A Public Benefactor
Biographical Sketch of Henry W. Sage, Donor of the Magnificent Sage Library.
Brief History of the Extensive Lumbering Industry of H. W. Sage & Co.
The Post in its second special edition, issued to-day, takes occasion to give its readers a biographical sketch of Mr. H. W. Sage, one of West Bay City’s greatest benefactors, together with a brief write-up of the extensive manufacturing enterprise of which he is the head.
Henry W. Sage was born in Middleton, Conn., Jan. 31, 1814. His father was a manufacturer, and in 1827 removed to Ithaca, N. Y. The subject of this sketch received the advantages of a liberal education, and began the study of medicine, but, his health failing, he gave up study and engaged in the mercantile business at Ithaca, N. Y., which place is still his home. Mr. Sage began to acquire interests in Michigan pine lands, but his ex- tensive purchases were about 1862. He was about the first to ship lumber from the Saginaw valley to Albany, N. Y. For a number of years Mr. Sage was in poor health and retired from active business, but upon the advice of his physician he again gave his attention to business affairs and experienced a speedy and last- ing cure. For upward of a quarter of a century Mr. Sage has visited West Bay City at least four times a year, and still looks upon these visits as the most enjoyable part of his life. Mr. Sage has for many years occupied a high position in financial circles, his fortune long ago having exceeded the amount requisite to constitute a millionaire. In 1872 Mr. Sage built a college for women at Ithaca, which institution bears his name. In spite of his advanced age he is a vigorous and robust man, and but for white hair and beard would exhibit no signs of age. Mr. Sage has done a great deal for West Bay City, but the crowning act of his liberality is the magnificent public library which bears his name. Wishing to leave something to West Bay City besides docks and saw mills, it was very natural that his mind should turn to some enduring benefit in which all classes might share. Having the youth of West Bay City uppermost in his thought he decided to give them a good public library, and forthwith proceeded to carry out his benevolent designs. His gift consisted of a library building costing $22,000, the lot occupied by the building and $10,000 worth of books. The building was commenced in 1882 and dedicated in Septem- ber 1883 and is a rich addition to the possessions of the city. In this institution the citizens of West Bay City are endowed with a legacy of great and enduring value, and one that will remain a fitting monument to the memory of the founder of Wenona. In the early days of Wenona every public enterprise of advantage to the place received the liberal encouragement of Mr. Sage, and his interest in the welfare of West Bay City is as lively now as when he was encouraging the development of the village of Wenona. In addition to the liberal donations mentioned above Mr. Sage has always contributed cheerfully toward the building of churches in this city, and no one in need of aid ever appealed to him in vain.
In 1863 Mr. Sage purchased 116 acres of land for $21,000, which he platted and laid out into village lots, all of which were offered for sale at $200 each, the purchasers being allowed to select as they liked. These lots are now in the business center of the city. Mr. Sage and wife and Mr. McGraw and wife gave to the new settlement the Indian name Wenona. They also designated the streets, with the exception of River and Midland, by their family names. The old Sage store, in which business was transacted for so many years, was considered quite a mammoth structure when built. It was replaced by the fire brick block on the southwest corner of Midland and River streets. Mr. Sage purchased 300,000 feet of lumber at Saginaw to use in the construction of the mill and store, and six weeks were required to get it to this point. About the same quantity of timber was taken from the land purchased by the firm.
The saw mill of H. W. Sage & Co., the largest on the Saginaw river, and next to the two shipyards, the most extensive manufacturing industry in West Bay City, was built by the firm of Sage & McGraw in 1864, and commenced running in May, 1865. It was considered at that time to be at least one of the largest saw mills in the world, and was described as being a monster of the woods-the very head of the mill family. In 1868 Mr. H. W. Sage purchased the interest of Mr. John McGraw and the firm name was changed to H. W. Sage & Co., the name which it retains at the present day. The members of the firm are H. W. Sage and son, W. H. Sage, of Ithaca, N. Y., and another son, Dean Sage, of Albany, N. Y., the latter having charge of the firm’s extensive lumber yards at that place. The saw mill and salt works in West Bay City furnish employment during the season to 200 men and another 200 are given employment by the firm in their extensive lumbering camps in Oseoda and Ogemaw counties. H. W. Sage & Co. pay out annually in wages alone the magnificent sum of $120,000; nearly all to men residing in West Bay City. The average cut of the mill each season is 30,000,000 feet of lumber, and 75,000 barrels of salt are manufactured annually at the firm’s salt works. All of the business of the firm in Michigan has been under the superintendency of Frank D. Peirson, of West Bay City, since January, 1882. From 1806 up to a year or two ago, the firm operated the largest general store in West Bay City.
