USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
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SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
MASONIC.
BAY CITY LODGE No. 129, dates from October, 1860, when a dis- pensation was granted by the grand master of the state of Michi- gan to William R. McCormick as worshipful master, and W. A.
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
Bryce and N. B. Bradley as wardens, with power to organize a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Bay City. As early as 1858 a meeting of Masons was held in the second story of the Jennison store, which was attended by N. B. Bradley, H. M. Bradley, J. J. McCormick, W. R. McCormick, C. B. Cottrell, John F. Cottrell, J. H. Little, and Clark Moulthrop. Possibly other meetings were held, but the organization was not effected until 1860, as stated. Upon receiving its charter in 1861, William A. Bryce was elected master, and his successors during the few years following were N. B. Brad- ley, Rev. C. P. Nash, and R. J. Carney. The organization has been prosperous, and has included in its membership some of the leading men of the place. The lodge room is now in the third story of the Eddy Block. There are about 198 members. The present officers are as follows :- C. B. Cottrell, W. M .; A. L. Stewart, S. W .; C. C. Stewart, J. W .; Jolin Rose, treasurer; G. F. Hood, sec- retary; F. O. Gilbert, S. D .; J. C. Lamb, J. D .; Rev. Wolf Lan- dau, chaplain; George W. Palmer, D. Minnie, stewards; C. S. Wells, tyler; L. A. Brown, marshal.
PORTSMOUTH LODGE, No. 190, F. & A. M., was organized by W. R. McCormick, Charles Stevens, and W. H. Southworth, in 1865. The first meeting was held in the second story of the residence of Elisha G. Allen, at Portsmouth. The charter members were W. R. McCormick, Charles Stevens, W. H. Southworth, A. C. Brad- dock, Hamilton Burnett, C. D. Fisher, and Charles E. Merrell. A charter was granted in November, 1867, when George Lewis was elected master. In 1868 the lodge bouglit a lot and erected a build- ing, using the second story for their lodge room, and renting the lower story for stores. The present officers of the lodge are :- J. A. Beardsley, W. M .; S. E. Williams, S. W .; H. B. Mix, J. W .; Robert Mclaughlin, secretary; J. L. Gould, treasurer; H. C. Meyers, S. D .; E. A. Smith, J. D.
JOPPA LODGE, No. 315, F. & A. M., was organized in 1874. Present officers are :- F. A. Nichols, W. M .; J. C. Nottingham, S. W .; W. J. Daunt, J. W .; Louis Goeschel, secretary; O. F. Hamet, treasurer.
MASONIC MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION was organized in May, 1878. W. H. Barse is president; George Lewis, treasurer; and A. L. Stewart, secretary.
BLANCHARD CHAPTER, No. 59, R. A. M., was organized October 3, 1867. January 8, 1868, a charter was granted and the follow- ing officers elected :- John S. Judson, H. P .; George C. Doughty, K .; James J. McCormick, S .; E. Wood, C. H .; R. J. Carney, P. S .; H. J. Clark, R. A. C .; N. B. Bradley, treasurer; Thomas Watkins, secretary.
BAY CITY COMMANDERY, No. 26, K. T., was organized in the Fall of 1869. Present officers :- H. A. Chamberlin, E. C .; O. F. Hamet, Gen .; C. H. Pomeroy, C. G .; Amos Crum, prelate; J. A. Wells, S. W .; J. H. Wilkins, J. W .; W. H. Bense, recorder; George Lewis, treasurer; J. R. Hitchcock, S. B .; A. Cummings, S. B .; W. H. Clark, W .; C. S. Wells, S.
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
BAY LODGE, No. 104, was organized at Portsmouth, in January,. 1867, and was called Portsmouth Lodge. A. W. Watrous was its first N. G. The lodge did not flourish as well as was hoped for, and it was thought if it was moved to Bay City, the change would prove beneficial. The removal was effected and Good Templars hall was used for about a year. In 1869, the name was changed to Bay Lodge. Six lodges have been instituted from the members of this lodge. The lodge has a pleasant hall in the Cranage Block and a membership of about 100. The present officers are as follows: -N. G., J. R. Van Blarcom; V. G., J. H. Gould; secretary, F. G.
Oatman; permanent secretary; W. A. Pettipiece; treasurer, L. Anthony.
HUMBOLDT LODGE, No. 154, was organized February 13, 1871, with eight charter members. Present officers :- Ferdinand Hopp, N. G .; J. Ackerman, V. G .; Peter Prior, R. S .; S. Wilhelm, P. S .; Conrad Braumoeller, treasurer.
VALLEY LODGE, No. 189, was organized in 1873, and is located at South Bay City.
EDEN LODGE, No. 260, was instituted Tuesday evening, July 6, 1875, by Special Deputy Grand Master George H. Shearer. The officers were E. C. Blush, N. G .; E. C. Ward, V. G .; J. D. McKin- non, R. S .; J. O. Smith, P. S .; C. Stover, treasurer. The present officers are as follows :-- Frank Felton, N. G .; O. B. Smith, V. G .; J. C. Dumoe, Sec .; W. E. Callender, Per. Sec .; James McFarlan. Treas; Representatives to Grand Lodge-James McFarlan, W. E. Callender.
KANONDA ENCAMPMENT, No. 36, was organized in October, 1872. Officers :- James McFarlan, C. P .; D. E. Erb, H. P .; Ed- ward Smith, S. W .; John McCartney, scribe; F. C. Thomp- son, J. W.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
Organized temperance effort in Bay City began with the organ- ization of a Good Templars Lodge, November 13, 1860. The lodge was organized with twenty charter members, but this number was increased to upwards of 300. Since that time the temperance work in the city has progressed very much as in other places. The tem- perance societies now in active existence are Bay City Good Templar Lodge, No. 109; Porismouth Good Templar Lodge, No. 709; Sons of Temperance, recently organized at South Bay City; Royal Templars of Temperance; and Bay City Reform Club. The latter club was organized by Dr. Reynolds in 1877, with a membership of upwards of 2,000. ' All of these organizations are in a healthy state of prosperity. and doing effective work.
CENTER LODGE, No. 120, A. O. U. W., organized February, 1882. Officers :- Henry Waters, M. W .; C. W. Maxon, J. F .; D. Jarmin, O .; Theodore Hine, receiver; W. E. Callender, recorder; George Dicey, financier; S. Benson, guide; James Afflick, I. W .; Charles Martin, O. W .: representative to Grand Lodge, W. E. Callender; S. Benson, C. Breslar and Joe Keddies, trustees.
EXCELSIOR LODGE, No. 52, A. O. U. W., organized August 10, 1878. Officers :-- W. A. Pettipiece, P. M. W .; Henry Hiefield, M. W .; A. Grabowsky, G. F .; Henry Galbraith, overseer; Robert Trask, re- corder; C. W. Randall, financier; W. Landau, receiver; Henry Waters, I. W .; William Chase, O. W .; W. A. Pettipiece, A. Grabowsky, A. Hyman, trustees; representative to the Grand Lodge, A. Hyman.
BAY CITY LODGE, No. 832, K. of H., organized December 9, 1877. Officers :- M. V. Kellogg, D .; I. Hamburger, V. D .; R. McDonell, A. D .; O. S. Spencer, R .; O. W. Booth, F. R .; W. A. Taylor, T.
BAY CITY LODGE, No. 23, K. of P., organized July 6, 1875. Offi- cers :- William Ferris, C. C .; E. A. Radabough, V. C .; William Simpkins, P .; William Treat, M. of F .; John Coryell, M. of E .; H. A. Fraser, K. of R. and S .; John Powell, M. at A.
FIDELITY COUNCIL, No. 2, Order of Chosen Friends, meets at Odd Fellow's Hall. Officers :- Daniel Campbell, past chief coun. cilor; W. H. Crawford, chief councilor; Charles Williams, vice councilor; O. W. Booth, secretary; L. Anthony, treasurer; Mrs. D. Campbell, prelate; Abraham Bates, marshal; Mrs. A. Bates, warden; R. Palmer, guard; H. Gould, sentry; I. A. Lount, W. H. Gray, George Beard, trustees; O. W. Booth, D. Campbell, representatives to Grand Council.
BAY COUNCIL, No. 37, Royal Arcanum, organized November 27,
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SHEARER'S CENTRAL BLOCK. CENTER ST., BAY CITY.
SHEARER BROS BLOCK.
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
1877. Officers :- W. R. Marsh, R .; W. C. Wyckoff, V. R .; C. W. Monroe, O .; J. W. McMath, P. R .; A. J. Bothe, secretary; A. E. Rouech, Col .; M. M. Andrews, treasurer; T. F. Langstaff, chaplain.
ARBEITER UNTERSTUETZUN-VEREIN-German -- organized 1868; incorporated February 27, 1871. Officers :- Martin Schindehette, president; Peter Prior, vice-president; Joseph Schulte, recording secretary; Frederick Krause, secretary; Simon Zirwes, treasurer; William E. Peters, janitor.
GERMANIA GYMNASIUM ASSOCIATION meet at Zirwes Hall. Officers: -Julius Bertch, president; Charles Supe, Jr., vice-president; Emil Wedthoff, treasurer; Charles Mueller, secretary; Otto Supe, sergeant at arms; George Winkler, first turner; Fred. Gudschinsky, second turner.
BAY CITY LODGE, No. 178, I. O. B. B., organized 1872. Offi- cers :- J. Sempliner and A. Grabowsky, for president; W. Wolsky, vice-president; J. B. Goldman and H. Bressler, recording secretary; L. Freedman, finance secretary; W. Sempliner and A. Grabowsky, treasurer; H. Pincus, warden; G. Grabowsky, guard.
LAFAYETTE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. Officers :- Joseph Cusson, president; Octave Ardonin, secretary; P. N. Peltier, treasurer.
POLISH NATIONAL SOCIETY, organized October 18, 1880. J. Briske, Pres .; Ant. Prytinski, Vice-Pres .; protocol sec., Joseph Mankowski; financial secretary, Alexander Menezarski; cashier, John Muszyn- ski; patron of the sick, Joseph Jablonski; librarian, W. V. Prybeski; standard bearers, George Kaunts, Frank Wisniewski; council of administration, Andrew Mendrysky, Ig. Szeszyeki, Joseph Wetter, Albert Ryezek; Teopil Platt, porter.
ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY, organized August 22, 1876. A. Cuth- bert, president; Matthew Lamont, vice-president; A. McDonald, treasurer; John Drake, secretary.
ST. GEORGE'S SOCIETY OF BAY CITY, organized August 22, 1876. Officers :- H. Holmes, president; John Saunders, Sr., first vice- president; Frederick Nichols, second vice-president; A. Bate, rec- ording secretary; C. Williams, financial secretary; George Mans- field, treasurer; John Saunders, Jr., and William Keene, stewards; S. C. Wilson and J. H. Tennant, auditors; O. W. Booth, chaplain.
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT SOCIETY .-- J. L. Herbert, president.
ST. PATRICK'S MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION, organized March 17, 1865. Incorporated, 1873.
POST RALPH W. CUMMINGS, G. A. R., was organized in 1882. Meetings are held in I. O. B. B. hall. Present officers :- B. F. Partridge, commander; A. Jeffery, senior vice-commander; George E. Aiken, junior vice-commander; H. C. Greene, quartermaster; H. Tupper, surgeon; M. M. Andrews, adjutant; F. Lyon, officer of the day; E. A. Eddy, officer of the guard.
ARION SOCIETY was organized in 1878, and is one of the most prosperous societies in the city. It has an elegant hall, built in 1880. The present officers are :- J. G. Trost, president; J. Heeke, vice-president; Lorenz Weber, secretary; Theodore During, treas- urer. The society organized with twelve charter members, and the present membership is upwards of 1,500.
There are in the city a large number of societies of various kinds, which indicate the interest felt in various objects.
MILITARY.
Company D, Third Regiment of State Troops, under the name of "Peninsulars" is a well drilled, handsomely uniformed body of sixty-five men, made up from the trades and professions of the city. The first meeting at which an organization was effected was held at the Fraser House, October 13, 1873, and Frank H. Blackman nom- inated for captain. At that meeting application was made at head- quarters, which was accepted, and about the beginning of 1874 the
company was mustered into service. The armory is on the east side of Washington Street, between Center and Fifth Streets; cap- tain, C. R. Hawley; first lieutenant, H. P. Warfield; second lieu- tenant, R. S. Pratt.
Officers of civil branch: - President, W. T. Smalley; clerk and secretary, W. C. Wyckoff; treasurer, R. S. Pratt.
A PIONEER BUSINESS.
The large dry goods house of Romer, Lovell & Co., on Center Street, has a history extending back over nearly the entire mercantile operations of Lower Saginaw and Bay City. The business was first established by the firm of Park & Munger, in the year 1850, in a small building on Water Street. In 1854 A. S. Munger entered the firm, and the style of the firm was changed to C. Munger & Co. In 1862 Edwin Park retired from the firm, and the business continued by Munger & Co. In 1869 Messrs. J. F. Romer and E. H. Bassett entered the firm, but no change was made in the firm name. In February, 1874, the Mungers retired, and A. J. Cooke and D. A. Langworthy, who were engaged in the same business, consolidated with J. F. Romer, and the style of firm was changed to Cooke & Co. This firm continued until February, 1882, when Mr. Lang- worthy retired, and the name of the firm changed to Cooke & Romer. In February, 1883, Mr. Cooke retired, and was succeeded by Messrs. Clifford F. and Frederick L. Lovell, who came here from Boston at that time. The business was also in a measure divided, Messrs. Cooke and Romer carrying on the carpet department separate from the other business, the dry goods business being continued under the firm name of Romer, Lovell & Co. The business occupies two floors and basement of a double store in the Central Block, and is one of the finest stores in the state. The carpet department occupies the second story. This store has the finest hydraulic elevator used in the city.
AARON J. COOKE, of the dry goods firm of Cooke & Co., is a native of New York State, and has been a resident of Bay City since 1866. He was in the union service from 1862 until the close of the war, and held the rank of captain when discharged. During his residence in Bay City he has been one of the leading dry goods merchants, and prominently connected with public interests, especially the public library, of which he has been one of the most active supporters.
JESSE F. ROMER, of the firm of Romer, Lovell & Co., is a prominent citizen, and one of the leading business men of Bay City. He was born in the town of Kendall, Orleans Co., N. Y., in the year 1837. His father was a farmer, and one of the pioneers of that county. The subject of this sketch remained at home as- sisting his father upon the farm, and attending district school during his boyhood. He also attended the academy at Albion, and in 1865 went into a store at Holley, N. Y., as clerk, where he re- mained between three and four years. In the Fall of 1868 he came to Bay City on a visit to relatives in this vicinity, and while here an opportunity to enter the firm of Munger & Co. was offered, and he decided to accept it. Accordingly, in the Winter of 1869 he became a partner in the firm, as already stated. The history of the firm has already been given. In 1858 he was married at Gaines, N. Y., to Miss Lucy A. Reed, of that place. In 1876 he built their present residence on the corner of Eighth and Sherman Streets. Mr. Romer is a successful business man, and one who contributes liberally to the general advancement of the interests of Bay City. He is a leading member and one of the elders of the Presbyterian Church. He is a gentleman of large influence, and a liberal contributor to all enterprises calculated to be a public benefit.
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
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THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
is a very flattering testimony to the intelligence and enterprise of its citizens. This institution, which is so great a blessing to the community, owes its existence very largely to the efforts of Mr. Byron E. Warren, now president of the Bay National Bank. On the 4th of December, 1869, articles of association were filed with the county clerk, and on the 10th of January, 1870, the organization was perfected. The first installment of books, consisting of 776 volumes, was received in May following. Henry A. Braddock was the first librarian, and the library found a temporary habitation in the court house. The number of volumes at the end of the first year was 2,952.
Under the provision of the state constitution, the Board of Education had accumulated a library fund of $2,899, which had never been touched, and in March, 1874, an arrangement was per- fected for a union of the Bay City Library Association with the Board of Education.
In May, 1877, the association was re-organized under special act of Legislature, and placed in charge of a board of trustees.
In July, 1878, the library was established in its present quar- ters on Washington Street, the building having been constructed for its use.
The present trustees are :- James Shearer, A. McDonell, A. J. Cooke, H. A. Braddock, C. L. Collins, and Prof. J. W. Morley. The mayor of the city is chairman of the board by virtue of his office; the librarian is secretary, and the city treasurer is treasurer of the association. Miss Jennie Gilbert is librarian, and Mrs. F. H. Whittemore assistant librarian.
The librarian's report for March, 1882, shows the number of volumes in the library to have been 8,519; number added the pre- vious year, 848; number of books issued during the year, 26,429. Receipts for the year $2,436.24, and expenses, $2,139.52.
The selection and purchase of books has been mostly done by Mr. A. J. Cooke.
There is also a public library in the Seventh Ward, which was founded in 1868 by the Ladies' Library Association, of Portsmouth. Mrs. William Daglish was the first president. This library has always been well sustained, and is now kept in the front room of the postoffice in the Seventh Ward.
STREET RAILWAY.
In December, 1864, the Common Council of the village of Bay City, granted permission to Thomas J. Butman, James C. Lockwood and William E. Bates, of Milan, O., to construct a street railway. The following February a company was incorporated, under the name of the Bay City and Portsmouth Street Railway Company. The first board of directors was composed of Myron Butman, James Fraser, William McEwan, George Campbell and N. B. Bradley. Mr. Butman was president and N. B. Bradley sec- retary. Mr. William McEwan superintended the construction of the road, which was built from Third Street, in Bay City, to the present line of Thirty-fifth Street, and cars commenced running in November, 1865. Some changes occurred in the early history of the company, but the operation of the road has continued without interruption from the first. About the year 1874, the franchise
passed into the hands of a company of capitalists who are largely interested in the different enterprises centering in Bay City, who extended the line of track to the north about two miles, to the mills nearest the mouth of the river, and south to a connection with the track of the F. & P. M. R. W., at McGraw's mill, crossing the tracks of the Michigan Central R. R., near the railroad bridge, which is near to the center of business in the city. The new company, with an increased capital, laid a light T rail of sufficient strength to enable them to do the work of a transit road, and during the Winter of 1874-'75, commenced to deliver empty and loaded cars, at and from any mill between the mouth of the river and McGraw's mill (a distance of six miles), to any of the railroads centering in the city, thus affording mill owners on the river all the facilities for Winter and inland trade enjoyed by mills located on the lines of railroads. The road is operated by dummy engines, which transfer railroad cars by night, the track being operated by horses through the day.
This road, following the line of Water Street along the river, supplying a river frontage of six miles with railroad connections, has contributed materially to the development of the city. In 1882 the company built one of the largest barns in the state just west of the Astor House Corner in South Bay City. The name of the com- pany is now the Bay City Street and Transit Railway Company. Its present officers are as follows :- President, James Clements; treasurer, H. Clements; secretary, E. A. Cooley.
BURIAL GROUNDS.
Earth has no corners beyond the reach of death; no crevice in which man may hide himself, and escape the sentence pronounced upon all that is mortal. The last resting place of the dead is always regarded as a sacred spot by the living, whether among savage or civilized people. The pioneers died in lonely places, and their graves were unadorned by the delicate touches of art.
The first burial in Lower Saginaw was some time prior to 1840. A man named Bennett, from Pine River, died, and was buried near what is now the corner of Eleventh and Washington Streets. This was a sand ridge, and was selected on account of its elevation. The next death here was that of Mrs. Derr, who was buried in the same place, and these were the only deaths in the settlement for several years. This burial place was used until about 1859. At that time Judge James Birney purchased and set apart five acres at the east end of Twelfth Street, in order to have a suitable place for the grave of his younger brother, George Birney, to whom he was much attached. This ground was enclosed, and has been used since that time. The ground is tastefully laid out, and is still the property of Judge Birney, excepting the lots that have been sold for graves. It is rapidly filling up, and shows how the cities of the living, people the cities of the dead. This spot is known as Pine Ridge Cemetery.
To the east of and adjoining Pine Ridge is the Hebrew Cemetery, and a short distance further east is St. James' Catholic Cemetery, comprising five acres of ground, originally donated to the Catholic · Church by Mr. W. D. Fitzhugh.
On the opposite side of the Tuscola plank-road from Pine Ridge is a handsome cemetery, laid out by Mr. E. Erckermeyer, an enterprising German citizen. This is called Green Ridge Cemetery.
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
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GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT.
As the world progresses there is a marked disposition to light up the darkness of night as much as possible. Blazing hearthis and pine knots made the evenings of early times very cheerful, until tal- low candles flickered with a dazzling brightness that almost blinded the eyes. That light grew dim, however, when lamps came upon the scene. They were brilliant but liable to explode and scatter disaster broadcast. Then followed gas and electricity.
Bay City concluded it would not look well to wear the livery of a city without appropriate facilities for illumination, and early in February, 1865, Thomas Edsall, James L. Ketchum, James Fraser, Dexter A. Ballan and Henry M. Fitzhugh applied to the Common Council of the village of Bay City for permission to establish gas works in the city. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, but the project was abandoned, and nothing was done until February, 1868, when the Bay City Gas Company was organized with a capi- tal of $40,000, and their works established on Water Street, near Eleventh Street. They commenced furnishing gas the follow- ing Autumn. The officers were, William McEwan, president; James Clements, secretary; E. Wells, treasurer. Directors, William McEwan, James Shearer, James Clements, E. Wells, E. C. Seaman. In 1882 the company increased its capital stock to $60,000. The present stockholders of the company are as follows :- James Clem- ents, Philip Bach, Charles Fantle, Moses Seabolt, David Rinsey, Mrs. H. H. Tripp, E. Wells' estate, William Wagner, Mrs. A. Clem- ents and Mrs. H. C. Sackett, Ann Arbor; William McEwan, James Shearer, Luther Westover and Florence Fitzhugh, Bay City.
The electric light was introduced here in 1882, Bay City being the first in the state to adopt electricity for general illuminating purposes. The city is brilliantly illuminated with seventy electric lamps, of 2,000 candle power, placed upon telegraph poles, and in addition to these has a central tower over 200 feet in height, sur- mounted by an electric lamp of 24,000 candle power, which can be seen at a distance of forty miles on the lake. The electric light is in general use in stores, hotels and saw mills. The tower above men- tioned is constructed of gas pipe, and presents an airy and pleasant appearance. It is located on Center Street near the courthouse.
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONES.
Telegraph communication was first established with Bay City by the Western Union in 1863. In 1874, the Atlantic & Pacific Company established an office here. The telegraph business is very large, and at times has been in excess of any other locality in the state, excepting Detroit.
Telephones were introduced liere in April, 1879, by the Michigan Telephone & Telegraph Construction Company. Mr. Charles F. Orton, now in the lumber business, was superintendent, and was instrumental in speedily developing a very large busi- ness in Bay City. There were at the beginning of 1883, 250 instruments in use in the city. W. D. Greene is superintendent.
WATER WORKS.
From 1865 to 1870 the population of Bay City more than doubled, and at the latter date was rapidly increasing. The gen- eral growth of the city was so marked that the necessity of better protection against fire had for some time been felt, and urged by some of the citizens. The subject of water works was agitated for some two or three years, but nothing definite was done until 1871. Early in that year the subject was investigated under direction of the City Council. One committee, consisting of Judge Birney and George Campbell, investigated the workings of the Holly system, and another committee composed, of L. L. Culver,
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