Knaggs' House

Whitmore Knagg's House And Windmill

Detroit In 1827...:


"The Knaggs’ house (Hubbard farm), built about 1790 (long since destroyed), stood on the west side of Knaggs’ creek; twenty feet back from the road, on what is now the corner of River street and Swain avenue. The mouth of Knaggs’ creek was said to be, in 1812, about 300 feet wide and came up to within a few yards of the Knaggs’ house. At the mouth there were growing, in 1827, about three acres of wild rice that attracted vast multitudes of wild duck and large numbers of blackbirds. In connection with this old house, I quote from remembrances of the late Colonel James Knaggs, son of Whitmore Knaggs, who was born in the house. It may be of interest to some to repeat it here."

'"Whitmore Knaggs, my father, was born in Detroit in 1763, the same year Pontiac tried to carry out his famous plan of driving the English out of Detroit and the other forts on the western frontier. On July 31, 1763, a party of the Detroit garrison, under Captain Dalzell, made a sortie, and at Bloody Run were defeated by Pontiac with great loss. After his triumph, Pontiac invited the leading French residents, including Peter Descault Labadie, who afterwards became the father of my mother, to a grand feast in honor of the victory. There was plenty of fish, flesh and fowl, but no liquors.’ General Hull was a frequent visitor at the old house. Governor Cass and Governor Woodbridge also called frequently. Tecumseh, the celebrated Indian chief, with his brother were also common visitors."

History of the Knaggs Family online here.