USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 31
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In the year 1837 "wild cat" banks were instituted in Marshall, Battle Creek and Homer. The Bank of Marshall was capitalized at $400,000.00. Its president was Horace Brace and Joseph C. Frink the cashier. The bank's place of business was in the new court house in 1838; but before New Year's day, 1839, the Bank of Marshall was adrift in the sea of irredeemable paper money and never after found a
247
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
mooring. Its doors were permanently closed to business. The people learned a costly lesson and the folly of those days has never been repeated.
Charles T. Gorham and Ilorace J. Perrin carried on the banking business in Marshall as private concerns for many years. Indeed, after the failure of the Calhoun County bank in 1840 there was no regularly chartered bank in Marshall until 1863, when the Bank of Michigan was organized under the state banking law, with a capital of $100,000.00. Joseph Sibley was president and William Powell cashier. In 1865 it was re-organized as the National Bank of Michigan, with Horace . J. Perrin president and William Powell cashier; Manlius Man, Samuel S. Lacey, Enos Church and J. M. Buckley, directors. At the re-organiza- tion, the capital stock was fixed at $100,000.00 which in 1874 was in- creased to $200,000.00. In later years this bank went into voluntary liquidation.
The First National Bank was organized Angust 5, 1865, and com- menced doing business on the 9th day of the following October. Charles T. Gorham, president; Charles P. Dibble, vice-president; George S. Wright, cashier; William R. Schuyler, George B. Murray, Asa B. Cook, Pratt A. Spicer and Devillo Hubbard, members of the first board of directors. Although its first president and all the other officers and directors at the time the bank was organized are long since dead, the institution has never failed to open its doors on time for business in the more than forty-seven years of its existence as a national bank. It was never on a sounder financial basis that at this time. On the retirement of General Charles T. Gorham, the first president, he was succeeded by his son Seldon, and npon the latter's death in October, 1902, he was succeeded by his younger brother Charles E. Gorham, who has since been the directing head. A full list of the present officers and directors with a statement as to the status of the bank will be found with the other banks of the county in the article entitled "Banking, Bankers and Banks."
Another of the strong and sound financial concerns of the county is the Commercial Savings Bank, of Marshall. This institution was or- ganized May 9, 1902, by William J. Dibble and Winthrop T. Phelps. The capital stock at organization was $50,000.00. The original board of directors was composed of the following gentlemen in addition to the two above named : E. G. Brewer, M. S. O'Keefe, W. E. Bosley, George Perrett, John Powell, John Wiseman and Thomas L. Cronin. The present board of officers and directors together with a statement of the bank's condition will be found elsewhere. There have been no changes in the original board of directors except those caused by death.
MANUFACTURING IN MARSILALL
By Samuel F. Dobbins
Soon after the Michigan Central Railroad Company extended their line through to Marshall in 1844, they erected shops for such work as pertained to maintainance of equipment and rolling stock, repairing
248
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
cars, engines, etc. These shops were enlarged previous to 1850 and at that time Joseph Caywood was master mechanie until after 1852. He was succeeded by Charles Sweet and Mr. Newhall. Amos Wilson also had charge for some time.
Julius Engleman, at present one of our oldest citizens, came here from Detroit and built the smoke hoods of the round house, which was situated on the present site of the Michigan Central freight ware house. He afterwards erected a 40 H. P. stationary engine, all of the work being done here in Marshall, which was quite a piece of mechanism at that time.
These shops were maintained twenty-three years and over, during which time they employed seventy-five to one hundred and twenty men. They were removed from Marshall to Jackson June 8, 1873.
During the period 1858-1870 several factories were in operation in Marshall, mostly situated in Perrinville, where the present water and electric light plant is located.
A large paper mill was situated on the site now occupied by the Borough & Blood Buggy Co. Adjacent to this was a spring factory owned by Horace J. Perrin, who also operated a saw and plaster mill and bank on the west side of South Marshall avenue, just south of the Michi- gan Central Railroad. He also operated a large twelve stone flouring mill on the east side of the street and at one time a flouring mill at the corner of Exchange and Mill streets, on Rice creek. All of these facto- ries were run by water power and employed in all about fifty men.
Jas. L. Dobbins was at that time proprietor of a large building and contracting business occupying a factory just east of the large Perrin flouring mill. Mr. Dobbins erected most of the best blocks and churches in our city and employed about sixty men.
A fire May 4, 1872, destroyed nearly all of these industries and they were not rebuilt.
March 1, 1870, Messrs. Jas. L. Dobbins and Wm. Phelps embarked in the manufacture of a furnace, which was patented by Mr. Phelps, and we may say that this business was very successful from the start and is still in existence, being now under the control of Messrs. Wm. R. Simons and Geo. W. Leedle, who purchased the business from the for- mer owners in the spring of 1911. They changed the corporate name to The Simons-Leedle Furnace Company. Capital $25,000 and employ in all fifteen to twenty men.
In 1873 Julius Engleman was proprietor of a foundry and machine shop at the junction of Hanover, Exchange streets and Marshall avenue. Mr. Engleman melted two heats per week of about two ton capacity.
Adjacent to this property were also smaller shops, a carriage and wagon shop by Hoffman, Hiller & Vogt; one by Adam Rimes; black- smith shop on the west side of the street by Theo. Welch, also a black- smith shop owned and occupied by J. C. Egeler at the corner of Green and Exchange streets, which was operated continuously by Mr. Egeler from 1858 to 1908.
All of the above employed from twenty to thirty-five men.
Chas. E. Brooks owned and operated a flouring mill at the corner
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IHISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
of Exchange and Hanover streets, and was later engaged in the manu- facture of flour at the corner of South Marshall avenue and Mill street.
Messrs. Crane & Hurd owned and operated a very large flour mill covering the period of 1856 to 1884 of about 225 barrels daily capacity. This mill was situated east and north of the Michigan Central depot and was at that time one of the largest mills, if not the largest, in Michi- gan, employing from thirty to fifty men.
Peters Bros. & Murray also owned and operated the "Warren" Hoe Factory adjacent to the Michigan Central Railroad, opposite Locust street. This factory was operated from 1870 to 1876, employing twenty to twenty-five men.
In 1872 a foundry and machine shop under the management of Geo. A. Bullard was started on the corner of South Kalamazoo avenue and Spruce street, and the business gradually grew into one of Mar- shall's largest industries. Mr. Bullard manufactured furnaces for Jas. L. Dobbins from 1874 to 1882 and for Messrs. Edgar II. Grant and Samuel F. Dobbins from 1882 to 1888, at which time he also manufac- tured stoves, school and church furniture, agricultural implements, etc., at times employing as high as one hundred men. Mr. Bullard disposed of his furnace business to Messrs. Grant & Dobbins in 1888 and retired from active business in 1909 and sold his manufacturing plant to Chas. I. Murdock and Chas. W. Dobbins, the present owners.
A small wagon and carriage shop owned and operated by Wm. L. Page on the site just east of the present location of the stone barn, gradually grew into one of Marshall's best manufacturing plants, the business being established in 1869; incorporated in 1890 and re-incor- porated in 1893 with capitalization of $50,000, and has run continu- ously ever since ; Wm. L. Page, president and general manager; Egbert E. Page, secretary and treasurer. They manufacture a line of huggies and high grade vehicles, which have gained a wide reputation, and employ on an average of seventy-five men. They own and occupy a large three-story briek factory 60 x 400 feet on South Kalamazoo avenue.
The Borough & Blood Buggy and Vehicle Company are also one of Marshall's present industries, the business having been established by W. J. Borough in 1902 and afterwards incorporated with capital stock of $35,000. Wm. E. Bosley, president ; W. II. Arthur, vice-president ; Anna M. MeDermott, secretary and treasurer; A. T. Norton, manager. They have about thirty employees. This firm started their business in the plant formerly occupied by the Royal Cycle Works at the corner of Spruce and Madison streets and in 1911 moved into a handsome new plant erected by F. A. Stuart on the site occupied by the paper mill in Perrinville.
The Lambert Machine Company employ a force of twenty-five men. Their factory is located on South Madison street and they manufacture machinery of all kinds for roasting coffee, peanuts and cereals. This factory was formerly occupied and managed by Nelson Church and Franklin Edgerton, who manufactured sash doors and blinds and did a large building and contracting business. Messrs. Franklin Edgerton
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
& Sons succeeded Messrs. Church & Edgerton in the manufacture of building supplies.
The Foote Axle Company manufacture ball-bearing axle burrs and quick shift couplers. F. M. Foote, president.
The Wolverine Temperature Regulator Company (Wells & Kelley, proprietors) manufacture automatie heat regulators for furnaces, steam and hot water. They own and occupy a factory 'on Exchange street, between State and Green streets.
When the Cincinnati, Northern & Michigan Railroad Company built their line from Toledo to Allegan in 1884 their shops were located in Marshall. Since then the road has changed hands and is now con- trolled and owned by the Michigan Central with thirty-five to fifty employees.
January 1, 1894, George Curren Bentley, with others, founded The Marshall Wagon and Windmill Co., incorporated with capital stock of
THE STONE BARN, OLD STAGE DEPOT, A RELIC OF STAGE DAYS, MARSHALL
$25,000. In 1896 Mr. Bentley and his son, Rupert, purchased interest of the other stock holders, continuing the business until April 9, 1903. This firm manufactured wagons, windmills, ete., and employed twenty- five to forty men.
The C. E. Brooks Rupture Appliance Company manufacture ap- pliances for ruptures and this firm owns and occupies the Brooks Block on Main street, corner of South Exchange and have from thirty to fifty employees.
C. E. Gauss manufacturers Gauss' Celebrated Catarrh Remedy, and occupies the Gauss building on the south side of Main street, between Jefferson and Eagle, and have from thirty to fifty employees.
F. A. Stuart, manufacturer of Stuart's Famous Dyspepsia Tablets and other proprietary medicines, occupies the Stuart Block a large handsome building on the east side of Jefferson street, between Green and State streets. This building is also the home of the Statesman Print-
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
ing establishment and there are employed in the two industries about fifty people.
The Pyramid Drug Company manufacture proprietary medicines, and occupy office and building at the corner of Hamilton and State streets, under the management of Wm. F. Church and employ fifteen to twenty.
The Jolin R. Smyth Printing Company, Standard Printing Com- pany, Marshall News and Evening Chornicle are also industries of Mar- shall, as is the J. E. White Publishing Company, authors printers and publishers.
In the winter of 1881-1882 Messrs. Edgar II. Grant and Samuel F. Dobbins entered into a co-partnership for the manufacture and installa- tion of warm air furnaces, which was afterward called the Marshall Furnace Company, and in the year 1889 the partnership was dissolved
MARSHALL FURNACE CO.
TEE GE
MARSHALL FURNACE COMPANY
and Mr. Grant and Wm. E. Bosley commenced the manufacture of fold- ing bath tubs. They did a thriving business for several years and in 1909 the business was incorporated into the Peerless Fixture Company, manufacturers of bath tubs, store and counting room fixtures, located on the west side of South Kalamazoo avenue, and is today one of Mar- shall's most substantial industries employing on an average of forty men. Wm. E. Bosley, president; Royal F. Grant, secretary and treasurer.
Mr. S. F. Dobibns took up the furnace business from the year 1889. gradually increasing the same until the year 1908 and during this period occupied a part of the Geo. A. Bullard shop and afterwards (1895) a factory located at the junction of Exchange and Marshall avenue, which was formerly occupied by Julius Engleman and John Adams. In June, 1908, this business was incorporated with $100,000 capitalization and in 1910 increased to $150,000 and in January, 1912, moved into its new brick and steel constructed plant located on west Hanover street.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
This is one of Marshall's largest and most substantial industries, oc- cupying the finest exclusive furnace factory building in the world ard employing from one hundred to one hundred and forty men. Samuel F. Dobbins, president and general manager; Chas. W. Dobbins, vice-presi- dent and manager of sales; Claude S. Stout, secretary and publicity ; Herbert J. Ward, manager of installation; Gage II. Bobbins, superin- tendent.
The city of Marshall has owned for several years its electric light and water power plant. The electric light plant cost about $50,000 and uses 450 H. P. in its operation. It is operating 150 are street lights, of 2000 candle power, a number of arc lights for mercantile purposes and several thousand incandescent lights for business and residence lighting.
Photo by J. H. Brown
THE MODERN WAY OF THRESIIING
The water power plant, which cost about $50,000, is also operated by the water power which runs both plants, supplying over 120 fire hydrants and furnishes its citizens with water for private consumption at the lowest rates.
This same water power was formerly used by II. J. Perrin and others to run their industries in Perrinville, and it was greatly im- proved when the city of Marshall took it over for municipal purposes.
THE CALHOUN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Contributed
The Calhoun County Agricultural Society was organized in 1858 un- der an act of the state legislature to authorize the formation of county and town agricultural societies for the encouragement and advancement of agricultural, horticultural, manufacturers' and mechanics' arts.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
The charter members of the society were: S. P. Wormley, M. H. Moulthrop, Tracy M. Southworth, Milo Soule, E. C. Manchester, II. A. Tillotson, John Houston, C. D. Holmes, E. H. Lawrence, Bradford Arthur and C. P. Dibble.
Annual exhibitions have been given by the society on the fair grounds in Marshall each year and each succeeding show has proven an improve- ment and enlargement over the preceding one. In this year of 1912, the society, after an experience of ups and downs covering a period of sixty- four years, rates among the staunch county fair associations of the Wol- verine state and the attendance each year is growing in volume and the receipts increasing correspondingly.
The Calhoun County Fair is among the best known in the country ; its scope being very broad, competition having been thrown open to the world in 1908, it having been determined at that time that a fair, in order to advance with the times, must not confine its efforts to a single county or locality.
Not only does the society conduct a very fine agricultural exhibit each year, but harness races of a high order are given over one of the best half-mile speedways in the United States.
The present officers of the society are : B. K. Bentley, president ; R. S. Scott, secretary ; E. E. Simmons, treasurer.
CHAPTER XVI
MUNICIPAL AND PROFESSIONAL
MARSHALL AS A MUNICIPALITY (BY CRAIG C. MILLER)-WATER SYSTEM- DESCRIPTION AND VALUATION OF PLANT-ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND POWER PLANT-DESCRIPTION AND VALUATION OF PLANT-SEWERAGE SYSTEM-ELECTRIC RAILROAD-PAVING AND ROADS-HOSPITAL AND LIBRARY-THE MARSHALL POSTOFFICE (BY WILLIAM H. ARTHUR)- MARSHALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS (BY GERTRUDE B. SMITH)-THE PRESS OF MARSHALL (BY J. M. MOSES)-LAWYERS OF MARSHALL, PAST AND PRESENT (BY HON. HERBERT E. WINSOR).
MARSHALL AS A MUNICIPALITY.
By Craig C. Miller.
The municipal development of Marshall has been gradual and sus- tained. From its birth as an organized community by the incorporation of the village October 28, 1837, to its elevation to the position of a place among the cities of Michigan February 25, 1859, by special act of the legislature approved February 14, 1859, its career was one of steady progress and the position as one of the important centers of activity of the state was gained in a marked degree.
The high development attained by the village and its inhabitants at the date of the merger into a city is well shown by the progressive tone of the inaugural address delivered by Hon. Charles P. Dibble, the first mayor. In it he ealls attention to the importance of a systematic, efficient and economical conduet of civic affairs and lays much stress upon the importance of proper roads and streets. He says: "It has been said that the roads of a country and the streets of a city are accurate tests of the degree of its eivilization and that cities and towns, where dense population and manufacturing industry make them the best mar- kets for farming products, are enabled to extend themselves indefinitely by roads alone, which supply the place of rivers." In this address he also calls attention to the necessity for a proper water supply and ex- presses himself as mueh impressed with the responsibility of the office to which he has had the honor to be elected.
From the date of its incorporation as a city to the present time Marshall has steadily gained in the advantages and public benefits that it offers to its inhabitants, and although not a city of large popula-
254
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
tion, takes just pride in the degree of development it has attained along public service lines, and offers an example of municipal ownership of public utilities that may be studied with profit by its sister cities.
Marshall at an early period was connected with the outside world by excellent stage routes that later gave place to the more modern railroad, and is now in the favored position of being located upon the trunk line of the Michigan Central Railroad, and also upon a branch of the same railroad extending from Allegan and making trunkline con- nections at Toledo, in the state of Ohio. It is also located upon one of the best equipped electric railroads in the state that gives its patrons excellent service both east and west.
WATER SYSTEM
In 1856 the village council negotiated for a water supply, either by logs or pipes, but nothing came of the proposed system.
In 1859 the matter was again urged by Mayor Dibble as has been noted and in 1860 experiments were made on artesian wells. However, nothing was accomplished until 1872 when a system of wells was estab- lished, thirty-three in number, located in various parts of the city, from which water was procured for fire protection.
Nothing, however, was done towards a water supply uutil 1888, when the present system was inaugurated by private capital; a pumping sta- tion being erected, the water foreed into a standpipe from whence it found its way through mains to the various parts of the city.
In August, 1894, the company failed and was placed in the hands of a receiver. In 1898 the entire plant was acquired by the city and is now operated in an efficient manner as a municipal plant.
The water is procured from flowing wells and is of excellent quality, furnishing the city with an inexhaustible supply of pure water for all purposes. Mains are being extended as demands require.
The water works system of Marshall, together with the electric light- ing and power plant, is managed by three commissioners appointed by the mayor ; they are termed "The Board of Commissioners of the Electric Lighting and Water Works Department," and have. full charge of the conduct of the same. They employ a superintendent who has immediate charge of both systems to which he devotes his entire time.
The annual report of the commission under date of April 8, 1912, covering a period of one year, from April 1, 1911, to April 1, 1912, as far as it appertains to the water works system, is worthy of study, and the essential features of the same are here given, and will prove of interest to all interested in the subject.
DESCRIPTION AND VALUATION OF PLANT, APRIL 1, 1911.
Assets.
City treasurer-bank
$2,391.14
Customers ledger 531.65
Hydrants-104-standard two nozzle
2,496.50
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IIISTORY OF CALIIOUN COUNTY
Machinery-2 Worthington steam pumps, 1,000,-
000 gals. capacity in 24 hours each; 1 Deane
power pump, 1,700,000 gals. capacity in 24 hours ; 1 100 h. p. Induction motor. $ 7,500.00
Mains-12 miles, ranging from 12-in. to 2 ft .. 32,238.18
Meters-installed, owned by city 353.70 Pumping station building, including outbuildings 10,000.00
Real estate at pumping station and lot where standpipe is situated. 1,000.00
Sundries, ledger
61.40
Standpipe, 100 feet high by 20 feet in diameter, capacity 31,416 cubic feet. 2,839.39
Supplies, miscellaneous, used in operation of plant to be sold 792.25
Supplies-office
65.61
Tools at pumping station and office.
144.58
Liabilities.
Bonds
$49,000.00
Capital stock-plant
9,679.14
Interest
815.00
Surplus fund
920.17
$60,414.31 $60,414.31
Cash Statement.
Cash on hand April 1, 1911
$ 2,391.14
Cash received during year from all sources.
10,004.68
Cash disbursements
$9,045.84
Cash on hand April 1, 1912
3,349.98
$12,395.82
$12,395.82
Rates for Water. Meter rates ranging from 10 to 20 cents per thou- sand gallons. Rates charged to the city for hydrant rental, $2.75 each per month, or $33.00 per hydrant per year.
STATEMENT OF PUMPING OPERATIONS
Water pumped in gallons
K. W. H. used
Earnings
April, 1911
9,311,540
8,520
$ 85.20
May .
15,825,833
13,340
133.40
June
15,557,500
12,725
127.25
July
18,379,442
15,125
151.25
August
15,516,135
13,210
132.10
September
15,957,500
12,000
120.00
October
12,250,000
10,500
105.00
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
November
11,060,000
9,530
$ 95.30
December
11,690,000
10,195
101.95
January, 1912
. 15,161,271
8,725
87.25
February
11,480,000
9,840
98.40
March
12,530,000
9,540
95.40
Total
164,719,221
133,250
$1,332.50
ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND POWER PLANT
Marshall was early in possession of a gas plant owned and operated by private capital, furnishing gas for private and public lighting.
The establishment of an electric lighting plant was first agitated in 1890, and later was established by a commission appointed by the mayor, consisting of George H. Southworth, Esq., William H. Elston and R. B. Fletcher. This was the foundation of the present equipment.
The electric lighting, as well as the water works department, is in charge of Philip S. Joy, as superintendent, and the present board of commissioners consists of R. F. Grant, chairman; Collin Sinclair and F. S. Denel: to their efficient management, as well as to that of the superintendent, is due, in a great measure, the present excellent condition of the plant, making it possible for the citizens of Marshall to enjoy exceptionally low lighting and power rates.
The commission have within the past year replaced, on State street, the overhead lighting system with the boulevard post lighting system. Posts hearing five lights, the upper one of 100 Watt Mazda and the four lower ones of 60 Watt Mazda each, have been placed at a distance of 66 feet apart on either side of the street and around the West End park, adding greatly to the appearance of the city besides giving abundant . light, and is pronounced by many to be the finest system in the state.
This improvement cost about $5,000.00 to install and was entirely paid for from the profits of the electric plant. The system will un- doubtedly be extended to other parts of the city and gradually super- cede the overhead lighting.
Power is also furnished to the various industries of the city at reasonable rates.
I here quote from the annual report of the commission, covering a period of one year, from April 1, 1911, to April 1, 1912, which is made in conjunction with the water works report, as the best manner of show- ing the present condition of the plant and the service rendered the city and citizens, and attention is called to the same as an example of what has been and still is being accomplished along lines of economical and affective public service.
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