USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I > Part 23
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Isaac M. Weston was born April 20, 1845, at North Anson, Me., and removed to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1859. In 1862 he was engaged in the Little Crow Indian campaign, as a lieutenant in a Minnesota regiment. In 1863 he entered the University of Michigan, at Ann
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Arbor, and spent two years in that institution. In 1865 he entered the employ of the United States government as military storekeeper at Fort Laramie, Dak., and the year following was managing editor of the Salt Lake (Utah) Daily Vedette. In 1867 he embarked in the lumber business at Whitehall, Mich., and at Milwaukee, associated with his father. In 1877 he became cashier of the First National Bank at Whitehall, of which institution his father was president, and in September, 1879, on the retirement of the latter from active busi- ness life, the son succeeded to his position. In January, 1881, he ac- cepted the position of cashier of the Farmers & Mechanics' Bank at Grand Rapids. At the same time he was also at the head of two lum- ber and saw-mill firms at Whitehall, and had pine land interests on the Muskegon and Manistee Rivers. He served as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee for the Fifth Congressional dis- trict, and in 1880 was the Democratic candidate for State Treasurer. For six years he was a member of the Executive Committee, and treasurer four years, until 1886, when he was made chairman, and re-elected for another two years, in 1888. For six months previous to May 6, 1888, Mr. Weston was also acting member of the Demo- cratic National Committee for Michigan, under a proxy from Post- master-General Dickinson. During the campaign of 1888 he was president of the Democratic Association of the Northwest, which in- cluded all the Northwestern State chairmen. He served two years as treasurer of the Grand Rapids Board of Education, and four years on the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, the last year as presi- dent. In 1882 Mr. Weston was a member and treasurer of the Con- gressional committee of the Fifth district, when the democrats elected their candidate for the first time in twenty-six years. In 1884 the Democratic delegates to the Fifth district, joint Democratic-Green- back Congressional convention, presented Mr. Weston's name for the nomination, and under a three-fourths rule he polled over two-thirds of the votes for sixty-five ballots, but his being president of one na- tional bank and vice-president of another, created Greenback opposi- tion, and he insisted on his name being dropped. In April, 1888, he was elected mayor of Grand Rapids. The same year the state conven- tion of his party elected him first delegate-at-large to the St. Louis national convention, which renominated President Cleveland. One of the last official acts of President Cleveland in his first term was the appointment of Mr. Weston as government commissioner to examine for acceptance the last section of the Southern Pacific Company's railroad, between San Francisco and Portland, Ore.
John Killean was born at Buffalo, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1831. While he was quite young his father moved out of the city and settled on a farm in the town of Hamburg, Erie County, New York. Mr. Kil- lean's early educational privileges were those of attendance at a dis- trict school during the winter months until he was sixteen years old. At the age of twenty-three, Feb. 18, 1855, he married, in the city of Buffalo, Mary C. Walsh. He was thereafter mostly engaged in the lumber business until his removal to Grand Rapids, where he soon entered the grocery trade, in which occupation he was engaged throughout his business career, as senior of the firm of John Killean & Son. He came to this city in October, 1863, and it was thereafter
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continuously his place of residence. In the Spring of 1882 he was elected alderman from the Fourth ward, and was re-elected to the same office in the Spring of 1884. During his service as alderman he was for three terms in succession chosen president of the common council. In the Spring of 1886 he was appointed a member of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. At the general election, in November, 1886, he was elected one of the representatives from this city to the State Legislature, and was re-elected in 1888. At the char- ter election in April, 1889, he was elected mayor of the city of Grand Rapids, which office he held one term.
Edwin F. Sweet was born at Dansville, Livingston County, New York, Nov. 21, 1848. He received his early education at a district school and afterward attended the Dansville Seminary, where he pre- pared for college. He entered Yale College, in the fall of 1867, and remained there until he graduated, in the Summer of 1871. On Oct. 9 of the same year he left his native county to make a tour of Europe and the Holy Land. He sailed from New York on the above date for Liverpool, visited most of the noted European cities and coun- tries, passing through Wales to London, thence to Paris, Marseilles, Rome, Naples and Brindisi. He next sailed o Alexandria, Egypt; up the river Nile to the first cataract, and subsequently spent one month in Palestine. On his return he passed through Syria, Constantinople, Athens, and thence to Venice; and from there he passed through Switzerland, Austria, Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, etc. He sailed from London and arrived in New York, Oct. 9, 1872. On Jan. 1, 1873, he went to Ann Arbor and entered the law department of the Michigan University. From this school he graduated in April, 1874, and came to Grand Rapids upon invitation of Hughes, O'Brien & Smiley to enter their employ as clerk. Here he remained two years, until April, 1876, when the firm of Stuart & Sweet was formed. Mr. Sweet was elected mayor of Grand Rapids in 1904 and 1905, and in 1910 was chosen to represent the Grand Rapids district in Con- gress. In 1913 he received the appointment from President Wilson as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and still holds that position, with residence in the city of Washington. In 1916 he was the Demo- cratic candidate for Governor of Michigan.
A complete new charter for the city was adopted by a vote of the people in 1905, and under this the management of the city was con- ducted until 1917, when the Commission form of government was in- stituted. A Charter Commission, composed of leading citizens, was given the task of preparing a new charter and this commission fin- ished its work on May 4, 1916. It was immediately passed by the State Legislature, received the approval of the Governor, May 17, 1916, and at a special election held on Aug. 29, 1916, the new Com- mission form of government was adopted by the votes of the qualified electors of the city. The more important and radical changes in this new form of government consist in the change from the Federal or Aldermanic form to the Commission plan with a City Manager. The old ward lines for the election of commissioners were eliminated and the city is divided into three wards, each ward being represented by two commissioners nominated and elected by the city at large. The six, together with one commissioner nominated and elected from the I-12
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city at large, constitute the City Commission, in which is vested all legislative and administrative powers. All municipal primaries and elections are non-partisan. The City Commission elects one of its members mayor and provision is made for the election of a city man- ager, city attorney, city clerk, city treasurer, and three assessors, one from each ward, by the City Commission. The following departments are established, eliminating the old system of board management: An auditing department, of which the city comptroller is the head; a taxation department, of which the city assessors are the head; a finance department, of which the city treasurer is the head; a depart- ment of law, of which the city attorney is the head; a department of public service, department of public safety, department of public wel- fare, and a purchasing department. The last four named departments are under the supervision of the city manager with power to remove and appoint department heads. The legal and finance departments are managed respectively by the city attorney and city treasurer, each of whom are appointed by the city commission and subject to removal by them. The members of the city commission act as a civil service board, pass upon all appeals from tax rolls as a board of review, and together with the city treasurer, comptroller, three assessors and twelve supervisors, four elected in each ward, represent the city on the county board of supervisors. Provision is made in the charter for the initiative, referendum and recall of all elective officers, except judges of courts of record and courts of like jurisdiction. A civil service code is incorporated, under the supervision of the city com- mission, introducing a merit system for appointive officers and posi- tions in all departments. Radical departure is also made from the old charter in matters pertaining to taxation, public and special improve- ments, public utility franchises, and sinking fund provisions. Provi- sion is made for the appointment by the city commission of a Board of Art and Museum Commissioners, for the control and management of the museum and all property of the city intended for art or an art collection. Provision is also made for the establishment of a house of correction and work farm by the city commission, but the question of providing and maintaining such an institution by the city must first be submitted and approved by three-fifths of the electors voting thereon. In regard to liquor traffic regulations provision is made making it mandatory upon the city commission to grant licenses to all applicants who have been engaged in the business a year or more im- mediately preceding the date of their application and have not been found guilty of any violation of the liquor laws of the State or the liquor ordinances of the city. The pension provisions fix the maxi- mum pension for all city employes in extra hazardous employment at $50 per month after twenty-five years of service and who have reached the age of 55 years, and for the pensioning of the dependents of such employes killed while in the service of the city.
The first election under this commission form of government was held on the first Monday of April, 1917, and the following officers were chosen, taking their positions on the first Monday in May, fol- lowing: Commissioner-at-large, Philo C. Fuller; commissioners, First ward, Julius Tisch for two years and William Oltman for one year ; commissioners, Second ward, Christian Gallmeyer for one year
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and William J. Clark for two years; commissioners, Third ward, Dan- iel C. Kelley for one year and W. E. Tallmadge for two years. At the first meeting of the city commissioners, following the election, Philo C. Fuller was elected to the position of mayor and the follow- ing officials were selected: City manager, Gaylord C. Cummin ; city clerk, Joseph C. Shinkman; city comptroller, Rudolph Doornink ; city treasurer, George F. Greene; ciy attorney, Ganson Taggart; Board of Assessors-First ward, William Crewe; Second ward, Frank C. Steinmann ; Third ward, Judson D. Forsyth. At the second election under the new charter, held April 1, 1918, George E. Ellis was elected commissioner-at-large, and Messrs. Oltman, Gallmeyer, and Kelley were re-elected for two-year terms. Christian Gallmeyer was selected as mayor.
The present limits of the city of Grand Rapids may be defined as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 18, town 7 north, range 11 west; thence south to the southeast corner of said Section 18; thence east along Leonard street to the northeast corner of the west one-half of Section 20, said town and range; thence south along Fuller avenue to the south line of said Section 20; thence east along Michigan street to the northeast corner of Section 29, said town and range; thence south along a line one-half mile east of Fuller avenue to the southeast corner of Section 5, town 6 north, range 11 west ; thence west along Burton street to the northwest corner of the west half of Section 7, said town and range; thence south along Madi- son avenue to the center of said section; thence west to the northwest corner of the south half of Section 12, said town and range; thence north along Clyde Park avenue to the northwest corner of Section 1, town 6 north, range 12 west; thence west along the line of Hall street extended to center of Grand River; thence northeasterly in center of river to the west line of Section 35, town 7 north, range 12 west ; thence north along Bristol avenue to the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of Section 14, town 7 north, range 12 west ; thence east along North street to the northeast corner of said southwest quarter ; thence north along Garfield avenue to the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of said Section 14; thence east along Mason and Knapp streets to place of beginning. The actual territory em- braced within these limits is a little more than eighteen square miles. Politically, under the old system of government, the city was divided into twelve wards, and each addition to the original three wards rep- resented an increase both in population and territory. The outer limits of the city are changing from time to time with the extension of the city's boundaries and the addition of new territory. The popu- lation of the city in 1910, according to the United States census, was 112,571, but considering its continued growth during the past years one would be safe in estimating its population, in 1918, at 145,000.
LABOR MATTERS.
Among the early societies in Grand Rapids was a lodge of the Order of the Mechanics' Mutual Protection-the first "labor union" established in the place, organized about 1849, and maintaining an association some ten years. It had a membership of upward of one hundred mechanics, employers and employes alike, having for its ob- ject the promotion of their mutual interests. Among those who were
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officially connected with it were Robert Hilton, Albert Baxter, Ken- dall Woodward, David Burnett, Wilder D. Foster, Orlando K. Pear- sall, Henry R. Naysmith, J. M. Stanly, and Benjamin Luce. The so- ciety dissolved amicably, about 1859, and divided its assets among the members. It held its sessions in Faneuil Hall for some years, and afterward in a brick block, a little north of Erie on old Canal street.
Kendall Woodward came here, in 1836, was a mechanic, an archi- tect and builder, and was in trade for some years near the present Campau Place.
Henry R. Naysmith was born in the town of York, N. Y., March 1, 1823. He was reared on his father's homestead and while still a youth engaged in the manufacture of clothing. Before attaining his majority he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and his skill as a builder was attested by numerous structures of different kinds in various parts of Grand Rapids and throughout Kent and other counties. Actuated by a laudable desire to increase his knowl- edge, after coming to Grand Rapids, he availed himself of the advan- tages of attending an academy taught by Prof. Everett, under whose able instruction he pursued his studies two winters, making rapid progress during that time. Subsequently, he taught two terms of school, after which he turned his attention exclusively to contracting and building, following the same with success and financial profit for many years, until failing health compelled him to relinquish manual labor. For two terms he was a member of the Board of Review, and during the active years of his business life few, if any, mechanics of Grand Rapids planned and executed more work, or did as much to- ward the material development of the city. From 1862 to 1875, Mr. Naysmith was engaged in the manufacture of builders' materials, and conducted the leading industry in this line then in the city. He died Sept. 30, 1894, beloved and honored by all who knew him.
All cities have labor troubles, at some time in their history, and Grand Rapids is no exception to the rule. In 1885, when general and widespread restlessness prevailed throughout the country and the de- mands of organized labor for better wages and shorter hours were attended with scenes of violence and collisions with civil and military authorities in many States, a general reduction in wages by the em- ployers of this city was decided upon. The cut in wages was less than ten per cent. in the average, but it caused many workmen and some factories to suspend operation for a time. There were large numbers of unemployed people in the streets, and a meeting of the citizens was held to devise means for their relief. This resulted in the organization of an employment bureau, with committees to obtain situations for as many as possible. The county superintendents and the city director of the poor had many more to care for than usual. The distress was greater from lack of employment among day laborers than among mechanics. About the same time the Knights of Labor had organ- ized a boycott against the street railway, and carryalls were running in opposition to the street cars. The city authorities co-operated with the citizens in efforts for relief, and within two months matters were running smoothly, again, with work for all at living wages.
It has been well said that the following year, 1886, "was the
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period of strikes and boycotts," and it marked the beginning of an era of low prices, occasioned by a diminution of the world's gold sup- ply-by which all values are measured-from which there was little permanent relief until the mines of South Africa and Alaska turned their golden streams into the channels of commerce and industry, in 1898. At the period of which we write, the entire Gould system of railway lines was affected in the Southwest and freight traffic on all lines was at a standstill in Chicago. And it could not be expected that a city like Grand Rapids, with its many important industries and thou- sands of laborers, both skilled and unskilled, should entirely escape. There was agitation of the labor question in the latter part of April, resulting in a partial adjustment between employers and employes, May I, as to wages and hours of work, but in the following week num- bers of men in several factories reconsidered and organized a strike. Their demands were for eight hours to constitute a day's work, without a reduction of wages. A compromise was effected, and the wheels of industry moved on as before.
Differences between the street car company and its employes came to a crisis on Saturday, May 9, 1891, when the men decided to strike, and on the following day street car traffic was suspended. The strike occurred at the same time that the street railway company was chang- ing the system from cable and horse cars to electricity. A big demon- stration, arranged by the Central Labor Union, was held on May 14, and a monster parade took place, the ranks being augmented by laboring men from the factories, which were forced to close for the occasion. By invitation the city and county officials had a prominent place in the parade and the different unions in the city were all repre- sented. It was the largest event of the kind in the history of the city until that time, over 3,000 men being in line. On May 19, disturb- ances broke out in all portions of the city, cars were attacked and property destroyed, and a week later a repetition of such conflicts occurred. One of the biggest riots in connection with the strike oc- curred on May 28, when several hundred strike sympathizers assem- bled on old Canal street, in front of the Berky & Gay factory. The street car track was obstructed and the police and crowd engaged in a lively scrimmage, in which several arrests were made. The most serious riot, however, which occurred during the progress of the strike, took place on the morning of June 10, when a mob assembled near the Sweet street depot, intent, as it was supposed, to blow up the wheelpit, which would have stopped the cable lines of the entire north end system of the street railway. Policemen were present in force and a ten-minute pitched battle ensued, in which a number on each side were injured and fourteen of the rioters were arrested, charged with conspiracy. This incident seemed to mark the begin- ning of the end of the strike. The sympathy of the public was grad- ually withdrawn from the strikers, and after a long, bitter contest, lasting nearly seven weeks, the street railway employes' union de- clared the strike off on June 23. Under the circumstances the men had made a most obstinate struggle, and only yielded when to con- tinue the strike seemed utterly useless.
The most serious labor trouble that has ever afflicted Grand Rapids occurred in 1911, when the affiliated unions, embracing the
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employes of the more than forty furniture factories in the city, waged an unsuccessful strike in support of their demands for better working hours, better pay, and the abolition of the piece work system. In October, 1910, the furniture workers, approximating 4,000 men, voted for a nine-hour day, a 10-per cent. wage increase and the abolition of piece work. On Feb. 9, 1911, they sent a proposed trade agreement to the manufacturers' association, asking for a conference; but the manufacturers, ignoring the unions, replied to the individual employes, saying that they would conduct their factories on an "open-shop" basis. The situation becoming extremely serious, on March 23, Mayor George E. Ellis offered to name an arbitration committee, if desired, and the following day the carpenters' district council offered to arbi- trate. On March 25, the men voted to strike on April 1, if their de- mands were not granted in the meantime. This action was taken by a referendum vote, 3,272 votes being cast, and 95 per cent. were in favor of the strike. The manufacturers repudiated the arbitration proposals, and also declined to meet labor representatives before the Board of Trade committee. At the request of citizens, pending efforts to formulate a conference plan, the leaders of the union delayed the strike call, and both sides agreed to let Bishop Joseph Schrembs, of the Catholic church, and Rev. Alfred W. Wishart, of the Baptist church, name a commission of inquiry. Sidney F. Stevens, Heber A. Knott, and John P. Hayes were named, and with the two reverend gentlemen began their hearings on April 6. Learning that the manu- facturers had refused their demands, on the morning of April 19, the furniture workers in every factory laid down their tools and left their benches. On April 22 the Marvel Manufacturing Company signed an agreement for nine hours' work with ten hours' pay, and two days later the Veit Manufacturing Company and the Interchange- able Fixture Company also signed with their men. On May 13, the Nachtegall Manufacturing Company came to an agreement with its employees, and on May 15 the Fritz Manufacturing Company did likewise, but the remaining factories sternly maintained their position. The first serious trouble of the strike occurred at the Widdicomb factory on May 15. Stones were thrown and the police drew their revolvers, but the trouble ended in the arrest of several rioters, the firemen coming to the relief of the police and turning streams of water upon the mob. On May 17, a temporary restraining order was granted, forbidding picketing or congregating of crowds near factor- ies, and on June 5 the order was made permanent. A public meeting, preceded by a big night parade, with 2,409 strikers in line, was held on July 15, at Fulton street park, and five days later, in a big mass meeting at the Majestic theatre, the strikers voted to amend their demands so as to ask only fifty-five hours work with sixty hours' pay and a straight nine-hour day after Jan. 1, 1912. The Fancy Fur- niture Company, on July 24, entered into an agreement with its men upon that basis, and on Aug. 8 the Gunn employes returned to work with a similar understanding; but with the exceptions mentioned every firm stood out until the end, which came on August 17, when the members of the allied unions saw the futility of further effort and voted to end the strike.
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PUBLIC WORKS, BUILDINGS, ETC.
The origin of the present water-works system of Grand Rapids is of comparatively recent date; though more than seventy years ago, the need of an abundant supply of pure, fresh water arose. Prior to that time the supply of water was drawn almost exclusively from the many springs that came bubbling and sparkling from the bosom of Mother Earth. All along the bases of the hilly elevations, and well up their sides also, were springs of most excellent water; and on the lower levels it was necessary to dig but a few feet for an ample supply for the households of the early comers. And the water was not only cool and pleasant to the taste, but, until the town became thickly settled, healthful. In the infancy of this settlement there was a large spring, from which came a rivulet large enough to run a turning establishment, half way up the hill north of Michigan street -clear, cool and excellent for domestic use. Just a little southwest from where the Junior High School building stands, under the brow of the hill, was another, from which a brook ran down Fountain street. In 1848 the latter, and a few years afterward the former, were turned into log pipes for the people "down town." The experiment was a decided success, and these primitive water-works furnished the people with an ample supply of pure water and were utilized for many years. The increase of population in the city and the growing im- portance of her thriving industries made imperative the demand for an ample water supply, and led to much discussion and many pro- posed plans. In the fall of 1848 a number of gentlemen, of whom among the active workers were Canton Smith and Joseph J. Baxter, started the enterprise, of which we have just written, of supplying the most thickly settled portion of the then village with good spring water for domestic use. For that purpose they took the water from the aforementioned spring. The pipes were the old fashioned pump logs -pine logs of about a foot in diameter, with a three-inch bore. The boring of the logs was done by Lucius A. Thayer, who fitted an auger especially for that purpose and operated it by water power in one of the factories above Michigan street, between the canal and the river. The pointing and fitting of the logs was done by hand, by a ship carpenter. A square curb, made of two-inch oak plank, was sunk at the spring. The trench in which the logs were laid was a ditch, at no point more than three feet in depth. The piping was completed that fall from the spring down Fountain street to Ionia, thence to the National Hotel on Monroe street. In the following year the pipes were extended to what is now Campau Place, when it was found that the company had as many customers as that spring would supply. Meantime application as made to the legislature for an act of incor- poration, which was passed April 2, 1849, constituting George Cogge- shall, Thompson Sinclair, Charles Shepard, Canton Smith, James M. Nelson, and their successors and assigns, a body corporate, to be known as "The President and Directors of the Grand Rapids Hydrau- lic Company," with a capital of not to exceed $30,000. The purpose of the organization was to be that of "conducting a plentiful supply of pure, wholesome water to said village, for the use of the inhabitants of said village, and to supply reservoirs for extinguishing fires." The charter provided that the supply should "be obtained from the springs
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