History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 97

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 97
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 97

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).

Groceries .- The oldest merchant in the city who has been continuously in this line is E. T. Church, who came here in 1858 and established a store in a small wooden building on Lovett Strect, with a stock valued at $288. In 1861, John Ray became a partner, but his interest was purchased by Mr. Church in the spring of 1862. At this time Mr. Opt was the principal competitor in this line of trade. In August, 1862, Mr. Church bought out the in- terest of Mr. Opt in the firm of Opt & Bretz, and the new firm became that of Church & Bretz, doing business in the Carmel Hall building. In 1866, Mr. E. Hayden became a partner, and the firm took the name of E. T. Church & Co. In 1867 they had commenced the erection, on Main Street, of the handsome building now occupied by Mr. Church. During this year Mr. Bretz died, and, the real estate being divided, the heirs took the Carmel Hall build- ing, while the company retained the unfinished structure and the brick warehouse which had been built for the other store. July 1, 1874, Mr. Hayden went out of the firm, taking as his share the building, while Mr. Church retained and continued the business in his usual able and thorough manner. Mr. Church's stock inventoried $25,000 in 1876, and the year's business footed up over $75,000.

Charles Piper began business as a grocer earlier than Mr. Church, but did not continue it uninterruptedly. He first opened a grocery and eating-house in the frame build- ing now used as a saloon, east of the Sherwood House. The firm of Piper & Ray was not long after established, Mr. Piper purchasing Ray's interest after about eighteen months. Henry Childs next became a partner, but sold out and went West. About 1862, Mr. Piper formed a partnership with Leroy Shepherd, and a stock of hardware was added. This continued but a year, when the firm was dissolved, Piper taking the groceries and Shepherd the hardware. At the close of the war Mr. Piper sold his business to Mills & Miller, and in partnership with S. P. Webber built a flouring-mill and opened a flour- and feed- store. After two years this firm was also dissolved, and Mr. Piper engaged in the butter and egg trade. In 1875

* Mr. Baughman has at present an establishment of his own.

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HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

he erected the building he now occupies. His produce business for one year amounted to $75,000.

Jerrie Mikesell began business in 1861, on an exceed- ingly limited capital, and with an indebtedness on a portion of his stock. But he was popular, and soon paid up and established himself on a firm basis. He has had numerous partners and been in several kinds of business, but finally settled down to the grocery line, and in 1876 realized a trade of $73,000.

A. W. Palmer, formerly of Warsaw, N. Y., and Grand Rapids, Mich., established himself in Charlotte in the spring of 1870, and built up a gratifying trade.

Wilson & Spaulding commenced business in 1873, the firm subsequently becoming Spaulding Brothers.

Mikesell & Hunt opened a store in the spring of 1875. A year later W. S. Ilunt bought out his partner (Jose Mikesell) and continued the business alone.

First National Bank .- In January, 1862, Messrs. Mus- grave & Lacey established a banking-house in Charlotte, to do a general banking business. On the 2d of January, 1871, the First National Bank of Charlotte was organized, with a capital of $100,000, of which $50,000 were paid in. The officers were: Joseph Musgrave, President ; E. S. Lacey, Cashier ; A. J. Ives, Vice-President ; Joseph Mus- grave, E. S. Lacey, A. J. Ives, E. W. Barber, Ellzey Hayden, Directors. Mr. Ives had been the book-keeper in the private bank. Mr. Musgrave continued to hold the position of president of the bank until his death, which occurred in April, 1880 .*

In the summer of 1869, Messrs. Musgrave & Lacey built a grain-elevator near the Grand River Valley depot, twenty-six by sixty feet in dimensions, three and a half stories high, including basement, with a capacity of 12,000 bushels. Its cost was about $5000. The business after a few years amounted to about $200,000 annually.

Hardware .- A. H. Munson, the senior member of the firm of A. H. Munson & Co., came to Charlotte in 1854, when the place was a model town and known as " the little Christian." He bought out Mr. Cornell, whose store was where Mr. Van Zile now sells boots and shoes, and entered into business. In 1861, in company with T. Thomas, he purchased the hardware establishment of E. Hayden. Mr. Thomas died about a year afterwards, and Mr. Munson continued the business alone. In 1865 the present com- pany was organized, L. Brockett becoming a member of the firm. The business is large and a full line of goods is kept.

J. B. May & Co. started in the hardware business in this city in October, 1866. In 1872 the fine building at the corner of Main and Lovett Streets was crected. George Foreman was the junior member of the firm. After several changes the firm finally became Foreman, Smith & Co. They have an extensive and profitable business.

L. & E. Shepherd have been mentioned in the dry goods line. They also carry an extensive stock of hardware. In 1866, Leroy Shepherd built the fine store now occupied,

and in 1870 erected a mammoth warehouse in its rear, fronting on Bostwick Avenue. This firm was formed about 1876, L. Shepherd having been in the business, alone and with other parties, since 1862.

Photographic Galleries .- The photographic artists of Charlotte at present are A. M. Cheney and George C. Dar- ling. The latter is a recent venturer in the art- here. Mr. Cheney was formerly located in Lansing, and came to Char- lotte in 1868. Both of these gentlemen are excellent artists.

Watchmakers and Jewelers .- W. H. De Lamater came to Charlotte in 1865, and in 1867 began business, afterwards carrying it on for a time in company with his father-in- law, Sylvester Collins. In 1877 he erected a fine brick block, and built up a good business. He sold out in March, 1879.

J. N. Thrift came to the place in 1869, and opened a repair-shop, finally putting in a stock of jewelry, watches, clocks, and fancy goods, and has been successful in business.

Boots and Shoes .- J. M. Pratt commenced business in Charlotte, Feb. 28, 1868, and a year later took Mr. Worden as a partner. This firm continued until Sept. 1, 1875, since which time Mr. Pratt has continued alone. He owns a tannery on the Lansing road, which has won an enviable reputation from the quality of the leather manufactured.t

Mr. Heston opened a custom shop in May, 1873. In April, 1876, J. B. Belcher became a partner with him, and the firm became Belcher & Heston. The present firm is Belcher & Warren.

William Piper came to this place in October, 1856, and opened a shop in a small building, then occupied as a gro- cery by George W. Sherwood. His principal competitor at that time was John Russell, whose shop was in the old Eagle building. The only brick building then in the place was that in which the county offices were located, and which is still in use for the same purposes. D. M. Van Zile be- came a partner with Mr. Piper in 1875, but a year or two later established a business of his own.

G. F. Light began work in May, 1862, and S. P. & C. Crosier in 1866.

MANUFACTURES.

Planing-Mills .- The firm of Johnson, Robb & Houck, whose buildings are located near the Grand Trunk depot, is one of the heaviest in Charlotte. N. A. Johnson, the senior member of the firm, came here the 5th of September, 1842. IIon. D. Darwin Hughes was teaching school here at the time, or had taught a short time previously, and it was on a visit to his friend that he turned his steps in this direction, having for some time been an inmate of the Hughes family in Bellevue. Coming through a rough and heavily incumbered road, overshadowed by a dense growth of beech and maple, the little prairie, hemmed by a wilder- ness of woods and billowy with undulating grass and flowers, is described as something enchantingly beautiful. The boundaries of this little world in the woods-com- puted to embrace about 600 acres-extended somewhat as follows : Beginning on the south, not far from Shepherd's

* The presidency of the bank is now (July, 1880) vaeant. The re- maining officers for 1880 are : Andrew J. Ives, Vice-President ; E. S. Lacey, Cashier ; W. P. Lacey, Teller; A. J. Ives, Ellzey Hayden, E. W. Barber, E. S. Lacey, Joseph Musgrave, Directors.

+ Mr. Pratt died in May, 1880.

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CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

corners, the line of the prairie swept around, circling off a little to the south and west, and nearly touching on its return the shallow pond traversed by the Chicago and Lake Huron [now the Chicago and Grand Trunk] Railroad ; it passed north a little west of the west line of the old cemetery, curv- ing a little westward and crossing Lawrance Avenue about where E. A. Foote's house stands, and thence bending east and north and crossing Main Street a little north of the Phoenix Hotel ; from there it curved around to the north as far as Stoddard Street, and, gradually circling to the east and south, it crossed the Grand River Valley road nearly in the rear of Mr. Gales' residence, and from thence the old line of the prairie is plainly discernible as the margin of the woodland on the east of the railroad and about parallel with its course. At the curve the railroad again intersects the prairie bounds, which continued south near the east line of the old fair-ground, and from thence passed in a south- westerly direction to the place of beginning. Nearly the entire surface of the prairie was marked with the grass- grown hillocks of Indian corn-fields, indicating at some time a large Indian population.

"When Mr. Johnson first came here there were but five complete houses in the city. The old Eagle, a block house like the rest, was the nucleus around which the growing community clustered. There was a log or block house where A. D. Shaw's old house stands, another opposite to it, un Mr. Gale's property, a log house where William Piper now lives, an unfinished nne at the southwest corner of the old Con- gregational church, and the body of a block house built just back of where the old brick school-house stands, opposite Judge Van Zile's. This was afterwards finished as a school-house, and was the first reg- ular institution of the kind in the place. A house, however, had been built hy a young man by the name of Le Cont, where John Morris' house is, and this had been moved to near where Albert Green's paint- store stands, and was the first building used as a school-house in Char- lotte.# In this little building was instituted the first literary and de- hating society, in which Mr. Johnson usually entered the intellectual arena against his friend Hughes, and in connection therewith he tells the story of a fearful encounter which he had while on his return from Bellevue to be in time for a championship of this character.

" It was in the fall of the year, and Mr. Johnson was tramping his way homeward, busily engaged in furhishing up the thunderbolts of his argument, when, arriving at the hills just this side of Bosworth's mill, he saw in a tree near the way a panther crouched, sharpening his nails in the bark and looking down upon him in a very benignant and feline manner. Being without a weapon of any kind, he secured a strong stick by way of protection and got by, not without apprehen- sion. Night had set in before he passed the Kinney place, which at that time was only cleared from the house to the road south. A short distance this side he began to hear the pattering of footsteps behind him, sometimes in the leaves on one side of the road, sometimes un the other, and anon falling a short distance behind. Was it a bear, a wolf, or that amiable panther ? To Mr. Johnson's practiced ear the actions seemed those of a wolf, though his fears told him it might be the panther, and cold chills began to creep up and down his back, and his hair betrayed a manifest inclination to stand on end. To run might precipitate the anticipated attack. Closer and closer the creature followed, and the suspense was getting to be something ter- rible to he borne. Gradually the distance was closed up, and soon, in the darkness, the animal was by his side. The inevitable moment had come, and, resolving to have the first chance in the assault, with desperate resolution he swooped down upon and grappled with his pursuer. A hoarse ba-a ! was the response, and on further investi- gatiun he found he had captured Stephen Kinney's pet calf.

Mr. Le Cont was a young lawyer, who, foreseeing the prosperity of the town, had settled down here with the intention of growing up

with the place. Ilis faith was exhibited by his works, and with a commendable public spirit he set out a line of shade-trees alung Lawrance Avenue, as far east as Miss Foster's, and on Main Street, as far south as the Baird Ilouse. Of these trees, those by the Sher- wood House and one or two on Main Street remain as a monument to his memory, for he died in the fall of 1841, and his is believed to have been the first death in the place. IJe was buried in the still vacant lot nurth of Green's blacksmith-shop, which was the original burial- ground of the place, and was afterwards removed to the old cemetery. This, however, was not the place in which he had previously ex- pressed a wish to he interred. The deep hole east of Mr. J. B. Belcher's was at that time a lovely spot, sheltered on the north by forest-trees, and fringed on the prairie side by a growth of thorn and wild plum-trees. Within the hollow of this sheltering circle there was little or no vegetation, and here it was that Le Cont had se- lected his place of burial, and it was long known as ' Le Cont's bury. ing-ground.' Wagons went about where they would in those days, and grass grew in the centre of such streets as were laid out.

" Having come to visit Mr. Hughes, and several jobs presenting themselves, Mr. Johnson remained, and, contemplating going into business with his friend, they were offered a lot, including the Sher- wood corner, extending east as far as Miss Foster's, and south to Mr. Palmer's grocery, for $300. They declined ou account of the price."

A man named Kirkendall in those days carried the mail. On one occasion a grand dance was to be held in the village, and Mr. Johnson persuaded him to let the mail lay over a couple of days, while they went eight or nine miles away into the township of Chester to convey Mr. Johnson's " es- pecial partner" from and to her home. The man accepted the money tendered him, witnessed the festivities of the occasion, and drove on with the mail after the delay.

" Prior to establishing the planing-mill, there was hardly a build- ing of any importance in town that Mr. Johnson bad not built or helped to build. The erection of the mill was commenced in 1868-69, by Messrs. Johnson & Loring, and the latter was bought out by Mr. Johnson before commencing operations. At first the mill was furnished with only a planer, resawer, edger, and shingle-machine. Since then the most improved machinery for the manufacture of doors, sash, and blinds has been added, together with a wood-carver, at a cost of about $4000. After purchasing the interest of Mr. Loring, Mr. Johnson carried on business alone until 1874, when Mr. M. W. Robb entered into copartnership with him, and still later (1876) Mr. J. M. Houck became their associate in business."

Eight hands are employed, and a large amount of work is done.

Samuel Waltersdorf established a planing-mill in 1863, and in 1865 HI. J. Hart became a partner. In 1865 Mr. Waltersdorf sold his interest to O. P. Richardson, and the firm of Hart & Richardson conducted the business until 1874, when Mr. Hart became sole proprietor. Messrs. Hart & Richardson largely increased the business during their partnership, building a three-story addition to the mill, purchasing new machinery, and increasing their force of employees from six to thirty-five. They enlarged their grounds from three-fourths of an acre to five acres, built a brick office and 300 feet of store-room. The property passed to J. C. Bush in the winter of 1874-75.

Curtis & Bennett, successors to Vickery & Tabor, have an extensive business. The latter firm sold out in 1870 to Bennett, Coder & Houck, which subsequently became Curtis & Bennett.

Flouring-Mill.t-J. C. Harmon purchased property in Charlotte in 1866, and first opened a meat-market, which

* See statement concerning small lug house on north side of Law- rance Avenue. The Le Cont building was only one of the first.

+ In 1858 a steam grist-mill was erected by S. P. Webber a short distance east of the village, supplying a want long felt. A new une was built by Webber & Piper in 1867.

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HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

he condneted a year and a half. He then became two- thirds owner of the flouring.mill, in company with G. R. Dole, and eighteen months later purchased the latter's in- terest. He made extensive improvements, built a cooper- shop which gave employment to several hands, and found himself the proprietor of an excellent property. He opened a feed-store, and his combined trade in 1877 had reached $60,000 to $75,000 per annum.

George Gray opened a flour- and feed-store in the spring of 1877.

V. P. Skinner is engaged in the same business.

W. C. Foster came to Charlotte in 1855, and in 1864, in company with his brother, G. W. Foster, purchased the flouring-mill which the former now owns. Two years later they sold to E. Arnold. They were afterwards engaged in the furnace business for two years, when they dissolved part- nership, after having again bought the mill, which W. C. Foster continued to operate, doing both custom and mer- chant business.

Druggists .- G. V. Collins came to Charlotte in May, 1857, and opened a drug-store in the old Eagle building, and his principal sales at that time were medicines for the cure of fever and agne. In 1858 he built the first brick store in the place, and removed into it.

H. S. McDonald, formerly of Byron, located here in 1874.

Shuler Brothers commenced business in this city in the summer of 1868, doing business for a time in company with Mr. Bennett.

Bakeries .- W. J. Bennett began business here in Au- gust, 1868, and in 1876 built the store he now occupies. He rapidly built up an excellent trade.

George F. Updike opened a bakery in the spring of 1877. Cortez E. Barnes purchased the bakery and restan- rant of Mrs. James Baird, on the south side of Lawrance Avenue, in the fall of 1879, and sold out in the summer of 1880.

Meat- Markets .- J. Q. Griffith opened a market in Char- lotte in 1867, and John S. White another in 1873.

Stave- Mills .- The Charlotte Manufacturing Company was organized Jan. 13, 1873, and commenced business with the best machinery for cutting staves, heading, etc. The yard is located near the crossing of the two railways. The business has been very extensive, the products of the mill finding a market principally in Michigan, although often reaching other States.

Saw-Mill and Lumber- Yard .- B. J. Grier, formerly captain of a vessel on Lake Erie, purchased a saw-mill in Charlotte in 1873. It was burned in May, 1875, but soon rebuilt, and his business increased rapidly. In 1876 he cut 1,500,000 feet of lumber for Robinson & Son, of Charlotte, aside from other work, and has supplied the Grand Trunk (formerly Chicago and Lake IIuron) Rail- way Company with large quantities of lumber for building tanks along the line of their road.

Foundries and Machine-Shops .- John A. Miller came to Charlotte in 1853, and in 1861 commeneed work at his trade in the employ of Mr. McDonald, and afterwards with Joel Steiner, who sold out to him and went to California, but returned and became a partner in the business. Mr.

Miller finally became sole owner of an establishment. It was burned in May, 1875, but rebuilt in thirty days. The manufactures are principally agricultural implements.

A. R. Moore began business here in 1872, and was burned out on the 10th of January, 1873, but continued in business. He handles also agricultural implements.

The firm of Hart & Wisner was organized in January, 1877. Both men were old residents of the place, Mr. Hart having been long in the planing-mill business, while Mr. Wisner had been identified with the foundry interests for nineteen years. The latter came here in 1858, and cast the first iron columns ever set up in Charlotte.

Brick and Drain-Tile .- Messrs. Dunning & Chappell commenced manufacturing brick in the spring of 1871, and turned out during that and the next year 600,000. They then added a tile-machine, and during the first three years it was in operation they turned out respec- tively 5000, 7000, and 8000 rods of tile, without sup- plying the full demand. Their kiln is on the Kalamo road, west of the city, where they have an almost inexhaustible bed of clay, seventeen feet in depth.

Carriage-Factories .- Messrs. Ward & Dolson arrived in Charlotte in 1865, and soon commenced work in unison, though not in partnership. In November, 1871, they bought out Messrs. Huckins & Norton, and began business as a firm. Their work is excellent in quality, and the establishment furnishes employment to a number of men.

C. E. Haefner commenced business here about 1871, at first doing general repairing. Ile soon gave employment to several hands and began turning out buggies and carriages, while still continuing repairing.

E. R. Snyder began business for himself in 1869, having worked at his trade here for two years previously.

Paint-Store .- A. H. Green, an expert workman, came here about 1866, and in the fall of 1875 opened a stock of painters' materials.

Furniture and Cabinet Work .- The firm of Robinson & Son was established Nov. 1, 1869. They purchased the stock of Jacob Upright and opened a store in the Sampson Block. Three years later they removed to their present commodious rooms in the Arcade Block. They have more than quadrupled . their capital, and two years after they began business they erected their present warehouse and finishing-rooms, near the Grand River Valley depot. Mr. Worden, formerly of Pratt & Worden, became a member of the firm in December, 1875, but died in January, 1877, and S. Robinson is now sole proprietor. Large quantities of hard-wood lumber have been purchased by this estab- lishment for the use of the furniture-factory at the State prison at Jackson.

G. M. Smith, practical cabinet-maker, opened his shop in February, 1877.

Messrs. Ruggles Brothers have established a furniture house in the place, and are already doing an extensive busi- ness. They manufacture most of their furniture, having a factory in the rear of their salesroom.

Candy-Store .- George Semon opened a store of this nature in October, 1875, and soon found himself the pro- prietor of a fine business, selling caudies, fruits, ice-cream, etc.

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CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

Fish, Vegetables, etc .- William O'Bryon, proprietor of an establishment in this line, settled in Charlotte about 1847.

Hotels .- The hotels of Charlotte have been numeron , the first settler in the place, Jonathan Scarls, having been practically an inn-keeper, although owning the only house on the prairie. The first regular hotel in the place was a " block" (hewed log) house, which stood on the ground now occupied by the Phoenix Hotel. The block part was built by E. B. Bostwick and others, proprietors of the vil- lage, in 1838-39 .* Mr. Bostwick's brother-in-law, Wil- liam Stoddard, superintended the work, and became the first landlord of the hotel when it was completed. The timber had been originally prepared for a grist- and saw- mill, and a boiler was sent for as far away as Pontiac, Oak- land Co. Owing to the condition of the roads, which ren- dered it almost impossible to transport such a load, that project was abandoned, and the hotel became a fixed fact in place of the mill. The work upon the building was performed by Jonathan and Samuel Searls. Some time afterwards Messrs. Ion & Shepherd became proprietors, and built a frame addition on the east side. The old hotel served a variety of purposes, being used for court-house and everything where room was necessary in the early days of the now busy city. It was originally known as the " Eagle Hotel," and later as the " Charlotte House," and when the " Old Eagle Block" is mentioned, the memory of the pioneer turns backward to the " days of old," when William Stoddard, Ion & Shepherd, or I. D. Burns swelled with the dignity which is in keeping with the position of landlord. On the 20th of May, 1862, the old corner was made desolate through a visit of the fire-fiend, who lapped the scarred " Old Eagle" into his flaming maw and left nothing but ashes to tell where it stood. John Sweeney was the proprietor of the building at the time it was destroyed.

The ground which for so many years had been familiar with the old hotel was not destined to have the associations broken, for in 1863 the present three-story brick hotel, known as the Phoenix House, arose from the ashes of its predecessof, having been built in that year by W. H. Has- lett and John Opt. They opened it to the public, and conducted it about eight months, when they sold out to Dr. A. B. Sampson and S. P. Webber, under whose control it continued for a few years. Dr. Sampson, who built the fine hall which bears his name, died not long after. The hotel has since been managed by numerous persons,-for four years by James Baird, present proprietor of the Baird House. Its present owner, T. Pixley, has conducted it since August, 1877.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 97

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