The Diplomat From Saugatuck- Warner P. Sutton- Part One

Warner P. Sutton was a Saugatuck citizen with a noteworthy diplomatic career. According to May Heath's book:

"Warner P. Sutton was born Oct. 16, 1849. His father, Luther Sutton, and mother, Priscilla Jane Bancroft, of Hartford, Conn., both came of pioneer stock, and settled in Michigan in 1830--

"As a young man Mr. Sutton taught school in Watervliet and Ludington. In 1875 he came to Saugatuck as superintendent of the schools, where he taught three years and graduated the first class in 1878, and that year through his friend, Senator Thomas White Ferry, he received appointment as Consular Agent at Matamoros, Mexico; he later became Consul and then Consul General at Nuevo Laredo. Mexico, serving in these offices for fifteen years, 1878 to 1893, during the terms of Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison--

"During the Spanish-American War he served under General Miles in Porto Rico after which he retired, living in Saugatuck at his home "The Beeches." Soon, however, he became an invalid from a stroke and he and Mrs. Sutton went to Madison,, Ohio, where in 1913 he died."

His daughter Ethel Felice Sutton Kimball, wrote biographical sketches about both parents and the SDHS has obtained copies from the Madison Ohio Historical Society. In a 1969 text on her father, Edith wrote of their summer vacations in Saugatuck from Mexico:

"Then, via Chicago and Alton to Chicago; and there by boat across Lake Michigan to a port near Saugatuck and our home, "The Beeches." Papa had bought this place when he was teaching there. He kept it always. It was a place of happiness. Two huge beech trees, said to be two hundred years old, were in the front.

"The Beeches" (now the Beechwood Inn) on Pleasant Street

"The house was on a high bluff overlooking the Kalamazoo Lake with the bridge to Douglas. At the shore of the lake, we kept our boats moored at a little dock: a small motorboat, a St. Lawrence skiff, and a canoe.

"In these boats, we would ride down the winding Kalamazoo River several miles to Lake Michigan. Some of us would walk through the woods and over Bald Head (the highest sand dune). On these walks, we had our lessons in knowing trees and shrubs and plants -- all new to us.

"The summer in Saugatuck was something to dream about when we were in Mexico, and a joyful time to live when we were there. Strawberries, every kind of berry, apples, pears, peaches, and grapes -- no other fruit could compare with the Saugatuck fruit. And in Mexico, looking forward to the trip, the Saugatuck fruit grew larger and more beautiful.

"One event occurred about twice in the summer during the Saugatuck vacations. It stands out above the many other delightful days. Papa would say: "Today I will cook a beefsteak for you!" That was just the beginning: First, we had to go down the hill to the village to Fritz Walz's Butcher Shop. Then Papa went into the cooler, where he selected just the piece that he wanted; then he supervised the cutting and trimming. And we all went back up the hill with our "prize steak."

"It took all of us to wait on Papa: one to get the "spider" (frying pan), another to get one tool, another to bring the seasoning. It was a real production. At last the steak was perfectly cooked and on the platter. The rest of the dinner might be overcooked or cold by that time, but the steak, that was the star we had all anticipated.

"Mama enjoyed cooking, something she never did in Mexico. She had a natural talent. Everything tasted good. We were taught to eat all kinds of food. If we didn't like it, at least we ate a little; and we learned to like most foods.

"In Saugatuck, the Sutton relatives came from Hartford for a visit, also the Andrus families, and many friends. The house was always full and lively. In later years, our college friends came. And there were many interests: fishing, swimming, boating, picnics, etc. It was a happy place to be and to remember."

( to be continued in the December Newsletter)

-submitted by Chris Yoder