Members of Company K, Michigan Sharpshooters, rest under a tree in 1864. – Photos courtesy Michigan Radio.org
A little bouquet of flowers appeared every spring on the grave of an Indian boy, Thomas Miller, who had been killed in the Civil War.
Thomas Miller’s gravestone. – Courtesy Betty Craker Armstrong video from OHS
Thomas had enlisted as a young boy with the other Indians of our area into Company K, the Michigan Sharpshooters as they were called. They had tried to muster at the beginning of the Civil War but were denied. By 1863, with the Union forces not doing well, the Army reversed their decision and welcomed Indians into their service. These sharpshooters were much better marksmen than the white soldiers they fought with. They used unconventional tactics they had learned from their ancestors. They fought in many major battles and sadly, many died, including Thomas.
Other visitors to the little cemetery behind the old church had no idea who was leaving flowers on Thomas’s grave until the year Preston Smith died, and the flowers stopped. ‘Perc’ had always been fascinated with Civil War history and kept track of veterans who were still living. Even those who were still receiving pensions from the Civil war including veterans’ widows. When on vacation, he traveled far and near to find Civil War veterans graves. He had been honoring Thomas’s grave with flowers each Memorial Day.
Born in Chicago
Preston Smith was born in 1924 in Chicago and lived there until he was 30, spending summers in Omena up on Smith hill (Omena Heights). After graduating from college Perc enlisted in the army during the last year of WWII. He came under sniper fire while in a convoy in Germany and was glad to get out in 1946.
Perc’s parents became year-round residents of Omena in 1955 and Perc decided to join them. He found work at Munson Hospital as their business Manager using his skills in math and statistics. Perc worked hard five days a week and on Saturday mornings. He would sleep in on Sunday as the rest of the family headed off to church. But Pres was a bit unconventional. There is a story that one day he wore a kilt to work. He was told not to do that again, but did it anyway, so he was fired.
Perc was in his 40’s so still young. He worked at one job and another until he landed the job of admissions chief at Northport Hospital. He worked until just before he was eligible for retirement and was again fired.
Preston “Perc” Smith was Santa’s helper for about 20 years in Omena. His last appearance was 1987. – Photo courtesy of Sally Viskochil
Santa
He was Omena’s well-loved Santa, riding into town on the back of the firetruck every Christmas Eve and passing out treats at the firehall. He became editor of the OTYC Breeze in the late 1960’s.
One year, before the cottagers made their way back to Omena, Perc walked the shore and reported what he saw in the Breeze in an article called “A Pointed Walk”. “There was a nice clump of lavender-blue hepaticas growing in the Tangeman sisters’ front yard,” he wrote, “and those with cottages from the Melvilles’to the Rays had a new wash of pebbles on their beaches, a gift of the turbulent winter waters. One beach had “some rather stupid looking ducks” as temporary inhabitants, but this was no reflection on either the beach or the individual birds. They were Mergansers, said Preston; “that is the way they are supposed to look.” Perc also had a good sense of humor.
In 1972 Preston, became active at St. Christophers Church in Northport, which had met in his parents’ home for many years. He became important to the church and was elected to the Bishops Advisory Committee and held other offices.
In 1973 he became the Omena columnist for the Leelanau Enterprise. He requested people call him “after 6” with news, so they would be sure to catch him at home.
He kept in touch with his Traverse City friends and was well loved in town, so all were shocked when in 1988 he died on the operating table at the age of 63. Chris Verdery who knew Perc well, described him as having a “vibrant, high IQ, unique personality”. He was an important part of our little village.
Courtesy Chris Verdery, Betty Craker Armstrong video from OHS, Michigan Radio.org, “Omena, A Place in Time” Amanda Holmes, Omena Historical Society, Leelanau Enterprise, June 29, 1972, and January 25, 1973