History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 48

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434

USA > Michigan > Kent County > History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 48

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).

Gov. Jerome pardoned Sebastian Greenway, who was convicted in the Superior Court of the city of Grand Rapids of the crime of manslaughter and sentenced to the State House of Correction at Ionia for three years from Dec. 27, 1879. The pardon was granted upon the solicitation of the prosecuting attorney and judge who tried the case, and upon the statement of the prison physician that Greenway could not live through another winter, and would prob- ably die before the summer ended.

July 31. in Grand Rapids, Ed. Morin was accidentally shot and killed with a pistol by John McDermott.

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of complainant in the

485

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

noted case of Harvey P. Yale vs. Wm. H. Stewart and about 460 others. Yale brought suit in the Circuit Court to foreclose a mort- gage given for $16,500 in 1856, by Wmn. H. Stewart and Harry H. Ives to Wm. P. Innes, and by him assigned to Yale in 1857. The mortgage covers some 400 acres lying just east of the city, between Leonard and Bridge streets. The suit was begun in 1876. The de- fense claimed that the mortgage had been paid, and also that, if it were not, it was cut off by two prior mortgages known as the Ran- som E. Wood and the John Ball mortgages, bearing date 1854, through the foreclosure of which mortgages the defendants hold their title. Complainant claimed that the Yale mortgage was un- paid, and that the Ball and Wood mortgage foreclosure and title was invalid on account of fraud and informalities in the sale. The Circuit Court dismissed the bill of Complainant Yale with costs in October, 1880, and the defeated parties took an appeal to the Su- preme Court.

Aug. 2, Cornelius M. and Gysbert Maris, of A. M. Maris & Son, dealers in hardware at 115 Monroe street, went to Reed's lake on a fishing excursion. They were fishing near the ice-house at the west end of the lake, where the water was but about eight feet deep, Gysbert Maris being at the stern of the boat. He rose from his seat and reached forward to get bait for his look, when he lost his balance and fell out, turning the boat over. His brother Cornelius was thus thrown out, too. Both much frightened, tried to catch on and climb on the boat, and thus kept turning it. Gysbert got a blow on the forehead from the boat while it was thus turning, which stunned him, and he sank and drowned at once. Cornelius Maris was nearly exhausted, and narrowly escaped drowning before he was rescued.

Aug. 16, death of Mrs. Lucy T. Hine, wife of M. W. Hine, at Lowell.

RETROSPECT.

Having traveled over the trails of the past and reviewed the varied events and men connected with the general history of Kent, one is forced to ask by what great power has a country grown into magnificence within a few years. It is the power of pure and sim- ple progress, the power of arm and mind combined, the genius of American enterprise and industry.

In looking back over a period of 48 years, since the first stream of immigration began to spread over the valley of the Grand river, the inquirer may well wonder at all man has done; at all the changes he has effected, and all the great results his labors have attained. Then there were a few traders here surrounded by and in full sympathy with a host of savages, whom they instructed in the lessons of loyalty to the United States. Only a few years had then passed over, since those ferocious Ottawas . and Chippewas were leagued with the British soldiers in draining the heart's blood of the citizen troops of the young Union; yet the Frenchman Campau and the American Robinson exercised such a beneficial

486

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

influence over the barbaric natives, that by the time the American settlers began to arrive, the Indian mind was prepared for peace and amity.

Then were planted the seeds of progress. By degrees the seed- lings sprang into the light of day, grew rapidly for a time, and again were nipped by the frosts of the panic year of 1837. The roots were not destroyed, however, as, after a few years of anxious toil and husbanding, the young plants sprung into light again, and, endowed with new life as it were, grew in size and importance until they resembled the sturdy oaks cradled in the midst of a beautiful maple grove.

Such was the growth of Kent county. It had its day of trial, and passed through the ordeal triumphantly. The men who figured then, and many of those whose names are identified with the best inter- ests of the county to-day, never deserted the storm-tossed ship, but clung with a will to the fragments of the partial wreck until the tornado passed by, and then collecting her varied parts, built them into a shape more substantial, into a form of life destined to withstand all whirlwinds, and ride securely over the waves of time and circumstances. We have reviewed the county in all its phases. Entering it with the Otchipwe invaders in the dim past, revisiting it with the French travelers and missionaries, again viewing it under the regime of Madam La Framboise, then Rix Robinson, next Louis Campau, and next the American settlers, a conception of all they have done may be formed; but never can a full idea of their sacrifices and their sufferings be attained.

TOWNSHIP AND CITY HISTORIES,

ADA TOWNSHIP.

Ada is a land of "oak openings" of hill and dale, forming one of the most picturesque divisions of the county. The principal streams are the Grand and Thornapple rivers. The former enters the town through the south line of the town about one mile and a half from the southeast corner, and flowing in a northwesterly course leaves the town at its northwest corner, thus leaving about one-fourth of the town south and west of the river. The Thorn- apple enters the town near the middle of the south line, and flow- ing northeast for about one mile unites with the Grand. Several small streams rise in the township and fall into the Grand river, and fully one-half of the surface of the town, especially in the south and west portions, is very hilly and broken.

Chase's lake, in the northeast part of the township, is the only one of consequence in it. The prevailing timber is oak; and oak openings and a somewhat sandy soil generally prevail, a large per cent. of it being quite fertile. It is well adapted to fruit culture as well as to the growth of cereals.

The township of Ada originally embraced a large tract of coun- try, including what are now the adjacent towns of Cascade and Caledonia.

Sidney Smith did much of the town business for many years, and the town was named for his estimable daughter, Miss Ada Smith, now Mrs. James Miller, of the city of Grand Rapids. Rix Robinson, as an Indian trader, came to the Grand River in 1821, and established several trading posts, making his central place with the Indians at Ada. Being a person without rights, and at the sufferance of the Indians, he can scarcely be called for many years a settler, but rather a sojourner. He was, in reality, the pioneer of the valley. He identified himself with the Indians for purposes of trade. When the land was opened for settlement he became a settler with others. Among the early purchasers of the township lands were:

Isadore Nauntoit, sec. 1, Aug. 19, 1839.

Alanson Crampton, sec. 4, Aug. 10, 1839. .

Charles Beaucamp, sec. 7, March 1, 1834.

(487)

4SS

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Benjamin Scott, sec. 18, June 26, 1836.

Rix Robinson, sec. 21, Feb. 8, 1833.

Washington Hunt, sec. 22, Aug. 19, 1839. Jedediah Briggs, sec. 24, Aug. 10, 1839.

Alexander H. Edwards, sec. 28, Feb. 27, 1836.

Seneca Hale, sec. 30, Sept. 26, 1836.

Howell Gardner, sec. 32, Sept. 27, 1836.

Susan McCloskey, sec. 32, April 7, 1837.

Orrin Kellogg, sec. 35, Aug. 10, 1839.

The lands pre-empted at Ada were mostly river bottoms, some of the best land in the country. Titles could not be obtained un- til 1839. Some improvements had been made; the block-house tavern, long known as the Withey House, had been built. When the lands were sold, several persons secured large tracts. Rix Robinson, by favor of the Indians, by the treaty, had some 600 acres. Loan and Perry Hill secured 600 acres on the right bank of the river two miles below the bridge. Rhodes, 500 acres, now known by his name. Lucius Lyon, 1,000 or so along the Thorn- apple and where is the village of Ada. Charles Robinson pre- empted below the Rhodes place; Rix Church, in the same region ; Torrey Smith, two miles above the bridge, on the right bank of the river; Simeon D. Holt, above Smith. John and Wm. Spence, next below the Pettis farm, where is the school-house.

Sidney Smith is reported to have been the first after Robinson who took up his abode in this town. His residence was a short distance west of the Ada bridge.

The real settlement fairly commenced in 1836. In 1837, we find John Spence, William Spence, Edward Pettis, Edward Robin- son, with a large family of sons; John W. Fiske, Gen. Withey, Digby V. Bell, Zerra Whitney, Torrey Smith, A. H. Riggs, Put- nam Hill, Elias Crow, Enoch Price, Minos Gypson, Rix Church, Lot Church, Charles Robinson, Wm. Slauson, Perry Hill, Loan Hill.

Enoch Price and Elias Crow took lands near Pettis. Pettis located on a fine spring on the bottom lands, where he now lives. Minos Gypson was Pettis' neighbor. Edward Robinson located below Rix Robinson.

Very early in the history of the town, they saw that at the mouth of the Thornapple was the place for a city, or a village, at least. Accordingly, and in the spirit of the times, a village was platted, and the lots were sold for taxes, until all was absorbed in the farms surrounding-no one owning a village. When the D. & M. railroad established their depot there, and Clement put up mills on the Thornapple, in 1853, it became self-evident that a vil- lage must be there. A portion of land on both sides of the Thorn- apple was laid out; before that time, however, there had been the nucleus of a village on the other side of the river. There they had a store, the school-house, blacksmith shop and several dwellings.

At a very early period, Ada was one of the stopping places, and

489

ADA TOWNSHIP.

a block-house tavern was kept by J. W. Fiske, and afterward by Gen. Withey. That house did service as a tavern until as late as 1855, and, like Yankee Springs Hotel, was famous. Fiske, the first keeper, now resides in the town of Grand Rapids, near where he won a name in another log house, and where he built a brick hotel by the lake, that bears his name.

A bridge was at an early day built by the State, which fell in 1852, with several men on it at the time. None, however, were killed. The present bridge was built in 1853, as a toll-bridge, but it is now free.

In 1854, the second school-house was built near where stands the school-house of to-day. It was a very respectable wooden structure. Moses Everett, then recently from New York, a teacher by profession, was first placed in charge. About 1870, the second house having become too small to accommodate the rising village, the present brick house was built, and the school opened in it.

The history of the early settlement of Ada, of the Indians, and of the division of the lands under the treaty of 1836 are fully treated in the county history. However, the following special reference to those early times, summarized from Prof. Everett's de- scription, will have a place here. He states:

Ada had its Indian band; the planting ground was on both sides of the Thornapple, at its mouth. A small band of them, at the time of the extinction of the Indian title, located themselves on the left bank of the river some miles below, where the Catholics established a mission. Those Indians, under wise leadership, be- came civilized; had as good farms as their neighbors,-as good houses, cattle and crops. They, however, broke up and went to the reservations at Pentwater. This settlement was known as "Boshaw's," so called from a French half-breed, who was influen- tial among them.

Perhaps no man has lived there whose influence was more felt than that of Mr. Perkins, who bought 600 acres or more of land at the mouth of the Thornapple in 1852. This land, and the other lands around it had been cultivated on the "skinning " principle until the owners, conquered by the weeds, had taken down their fences and thrown their fields into common. Perkins knew the ad- vantage of running the plow more than four inches deep. He fenced these abandoned commons; put in and put down the plow; and showed the first year his 100 bushels of corn, and his 40 bushels of wheat to the acre. This one lesson he taught the peo- ple of Ada: "The gold lies deep in the ground;" and by that one lesson he doubled the value of the town. Now, Perkins was not a saint, but he was the farmer who taught Ada the real value of their lands, and " civilized " their farming. It is strange that while the prophetic bullfrog is always calling out to the farmer "Beam deep!" he does little more than scratch the surface, and seldom gets more than 15 bushels of wheat to the acre, when "beam deep" gives 40! If you plow your ground with one horse, one

490

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

horse can carry off the crop. About 10 years ago the writer was talking with a farmer in Ada-a man, by the way, who knew more of a good many other things than he did of farming.

This man said his "land was poor;" he could get no good crops from it; and was told in reply: "Your farm, sir, is one of good capabilities; it is good land; but I am afraid you do not know how to persuade it to give its crops." The farmer sold that land to one who had before raised 40 bushels of wheat to the acre; and, as he knew what "beam deep " means, he is getting rich from off his excellent farm.

ORGANIC.

The sight of a town meeting in the early days was an interesting one. Here the freeholders came, one by one, from the different points of the compass, hard-working, honest men. It was a gala. day with them. They met, perhaps, for the first time in months. They went early in the morning and remained until late at night. They urged their brief political campaign in their homely way. They enjoyed as well as performed their duty, and then parted for the scenes of stern labor. It was so even in later years, nor is the old-time custom abolished entirely yet. As recently as a few years ago an Irishman was returning to his home from one of such meetings when he was accosted by a stranger, who said :- " Say, Pat, can you tell me the road to Ada ?" "How did you know my name was Pat ?" interrogated the Irishman. "I guessed it," re- plied the traveler. "Well, then," said the Irishman, "guess the road to Ada."

The first town meeting of Ada was held at the house of John W. Fisk, April 2, 1838, with Edward Robinson as Moderator and Peter Teeple, Clerk. The result of the election was as follows:

Sydney Smith for Supervisor received 16 votes.

Edward Robinson for Supervisor received 5 votes.

Nelson Robinson for Supervisor received 5 votes.

Nelson Robinson for Township Clerk received 20 votes. Rix Robinson for Township Assessor received 25 votes.

Hamilton Andrews for Township Assessor received 25 votes.

Peter Teeple for Township Assessor received 25 votes. Wm. Slawson for Highway Commissioner received 23 votes. Edward Robinson for Highway Commissioner received 23 votes. Lewis Cook for Highway Commissioner received 23 votes. Edward Robinson for Justice of the Peace received 23 votes. Nelson Robinson for Justice of the Peace received 23 votes. Peter Teeple for Justice of the Peace received 24 votes. Sydney Smith for Justice of the Peace received 15 votes. John Spence for Justice of the Peace received 8 votes. Nelson Smith for Justice of the Peace received 1 vote. Carlos Smith for Township Collector received 25 votes. Carlos Smith for Township Constable received 21 votes. Rix R. Church for Township Constable received 18 votes. Michael Early for Township Constable received 21 votes. Nelson Robinson for School Commissioner received 12 votes. Geo. Teeple for School Commissioner received 12 votes. Lewis Cook for School Commissioner received 12 votes. Torrey Smith for Overseer of the Poor received 15 votes. Miniers Jipson for Overseer of the Poor received 15 votes.

Edward Pettis

ADA TOWNSHIP.

The township officers for 1839 were: Sydney Smith, Supervisor; Nelson Robinson, Clerk; Nelson Robinson Treasurer: Sydney Smith, Justice. In 1840, Sydney Smith was elected Supervisor ; Nelson Robinson, Clerk ; Nelson Robinson, Treasurer ; and Will- iam Slawson, Justice. The town meeting held April 5, 1841, re- sulted in the return of Rix Robinson as Supervisor; Nelson Robin- son, Clerk; Nelson Robinson, Treasurer; Peter Teeple, Justice. The principal township officers elected since 1841 are named in the following list:

SUPERVISORS.

Norman Ackley

1842

Lafayette Chase 1867

Sydney Smith.

1843

Peter Mc Lean.

1868-69

Rix Robinson

1844

John Headley 1870

Amos Chase. 1845

Peter Mc Lean 1871-74

Nelson Robinson 1846-52

Rudolphus G. Chaffee 1875-76

Gorden Chapel. 1853

John Headley 1877

John H. Withey.

1854-56

Peter Mc Lean 1878

Peter Mc Lean.

1857-65

John Headley. 1879-80

William H. Mc Keel.

1866

Peter Mc Lean 1881

CLERKS.

Nelson Robinson 1842

Sylvester Andrews

1843

Rix R. Church.

.1844

Robert H. Smith. 1845

R. G. Chaffee.

1871

James L. B. Kerr.

.1846

Lemon B. Chapel 1872

Lafayette Chase

1847-48

Rudolphus G. Chaffee 1849-51

Lafayette Chase 1852

Nicolas Therry . 1875-76

John H. Withey. 1853

Rudolphus G. Chaffee

1854-56

Lafayette Chase

1857-58

Clark D. Washburne

1879-81

TREASURERS.

Nelson Robinson

1842-45

Rans Beebe. 1867-70

Robert H. Smith.

1846-47

Jared N. Brisee. 1871

Amos G. Chase. 1848

Gurden Chapel,

1849-52

Michael Jones.

Bethel Bristol .1875

1876-77

Lafayette Chase. 1859-60

R. L. Chaffee 1878

M. D. L. Chapel.

1861

Wm. Grant. 1879

Jared N. Brisee

1862-66

Geo. Crowe

1880-81

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Edward Robinson 1842

Hiram Rhodes 1842

Wm. Richardson

1848

Elijah Smith.

1842

J. H. Lyon. 1843

Amos G. Chase. 1848

Lot Church .1844

Byard Barkley. 1849

L. Swart. .

Rufus Payne. 1849

Harry Clark.

1846

Rudolphus G. Chaffee 1860-66

Orrin P. Huntley 1867

Lemon B. Chapel 1868-70

Joseph Hennessy 1873

Bethel Bristol. 1874

Charles H. Brown. 1877

Henry O. Caldwell. 1878

Moses Everett. 1859

Rudolphus G. Chaffee. .1872-74

Aruna S. Clark. .1853-58

Gurden Chapel. 1847

R. Chaffee. 1848

Rudolphus Chaffee 1850

493

494

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Amos G. Chase. 1851

Thomas Boylan. 1866

Gurden Chapel. 1852

John R. Bradfield. 1866

Job Gibbs. . 1852

Sam. E· Faxon. 1867

Wm. Richardson. 1853

M. R. Smith.

1867

Henry Shepard. 1853

J. L. Clements. . 1868

R. Chaffee. . . 1854

Alfred N. Caulfield. 1869

Henry Shepard. 1854-55

Jared M. Brisee. 1870

Gurden Chapel 1856

John L. Clements.

1858

John L. Brisee.

1859

Charles D. Collar 1859

Benj. G. Foiston 1873

Peter McLean ..

1860

John D. Edwards.

1860

John L .. Clements. 1875

R. G. Chaffee. 1861

William Farrell. 1876

Edward McCormick. 1861

1862

Lawrence Byrne. 1878

Edward Bradfield.

1863

Henry O. Caldwell.

1879

J. L. Clements. 1863

Chas. W. Dutcher. 1880

Peter McLean.

1864

Thomas Boylan.

1864

J. L. Clements.

1881

Wm. H. McKeel

1865

SCHOOLS.

The school-building era may be said to have begun in 1858, when district school-house No. 1 was built. This was a frame building, which cost $600, located on section 34. This has given place to a large brick structure, erected at a cost of $5,000. School-house No. 2 is located on section 20, at a cost of $800. No. 3 was erected in 1859. No. 4 (fractional Ada, Vergennes and Lowell) was erected in 1852, at an expense of $200. No. 4 was erected in 1867, at an expense of $800, located on section 23. School-house No. 6 was erected in 1854, at a cost of $450, on section 12. No. 8 was erected in 1856, at an ex- pense of $800, on section 5. School-house No. 13 was erected in 1867 at an expense of $1,000, located on section 10.

The condition of the various schools of the township in Septem- ber, 1881, may be thus shown:

DISTRICT

CENSUS OF DESCRIPTION OF|VALUE OF PUPILS BUILDING

NO. OF SALARY OF PROPERTY TEACHERS TEACHERS

TOTAL EX- PENDITURES

No. 1

151

1 brick

$5,000

$558

$1,352

1 frame

400

154

162

1 frame

600

186

218

4 fr.

1 frame

172

212

5 fr.

1 frame

1,200

148

163

6 fr.

1 frame

600

140

170

8 fr.

1 frame

700

234

294

1 frame

1,200

130

184

Numbers 1, 2, 5, 9 and 12 fractional districts report in other townships. Fractional districts 10 and 11 never perfected or- ganization.

ADA VILLAGE.

Ada is the only business center in the township. It is a small unincorporated village. The building of thevillage of Ada, which was projected simultaneously with the settlement of the township, was a notable failure. Hon. Lucius B. Lyon, its founder, became

H. Lockwood. 1870

Henry O. Caldwell. 1871

Wm. Farrell. 1872

Lawrence Byrne. 1874

M. R. Smith. 1877

Lafayette Chase.

W. S.'.Plumb 1881

495

ADA TOWNSHIP.

deeply involved during the financial distress of 1837, and his backer, Mr. Bronson, an Eastern capitalist, became possessor of the wonderful village that was to be; and dying almost immediately afterward, his estate went to an infant heir, and thus was. "locked up" for 20 or more years. Persons who had purchased lots could obtain no titles, and all was brought to a stand- still. The village was platted by G. A. Dalrymple and H. F. Dunn, Sept. 4, 1857; an addition was made by Adnamee A. Innes, and W. P. Innes, March 12, 1858, which was surveyed by John F. Tinkham. On April 10, 1871, the third addition was surveyed by R. S. Jackson for Samuel E. Faxon, D. Osborn, I. N. Keeler, H. Lockwood, Richard Bradfield, S. H. Benjamin, John Headley, John R. Bradfield, Jared N. Brezee, John R. Robinson, E. Kinney, L. Burns, Eliphalet Averill and C. B. Washburne.

The plat of south Ada was made by Moses Everett, March 22, 1859, for Samuel Clements.

The village is located south of Grand river, on sections 34 and 33, 10 miles east of Grand Rapids and 148 west of Detroit. The Baptist, Methodist and Congregational societies have churches in the village. There are two flouring mills, operated by E. Bradfield & Sons, and Watson & Curry ; offices of the D., G. H. & M. R. R., American Express Co., and W. U. Telegraph Co .; the three general stores of Lawrence Burns, S. E. & Edward Faxon, and L. W. Schellhous ; Henry Smith's hotel ; Amos G. & Frederick Chase, druggists; the postoffice is in charge of S. E. Faxon. The population of Ada in June, 1880, was 180.

Looking back over a decade it is found that the list of traders, mechanics and professional men then identified with the village contained the following names:

Beebe, Raus, general store.

Bo, eline, Thomas, Justice of the Peace.

Bradfield, Edward, flouring mill and Justice of the Peace.

Brasee, Jared M., carpenter and bridge builder.

Carl, William P., blacksmith.

Caulfield, John, general store.

Chase, A. G., physician.

Clark, George, carpenter.

Densmore, Luther, carpenter.

Duff, Patrick, carriage maker.

Emerson, - -- , boot and shoe maker.

Fuller, Sanford, whip maker.

Gardner, E. W., blacksmith.

Hall, E. M., general store.

Hotaling, William, mason.

Lamphere, Leroy B., hotel (Ada House.)

Livergood, Andrew, carpenter.

McDonald, Findlay, carpenter.

McGilevery, D. D., agent D. & M. R. R.

McLain, G. W., cooper.

McLean, Peter, Justice of the Peace.

Nenicon, Henry, carpenter.

Powell, Rev. Volney (Baptist.)

Schenck, William Y., carpenter.

Small, Shadrach, flour and saaw mill.

Spoor, Abram, blacksmith.

Washburne, Clark D., general store.

Woodworth, James H., physician.

49€

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

The village contained one Baptist, one Methodist and one Con- gregational church, two flouring mills, one saw-mill, one hotel, a lodge of Good Templars, three stores, and several mechanical and professional trades. Population of the township was 1,400; of the village, 300.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

The first grist mill erected in the township was that on section 24, by H. H. Ives and Robert I. Shoemaker.

The "Red Mill" was built by John L. Clements in the summer of 1856, and put in operation Jan. 1, 1857. In July, 1858, Mr. Clements sold to Edward Bradfield. Originally it had only two run of stone, to which the Bradfields added two run. The capacity of this mill is about 100 barrels per 24 hours.

The first dam built across the Thornapple at Ada was that by J. L. Clements in 1855. There were three dams built above the township line previously.

The Ada White Mills was built by Capt. Small, in 1859. Dew- ell & Co. purchased his interest, and they in turn sold to Will- iam Curry. In August, 1880, D. F. Watson purchased a half interest in the concern, and with Mr. Curry now operates it. The value of water-power, building and machinery is now $8,000. It cost in the first instance $15,000. The annual product is 12,000 barrels.

The cooper shops of Ada were built about 1859 by Henry Brown. In 1865 it was bought by Harvey Livingston who operated up to the present time. The product is 12,000 barrels per annum. The shop employs five men.

The second shop was built about 1867 by Capt. Small, the builder of the Small or White mill. Bethel Bristol was the first pro- prietor. Thomas Morrissy rented the shop in 1875 and continued to conduct it up to the present. The average product of the shop is about 5,000 barrels annually.

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History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 48

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1434

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434