History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 51

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 51
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 51

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MINERAL WELL.

Having secured the consent of the county, the village caused an artesian well to be sunk in the court-house yard, near the west entrance, in 1870-71. This well, which is 676 feet deep, was bored by James A. Stevens, and cost $1200. From it flows a constant stream, which is con- ducted (the waste) into Sycamore Creek through a tile- drain laid in the summer of 1880. The waters from this well are strongly impregnated with iron and other mineral substances, and are beneficial in numerous disorders of the human system.

HOTELS.

The first hotels in the place have been mentioned else- where. The present frame " American Hotel," owned and conducted by F. P. Moody since 1869, was originally built for a private dwelling, and about 1854-55 was converted into a hotel by John S. Griffin, who, if living, is now in California. Numerons others were proprietors of the house afterwards, and before Mr. Moody took charge. The latter, formerly from Batavia, Genesec Co., N. Y., lived in Leslie about nine years before removing to Masou.

The " Clark House," also a frame building, was erected by William II. Clark in 1876. He had previously been engaged for some years in the livery business, and built his present barn in 1868. Mr. Clark, who was formerly from Batavia, Genesce Co., N. Y., came to Bunker Hill town- ship, Ingham Co., with his parents in 1843, having pre-

& Spencer removed from the village ia 1871, and Lucian Reed was appointed to fill vacancy, but did not qualify, and If. L. Henderson was appointed.

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CITY OF MASON.

viously lived a short time in Lenawee County. His father, Abijah L. Clark, is now deceased ; his mother and others of the family yet reside in Bunker Hill.

The " Donnelly House," a large brick building, three stories in height, was commenced in 1869 by H. J. Don- nelly, and finished Feb. 22, 1870. Mr. Donnelly has since continued as its proprietor. He came to Mason in 1861, and for three years kept the " American House." He was afterwards constable and deputy sheriff, and for some time landlord of the old " Mason House," originally known as the " Mason Exchange." The latter house was the one in which he was last domiciled before building the one he now owns. The " Donnelly" is the principal, as it is the largest, hotel in the city, and enjoys a good patronage.

NEWSPAPERS.

The following items are from a printed article which ap- pears in the records of the Ingham County Pioncer Society :

"The first paper published in Mason, or in the county, was the Ingham Telegraph (neutral), hy M. A. Childs. The first number appeared in April, 1842. At that day it was useless to attempt to keep up the publication of newspapers in the new counties of the State unless they bad the advantage of publishing the tax-lists. At the election in this county in 1842, Jason B. Packard, Esq., then late of Jackson, was elected county treasurer. There was a delinquent tax-list to be published in January following, which Mr. Packard ah- solutely refused to publish in the Telegraph, but made arrange- ments with G. W. Raney and R. S. Cheney, of Jackson, to establish a Democratic paper in Mason, and publish the tax-list ; consequently Mr. Childs moved his establishment to De Witt, Clinton Co.

" In due time the Jackson firm sent material to Masen and com- menced the publication of a paper. The tax-list was put in form at Jackson and brought to Mason, and a boy did all the work of the establishment. After about ten months this lad committed an act which rendered him odious to the community, and be returned to Jackson. Then appeared one James H. Wells to do the work on said paper. About the same time the name of Mr. Cheney was withdrawn as one of the proprietors, and probably the name of Mr. Wells ap- peared as editer and publisher. The last number of the sheet ap- peared just before the election in 1844.

"At the session of the Legislature in 1844 the control of publishing the tax-lists was given to county treasurers, each in his own county.

" At the election in 1844, that able man and staunch Whig, the late George Matthews, Esq., universally esteemed fer bis noble traits of character and many good deeds, was elected treasurer of this county. The election of Mr. Matthews, it was believed, offered a good opper- tunity for the establishment of a Whig paper in the county. J. H. Child and H. P. Stillman purchased of Mr. Raney the printing material in Mason, and in December, 1844, commenced the puhli- cation of the Ingham Herald. In January following they entered into a contract with the county treasurer to do the tax advertising of the county. At that time the influence of the Democratic press of the State was all-powerful. In several counties Whig treasurers bad been elected, and some of the 'spoils' were liable to go to the enemy. So the Democratic Legislature, on or about the 21st of March, 1845, passed an act restoring to the auditor-general the entire control of the tax advertising.

"Storey# & Cheney, of the Jackson Patriot, immediately packed printing materials for publishing a paper, and started the same for Eaton County, under the charge of , now of Lansing. They found the field already occupied by a party fromn Marshall. Then 'twas right-about-face. They made up from the columns of the Patriot forms for a newspaper, christened it The Ingham Democrat, and took said forms to the village of Leslie and the office of lion. Henry Fiske, then judge of Probate of this county, and formerly president of the wildcat bank of Kensington, and there with a brush printed off a few copies of the Democrat. Judge Fiske made

affidavit that the paper was printed in Ingham County, and with that affidavit and a copy of said paper, they posted off to Detreit and placed them in the hands of the auditer-general, and that officer, on the Ist day of April, designated the Ingham Democrat to do the tax advertising of this county fer that year.

" Almost the first intimation the people of Mason had that another paper was about to be published in the county was a rumor that a jaded span of horses with a wagen freighted with printing materials was coming towards town, through the mud and mire, on the old Columbia road. After being dragged through the swamps and sloughs of Eaten County and part of those of Ingham in search of a tax-list, the material found a resting-place in the village of Mason.

" For several weeks no one appeared to take charge of the Ingham. Democrat. Some time in May, Mr. Child, of the Herald, entered into articles of agreement with Storey & Cheney to publish the Democrat in their name until the conclusion of the advertising, and to purchase the establishment. About one-third of the purchase price was paid dowo. Whatever amount was realized from publishing the list was to be placed to the credit of Mr. Cheney. After the list was placed in form, ready for publication, Storey & Cheney replevined and re- moved the materials. Again appeared the obnoxious youth before referred to as employed by another Jackson firm to print their paper io Mason, and whe had suddenly disappeared from the village.

"These proceedings created a good deal of ill feeling and excite- ment. But a few days passed, when one night most of the materials were removed from the Democrat office, ne one knew whither. After a series of years some of them were found scereted in several places about town. The proprietors of the Democrat sent on other material and concluded the advertising. Soon after Mr. Stillman withdrew from the Herald, and, with the assistance of Judge Danforth and Dr. MeRobert, purchased the Democrat office and continued the publica- tion of the paper ontil October, 1847. The names of E. B. Danforth and Minos MeRobert appeared as proprietors.

" Mr. Child continued the publication of the Herald for a year or more after the withdrawal of Mr. Stillman."

That the Ingham Democrat was emphatically a county paper is shown by its advertisements, which came from all parts of the county. A copy of the paper, dated Dec. 28, 1846, being number 31 of volume 2, has been consulted, and among the advertisements it was found to contain were the following :

" Amos E. Steele, Notary Public for Ingham County. Office at the Western llotel, Masen, Mich., where he will at all times be ready to attend to conveyancing, taking acknowledgments of decds, and all other business in his line."

" N. Dow Tunnicliff, Attorney and Counselor at Law ; office in the Register's office, north side of the Public Square, Mason, Mich."

"Edward Crafts, Indian Botanic Physician and Surgeon ; office at his residence, one mile south of the village of Mason. All calls in his profession promptly attended to."

Others were those of Silas Beebe, merchant, at Stock- bridge ; Joseph Woodhouse and V. H. Powell, notaries public, at Leslie ; Amaziah Winchell, notary public, town of Ingham ; Stockbridge House, by O. Williams, at Stock- bridge ; Mason Branch, master in chancery and justice of the peace, at Stockbridge; John C. Obear, tailor, at Mason ; Minos McRobert and John W. Phelps, physicians and surgeons, at Mason ; II. D. Post & Co., dealers in shingles, at Mason, etc. Several estrays were advertised, and Abijah L Clark, of Bunker Hill, offered for sale a pair of horses and a harness. A. E. Steele, at the Western Hotel, wanted 100 pounds of live geese feathers. Alfred H. Keyes, of Wheatfield, gave notice that he had given his son, Harrison M. Keyes, his time, and Myron Abbott, of Ingham, warned all persons against harboring or trusting his wife, Mary, on his account, she having left his " bed and board without any just cause or provocation." W.

# Wilbur F. Storcy, now of the Chicago Times.

20S

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Horton, of Mason, advertised a stock of groceries for sale cheap. J. P. Cowles had a farm to let at the village of Jefferson, in the township of Alaiedon. Two shooting- matches were advertised for New Year's day (Jan. 1, 1847), one by C. W. Shafer and O. Converse, and the other by N. Dow Tunnieliff.

The coldest day from December 20th to 28th, as shown by a " weather-table," was Monday, the 21st, when at six o'clock in the morning the mercury stood 8º above zero. The warmest was the Sunday following, when it rose to 50° above at the same hour, 57º at noon, and fell to 44º at six in the evening.

Notice was given that the Ingham County Musical As- sociation would meet at the court-house in Mason on the second Tuesday in January, and the annual meeting of the Lyceum was to be held on the first Saturday in January, whence it will be seen that a taste for musical and literary culture was thus early developed.

The marriage of Jerome E. Branch and Miss Livena Wood, of Stockbridge, on the 23d instant, was noticed. A portion of the President's annual message was given, which treated largely of the Mexican war. By the arrival of the " Cambria" at Boston, news " fifteen days later from Eu- rope" was received. The usual amount of advertising for patent medicines appeared, and the virtues of " Beekman's Pulmonie Syrup and Vegetable Essential Pills," and " Wis- tar's Balsam of Wild Cherry," were lauded in column puffs, all of which the publishers were doubtless glad to print.

The terms of the paper were: " One dollar and fifty cents per annum, iu advance ; twenty-five cents will be added to this amount if not paid within six months, and fifty cents if not paid during the year. All kinds of pro- duce will be received in payment at the highest price, and town and county orders taken at par." The advertising rates compared favorably with those of the present. In size the paper was twenty by twenty-eight inches, being a five-column folio.

This paper finally passed out of existence, and it was a considerable number of years before another Democratie paper was started in Mason. At length, however, on the 2d of June, 1876, the present Ingham County Democrat was established by J. V. Johnson, now of the Charlotte Leader. It was published by him until Oct. 1, 1877, when it was purchased by D. P. Whitmore, the present proprietor. The paper was started as a six-column quarto, but was reduced to a five-column quarto, which is its pres- ent size. Its circulation, Sept. 1, 1880, was 1224.

The Inghum County News was established in 1858 by D. B. Ilerrington, and in size was about a seven-column folio, afterwards increased to an eight-column folio, and now a six-column quarto. Mr. Herrington was its proprietor until about 1866, and was succeeded by K. Kittredge, now of the Eaton Rapids Journal. In 1875, Mr. Kittredge sold to W. F. Cornell, who conducted it about one year, and sold out to Otis, Fuller & Co. Mr. Fuller became sole proprietor in 1877, and built up the paper to its present excellent condition. In the summer of' 1880 it was sold to V. J. Tefft, the present proprietor. It is Republican in politics, and has a circulation of about 1700.

K. Kittredge, former publisher of the News, at one

time published a literary magazine. D. B. Herrington issued from his office at different times the Western Odd- Fellow and the Baptist Tidings. The place has at present but the two papers, the News and the Democrat, both of which are ably conducted and very creditable sheets.

BANKS.

Coatsworth, Smith & Co. conducted an exchange bus- iness in Mason for a year or more previous to 1866, the firm being composed of Mr. Coatsworth, now of Holland, Ottawa Co .; H. II. Smith, of Jackson ; and Dr. Minos McRobert, of Mason. H. L. Henderson came to the village in 1857, from Syracuse, N. Y., and in 1866 founded the private bank of H. L. Henderson & Co., and erected the present building occupied by the First National Bank, which is an outgrowth of the private institution.

The First National Bank* was organized Sept. 5, 1870, when stoek amounting to $80,000 was subscribed, the stockholders numbering twenty-nine. Among the heaviest were Henry L. Henderson, Minos MeRobert, Charles H. Sackrider, Charles E. Eaton, O. M. Barnes, H. T. Allen, A. Walker, and H. B. Hawley. Articles of association were adopted Oct. 29, 1870. The first board of directors

* The following, regarding the founders of this bank, is from an artiele ou the business interests of Mason, published in tho Ingham County News in 1875 :

MINOS McROBERT,

the oldest resident of this city, and the man who has invested the most eapital in the place, was born in Vermont, hut at an early age his parents removed to Clinton Co., N. Y. From that place he came to Michigan in 1837, when searcely a settlement had been made. For the first four years he practiced medieine here, but at the end of that time removed to a farm which he owned, situated near Grand River, eight miles west of Mason. Ile returned to Mason, however, in 1843, and sinee that time has continued to be a resident in this city. In 1847, in company with John Coatsworth, he bought the stock of dry- goods owned hy Smith & Case, and engaged in the mercantile pursuit for about six years. Again from 1867 to 1870 he was a member of the firm of Saekrider & MeRohert in the sale of dry-goods. He was an active physician until 1847, when he sold bis instruments and re- tired from the practice of his profession. He has assisted with eapi- tal in the ercetion of many buildings in the city, among which may be mentioned the Coatsworth store, the Phoenix mills, Stanton's plan- ing-mill, the stave-mill, and the handsome brick building occupied by tho First National Bank. lle was the first president of the village, and was afterwards clected to the same office. Besides this he has held many other positions of dignity and importance. Dr. MeRobert has been very successful as a business man, amassing a large fortune and surrounding his home with many luxuries. Ile has an extensivo acquaintance throughout the State, and his geniality, coupled with his dignity, has won the warm friendship of all who know him.

II. L. HENDERSON,

cashier of the First National Bank, was born in Sully, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and first came to this State in the fall of 1857. Previously he had read law in tho office of Judge Burwell, in Buffalo, and upon his arrival in Mason at'once opened n Inw office in a room over Coats- worth's storc. Six months afterwards ho transferred his place of business to the court-house, where he established himself in the office of Judge Pinekney. He remained in this placo until Nov. 1, 1866, when he engaged in the banking-house of II. L. Henderson & Co. Sinco its establishment, in 1871, Mr. Ilenderson has been enshier of the First National Bank, and in that capacity has given the best of Satisfaction to all. Mr. IIenderson is n gentloman possessing a great deal of culture and general information. His career in Mason has been one of which he has no reason to feel ashamed, and which has won for him tho approbation and respect of all with whom he has como into contact.

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CITY OF MASON.

consisted of Minos MeRobert, Orlando M. Barnes, John B. Dakin, Arnold Walker, John Dunsback, Charles H. Darrow, Charles II. Sackrider. The first offiecrs cleeted were : Minos McRobert, President ; Orlando M. Barnes, Vice-President ; Ilenry L. Henderson, Cashier. In 1872 the capital stock was increased to $100,000. The present offieers are : President, Minos McRobert ; Vice-President, O. M. Barnes ; Cashier, II. L. Henderson ; Directors, M. MeRobert, O. M. Barnes, H. P. Henderson, C. H. Sack- rider, C. H. Darrow, H. L. Henderson, John M. Dresser.

A private bank was established in 1869 by Lowe, Near & Co, and in August, 1871, the firm became Lowe, Smead & Co. A tasty bank building has been ereeted, and a gen- eral banking business is transacted. Peter Lowe, the senior member of this firm, is one of the oldest residents of the county, as will be scen by reference to the history of the township of Stockbridge, in which he first settled. He has been a resident of Mason since 1843, and always a prominent eitizen.

MANUFACTURES.

Phoenix Mill .- Perry Henderson, who came to Mason in 1854, afterwards purchased the old grist-mill, which stood on the opposite side of the road from the present structure, and was originally operated by water-power. The dam caused so much adjacent territory to be flooded, and so much sickness was eonsequent, that it was finally removed and a steam-engine put in the mill. About a year after Mr. Henderson purchased the mill, it was destroyed by fire, together with 1500 bushels of wheat. This mill had been built by Noble, Skinner & Page, the first grist-mill in the place having been a primitive affair, consisting of one run of stone set up in one corner of the old Danforth saw-mill in 1840. After the old mill was destroyed, Mr. Hender- son, in 1858, built the present " Phoenix Mill." It is now the property of George G. Mead, and contains three runs of stone. Two only were at first put in. Steam-power is used. The mill machinery, which was purchased in Buffalo, was brought to Detroit by boat, and from there to Mason by teams.

The Mason City Mills were moved here in the fall of 1869, from De Witt, Clinton Co., by Near & Wade. The building, which is frame, contains two runs of stone, the machinery being operated by steam-power. The capital invested is about $8000. Three hands are employed by the present proprietor, O. Crane. This mill has passed through many different hands. Feed and flour are mann- factured, the mill having a capacity of about 300 bushels daily.

A Stone-Boat Factory, for making Gregg's patent stone boats, was built in 1879, by William Gregg & Co. Abont $2500 capital is invested in the business, and six men are given employment, the factory still belonging to the same firm.

S. A. Paddock & Co., architects and builders, manufae- turers of sash, doors, blinds, and building material, are the proprietors of a business which was established in 1872, by Jessup, Stanton & Co., who built the planing-mill. In 1876 the present firm was organized, and has enlarged the buildings and largely increased the business. The estab-

lishment had previously changed hands several times. About $12,000 of capital are invested, and the annual business reaches from $10,000 to $20,000. From five to fifteen persons are employed. This firm has ereeted nearly all the brick business buildings in Mason, aside from its work elsewhere. The shops are located in the north part of the city, near the railroad.

The Stave-Factory of A. J. Bailey & Co. was built in 1872, and at present gives employment to ten or fifteen men and boys. About $10,000 are invested in the busi- ness, the capital being principally furnished by Dr. Me- Robert, of Mason. The business amounts to $20,000 or $25,000 annually. The firm has its headquarters at Leslie, where it has also a large establishment of the same kind.

A Patent Gear- and Carriage-Factory was started in the place io 1872 by B. F. Rix & Co., and is now the prop- erty of Griffin & Rogers, who have owned it since 1878. The capital invested, including that in the buildings, etc., is about $15,000. Fifteen to twenty hands are employed. The factory is built of briek. The bent gear which is manufactured is for use in platform-wagons, and was pat- ented by B. F. Rix, for whom it is named. The estab- lishment finds sale for its products in nearly every State in the Union. R. F. Griffin, one of the proprietors, is mentioned elsewhere as one of the early settlers of the place.

Cheese-Factory .- This institution, although not within the corporate limits of the city, is properly one of its enter- prises. A frame building was erected in 1871 by a stock company, of which R. F. Griffin was President, Frank White, Treasurer, and Horatio Pratt, Secretary. The building, etc., cost $3200, although but $2500 was ever paid in, the balance coming ont of the earnings of the fae- tory. The company was broken up in two or three years after its organization, and most of the stoek was purchased by Mr. White, who is the present owner and manager. The business for the first two or three years was good, the daily receipts of milk reaching from 4300 to 5000 pounds. There has since been a large falling off. This industry, if rightly handled, might be made to return large profits. Factories in certain regions of the West-notably in North- eastern Illinois-receive as high as 35,000 pounds of milk daily during a part of the season, and make the business a decidedly profitable one.

Robe-Factory .- An establishment for the manufacture of buffalo- and other robes was opened in 1876 by Mar- shall, Huntington & Co., and continued until April 13, 1880, when C. D. Huntington, one of the firm, sold his interest. The present firm is Marshall, Rumsey & Co., who manufacture buffalo-robes principally. The hides are proenred in Montana Territory, formerly coming from Kan- sas and Colorado. As many as 5000 have been prepared for market in a season. From twenty to twenty-five men are employed, the capital invested being about $12,000. A frame building for the use of the company is located in the southern part of the city.

Saw-Mill .- A steam saw-mill was built in the south part of the corporation, in the fall of 1865, by J. L. & C. D. Huntington, which was burned April 1, 1871. A

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HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

second one was ereeted by the same parties on nearly the same ground, and, on the 27th of May, 1876, it shared the fate of its predecessor. Joseph L. Huntington's death had occurred in 1874, and the second mill, when burned, was the property of C. D. Huntington and Riley P. Dun- ham. After this fire Mr. Huntington sold his interest to Alonzo Ellsworth, one of the present owners. Ellsworth & Dunham built a third mill, which was also burned, and the present one, owned by Ellsworth & Co., is the fourth one on the site. This firm commenced business May 1, 1879, Mr. Ilerrington purchasing the interest of Mr. Dunham. Six men are employed, and about 300,000 feet of hard- wood lumber are manufactured annually. Steam-power is used exclusively.

Foundry and Machine- Shop .- About 1850 a small foundry was established in Mason by Turner & Coats- worth, and in February, 1856, it was purchased by Jesse Beech, who has been its proprietor most of the time since, having had several partners. Ile is at present the sole owner, and, aside from general work,-agricultural tools, repairs, ete.,-is manufacturing the Cowdery wind-mill. Four or five men is the average number employed. The capital invested is about $5000. This is the only institu- tion of the kind ever put in operation in the place. Mr. Beech was from Monroe Co., N. Y.

Carriage-, Wagon-, and Blacksmith-Shop .- L. F. Clark, proprietor of the principal establishment of this kind in Mason, employs six or eight men, and transaets an annual business of about $10,000. The capital invested is about $5000. General blacksmithing and repairing are done, aside from the regular manufactures. This is the oldest shop of the kind in the place, and has been run, by different parties, for nearly thirty years.

Olin Chuck-Manufacturing Company .- Charles J. Olin, of Mason, an experienced watehmaker and jeweler, is the patentee of a self-centring combination chuck, for the use of those belonging to his elass of workmen. It does away entirely with wax, which had been the latest improve- ment in the line, and is destined to revolutionize the whole business of chuek-manufacturing. It was patented in July, 1880, and a company with the above caption has been formed for its manufacture at Mason, consisting of the patentee, C. J. Olin, Wells W. Hendricks, of Leslie, and Collins D. Huntington, of Mason, the latter being treasurer. Automatie machinery, made at Ilartford, Conn., will be used, and four or more workmen given em- ployment, besides a number of salesmen. The machinery aloue will cost $3000. Until the spring of 1881 the com- pany will rent, but in the season named a building for their express use will be ereeted.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 51

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772