Judge Christian Clemens founded Mount Clemens in 1818 and established it as the seat of justice for Macomb County when Michigan was yet a territory. While the town prospered on the strength of its strategic location on the Clinton River and proximity to Lake St. Clair, it was the mineral water beneath the citizens' feet that would propel Mount Clemens to national prominence as a health resort. As it grew, the "Bath City of America" attracted the likes of stage actress Sadie Hasson, the Nelson family of circus performers, and baseball all-star Vic Wertz. Numerous visitors who came seeking a cure—or to find work in the hospitality industry—stayed to call Mount Clemens home, adding their own peculiar brand of warp and weft to the town's rich historical tapestry.