city from a logging camp.
"During the wintertime, a great project was to go read the Grand Traverse Herald," said Wilson of his research that involved the city's first newspaper dating to 1858. "It was a weekly and that was a blessing."
A Traverse City native and 1954 graduate of Traverse City Senior High, Wilson and his wife, Joy, spent decades living elsewhere, both in the United States and Germany. Early on in their travels, which totaled more than 50 addresses over 40 years, they bonded with a community by learning its history.
"If you're a part of the community, you should know about the community, because once you know, you care, and once you care, you become a good citizen," said Wilson, who notes that he is not a historian but a compiler of information.
Wilson is already putting together profiles for two subsequent volumes of Traverse City history, with the second volume scheduled for publication in November 2005.
"It's exciting, it has been a long-time dream of Bob's and he's been working in this direction for six or eight years," said Steve Harold, president of the Grand Traverse Pioneer & Historical Society. "Both he and Joy like to do research and they like historical societies and that's why they connected with the Grand Traverse group when he came back to Traverse City."
Wilson has designated that all proceeds from the book go to the Grand Traverse Pioneer & Historical Society. Harold noted that this would be a great help to the society, which receives no public funding and until a few years ago struggled to meet its annual budget.
"Income from sources like this assures the longevity and future of the society," he noted. "The society does spend a considerable amount of money to maintain our archives and our collection, as we have done for 25 years."
Wilson credited the society for encouraging him over the years. As his research began accumulating, many members encouraged him to put it together into a book. Susan Bays, owner of Arbutus Press and board member of the society, published the book. Steve Harold helped edit it and the Traverse City State bank paid for printing 1,000 copies, 500 of which have already sold.
"I never intended this to be a book, I was interested in genealogy and began developing biographies of pioneers," he said, adding: "I came up with a series of short bios, but you have to have good sources so it takes a lot of time."
Grand Traverse Legends: Volume I The Early Years is available at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, Border's Books, Horizon Books, the Traverse City State Bank, Petertyl Drug and Thompson Pharmacy.