USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 12
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The Albion Recorder was established by R. B. Bissell and F. H. Burgess, the first number being issued May 28, 1868; William C. Harrison, editor and pub- lisher, as lessee of the office. January 1, 1869, Mr. Bissell purchased Mr. Burgess' interest, and in May following William G. Reed became a partner, adding the material of the Parma News, which paper he had previously published at Parma, and the Recorder was published two years by the new firm. On the 1st of May, 1871, Mr. Bissell purchased the interest of his partner Reed, and conducted the paper alone until May 1, 1872, when John M. Sargent became a partner, Bissell continuing to edit the paper; but August 30 of the same year Mr. John A. Cresswell, then a student in Albion college, was associated editorially with Mr. Bissell. On March 29, 1873, Mr. Sargent became sole publisher, retaining Mr. Cresswell as editor, but on September following Sargent retired, and Mr. Bissell re-entered as editor and publisher. In May, 1874, the office was leased to John M. Hall, H. E. Gemberling, and Stacy P. Thompson, but at the end of three months Gemberling left the firm, having purchased the Elk Rapids Progress, and Bissell took his place in the firm. May 11, 1875, C. H. Hoag became a partner with Bissell, but the partnership was dissolved August 11 following, since which time Mr. Bissell has conducted the paper alone. It has always been a Republican sheet, and has had its full share of influence and patronage in the county. Its present circulation is about seven hundred copies per week.
The Homer Index was founded in 1872, by J. H. Wickwin & Co., publishers, the first number being issued on Christmas. It was of the same size as now, four pages, twenty-eight columns. Wickwin was at that time known as the veteran local newspaper founder of Michigan, and few of the citizens of Homer thought that the Index would continue to print through the first volume; but, though it did
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34
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
meet with many reverses during the first year, it finished its initial volume, and was purchased by Lane & Burt in December, 1873, and in October following Burt withdrew, W. A. Lane, the senior member of the firm, continuing the publication alone to January, 1877, when he associated with him O. W. Mumbrue, by whom it is now published under the firm-name of Lane & Mumbrue, publishers, W. A. Lane, editor. The Index has from the first been neutral in politics, and has a fair support from a good line of advertising patronage, having a circulation of some five hundred copies weekly. There is a good job office connected with the paper, the press-rooms and office being on the second floor of one of the finest brick buildings in the village, the same being owned by the publishers. The paper is a spicy home sheet, full of local happenings and general news, and adds much to the interest of the village.
THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.
The history of the rise and progress of the publishing work among the Seventh- day Adventists, from its feeble commencement to its present state of prosperity and independence, is intimately connected with the history of the Seventh-day Adventists as a people. The press is the great voice of which this people made early use in speaking to the world upon the great truths of the Holy Scriptures ; and as their numbers and influence have steadily increased, the publishing work, receiving their hearty support, has come up with them. The success of the pub- lishing work of the Seventh-day Adventists, so far as human mind is concerned, is due mainly to the management of its founder, Elder James White, who is now president of their leading organizations,-namely, the general conference, the Seventh-day Adventist publishing association, the health reform institute, and the general tract and missionary society. He is also president of the Battle Creek college, a history of which appears on other pages of this book.
Elder James White was born in Palmyra, Maine, in 1821. Commencing at the age of twenty, he labored with much success as a public speaker in the great advent movement of 1840-44, and when the claims of the Sabbath were brought to his notice, he entered as heartily into the work of its defense and promulgation. In November, 1850, he commenced the publication of the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. Speaking of those times, in his " Life Incidents," Elder White says, " Those were days of poverty, deprivation, toil, and anguish of spirit. With feeble health, we traveled from town to town and from State to State preaching the word and holding conferences, and at the same time issuing the Review once in two or three weeks." When the first edition was ready to mail, the pub- lisher and a few devoted friends knelt around the little bundle and offered fervent prayer to God that his blessing might attend the efforts they were making for the promulgation of truth. The whole edition was then taken to the post-office in a carpet-bag.
To accommodate his publishing work to the field of his operations as a traveling evangelist, the paper was first issued at Paris, Maine, till June, 1851; then at Saratoga Springs, New York, till March, 1852. It was then removed to Rochester, New York, where it continued nearly four years. Then the cause of Sabbath reform rapidly advancing westward, its present location, Battle Creek, Michigan, was selected as a more central position, and the paper was moved to this place in November, 1855. Up to this time Elder White was publisher and sole editor. Some of the time since then others have been associated with him on the editorial staff.
The wants of the cause demanding an enlargement of operations and the em- ployment of more capital in the publishing business, an act of the legislature of Michigan for the incorporation of associations for publishing purposes was secured, and approved March 7, 1861. Under that act a legally incorporated association, under the name of The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, was or- ganized in Battle Creek, May 3, 1861. The association immediately erected a two-story brick building in the form of a Greek cross, the main portion twenty-six by sixty-six feet, the transverse section twenty-six by forty-four feet, for the pub- lishing work. Previous to this the work had all been done in a wooden building, twenty-two by thirty feet, which stands a few rods in the rear of the present offices. In 1871 a second building of the same size and form was erected to meet the necessities of the increasing business ; and in 1873 a third building of the same kind was built for the same reason. These all stand side by side, opposite the public square, at the corner of Main and Washington streets, as represented in the engraving.
The first one erected is the central building, the second stands at the right, and the third at the left. In the middle building two large and two small printing- presses are kept in almost constant use, turning out sheets for six periodicals, books, pamphlets, and tracts almost without number, besides doing a large amount of first-class job work. The periodicals issued by the association, the titles of which are given below, have a monthly circulation of about forty thousand copies :
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, weekly; Youths' Instructor, monthly ; Health Reformer, monthly ; Battle Creek College, quarterly ; Advent Tidende, Danish, monthly; Advent Harold, Swedish, monthly.
The " Health Almanac" is also published regularly. Of this there was printed for 1877 an edition of over twelve tons' weight. Books on the prophecies and other Bible subjects have been issued largely from the beginning, and have now reached an aggregate of about one hundred million pages. The catalogue of pub- lications issued at this office embraces one hundred and twenty-five different works in English, thirteen in French, twenty-one in Danish, fifteen in Swedish, thirteen in German, and one in the Dutch language.
The folding-room and bindery are in the building at the left. The finished works are stored in the building at the right, whence they are shipped by freight, express, and mail to all parts of the world. In this building is the counting-room. The association employs from forty to seventy hands.
These results, wrought out in so short a time, are the only compliment that need be paid to him under whose management this degree of prosperity has been attained. Those acquainted with Elder White have observed two very strongly developed traits of character: zeal to push forward in the formation and execution of plans for the advancement of the work, and caution to avoid injudicious ven- tures. The union of these two qualities, regulating at once the amount of steam and the application of the brakes, has made him master of the situation in the publishing line, and has given to the enterprise, though moving forward rapidly, a healthy and permanent growth.
In June, 1874, Elder White commenced in Oakland, California, the publication of the Signs of the Times, a weekly paper the same size as the Review and Herald. Through his foresight and energy a branch office is now firmly established in that beautiful city, with a capital of $40,000, and a rapidly increasing business. Be- sides publishing largely of denominational books, and issuing an edition of seven thousand of the Signs of the Times weekly, that office takes the lead in the city job printing, and is acknowledged by California publishers to be the model on the Pacific coast for neatness of arrangement, and for the correctness, good taste, and dispatch exhibited in the execution of its work.
Thus has Elder White, by his indomitable perseverance, able financiering, stern integrity, and the blessing of God, spanned the American continent, from Maine to California, with the publishing work, commencing twenty-seven years ago in poverty. And this is not all. Not content with binding the Pacific to the Atlantic, ever acting upon the motto, " Broad plans," he has carried the work across the ocean, and put in successful operation another branch office at Basel, in old Switzerland, from which a monthly paper in the French language, Les Signes des Temps, has been issued since July, 1876. A third branch office will probably be established in one of the Atlantic States during this present year of 1877.
CHAPTER XII.
SOCIETIES : AGRICULTURAL, REFORMATORY, EDUCATIONAL, POLITICAL, PRO- TECTIVE, SECRET, HISTORICAL, HEALTH REFORM.
As the proverb hath it, "In the multitude of counsel there is wisdom," and men began early to associate themselves in companies or societies for the furtherance of objects beyond the compass of individual effort. Men are dependent one upon another for advancement and progress, and it is a wise man who takes up the thread of experience where it has been dropped by his predecessor, content to go on with it, nor waste time in retracing the same deeply-worn paths that have for ages re- ceived the foot-prints of scholars and laborers alike. The pioneers of Calhoun were no exception to the general rule, but soon gathered together in societies for the common good, each one giving his, or her, modicum of experience to swell the aggregate, from which generalizations might be drawn for the advancement of the community, mentally, physically, socially, and financially. The first association of general interest in the county was
THE CALHOUN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,
which was organized in the year 1838, and the first fair was held November 5, 1839, in the store previously occupied by Fitch & Gilbert, and the inclosure of Dr. Hart. J. S. Fitch, H. J. Phelps, and Charles D. Smith were the committee of arrangements for the fair, and Thomas W. Wells was the secretary. The ex- ecutive committee of 1839 appointed a series of lectures to be delivered throughout the county on agriculture, and to create an interest among the farmers for im- provement in the science. At the fair of 1840 there were one hundred and five
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
dollars offered for premiums; ten dollars on manufactures, forty-five dollars on stock, and fifty dollars on produce. At this fair Calvin Cole received the first premium on the best bull, Harvey Smith for the best heifer, Samuel Hemenway for the best boar and sow, Gilbert Knapp for the best buck, A. E. Hutchins for the best corn, the same being sixty-six bushels per acre; Joseph Otis for the best wheat, thirty-five bushels per acre; and on barley also, fifty-one bushels per acre ; R. Weaver on flaxseed, eight bushels six quarts per acre ; and Medad Bardwell on rutabagas, eight hundred and seventy-seven bushels per acre. The society was reorganized in 1848, and incorporated June 22, 1858, with the following officers: S. P. Wormley, president; E. H. Lawrence, secretary ; C. P. Dibble, treasurer ; E. C. Manchester, Jeremiah Brown, John Houston, Milo Soule, and Charles D. Holmes, directors. The society has held twenty-eight annual exhibitions, besides several spring exhibitions, plowing-matches, and sheep-shearing festivals. Since 1860 the society has paid in cash premiums $12,700, besides other awards in plate. At the fair of 1876 there were awarded premiums as follows : on horses, three hundred and fifty-three dollars; cattle, ninety-nine dollars ; sheep, seventy- two dollars; swine, thirty-four dollars ; poultry, eighteen dollars and fifty cents; fruit, thirty-four dollars and fifty cents; vegetables, nineteen dollars and fifty cents ; grain, sixteen dollars and fifty cents ; farming implements, nineteen dollars and fifty cents ; wagons and carriages, thirty-seven dollars; domestic manufactures, eighty-five dollars ; fine arts, twenty dollars ; flowers, seventy-eight dollars; bread and butter, seventeen dollars. There were one hundred and seventy-one entries of horses, fifty-six of cattle, fifty-three of sheep, twenty-four of swine, twenty-nine . of poultry, and eight hundred and seventy-seven miscellaneous; total entries, eleven hundred and ninety.
The officers of 1877 are as follows : George R. Mckay, Eckford, president ; C. S. Hamilton, Marshall, secretary ; Julius A. Davis, treasurer; Lafayette Harris, William Hewitt, James F. Downs, George W. Briggs, Robert Gould, and S. G. Pattison executive committee, with a vice-president in every township and city.
THE CALHOUN COUNTY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY
was organized in the year 1839, and held its first annual meeting January 1, 1840, in Marshall. J. S. Fitch was the first president and James M. Parsons the first secretary. The society organized township societies throughout the county, John Van Arman, then a young man, being one of the chief speakers, and making addresses, one notable one in Homer, in December, 1839. Mr. Dibble, Charles T. Gorham, and Rev. J. P. Cleveland were prominent members of the society ; the latter being the president of the State Association for some time. This or- ganization remained intact for many years. The Washingtonians arose in 1842, and carried " everybody before them," as it were, but died out, the Sons of Tem- perance coming in 1847, and the Good Templars in 1856. The Red Ribbon Reform Clubs commenced their work in the spring of 1877.
At the temperance anniversary at Ann Arbor in 1843, Rev. J. P. Cleveland, as the president, read a song which was afterwards sung to the tune of " Auld Lang Syne," the fourth verse of which " brought down the house" not only by reason of the matter thereof, but by the peculiarly felicitous rendering of the same by the reverend gentleman. This verse was as follows :
" I've seen the bells of tulips turn To drink the drops that fell From summer clouds; then why should not The two lips of a belle ? What sweetens more than water pure, The two lips of a belle ?"
THE CALHOUN COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY
was organized about as soon as there were churches, for the notices of its annual meetings appear in the earliest papers published in the county. The last annual meeting of the society was held on the first Sunday in October, 1876, at which the annual report was read, showing 2554 families visited during the year, 123 of whom were found destitute of the Scriptures, and 110 were supplied. The collections and donations for the year amounted to $205.60, of which $116.72 were paid to the American Bible Society. The value of books on hand during the year was $482.57. George Ingersoll is the president, and J. M. Parsons corresponding secretary, the current year.
THE CALHOUN EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY
was organized in January, 1846, George Woodruff secretary. It was auxiliary to the State Educational Society, and its objects were for the advancement of the cause of education among the people, and the perfecting of the system of instruc- tion. At the annual meeting, October 16, 1846, Mr. Mayhew, the State superin- tendent of public instruction, lectured on union schools and their advantages, and the agitation began then culminated, the year following, in the union school of
Marshall. This society also organized teachers' institutes in the county, and was instrumental in many good works in the cause of common schools during its existence.
THE ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY
was organized in 1839, the first annual meeting of the same being held in Albion. Sidney Ketchum was the first president; Dr. James P. Greeves, first vice-presi- dent ; and thirty members signed the constitution at the first meeting, among them being Colonel Peter Holmes, George S. Wright, and Rev. J. P. Cleveland. The latter was elected president of the State society in 1840. Dr. Greeves was the second president of the county society. It continued to flourish until after 1848, and finally disappeared when the Republican party was organized, its mission being accomplished.
THE CALHOUN COUNTY VIGILANT SOCIETY,
for the detection of horse-thieves, was organized February 11, 1840; Philo Dibble, president; General A. L. Hays, vice-president; C. P. Dibble, secretary ; C. T. Gorham, treasurer; with an executive committee of five, and twelve riders. This society operated for a few years, and then ceased to exist.
THE FARMERS' ASSOCIATION
was organized in 1841, to combine, for the sale of produce, the farmers of the county. Oshea Wilder was the first secretary, and the association was in opera- tion but a few years.
THE MARSHALL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
was organized under a special charter in May, 1840; Thomas W. Wells, president ; Philo Dibble, vice-president ; J. C. Frink, secretary ; C. T. Gorham, treasurer ; Jarvis Hurd, general agent ; and thirteen directors. It had an extensive line of underwriting for many years, but finally reached out too far, and a succession of disasters bankrupted the association, and its affairs were wound up by a receiver.
THE FARMER'S MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF CALHOUN
was organized April 7, 1862, the first annual meeting being held June 26, 1862, and the first officers being as follows : Hector Adams, of Battle Creek, president ; George W. Dryer, of Marengo, vice-president ; Henry J. Champion, of Battle Creek, secretary ; Caleb Hanchett, of Marengo, director; Daniel M. Fox, of Fredonia, collector. The present capital, on which the assessments of losses are made, amounts to the sum of $6,116,785. The total losses paid since the organiza- tion amount to $62,629.05 ; the assessment for the fifteen years having been but one and three-quarters per cent. of the capital stock. The number of members is two thousand three hundred and thirty-two. Its risks are confined, by its charter, to farm property. The present officers are Loomis Hutchinson, of Emmett, president ; Milo Soule, of Marengo, director; B. F. Withee, of Ma- rengo, secretary ; Joseph Shipp, of Eckford, vice-president.
ABSTRACTS OF TITLE
to the lands and village and city lots in Calhoun County were written up by Joseph A. Holland, Joseph C. Frink, and J. D. Wooley, who remained in the ownership thereof about three years, Holland being the active man. He sold his interest to his partners, and subsequently Wooley sold out to Frink, who died, and the books were sold in 1873-74, Preston Mitchell becoming the purchaser, and who now owns them and issues abstracts, and keeps the same written up. Every tract of land and village or city lot is recorded on the books, in its various changes in fee, or for security, by tax sale or judgment of court ; and the abstracts of Mr. Mitchell are a most valuable convenience to the people in their real-estate transactions. The office is maintained at Marshall.
MASONIC SOCIETIES.
The first lodge of Free Masons in the county was instituted at Battle Creek, in 1846-47; the second was instituted at Marshall, under the name of " Marshall Lodge, No. 20," in 1847-48, Dr. Joseph Sibley being the first Worshipful Master, and the other charter members being F. Karstaldt, Zenas Tillotson, Ira Tillotson, Thomas Cook, David Aldridge, Robert Smith, Dr. Hudson, George Ketchum, and Mr. Gillis. Only two of the foregoing are members of the lodge to-day,-Kar- staldt and Aldridge. Dr. Sibley held the position of Master for several years, and Thomas Cook and James Crocker were his successors. In 1855, the charter of the lodge was surrendered and a new lodge called St. Albans, with the same number (20), instituted, the history of which will appear in the history of the city of Marshall. There are now nine blue lodges, two chapters of Royal Arch Masons, one council of Royal and Select Masters, and one commandery of Knights Templar, in the county. ยท
36
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
The first lodge of this order instituted in the county was Peninsula Lodge, No. 5, at Marshall, August 19, 1844, with James Wright Gordon first Noble Grand, E. C. Noble Vice Grand, Benjamin Vernor Secretary, and John B. Frink Treasurer. Mr. Chamberlain, A. O. Hyde, and George Cogswell were the first initiates. There are now seven lodges and three encampments in the county.
THE PIONEER SOCIETY
of Calhoun County was organized as such January 26, 1872, but for two years previously the old pioneers had assembled on the same day, January 26, the anniversary of the admission of Michigan into the Union, for social purposes and to recall the fast-receding past. Their first gathering was on the evening of Jan- uary 26, 1870, at the Herndon House, in the city of Marshall, at which time there were forty pioneers of Calhoun County present. W. R. McCall, a pioneer of 1833, was called to the chair, and George S. Wright, who came to Marshall in 1835, was appointed secretary. At the reunion in 1871, at the same place, there were twenty-seven present; Thomas Chisholm, a pioneer of 1831, and now de- ceased, being chosen chairman, and A. O. Hyde, an emigrant of 1840, and in the same business-drugs and medicines-to-day as then, was chosen secretary. At the reunion of 1872, there were sixty-six pioneers present, and the society was formally organized with Dr. O. C. Comstock (1836), of Fredonia, president, Daniel Dunakin of Eckford, S. G. Pattison of Marengo, Ranodyne Sheed of Tekonsha, F. A. Kingsbury of Marshall city (1835), vice-presidents, and H. E. Phelps, of the latter city, secretary. Dr. J. H. Montgomery (1836), Dr. O. C. Comstock, and Rev. Calvin Clark were appointed a committee on history, and directed to gather such data of the early settlement of the county as was possible, and report at the next meeting. The reunion of 1873 was held in the parlors of the Hern- don, one hundred and fifty pioneers being present. Dr. Comstock and H. E. Phelps were re-elected to their respective positions, and the legislature was memo- rialized to provide for a documentary history of the State, and biographies of the prominent educational, commercial, and social pioneers. A basket picnic was arranged for and held on the fair grounds at Marshall, June 25, 1873, at which five hundred persons were present, and addresses were made by several of the old pioneers, many of whom had come long distances to be present. A committee was appointed on memorials, and a long list of vice-presidents, who worked together successfully in producing the most celebrated reunion the society had as yet had. The annual meeting was held January 26, 1874, at the parlors of the new Presby- terian church, which were adorned with portraits of several of the old pioneers, among them those of Hon. Isaac E. Crary, Judge Abner Pratt, Judge Greeves, and Hon. Charles T. Gorham. Rev. John D. Pierce, the pioneer minister, and first State superintendent of public instruction in the State and Union, Mrs. A. L. Hays, Mrs. George Ketchum, and Mrs. Tenney Peabody were present, besides many others, former residents of the county. Three hundred guests were seated at the table. Dr. Comstock, as president, welcomed the pioneers, and Mr. Pierce addressed the meeting. Rev. A. M. Fitch, also a pioneer preacher of 1836, and Hon. Erastus Hussey, the conductor and manager of the underground railroad in abolition days, were also present, and contributed to the interest of the occa- sion. A. B. Cook was elected president, J. M. Parsons secretary, and a vice- president from each township and city. The reunion of 1875 was held January 26, at the Presbyterian church, and Erastus Hussey, of Battle Creek (1836), elected president, and Samuel S. Lacey secretary, and a new list of vice-presidents from the townships and cities of the county. Delegates were appointed to attend the State pioneer association, to be held at Lansing on the 3d of February follow- ing. Mr. Hussey and Mr. Lacey were re-elected at the reunion of 1876, and a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for the government of the society, and C. P. Dibble appointed historian. At the reunion in 1877, which was held at the Witt House, the committee reported constitution and code of by-laws, which were adopted with some minor amendments. Any person who has been a resident of Michigan twenty years can become a member on payment of twenty-five cents per annum into the treasury of the society. The officers elected under the constitution were as follows: William R. McCall, president ; S. S. Lacey, secretary; A. O. Hyde, treasurer; Dr. O. C. Comstock, historian ; and a vice-president from each township and city in the county. Some fifty or more persons signed the constitution and partook of the banquet prepared by " mine host" of the Witt House in the bountiful manner peculiarly natural to him. Mr. Hussey, the retiring president, made a historical address full of interest ; and a memorial of Thomas Chisholm, a fellow-pioneer who had passed to the " undis- covered country" a few days before, was placed on record. Committees to gather the history of the pioneer bar and medical profession were appointed; Dr. Cox, of Battle Creek, W. H. Brown, Esq., and others, entertained the company for some time with reminiscence sad and humorous, and the reunion was over.
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