”The town of Elmwood suffered severely in the forest fires of 1871 and 1881, yet to a much less extent than many other towns. The fire had not gained the intensity and rush which it attained as it advanced farther east. In 1871 the fire had burned for about three weeks, when on the 9th of October a hurricane came on, blew down the timber which had been undermined, and carried the fire into the clearings. In 1881 the destruction of property was greater, from the fact of so much down and dead timber being left by the previous fire to furnish fuel for the flames. The worst of the fire was in the western part of the town, where the hemlock and other resinous woods were in greater abundance. The following is a list of losses: …William Ware, hay, straw, stable, shed, orchard, lumber;…”

Reference Data:

History of Tuscola and Bay Counties, Michigan, 1883, page 197