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 92

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 92

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).

MILLS-FLOUR AND PLASTER.

The Crescent Mills, west end of Pearl street bridge, were erected in 1875 by Hibbard, Rose & Co. The mill proper is 30x60 feet in size, three stories with basement; the ware-room attached is 36x50 and three stories high. These, with an office two stories in height on the front, are all brick buildings. The original cost of the mills was $65,000, including machinery; mill was fitted up with the best machinery then in market. Seven run of burrs were put in to be used for flour only. Fifty thousand barrels per year have been the average product of these mills. In 1876 the mill passed into the hands of Hibbard & Graff, who operated it until July, 1880, when John F. Graff, jr., leased the mill and machinery, and has since operated it. The machinery is driven by water-power. The flour ranks among the first brands in the State of Michigan. Mr.

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

Graff is a member of the State Millers' Association. Sales of flour are mostly made in New England, all being sold on orders, except 50 barrels per day for home consumption. The capacity of the mills is about 180 barrels per day. The company ships about eight car-loads of flour per week; 14 men find constant employ- ment, and the mill is under the personal charge of Milan Hibbard, an efficient miller.

The Custom Mills, Joseph Rowland, proprietor, were established as feed mills in 1876, in the Earl Woolen Mill building, Mill street, opposite the Ohio House. It was operated as a feed mill two years, then- as flour and feed combined. Mr. R. does both merchant and custom work. The mills occupy a brick building about 31x75 feet and three stories high. The machinery is valued at $2,000, among which is the Canfield Turbine water-wheel, man- ufactured at Grand Rapids, a Smith's purifier, etc. The amount turned out is about 50 barrels per week, equally divided between custom and merchant work.

The Globe Mills were established by William Huntley, at 70 Mill street, near the east end of Bridge, in a building 50x30, two stories and a basement. Mr. Huntley operated the mills for some years. In 1873 they were purchased by Jesse Widoes, who conducted the business until December, 1876, when the mills were purchased by Isaac W. Wood, who took charge of it Jan. 1, 1877. The machinery is driven by water-power only, using the patented turbine water-wheel in connection. Mr. Wood has recently erected an elevator on the north side of the mill, with a capacity of 23,000 bushels of grain. Mr. Wood handles grain in car-load lots, which he ships to northern points. The mills have both merchant and custom work departments. Six men find constant employment. The manufactured product averages about 60 barrels per week, together with the same quantity in gristing. Sales are made mostly in Kent county and points north. Mr. Wood deals largely in grain, shipping about 500 cars per year.

The Star Flouring Mills were established in 1868, by Welling- ton Hibbard, Wykof & Barnard, who operated the mill about one year. Wykof sold out to John Mangold in 1869, and in 1870 Barnard sold to Simon Mangold. The firm then became Man- gold, Hibbard & Co. In 1875 the John Mangold estate sold out its interest to Christopher Kusterer, and the same year Hib- bard sold his interest to Voigt & Herpolsheimer, when the firm name was changed to Mangold, Kusterer & Co. In 1878 this changed to Voigt, Kusterer & Co. In 1881 Voigt & Herpols- heimer bought out the interest of Chris. Kusterer & Co., and the firm is now C. G. A. Voigt & Co. The mill building is 65x65, five stories and basement; office attached on south. It contains seven run of four-foot stones, one 16-inch stone for middlings, three sets of rollers, one Thompson's, two Gray's, and four Smith's purifiers and 17 bolts. The product averages 225 barrels per day. The machinery is driven by water-power. Wheat is purchased

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

mostly in this State. The industry gives employment to 22 men. The flour is sold wholly in Eastern States, except that used for home trade.

The Transit Mill Company .- The business of the Valley City Mills was purchased by a stock company in July, 1881. The com- pany was incorporated under the title of the Transit Mill Com- pany, and the capital stock is $20,000, paid up. At the last stockholders' election the following directors were chosen: Messrs. O. E. Brown, James A. Hunt and A. C. Horton. These directors subsequently elected the following officers: O. E. Brown, Presi- dent; James A. Hunt, Vice-President; A. C. Horton, Secretary and Treasurer. The company own the Valley City Mills, on Mill street, north of Bridge, where they manufacture some 70 barrels of flour per day, most of which is shipped direct to the New Eng- land States. The mill is a frame structure, 40x60 feet in size, four stories and a basement, with a brick office, two stories and basement. Eight run of burrs are used, and the machinery is operated both by steam and water power.

The Alabastine Company, of New York; mills, Grandville; office, Grand Rapids; was organized in 1879, by M. B. Church, the pres- ent manager. In 1880, a factory or mill was started in the old Eagle Mills, at Grand Rapids, which was soon after burned down. In 1880 the company erected their mills at Grandville. The main building is 30x40 feet in size, three story and basement, with a wing 40x40, two stories high. One storage warehouse attached is 26x200 feet in size, one story high. The business has increased very rapidly, and the business capacity has doubly increased each year. Some fifty hands are employed in the business, and 2,000 cons of this material is annually put in the market. Alabastine was invented in 1877, by Melvin Church, who has since managed the business. It is made from gypsum rock, and ground into a powder, much resembling calcimine. It is destined to take a front rank among the many materials for covering walls, and is deemed of such importance that the Michigan State Board of Health have indorsed it as better than any material of a like nature heretofore offered for sale, both in regard to its beauty and finish, and its health- preserving qualities. The office of the company is at 9 North Ionia street, where the material is stored and sold. Sales have been made all over the Union, and a large amount shipped to Europe.

F. Godfrey & Bro. (Silas F.), proprietors Plaster Co., established their present business in 1860. They built a plaster-mill in the southwestern part of the city, and their business has steadily in- creased until, at present, they use a steam mill and warehouse 160 by 50 feet in size; a water mill of the same size; and have another mill in Wyoming township. The company own 480 acres of land, under the surface of which is found the gypsum which is manufact- ured into plaster. The mills have a capacity of 200 barrels per day, and 65 men are given constant employment. Sales are made in the West and Northwest, and they have a good trade at Winne-

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

peg, in British America. The office of the company is located at 38 North Ionia street.

The Grand Rapids Plaster Co .- This company was organized in 1856, by William Hovey, J. W. Converse, of Boston; and Francis Fisher, of Boston, under the firm name of Hovey & Co. In 1860, it was incorporated as the Grand Rapids Plaster Company, with J. W. Converse, as President; Judge Solomon L. Withey, Vice- President; C. C. Converse, of Boston, Secretary; and William Hovey, Treasurer and General Agent. . This firm manufactures calcined and land plaster. Their mills are located on the L. S. & M. S. R. R., about two miles from the city of Grand Rapids, and are known as Eagle Mills. The mill for grinding the gypsum is 26x48 feet; the stucco building, 24x56 feet; stucco warehouse, 40 by 125 feet; the shipping warehouse, 24x150 feet; and the plaster warehouse, 80x171 feet. They use an automatic condensing en gine, of 250-horse power, and four run of burr stones, in crushing the gypsum. There are two tramways into the mines, one for admitting logs for pillars, and the other for elevating plaster-rock and stucco from the mine. A short distance below the entrance is a turn-table upon each tramway, and from this point the tracks diverge in every direction. This company owns over 170 acres of this land, underlaid with plaster-rock, and of this only 14 acres have been excavated, during the 25 years that the mills have been in operation. There are a number of wells on the hill immediately above the excavated portion, which are supplied with water from an excellent vein, which runs above the upper stratum of rock. The blasting is done by drilling and the discharge of Hercules powder by electricity. This firm does an extensive business, ship- ping their plaster to all parts of the United States.

BREWERIES.

The Cincinnati Brewery, Tusch & Bros., proprietors, 208 Grandville avenue, was established in September, 1877. At that time the brother erected a brewing-house, 30x50 feet in size, two stories high; a saloon building in front, 25x40, two stories; an ice- house and a cellar, 80x40 feet, two stories. They manufactured 1,500 barrels the first year, and employed four men. The product during the year 1881 was 3,500 barrels, employing five men. The beer finds sale in Grand Rapids and neighboring towns, and throughout Michigan. Tusch Bros. are sole manufacturers of the "Pilsener" beer. They use 500 tons of ice annually in their business.

The Coldbrook Brewery, operated by Carl, Adam & Christian Frey, was established in September, 1871, in a frame-building, 20x50. Carl and Christian Frey, just then from Germany, with two men, manufactured 500 barrels of beer the first year. The trade gradually increased until 1878, then they erected the main building, 80x40, three stories and basement. The building de- voted to the bottling works in connection is 60x20, two

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

stories. The ice-house is 60x80. In the winter of 1880-'1, 4,000 tons of ice were put up. There are about 20 men employed in the brewery. The product is 10,000 barrels per year, for which a ready sale is found in Michigan, mostly in the Northern part.

The Eagle Brewery .- Vert & Rathmann established their pres- ent business in 1876. The brewing house was 60x20, with cellar. Three men were employed, and 2,500 barrels of beer were manu- factured the first year. In 1878 the old brewery was taken down, and the present one erected, a building 40x40, with saloon in connection; one ice-house, 90x50, a second ice-house, 25x30, and one, 50x25, with two cellars, to store beer through the winter. The brewery employ six men, and use five horses and five wag- ons. The manufactured product is about 5,000 barrels annually, half of which is sold in Grand Rapids and the balance throughout the State.

The Kusterer. Brewing Company .- This business was founded in 1847, by Christopher Kusterer, with a capital of $800, when he brewed the small amount of four barrels at a time, doing his own brewing and delivering, since when the business has increased to its present large proportions. Mr. Kusterer operated the business until the fall of 1880, when he took passage on the " Alpine," which was lost with all on board. The business was then purchased by the present company, whose officers are as fol- lows: Philip Kusterer, President; Adolph Lietelt, Vice-President; Charles Kusterer, Secretary and Treasurer. The brewery at the present time consists of a substantial main building, three stories in height, 50x100 feet in size, in connection with which are two ice- houses, one 60x60 and the other 25x100, capable of storing over 1,500 tons. The cellars are the largest in the city, and have a storage capacity of 3,500 barrels. The product of this brewery will average 10,000 barrels annually. The company have lately put in a large mash tub, made by Kattentidt, of Chicago, Ills., with a capacity of 125 barrels. The firm gives employment to 25 men, and the water used in making the beer is obtained from pure springs.

The Michigan Brewery, Peter Weirich, proprietor, was built in 1856. He erected two small buildings, in which business was carried on for some time. In 1858 an addition was made to the business; but in 1866 the entire brewery was torn down, and the present one erected. The brewery is 70x60 feet, three and one half stories high, with a wing 54x78 feet. He has in connection five malt floors, an ice-house, 70x100 feet, and large bottling works in connection. Mr. Weirich owns a farm in Walker township, on which are two ponds, where he freezes all the ice needed in his business. He uses spring water for the manufacture of his beer, and sells about 7,000 barrels an- nually. His annual trade will exceed $50,000.

The Union Brewery was established by George Brandt at 87 South Division street in 1863, and he was in charge of business

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

until his death, in July, 1880. The interest then passed into the hands of the present company. The brewery is 83 x 26 feet, one and one half stories high, with two ice cellars-33 x 50 and 24 x 50 feet in size; two malt houses, 34 x 26 feet each, one and one half stories high. The company uses an ice-house, 40 x 16 feet; malt- house, 20 x 16 feet; five horses and three wagons. Ten-men are employed in the business; 6,000 barrels of beer are manufactured annually. The product finds sale mostly in Michigan. The capital invested is about $35,000. Eight hundred tons of ice are stored annually.

The Valley City Brewery was established in 1877, at 76 Page street, by John & Mathias Adrion. It is a frame building, 18 x 35 feet, one and one half stories and basement, with an ice-house, 33 x 40 feet. Three hundred barrels of beer were manufactured the first year. In 1880 they erected the main brewery, 32 x 40 feet, two stories; a new ice-house, 12 x 40 feet, for a fermenting cellar. They erected a new barn, 24 x 30 feet, for horses and wag- ons. The company now employs about seven men, and manu- facture 2,500 barrels per year. Beer is sold all over the State of Michigan, but principally in Allegan and Kent counties. The capital invested is $10,000. George Fehsenfeld is book-keeper and salesman. The firm uses 600 tons of ice per year.

STONE WORKS.

The Steam Stone Works were established on Campau street, by Schmidt & Hirth, in 1876, and in 1878 Anton Hirth purchased the works; in the winter of 1880-'81 they were removed to Pike street, between Campau and River streets. Mr. H. does building work for different firms in the city, county and State. During the sum- mer of 1880, he furnished stone for A. B. Long's and D. P. Clay's residences. He employs six men (four cutters, one sawyer and a man for general labor). His work for 1881. will average $6,000.

City Stone Works .- This industry was established by Alexander Matthewson in 1874, with shops extending from 91 to 101 Almy street. The first contract was the supply and preparation of stone for the Ledyard block; subsequently the proprietor contracted to supply stone used in D. Brown's residence; the Government building basement in 1876, and the sidewalk, coping, etc., in 1880; the stone sidewalks on Monroe, Canal and Ottawa streets; J. H. Wonderly's, Shelby's, and C. N. Shepard's dwelling-houses. The prepared stone is valued at $12,000 annually. The works give employment throughout the year to from two to fifteen men. The patronage is extended from Kalamazoo, Big Rapids, Ionia, Mendon, Albion and towns in and adjacent to Kent county.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Brown, Clark & Co., manufacturers of brick, established the business in 1873. The firm own 20 acres of land within the city imits, on the east, and manufacture from 7,000,000 to 10,000,000

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

brick annually. These are shipped north and south, in car-load lots, over the G. R. & I. R. R. Ninety men are employed in the business and are under the supervision of James L. Davidson, who has also charge of the office and shipment.

Grand Rapids Brush Co. was established in 1871, by A. L. Son and William M. Clark, and was incorporated in 1873. Mr. Clark was the first Secretary and is now the only original member of the company. They leased of William T. Powers, for five years, the building now occupied by the Wolverine Furniture Company. The present factory was erected in 1878, and is a fine three-story brick building, with basement 150x92 feet in size. In this factory there are 165 employes. The brushes manufactured here are principally horse, cloth, and shoe brushes. The machinery is turned by cable water-power, but the factory is also supplied with boiler and en- gine, to use in case of high water. Of the many different kinds of wood used in this factory we mention rosewood, walnut, cherry, mahogany, tulip, satin, and white holly. They also use many kinds of fancy veneering. Sales are made in all States of the Union, even as far west as the Pacific slope.

Grand Rapids Sweeper Co., Chas. B. Judd, present proprietor and manager, was established in January, 1880. He manufactures the Magic and Keystone carpet sweepers. The factory is located at No. 8 Pearl street. He uses cable power from the Michigan Iron Works.

Carpet-Sweeper and Cigar Box Factory .- C. O. Allen & Son first established this trade at Kalamazoo, nine years ago. A year later the machinery was moved to Grand Rapids. In 1879 the company entered their present factory at the corner of Louis and Cam- pau streets. Ten workmen are employed, and an average trade of $5, 000 per annum attained.

McIntyre & Goodsell, piano manufacturers, inaugurated this in- dustry at Grand Rapids, Nov. 15, 1880. A stock company was organized Aug. 2, 1881, with Reir N. Goodsell, President; John McIntyre, Vice-President, and John D. McIntyre, Secretary-Treas- urer. The capital stock is $100,000. The factory produces seven instruments every week, gives employment to 40 hands, all skilled mechanics, and gives promise of equaling in the extent of trade many of the old piano factories of the Eastern States.

The Powers & Walker Burial-Case and Casket Factory .- This is the only factory of the kind in the State. This firm, comprising Wm. H. Powers and Jas. H. Walker, was organized in 1875, and commenced the manufacture of burial-cases in the building (since destroyed by fire) built and operated for several years by William H. Powers, in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, this being the first factory erected on the West Side canal. The business now carried on by this firm has grown until its buildings are of in- sufficient size to accommodate its requirements, although a new brick building, 23x92 feet on the ground, and four-stories higli, has

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

been constructed this year (1881). Another will probably be added next season.

The buildings now occupied constitute an area of about 30,000 square feet of floor. The factory proper, where the machine work and putting together of the goods are done, is located on Front street, on the West Side canal, and is propelled by water-power. Directly op- posite to thi - factory, on the other side of the stream, are the buildings in which the goods are finished, stored, packed and shipped. The buildings on each side of the street are connected by means of sus- pension bridges spanning the street, from the two upper stories. Upon these bridges are rails upon which cars are used to convey the goods across ; by the location of the two branches of the busi- ness, one on each side of the street, the firm claim to have the advantage of being able to save a large portion of their property from destruction by fire, in case of the occurrence of fire in either branch, which has on two different occasions been fully demon- strated ; their factory on the canal has been destroyed twice, but, on both occa-ions the fire was easily kept from destroying the other buildings. The business of the firm is not confined to this State alone, but they ship largely to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas. Both members of the firm are' prac- tical mechanics and business men.

NEW COMPANIES.

The Grand Rapids Felt Boot Company was organized Sept. 23, 1881, with a capital stock of $50,000. The stockholders are E. G. Studley, Julius Berkey, M. R. Bissell, of Grand Rapids, and O. R. Wilmarth, of Stanton, Mich. The firm leased the build- ing formerly used by the Grand Rapids Burial-Case Company, which they have fitted up, and will use in the manufacture of felt boots for the Northern trade.

Grand Rapids Iron Mining Company -This city has an iron mining company interested in a mine near Negaunee, Upper Pen- insula, which was organized Aug. 22, 1881, with the name of the Grand Rapids Iron Mining Company. The Directors are Messrs. Isaac Phelps, Marcus W. Bates, H. P. Wyman and I. J. Whit- field, of this city, and Henry M. Atkinson, of Negaunee. The officers are: President, I. J. Whitfield; Treasurer, Dr. Isaac Phelps; Secretary, Marcus W. Bates.

The Merchants. Manufacturers and Citizens' Fire Insurance Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., propose to do, business on substantially the same theories and plans as the agricultural mutual companies in this State. The minimum charter membership assets are named at $100,000. The following officers were elected : President, W. B. Bennett; Vice-President, Dr. H. Lever; Secretary, W. D. Mans- field; Treasurer, Elias Matter; Directors, W. C. Denison, Elias Matter, H. E. Prindle, S. H. Ocker, Dr. H. Lever, H. Bissell, Charles Sách, W. D. Mansfield, W. B. Bennett, I. R. Church and W. H. Cheenev.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

This very important branch of the city history must commend itself to every one. That it necessarily contains much valuable in- formation, and an account of a series of events more or less histori- cal, must be acknowledged. Therefore it is considered just that anything which pertains directly to the men connected with the growth of the city should be passed lightly over in the pages of the foregoing history, so that it might be dealt with more extensively here, repetition avoided, and the more precise facts intermingled with biography.

Arthur N. Albee, firm of Albee & Rasmussen, No. 142 Kent street, son of Nelson F. and Ann M. (Shunk) Albee, was born in Mentor, Lake Co., Ohio, Dec. 6, 1857. His father was a hotel- keeper, and he was employed there until 1871, when the family came to Tyrone and his father engaged in the lumber trade. At 20 he came to this city and opened a hotel on Canal and Bridge streets, now known as the " Clarendon; " three years after, in April, 1881, he formed a partnership with Stephen Ide in a livery, sale and feed stable. They managed 14 livery horses and carriages, and are quite extensively engaged in buying and selling horses. Mr. Albee was married in Tyrone, in 1878, to Belle L., daughter of Asa and Annis Clark, born in that tp. in 1861. Her parents were pioneers of Tyrone, locating there in 1855. Mr. Albee belongs to the Good Templars, has a farm of 40 acres at Kent city, with 30 acres im- proved.

J. Albright, M. D., physician, surgeon and accoucheur, residence 85 Scribner street, office 34 West Bridge street, Grand Rapids, Mich. Office hours: 7 to 10 A. M., 1 to 3 p. M., 7 to 10 P. M.

William M. Alger was born in Hudson, Allegany Co., N. Y., Aug. 24, 1829. His father, William Alger, is a native of Yonkers, Westchester Co., N. Y., and has been occupied most of his life in insurance business. He lived at Yonkers until he attained to man- hood when he married and went to Hudson. In 1836 removed to St. Joe Co., Ind., where he now resides, aged 87 years. He is the parent of 10 children, two of whom-William M. and Edwin B .- reside at Grand Rapids. . Mr. Alger, of this sketch, obtained his education in his native city and in Indiana, and learned the carpen- ter's trade. He came to Grand Rapids April 1, 1849, and worked at his calling until about 1866, when he embarked in the manufact- ure of lumber and operated in the northern counties of Michigan, with headquarters at Grand Rapids. He was thus occupied about two years and retired from active business for a time; eventually was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Phoenix Manu- facturing Company, sold out, and in July, 1880, organized the Eagle Company for the manufacture of toy express wagons, acted as its President while connected therewith; is at present Secretary and Treasurer of the American Furniture Company. He was mar- ried Aug. 23, 1858, to Mary P., daughter of George Campau, an

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

early settler and Indian trader of Kent county. He was a native of Detroit, of French extraction. Mr. and Mrs. A. have one son -Frank, 20 years of age.

George W. Allen was born Sept. 17, 1813, at Enfield, Hart- ford Co., Conn. His parents, Moses and Nancy (Kingsbury) Allen, were both natives of the same place, where his father died Jan. 28, 1816. The mother died at Grand Rapids Dec. 26, 1879, in the 88th year of her age. Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. Allen went to Painesville, Ohio, with her son, then three years old, where he was brought up and resided until 1853. He was associated with his cousins, Addison Hill and Solomon Kings- bury, in a mercantile alliance at Painesville, which existed three years, after which he operated singly. In 1853 he brought a stock of goods to Grand Rapids and conducted a mercantile business 13 years. He was appointed United States Pension Agent for North- western Michigan in 1866, and closed his relations with the com- mercial world. He held the position. upward of three years. He was chosen Vice-President of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank at its establishment in 1870, which place he held until his retirement from active business life in 1879. · Mr. Allen has had some ex- perience in public life, having twice represented a constituency in the State Legislature; was elected in 1859, and again in 1865. He was Alderman of the Third ward in Grand Rapids when the city had but five wards. He is a stockholder in the City and First National Banks, and owns shares in the Grand Rapids Mannfact- uring Company, with which he has been connected from its or- ganization. He was married in 1837 at Painesville, to Jeannette Noble, born in New Milford, Conn. She died in 1859, leaving two daughters and four sons. One of the former, Esther, died in 1862, in her 19th year. Two sons, George R. and Stanley N., are engaged in operating an extensive furnishing establishment on Monroe street; Arthur K. has a large steam laundry, and Henry G. is one of the firm of Eaton, Lyon & Company. Mr. Allen owns a fine house and premises at No. 37 Park street. He was married in 1864 to Mrs. Elizabeth B., widow of Capt. Benjamin B. Church.

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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 92

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