Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

SAMUEL HARRIS JOHNS

Samuel H. Johns was born at Cornwall, Lands End, England, in 1822, his parents coming from Wales.

His boyhood was spent conveying boats through a canal which were guided by teams driven along the shore.

In 1842 he was married to Louisa Goddard of Surrey, which was three miles from Windsor Castle.

Eleven children came to this couple, six of them died in infancy. Two sons were born in England, James C, now of Connecticut; and Samuel J. of Saugatuck who was an engineer on the great lakes, and he was lost on the Delia Shores in Lake Superior.

Mr. Johns joined the English Army and with his family came to Halifax on a troop ship taking thirteen weeks to cross the ocean. Louisa, the late Mrs. Ed. Bryan of Fennville and Marion, the late Mrs. John Lundgren of Saugatuck were born in Halifax.

After serving ten years in the British Army the family moved to Connecticut, then to Chessprings, Penn., where George A. was born. They resided in Iowa, then to Michigan, when in 1863 Mr. Johns secured employment in the Stockbridge mill at Singapore, they moved here, and today George A. Johns lives on the old Homestead on Goshorn lake; he was six years old when they came to Singapore and he says, "It was then quite a village with its mills. The Wildcat Bank was in part of the boarding house; mail was brought to The Flats as Singapore had no post-office; there were no piers and it was a common sight to see from one to twelve vessels going up the river to load lumber; the Lavinda was the largest vessel and could only go as far as the bend (now the location of the Art School) ;the old Indian burying ground was on the hill; Samuel Underwood's family lived at the lighthouse; many deer ran across the openings and wild turkeys were plentiful and often the morning sun could not be seen for the wild pigeons flying across the sky.

At Clausens (Bandle's dock) where two houses owned by Bacon Bros., also Capt. Clausen's home. He was lost at sea in a heavy gale.

A yawl boat was used as a ferry between Butler street dock and west of Douglas bridge.

Mr. Johns resides near Goshorn lake, happy in his home and family, with the wife of his youth, Nina Upham Johns, and they celebrated their golden wedding May 29, 1930.