History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 98

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 98
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 98

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).

The Sherwood House is one of the most prominent

structures in the city. George W. Sherwood, its landlord and proprietor, cast anchor in Charlotte on the first day of May, 1848. He had previously, while on a prospecting tour, visited Lansing in his search for a desirable location at which to establish a grocery. He remained there several days, during two of which he swung his axe on Capitol Square, and finally started on foot, along an Indian trail, for Charlotte, having been induced to do so by I. D. Burns, who was at the time proprietor of the Old Eagle, or Charlotte IIouse, and a merchant in the Old Fortress, which stood on the site of the present Strong Block. Mr. Sherwood in time reached the city of the prairie, over a road which was probably in need of extensive improvement, and he soon after took a hundred-dollar job of chopping upon it, between Charlotte and Lan- sing. For that sum he, in two months' time and according to contract, cut and cleared away the timber between the northern bounds of the prairie at Charlotte and the hill some distance to the northeast. He purchased eighty acres of land and returned to Ohio, bringing back a small stock of groceries, which he placed upon shelves fitted up in the hotel, and began their sale. The rent was donated him in consideration for his services as manager of the hostelry for Mr. Burns. He subsequently located on a lot which he had purchased, and for ten years conducted the grocery business in a small building which stood upon it. He also had an attractive garden-somewhat on the zoological order -in the rear of his storc. At the end of the ten years, having purchased the corner on which his hotel now stands, he admitted his brother as a partner in business, and the firm of G. W. & S. C. Sherwood became popular as cloth- ing merchants, in which line they continued for twelve years. In 1868 the erection of their fine hotel was com- menced, upon plans drawn up by G. W. Sherwood, who was thus spared the expense of importing an architect, and who superintended the construction of the building. It was completed and occupied in 1869, and in 1871 Mr. Sherwood became a fixture in the position of host, which he still occupies. In the windows of the lower story were inserted the first lights of French plate-glass used in the city. The building is three principal stories in height, with a fourth extending part way from front to rear, and is fifty-one feet "from turret to foundation stone." Mr. Sherwood, who was a lonesome bachelor when he first located in the place, recollects many amusing incidents which occurred in those days, when practical jokes seemed flying in the air, ready to drop on the heads of the unfortu- nate.

In the neighborhood of 1850 a small dwelling was built on the corner where the Baird House now stands, by a man named Baker. Additions were subsequently made to it, and it was converted into a hotel. The present proprietor, James Baird, came into possession of the property about 1865, and has since removed the original building and built two additions to the part left standing. He has also been proprietor, for four years of the time, of the Phoenix House, with which he is not now connected. He came to Charlotte in 1852, from Wood Co., Ohio.

The " Peninsular Hotel" is the building formerly known as the Charlotte Academy, which originally stood a little in

# This is stated by Mr. Johnson, of the firm of Johnson, Robb & Houck. In an address delivered by E. A. Foote, Esq., in 1876, the latter gentleman stated that the first load of lumber ever brought to Char- lotte was hauled in from Spicerville in the winter of 1837-38 by Wil- liam Wall, of Eaton. It was to be used as flooring for this hotel. Some of the timbers had been prepared as early as 1836, to he used in the proposed mill. The house was occupied by Esquire Stoddard in the spring of 1840, and in May of that year the first term of the Circuit Court at the county-seat was held in the large upper room of The hotel.

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HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

the rear of its present position. It was converted into a hotel within a few years by its present owner, Mr. White, of whom it is now rented by Mr. Brock.

The " Grand River Valley Hotel," located near the station of the railroad bearing that name, was built in the year following the completion of the road to this city, by a man named Spencer, of Jackson. It was at one time a railway eating-house, but is at present not conducted regularly as a hotel. It belongs to the Baker estate.

The " Cottage Hotel," near the above, was built later. Its present proprietor, Matthew Miller, was interested in its construction.

A hotel known as the " Roberts House," located on Lovctt Street, west of Main (Cochran Avenue), was for- merly in operation under the management of the man whose Dame it bears, but is now used as a private dwelling.

It is not ofren that a city no larger than Charlotte is found with so many hotels, and as they are nearly all fairly pros- perous, it is an indication of great enterprise on the part of the citizens of the place and the surrounding country. The "Sherwood" and the " Phoenix" are favored with probably the greater part of the traveling enstom, while the " Baird" and others are very popular with the farming com- munity, and all are generally well kept and deserving of patronage.

Harness-Makers .- A. M. Lockard opened a harness- shop in Charlotte in 1874, and his trade from the first was good and increased rapidly.

Parmenter & Belger, both long-time residents of the city, formed a copartnership in March, 1877.

Robert Dunlap entered into business in this place in 1872.

The Double-Stave Barrel Company was organized in 1873, with its mill in the north part of the city, where J. W. H. Smith began making handles in 1871. The com- pany put in a large amount of new machinery and furnished employment to twenty or thirty hands.

NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper published in Charlotte was called the Eaton County Gazette .* It was established in January, 1843, by Warren Isham, but after struggling for an exist- ence about six months finally expired. The venture was not discouraging to others, however, for on the 26th of March, 1845, a second paper, known as the Eaton Bugle, neutral only in politics, made its appearance, published by William Johnston, Esq., a lawyer, from Richland Co., Ohio. Mr. Johnston was a fluent speaker, and lectured through Eaton County on the subject of temperance. ITis paper was ably conducted, but succumbed to circumstances a year after its first number was issued, and Mr. Johnston returned to Ohio, where he became distinguished as an eloquent polit-

ical campaigner. No other attempt to start a paper in Char- lotte was made until 1855.1

The Charlotte Republican is now the oldest paper in Eaton County. The first number was issued by Edward A. Foote,¿ editor and founder, on the 6th of January, 1855, as the Eaton County Republican. Mr. Foote conducted the paper through four volumes and seven numbers, and sold it, Feb. 12, 1859, to Joseph Saunders, now of Detroit, who relates his experience as editor in the following lan- guage :

"During the first few years of my connection with the paper it was hard work for me, but my wife greatly assisted me, going to Jackson, Marshall, and Battle Creek to procure advertisements and to collect the pay for them, which met the wants of a growing family. The white paper came from Detroit to Marshall hy railroad, and from thence to Charlotte by Force's wagon express. Occasionally thero was a failure to connect, and then a journey must be made to Mar- shall with a horse and buggy to procure paper for the enming issue. On one occasion I rode all night to procure five quires of paper rather than disappoint my subscribers. The legal advertising was the main dependence for money, many of the subscribers paying in produce. We always had plenty of wood and maple-sugar. The wood was reckoned at five shillings per cord and the sugar cost six to seven cents per pound. The first payment made to me on the Republican was hy n blink-eyed man who lived on or beyond the 'Island.' It was a cord of white beech, and when I split it up for the stove it was found that the liquids in it had frozen to ice. My wife declared the cooking could never be done with such icicles, but the farmers of Eaton County were generous with what they had, and very frequently presented the editor with the best products of their farms. At the closing of the agriculturat fairs it took a good-sized wagon to carry home the fruits, vegetables, etc., presented."

Five years after taking charge of the paper, Mr. Saun- ders wisely adopted the advance-payment rule, owing to losses he had sustained on the credit system. His sub- scription list was materially reduced by the change, but soon began to increase and the business was prosperous. Two new presses were purchased, upon which to print the enlarged paper, and finally a steam-power press was pro- cured to lessen the labor of printing the large edition. The office was several times moved, and is now in elegant quar- ters in the brick block at the northeast corner of Main and Lovett Streets. Mr. Saunders was appointed postmaster under President Lincoln's administration, and the income from both establishments enabled him to make extensive improvements. During his connection with the paper, Mr. Saunders was associated with numerous parties in its pub- lication, it being conducted by Saunders & Holmes, Joseph Saunders & Co. (Capt. W. S. Trask having an interest in

. This paper was a five-column folio, size sixteen by twenty-four inches. The office was in the old Eagle Hotel. The patronage, which was exceedingly limited, came mostly from Bellevue. The body of the paper was set in long primer type, and its advertisements in long primer and brevier. The subscription price wns $1.50 per annom. It contained nothing whatever of local news. The first number was Issued Jan. 1, 1813, and this was the first puper published in Eaton County.

+ It is said that soon after the Bugle was discontinued, probably in 1846, Willinm Martin, of Marshall, started a small sheet here known as the Eaton County Democrat, which was very short-lived.

# The Republicans of the county hnd agreed to raise $200 to nid the parties who should establish a party organ in the county. After the election of 1854, which was so gratifying to the Republicans, the office of the Eaton Democrat, at Enton Rapids, published by Judge Ezra D. Burr, was purchased and the press and material removed to Char- lotte ; a rude board shauty was crected in the midst of winter, and the printing-office was established in it. The weather was so severe and the wood so green that it was almost impossible to work, but the first number was tinally issued, to the gratification of proprietors and patrons. Mr. Foote was the choice of the Republicans for editor of the paper. Ifis associnte, a practicnt printer, was Mark H. Marsh, now of Detroit. The paper grew and floorished, and was for a time the only one in the county, and fought for supremacy when an oppo- sition sheet was started.

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CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

it at one time), etc. Mr. Saunders sold finally to K. Kit- tredge, who continned it two years, and in 1877 sold to D. B. Ainger, the present proprietor. Mr. Kittredge is now publishing the Eaton Rapids Journal. Mr. Ainger, under the present administration, received an appointment to the postmastership at Washington, D. C, where he is at this time (1880) located. The Republican is edited by F. B. Ainger and L. C. Taylor, and, as it has ever been, is true to the name it bears. It has a wide circulation, and is a decided credit to the city and county in which it is pub- lished.

The Charlotte Leader .- This paper is the outgrowth of a Democratic sheet established at Eaton Rapids in 1854-55, by a Mr. Sanford, which was known as the Eaton County Argus. It was removed to Charlotte in 1860, at which time F. W. Higby was its editor and Thornton Brothers the publishers. Ten months later William Saunders took pos- session of the office, and continued its publication until 1865, when D. F. Webber became proprietor. IIe changed its name to The Charlotte Argus, and in the spring of 1868 sold to W. S. Thornton, who, in June of that year, admitted J. V. Johnson as a partner in the business. The latter, "after four months, purchased Thornton's interest, and remained as manager until Jan. 1, 1875, when Frank A. Ellis became its publisher, and changed the name to The Charlotte Leader. Mr. Johnson soon became pro- prietor of the Ingham Democrat, at Mason, Ingham Co., but in 1878 returned to Charlotte and again took up the pen in the interests of the Leader, which he published until Jan. 10, 1880, when it was purchased by J. H. Vaughan. The present publisher is J. V. Johnson, who bought it back July 27, 1880. The paper is a six-column quarto ; circulation, 1100 copies.

Prominent among the public buildings of Charlotte is the one known as " Sampson's Hall," located on the north side of Lawrance Avenne, east of the Phoenix Hotel. It is built of brick, is two stories in height, and was erected in 1866-67 by Dr. Alden B. Sampson. Its dimensions are 50 by 100 feet, and its seating capacity is estimated at 1200. At the north end of the hall is fitted up a roomy stage. The hall, which occupies the second story, is twenty fect high and finely frescoed. The drop-curtain, upon which is painted an Italian scene, was called when new the finest in the State. In the lower story of the building are two store-rooms, each 25 by 100 feet. The hall was opened for the first time on the evening of Feb. 16, 1867, when the oratorio of " Esther" was produced. The Detroit Athe- næum company also played during several evenings of the same week. Dr. Sampson lived but a short time after the completion of the hall.

Other substantial and elegant blocks are the Arcade, Sherwood, Strong, Church, and numerous others, on both sides of Cochran Avenne, while nearly all the prominent business-houses of the city are located in roomy and con- venient quarters. Many fine residences are also noticed.

SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

MASONIC.

Charlotte Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M., was organized under dispensation, June 27, 1859, with the following

officers : F. E. Leiter, Worshipful Master ; J. Q. A. Ses- sions, Senior Warden ; E. S. Lacey, Junior Warden ; Tra- cey Casc, Sec. ; E. S. Lacey, Treas .; W. S. Foster, Senior Deacon ; P. Kauffman, Junior Deacon; B. E. Rich, Tiler. A charter was granted to this lodge Jan. 13, 1860, with Edward S. Lacey as Worshipful Master. By the last day of June, 1860, the membership of the lodge had increased by twenty. The membership in July, 1880, was 115. The following are the officers for the latter year : P. S. De Graff, Worshipful Master ; W. J. Bonnett, Senior Warden ; W. P. Lacey, Junior Warden ; E. S. Lacey, Treas. ; George W. Rowley, Sec .; C. M. Atkins, Senior Deacon ; C. II. Greist, Junior Deacon ; W. O. Culver, Tiler; Samuel Pollock and A. II. Kesler, Stewards.

Charlotte Chapter, No. 82, R. A. M., was chartered Jan. 5, 1872,* with Earl T. Church, High Priest; Syl- vester Collins, King; D. P. Sagendorph, Scribe; B. J. Grier, Captain of the Host; P. T. Van Zile, Principal Sojourner ; A. D. Baughman, Royal Arch Captain ; B. F. Doughty, G. M. 3d V .; D. Baughman, G. M. 2d V .; H. J. Hart, G. M. 1st V .; James W. Hickok, Sec .; E. Suy- der, Tiler. The following were additional charter members : J. M. Haslett, J. B. May, E. S. Lacey, A. R. Moore, P. M. Higby, Cyrus Cummings, B. W. Warren, W. S. Trask, George B. Fleming. The membership, Dec. 31, 1879, was fifty-one. The officers for 1880 are the following: Seth Ketcham, H. P .; S. Collins, K .; B. F. Wells, Scribe; B. J. Grier, C. of II .; P. S. De Graff, P. S .; A. D. Baugh- man, R. A. C .; J. V. Johnson, G. M. 3d V .; W. C. Fos- ter, G. M. 2d V .; George Ward, G. M. 1st V .; H. J. Hart, Sec. ; A. J. Ives, Treas. ; S. Pollock, Guard.

Charlotte Council, No. 36, R. and S. M., was organized March 30, 1872, with the following officers, viz. : J. M. Haslett, T. I. G. M .; D. Banghman, D. I. G. M .; E. T. Church, P. C. of W .; E. S. Lacey, Treas .; A. J. Ives, Recorder; F. A. Hooker, C. G .; J. W. Hickock, G. S .; B. Bedell, Sentinel. The present membership (July, 1880) is thirty-eight, and the officers as follows : E. T. Church, T. I. G. M .; D. Banghman, D. I. G. M .; P. S. De Graff, P. C. of W. ; E S. Lacey, Treas .; P. M. Thomas, Re- corder ; A. D. Baughman, C. of G .; W. C. Foster, C. of C .; George Ward, G. S .; W. O. Culver, Sentinel.

ODD-FELLOWS.

Amphictyon Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F., was instituted Jan. 12, 1853, by Joseph E. Hyde, of Detroit, and a char- ter was granted July 7th of the same year. The original members were five in number, viz. : Caleb A. Robinson, Noble Grand ; William O'Brien, Vice-Grand; C. F. Wal- lace, Sec. ; A. L. Baker, Treas. ; and Joseph-P. Hall. At the first meeting six additional members were received. The lodge for several years held its meetings in a building owned by Cyrus Cummings. About the beginning of the war of the Rebellion the lodge was greatly weakened, and for a year its work was suspended. The charter was not sur- rendered, however, and the lodge in time became again prosperous. Its present membership is between forty and fifty, and its officers are : Jerome V. Johnson, N. G .; A.

# The organization of the chapter was effected Nov. 7, 1871.

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HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

J. Comstock, V. G .; A. I .. Winters, Sec. ; D. F. Webber, Perm. Sec. ; Peter Horn, Treas.

Mystic Encampment, No. 44, I. O. O. F., was instituted Oct. 4, 1870, with a membership of fifteen. The first officers were : George B. Fleming, Chief Patriarch ; R. D. Wheaton, High Priest ; II. J. Hart, Senior Warden ; A. II. Green, Junior Warden ; F. P. Webster, Scribe ; W. J. Bonnett, Treas. The membership on the 6th of August, 1850, was sixteen. The following are the officers for the year last named : John S. Opt, Chief Patriarch ; B. I. Whelpley, Iligh Priest ; Jerome V. Johnson, Senior War- den ; Lafayette Rowley, Junior Warden ; M. W. Cooper, Scribe; l'eter Horn, Treas. ; George W. Rowley, Repre- sentative to Grand Encampment.

GOOD TEMPLARS.

Charlotte Lodge, No. 90, I. O. G. T., was organized April 30, 1860, and had an existence of fifteen years. Prairie Lodge, No. 646, was organized April 28, 1869, with fifteen charter members, all from the old lodge. The organization was effected by D. P. Sagendorph, and Henry Robinson was elected Worthy Chief Templar. The mem- bership of Prairie Lodge July 1, 1880, was about sixty- five, and the following were then its officers : Henry Dickey, W. C. T .; Dora Hart, Sec .; Florence Warren, Fin. Sec. ; Henry Baughman, Treas. Some of the members of this order in the county have risen to distinction in the State organization, or Grand Lodge. John Evans, of Bellevue, was secretary of the latter for twenty-three consecutive years, and in 1879 was chosen Grand Worthy Chief Tem- plar. The organization in this State has existed twenty- six or twenty-seven years, and is in a generally flourishing condition.

TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.

The Charlotte Reform Club, or " Red Ribbon Club," the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and others are among the temperance organizations which have existed or do at present exist in the city, and all have been of greater or less benefit to the canse in the interests of which they were formed. The present " Red Ribbon Hall" is on the third floor of the block occupied by E. T. Church. E. A. Foote, Esq., and other prominent citizens, are among its influential members.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

Michigan Lodge, No. 550,* was organized March 27, 1877, with fourteen charter members. Its first officers were: Isaac D. Mccutcheon, Dictator ; G. B. Allen, Vice- Dictator ; W. P. Lacey, Assistant Dictator ; Seth Ketcham, Past Dictator ; C. M. Atkins, Reporter; Joseph W. Mus- grave, Financial Reporter ; K. Kittridge, Treasurer ; A. D. Baughman, Chaplain ; F. A. Ells, Guide; George W. Squier, Guardian; W. Il. Packard, Sentinel ; G. B. Allen, M.D., Medical Examiner ; F. E. Leiter, H. S. McDonald, Joseph Lang, Trustees.

The membership, June 30, 1880, was forty-six, at which time the lodge was officered as follows : J. J. Curtis, Die- tator ; C. M. Atkins, Vice-Dictator ; John Callister, Assist-

ant Dictator; C. II. Griest, Past Dictator ; G. C. Fox, Reporter ; G. W. Squier, Financial Reporter; F. Savage, Treasurer ; F. E. Leiter, Chaplain ; John M. Morey, Guide ; A. T. Selkirk, Guardian ; E. D. Brackett, Sentinel ; G. B. Allen, M.D., Medical Examiner.

" This lodge is notahle for the high character and standing of its members. The Grand Lodge of the State has been ably represented in the Supreme Lodge for two years by a representative from this lodge,-the Hlon. Isaac D. Mccutcheon. This lodge wisely chose Dr. G. B. Allen, a physician of high standing among the medical frater- nity of the State, as its medical examiner, a position which ho has filled with great credit since the first election until the present, he being the unanimous choice of the members at each election.

"This lodge meets on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month. It is characteristic of their sociability that their latch- string is always out for visiting brothers, who are made to feel per- fectly at home, and always go away with feelings of fraternal, Knightly love."

ROYAL ARCANUM.

Peninsular Council, No. 190, was organized Nov. I, 1877, and has a present membership of twenty-two (Aug. 7, 1880). Its officers are: N. C. Rasey, Regent ; J. S. White, Vice-Regent ; F. A. Ells, Orator ; O. J. Roe, Past Regent ; S. Robinson, Sec. ; J. V. Johnson, Collector ; Seth Keteham, Treas. ; W. C. IIarmon, Chaplain ; George Frank, Guide; Wesley Wood, Warden ; George Semon, Sentry.

OUR COUNTRY'S DEFENDERS.

Gen. Williams Encampment, No. 33, was organized in May, 1880, with fifteen members, which number has since been somewhat increased. The encampment was named for Gen. Williams, formerly of Detroit, now deceased. Its principal officers are : Giles B. Allen, M. D., Com- mander ; George W. Rowley, Adjutant.

THE CHARLOTTE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

was organized in December, 1870, under the general laws of the State, and in less than two years the library con- tained 500 volumes. The present number, as paged and shelved, is 911, although there are 1024 numbers on the catalogue. These are made up of the usual assortment found in libraries of this size. The present officers of the association are : E. T. Church, President; F. A. Hooker, Vice-President ; R. W. Shriner, Secretary ; L. B. Brockett, Treasurer ; F. S. Belcher, Ellzey Hayden, J. G. Pollard, Executive Committee; E. S. Lacey, F. A. Hooker, P. S. De Graff, Book Committee; John Callister, M. S. Phillips, L. O. Smith, Membership Committee.

CHARLOTTE CITY BAND.

One of the finest musical organizations in the State is the Charlotte City Band, and its efficiency and success are largely due to its present musical director, Rollin C. Jones, who began his band work in the spring of 1860, when he took up an E-flat cornet. In 1861 he changed to an E-flat alto, but returned to his first choice in 1863. In 1864 he was chosen leader of the band, which position he held for fourteen years. During this time he arranged a portion of the music, and was teacher of the new organizations and of new members coming in. In 1879 he was chosen musical director, and is still holding that position. Mr. Jones has been a faithful worker in this particular field, and has

· Communicated.

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CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

labored strenuously to make the band a credit to the city, -his success being evident in the present reputation of the organization.

The first band in Charlotte was organized in the fall of 1855, and was called the " Charlotte Saxhorn Band." It continued four years, disbanding in 1859. On organizing, each member contributed fifteen dollars, receiving but very little help from the citizens. Cyrus Cummings purchased the instruments in New York while after goods for his store. The following were the members of this band when organized : E-Flat Bugle, John C. Tillotson, teacher and leader ; E-Flat Soprano Saxhorn, Pitt M. Higby, clerk in dry goods store ; B-Flat Cornopeon, Cyrus Cummings, dealer in dry goods, etc .; E-Flat Alto Saxhorn, Nathan Johnson, carpenter and builder ; B-Flat Bass Saxhorn, J. M. Haslett, dealer in dry goods, etc. ; B-Flat Baritone Saxhorn, G. W. Sherwood, daguerrean artist; E-Flat Tuba Saxhorn, John Russell, shoemaker; Bass Drum, Thomas Roller, cabinet-maker.

John C. Tillotson, then teaching dancing-school in Al- bion, Calhoun Co., was engaged to instruct the band, and was paid $100 each winter for the years 1855 and 1856, the amount being raised through the medium of dancing- schools. In 1859, the leader, who was a " stiff Democrat," refused to play for a Republican meeting, and the result was the disruption of the band. Its members at the time were : E-Flat Bugle, Pitt M. Higby ; E-Flat Cornet, A. H. Kesler; 1st B-Flat Cornopeon, E. S. Lacey ; 2d B-Flat Cornopeon, Egbert G. Williams ; 1st E-Flat Alto, John Ray ; 2d E-Flat Alto, Nathan Johnson ; B-Flat Baritone, George W. Sherwood; B-Flat Bass, Charles T. Hall ; E-Flat Tuba, F. E. Leiter ; Bass Drum, Thomas Roller ; Snare Drum, Charles Schaffer.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 98

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