USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 59
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William Hamilton carried the mails from Michigan City to Chicago when a boy, the contract having been taken by his father. He was born in 1824 and 1843 came with his parents to Flint, where for the remainder of his life he was prominent in the development of the town. He operated a flouring-mill for many years, on a site now in the very heart of the business district of the city. Following this he engaged extensively in the lumbering business, later associating himself with William McGregor, this partnership lasting for over thirty years. Mr. Hamilton became closely identified with
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the growing interests of the community and in the seventies was one of the directors who secured the land grant for the railroad running from Lansing to Flint, which later became a part of the present Grand Trunk Railway. In company with J. B. Atwood, he built what is now known as the Bryant Hotel block, which at that time was the one first-class hotel in the county. When establishing the Citizens National Bank Mr. Hamilton and Colonel Fenton went to Washington to secure the charter. Mr. Hamilton was also engaged in agricultural enterprises and owned the three-hundred-and-forty- acre tract of land which is now a part of the enormous factory district of the city of Flint. His death occurred in 1899.
Henry Stanley, one of the directors of this bank, was a member of the Stanley family who formed what was known in Genesee township as the "Stanley settlement," Sherman Stanley, his father, being one of the most prominent of the early pioneers of this locality, coming from Mt. Morris, New York, in 1835. Soon afterwards he induced some of his friends from the East to follow him, and in 1836-37 a number of families from the same town, including Albert T. Stevens, formed this small settlement, their lands adjoining. The village of Mt. Morris derived its name from the native home of these residents. Henry Stanley came to Flint during his young manhood and engaged in the grain and produce business, owning and oper- ating a large elevator, the firm name being Stanley & Clapp. Mr. Stanley built a home at the corner of Beach and Court streets, where he resided with his family for many years. He was well known throughout the county and died in Flint at the age of sixty-six. His daughter, Miss Imogene Stanley, became the wife of Edward Thayer, a brilliant young attorney and a son of Artemus Thayer, but his death occurred when he was still under thirty years of age. Mrs. Thayer has been a resident for the past fifteen years of Paris, France.
Josiah W. Begole, who was afterward elected to the governorship of the state of Michigan, came of French ancestry. His maternal grand- father, Captain Bolles, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was an officer in the War of the Revolution and his father was a non-commissioned officer in the War of 1812. Mr. Begole had been identified with the affairs of Genesee county from an early date, coming with his parents to the township of Mt. Morris in 1816, when he was only a year old. He was one of the members of the lumber firm of Begole, Fox & Company and his name added strength to the bank directorate.
Within a period of three months from the time its doors were thrown open to the public, the capital was increased to one hundred thousand dollars.
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and still further augmented the following year to one hundred and twenty- five thousand dollars. The sudden death of Colonel Fenton in May, 1871, resulted in a change of some of its officers. William Hamilton was made president, Alexander McFarlan was made vice-president and James Van Vleet was added to the board of directors. In January, 1876, at the annual meeting, a still further change in the management was made by the election of Alexander McFarlan as president and Col. William B. McCreery as vice-president. Still later (1879) Colonel McCreery was made cashier in the place of Mr. Gibson.
William B. McCreery, director of the Citizens National Bank, and afterwards vice-president and cashier, was born in Mt. Morris, New York, in 1836, coming to Genesee county with his parents in 1839. His father, Reuben McCreery, built the old McCreery homestead, afterwards owned by C. D. Ulmer, at the corner of Fifth and Grand Traverse streets. William B. McCreery was admitted to the bar of Genesee county in 1859 and practiced law until the breaking out of the Civil War. He served with distinction, entering the service as a member of Company F, Second Michigan Infantry, and coming home as colonel of the Twenty-first Michigan Infantry Regi- ment, to which rank he was promoted in regular order for valor on the field of battle. He was seriously wounded at Williamsburg, Virginia, and again at Chickamauga. He was taken prisoner at the latter place and after a trying period of imprisonment, escaped from Libby prison in 1864 through a tunnel which had been dug by himself and a number of his fellow prisoners. On his return from the front, Colonel McCreery associated him- self in the general merchandise business with F. W. Judd. He subsequently engaged in the lumber business and conducted a saw-mill on the bank of the river just south of the Saginaw street bridge. He was afterwards collector of internal revenue for this district, under President Grant, and in 1875 was elected state treasurer, which position he occupied for four years. He also served as a member of the state board of agriculture for seven years, and for several years he represented the United States as consul general to Valparaiso, Chile, to which post he was appointed under the Harrison admin- istration. He was largely interested in the construction of the extension of the Grand Trunk Railway from Flint to Lansing, and was one of the original stockholders and at one time president of the Flint City Water Works Company. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church and a man of genial disposition, a good citizen and a brave soldier. His death occurred in Flint in 1896.
His wife, a gracious and queenly woman, was Miss Ada . Fenton, a
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daughter of Col. William M. Fenton. Their son, Hon. Fenton R. McCreery, has been for twenty years in the diplomatic service of the United States, being for eight years secretary of the legation at Santiago, Chile, and later for some years first secretary of the embassy in Mexico City. Subsequently he served as United States minister to Santo Domingo and Honduras.
William L. Gibson, the cashier of the Citizens National Bank, was born in Murray, Orleans county, New York, in 1846. In his youth he came with his parents to Michigan, his father, Samuel W. Gibson, being the pro- prietor of the old Genesee House, which stood at what is now the inter- section of Detroit and North Saginaw streets. Mr. Gibson married Miss Bessie Bishop, a daughter of Giles Bishop. In 1880 he removed to Jack- sonville, Florida, where for the remainder of his life he was connected with one of the large banks of that state. Illness of a serious nature incapacitated him for business a few years before his death, which occurred in Jackson- ville in 1904.
James Van Vleet, one of the directors of this bank, came from Romulus, Seneca county, New York, in 1844, to examine land he had previously pur- chased in Gaines township, where he became a resident, being its super- visor for eighteen years. He removed to Flint in 1869 and served for four years as county treasurer. His death occurred in Flint in 1915.
The Citizens Commercial and Savings Bank, which was reorganized in 1890 from the old Citizens National Bank, has been under the presidency of Robert J. Whaley since its reorganization, a term of about twenty-six years. Its present cashier is William E. Martin. Hon. Horace C. Spencer was its first cashier after its organization as a state bank. Connected with this bank are some of the best business men of the city.
Robert J. Whaley, who has been president of this bank for twenty-six years was born in Castile, New York, in 1840. When he was twenty-seven years of age he was married to Miss Mary McFarlan, a daughter of Alexan- der McFarlan, of Flint. Coming to Flint in the autumn of 1867, he went into the employ of his father-in-law, who was at that time extensively engaged in the lumbering business, Mr. Whaley continuing in this business until the death of Mr. McFarlan in 1881. Mr. Whaley is regarded as one of the most sagacious banking men of the county, his comprehensive grasp of financial affairs having won for him an unexcelled reputation for busi- ness acumen.
Horace C. Spencer, the first cashier of the Citizens Commercial and Savings Bank, was born in Springville, Erie county, New York, in 1832. Coming to Michigan in 1866, he engaged in the hardware business until
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1880, when he disposed of his interests to attend to other affairs. Mr. Spencer was one of the original stockholders of the Second National Bank of Bay City, Michigan, which was organized in 1877, and has been conversant with banking affairs for many years. He served in the state Senate during Governor Alger's administration and was a member of the committee that redistricted the state. His daughter is the wife of Arthur G. Bishop, the present president of the Genesee County Savings Bank. For many years Mr. Spencer has been connected with public affairs, having served as mayor of Flint and also for several terms as a member of the city park board, in which capacity he rendered invaluable service. Mr. Spencer, at the age of eighty-five, is one of the best preserved men in the county and still actively interested in financial and civic affairs.
Henry C. VanDusen, the cashier of the Citizens National Bank at the time of the surrender of its charter as a national bank, was born in Michi- gan City, Indiana. He fought in the Civil War and later came to Flint, being identified with the banking life of the community for a number of years. He is still living at the age of seventy-three, at his former home in Michigan City.
George W. Hubbard, one of the pioneers in the hardware business in Genesee county, was a member of the board of directors of this bank. Mr. Hubbard is one of the most widely known business men of Genesee county and sold ox-yokes in 1885 to the grandfathers of the present generation. Mr. Hubbard was in business at one time with Charles M. Wager, the firm name being Hubbard & Wager, but for many years has conducted the establishment under the name of the George W. Hubbard Hardware Company. Mr. Hubbard was born in Canandaigua, New York, in 1844.
Soon after the reorganization of the bank in 1891 the following board of directors were elected: Robert J. Whaley, J. W. Begole, S. I. Beecher, George W. Buckingham, George W. Hubbard, Alex. McFarlan, W. C. Durant, D. D. Aitken, J. R. Stockdale, J. H. Whiting, H. C. Spencer. The present officers are: President, R. J. Whaley; vice-president, George W. Hubbard; cashier, W. E. Martin; assistant cashier, H. E. Potter; directors : R. J. Whaley, G. W. Hubbard, J. H. Whiting, D. D. Aitken, Alex. McFar- lan, H. Winegarden, Thomas Doyle, F. D. Buckingham, C. L. Bartlett, E. S. Lee, J. E. Burroughs, C. H. Miller, E. H. Watson. Capital stock paid in, $150,000; surplus, $230,000.
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GENESEE COUNTY SAVINGS BANK.
The Genesee County Savings Bank was organized in 1872 and opened its office for business on the first day of May in that year, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. Its original board of directors were James B. Walker, Giles L. Denham, John Orrell, W. W. Crapo, Russell Bishop, W. F. Browning, George C. Kimball, C. C. Pierson and Henry Brown. Its first officers were: J. B. Walker, president; G. L. Denham, vice-president; Ira H. Wilder, cashier.
James B. Walker, the first president of the Genesee County Savings Bank, was identified with the life of the county since its earliest days, arriv- ing in Flint in 1836, when it was a mere hamlet. He was born in Locke, Cayuga county, New York, in 1812. Mr. Walker was engaged as clerk in the first dry goods store opened in Flint, the proprietors of which were Beach & Wesson, and afterwards was employed in the dry goods store of H. M. Henderson. In 1838 he built a store on the north side of the river, con- ducting a mercantile business until 1842, when he erected another store on the corner of Kearsley and Saginaw streets, where he continued in business until 1858. He was appointed by the governor of the state resident trustee and to have charge of the construction of the asylum for the dead, dumb and blind, and for fifteen years, from 1858 to 1873, he devoted his energies to this institution. During Mr. Walker's term as mayor of Flint the first pavement was laid on Saginaw street. He was one of the original founders of St. Paul's Episcopal parish, and one of the most prominent of the early residents of Flint. His home was located in the block bounded by First, Second and Grand Traverse streets, which was afterward the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna McCall. Mr. Walker died in Flint in 1877.
Giles L. Denham, the vice-president of the Genesee County Savings Bank, was born in New Bradford, Massachusetts, in 1842. He came west to Detroit in the interests of the Pere Marquette railroad, and shortly after- ward came to Flint, where he became interested in business affairs. His wife was Miss 'Jane Henderson, a daughter of H. M. Henderson. Mr. Denham is still residing at the Denham homestead in Flint.
Ira H. Wilder was born in Canandaigua, New York, in 1839, and par- ticipated in the Civil War, being a member of a regiment belonging to the Army of the Potomac when the battle of Gettysburg was fought, and also participating as an officer in all the engagements of that army until the close of the war. After being mustered out, Captain Wilder came to Flint and
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engaged in the milling business, until 1871, when he entered the First National Bank as bookkeeper, remaining there until 1872, when he was made the first cashier of the Genesee County Savings Bank. He died in Muskegon, Michigan, several years ago.
W. F. Browning, of the original board, conducted a mercantile business on the site now occupied by the furniture store of Doty & Salisbury, dealing principally in hats and furs; and Henry Brown was also engaged in the mercantile business in Flint, running a clothing store on the site now occu- pied by the Crawford & Zimmerman Clothing Company.
C. C. Pierson was a native of Avon, Livingston county, New York, and located in Grand Blanc in 1843. He was one of the organizers of the Gene- see County Agricultural Society.
George C. Kimball was the owner of the Genesee Iron Works of Flint, and also built the portion of the Flint & Pere Marquette railroad between Holly and Saginaw. He was also engaged in the hardware business in part- nership with Major Morse, the firm name being Morse, Kimball & Com- pany.
John Orrell, of the original board of directors, was born in Heaton, Lancashire, England, in 1882. He came to America in his youth and studied for the ministry, becoming a clergyman of the Unitarian church. He after- wards came to Michigan and entered the employ of Governor Henry H. Crapo in the lumber business, and married Governor Crapo's daughter, Miss Mary Ann Crapo. His death occurred in 1876. His son, William Crapo Orrell, has been for a number of years on the board of directors of the bank.
Of the original board of directors, only one member, Hon. W. W. Crapo, is still living. Mr. Crapo, the only son of Governor Henry H. Crapo, is one of the prominent lawyers of the East and a resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was for many years president of the old Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, up to the time of its sale to the Pere Marquette syndi- cate, and during his tenure of office this railroad enjoyed its most halcyon days. Mr. Crapo was the senior member of the law firm of Crapo & Clifford, of New Bedford, which, at the close of the Civil War, successfully conducted for the United States the litigation against Great Britain to recover damages for neutrality violations, and received for their services what was at that time said to be the largest fee ever paid for legal services in this country, the sum of one million dollars. Mr. Crapo is now presi- dent, and has been for many years, of the New Bedford Institution for Savings, the largest institution of its kind, outside of Boston, in the New
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England states. He is also one of the directors of the Merchants National Bank in New York City.
Russell Bishop, who succeeded James B. Walker as president, came to Flint in the spring of 1837. He was born in Leroy, New York, in 1815, and removed with his family to Oakland county when he was but sixteen years of age. Upon removing to Flint he engaged in mercantile business, his stock of goods being transported from Detroit by team. His business was conducted on the corner of Kearsley and Saginaw streets, where the Fenton block now stands. In 1851 his health becoming impaired, he jour- neyed to Mexico and Texas, making a part of the interior trip by horse- back. The same year he went to England to attend the World's Exposition in London. After his return to Flint he was appointed by Franklin Pierce as receiver of public money at the general land office in Flint, which was at that time one of three stations in the state. Mr. Bishop then engaged in the real estate business, to which he devoted himself exclusively until the organization of the Genesee County Savings Bank. In 1838 he built a fine residence on Beach street, clearing the lot of the heavy timber with which it was covered. Mr. Bishop married Miss Mary Thomson, a sister of Col. E: H. Thomson. Their son is Arthur G. Bishop, the present presi- dent of the bank and also president of the Michigan State Bankers' Asso- ciation during 1915-16. Russell Bishop, after the death of his first wife, mar- ried Miss Frances Green, daughter of Judge Sanford Green, of Bay City, one of the ablest jurists of the state, who in his day contributed to his pro- fession a valuable legal work on "Crime."
Russell Bishop was succeeded as president of the Genesee County Sav- ings Bank by William A. Atwood, formerly vice-president of the institution. Mr. Atwood had been a member of the firm of Stone, Atwood & Company, proprietors of the Flint Woolen Mills, and also a member of the Wood & Atwood Hardware Company. He was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1835, and during his young manhood had been engaged in the lumber business in Canada. In 1866 he came to Michigan and was associated in the same business with Jesse B. Atwood, his brother, and B. W. Livings- ton, operating a mill with a capacity of about thirty thousand feet a day. In 1836 he was elected to the state Senate to represent Genesee and Livings- ton counties and during his incumbency of the office was chairman of the committee on state affairs, public lands, and railroads. During his term of service he secured for Flint a new city charter, and also put through various bills for public improvements at Flushing and Howell, Michigan. His wife
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was Miss Helen Wood, a daughter of H. W. Wood, one of the oldest resi- dents of Flint. Mr. Atwood died in 1908.
Other members of the board of directors of this institution who served at different periods from 1875 to 1900, were: George R. Gold, M. Davi- son, C. C. Behan, J. C. Willson, J. B. Atwood, H. C. Spencer, F. H. Pierce, G. E. Taylor.
The first cashier, Ira Wilder, occupied this position for twenty years. Arthur G. Bishop then became cashier in 1892, and held that office until he was made president of the bank at the death of Dr. James C. Willson, who succeeded William A. Atwood. James Martin, who has been associated with the bank in all its various capacities for the past thirty years, succeeded Mr. Bishop as cashier, and remains in 1916 as cashier of the amalgamated banks.
By the affiliation in 1916 of the National Bank of Flint and the Gene- see County Savings Bank, the entire board of directors of both banks merged as one board, with the following officers and directors: President, A. G. Bishop; vice-president, H. C. Spencer ; cashier, James Martin; direc- tors. W. W. Crapo, H. C. Spencer, J. D. Dort, G. C. Willson, E. W. Atwood, F. A. Aldrich, J. H. Crawford, C. S. Mott, A. G. Bishop, J. J. Carton, W. O. Smith, William McGregor, W. C. Wells, W. R. Hubbard, C. B. Burr, C. M. Begole, C. W. Nash, B. J. McDonald; capital, $500,000; sur- plus, $500,000.
The Genesee County Savings Bank in 1915, opened a branch of the main bank at the corner of Asylum and Kearsley streets, for the conven- ience of patrons in the fourth ward.
UNION TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK.
In the year 1893, Ira H. Wilder, who had resigned his position as national bank examiner, with the aid of several of Flint's men of finance, organized the Union Trust and Savings Bank. Its first board of directors included C. T. Bridgman, W. A. Paterson, W. H. Edwards, M. Davison, Sr., Romain Putnam, C. H. Wisner, James J. Hurley, Ira H. Wilder, Flint P. Smith. Its first president was Charles T. Bridgman and cashier, Mr. Wilder. Later, Mr. Wilder was succeeded by Mathew Davison, who served as cashier for many years and was succeeded by L. H. Bridgman, its pres- ent cashier. It has been one of the most succeesful of the city banks and enjoys the universal confidence of the public.
Charles T. Bridgman, the present president of the Union Trust and
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Savings Bank, was born in Huntsburg, Ohio, in 1845, receiving his education in the preparatory department of the University of Chicago and the Russell Military School of Ohio. In 1864 he arrived in Flint and entered the employ of the William L. Smith Company, and in 1871 became a partner in the concern, the firm name being changed to Smith, Bridgman & Company. Mr. Bridgman has been for many years a trustee of the Congregational church. He has always been a great traveler and recently completed a trip around the world.
Mathew Davison, who served as cashier of this bank for many years, is one of the large holders of Flint business property, owning also much farm land in Genesee county. His first venture in Flint was in the clothing business, and he has always maintained a reputation for splendid business acumen. He served as mayor of the city of Flint.
Romain Putnam, one of the original directors of this bank, was born in Batavia, New York, in 1838. In 1855 he came with his parents to Gene- see county, driving from Detroit to Burton township. When Mr. Putnam was a young man of twenty he engaged in the buying and selling of stock. Later, he became a resident of Flint, entering the grain business, the firm name being Beecher & Putnam, and later R. Putnam & Company. Besides owning a large elevator in Flint, the firm also operated one at Clio. Mr. Putnam's wife was Miss Ellen Wolverton, a daughter of Asa Wolverton, who came to Burton township in 1855 from Tioga, New York. Mr. Put- nam's death occurred in Flint several years ago.
James J. Hurley, one of the original directors, was born in London, England, in 1850, coming to America in 1871. He came as far as Grand Blanc and thence on foot to Flint, where he obtained employment at the Sherman Hotel as porter. He afterward engaged in the manufacture of soap and later entered the coal and wood business. Subsequently, he became interested in real estate, building many residences, which he rented for reasonable sums, showing always toward his tenants a most commendable spirit of justice and fairness. He was one of the organizers and largest stockholders of the first light and power company of Flint. His death occurred in 1905. Mr. Hurley was a man of broad human sympathies, as was evidenced by his gift to the city at the time of his death of sufficient funds with which to build a general hospital, on a site which he had previously selected and purchased for this purpose. Hurley Hospital is Begole street. In all its appointments it is one of the most modern and best equipped hospitals in the state and a fitting monument to its founder.
Flint P. Smith, one of the directors of the Union Trust and Savings
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Bank, for many years, was born in Penfield, Ohio, in 1853. He was a son of Hiram Smith, who came to Michigan in 1845 and engaged in the lum- bering business. In 1847 Mr. Smith, the elder, sawed a large amount of lumber in Lapeer county and rafted it to Saginaw, this being the first lum- ber ever sent from that county. He then returned to Ohio and on the break- ing out of the Civil War spent one year in cutting black walnut with which to make gun stocks for the government. He returned from Ohio to Michi- gan in 1867, and located in Flint, which at that time had twenty lumber mills. He built a large mill and dealt in hardwood, probably cutting half the hard lumber ever marketed in this county, including a large amount of oak. For many years he was known throughout the county as "Hardwood" Smith, a name which clung to him to the time of his death. He built one of the few really fine residences in Flint at that time, situated on the corner of Stockton and Third streets, now owned by George Forrest.
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