USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 96
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 96
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The original " Plat of Charlotte, the County-Town of Eaton County, Michigan," as the draughtsman wrote it, was conveyed by Carlos Barnes, and the transaction acknowledged Nov. 28, 1836, although it was not received for record at Charlotte until July 7, 1845 .* The proprietors were Ed- mund B. Bostwick, Francis S. Cochran, Thomas Lawrance, and Townsend Harris. The place was laid out on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 18, town 2 north, range 4 west, and the east half of the northeast quarter of section 13, town 2 north, range 5 west. To the original plat the following additions have been made :
Lawrance's addition of outlots, surveyed by Harvey Wil-
* This plat was recorded at Marshall, Calhoun Co., to which Eaton was then attached, on the 18th day of April, 1837.
49
386
HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
liams; laid out June 29, 1847, by Henry Lawrance (by his legal attorney, Horatio I. Lawranee).
McComb & Lee's addition, by J. McComb and Vincent Lee, April and May, 1848.
Brooks' addition, by Charles Brooks, Sept. 11, 1854 ; this plat amended, by same proprietor, June 24, 1858.
H. H. Gale's additions, Sept. 22, 1854 ; Sept. 24, 1866 ; and Jan. 4, 1872.
Samuel W. McClure's addition, Oct. 27, 1859.
Horatio I. Lawrance's subdivision of outlots, Sept. 14, 1865.
Rice's addition, by Hannah Rice and Malvina McCam- mon, Oct. 11, 1865.
S. P. Jones' addition, Nov. 20, 1865.
B. W. Warren's addition, Nov. 16, 1867.
R. E. Brackett's addition, Dec. 24, 1867.
Robinson's addition, by Henry Robinson, A. B. Wins- low, John Belger, J. C. Harmon, William C. Foster, G. W. Foster, June 10, 186S.
Williams' addition, by Wolcott B. Williams, Nancy Marsh, William Ray, M. R. McCammon, July 22, 1868.
Octavia L. Hovey's addition, March 17, 1869.
John G. White's addition, April 26, 1869.
Fouts' addition, by Jesse T. Fouts and J. H. Gibbons, May 1, 1869.
Academy addition, by Alvan D. Shaw, Alonzo L. Baker, Cyrus Cummings, Edward S. Lacey, Ellzey Hayden, Sa- mantha A. Williams, June 25, 1869.
Henry F. Pennington's addition, Oct. 29, 1869.
Barber's addition, by Jasper Barber and J. W. Hickok, April 2, 1870.
W. B. Williams' amended plat, May 6, 1870.
Brackett & Mikesell's addition, by R. E. Brackett, J.
B. Mikesell, I. I. Newton, Joseph Mikesell, John McAfee, May 24, 1870.
David J. Marple's addition, July 13, 1870.
Robinson & Sherwood's addition, by Henry Robinson and G. W. Sberwood, Oct. 29, 1869.
VILLAGE AND CITY INCORPORATION .- LIST OF OFFICERS.
For nearly thirty years after a settlement was made at " Eaton Centre," subsequently known as Charlotte, the in- terests of its citizens were in common with those of the townships of Eaton and Carmel, the line between the two passing nearly through the centre of the village. Its pop- ulation and needs for general improvement finally became of sufficient importance to warrant its citizens in taking steps towards its incorporation, with full powers as a village under separate government from the townships. Aceord- ingly, after the necessary preliminary steps had been taken, the board of supervisors, on the 7th of January, 1863, issued an order incorporating the village of Charlotte with specified boundaries, and directed that the first village elec- tion should be held at the court-house in said village on the last day of the same month. It was ascertained, however, that a flaw existed in the description of the boundaries, and it was necessary to take further action. A petition from the citizens was therefore handed in to the board of super- visors at their session in October, 1863, with a new descrip-
tion, and the order was issued on the 12th of the month, incorporating the following territory, to wit: "The south- west quarter of the southwest quarter of section 7, and the northwest quarter, the north half of the southwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quar- ter of section 18, town 2 north, range 4 west ; also the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 12, and the northeast quarter, the north half of the south- east quarter, the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, and the east one-fourth of the northwest quarter of section 13, town 2 north, range 5 west."
The first election was ordered to be held Dec. 24, 1863, but it was postponed until the regular spring election, March 1, 1864, when the following officers were chosen : President, Alvan D. Shaw ; Trustees, W. L. Granger, Jo- seph Musgrave, Calvin Clark, Sylvester Collins, S. P. Web- ber, T. L. Curtis ; Marshal, Henry Baughman ; Treasurer, E. T. Church ; Clerk, Edward A. Foote; Assessor, S. P. Jones ; Street Commissioner, John S. Opt; Fire Warden, F. H. Kilbourne; Pound-Master, Stephen White.
The following were the officers elected each subsequent year (excepting 1866, the record for which is missing), while the place was an incorporated village :
1865 .- President, A. D. Shaw ; Trustees, J. Musgrave, S. Collins, S. P. Wehher, F. W. Higby, A. H. Munson, N. A. Johnson ; Treasurer, E. T. Church ; Assessor, E. S. Lacey ; Street Com- missioner, H. Robinson; Fire Warden, F. H. Kilbourne ; Pound-Master, A. S. Roberts.
1867 .- President, Joseph Musgrave; Trustees, A. D. Shaw, E. Shep- herd, Henry Baughman, L. B. Brockett, A. K. Bretz, S. Collins; Assessor, Theodorus D. Green ; Treasurer, Earl T. Church ; Marshal, Ileman Perkins ; Street Commissioner, F. H1. Kilbourne; Fire Warden, Heman Perkins; Pound-Master, A. S. Roberts.
1868 .- President, A. D. Shaw ; Trustees, Henry Robinson, Pitt M. Iligby, Joseph Saunders, Cooper Sherwood, J. D. Parkhurst, Elisha Shepherd ; Clerk, T. D. Green ; Treasurer, E. T. Church ; Assessor, A. J. Ives; Marshal, A. P. Nichols ; Fire Warden, Jerrie Mikesell ; Pound-Master, A. S. Roberts. 1869 .- President, Henry Robinson ; Trustees, Jerrie Mikesell, Brad- ford Kellogg, A. J. Ives, A. T. Loring, O. P. Richardson, George V. Collins ; Treasurer, E. T. Church ; Assessor, Ellzey Ilayden; Street Commissioner, John Hayden ; Marshal, L. C. Holbrook ; Fire Warden, J. M. Haslett; Pound-Master, James Steele.
1870 .- President, Henry Robinson ; Trustees, A. T. Loring, Bradford Kellogg, Jerrie Mikesell, P. M. Higby, O. P. Richardson, S. C. Sherwood ; Clerk, L. E. Dwinell ; Assessor, C. H. Mills ; Treasurer, E. T. Church; Marshal, L. C. Holbrook ; Fire Warden, J. M. Haslett ; Street Commissioner, John Hay- den ; Pound-Master, James Baughman.
At this time the question of obtaining a city charter was seriously discussed, and resulted in the passage by the Legislature, March 29, 1871, of an act of which the fol- lowing are portions :
"SECTION 1 .- The People of the State of Michigan enact, That so much of the townships of Carmel and Eaton, in the County of Eaton and State of Michigan, as is included in the following description, to wit : the south half and the northeast quarter of section 12, entire section 13, and the north half and the southoast quarter of section 24, all in town 2 north, of range 5 west; and entire seetion 7, except the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, the west three-quarters of section 18, and the west half of section 9, all in town 2 north, of range 4 west, he and the samo is hereby organized and incorporated into a eity, by the namo of the city of Charlotte.
"SECTION 3 .- The city shall be divided into four wards. The First Ward shall include all that portion of the city lying on seetion 7, and
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CITY OF CHARLOTTE.
that portion of section 18 lying north of Lawrance Avenue and the Battle Creek and Lansing State road, in town 2 north, of range 4 west; the Second Ward shall include all that portion of the city lying on section 12, and that portion of section 13 lying north of Lawrance Avenue and the highway extending westerly and northwesterly from said avenue, in town 2 north, of range 5 west; the Third Ward shall include all that portion of the city on scetion 13 lying south of Law- rance Avenue and the highway extending westerly and northwesterly from said avenue, and that portion lying on section 24, in town 2 north, of range 5 west ; and the Fourth Ward shall include all that portion of the city lying on section 18, except that portion lying north of Lawrance Avenue and the Battle Creek and Lansing State road, and shall also include that portion lying on section 19, in town 2 north, of range 4 west."
The act provided that the officers of the city should be one mayor, one recorder, who should be ex-officio school in- spector and city clerk, one supervisor, who should be ex- officio assessor, one treasurer, who should be ex-officio col- lector, one city attorney, one marshal, one street commis- sioner, two school inspectors, four justices of the peace, two aldermen for each ward, and one constable for each ward. The first city election was directed to be held on the second Monday in April, 1871. The charter was slightly amended April 25, 1873, but the boundaries of the city were not changed. The election in 1871 resulted in the choice of the following officers : Mayor, Edward S. Lacey ; . Supervisor, Earl T. Church ; Recorder, Isaac D. McCut- cheon ; Treasurer, F. E. Leiter; Justices of the Peace, F. A. Hooker, D. F. Webber; Aldermen : First Ward, A. D. Baughman, J. C. Harmon ; Second Ward, R. D. Wheaton, S. Ketcham ; Third Ward, J. W. Ames, B. J. Grier ; Fourth Ward, P. M. Higby, B. W. Warren ; Con- stables, James Johnson, D. S. Coder, Loren II. Turner, A. T. Roe.
The following officers were appointed by council : Street Commissioner, Samuel Coulter; City Attorney, P. T. Van Zile ; Marshal, J. H. Green.
The officers elected for the city of Charlotte from 1872 to 1880, inclusive, have been as follows :
1872 .- Mayor, E. T. Church ; Recorder, Isaac D. Mccutcheon ; Super- visor, J. W. Ames , Treasurer, Benjamin J. Grier; Justice of the Peace, Dyer F. Webher; School Inspector, Wolcott B. Williams ; Constables, James Johnson, F. II. Kilbourne, F. C. Hendee, S. Pollock ; Aldermen : First Ward, A. D. Baughman, S. Robinson; Second Ward, Daniel Baughman, Nathan A. Johnson ; Third Ward, Jerrie Mikesell, J. W. Ames; Fourth Ward, Andrew L. Hines, S. P. Jones.
1873 .- Mayor, Philip T. Van Zile; Recorder, Frank L. Prindle; Treasurer, B. J. Grier ; Supervisor, J. W. Ames; Justices of the Peace, Edmund S. Tracy, J. W. Ames; School Inspector, Fosdick H. Kilbourne; Constables, James Johnson, Charles G. Thompson, F. C. Hendee, S. G. Pollock ; Aldermen : First Ward, Gilbert Dale, S. Collins; Second Ward, D. S. Coder, James G. Pollard ; Third Ward, W. B. Bacon, Jerrie Mike- sell ; Fourth Ward, S. P. Jones, A. M. Palmer.
1874 .- Mayor, Jerrie Mikesell ; Recorder, J. V. Johnson ; Supervisor, J. W. Ames ; Treasurer, B. J. Grier ; Justice of the Peace, Isaac D. MeCutcheon; Sohool Inspector, Alfred Perkey ; Constables, James Johnson, C. G. Thompson, F. C. Ilendee, S. G. Pollock ; Aldermen : First Ward, Luke Brosseau, H. J. Hart; Secood Ward, C. A. Merritt, M. W. Robb; Third Ward, W. H. Bacon, G. V. Collios; Fourth Ward, B. W. Warren, C. H. Colgrove.
1875 .- Mayor, Charles A. Merritt; Recorder, Robert W. Shriner; Treasurer, B. J. Grier; Supervisor, James Pollard; School Inspector, F. H. Kilbourne; Justice of the Peace, Parm S. De Graff; Constables, James Johnson, Charles Thompson, O. G. Young, S. Pollock ; Aldermen : First Ward, H. J.
Hart, E. B. Arnold; Second Ward, G. T. Rand, D. J. Marple; Third Ward, W. II. Bacon, J. J. Curtis; Fourth Ward, J. L. Dolson, C. H. Colgrove.
1876 .- Mayor, Charles H. Brown ; Recorder, R. W. Shriner; Treas- urer, B. J. Grier; Justice of the Peace, Dyer F. Webber ; School Inspector, F. H. Kilbourne; Supervisor, John Q. Thomas; Constables, James Johnson, T. T. Green, Shepherd Earll, Samuel Pollock ; Aldermen : First Ward, Ilenry C. Bruce, Gilbert Dale; Second Ward, Giles B. Alleo, J. M. Pratt ; Third Ward, J. J. Curtis, Seth Ketcham; Fourth Ward, J. L. Dolson, C. II. Colgrove.
1877 .- Mayor, James M. Pratt; Recorder, Manly C. Dodge; Treas- urer, George Foreman ; Supervisor, James G. Pollard ; Jus- tice of the Peace, Robert W. Shriner; School Inspector, Oliver P. Richardson ; Constables, James Johnson, T. T. Green, O. G. Youog, S. Pollock ; Aldermen : First Ward, W. H. De Lamater, John Opt; Second Ward, John Wilson, Charles M. Atkins; Third Ward, Elisha Shepherd, Wer- ner H. Bacon; Fourth Ward, Amos K. Munsoo, P. S. De Graff.
1878 .- Mayor, Edward A. Foote; Recorder, J. V. Johnson; Super- visor, W. A. Bacon ; Treasurer, George Foreman ; Justice of the Peace, George Mead ; School Inspector, W. S. Trask ; Constables, C. E. Barnes, T. D. Green, Ben Bedell, Samuel Pollock; Aldermen : First Ward, H. J. Hart, J. S. Opt; Second Ward, L. Brosseau, M. W. Robb; Third Ward, Elisha Shepherd, Jerrie Mikesell; Fourth Ward, S. A. Barnes, J. Q. Thomas.
IS79 .- Mayor, Samuel Robinson; Recorder, Lafayette Rowley ; Supervisor, Seth Ketcham; Treasurer, W. S. Trask ; Jus- tices of the Peace, H. Baughman, C. H. Hoag; School In- spector, R. D. Wheaton ; Constables, James Johnson, O. S. Follett, B. Bedell, S. Pollock; Aldermen : First Ward, Joseph Crout, J. S. Opt; Second Ward, John S. White, N. A. Johnson; Third Ward, L. B. Brockett, J. J. Curtis; Fourth Ward, G. B. Allen, A. H. Green.
1880 .- Mayor, R. D. Wheaton; Recorder, C. S. Barrett; Treasurer, Samuel Robinson; Supervisor, Seth Ketcham; Justice of the Peace, George M. Ely ; School Inspector, H. H. Cobb; Constables, James Johnson, J. H. Taggert, L. Gardoer, S. Pollock ; Aldermen : First Ward, H. J. Hart, John E. Bel- ger; Second Ward, F. H. Kilbourne, I. M. Houck ; Third Ward, J. J. Curtis, R. W. Shriner ; Fourth Ward, A. H. Munson, A. J. Ives.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Charlotte has suffered comparatively little from fires, es- pecially in the later years of its history, although more or less damage has resulted at different times, and several of the old landmarks have been destroyed, among them the old ".Eagle Hotel." A No. 3 Silsby steam fire-engine was purchased by the city in March, 1872, with 1000 feet of hose, the necessary couplings, etc., and two hose-carts. Mr. Silsby presented the city with one hose-cart, paying the freight and cost of delivery upon it, and also deducted $100 from the contract price of the engine, making the cost of the whole outfit $6251.50. The engine is finely finished, and a credit to the city and the manufacturer.
The present fire department was organized Oct. 8, 1872, with Dr. Samuel Perkey as Chief Engineer ; B. J. Grier, First Assistant, and S. Ketcham, Second Assistant. It then consisted of one company, known as Charlotte Hose Com- pany, No. 1, of which I. H. Turner was foreman. The membership was thirty-six. The department at present (July, 1880) consists of the following companies :
Charlotte Hose Company, No. 1, twenty-four mem- bers .- W. Field, Foreman ; F. E. Van Houghton, First Assistant Foreman.
Active Hose Company, No. 2, thirty-five members .--
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HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
C. E. K. Baxter, Foreman ; A. B. Bretz, First Assistant ; William Munson, Second Assistant.
Prairie Queen Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 3, thirty-seven members .- George Wright, Foreman ; Will Fredericks, First Assistant ; F. H. Newlan, Second As- sistant.
J. V. Johnson is the present chief of the department, Dow serving his third year in that capacity. The organiza- tion is in excellent condition, and is a well-drilled and effective force, ranking among the first in the State .*
A neat and commodious two-story building has been erected of brick, with stone trimmings. The upper rooms are used for meetings of the city council and fire depart- ment, while the lower part of the building is used as the engine-room, or place of storage for the implements of the department.
CHARLOTTE POST-OFFICE.
In the summer of 1838, Jonathan Searls received the ap- pointment of postmaster, and a mail-bag (sometimes empty) came through once a week from Marshall, carried by a boy named Isaae Hill. Mr. Searls was appointed through the agency of Capt. James W. Hickok, whose friend, Isaac E. Crary, was then in Congress, and the captain came up to the prairie on foot to bring the commission. The fol- lowing list of postmasters is from the recollection of Ellzey Hayden, Esq., who settled in Charlotte in 1844, and was one of its first merchants in the hardware and tinware line.
Jonathan Searls was probably succeeded by Frederick F. White, who was postmaster in 1844, and those sinee have been Cyrus Cummings, John Hayden, William H. Cornell, William Wilson, Cyrus Cummings (a second time appointed), Harvey Williams, Joseph Saunders, Dyer F. Webber (appointed during Johnson's administration), George B. Fleming, and the present incumbent, Frederick E. Leiter. During the early years several well-known citi- zens acted as deputies. In 1866 it was made a money-order office, and its business has increased greatly since that time. Mr. Leiter is also agent for the American Express Com- pany. The office is located on the east side of Cochran Avenue, near the Areade building. In June, 1880, ex- tensive repairs were made in the office, and 180 new boxes and drawers were added, the total expenses being about $300.
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF CHARLOTTE.
In 1877 a series of articles under the above heading were published in the Charlotte Republican, and various notes from them are here given :
Dry Goods, Clothing, ctc .- J. M. Haslett, the senior member of the firm of J. M. & W. A. Hlaslett, dry-goods merchants, came to Charlotte in 1854 from Ohio, and com- menced business in the fall of that year with Mr. Musgrave, under the firm-name of Musgrave & Ilaslett. They were located in a building known as the " Old Fortress," on the corner now occupied by Strong's Block. "In those times money was a kind of 'unknown quantity,' or only kept for
the benefit of sore eyes and for babies to cut teeth on ; and, as to the shin-plasters of the realm, no man could afford to keep them on hand long lest they should perish overnight, like Jonah's gourd. The money had to be sorted every day, and a portion was usually found worthless or depreciated in value. Indeed, Mr. Haslett relates an instance where, while on his way to New York to buy goods, having gone as far as Adrian, he got up in the morning to find that all his bonds and bank-notes had undergone this kind of wilt- ing, and he was left without money enough to get out of town had it not been for a little gold which he chaneed to have about him." The firm purchased everything, but only paid money for wheat, which they bought for the Bellevue mills, paying for it at prices ranging from fifty to seventy- five cents per bushel. They also carried on an ashery, which stood on the subsequent site of Green's blacksmith- shop. In 1861 the firm of Musgrave & Haslett was dis- solved, and W. A. Hlaslett, who had been a clerk in their employ, condueted the business for a year, when the old firm again took it up. Mr. Musgrave sold his interest to Mr. Haslett, and MIr. W. A. Haslett became a partner with the latter, and the firm of J. M. & W. A. Haslett has since been continued. In 1877 their annual business was about $75,000. They handle butter, eggs, and wool, and make specialties of ladies' ready-made suits and carpets.
F. W. Higby commenced business in Charlotte in 1858 in company with his brother, P. M. Higby, also in the line of dress and dry goods. After eleven years P. M. Higby purchased his brother's interest, and in 1873 formed a part- nership with M. Hudson, under the firm-name of Higby & Hudson. Mr. Higby related the following ineidents : " From 1858 until the Valley road was completed, getting our goods-first from Jackson and afterwards from Marshall -was a source of anxiety and annoyance, especially as the bulk of them came through the mud of spring and fall. But one or two teams were regularly engaged in the busi- ness, and as half a dozen were wanting goods brought at the same trip, the rivalry was sharp and sometimes unpleasant. These teams, composed of two or four horses, according to the condition of the roads, were from two to three days making the trip. One fall our goods were in Marshall ; mud was knee-deep, slightly frozen on top, with six inches of snow over all. We waited a week. No one would go after them, and there was no change in the condition of things. Finally a customer owning a good team, and whose account had stood some time, came into town. We were delighted, certain we could get him to go as the easiest way of paying us. He came into the store and we at once made known our wants. 'How much is my account ?' was the reply ; and he took out his pocket-book and paid us, and was independent, while we were as anxious as before. The railroad changed all this. We received our goods at the back door without thought or trouble, pleased that one source of annoyance was gone forever."
S. P'. Jones & Co. established themselves in the dry goods business in Charlotte in 1866, and after several changes R. C. Jones beeame sole owner of the establish- ment in 1875. The original partners with S. P. Jones were A. R. Williams and J. C. Gregg. The latter retired in 1866, when R. C. Jones became a member of the firm,
ยท J. W. Rogers in firat assistant engineer of the department, and George Bradtey second assistant. George W. Rowley is engineer of lhe steamer.
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CITY OF CHARLOTTE.
and Mr. Williams established a business for himself in 1870.
L. & E. Shepherd, dry goods and hardware, began in 1876. Elisha Shepherd had commenced business here in 1852 with his father-in-law, L. H. Ion. They were land- lords and proprietors of the old Eagle Hotel, and operated a line of stages between Charlotte and neighboring towns. " They built on the east half of the Eagle, and otherwise improved the property. In this addition Mr. James Shep- herd and Dr. Sampson had a stock of drugs and groceries. After nearly four years in the Eagle Mr. E. Shepherd bought out Sampson's interest in this stock, and the firm of E. & J. Shepherd was established. They moved their goods to a little wooden building belonging to Roller, on the corner where Foreman, Smith & Co. are doing business, and added to it a stock of dry goods purchased at the sheriff's sale of the effects of W. L. Lyon. Having bought and completed the unfinished building of Collins & Russell, they carried on business there from two to four years, and then built the brick where R. C. Jones is now doing business. This was occupied by them three or four years, when they built the store now occupied by James Shepherd. Here they carried on business till they sold out to S. P. Webber. They then started a banking busi- ness in the building now occupied by Spaulding as a gro- cery, and kept a few dry goods till about two years later, when they moved back into the store and resumed their old business, and continued it until April 1, 1876. In the mean time they had erected a grain-elevator at the junction of the railroads, and a portion of the time purchased grain, etc. In April, 1876, this firm was dissolved and that of L. & E. Shepherd organized, Mr. Leroy Shepherd hav- ing long been one of the leading hardware merchants in town."
James Shepherd, who established a business of his own, was enjoying a trade in 1877 of about $50,000 annually.
John Levy, ready-made clothing merchant, came to Charlotte in 1860. Not now in business here.
The house of Strong & Banghman* (I. M. Strong and A. D. Baughman) was established in 1867. Mr. Baugh- man retired, and Mr. Strong took Dr. Fouts as partner in 1870, but on the 1st of March, 1876, became sole pro- prietor of the establishment. Mr. Strong continues at the " old reliable corner," opposite the Sherwood House, where he has erected an excellent brick building, one of the finest in the city. This was built in 1874.
Joseph Lang, clothing, commenced business in Charlotte in 1868.
Henry Weil, formerly of Grand Rapids, opened a fancy goods establishment in this place in 1872.
The " Bankrupt Store" of Messrs. Dunston Bros. was opened in September, 1875, and is one of over twenty located in various parts of the country, and carried ou by a company representing $1,500,000 of capital, and organized expressly for the purpose of handling bankrupt goods.
J. H. Green began selling goods in Charlotte in 1868, and continued seven years. He afterwards purchased the stock of Mr. Bruce, and established himself in the clothing
business in the winter of 1876-77, and is still engaged in that line.
Books .- E. H. Bailey came to Charlotte in 1861. In 1863 he commenced the sale of musical instruments. After several removals to different locations in the city he finally, in 1873, occupied the fine rooms where he is at prescut, on the south side of Court Square. In 1876 his brother, J. A. Bailey, became a partner. To the original line of music and musical instruments has been added a stock of books, jewelry, stationery, wall-paper, toys, etc., and this is one of the best ordered houses of the kind in the State.
J. J. Richardson commenced business in Charlotte in September, 1868, in company with Mr. Cheney, under the firm-name of Cheney & Richardson. They erected the building now occupied by Mr. Richardson, Mr. Cheney occupying the photographic rooms above and Mr. Richard- son the store below. The partnership was finally dissolved, Mr. Richardson becoming sole proprietor. His stock con- sists of books, stationery, wall-paper, jewelry, toys, and gen- tlemen's furnishing goods.
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