Thomas Vallier was described as a horse-thief who apparently escaped along with two other prisoners from the Schoolcraft County Jail in Manistique MI on the night of Tuesday 28 August 1906. A posse of officers was quickly sent after the three fugitives. Thomas, and at least one of the other prisoners apparently headed about 20 miles East. First crossing Manistique Township, possibly following the railroad tracks or Route 2, then further east across Doyle Township towards Gulliver, Michigan. The posse apparently caught up with James and prisoner Auk further east, near Seul Choix in Mueller Township, Schoolcraft County, Michigan.

Had the prisoners continued East by following the railroad, roads, or shore; they would have eventually crossed into Mackinac County and first Newton Township, then Garfield Township and the towns of Engadine, Naubinway, and eventually St Ignace. A map showing township boundaries is available here:

http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/milocator/mcgi.html?fips=50780

Seul Choix Bay is one of the few natural harbors on the north shore of Lake Michigan and is marked by the Seul Choix Point Lighthouse. The French name means it is the "only choice" for safe harbor from winter storms on the north side of Lake Michigan. Wikipedia states that state that the correct pronunciation is "Sis-shwa", assumed to be the common name used by both the French Voyageurs and the Native Americans with whom they traded.

The Seul Choix point area was apparently home to Native Americans from the Late Woodland period (500–1000 CE). Pottery shards and other artifacts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekdahl%E2%80%93Goudreau_Site

The Ekdahl–Goudreau Site is an archaeological site located just west of Seul Choix Point in Schoolcraft County, Michigan.[2] It is also known as the Ekdahl–Goodreau Site or the Seul Choix site.[3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The Ekdahl–Goudreau Site was discovered by George I. Quimby and James R. Getz in 1962.[4] In 1965, Earl J. Prahl returned to the site to perform further excavation.[5] Pottery artifacts date the site to the Late Woodland period

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seul_Choix_Light

The lighthouse marks this important harbor and is located at the southern end of Seul Choix Road. A Friday 31 Aug 1906 newspaper account states that Thomas Vallier was shot by officers at Seulchox [sic] which is in Mueller Township, Manistique County, Michigan. James Vallier's death certificate states that he died Wed 29 Aug 1906 in Manistique Township and NOT in Manistique City or Village.

This means that at least two of the three fugitives had travelled about 20 miles east from Manistique to Seul Choix where they were captured and Thomas Vallier was shot. Thomas may have died in Manistique Township as stated on his Death Certificate, suggesting James died during (or after) his return to Manistique following his capture in Mueller Township.

========== WORK IN PROGRESS ============= . More to follow...

Children of Thomas Vallier and Mary Martin found in link below:

http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/a/r/Larry-Lee-Martin/GENE2-0010.html

Township information and contacts

https://www.michigantownships.org/twp_details.asp?fips=50780

One Newspaper article published on Wed 29 Aug 1906 tell of the three escaped prisoners.

Another newspaper article was published Fri Aug 1906 with a dateline on the article of Thu 30 Aug 1906 telling that James Vallier had been shot & killed in "Seulchox".

The posse caught up with James in Seulchcox (sp?) where James Vallier was shot.

Wed 29 Aug 1906 is listed as the date of his death on his Death Certificate & Lakeview Cemetery records.

Thu 30 Aug 1906 is the dateline on an article published the next day stating James was killed by a posse of officers "near Manistique in "

Fri 31 Aug 1906 article published in newspaper.

Sat 1 Sep 1906 burial in Lakeview Cemetery, Manistique.

Wed/Thu 5/6 Sep 1906 Death Certificate filed

His date of death from the cemetery records at Lakeview Cemetery is shown as Wed 29 Aug 1906, but the newspaper article published on Friday 31 Aug 1906 has a dateline of Thursday 30 Aug 1906 for the date James was killed.

So... James died either 29 or 30 Aug 1906 at the age of 34 years 7 months.

LAKEVIEW BURIAL INFO

http://is.bsasoftware.com/bsa.is/CMServices/ServiceCMDetails.aspx?dp=4943&i=15&on=SINGLE+GRAVE+AREA&appid=11&cmOcc=VALLIAR+JAMES&unit=619

Extracted information from LAKEVIEW cemetery records and James' death certificate:

James is listed as WIDOWED (no spouse name provided)

Thomas VALLIER is listed as his Father on the death certificate.

Mary Martin / Marttin is lised as his mother on the death certificate.

James is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Section 10, Block __, Lot 3, Plot 7 . == LAKEVIEW-10--03-07

Notes: MARRIED

Burial Date: 1 Sep 1906