Billy Bushy, pictured in about 1908. (Photo courtesy of the Marquette Regional History Center)

MARQUETTE — In 1933-34, William “Billy” Bushy, a hermit living near Big Bay “set a state isolation record” after spending the winter “holed-in” on his homestead, having gone six months and ten days without seeing another person. A newspaper article documenting the feat does not mention who made the determination of Bushy’s record.

Billy Bushy worked as a woodsman and landlooker in Powell Township in the early 1900s, residing in lumber camps in the summers and in boarding houses in south Marquette during the winters. Then in 1933 he built a small but comfortable log cabin on his 120-acre homestead on the Yellow Dog Plateau about 35 miles north of Marquette.

On November 6, 1933, Game Warden Dave Nason wished Bushy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year before saying goodbye for the winter. The following spring, Conservation Officer Frank dropped by on May 16th. Bushy’s first comment to Krieg was “And you’re the first man, white, black, or red, that I’ve seen since! For the love of Mike, have you any tobacco?”

Bushy had reportedly stocked a shed full of wood, a good supply of food and 120 packages of rough, cut tobacco. While his food stores held out, the tobacco did not. Bushy reported that he smoked his last package of tobacco around March 1, saying “believe me, it was a trying experience. I toughed it out for a few days without a smoke, and then I had an idea. I ground some coffee real fine and smoked that, and it helped a lot.

“But I’m telling you I was glad when Frank came along with his old tobacco poke. I was getting ready to walk out to Big Bay for some tobacco, 17 miles, when Frank came along. He staked me enough to keep me going for a day or two, and then my spring supplies came through from Marquette.”

Over the course of the winter, Bushy’s only companion was a house cat, named Tige. His diversions consisted of a few old newspapers, some magazines from 1906 and 1908 and observing the wildlife tracks in the vicinity, including those of wolves, deer, and others. He even saw human footprints out in the woods but never encountered the trapper who made them.

When asked if he was coming down to Marquette after his isolated winter, he replied “What for? I’m comfortable here and I’d only be lonesome down there. I like the Yellow Dog hills and jack pines and so does Tige. I haven’t got a thing to go out for just now, but don’t forget to send me some more tobacco. I’d hate to be caught short like I was in March.”

It was reported that two or three times a summer, Billy’s father would call on him. One time, he took a guest with him, but the guest was warned “Stay in the car- Billy doesn’t like strangers.”

Later, Bushy moved back to Marquette, living on Center Street. He was good friends with the Lowney family, who noted that he was a still a loner and didn’t associate with people very much. But he was a favorite of the Lowney children, a meticulous housekeeper, and an excellent cook.

Memories of Billy have faded over the decades, leaving behind mysteries about his name and why he chose to live as a hermit. Yet his name lives on in Bushy Creek, Bushy Creek Falls, and the Bushy Creek Truck Trail. To find out more about Billy Bushy and the mysteries behind his name and why he chose to live as a hermit, come to the Marquette Regional History Center’s 19th Annual Cemetery Walk: What’s in a Name? Thursday, September 12, 1:00 & 6:00 at Holy Cross.

Learn about the people who gave their names to local places including Billy Bushy; Jeremiah “Jeremy” Compeau of Compeau Creek and Road; and Mayor and Postmaster John D. Mangum of Mangum Road. At 1:00 enjoy a self-guided tour, or at 6:00 join the guided tour groups, or a seated version (bring your lawn chair). $5 suggested donation. Meet at the Holy Cross chapel off of Wright Street. For more info visit marquettehistory.org or call 906-226-3571.