Are you from Bad Axe?
Then you must,
have heard of good ol’ Septimus.
If you’re an Irwin
you might be
included in his family tree.
In eighteen hundred
thirty-three
is where we’ll start our history.
Born in September
on the fourth
From Canada, our neighbor North.
His family later
made their way
to Michigan, where they would stay.
He starting working
gaining skills
as a millwright (maker of mills).
He came to Bad Axe
settled down
Helped turn this place into a town.
In eighteen hundred
eighty-five
Bad Axe, the village, came to life.
And guess who served as
president?
The town’s first settler, Septimus.
He also built the
town’s first inn.
Named after him, hotel Irwin.
Built the first courthouse
“The Beehive”
which housed the town’s first Christmas jive.
Became postmaster
lived to see
The town become a real city.
He lived until age
nine-five
He truly lived a long full life.
If you’re from Bad Axe
then you must
give thanks to good ol’ Septimus.
Septimus Irwin Timeline:
1833 – Sept. 4th, Born in England
1841 – His family moves to Ontario
1858 – His family settles in Austin Township in Sanilac County, Michigan
1873 – Septimus helps build a temporary courthouse for the community
1877 – Irwin Hotel is constructed
1885 – Bad Axe, Michigan, becomes an official town, Septimus becomes the first President of the town of Bad Axe.
1873 – Dec. 22nd, appointed postmaster at Bad Axe Post Office
1876 – First community social event, a Christmas Dance at the courthouse that Septimus built.
1881 – Irwin Hotel burns in The Great Fire of 1881, as does most of the surrounding area
1905 – Bad Axe becomes a city
1928 – Sept. 6th, Septimus Irwin passes away
Septimus Irwin grave in Bad Axe, Michigan
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