Hermit Island

[Greg-in-MI]

any knowledge of hermit Island in higgins lake, story of civil war vet that lived there late 1800's

 

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[Greg-in-MI]

I see that it's not known as hermit Island these days, I beleive I picked up this story in one of the michigan ghost town books 1,2or 3.

 

[surfin]

Im near higgins lake but I didnt know of anyone living out on that island. Is anyone out there now? Is it private or state land now?

surfin

 

[Greg-in-MI]

My info is limited on this island hoping to hear from some one with more knowledge on this matter

 

[surfin]

Well I will ask the DNR the next time they call me what the deal is with that Island. They should know.

 

[rocket366]

The Hermit of Higgins Lake Michigan was my Grandfather Ezra Pritchard 1828-1902. He was listed as a deserter from Company F NYV in 1863, but was discharged in 64 at Norfolk, VA. There seems to have been a mix up in paperwork for his transfer to the ironworks in Norfolk at the time. After the war he settled in the Roscommon area of MI where some family had come before. His son Houghton was said to be the first born white child in the area in 1868. A tragic story in all as in 1873 he accidently shot his wife Susan with a shotgun in the leg while she was pregnant with twins. The twins were stillborn and after amputation Susan did not survive. In 1885 Ezra's son Edwin was murdered by a former logging employee Thomas Goodrow who had shot him in the head with a shotgun. This all proved to be too much for Ezra and he lived the last twenty years alone on the Flynns Island in a hunters dugout. It is written he was a kind man with kind eyes that would greet visitors gladly that came to the island check on him. For a time Flynn's Island was known as "Treasure Island" because people thought Ezra was a bounty jumper and he burried his loot there. That is a great story but the truth is Ezra was a ward of the state and was burried by the athorities in 1902 in the potters field section of the Roscommon cemetary.

Paul Pritchard
[email protected]

 

[mjc_lakedweller]

That is a very interesting story, thanks for the history. Has anyone been there since this first posted?

 

[c21re217]

I go there every weekend

 

[megnpat]

there are about 20 seasonal homes on the island

 

[rocket366]

Military Honors for my Grandfather Ezra Pritchard "The Hermit of Higgin's Lake":

http://www.houghtonlakeresorter.com/news/2015-08-20/Front_Page/CIVIL_WAR_MILITARY_HONORS.html

[email protected]

Paul Pritchard

 

[joetaylor]

Just bought a place on the south side of Treasure Island. I think i'm gonna need a bigger shovel !

 

[joetaylor]

Hi Paul, do you live in the area of Higgins Lake?