USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 21
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The first members of the Belding family settled at Wethersfield, Connec- ticut in 1836. The family followed the line of immigration up the Connecti- cut valley, where Samuel Belding, the father of John Belding, bought the homestead in the village of Ashfield, Massachusetts. John Belding received a land grant from the state of Massachusetts for valiant service as first lieu- tenant in the volimteer army of the Revolution. Hiram Belding was the son of John Belding and engaged in farming and the retail mercantile trade in his native state until 18440, at which time he sold his store and devoted his attention entirely to farming. Mary Wilson, the wife of Hiram Belding, was a descendant of the famous Wilson family which arrived in this coun- try in 1630.
The four Belding brothers, David W., Milo M., Hiram H. and Alvah N., sons of Hiram Belding and Mary Wilson, were born in the famous old hill town of Ashfield, Massachusetts, in a cottage farm house built in 1800 by their grandfather, John Belding. The father was a man of splendid character and attainments. liberally educated, possessed of a high degree of intelligence, and of the sturdy pioneer stock. The mother was of that sturdy Puritan stock, persevering, energetic. well poised and tenacious, with extremely vigorous physical constitution. She possessed an indomitable will. a never-faltering courage, and the greatest nobility of character. From the one the sons inherited an active mentality and a talent for business, from the other, a strong character and a perseverance of the most uncompromising kind.
The early life of these brothers was undoubtedly similar to that of other boys born in a rural community, of parents in moderate circumstances. Their home was small and consisted of a large living room, bedroom, kit- chen and attic. There was a difference of only a few years between the eldest and the youngest of these boys. One can easily imagine the tasks of a mother who had not only to look after them, but to attend as well the manifold duties of a farmwife. She often related with much amusement an incident of the early days when, in order to perform her household duties unmolested, she drew a chalk line across the room, within which the boys were required to remain until given permission to leave. Undoubtedly within the narrow confines of this chalk line was cultivated that character for harmony, and perhaps for pugnacity as well, which afterwards demon- strated itself in their business career. They received such education as could be obtained in the country schools and. for a brief time, in the academy of the village of Ashfield.
After working on the farm with their father for awhile. it became
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necessary, as their wants increased, to secure other employment. They first engaged in farming, taking service with neighboring farmers, receiving their board and a small pittance of money which was hardly enough to provide for their wants. This New England country was rugged, the roads were bad. there was little communication between the towns and villages, and facilities for purchasing supplies were poor. This naturally led to the development of what was known as the "peddler system" of trading. It is not surprising, therefore, that the boys early decided to earn a little extra money by buying small wares and selling them from house to house. Among the articles which made up their pack was that of silk, put up in skeins, which they carried in an old-fashioned bag. Events apparently unimportant in the present, are pregnant with untold influence upon the future. In this small beginning was laid the foundation of a great industry. The village of Ashfield lies in an little upland valley in the midst of one of the most moun- tainous districts of Massachusetts. The country round about it is so unpro- ductive that the greatest industry, shrewdness, good management and econ- omy are necessary.
Several of the relatives and friends of Hiram Belding were attracted to the more fertile soil of the West, and he followed them in 1855. settling at Patterson's Mills, Michigan He bought the farm where the city of Bekdl- ing now stands. Until recently the little frame cottage which he built was one of the historic sights of this thriving little city, occupying a prominent place on Main street. Unfortunately, a few years ago this interesting land- mark was destroyed by fire.
The real foundation of the company was laid when Hiram and Alvah. who were working on the farm with their father at Patterson's Mills, Michi- gan. sent to their brother, Milo, then living in Massachusetts, for a stock of silk. They received merchandise amounting altogether to $145.60, which they divided evenly among themselves, making $72.80 each. They were compelled to delay starting out because they had no money with which to make change. They had to wait until a wealthy man, William Shaw, of Ofisco, could pay them $3.15 which he owed them. They traveled from house to house and village to village on foot. Hiram succeeded in selling a considerable bill to a merchant. while Alvah had sold to housewives only. Wvah objected to Hiram's having all of the merchants, and to settle the controversy they agreed then and there to form a partnership known as Belding Brothers. This was in August, 1857. It may be said, therefore. that the partnership of Belling Brothers started out with a cash capital of $3.15: liabilities, $145.60. This partnership was quite successful. They
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continued to send east to Milo, and their business grew until they were able to buy a horse apiece and they conducted a business with merchants as well as with housewives. Subsequently they carried their merchandise in large trunks which they took on cars, delivering the goods from the trunks to the merchants.
In 1863 their business became so extensive that they wrote to their brother, Milo, and asked him if he did not want to join them and form a partnership. Belding Brothers & Company was then organized as a part- nership in 1863. by Milo M., Hiram H. and, Alvah N. They were shortly afterward joined by their cklest brother. David W. Belding, and the firm which was to later use one-twentieth of the silk imported into the United States came into existence. They continued to prosper and grow, but did not attempt the manufacture of silk until January 1. 1864, at which time they went into partnership with E. K. Rose, who had a small mill in Rock- ville, Connecticut, where he employed about twenty-five men. In 1866 this partnership was dissolved and Belding Brothers & Company began the manufacture of silk alone. The business increased with such rapid strides that the output of this factory was inadequate to meet the demand, and in consequence of this rapid increase they began to consider another factory. Accordingly, in the year 1876, they established a factory at Northampton. Massachusetts.
The increased business through the eastern and central portion of the country became so great that it again overtaxed the productive capacity of the mills at Rockville and Northampton. It became necessary to establish additional mills. Naturally, their minds turned towards the thriving little village of Belling, Michigan, named after them and located on the home- stead bought by their father in 1855. They felt an ambition to build here an enduring monument in their name. Accordingly, a factory was built in in 1886. This mill was originally 150 feet long and four stories high. An addition was built in 1892 and made the building 250 feet long and four stories high. In carrying out their ambitious plans for this city, they built another mill in 1800, 200 feet long, 50 feet wide and three stories high, and built an addition to it in 1892, making the mill 325 feet long. The third mill was built in 1001. being 150 feet long and four stories high. In 1900 a mill in Belding. 160 feet long, originally built for the manufacture of cas- kets, was bought and converted into a silk factory, and is equipped through- ont with electrically driven machinery, making four large silk factories in this prosperous city.
All of the Belding factories are equipped with the Sturtevant system
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of heating. This insures absolutely fresh air during the months when arti- ficial heat must be provided. They are also equipped with modern electrical machinery for lighting, so that the work is done under the most approved conditions. Mill No. 2, in which fabrics are manufactured, is equipped with an apparatus for the automatic regulation of the temperature and humidity. This has a most agreeable and healthful effect upon the employees. The mills at Rockville are used exclusively for the manufacture of sewing silks. That at Northampton is used for the manufacture of embroidery silks and silk fabrics. One null at Belding manufactures sewing silks exclusively, one mill manufactures sewing silks and embroidery silks, and the other two manu- facture fabrics only, having one thousand looms in operation.
In addition to the factory buildings, an opera house, a hotel equipped with the most modern conveniences, and many business houses, have been erected at Belding. To secure families sufficient to operate their varied inter- ests at this point, many houses had to be built, which were either rented or sold on small monthly payments. From a farm in 1860, through the opera- tions of Belding Brothers, Belding has grown to be one of the most prosper- ons, thriving cities in the state.
This calm and orderly scene of industry and contentment which bears their honorable name, speaks most eloquently of their career of struggle and triumph which began so humbly and is here commemorated so grandly. In the conduct of their business in Belding it became necessary to seek help from surrounding towns and so many people were required that there were not a sufficient number of homes to take care of them. This required the building of boarding houses which are, in fact, beautifully equipped hotels. They are named the "Ashfield" and the "Belrockton." This last name was derived from the words Belding. Rockville and Northampton. They are equal to any of the dormitories of the leading colleges, furnished comfort- ably, provided with hot and cold water, and an excellent table for $2.50 per week. They have handsome parlors furnished with pianos, and libraries supplied with the daily papers and magazines. In connection with these. boarding houses there are also well equipped tennis and croquet grounds and a gymnasium. The houses are presided over by matrons who look after the welfare of the young women. This excellent care given by the firm and the interest which is manifested in the comfort of the woman employees, has resulted in securing a much better class of help. On the other hand. the firm has been amply repaid by superior workmanship and consequently more perfect products.
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RICHARDSON SILK MILLS.
The Richardson Silk Company is the pioneer manufacturer of silk in the city of Belding and has been one of the factors in giving to this city its present cognomen of the "Silk City." The great factor which influenced the locating of the silk mills in Belling was the great supply of water power, the utilization of which goes back to an earlier date than the silk mills. In 1842 William Broas constructed a wing-dam and race on the site of the Richardson dam. A saw-mill was erected which was run by the power from the stream. Several years later Lucius Patterson purchased an interest in the Broas mill property and joined the latter in throwing a dam across the river. This venture proved a failure and nothing more was attempted with this dam. In 1856 Lucius Patterson renewed his possessions and engaged Volney Belling to construct a new dam across the river. This was accom- plished and a mill erected. This mill did quite an extensive business and continued under the management of Mr. Patterson for a number of years. In 1871 Wilson, Luther & Wilson obtained possession of the Patterson interests and erected a much larger mill This was destroyed in 1878 but immediately rebuilt. After the passing of the lumber industry the property was taken over by the Belding Brothers which is the first step in the history of the present Richardson Silk Company.
In 1886 the first silk mill was erected in the village of Bekling. This mill was 160 feet by 40 feet and three stories high. The Richardson Silk Company was organized in the spring of 1887 and took over this new fac- tory building for the manufacture of silk thread. The first spool of silk manufactured in Belding was turned out by the Richardson Silk Company in April, 1887. The business had increased to such an extent that it was found necessary, in 1890, to add another story making it a four-story build- ing. Two years later more room was needed and an extra hundred feet was added to the length which conformed to the rest of the building in height and width. Since that time there have been annexes built to the dyeing plant and to the power plant.
Up to 1904 the water power was owned jointly with the Knott, Ruthan Company. The latter had a large flouring- or grist-mill close to the dam. But after the passing of this plant the water rights were taken over entirely by the Richardson Silk Company, which today is sole owner of this power. In root the old wooden dam was carried away and the company immediately began to replace it with a modern, concrete dam. This dam has steel head-
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gates which are operated by electricity and in general it is the most com- plete structure of its kind in the state. In 1913 the company had the mis- fortune to lose their power plant. The course of the river was then slightly changed and a new power plant was erected. This plant has all modern electrical power devices and through their electrical generators they are not only able to operate their own plant but also the fabric plant of the Bekling Brothers & Company. While it can truthfully be said that there are other plants with a larger unit, still none have a more modern up-to-date power system in the state than this mill. They also have a unique arrangement with the steam power of the Belding Brothers & Company's plant whereby if anything happens to the power of the Richardson Company's plant the load can be shifted to the former company's power and proceed withont a moment's delay.
As was previously mentioned the Richardson Silk Company was the pioneer in the manufacture of silk thread in Michigan. From a very small beginning it has built up a business which has passed the million-dollar point several years back. In the year 1915 a cotton department was added whereby it places in the market various art cottons which are considered by the trade equal to any on the market of either a foreign or home make. The business of the company is managed along conservative lines and its products are such that they are able to compete with any brands on the market at the present.
The same officers who started with the company are still in charge. George P. Richardson, president: T. S. Noyes, secretary and treasurer, who came with the company the second year after its organization : 11. J. Soria. vice-president and manager of the New York office, who entered the employ- ment in the early stages as a salesman : F. A. Washburn, under whose super- vision the management of the manufacturing has been since the beginning. Mr. Washburn was formerly connected with Belling Brothers in their Rock- ville. Connecticut, plant but came to Belding and had charge of the con- struction of the plant before the organization of the company. He has been in charge of the manufacturing end constantly since 1886.
SPENCER ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY.
The water power and rights which are at the present time the property of the Spencer Electric Light and Power Company have passed through quite a number of hands since the beginning of the utilization of the streams in this vicinity for electrical power. The dam was originally constructed .by Joslyn Brothers who had a small woolen-mill and later a saw-mill which was
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run by the water power. This was a six-foot dam but was raised to an eight-foot dam at a cost of $3,000, by a Mr. Stearns who owned it at one time. Walter Hill and F. L. Spencer owned one-half interest in the water power. The former parties bought out Osgood's interest in the power and used it for lumbering. Osgood had been running a planing-mill which was sold along with the interest in the water power. Mr. Spencer became a one- half owner in the year 1881. Mr. Hill purchased his interest in 1884 or 1885. Spencer & Hill utilized the power to run a saw-mill. In 1888 they became sole owners of the power.
In 1803 the Spencer Electric Light and Power Company was organized with a capital stock of $50.000. Spencer & Hill turned their interest in the water power for $20,000 of stock in the company. Belding Brothers turned over their power plant for $20,000 and the other $10,000 of stock was sold to the public. An electric light plant was immediately installed and at that time the transmission line was the longest in the state. After the organiza- tion of the company generators were immediately put in and a line run to Belding. On November 28, 1893, the first current was put over the line to Belding. The company at first utilized the old water wheel which had been erected for the saw-mill, but with the increase in the number of lights installed in the city the company built a new Hume and added another wheel. Later on a third wheel was installed. In 1014 this company tore out all of the old flumes, buildings and water wheels and erected a new concrete flume and draft tubes for the water wheels. They also erected a brick generator house for the generator, which is a three-hundred kilowatt. and is connected direct to two fifty-six-inch Sampson water wheels and a new American forty-four inch.
There have been only a few changes in the administration of the com- pany since the organization. F. L. Spencer has served as president : O. F. Webster, vice-president; W. P. Hetherington, secretary: J. Frank Ireland was the first treasurer, which office is filled by J. E. Stanton, who is also superintendent of the plant at the present time; R. F. Barry was superinten- dent of the plant until 1914: James Barret was the first electrician.
GRAND RAPIDS PAPER BOX COMPANY.
The Belding paper box factory was established about May 1, 1899. by W. W. Huelster, who was at that time operating a paper box factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Richardson Silk Company, up to this time. were receiving their supply of boxes from the Grand Rapids factory, but the
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demand for boxes increased so rapidly that Mr. Huelster came to the con- clusion that a branch factory in Belling would enable him to give the silk company better and quicker service, and in time would prove a paying invest- ment for himself as well. That the move proved a wise one is evidenced by the fact that several years later another large silk mill was located in Bekdl- ing by Belding Brothers & Company, who also became large users of paper boxes. Mr. Iluelster's business in Belding and Grand Rapids increased so rapidly that it became necessary to interest more capital ; consequently. April 13. 1893, the Grand Rapids Paper Box Company was organized with a paid- up capital stock of $20,000, the officers being Lester J. Rindge, president ; J. G. Kalmbach, vice-president, and W. W. Huelster, secretary-treasurer and general manager. The paper box business increased from year to year in both cities and new and improved machinery were being invented and adopted by nearly all box factories in the country, demanding still more new capital, and on April 26. 1800, the capital of the company was increased from $20.000 to $36,000. On April 19, 1911, it became necessary to increase the capital stock from $36,000 to $100.000. The present officers are G. N. Sny- der. president ; H. C. Rindge, vice-president, and W. W. Huelster, secretary- treasurer and general manager.
The branch factory in Belding was started with one boy and five girls. on the second floor of a small frame building on Main street, the Belding Banner, published by Cowdin & Lapham, occupying the first floor. Belding had two large fires since 1800 and the box factory suffered two total losses, being located in both cases in the path of the conflagration. Fortunately, the losses were fairly well covered by insurance, and as each move meant better and larger quarters, the fires proved blessings in disguise.
From 1893 10 January 1. 1916 the factory was located in what is now known as the Underwood block on Pleasant street. In 1915 the Richardson Silk Company began the manufacture of a new line of goods known as "R. M. C.," cotton embroidery yarns, which before the European war broke out was almost entirely imported from Germany. This line of goods requires larger boxes, and the sales have increased so rapidly that larger quarters for the box factory became necessary. \ ten-year lease was secured from the Belding Basket Company for their two-story brick building, sixty-five by one hundred feet, just east of the basket factory, and the box factory is now located there and doing business, having nearly three times the floor space they had in the Underwood block. New machinery has been installed and everything done to make the Belding box factory one of the most up-to-date in the country. The working crew consists of Elvood Rockefeller, superin-
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tendent, two men and twenty women and girls, and the prospects are good for quite an increase in the future. Nearly 25,000 boxes are being turned out daily, amounting to about $25.000 yearly business.
BELDING-BALL COMPANY.
The Belling-Hall Company, manufacturers of refrigerators at Belding, is one of the very large industries of lonia county. The original company. which was known as the Belding Manufacturing Company, was organized in September, 1884. It was succeeded by the Belding-Hall Company in January, 1908. The new company has a total capitalization of $345.500, of which $200,000 is common stock and $145.500 in preferred stock. The plant of the Belding-Hall Company is valued at $400,000 and the output of the factory, which is sold all over the United States and abroad, amounts to approximately $600,000 annually. The officers of the Belding-Hall Company are as follow: Brinton F. Hall, president ; R. Howard Hall, vice-president ; G. D. Weter, secretary, and F. A. Washburn, treasurer. The directors inchide the following: 11. B. Webber and George E. Nichols, Ionia; H. J. Dudley, Grand Rapids; E. E. Chapple, F. A. Washburn, R. Howard Hall and Brinton F. Hall. Belding. The Belding-Hall Company employs at present from 300 to 350 persons. The original officers of the Belding Manufactur- ing Company, which was capitalized at $25,000, included HI. H. Belding. Chicago, president ; J. 1 .. Woodward, vice-president, and W. A. Stanton, secretary-treasurer.
BELDING BASKET COMPANY.
The Belding Basket Company, of Belding, organized in 1894 as the Ballon Basket Works and re-incorporated, January 1, 1900, as the Belding Basket Company, has a capital at present of $50.000. The original officers of the company were: W. D. Ballon, president; W. W. Hanchett, vice- president ; E. E. Chapple, treasurer, and D. M. Gerber, secretary. The off- cers of the company have not changed since its original incorporation. The company has a plant valued at $35,000 and an annual output reaching nearly $90,000. The product of the factory is sold all over the United States. The company employs at present fifty men and six boys.
E. CHAAPPLE & COMPANY.
The firm of E. Chapple & Company, of Belding, which does both a local and wholesale trade in flour and a trade in coal, coke, wood, sewer pipe and
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fittings, drain tile. wood fiber. plaster, lime, cement, etc., is a co-partnership organized on June 1. 1907. The partners are E. Chapple and M. Osterhout. The sales annually vary from $70,000 to $00,000, and the plant is valued at $11.000. Five men and sixteen girls and women are employed.
BELDING LAND AND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
The Belding Land and Improvement Company was organized and incor- porated on December 17. 1889, by Belling Brothers. The first officers of the company were : Alvah N. Belling. president ; M. M. Belding, Sr., treasurer : M. M. Belling. Jr .. secretary : H. H. Belling, vice-president.
The real purpose for the establishment of this company was to promote the growth and welfare of the city of Belding. At this point it might be well to give the history of the Belding hotel, for although it was built the year prior to the organization of the Bekdling Land and Improvement Com- pany, it became part of the hollings of that company after its organization. In 1888 Belding Brothers began negotiations for the erection of a hotel, and Claire Allen, architect, of Jackson, was secured to draw the plans. Work was pushed forward and in a short time the building was completed. At the time of the completion of this hotel there were only three hotels in the city of Chicago equipped with steam heat, electric lights, hot and cokl water. But Belding Brothers equipped this hotel with all of these modern conveniences and yet there were only about five hundred people in the village. W. P'. Hetherington was secured by 11. 11. Belding to manage the hotel. Mr. lletherington came from East Hampton, Massachusetts, where he had been connected with a chain of hotels with his uncle, William Hill, who was a veteran hotel man of fifty years experience. Mr. Hetherington brought with him Thomas Bracken and the two have been together in the Hotel Belding for twenty-eight years. In 1915 Mr. Hetherington severed his con- nection as active manager of the hotel and now devotes his entire time to the management of the Belding Land and Improvement Company in its manage- ment of farms and real estate. Mr. Bracken still remains in the employ of the hotel as clerk, and E. W. Dunham, a young man from Massachusetts. became manager. With Mr. Bracken's stay of twenty-nine years at the hotel he has become one of the best-known hotel clerks in the state of Michigan.
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