USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 60
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Flint P. Smith, having a wide knowledge of lumbering through his father's extensive operations, succeeded to the business, and for many years operated the old Crapo mill. He afterward engaged in the same business in Orvisburg, Mississippi, later returning to Flint. Mr. Smith owned a large amount of real estate in the business district and was regarded as one of the most judicious of business men. As one of the directors he was also a heavy stockholder in the Union Trust and Savings Bank. He was married in 1875 to Miss Franc A. Brainerd, of Attica, New York, who, after Mr. Smith's death, which occurred in 1909, erected to his memory the nine- story office building known as the Flint P. Smith building, at the corner of Union and Saginaw streets, the most pretentious business block in the county, the ground floor of which is occupied by the Industrial Savings Bank.
"Judge George H. Durand and William F. Stewart were later added to the directorate to fill vacancies. William F. Stewart, who was entirely a self-made man, was born in London, Ontario, in 1846. He learned car- riage making in his youth and in 1868 located in Pontiac, Oakland county, and engaged in that business. In 1881 Mr. Stewart established himself in the manufacturing business in Flint, making carriage bodies on an exten- sive scale. Later, when the automobile industry developed, he built auto- mobile bodies. He erected on the corner of Industrial and Hamilton ave- nues a large factory building for this purpose. Mr. Stewart was a man of unquestioned business integrity and judgment, and a valuable acquisition to the directorate of this bank. He died in Flint in 1911. Judge Durand was one of the foremost citizens of the state.
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The officers and directors of the Union Trust and Savings Bank in 1916 are: C. T. Bridgman, president; W. A. Paterson, vice-president; W. H. Edwards, vice-president; M. Davison, chairman of the board; L. H. Bridgman, cashier; J. E. Storer, assistant cashier; directors, C. T. Bridg- man, W. A. Paterson, M. Davison, George W. Cook, W. H. Edwards, W. E. Braman, F. H. Rankin, A. M. Davison, J. G. Windiate, C. H. Bon- bright, S. S. Stewart, R. W. Selleck.
INDUSTRIAL SAVINGS BANK.
The Industrial Savings Bank, the youngest of the financial institutions of Flint, was organized in the original bank building being located on the corner of Hamilton and Industrial avenues, near the offices of the automo- bile industries. In 1913 the bank opened a central bank in the Flint P. Smith building and the former bank is now run as a branch to the main bank. Hon. Charles S. Mott, president, is an ex-mayor of Flint, and a director of the General Motors Company. He is a man of large wealth, and a generous, public-spirited citizen.
Grant J. Brown, who has been cashier of this bank since its organi- zation, was formerly assistant cashier of the Peoples State Bank at Flushing, and later was state bank examiner.
The third office of this banking house was opened in 1916 on St. John street, Fairview, for the convenience of business men and factory employees in the far north and east sides of Flint.
Its officers and directors are: C. S. Mott, president; C. W. Nash, vice-president ; Grant J. Brown, cashier; F. M. Buffum, assistant cashier ; P. H. Callahan, assistant cashier ; John S. DeCamp, assistant cashier; direc- tors, D. D. Aitken, Dr. F. D. Baker, N. J. Berston, E. D. Black, W: P. Chrysler, W. E. Fellows, Leonard Freeman, Grant J. Brown, A. B. C. Hardy, G. R. Jackson, R. Kleinpell, C. S. Mott, S. S. Stewart, J. G. Warrick, Fred J. Weiss.
Reflecting actual conditions most accurately is the report of the banks. an increase of more than one million dollars being shown in savings depos- its in 1915. When compared with the previous year, this is particularly encouraging as showing the thrifty, careful character of the citizenship which is contributing toward the greatness of the city.
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19II
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the year ending September 30, 1916, to the New York Clearing House Asso- ciation, show the banking institutions of this city to have just completed the most successful year in the history of the city. They have nearly doubled all previous records for the same period and have established a total close to the $50,000,000 mark, more than doubling the banner year of 1910. What is even more remarkable in reflecting the growth of the city and its business, the year just closed exceeds heavy clearings of 1915 by a margain that was nearly sufficient to double that year's record also. The records for the year just closed show that the city is enjoying the most prosperous period in its
history.
1863, with David L. Latourette as president and manager. In 1871 Mr.
Latourette failed, the bank was closed, the operations of the woolen factory were suspended and stockholders suffered severe losses. After the suspension of the First National Bank its business was princi- pally transferred to the State Bank of Fenton, which had been established the preceding January (1871). It was organized under the state law and was not a bank of issue. Its first officers were: President, Josiah Buckbee ;
cashier, Edwin Trump; directors, Josiah Buckbee, Andrew Cornwall, John
in April, 1856, and engaged in the dry goods trade, which he continued until F. Walton, Harvey Fannington, Erastus T. Tefft. Mr. Buckbee, the president, came from Jefferson county, New York,
the bank was established.
Cranson's Bank, a private institution, was established by Job Cranson in 1876. A general banking business was transacted. Mr. Cranson was one of the early settlers in Michigan, having removed from Madison county,
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$23,333,482.90 19,825,050.25
19,872,170.20 21,785,953.64
23,816,941.72 28,616,939.84 49,733,857.38
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BANK CLEARINGS.
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The records of the Flint Clearing House Association, as reported for
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
VILLAGE BANKS.
The First National Bank of Fenton was organized in the summer of
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New York, in 1830, with the family of his father, Elisha Cranson, and settled in the town of Webster, Washtenaw county. In 1833 Job Cranson removed to the township of Brighton, Livingston county, where he made the first purchase of land and became the first settler. Until his removal to Fenton in 1867 Mr. Cranson was engaged in farming, and after locating there was for a short time secretary of the Fenton Manufacturing Com- pany.
In 1880 there were three banks in Flint and two village banks. In 1916 there are four banks in Flint and fourteen village banks. In 1880 the combined deposits of the county banks were about four hundred thousand dollars. In 1916 they approximate eighteen millions. Since 1880 one state bank has been organized in Fenton, two in Flushing, one in Montrose, one in Clio, one in Otisville, and one in Davison, and private banks in Grand Blanc, Mt. Morris, Goodrich, Gaines, Swartz Creek and Linden. In 1880 there were five banks in Genesee county. In 1916 there are eighteen banks successfully conducted.
The Otisville State Bank was established in the village of Otisville in 1909. Its officers are: President, C. D. Doane; vice-president, Andrew Reece; cashier, A. Prosser. Its paid-up capital is $20,000, and the surplus, $5,000.
The Fenton State Savings Bank was established in 1908. Its officers are: President, C. J. Campbell; vice-president, J. M. Fikes; cashier, F. H. Hitchcock. Its paid-up capital is $25,000, and it has a surplus of $8,000.
The Peoples State Bank of Flushing was established in 1900. Its offi- cers are : President, I .. A. Vickery; vice-president, John H. Rowe; cashier, H. L. Mann. It has a paid-up capital of $25,000, and a surplus of $16,000.
The First State and Savings Bank of Flushing was established in 1881. Its officers are: President, F. A. Niles; vice-president, E. L. Cornwall; cashier, George Packard. It has a paid-up capital of $27,500, and surplus of $27,000.
The Montrose State Bank, in the village of Montrose, was established in 1889. Its officers are: President, F. P. Sayre; vice-president, A. B. Wood; cashier, W. A. Speer. Its paid-up capital is $20,000 and its surplus is $1,000.
The Clio State Bank, in the village of Clio, was established in 1885. Its officers are: President, Charles G. Matgen; vice-president, Thomas Oliff ; cashier, Charles E. Taylor. It has a paid-up capital of $25,000, and a sur- plus of $2,500.
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The Davison State Bank, in the village of Davison, was established in 1895. Its officers are: President, A. B. Cullen; vice-president, S. T. Hall; cashier, W. G. Billings; assistant cashier, M. A. McBratney. Its paid-up capital is $25,000, and its surplus, $14,000.
The Commercial Savings Bank, of Fenton, was established in 1898. Its officers are: President, E. C. Forte; vice-president, L. E. Becker; cashier, E. M. Newall. It has a paid-up capital of $25,000, and its surplus is $15,000.
The Citizens Bank, a private bank in the village of Gaines, was organ- ized in 1907. Its officers are: President, W. B. Cozadd; vice-president, A. T. Miller; cashier, George W. Chase, Jr.
The Bank of Goodrich, in the village of Goodrich, was organized in 1908. Its officers are: President, A. S. Wheelock; vice-president, Warren Green; cashier, R. E. Hebeler. Its paid-up capital is $5,000, and its surplus $1,200.
The Bank of Swartz Creek was organized in the village of Swartz Creek in 1906. Its officers are: President, C. J. Miller; vice-president, M. D. Davison; cashier, Frank Wildman; assistant cashier, W. L. Miller.
The Farmers Exchange Bank of Grand Blanc was organized in the village of Grand Blanc in 1908. Its officers are: President, F. J. Sawyer ; vice-president, Frank M. Perry; cashier, A. D. Gundry; assistant cashier, F. Larobardiere. Its paid-up capital is $5,000, and its surplus $2,000.
The Bank of Linden was organized in that village in 1889. Its officers are : President, James L. Spencer; cashier, F. F. Glerum. Its paid-up capital is $10,000.
The Bank of Mt. Morris, in the village of Mt. Morris, is a private bank established in 1903, by D. H. Power, of Pontiac, with a capital stock of $5,000. In 1905 Charles D. Stanley, of Mt. Morris, bought this bank and operated it until 1911, when he sold one-half interest in it to Edward C. Van De Walker, who at that time took over the active management. It has at present ( 1916) both a commercial and a savings department. Its officers are: Proprietors, Stanley & Van DeWalker ; cashier, E. C. Van DeWalker ; assistant cashier, M. V. Coddington.
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CHAPTER XVI.
THE PRESS.
The press has ever been one of the most potent agencies in the develop- ment of new country. It has been the people's forum and its editorial utter- ances have gone far toward cultivating a spirit of citizenship. The editor has been observer, critic, chronicler, biographer and historian, recording day by day, year by year, the rise and growth of a commonwealth.
In the year 1839 a small printing outfit, consisting of press, fixtures and type, was laboriously transported by team, canal and lake from a small town in New York state to Detroit and thence overland to Flint River by Joseph K. Averill, who issued The Flint River Gazette, the first newspaper ever printed in Genesee county. This publication existed for about two years, the only copy which is known to have been preserved being now in the possession of Mrs. George M. Dewey.
Mr. Averill, however, did not succeed in his venture, and a second paper, The Northern Advocate, was printed in 1840. This sheet did not survive for any length of time and was followed by the Genesee Gazette, another short-lived paper, which was issued by W. S. Denton & Company in 1842.
The Genesee Herald was the next newspaper to make its appearance, being published in 1843 by J. Dowd Coleman, but was shortly discontinued. This publication was followed by the Genesee County Democrat, but the period of its duration cannot be given.
The Flint Republican was issued in 1845 by Daniel S. Merritt, "terms $1.50 cash, or $2.00 in produce, in advance." This paper was not long afterwards acquired by Royal W. Jenny in 1848, its name being changed to the Genesee Democrat. Under different names, it continued to be printed until 1906 and in the sixty years of its existence exerted a widespread influence throughout Genesee and surrounding counties.
The Genesee Democrat was one of the three early newspapers which were destined to have a long and useful existence in this county, the other two being the Wolverine Citizen, founded in 1850 by Francis H. Rankin, and the Flint Globe, started in 1866 by Charles F. Smith, Henry S. Hilton and Robert Smith.
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The vicissitudes of journalistic life in those early days can only be appreciated by those who experienced them and the varying fortunes of our county papers are so identified with the personal characters of their pro- prietors that a history of the one is a biography of the other. The Demo- crat was no exception. Even the name Genesee Democrat is so intimately connected with its founder, Royal W. Jenny, that few of the residents of Flint who knew Mr. Jenny can think of the former without recalling the eminently popular nature and friendly disposition of the latter.
Mr. Jenny continued as proprietor and editor of the paper up to the time of his death in 1876. For some weeks after Mr. Jenny's death the paper was conducted by Mrs. Jenny, a gifted woman, who was also the author of a book of poems mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Jenny, however, soon disposed of the paper to H. N. Mather, who enlarged and improved it and added a Sunday edition.
Mr. Mather came to Genesee county in 1876 from New York state, where he had been engaged in the mercantile and milling business in Buffalo. He was born in West Bloomfield, New York, in 1827, receiving his educa- tion at Lima University, and was a well-read man. As editor of the Demo- cratic paper of Genesee county, he was alert and aggressive. He purchased the paper, fixtures and good will from Mrs. Jenny after the death of her husband for five hundred dollars. During Mr. Mather's editorship of the paper, he conducted it on political lines, from a Democratic standpoint. Upon leaving Flint in 1879, he went to Saginaw, where he edited the Saginaw Daily News for some years, changing his political affiliations and support- ing James G. Blaine during his candidacy for President. In later years Mr. Mather resided in Detroit, Michigan, where he passed away in 1909.
Mr. Mather disposed of the paper in 1878 to Jerome Eddy, then mayor of Flint. Mr. Eddy had previously been identified with the mercan- tile life of the county, being for a number of years in the lumbering business and operating a planing-mill in company with Artemus Thayer. During President Cleveland's administration he served as United States consul at Chatham, Canada.
The original Eddy homestead was at the corner of East Kearsley and Clifford streets, the site of which is now occupied by the Flint public library building. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy moved nearly forty years ago to their home on Church street. one of the most imposing homes of the colonial type of architecture in this part of Michigan. It was built by George Hazel-
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ton in the early thirties and is still occupied by Mrs. Eddy, a woman of charming personality and prominence in the social affairs of the community.
Mr. Eddy conducted the paper for a short time and then transferred the active managerial duties and editorship to his son, Arthur J. Eddy, who, a few years before, had graduated from the literary department of Harvard University, and was later married to Miss Lulu Orrell, a granddaughter of Governor Henry H. Crapo. Mr. Eddy is now a prominent corporation lawyer in Chicago and a writer of ability.
In 1884 the Eddys established, in connection with the Genesee Demo .. crat, the Daily News, and this, together with the Weekly Genesee Democrat, was purchased in 1887 by W. H. Werkheiser & Sons, of Easton, Pennsyl- vania.
From 1887 until 1905 Mr. Werkheiser and his two sons. George and Frank F. Werkheiser, edited the paper, the daily edition being known as the Daily News. Mr. Werkheiser had previously had considerable experience in newspaper work, in 1867 editing a Democratic paper, the Evening Mail, in Philipsburg, New Jersey, and also being financially interested in the Saltsburg (Pa.) Press. The city editorship of the Daily News during this period was capably handled by Mr. George Werkheiser, who enjoyed the reputation of having been the most active newsgatherer the county had ever known. Mr. Werkheiser is now editing a paper in Alderson, West Virginia.
In 1905, when the paper passed into the hands of W. V. Smith, of Olean, New York, it had become a publication of broad influence through- out the community. Shortly afterward it was absorbed by H. H. Fitz- gerald.
The Wolverine Citizen was founded in 1850 by Mr. F. H. Rankin, being known in its infancy as the Genesee Whig, and was destined to have a long and useful existence in Genesee county. About six years after it was first started the name was changed to The Wolverine Citizen and Gene- see Whig, but later the latter half of its designation was dropped.
The history of the Wolverine Citizen is intimately connected with the history of the county. Under the agitation caused by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, the Genesee Whig strongly favored the formation of the Republican party, and from 1854 until 1915 was known as a Repub- lican journal, of the most stalwart type. Its editor was actively instru- mental in reorganizing the anti-slavery elements of the old Whig and Demo- cratic parties of Genesee county, having been, while chairman of the Whig county committee, also chosen chairman of an independent central county committee at a convention of electors of Genesee county held in September.
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1854, for the purpose of uniting the anti-slavery strength against the at- tempted encroachments of the slave power upon the guaranteed free terri- tory of the nation. The language of the call for the meeting invited all "opposed to the 'Nebraska swindle' and the extension of slavery in the national domain." For eighteen months during the Civil War the Wol- verine Citizen was conducted as a daily, and wielded a great influence in be- half of the Federal cause. In its long career it can boast of having been the graduating school of a number of young men who later gained prom- inence in the field of Michigan journalism. Among the earlier members of this fraternity were : Hon. W. R. Bates, late of the Lumberman's Gazette ; C. B. Turner, of the Pontiac Gazette; R. L. Warren, of the Lawrence Ad- vertiser : Morgan Bates, Jr., late of the Marshall Statesman; E. D. Cowles, of the Saginawe Daily Courier; W. A. Smith, of the Charlevoix Sentinel; Harry Hall, of the Stuart Locomotive; Charles Fellows, of the Flint Jour- nal; Orlando White, of the Linden Record, and A. M. Woodin, of the Lansing Sentinel.
Francis H. Rankin, the editor of the Wolverine Citisen, was a native of County Down, Ireland, being reared and educated in his native land. He came to America in 1848 and located in Michigan, at Pontiac, where he learned the printer's trade. He came to Genesee county in 1850, where for the remainder of his days he was a prominent factor through his journalistic activity in promoting the interests of the community. At the time of his death he was not only the oldest editor in the county, but in the state he. had longest held control of a single paper. He was a finely educated man and his editorials were most scholarly. He was also the author of a number of poems which were published in Blackwood's Magazine. His wife, the daughter of an Episcopalian clergyman in Ireland, the Rev. Richard T. Hearn, of County Longford, was a woman of fine mind and brilliant con- versational powers. She was a leader in social and civic affairs and was one of the organizers of the Ladies' Library Association.
After the death of Mr. Rankin, the paper continued to be published by his son, Francis H. Rankin, the second of the name. Mr. Rankin has been for many years a member of the board of education and has also served for some years as one of the trustees for the Michigan school for the deaf. Under his direction the paper was published up to 1915, when it was finally discontinued.
The Flint Globe was established in August, 1866, the original proprie- tors being Charles F. and Robert Smith and Henry S. Hilton. The office was located in the second story of what was known as the Union block, on Sagi-
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naw street. Mr. Hilton was the managing editor, Mr. Smith having charge of the printing department and the general business of the office. W. H. Brainard and Sumner Howard were successively engaged as local editors. The concern was purchased by Almon L. Aldrich in August, 1869. In the summer of 1870 the office was moved to the third story of the Covert block, corner of Saginaw and First streets, for the sake of additional room and in order to give the editor a sanctum apart from the composing and press- rooms. However, the office being in the third story, it became necessary for its removal to some building in which the first floor could be utilized for the presses. No such building offered itself at a reasonable rent. The proprie- tor, therefore, purchased a lot on the corner of Kearsley and Brush streets, and in the month of July, 1870, commenced the erection of a building as a permanent home for the Globe.
Mr. Aldrich had been a newspaper man prior to his removal to Genesee county, having been the editor of the St. Joe Traveler, at St. Joseph, Michi- gan, for some years. He was a man of ability, being a graduate of the liter- ary department of the University of Michigan in 1860, after having re- ceived an academical course in several schools of New York state, his for- mer home.
: The Globe was Republican in politics and exercised its due share of influence in directing public affairs and public sentiment. It was many times chosen as the official paper of the city. Some of the former proprietors of the Globe were: Charles F. Smith, who, soon after leaving the Globe, re- moved to Kansas and for two years held the office of treasurer of Labette' county ; Henry S. Hilton, who later was editor and proprietor of the Clinton Republican, at St. Johns, Clinton county, Michigan; and Robert Smith, who was: owner and editor of the Gratiot Journal, published at Ithaca, Gratiot county, Michigan, one of the most ably conducted and successful papers in the state. Among those who were connected with the Globe as local editors may be mentioned Louis R. Pomeroy, now deceased; M. L. Seeley, later residing in Genesee township, in this county; Will F. Clarke, later deputy collector of internal revenue in this district; Henry H. Gibson, later of Grand Rapids, and Harry Snedicor, later of Chicago. In 1899 the Globe was pur- chased by James Slocum, publisher of the Holly Advertiser.
Mr. Slocum, who was a practical newspaper man, became prominently identified with the affairs of the county during his three years as editor, and printed also the Daily Globe, a bright, aggressive publication devoted to the interests of the community. In 1902, however, he disposed of both papers to E. J. Ottaway, of Port Huron, and later became the editor of The
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Gleaner, which was published in Detroit. A few months later Mr. Ottaway sold the papers to H. H. Fitzgerald, of St. Johns, Michigan. About this time Mr. Fitzgerald also purchased the Daily Journal, which he consolidated with The Globe into the Weekly Globe and Daily Journal. During the years which Mr. Fitzgerald owned and edited the Daily Journal the population of the county, and more especially the city, increased greatly, the result of the many large manufacturing industries which located in Flint, and problems of a perplexing nature were constantly confronting the editor. These, how- ever, were wisely commented upon and Mr. Fitzgerald's influence as a news- paper man of ability and discretion was widely recognized throughout the county and state. During his management the Daily Journal became one of the leading dailies of Michigan.
In 1911 Mr. Fitzgerald disposed of his interests to the Booth Publish- ing Company, and Charles M. Greenway, a newspaper man of ability, as editor-in-chief, and Myles F. Bradley, managing editor, have for the past five years conducted the Flint Daily Journal, which now has a circulation of over twenty thousand copies. The paper maintains a high standard and has a large circulation, covering a territory twenty-five miles in each direction from its place of publication.
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