USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
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When the fires of treason burst forth into the great war of the Rebellion, the loyal State of Michigan gave to the cause of the Union no more earnest and ardent a supporter than Col. Edward Thomson. Although hie political opinions had ever been opposed to those of Gov. Blair, he received at his hands an appointment as a member of the State military board, and, upon the resig- nation of Gen. A. S. Williams, of Detroit, in 1862, became its president. This position gave him the military title by which he has since been generally known. Throughout the war he was intensely patriotic, and as untiring as he was successful in his efforts to promote enlistments. So high did he stand in the estimation of the Goveroor and of Adj .- Gen. Robertsoo that, in the face of the settled policy of the Governor not to establish regimental camps of organization away from railway communication, he procured the order naming Flint (which then had no railroad) as a rendezvous of the Tenth Infantry, whose camp was thereupon established there, and named in his honor Camp Thomson. An officer of that regiment afterwards said of the circumstance :
"Col. Thomson directed the formation of the camp, and so fully and com- pletely cared for the wants of the soldiers that he found a place in their hearts as the soldier's friend, and will not soon be forgotten. We learned to look upon him as a kind of father and always called him 'colonel,' and to this day he bears that title whenever his name is spoken among us."
When his influence and energy were no longer needed in the raising of troops, Col. Thomson returned again to his profession and to the quiet enjoy- ment of social life in the city of Flirt. Shortly afterwards he was elected a member of the school board of education, and in 1878 was elected mayor of the city of Flint.
For many years Col. Thomson has been an ardent and enthusiastic student of English literature, and in particular of the works of the immortal Bard of Avon. His Shakspearean readings and lectures, which are frequently and freely given in aid of charitable and other benevolent objects, are always re- ceived with high favor and appreciation, as is evidenced by the invariably favorable notices of them given in the newspapers. In 1869, upon the occa- sion of his consenting to deliver a lecture in Lansing upon the "Genius of Shakspeare," for the benefit of the Reform School Band, the Lansing State Re- publican said :
"The offer is generous; the object of it one that not only the citizens of Lansing, but the members of the Legislature ean fully appreciate, and the subject one which will be treated by him in a masterly manner. His ability as a critic of the immortal dramatist and poet has long been recognized. Ila is a gentleman, a fine speaker, and will do full justice to the passages he inny repeat for the entertainment of his hearers. And we may also add that the city of Lansing has always had a warm and earnest friend in Col. Thomson."
And a lecture of his, delivered at Howell upon the same subject, was thus mentioned by the Livingston Republican : "Mr. Thomson is a Shakspenrean enthusiast, and seems to possess the maximum of enthusiasm which will be satisfied with nothing short of knowing to the uttermost everything connected with its subject. In literary gossip he is set down as one of the lions among Shakspearean litterateurs, and is said to possess one of the finest Shakspearean libraries in the United States. Ile is a fine elocutionist, a pleasant speaker, and we should like to listen again for an evening to such passages of his favorite author as he might select to rend." Similar complimen- tary opinions find frequent utterance through the press, and are always sus- tained by the public who compose his audiences.
Col. Thomson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, has just passed the chair of grand master in the I. O. O. F., and is now the grand representative to the grand lodge of the order at the city of Baltimore.
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FLINT CITY.
The mercantile interests have advanced from the Indian store and trading-post of Rufus W. Stevens, in 1834, until to-day there are over 100 mercantile houses of various kinds, whose aggregate sales will amount to more than $2,000,000 yearly.
The railroads centering here do an immense business in freights. During the year 1877 the shipments from this city by these avenues of commerce amounted to 45, 118,500 feet of lumber, 1,360,000 pounds of live-stock, 8105 bar- rels of flour, and 13,379,900 pounds of grain.
Here are located the grounds of the Genesee County Agricultural Society, also the Flint Riding-Park Associa- tion, which together have developed the raising of very fine stock in and near the city.
The State Institution for the Education of the Deaf, Dumb, and the Blind is located on a commanding height in the southwestern part of the city. It is surrounded with grounds many aeres in extent, tastefully laid out, and covered with fine groves of native forest trees.
Among other public edifices are seven commodious school- buildings, the county court-house, jail, and a city building for the accommodation of the Common Council and fire department. These are all large, well-arranged, and costly buildlings. The court-house and high-school are each sur- rounded by spacious grounds.
The city is amply supplied with ten church edifices, viz. : three Methodist Episcopal (one colored), and one each of the Protestant Episcopal, Adventists, Catholic, Baptist, Congregationalist, German Evangelical, and Presbyterian.
An efficient fire department, consisting of two steamers, trucks, and hose companies, guard and protect the interests ,of her citizens against the ravages of the fiery element.
Two militia companies-the Fiint Union Blues and Cadets-have their headquarters and drill-room in Armory Ilall, which is provided for their use by the State.
The banks consist of the First National and Citizens' National, banks of issue, and the Genesee County Savings- Bank.
The press is ably represented by the Wolverine Citizen, Flint Globe, Genesee Democrat, and Flint Journal.
The public halls are Fenton Hall, Reform Hall, and Armory Ilall, the former being the most pretentious.
RAILROADS.
An ancient embankment of covered and rotting timbers is pointed out in the city as the foundation of a railroad laid, with considerable enthusiasm, away back in the year 1837. This was part of a projected railroad to connect Port Huron with Grand Haven, and which Gen. Charles C. Hascall contracted to build from the western limits of Genesee County to the county-scat of Lapeer County. Work was pushed vigorously for a time, but, through some difficulty in getting expected State aid and from other causes, work upon it was suspended, and all projects looking to- wards a road in this direction were given a rest until 1871, when a road extending from Port Huron to Flint was com- pleted, as the Port Huron and Lake Michigan Railroad. In 1877 the Chicago and Northeastern Railroad, extend- ing from Flint to Lansing, was placed in running order. These two roads were then consolidated as part of the line
of the Chicago and Lake Huron Railroad, and continued as such until the purchase of the Chicago and Northeast- ern by Vanderbilt.
The first locomotive reached the city over the line of the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway, from the north, Dec. 8, 1862. This event was celebrated amidst general re- juicing, and a grand banquet held at the Carlton House.
The work upon the Flint and Holly Railroad was com- meneed in the summer of 1863, and by the untiring energy of Governor Crapo, president of the company, seconded by the leading business men of Flint, it was graded, tied, ironed, and ready for the rolling-stock in about eighteen months, and, it is said, at a cost much less than any equal length of road in the State was ever constructed, wages and cost of material considered. The money for the work was largely advanced by Governor Crapo and his friends in the East, and the company was further fortunate in having secured the iron at ante-war prices. The trip of the first locomotive, the "City of Flint," Nov. 1, 1864, was the occasion of great rejoicing, as it was the first outlet to the South. A few years later the road was sold to the Flint and Pere Mar- quette Company at a handsome advance upon its original cost, and has since been operated by that company as part of its through line. It has since built the Flint River Di- vision, a branch road extending from Fiint to Otter Lake, for the benefit of the extensive lumber interests of that region.
The opening of these several roads gave Flint good railroad outlets east, west, north, and south, and stimulated, directly, or indirectly, all its material interests. They bring it within twenty miles by rail of Lapeer, sixty-six of Port Huron, seventeen of Holly, fifty- seven of Wayne, one hundred and eight of Toledo, fifty-one of Lausing, thirty- four of East Saginaw, forty-seven of Bay City, one hundred and seventy-two of Ludington, sixty-four of Detroit by way of the Milwaukee road, or seventy-five by the Michigan Central, and nineteen miles of Otter Lake, on the Detroit and Bay City road. Previous to the opening of the rail- roads these points had to be reached by foot or stage-coach, under delays almost incredible by their contrast with the present facilities for travel. Under the direction of Wil- liam Clifford a line of stage-coaches was established through Flint over the old military road, which was considered a model of dispatch in its day. Under favorable circum- stances a man could take the stage at Flint, go to Detroit and return in three days, but the ordinary time was four days. By the same conveyance Pontiac could be reached in from eight to twelve hours. After the Milwaukee road had been extended west of Pontiac the stage-route was changed to Fenton, but a trip to Detroit was still a very laborious undertaking, while the hauling of produce and lumber, except to purchasers within the county, was very limited.
The Flint and Pere Marquette Railway enters the cor- poration on the south, one and a quarter miles south of the centre of the city, crosses the Thread, and follows the gen- cral course of the Flint on the southeast bank till it passes Saginaw Street ; then, crossing over, it leaves the corpora- tion limits north of the river, and at some distance from it. The Chicago and Lake Huron Railroad enters the corpora-
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HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tion limits in the east, runs northwesterly to the Flint, then southwesterly, and, after crossing and recrossing the river, passes out of the city limits to the left of Glenwood.
The depot of the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway is situated at the foot of Beach Street; that of the Port Iluron and Lake Michigan Railroad at the foot of Harri- son street.
EARLY STAGE AND MAIL ROUTES.
As early as 1833, Joshua Terry had a contract for carry- ing the mails over the route between Pontiac and Saginaw. Ilis trips were made weekly, and he had limited accommo- dations for passengers. Upon the establishment of the land- and post-offiees at Flint River village, William Clifford ran a line of stages to Pontiac. This line was continued under various managements until the completion of a through route by railway. In an early number of the Whig we find the following advertisement of Messrs. Pettee & Boss, stage proprietors :
" CHEAP AND RAPID RIDING.
" The stage for Pontiac leaves Flint each morning (Sundays ex- cepted), stopping at Grand Blane, Stony Run, Groveland, Springfield, Clarkston, Austin, and Waterford, and arrives at Pontine in time to enable passengers to take the cars the same day for Detroit.
" E. N. PETTEE, "A. J. Boss, " Proprietors.
"FLINT, March 23, 1850."
POSTMASTERS.
With the opening of the United States land-office in Flint came the necessity for the establishment of a post- office, and Lyman Stow received the appointment of post- master. It is stated that Judge Stow made an excellent public servant, and for the first six months not only carried letters in his hat* and the way-bills in his breeches pocket, but was kind enough on many occasions to turn himself into a delivery elerk.
John Todd was the proud individual to whom the first letter was addressed, and later became the second incum- bent of the office. The third was William P'. Crandall; the fourth, William Moon; the fifth, Col. A. T. Crosman. Ephraim S. Williams, who had served as the first postmuas- ter at Saginaw, and continued eight years, next followed Col. Crosman, and officiated a like period of time in Flint. He was succeeded by Washington O'Donoughne, who also served eight years .. William Traey followed next, and held the office one presidential term and a fraction over, John Algoe filling the office until the reappointment of Mr. O'Dononghue. The latter gentleman continued in office until April, 1879, when he was succeeded by Francis HI. Rankin, the present postmaster of the city.
FIRST NEWSPAPER.
The first newspaper, The Flint River Gazette, was started by Joseph K. Averill, in 1839. For further par- ticulars concerning this and all other Genesee County papers sinee established, the reader is referred to the chap- ter on the " Press" in the general history.
* Mr. Leonard Wesson claims to be in possession of this identical bat at the present time.
TELEGRAPH.
Telegraphic communication was first opened in Decem- ber, 1858, by a line from Flint to Fentonville, connecting with the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad. The work was done by William W. True, and the first operator at Flint was Miles D). MeAlester, a graduate of West Point, who afterwards gained distinction as major of United States En- gineers and brevet brigadier-general United States Army.
EARLY TAVERNS AND PRESENT HOTELS.
The earliest tavern or hotel in Flint was the " River Ilouse," built and first kept by John Todd, as already no- ticed. It was presided over at different periods by A. F. Hayden, Lewis Buckingham, Wait Beach, - Mason, and in 1838 by William Clifford, who established a line of stages running from Flint to Pontiac. Finding the capacity of the River House too limited for his inereasing patronage, he purchased the " Northern Hotel," which had been built and kept for a short time by Captain Crane. The latter house then became the headquarters for the stage-line.
The " Genesee House" was built by Thomas J. Drake in 1837, and stood at the apex formed by Detroit and Sagi- naw Streets. The ground was afterwards purchased by the city. After Drake, Cornelius Roosevelt was landlord, and was succeeded by S. W. Gibson, and he, in 1843, by W. R. Scoville. Mr. Allen next became proprietor, to be suc- ceeded by Mr. Pettee, after which Jared Mason became " mine host." Mr. Mason subsequently built the " Carl- ton House," which stood upon the site of the present Bry- ant House, and was first opened Jan. 1, 1856. This hotel was afterwards changed to the " Irving House," and was destroyed by fire.
The present hotels are the Bryant, a spacious and well- appointed house, eligibly situated upon Saginaw Street ; the Thayer House, near the Ffint and Pere Marquette Railway depot, which has a well-established and enviable reputation ; and the Sherman, ; the Central, the City Hotel, and the Brotherton.
MILLS AND MANUFACTURING.
The first mill of any description erected within the city limits of to-day was the saw-mill commenced and finished by Rufus W. Stevens in 1830. It was situated upon the Thread River above the present " Thread Mills." In 1834, Rufus W. and Augustus C. Stevens established the " Thread Grist-Mill." For many subsequent years this mill supplied a wide belt of country, extending from beyond the south- ern boundary of Genesee County to Saginaw. Thread Mills was then the great objective point, and to it all early resi- dents in this region wended their way when in quest of flour. Many middle-aged men reside in this and adjoining counties to-day who remember the fact that their first men- orable trip outside and beyond the view offered from their own " clearing" was when they first accompanied their father, with his slowly-toiling ox-team, to the " Thread," which meant the will.
The pine and lumbering interests, which in years past have contributed greatly to the prosperity of Flint, first at- traeted the attention of business men and the thought of
+ Burned June 10, 1879.
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FLINT CITY.
erecting mills upon the Flint River in 1835, when Rufus W. Stevens, James McCormick, and their heirs were au- thorized by an act of the Legislative Council of the Terri- tory of Michigan, approved March 30, 1835, to con- struct a dam across the Flint River at the crossing of the Saginaw turnpike.
However, nothing seems to have been done by Messrs. Stevens & McCormick after obtaining their franchise, and mill matters on the Flint were in abeyance until 1836, when Messrs. Stage & Wright erected their first dam and saw-mill. The Hydraulic Association, Chauncey S. Payne, senior partner, soon followed with another mill.
Compared with the mammoth mills which have followed it, and given the city its leading industry, this pioneer mill of Messrs. Stage & Wright was a small concern driven by water and having but a small capacity. It was sold about 1840 to Stevens & Pearson, who ran it a few years, when Mr. Stevens was succeeded in the firm by John Hamilton, and later still Mr. Hamilton bought out the interest of his partner, Mr. Pearson, and became sole pro- prietor. About 1844 he added a grist-mill, and three years later sold both to his sons, William and Oliver Hamilton, and his son-in-law, Cornelius Roosvelt. The latter soon after sold out to the two brothers, and, Oliver dying in 1852, William became sole proprietor, and has since remained so. The mill has, of course, been greatly changed since first it polluted the clear waters of the Flint with its fish-killing sawdust, but is still courteously regarded as the same old mill. The United States census of 1850 credits Flint with only two saw-mills, Stage & Wright's, and another, built by the " Grand Traverse Hydraulie Associa- tion," afterwards known as Crapo's old or lower mill.
The capacity of the Stage & Wright, and the lower, or Crapo Mills, in 1849, was 3,500,000 feet of lumber. In 1850 these mills sawed 5,200,000 feet. At the same period there was but one steam engine in Flint, and that a small one in Elias Williams' pail-factory.
Seven mills in 1854, viz., four steam- and three water- mills, had a capacity for manufacturing 16,800,000 feet. It was at this time that the reputation of Flint as a lumber market because established. The plank-roads and the river* furnished an outlet, but comparatively no great market was looked for beyond one of home consumption, until the late Governor Crapo commenced his wonderful operations in 1856. He, with that forethought which characterized all his business movements, conceived the idea of not only coming into competition with the principal lumbering marts of the Eastern and Middle States, but of carrying it ocean-wise. The impetus thus begun was soon followed by Alexander McFarlan, William Hamilton, and others.
At a later day the Messrs. Begole, Atwood, Fox, Car- penter, Smith, Eddy, and many others equally enterpris- ing, have by untiring industry and a strict attention to the details of business, added much to the stability and wealth of the city.
Brief historical sketches of the present leading manufac- tories are herewith appended.
CRAPO'S MILLS.
Henry H. Crapo, the founder of the present large Inmu- bering interest in Flint, came to this State late in the year 1855. Ilis first venture here was the purchase of a large tract of pine land in Lapeer County, and what was known as the " Driggs Tract" of 12,000 acres, paying therefor $150,000 cash. It was his intention at the time to lumber this tract and float the logs to Saginaw, but shortly after, or early in 1856, he visited Flint, and became satisfied that it was the point at which to manufacture this timber into lumber.
In October, 1856, he purchased the saw-mill known as the " Walkley" mill, situated on the site where the " big" mill now stands. During the summer of 1857 he ran this mill, manufacturing about 2,000,000 feet of lumber, which was considered in those days an extensive business. This mill being shut in by the property of MeQuigg, Turner & Co., owners of the mill near the dam, he conceived the plan of purchasing that also, and in the fall of 1857 effected its purchase, and ran both mills during the season of 1858, manufacturing about 7,000,000 feet of lumber.
In March, 1858, having his business thoroughly estab- lished, he returned to New Bedford, Mass., where his family were residing, and moved West with them. After this time the "old mills" were improved by the addition of new machinery, and were soon run to a capacity of 12,000,000 feet per annum, and this before any railroad was projected to Flint.
Before the construction of the Flint and Holly Railroad (which was built by his energy and the help of his Eastern friends, and the only railroad in Michigan ever built with cash, having no debt when completed ) the good lumber sawed at these mills was hanled with teams to Holly and Fentonville, to the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad, and from these points shipped East and South.
In 1860 he purchased on the opposite side of the Flint River the mill known as the " Busenbark" mill, which he ran two years and afterwards sold.
In 1864 the large planing-mill, sash-, door-, and blind- factory was built and added to his business, and has since been ruu, turning ont annually many million feet of dressed lumber, as well as large quantities of sash, doors, blinds, mouldings, boxes, etc.
The old " Walkley" mill was destroyed by fire in the scason of 1865, but fortunately but little lumber was burned with it, owing to the rule always adhered to of keeping the space about the mills clean. Hardly had the ruins of this mill become cold, when the debris was cleared away and the foundation of the present " big" mill was laid, and was running in 1866.
This mill, with the old mill at the dam, had a capacity for sawing over 20,000,000 feet per annum, and they were run to nearly that limit until the old mill was burned in 1877, which has not been rebuilt.
This immense amount of lumber sawed has found a market principally at the East and South, and some of it has even been shipped to San Francisco ria Cape Horn.
" FLINT AS A Ponr. - A local paper of March 27, 1852, furnishes the following item :
" Pint of Flint-Arrivals and Departures .- Departed, scow ' Kate Hayes,' Captain Charles Mather."
Benjamin S. Glover was the builder of this szow.
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IIISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The saw-mill and planing-mill are now both supplied with all the modern improvements for the manufacture of lumber and sash, doors, blinds, mouldings, packing-boxes, etc.
Henry II. Crapo, the founder of this large business and Governor of Michigan for two terms,-1864-68,-died at Flint in July, 1869, but the business has been conducted since without any material change under the able manage- ment of his only son, Hon. William W. Crapo, who resides at New Bedford, Mass.
Mr. Crapo visits Flint quite often, to look after the busi- ness personally. Governor Crapo was fortunate in his choice of subordinates to assist him in his enterprise, and always observed the rule to keep men that were faithful to his in- terests. Zach Chase, the present chief clerk, has been un- interruptedly in the service of the establishment since March, 1858. 11. P. Cristy, the present popular superintendent of the mills, has served about eighteen years ; James Page, bookkeeper, ten years; and there are many more in subor- dinate capacities who have been in its employment since the business was established.
The estate has yet pine lands on the Flint River, with timber enough to run the mills for several years to come.
In connection with the yards and mills at Flint, there has been kept at Detroit a retail yard, and at present there are two in that city under the able management of II. II. 11. C. Smith, who has served the estate since 1858. There was also formerly a retail yard at Fenton, and one at llolly, but both have within a few years been discontinued.
The Eastern market is under the management of Charles A. White, with an office at No. 51 Kilby Street, Boston, Mass.
LUMBER-MILLS OF BEGOLE, FOX & CO.
This business was established in September, 1865, the partners being Josiah W. Begole, David S. Fox, and George L. Walker. They rank among the heaviest lumber dealers in the city, and are large manufacturers of lath and shin- gles.
Their capital embraces about $25,000 in mill property and 850,000 in stock, and their annual business reaches an aggregate of $100,000 per annum.
ALEXANDER M. FARLAN'S MILLS,
The business of Mr. McFarlan was established in Octo- ber, 1850, the firm at that time having been Hazleton & McFarlan. In May of the following year the mills were destroyed by fire, and Mr. MeFarlan purchased the interest of his partner and rebuilt. In April of 1863 they were again burned, and immediately rebuilt. Again, in 1871, they were pursued by fire and destroyed, and the present mills erected.
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