USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Vassar > Vassar, Mich. : an illustrated description of its enterprises and the men who built them > Part 1
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Gc 977.402 V44c 1626792
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01052 5639
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018
https://archive.org/details/vassarmichillust00clyn_0
1895
VASSAR,
MICHIGAN
977.402 VY4C
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
VASSAR, MICH.
AN ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTION OF ITS ENTERPRISES
AND THE MEN WHO HAVE BUILT THEM ..
ESTLING cosily upon either bank of the Cass, where once the Indian stalked the forest path and the red deer slaked his thirst nearly half a century ago, stands today the thriving town of Vassar. It is not the purpose of this modest little book to turn back the musty leaves of life's calendar, and recount the trials of pioneer days in this city's history, but to give the outside public the story of Vassar "as it is today." When we turn aside from the picturesque beauty of her environment, and look upon her commercial strength and importance, the advantages that she offers to the man who wants to build a home, the air of thrift and refinement that prevades her business places, her importance as a railway point, as a manu- facturing town, and as a cultured atmosphere in which to rear the youth, it is not wonderful that her growth has been both strong and lasting.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
Vassar's policy in things educational has always been of the broadest sort and characterized by the greatest liberality. The fruits of the wise and salu- tary methods that have been carried forward from year to year, have never been made so conspicuously manifest as under the present regime. As an illus- tration of the thoroughness of the course obtained in the Vassar High School, and that the system employed has recognition among the best colleges, it is only necessary to state that graduates from Vassar are admitted to the Michigan University without examination, and to any college in the state. and the advance standing in the State Normal at Ypsilanti and Agricultural College at Lansing. The steady advance of our schools is shown by the statis- tics for the past eight years under the supervision of Prof. Ira L. Forbes: In 1886-7, the enrollment
in all the departments was 437 and the average daily attendance 257. During the present year, with but slight increase in the school census, the enrollment is 439 with an average attendance of 354, showing an increase of about 50 in enrollment and 100 in daily attendance. This increase is found largely in the High School. In former years the enrollment was 56 and the average daily attendance 37. For the present year the enrollment has been 115 and the attendance 77, an increase in each of more than 100 per cent. This increase required and received an increase in the teaching force.
VASSAR'S WATER SUPPLY.
The supply of water that is furnished by the Holly system for private use and manufacting pur- poses is without a peer in any city of equal size in the state of Michigan. Nine flowing wells of pure, sparkling water furnishing, according to the analyt- ical test of the State Board of Health, the most per- fect article for domestic use that it is possible to obtain. This is a sanitary item that is worth framing. Physicians whose opinions carry weight, say that it was owing to the source of pure water supply that Vassar was spared the epidemic of typhoid and other fevers that have ravaged many Michigan towns this year. In addition to the power obtained from the city system of waterworks for use in factories, excep- tional facilities for milling and other purposes is to be had from the dam in the Cass river at this point. A mammoth flowing spring possessing curative pro- perties that rival those of Mt. Clemens and Alma, is located a stone's throw from the railway stations. Although this water is bottled here and sold in many sections of the state, it has never received the adver- tising that has pushed it prominently before the public.
VASSAR'S INDUSTRIES.
Page after page of this book would be required to detail the various industries that thrive and give employment to hundreds of her citizens. The city's location as a railway center, the cheapness of fuel and power make it possible for the manufacturer of almost anything at the smallest possible outlay, and a market for the goods. Who has not heard of Vas- sar flannels? Who has not heard of Vassar brick? Who has not heard of Vassar flour? Not many in Michigan, we think. During the year 1895, the milling firm of M. and C. Miller handled 100,000 bushels of wheat at their mills here. Upwards of 25,000 bushels of corn, 55,000 bushels of barley, 60,000 bushels of oats, and 10,000 bushels of buckwheat brought the highest market price at their elevators.
numbers. His bed and table factory, started two years ago, gives employment to 12 or 15 men, and turns out an article that has within the past six months tested the capacity of the factory. Having no traveling salesmen other than the goods them selves, and in placing large consignments through out twenty-five different states, it speaks volumes that furniture can be made much cheaper and that the raw material is more accessible here than at any other point in the "Thumb" of Michigan.
The Vassar Brick & Tile Company, that has been in existence for six years past, is composed of F. Miller and C. O. Evans. They employ from 35 to 40 men and have a capacity of 3,000,000 brick and 500.000 tile. Anything from 21/2 to 8 inch tile is . made. The quality of the goods this firm market is
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MAIN STREET-Looking North.
When you figure $75,000 paid out by this firm dur- ing 1895, to the farmers of this county it means that most of this money is spent among the business houses. The capacity of this mill is 300 barrels of flour per day. The Cooper shop will turn out from 400 to 500 finished barrels per day.
During the present year Frank Miller shipped from his warehouse in Vassar 80,000 bushels of potatoes, 40,000 bushels of oats, 60,000 bushels of barley and 25,000 bushels of corn. In addition to these enormous figures he handled upwards of 80,000 pounds of marketable wool. His saw mill at this point cut nearly 3,000,000 feet of lumber, and gave good wages to 50 hands. It will surprise the average reader to stop and think that this means the pay roll for the closing year foots up $16,000.00 in round
attested by the fact that the contractors on the Lapeer home for the feeble minded were compelled to use Vassar outside brick in building because of its vast superiority over anything obtainable. Ship- ments from this company to Saginaw, Detroit, Bay City and other Michigan cities show the possibilities in this business.
In 1868 the Vassar Woolen Mills began opera- tions. At first wool carding and cloth dressing con- stituted the business of the mill, but the product of the concern was gradually extended to the manufac- ture of yarns, cloth, etc., until at the present day nearly everything that can be made in woolen goods is turned out. During the past year the business of this institution was upwards of $100,000.00, which means that the wool-growers of the county were paid
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a whole lot of money. Thirty-five to forty men and girls are given employment here year in and year out. The officers of the company are T. W. Atwood, President; C. T. Jarvis, Vice President; J. G. Selden, Secretary and Treasurer. The reputation of this company's product is everywhere in Michigan a synonym for high and honest value. The "Vassar Blanket," "Vassar Skirt," "Vassar Cassimeres," "Vassar Yarns," are household words in every hamlet in Michigan.
Parker's Foundry & Machine Shops is one of the growing industries of Vassar. " Parker's Plows," turn the rich loam of many a Michigan farm every year, and " Parker's Sleighs" jog smoothly along a large number of Michigan roads every winter. Al- though the shipments of this concern have increased
VASSAR'S FIRE PROTECTION.
Almost the hardest thing that small towns have to contend with is ability to keep fire within safe bounds. In Vassar this important item has received proper encouragement. The city council appropri- ates $2.00 per man for each response to an alarm, thereby giving something more substantial than in- dividual pride in turning out. The No. 1 hose com- pany is composed of fourteen men, acting under the direction of Fire Chief William Grant, and they are as well trained and consistent a lot of men as ever donned the red shirt and helmet. In addition to the hose reels, they have a hook and ladder equipment for use in cases of emergency.
LIGHTING.
The city obtains her light from two electric
HURON AVENUE -- Looking West.
over thirty per cent during the past year in the face of the stringent condition of the country the business will be run on a larger scale during the coming year.
The Vassar Pump Company, owned and oper- ated by D. C. Atkins and Son, does a nice, profitable business down on River street. During the summer months they give work to a large number of men and manufacture all kinds of force, suction and chain pumps, tanks and cisterns.
dynamos capable of running two hundred and fifty incandescent and forty arc lights. The light for private use is obtained from the same source at a figure that is considerable lower than the cost of oil lamps. During the past year the city has undergone a series of improvements on the east as well as on the west side. Huron avenue has been macadamized, stone and cement side walks laid on the business streets, and outlying avenues opened and graded.
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MATU ..
VASSAR FIRE DEPARTMENT .- HOSE COMPANY NO. 1.
CHIEF, WM. GRANT. Ass'T CHIEF. WELLS MORGAN. GEO. ATKINS. W'M. BURNS, GUS WARNER, JNO. MCLAUGHLIN, WILL BRATT, TONY WOODCOCK, JOHN LEISAW. H. WOODCOCK, WM. CURRIE, WM. MANN, WM. LOSS. ROY MORGAN. Engineer JAMES BENNETT.
Vassar's Business Men ...
Among the pioneers of Vassar there is no one better known or more universally respected than Hon. B. W. Huston. He was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1831, and came to Ypsilanti with his parents at the age of five years. He was educat- ed at Ypsilanti, and admitted to the bar at Ann Arbor in September, 1854, and
B. W. HUSTON. ;
came to Vassar in March, 1855. In 1858 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, in 1867 a member of the Constitutional Con- vention, a member of the state House of Representatives in 1869-1871, and a mem- ber of the Senate in 1879. Mr. Huston was a Democrat until the rebellion, when he laid politics aside to keep until the war was over, and entered the service in 1862 as Captain of Company B, 23rd Regiment Michigan Infantry. Was promoted to the rank of Major in 1864 and mustered out in 1865. Mr. Huston has been singu- larly successful both in his profession and as a business man, has borne a prominent part in public affairs, and has been identi- fied in nearly every movement in the wellfare of Vassar.
HON. DAVID G. SLAFTER was born at Norwich, Vt., January 1, 1817. February 16, 1843, he married Ann Calista, daugh- ter of John Lucas, of Pierrepont, N. Y. She was born December 6, 1825. In the fall of 1849 they settled in the town of Tuscola, and since that time Mr. Slafter has occupied a prominent position in
D. G. SLAFTER.
business and public affairs. With the exception of one year, he has held the office of justice of the peace ever since 1852, and during all that time he has never had a case reversed. He was judge of pro- bate four years, enrolling officer and dep- uty provost marshal from 1863 until the close of the war, and a member of the legislature in 1863 and at the extra session of 1864. Mr. Slafter's business has been mainly real estate and lumbering. He is now extensively engaged in buying and selling pine lands, and at the present time is largely interested in pine lands in Alabama. He is a stockholder and presi- dent of the First National Bank, of this place, and is also agent of the State Board of Charities and Corrections for Tuscola
E. J. HOVEY. 1
county. by appointment of the Governor. Mr. Slafter is a pioneer of the county and one of Vassar's best citizens.
EDWIN J. HOVEY, Vassar's popular dentist, first saw light in Washtenaw county, Michigan, in 1841. Mr. Hovey's education, aside from the rudiments of a district school, was obtained at Dickinson institute at Romeo, and later at the Phil- adelphia Dental College, at which place he received his degree. His residence in Vassar has covered pretty much all the years of his professional life, except a short time spent at Fenton and Hough- ton in this state. In addition to his prac- tice he at one time owned the Times of this city, and was a member of the city council for three terms. Mr. Hovey is prominent in Masonic circles, and is one of Vassar's clever business men and good citizens.
R. G. LYON.
ROBERT G. LYON, the subject of this sketch, was born in Washtenaw county, this state. Beginning his education in a district school he soon afterward attend- ed the union school at Ann Arbor until seventeen years of age. The next five years was mostly spent in farm work and teaching school. When the war broke out he was driving team for a lumber- man in Pennsylvania for the large sum of twelve dollars per month. On May 16th, 1861, Mr. Lyon enlisted in Co. F, N. Y. Vol., then stationed at Elmira, N. Y.
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Hle served his time and when discharged on May 22nd 1863, received an excellent recommend from his captain. Returning to Michigan he enlisted December 18, 1863, in the 14th Michigan Battery Light Artillery and served until the close of the war. Mr. Lyon came to Vassar in 1880, and embarked in the hardware business. Since that time he has been honored by the people for five years as mayor, three years as chairman of the Board of Water Commission, and six years as a member of the School Board. Mr. Lyon is essen- tially a selfmade man, is popular with the masses, and sells hardware as cheap as he can consistently.
E. A. BULLARD.
E. A. BULLARD, the farming imple- ment and machinery dealer, is one of the old standbys in Vassar. He was born November 10, 1840, in Oakland county, Michigan, and tilled the soil religiously until the war broke out, when his patriot- ism got the better of him and he enlisted at Brighton in Company I, Fifth Michi- gan Infantry. He participated in the Peninsular campaign under McClellan and was before Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks and in the seven days fight before Richmond. In the battle of Charles City Cross Roads he was wounded and dis- charged in December, 1862, from the Philadelphia hospital. Returning to Michigan he located at Hartland, in the pump business until September, 1864, when he enlisted again with Battery H, First Michigan Light Artillery and stayed until the close of the war. In 1866 he came to? Vassar and commenced the manufacture of pumps which was contin-
ued for four years. Mr. Bullard is the kind of a man that towns like Vassar want. Since coming here he has built three houses, a pump factory and a store and boomed the upper end by platting "Bullard's Addition to Vassar." Mr. Bullard held the office of Secretary of the Masonic lodge for thirteen years, is Past Commander of the G. A. R. post, has been in the city council for two terms county supervisor one term and is at pres- ent a member of the school board and village assessor.
R. W. MILLER was born in 1836, and was a native of New Jersey, In 1854 he went to California with his brother Frank, and engaged in mining in the Sierras. Together they owned large interests in one of the richest mines in the mountains, over a million and a quarter dollars being taken out in gold dust and $500,000 in div- i lens declared in three years. After clos- ing up their mining interests in Califor- nia, Mr. Miller came to Vassar in 1872, before cars ran over the Detroit and Bay City railroad, and formed a partnership under the firm name of R. W. and F. Miller and dealt in farm produce and farmer's supplies. The following year they built a large elevator near the depot and bought over 300,000 bushels of wheat, besides a large amount of oats, corn, etc., and shipped over 100 carloads of corn to the retail trade during the following win-
RICHARD W. MILLER.
ter. The volume of business over their counters run from $2,000 to $5,000 per day. In 1880, R. W. Miller severed his connec- tion with the firm and went to Colorado
and mined over a good portion of that state. Panicky silver markets and hard times were not to his liking and he re- turned to Vassar and opened up in the boot and shoe business at the corner of Huron and Cass avenues. Mr. Miller is one of the staunch men of Vassar. The fact that he invested heavily in real estate is sufficient evidence that he believes in her future.
J. M. SMITH, Vassar's crack harness dealer, is a native of New York, and was born in Jefferson county in 1848. When Mr. Smith was still wearing knickerbock- ers his family removed to Ontario and
J. M. SMITH.
located at London. It was at St. Thomas, in the province of Ontario, that he first learned the trade of harness-making, which he has followed successfully in nearly every large city in the Dominion and the United States. After putting in a good many years rambling about the country, Mr. Smith finally located in Vassar five years ago. The only avail- able place for his business at that time * in Vassar was in the Barnum block, and it was here that he remained for three years, removing two years ago to the brick building he now occupies near the corner of Huron avenue and River street. From the modest beginning his business has finally branched out to be one of the best in Vassar. Mr. Smith's specialty is collar work and light harness. His work in these two branches being the peer of any no matter where made. He has manufactured some of the best track harness seen in this part of the state, one
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set of which is used by Vassar's game lit- tle race mare, American Lady. A num- ber of other horse owners in this section come to his place when they want the right sort of an article. Mr. Smith's stock of other goods in the saddlery line is the best in Vassar, and his place the only one in the county that does not han- dle factory work. Personally, Mr. Smith is popular and well liked, is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters
CHAS. D. MILLER.
CHARLES D. MILLER, of the firm of M. & C. Miller, was born in Birmingham, Oakland County, Mich., July 15, 1850. He was the second son of Abraham Miller, a farmer of sterling worth and repute in Oakland county. Uutil the age of thirty years he stuck to the plow, and first made his debut in the milling busi- ness at Auburn, in this state. Peculiar adaptibility to this branch of trade brought success, and he naturally sought a larger field. In May 1884, he turned his face toward Vassar and in company with his brother, Mark, purchased the Fenner Mills on the east bank of the Cass. This was followed some time after by the purchase of the plant of the Vassar Milling Company, and the output of the concern was pushed with restless energy. Mr. Miller was married in 1874 to Miss Nettie Boyd, a Birmingham young lady, and they have three children, Charles E. Miller, who is in the milling business at Owosso, Howard M., and Miss Bessie. In the busy affairs of life Mr. Miller finds time to be a prominent Mason and a good citizen.
E. H. TAYLOR.
E. H. TAYLOR was admitted to prac- tice May, 1873, located in Vassar and has continued in practice to the present date. He served for two years as Circuit Court Commissioner and Prosecuting Attorney for Tuscola county; Secretary of the School Board for nine years; member of the common council of Vassar eight years; village Attorney five years; member of the Grand Army of the Republic and served as Commander four terms in suc- cession. Socially he is identified with various orginazations, such as the Ma- sonic fraternity, Independent Order of Foresters, Knights of the Loyal Guard, United Friends, and other like orders. The subject of our sketch was born at Lyth, in the county of Westmoreland, England, and emigrated to America when quite young. He located at Ran- somville, Niagara County, state of New York, and during the summer season worked on the farm and in the winter attended district school. At the age of eighteen he enlisted, August 8, 1862, as a private soldier in Company E, 129th Regiment New York Infantry Volun- teers. During the fall of 1862 the regi- ment was transferred and changed to the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, and com- prised twelve companies of rank and file, 2,000 men. The regiment joined Gener- al Grant at the Battle of the Wilderness in the the spring of 1864, and remained with the army of the Potomac until the close of the war as a part of the 2nd Bri- gade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, commanded by General Hancock. He participated with his regiment in the many battles and skirmishes, was also
present in line of battle when General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Ap- pomattox, April 9, 1865. During his ser- vice he rose from the ranks and was com- missioned 2nd and 1st Lieutenant of Com- pany E, 8th Regiment N. Y. Heavy Ar- tillery during the month of June, 1865; was transferred by order of the War De- partment from Company E, 8th Regiment, to Company B, 10th Regiment N. Y. Vol- unteer Infantry as Captain. Remained with the regiment until it was mustered out at New York City, July 1865. After returning to h's home, he taught school and read law until April, 1872, when he removed with his wife and children to Vassar and located at this place where he has continued to reside.
WILLIAM H. MERNER was born in Huron county, Ontario, in 1858, and came to Vassar in 1892. Mr. Merner has, since a young man, followed the business of funeral director and undertaker. He graduated from the Toronto Embalming School and the Grand Rapids School of Enbalming, in addition to which he took a special course at Detroit. For a nunı- ber of years he managed the large under- taking establishment of Samuel Merner,
W. H. MERNER.
at London, Ontario. In 1892 he came to Vassar and purchased the furniture and undertaking business of F. R. Fales. Mr. Merner was married in 1882, to Miss Sa- lome Fisher, of Godrich, Ontario. He is a prominent Mason, a solid business man and a good citizen, and has since his residence in Vassar built up one of the best business concerns in the city ..
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JAMES P. BLACKMORE.
J. P. BLACKMORE, who has just retired from the proprietorship of the Columbia Hotel, is a native of London, Ontario. He came to Lapeer couuty in 1873, and for five months was in the employ of the Detroit and Bay City railroad. In 1874 he had a timber contract with the Flint and Pere Marquette, after which he re- turned to Canada and aided in the con- struction of the Great Western car shops at London. After engaging in bridge building in Indiana for a year he returned to Vassar and in company with his bro- ther purchased the Central House which they conducted for four years. Soon after he purchased the Jewell House, and greatly improved the property in build- ing and refurnishing. After he had dis- posed of the Jewell House to R. V. Bray, he built the Columbia Hotel in 1892. This is one of the most substantial build- ings in the city and is furnished as neatly as any in this part of Michigan. Mr. Blackmore has done his share in the im- provement of Vassar, and has been large- . ly interested in the breeding of blooded horses. He has also been secretary of the Agricultural Society and interested in the race meetings in Vassar since the organization of the driving park.
MARK MILLER, of the firm of M. and C. Miller, is a native of Michigan, and was born at Birmingham, July 14, 1852. At the age of twenty years he engaged with the George Morris Milling Com- pany at Birmingham, and first received the rudiments of the business in which he afterward became so proficient. Going to Nebraska some years later, he estab-
lished a mill at Marysville, where he remained for two years, returning to Michigan at the end of that time. In 1884, in connection with his brother C. D. Miller, he came to Vassar and took the old Fenner mill plant. The firm's ability to make good goods soon increased the business until a larger plant was requir- ed, and the McHose plant where the firm now do business passed into their control. Mr. Miller is very prominent in Masonic circles and is a member of Vassar Lodge.
JOHN L. ROOT, one of Vassar's stanch citizens, was born in Litchfield, Ohio, September 23, 1846, and came to Tuscola county with his parents at the age of thirteen years, and settled near Watrous- ville. One year after their settlement here the war broke out and John's two
MARK MILLER.
elder brothers enlisted and went to the front, leaving him to look after the farm interests in common with his father who was in poor health. By a diligence that has characterized Mr. Root's after life, he obtained a good education at the Watrousville schools, and afterwards re- ceived the finishing touches at the Vassar High School and at Oberlin, Ohio. From the winter of 1867 until the spring of 1872, Mr. Root taught in a number of the graded schools in this part of Michigan, and in the last named year went on the road for Hill and Brothers, of Detroit, at a salary of $12,000 a year and expenses, continuing with the firm until they went out of business in 1875. Having an es- tablished trade of no small proportions, the Stephens tea, coffee and spice house
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