WHO PLANTED THIS TREE?

-submitted by Chris Yoder

311 wATER sT.

How many trees are there in town for which it can be said "so-and-so planted this tree". Perhaps in private yards, people may know who planted a tree 10, 20 or 30 years ago. But what about a tree which has been growing at curbside on Water Street in Saugatuck for over 100 years?

Thanks to Stanley Mather of St. Joe, Michigan, we know that about 1907, his father Dan Willard Mather, dug up a sapling on the side of Mount Baldy, came down the hill and rowed back across the river to plant it in front of what had been his grandfather's feed store (now the Boardwalk Cafe at 311 Water St.).

Dan W.'s grandfather Dan (1817-1905) arrived in Saugatuck on Apr. 12, 1884 on the steamer Taylor, and that same day made his first sale from the feed store of 100 pounds of oil meal to Joseph P. Shea. Dan was an active member of the Congregational Church and served for many years as Saugatuck Village Clerk.

The Mathers are direct descendants of the Rev. Richard Mather (1596-1669) of Massachusetts who came to this country in 1638. Thru the marriage of Dan Mather (1817-1905) and Anna Cushman (1819-1901), a Mayflower descendant, Stanley is now a member of the General Society of Mayflower descendants.

MATHER FEED STORE

BEFORE THE TREE

DAN W MATHER

Although the Mather family moved from Saugatuck many years ago, they still make an annual visit to decorate the four generations of graves in the family plot at Riverside Cemetery and to "check on Dad's tree."

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