USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
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VILLAGE OF OTTER LAKE.
This village is situated in the extreme western part of the township of Marathon, and upon the south and east bank of Otter Lake, from which body of water it derives its name. It contains a population of about four hundred and is rapidly growing both in population and business. The Detroit & Bay City branch of the Michigan Central, and the Otter Lake division of the Flint and Pere Marquette Railways cross at this point.
EARLY HISTORY.
The land upon which Otter Lake village is built was originally owned by the late Gerritt Smith, and was a part of a tract of 6,000 acres of pine land. This tract was purchased by C. B. Benson, of Oswego, N. Y., and the firm of Page & Benson was formed for the purpose of manufacturing the pine into lumber.
In the fall of 1871 Mr. S. O. Sherman, still a resident of the village, arrived upon this site with a crew of men for the purpose of commencing operations. He came here to superintend the work and as the business representative of Page & Benson. He com- menced at once the work of clearing and also putting in logs. In February the construction of a saw-mill was begun. In the mean- time about 6,000,000 feet of logs had been put in. The mill was completed and put in operation the following Jaly.
THE VILLAGE IN 1873.
Otter Lake village was described, in 1873, as follows:
Otter Lake, the new town in the wilderness, is the present ter- minus of the Flint River Railroad, and the point at which it inter- sects with the Detroit & Bay City Railway. The town is situated on the little lake, by the same name, just across the line of Genesee County, in the township of Marathon, Lapeer County. The town has been platted with streets 100 feet wide, running north and south and east and west, into twenty-five blocks, and some frac- tional portions. The [blocks are oblong in shape, 200x400 feet, and divided into eight lots 100 feet square. The town thus pre- sents an oblong square, with its side to the lake. Page & Benson will begin the sale of lots in May. The town contains the exten- sive saw-mill, store, boarding house, shops and numerous cottages of the workmen, all built and belonging to Page & Benson, and the Flint River Railroad engine house, a part of which is used at pres- ent for a depot. All the buildings are neatly finished and painted. Messrs. Page & Benson intend to immediately erect a school-house, and have a school therein this season. The principal street (Sher- man Street), named after Mr. S. O. Sherman, Page & Benson's manager, is the one upon which the mill and store are situated. The only fault that any one could find with the little place, is the way in which it is cut up by the railroads, crossing at right angles nearly in the center of the town and extending diagonally across the blocks, one going on one side of the lake, and the other on the op- posite side. Page & Benson's store is a neat two story building, 24x75 feet in size, with a most excellent cellar. The first floor and cellar are used for store and office purposes, the second floor is used by Mr. Sherman as a residence. The building is fitted up with all the conveniences of our best city stores and residences. An addition 14x15 feet is now being added for more store room. Hay scales have recently been put up near the store.
Page & Benson are entirely rebuilding their mill this winter and spring, and have it nearly completed. It will then be two stories high, 70x140 feet, with a boiler house 34x60 feet, and a filing room 20x30 feet. Their machinery consists of one stock gang-40 saws, one stock gang-32 saws, one of Stern & Co's largest circulars, one muley, one panel machine, one gang lath ma- chine, one picket machine, two slash saws, two butting saws, one gang slab cutter and two of Munn & Co's patent gang edgers.
These gentlemen own 6,000 acres of pine land about Otter Lake, and only about 500 of it is cut. They have employed 250 men and 70 teams in the woods and about their mill this winter, and have put in 13,000,000 feet of logs, or in other words the entire surface of Otter Lake-estimated to contain 100 acres-is covered with logs so that you can walk from one end of the lake to the other on them.
Messrs. Page & Benson with characteristic liberality, and in
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order that the educational wants of the children may be immedi- ately attended to, have commenced to build a school-house 30x46 feet in size, the estimated cost of which is $1,500.
Religious services are held here every Sunday, the dining-hall of the boarding-house being used for that purpose.
RECORDED PLAT.
The plat mentioned was only a preliminary one, the perma- nent one being made in 1874, and recorded in June of that year. This covered about forty acres, in the north fractional half of section 7.
Early in 1873 a postoffice was established, and Norman M. Stark was appointed postmaster. He held the office until April, 1880, when he was succeeded by E. J. Tanner. the present incum- bent.
In 1872 the Otter Lake division of the Flint & Pere Mar- quette Railroad was built, and the Detroit & Bay City Road about a year later.
In 1874 Mr. C. B. Benson succeeded the firm of Page & Ben- son. He sold the store to Tanner Bros. in 1876, and the mill to W. C. Cummings in 1880. July, 1883, he sold his entire remaining interests to S. O. Sherman. The store is now owned by the firm of Tanner, Sherman & Stark.
In 1879 W. C. Cummings moved his saw-mill from the town of Millington, Tuscola County, to Otter Lake, which he still oper- ates. He has converted the Page & Benson mill into a planing- mill.
The first hotel in the village was the Benson House, built in 1875, by S. J. Lewis. It was burned in the fire of April, 1881.
Mr. Sherman manufactured, at this point, about 70,000,000 feet of lumber. The pine was of a very choice quality, and the lumber manufactured of a high grade.
About 1876 the sale of cut-over land, for farming purposes, began, although there was not much sold prior to 1879. Since that time nearly the whole tract has been sold that is suitable for agricultural purposes, and good farms are being made.
April 2, 1881, the village was visited by a destructive fire which threatened to blot out the entire village. It originated in a pile of lumber, and before it could be checked, had consumed about 70,000 feet of lumber and nine dwellings.
The second store in the village was started in 1882, by Harris & McCormick.
The first brick building was built in 1881.
The first physician in the village was Dr. Curtis, now of May- ville, Tuscola County. The physicians in 1883 are Drs. Davis and Elliott.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The United Presbyterian Society, of Otter Lake, was organized April 17, 1880. At first, services were held in the village school- house, but in 1881 measures were taken for the purpose of build- ing a place of worship. Work on the present building was be- gun in the fall of 1881, and February 22, 1882, it was dedicated. Rev. John B. Wilson was installed as pastor at the time, and has continued as such up to the time of this writing. Services are held every alternate Sabbath.
REV. JOHN B. WILSON was born in London, U. C. (now Ont.), in 1828. He received a classical education at the grammar school in that city. In 1847 he went to Franklin College at Athens, O., from which institution he graduated in 1850. He then attended the Associated Presbyterian Theological Institute at Cannonsburgh, Pa., graduating therefrom in 1854. In 1855 he was ordained at London, and had a country congregation near that place, to whom he ministered for some twelve years. In 1867 he came to Michi-
gan and was a missionary in Huron County for four years. He then accepted a call to Almont, Lapeer County, where he remained for eight years. In 1880 he took charge of the United Presbyte- rian congregations at Otter Lake and Fair Grove, Tuscola County, preaching alternate Sundays to each. In 1851 he was married to Sarah J. Patton, a native of Ohio. They have two children, a son and daughter.
CUMMINGS' SASH, DOOR AND BLIND FACTORY
Was built in 1882, and is located in Otter Lake village, on the bank of the lake of the same name. It is run by steam power; employs about twelve men. The product is shipped abroad. It is owned by W. C. Cummings.
MORNING STAR FLOURING-MILLS.
These mills were built in 1878 by the Tanner Brothers, and are now owned by Tanner, Sherman & Stark, Milo J. Tanner having sold his interest in them in 1881. They are located on the south side of the lake, and are in Otter Lake village. They have four run of stones, a double set of rolls, are run by steam and do a merchant business. They have a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day. O. Beckwith is the head miller.
The Otter Lake House was partially built by A. D. Black for a saloon. About 1880, John Rodman made additions to the building and fitted it up as a hotel of which he is still proprietor.
THE OTTER LAKE TELEGRAM.
The Telegram was started by its present proprietor, T. W. Smithson, in Otisville, Genesee County, five miles west of its pres- ent location. October 28, 1880. Its size then was a four column folio. At the third issue it was increased by the addition of two pages. At the end of the second month its size was again increased by the addition of two more pages. April 6, 1881, the form was changed to that of a six column folio. During this time the price of subscription remained at one dollar. January, 1882, the office was removed to Otter Lake where it has since been published. Mr. Smithson, the editor and proprietor, is a Canadian by birth and has held important situations in some of the principal newspaper and job printing offices in Ontario. The Telegram as at present pub- lished, contains twenty-eight columns, the entire work upon it being done at the home office. All the work of the office is being done by members of the proprietor's family. The paper is one of the best weekly papers in the State and has an unusually large circulation. Politically it is independent.
INDIAN BURYING GROUND.
Otter Lake was unquestionably a favorite resort of the early in- habitants of this region. Indian remains have been unearthed at this point, and other evidences discovered which indicate that an Indian burying ground was located here. The following statement was made in May, 1873:
"Further excavations under the mill have exposed more Indian remains, among which were some interesting relics. There is every indication that there was a burying ground here. Yesterday, por- tions of three skeletons were found, also some pottery and other articles. The bones were unusually large. A skull, large, but of a very low type of intellect, the forehead being only about one and one-fourth inches high and receding back abruptly, giving about two-thirds animal and one-third intellectual, was also found. One thigh bone measured nineteen inches in length. The pottery was evidently sun-dried, globular, oval, with flanged mouth, ornamented with hieroglyphic indentations, somewhat resembling the ancient Assyrian arrow-headed writing spoken of by Col. Layard. The largest vessel was about one foot high and eight inches in circum- ference. This contained three other smaller vessels. The sand sur- rounding it was a reddish hue, owing probably to the war paint which may have been placed along with a defunct warrior. These
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
crumbled to pieces on being touched, and nothing now remains of a nest of these articles but some fragments, owing to the action of the air on exposure. The bone, seemingly spear-head, about nine inches in length, one incli in width, barbed on one side half the length, and notched at the opposite end, to secure it to the handle, was found. This may have been used in the chase; possibly in- stead of being a spear it may have served as a trolling lure and hook to catch pickerel in the lake. Over these remains, and three feet under the surface, is a portion of pine log, and the roots of trees interwoven above them foster the idea that centuries have elapsed since these were deposited there. When animated they were perhaps coeval with Columbus or the notche triste of Cortez, Bernard Diaz and Barba Gorca. The greater portion of these will be sent to the Flint Institute, where the public will have a chance to see them."
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE.
The business men of the village appear hopeful of its future, and are interesting themselves in aiding general progress. In Sep- tember, 1883, application was made to the board of supervisors for an order to incorporate, which, at this writing, has not been acted upon.
The growth of the place has been principally confined to the past two years, and at the present time there seems to be a general spirit of improvement and enterprise.
The situation of the village is favorable. Otter Lake is an at- tractive feature of its location, and the surrounding country is well adapted to fruit-growing and general farming purposes.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
SYLVESTER O. SHERMAN, the oldest resident of Otter Lake vil- lage, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1828. His parents re- moved to Jefferson County in 1835, where he remained until 1848. He then lived in Oswego until 1871, lumbering in Canada part of the time. In 1871 he came to Lapeer County to manage the lum- ber business of Page & Benson, afterward C. B. Benson. In 1878 he became a member of the firm of Tanner & Sherman, now known as Tanner, Sherman & Stark, of Otter Lake. Married in 1852 to Martha D. Hart, of Herkimer County, N. Y. They have two chil- dren living. In July, 1883, Mr. Sherman purchased the remaining interest of Mr. Benson at Otter Lake, and is selling the cut-over lands for farming purposes. Mr. Sherman's connection with the first beginning and growth of the village have already been mentioned.
WILLIAM C. CUMMINGS was born in Flint, Mich., in 1840. Was educated at the Flint High School. Was in the drug business in that city from 1861 until 1874, when he came to Otter Lake, Lapeer County, and went into lumbering. He has built saw and shingle- mills, also a sash, door and blind factory, in all of which lines he does an extensive business. He also has farms in Genesee and Tuscola Counties, in all some 800 acres, of which 400 are improved. Is also connected with the charcoal works operated in connection with the Peninsular Iron Works, of Detroit. In short, Mr. Cum- mings is one of the most active and enterprising men in Otter Lake, and to him the prosperity of that flourishing village is mainly due. He was married in 1866 to Miss Mary E. Begole, the only daughter of J. W. Begole, of Flint, the present governor of the State of Michigan. They have a family of five children.
EDWIN J. TANNER was born in Orleans, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1850. Received an academic education. Taught school in Canada for some time. In 1872 came to Otter Lake, where he was in the employ of Page & Benson and C. B. Benson until 1878. In the early part of that year went into business with his brother,
Milo J. Tanner, the firm being Tanner Bros. They did a general mercantile trade. In the fall of 1878 they built the "Morning Star" flouring-mills. His brother retired from the firm in 1881, and a new firm, known as Tanner & Sherman, was formed, to which, in 1882, N. M. Stark was added, making the firm Tanner, Sherman & Stark. Mr. Tanner was appointed postmaster of Otter Lake in 1880, and is also agent of the American Express Company. Has been a justice of the peace and superintendent of schools. Married in 1878 to Miss Carrie L. Carleton. They have two daughters.
JAMES A. VAN VRANKEN, blacksmith, was born in Lockport, Niagara County, N. Y., in 1843. His family left there in 1846, and came to Lapeer County, Mich. They lived for three years in Lapeer Township, and in 1849 went to Elba, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. Learned the trade of a blacksmith in Hadley. In 1871 came to Marathon and started a shop. In 1874 he located in'that part of the last named township, now known as Otter Lake, where he worked for C. B. Benson six years, when he started a shop of his own. In 1881 he was elected assessor of School District No. 7. Married in 1866 to Miss Eliza Wadley. They have three children. He was the first blacksmith in the village.
MURDOCH L. DAVIS, M. D., was born in Newmarket, York County, Ont., in 1850. Was at the Normal School, Toronto, in 1868-'9. Commenced the study of medicine in 1873 at Wark- worth, and attended Trinity College, Toronto, from 1874 to 1877, when he graduated. Came to Lapeer County that year, and prac- ticed in Almont Township for five years. Removed to Otter Lake, Marathon Township, in 1882. Married in 1877 to Miss Annette Morton, of Almont, They have one child-a son.
JONAS MCALPINE was born in the township of Sarnia, Lambton County, Ont., in 1850. His father was a farmer, and he worked for him until he was twenty-one years of age, the last four years in - Watertown, Tuscola County, Mich., whither his father had moved From 1871 until 1874 he worked in the lumber woods and at the stave business. In the latter year he began business as a wagonmaker and manufacturer of peavey and cant hook handles, river poles, etc. In 1878 he discontinued wagon-making, and de- voted his attention exclusively to the other branch of his business. In 1880 he removed from Watertown to Otter Lake village. He employs four men, and finds a ready market for the product of his factory on the Saginaw River. He was married in 1875 to Miss Hattie E. Felton, of Watertown. They have two children.
ORLOW BECKWITH was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1848. Was brought up on a farm in Orleans, same county, and lived with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. Taught school for four years. In December, 1878, he came to Otter Lake, where he learned the trade of a miller, under instruc- tions from Z. B. Church, in the mills of Tanner Bros. He is now head miller for Tanner, Sherman & Stark. Was married in 1870 to Miss Sylvia Tanner, of Orleans, N. Y. They have one child-a daughter.
CARPENTER & LLOYD, dealers in drugs, stationery, tobacco, cigars, etc., Otter Lake, Mich. This firm is composed of Perley L. Carpenter and Simeon H. Lloyd .--- PERLEY L. CARPENTER was born in 1858 at Poultney, Vt. His parents removed to Caro, Mich., in 1871, in the common schools of which place he was educated. Was in the drug store of Washburn & Cooper five years, and then went into the same business as a partner in the firm of Schottle & Car- penter. In May, 1882, formed a partnership with Mr. Lloyd, and they purchased the drug stock of Tanner & Sherman, transferring it to another store .- SIMEON H. LLOYD was born in 1860 in York County, Ont. Was born on a farm, but his parents moved to the
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
village of Kattleby. Was an attendant at the Friends' College at Pickering, Ont. Came to Otter Lake in 1882, and became a mem- ber of the firm of Carpenter & Lloyd.
PIERSONVILLE.
The building of saw-mills on the Flint River, in section 32, about the year 1850, gave birth to a lumbering village, which flourished during the time that pine was being cut in that region. The name of the postoffice was Marathon, but as the place declined that name was discontinued. The neighborhood is now known as Piersonville.
RUFUS PIERSON was born in 1811, in the town of Sharon, Schoharie County, N.Y. Was brought up on a farm in his early days, and afterward learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he fol- lowed for a number of years in Otsego County, N. Y. In Novem- ber, 1853, he came to Marathon, and resides at Piersonville, at one time known as Marathon Postoffice. He farms eighty acres on section 22, township 9 north, range 9 east. Also acts as agent for the White estate. He held the postmastership at Marathon for thirteen years, when it was discontinued. In 1839 he was married to Miss Abigail Weaver, of Otsego County, N. Y., by whom he had a son and daughter. Mrs. Pierson and the son died in 1882, and the daughter is now living in Pennsylvania.
THICKSTUN'S SHINGLE-MILL.
This mill was built a number of years ago, but in 1882 was re- modeled and rebuilt by J. C. Thickstun, of Lapeer. It is run by steam; has a Hall shingle machine; makes about 30,000 shingles per day, and employs ten men. It is located on the Flint River, near Piersonville, and is under the management of C. H. Cliff.
CHARLES H. CLIFF, superintendent of J. C. Thickstun's shingle- mill, near Piersonville, was born in Picton, Ont., in 1849; came to the United States in 1865, and has since been a resident of Ore- gon and Marathon Townships, Lapeer County. Has always followed the shingle manufacturing business, both here and in Ogemaw County. Is now a resident of Piersonville, having located there in the early part of the year 1883.
WILLIAM HOLLINSHEAD is a native of Lincolnshire, England, and was born February 22, 1833. Learned the trade of a butcher in his native land. In 1854 came to the United States, since which time he has owned a homestead at Piersonville, Marathon Town- ship, Lapeer County. For some twenty years he was employed in saw-mills at Piersonville, Forest, Otter Lake, Bay City, etc. He has also followed carpentering and farming, and is now engaged in the latter pursuit. He was married in 1854 to Miss Elizabeth Rook, a native of England. They have two sons and two daughters living.
TOWN OFFICERS.
1839-Supervisor, Horace N. Lathrop; clerk, Silas D. McKeen; collector, Martin Volentine.
1840-Supervisor, Horace N. Lathrop; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury; treasurer, Abraham Hollenbeck; 19 votes polled.
1841-Supervisor, Abijah Willey; clerk, Jabez Loomis; treas- urer, Daniel Clark; 21 votes polled.
1842-Supervisor, Horace N. Lathrop; clerk, Reuben McAr- thur; treasurer, Jacob Hollenbeck; 27 votes polled.
1843-Supervisor, Reuben McArthur; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury; treasurer, Seth Willey; 28 votes polled.
1844-Supervisor, Reuben McArthur; clerk, Jacob Hollen- beck; treasurer, Daniel Clark; 33 votes polled.
1845-Supervisor, Jacob Hollenbeck; clerk, Reuben McAr- thur; treasurer; Lafayette Warren; 30 votes polled.
1846-Supervisor, Jacob Hollenbeck; clerk, Richard Clute; treasurer, Evart Clute; 34 votes polled.
1847-Supervisor, Jacob Hollenbeck; clerk, Richard Clute; treasurer, Evart Clute; 36 votes polled.
1848-Supervisor, Reuben McArthur; clerk, Jacob Hollen- beck; treasurer, Evart Clute; 31 votes polled.
1849 -- Supervisor, Reuben McArthur; clerk, Jacob Hollen- beck; treasurer, Andrew Farrell; 37 votes polled.
1850-Supervisor, Jacob Hollenbeck ; clerk, Palmer Carpenter; treasurer, John Stanley ; 37 votes polled.
1851 -Supervisor, Jacob Hollenbeck; clerk, Chancey Max- field; treasurer, John Blue; 40 votes polled.
1852-Supervisor, John Pierson; clerk, S. H. Miller; treas- urer, N. Hemingway; 49 votes polled.
1858-Supervisor, John Pierson; clerk, Reuben McArthur; treasurer, Ephraim Clute; 48 votes polled.
1854-Supervisor, Jacob Hollenbeck; clerk, William W. Brown; treasurer, Palmer Carpenter; 76 votes polled.
1855- Supervisor, John Pierson; clerk, Andrew Farrell; treas- urer, Evart Clute; 95 votes polled.
1856-Supervisor, John Pierson; clerk, Jacob Hollenbeck; treasurer, E. Clute.
1857-Supervisor, E. Clute; clerk, Peter Van Dyke; treasurer, George H. Kilbourn.
1858-Supervisor, E. Clute; clerk, Peter Van Dyke; treasurer, A. F. Richards; 101 votes polled.
1859-Supervisor, H. L. Hemingway; clerk, John Clark; treasurer, Andrew Aurand.
1860-Supervisor, Henry L. Hemingway; clerk, Hiram D. Tower; treasurer, Andrew Aurand; 124 votes polled.
1861 -- Supervisor, Jacob Hollenbeck; clerk, Reuben McAr- thur; treasurer, Chancey Maxfield.
1862-Supervisor, Reuben McArthur; clerk, Levi McArthur; treasurer, E. Clute.
1863-Supervisor, Henry L. Hemingway; clerk, Levi McAr- thur; treasurer, William Hollenbeck.
1864-Supervisor, Benjamin J. Harris; clerk, Levi McAr- Arthur; treasurer, John Davis.
1865-Supervisor, Benjamin J. Harris; clerk, Levi McArthur; treasurer, E. Clute.
1866-Supervisor, Benjamin J. Harris; clerk, Levi McArthur; treasurer, Nelson K. Lawrence.
1867-Supervisor, Levi McArthur; clerk, Jacob Hollenbeck; treasurer, A. Willey, Jr.
1868- Supervisor, Levi McArthur; clerk, Nelson K. Lawrence; treasurer, A. Willey, Jr.
1869 -Supervisor, Levi McArthur, treasurer, Benjamin J. Harris, clerk, John E. Deming.
1870- Supervisor, Levi McArthur; treasurer, Benjamin J. Harris; clerk, Munson Grover.
1871-Supervisor, Levi McArthur; treasurer, Benjamin J. Harris; clerk, J. T. Wheeler.
1872-Supervisor, Benjamin J. Harris; treasurer, Reuben McArthur; clerk, J. T. Wheeler.
1878-Supervisor, Benjamin J. Harris; treasurer, George Le Valley; clerk, Oscar F. Hunnywell.
1874-Supervisor, Benjamin J. Harris; treasurer, Reuben McArthur; clerk, Oscar F. Hunnywell.
1875-Supervisor, Benjamin J. Harris; treasurer, E. Clute; clerk, Oscar F. Hunnywell.
1876-Supervisor, Levi McArthur; treasurer, Benjamin J. Harris; clerk, Allson W. Whipple.
Rufus. Pierson.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
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