History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 30

Author: H. R. Page & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 373


USA > Michigan > Mason County > History of Mason County, Michigan > Part 30


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).


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3. Next comes OCEANA LODGE, No. 200, F. and A. M., Pent- water, instituted 1866. The Worshipful Masters have been: J. Boynton, E. E. Edwards, L. D. Grove, J. M. Rice and W. E. Doekry. The officers (1882) are: W. E. Dockry, W. M .; G. W. Imus, S. W .; O. H. Thayer, J. W .; E. B. Clark, Treas .; J. Grover, Sec .; W. A. Rounds, S. D .; R. C. Faxon, J. D .; H. P. Kelly and J. Hagestrom, Stewards; J. J. Kittridge, Chaplain; J. Brooker, Tyler. Meetings Tuesday, on or before full moon.


4. The next body is WIGTON LODGE, No. 251, F & A. M., of Hart, instituted 1868. The Masters of the Lodge have been suc- cessively: J. M. Rice, B. S. Pratt, W. H. Walker, L. G. Rutherford, D. Johnson, W. Coolidge and W. J. Britton. The present officers (1882) are: D. Johnson, W. M .; E. D. Richmond, S. W .; G. L. Crumb, J. W .; L. A. MeIntyre, Sec .; W. E. Thorp, Treas .; C. W. Slayton, S. D .; N. Miller, J. D .; W. Thorp, Tyler; J. Carey and T. Carmer, Stewards; Rev. James Draper, Chaplain. Hall over Chadwick & Son's.


5. BENONA LODGE, No. 289, Shelby, instituted 1871. Past Masters are: C. E. Howe, H. Hoffman, R. E. Cater and John Thompson. The present officers (1882) are: A. Z. Moore, W. M .; M. C. White, S. W .; A. Oleson, J. W .; E. J. Shirts, Treas .; W. E. Barry, See. ; E. F. Coon, S. D .; H. Johnstone, J. D .; G. Getty and P. Foster, Stewards; O. B. Smith, Chaplain, and H. W. Reed, Tyler. Hall over Van Wiekle's drug store.


6. Hesperia Lodge.


O.'EANA LODGE, NO. 200, F. & A. M., PENTWATER.


At a meeting of Master Masons, in good standing, residing at Pentwater and vicinity, held on June 12, 1866, for the purpose of forming a Lodge of F. & A. M., at Pentwater, the following brethren were present: J. Boynton, Charles W. Deane, W. H. Sibley, George Goodsell, J. W. Perry, O. Day, S. W. Pomeroy, A. B. Judd, Wm. B. O. Sands, George D. Lee, H. H. Woods. Brother J. Boynton was chosen chairman, Charles W. Deane, Secretary. Lodge named Oceana Lodge. The following were recommended to be its first officers: J. Boynton, W. M .; W. H. Sibley, S. W .; Charles W. Deane, J. W. After which J. Boynton took the credentials and visited the Grand Lodge for the purpose of procuring the necessary dispensation for the establishment of Pentwater Lodge, in which he succeeded, and Aug. 14, 1866, the lodge was duly instituted, at which time the W. M. appointed George W. Goodsell, Treas .; A. B. Judd, Sec .; David C. Pelton, S. D .; W. B. O. Sands, J. D .; John W. Perry, Tyler. Time of meeting fixed on the second Tuesday in each month, since changed to Tuesday on or before the full of the moon.


The subjoined have been Worshipful Masters since the organi- zation: J. Boynton, E. E. Edwards, R. L. Hardy, J. M. Rice, L. D. Grove, W. E. Dockry.


Present officers are: W. E. Dockry, W. M .; George W. Imus, S. W .; Oscar H. Tayer, J. W .; E. B. Clark, Treas; James Grover, Sec .; Wm. A. Rounds, S. D .; Jacob Fisher, J. D .; Wm. Kuhn, Tyler.


WIGTON LODGE, No. 251, Hart. The preliminary meeting was held April 2, 1868. The following brethren were charter members : J. M. Rice, 1st W. M .; B. S. Pratt, S. W .; J. Elliott, J. W .; W. Wigton, S. D .; W. H. Walker, J. D .; M. R. Chadwick, Sec. ; W. H. Leach, treasurer; W. A. Blanchard, tyler; also E. J. Reed, J. E. Williams, W. Coolidge, Ambrose and H. C. Mason, A. E. Palmiter; D. Benham, S. Inman and L. G. Rutherford. The fol- lowing have been masters since: B. S. Pratt, W. H. Walker, L. G. Rutherford, W. M. Wigtor and D. Johnson; and the following have died since the organization: W. Wigton, J. D. Ballou and O. C. Perry.


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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.


The following are the present officers: D. Jolinson, W. M .; E. D. Richmond, S. W .; G. L. Crumb, J. W .; L. A. McIntyre, sec- retary; W. E. Thorp, treasurer; C. W. Slayton, S. D .; N. Miller, J. D .; J. Cary and T. Carmer, stewards; W. Thorp, tyler.


HESPERIA LODGE, No. 346, was chartered and commenced under dispensation November 23, 1875; charter dated January 24, 1877, Charter members : P. H. Weaver, S. Atherton, L. S. Weaver, N. Heath, S. Tibbitts, Jacob Carlisle, J. W. Dunning, Alva Decker, and J. W. Sweet. The first officers were: P. H. Weaver, W. M .; S. Atherton, S. W .; L. S. Weaver, J. W .; J. F. Howard, secretary, and P. Monroe, treasurer. The officers for 1882 are: J. W. Dunning, W. M .; Charles Stark, S. W .; W. Fleming, J. W .; O. A. Rowland, secre- tary; E. Utley, treasurer; past masters, P. H. Weaver and J. W. Dunning.


ODD FELLOWSHIP.


The first lodge of this benevolent organization in the county was instituted in June, 1879, at Hart, and called Oceana Lodge, No. 327, I. O. O. F. The first Noble Grand was H. J. Holmes; Vice Grand, J. A. Collier; secretary, T. S. Gurney. The next Noble Grand was J. A. Collier; Vice Grand, T. S. Gurney; secretary, C. A. Gurney. Next Noble Grand was T. S. Gurney; C. A. Gurney, V. G., and James McVean, secretary. The next Noble Grand was C. A. Gurney; J. McVean, V. G., and D. Calkins, secretary. The next Noble Grand was James McVean; D. Calkins, V. G .; H. J. Holmes, secretary. Then came D. Calkins, N. G .; E. P. Wigton, V. G., and J. H. Holines, secretary. The last Noble Grand is J. McVean; A. S. Killin, V. G., and J. Brassington, secretary. The lodge is strong and flourishing, with fifty-four members, and a surplus of $350 in treasury. They meet Saturdays in Huff's Hall.


There are two other lodges, one at Shelby and another at Hesperia.


Hart Encampment, No. 12, I. O. O. F., was established in 1880; first Chief Patriarch, J. A. Collier, followed by A. H. Hoisington, D. Calkins and T. S. Gurney. Membership about twenty. Meet- ings, first and third Thursdays of each month, and it is the only encampment in the county.


HESPERIA LODGE, No. 334, was organized on Thanksgiving Day, 1879, with the following charter members: W. S. Stevens, G. R. Boyer, P. Monroe, W. S. Millard and Israel Clark. The first officers were, W. S. Stevens, N. G .; W. S. Millard, V. G .; G. R. Boyer, recording secretary ; P. Monroe, treasurer; J. W. Dunning, permanent secretary. The Noble Grands in succession have been : W. S. Stevens, W. S. Millard, John Smith, I. Clark, H. C. Hawley and George R. Boyer. There are now thirty-seven members. Meetings every Saturday evening. There are twenty-three scarlet, one green, three pink, and initiate members. Total fund $332.71.


THE GRANGERS.


This society, which has played so important a part in the or- ganization of the agricultural element, and is somewhat of the nature of a co-operative society, has of late years been an important factor in developing this county. Agriculture being in its infancy, and not yet widely extended, it has been found more difficult to make the society "go," than in some of the older and richer counties. However, although the society has had its ups and downs, it is now on a solid basis and has many leading and enthusiastic farmers in its ranks. It has not tried to do all kinds of business, as in some other counties, but it is enabled by comparison of rates, and holding out the alternative of co-operative trading, to get reasonable rates to its patrons.


The first grange that was formed in the county was in 1874, at "Town Corners," a mile and a half west of New Era, and is called


Sylvan Grange. W. F. Lewis was the first Master, and has been prominently identified with the lodge ever since. It has an average of forty-one members.


The next was "Oceana Grange," at Hart, E. T. Mugford first master. Prominent as masters of the grange have been A. D. Van Vickle, James Reed, Mr. Rector and Mr. Yates. It has an average of twenty-five members, and, like former grange, was formed in the Fall of 1874.


The same Fall there was formed Fraternal Grange, No. 406; A. Maples first master. With the exception of one term, when E. W. Moore was master, G. W. Woodward or W. H. Barry have held the office of master. This grange has an average of twenty- eight members, and was first at Blooming Valley, but it now meets in Shelby Village.


The same year, 1874, a grange was established in Ferry, now dormant, and another at Crystal Valley, which still flourishes.


All these granges were founded by Charles King, of Kalamazoo, General State Deputy , and a good organizer.


In 1876 a grange was formed at Flower Creek, in Claybanks. The leading masters have been Mr. Baker, H. Tower, and S. and A. Houston. It has thirty members.


There is also a county grange, organized in 1880, with W. F. Lewis as first master; next year E. T. Mugford was master, and in 1882 O. K., White is county master, G. W. Woodward is lecturer, George C. Myers secretary, and Thomas Twinning, treasurer.


MYSTERIES.


Oceana has had her full share of mysterious disappearances and murders. Among the first of these was that of the murder of a set- tler named Green, on the Little Point Sable Section, in Benona, near the beach, about the year 1860. Two brothers, named Morse, had been living at Green's, following the occupation of trapping, and no suspicion was directed to them, until James Gibbs noticed, when they were laying the body of the murdered man in the grave, the wife of Green give a significant wink to one of the Morses, who answered with a smile. Mr. Gibbs called attention to this, and the consequence was the arrest of Mrs. Green and the Morses, and a coroner's inquest, which resulted in nothing. They moved up back of Pentwater, into a log house of an old logging camp, Mrs. Green going along. On this the vigilantes of Pentwater, with Rector as their captain, went up one night and surprised them in bed. They cautiously approached the house, and, using the trunk of a heavy tree as a battering ram, at one blow sent the door flying to the other side of the room, rushed in and seized the inmates, and applied a coat of tar and feathers, which was intended as a gentle hint that they might fly away, for which purpose twenty-four hours was given them. It was well for the vigilantes that they secured the fellows before they could seize their arms, which. consisted of seven shot- guns, two double-barreled rifles and two revolvers, all loaded! The committee stretched the neck of the elder brother Morse, four times, until his tongue protruded, and he became black in the face. Next day the "Widder Green" and her "lovyers" " folded their tents, like the Arabs, and as silently stole away." The younger brother Morse, married the " widder," and they are now living in comfortable cir- cumstances and respected in another portion of this state. Their true love did not run smooth at first. It is related that a little Dutchman, one of the vigilance committee, cast a covetous eye on a splendid rifle, on the night of the charivari, and hid it in the brush near the log house. When the rifle was missed, an investigation threw the blame on the Dutchman, whose mysterious movements had been noted, and, despite his denials, he was held down and whipped with hazel and beach gads until he roared for mercy and confessed his crime.


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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.


Next year, in 1861, the Pentwater committee felt moved to reg- ulate one Fuller, son of H. H. Fuller, an early settler in Hart, who had been killed by a falling tree. The younger Fuller had been guilty of insulting a young lady, and the " boys " went in a body to his house, but Fuller had got wind of the expected raid, and stood ready to give his unwelcome guests a hot reception. When Rector boldly entered his log house, he was shot dead. The boys gathered up the remains, laid them in a barn, rousing up Mr. Peck and in- forming him that he would find a body in such a spot, and that he would be paid if he would bring it up to Pentwater. A trial ensued, but nothing was done with Fuller, who, however, considered the climate rather warm, and emigrated. Afterward he is said to have enlisted in the army, but died of fever at Toledo hospital.


On Section 1, Greenwood, in a log house with a boarded "lean to," lived for years one Isaac H. Cogswell, who had held the office of probate judge of Newaygo County, and for five years succes- sively, after his township was organized, was chosen its trusted chief officer. On the death of J. D. Stebbins, an early lumberman, he was appointed administrator of the estate, and thus honored and trusted he had passed the age of three score and ten. He is said to have been a man sensitive of his honor, and proud of his good name, and exact and punctilious in his own affairs, and negligence on the part of others worried him. However this may be, he was called upon to account to the judge of probate, then F. J. Russell, on Monday, June 30, 1879; but about 3 A. M., on the Sunday previous, he awoke his invalid wife, and burned up the township books, the papers connected with the Stebbins estate and a large sum of money, remarking that he would show them a trick the devil could not undo. He then tried to persuade his wife to allow herself to be consumed in the flames with him. She replied that she would follow him any- where in the world, but not into the fire. He followed her out after firing the house and handed her her own money and some papers, and then shut himself in the boarded shanty attached to the log house. When help arrived, it was too late, and all that was found was the remains. He is said to have been a man of a very sensitive disposition, tenacious of his honor, and easily irritated at what he considered the want of punctuality of others. The Cogswell case is one of the causes celebre of Oceana County, and opinion is greatly divided as to whether he really perished on that Sunday morning, or not. One man is full of reasons and arguments showing that he must be still alive. His next neighbor is as positive that he is dead. Even husband and wife have been known to take sides on the ques- tion.


The disappearance of Josephus S. Peach, treasurer of the town of Hart, has been described in the municipal history of the county. He took several thousand dollars, and is enjoying, in some unknown clime, the fruits of his perfidy. Wherever he is, he cannot be happy, for he can never escape from bad company -- himself. To be condemned to live eternally with a thief, is punishment enough for him.


The case of Alonzo Irons, of Pentwater, who was storekeeper for Nickerson & Collister, at Crystal Valley, and who disappeared on Friday, June 3, 1881, is one of the greatest mysteries of Oceana County. He is doubtless murdered, and buried in some swamp. His body has never yet been found, but there was not the slightest reason that he should have voluntarily taken his life. He left in his shirt sleeves to purchase hay, and was seen on the road near the four corners of Crystal, Colfax, Elbridge and Leavitt. One King was arrested, but released, and although the county spent consid-


erable in trying to ferret out the perpetrators, the veil has not been lifted. The county clerk, prosecuting attorney and sheriff were directed to use diligent search for the murderers, and employed a Pinkerton detective, but in vain. Some imagine that the Indians had something to with the affair; others that a woman was at the bottom of the affair.


THE PRESS.


The newspapers at present published in this county, are, the Journal and Argus, of Hart; the News, of Pentwater, and the Shelby Independent. The three former are Republican, and the latter is Independent. They are all weeklies.


The first newspaper (the Oceana Timex), in the county was started in Pentwater, on January 10, 1862, the office being over C. Mears' old store, and the pioneer editor a German, named Fred. Ratzel, now a prominent journalist of Manistee. Mr. Ratzel was a genuine newspaper man, and got out a lively paper. Many are the anecdotes related of him, and his adventures with Flagg's mule, and otherwise, are stored up in the memories of old residents. Mr. Ratzel was also the first government inspector of the harbor at Pentwater, holding it during the year 1865-66.


In the Fall of 1869, Judson Palmiter bought out the Oceana Times, giving an interest to Amos Dresser, Jr., who had been & school teacher, and is now in Chicago. Trouble arose between the partners, and a separation took place. Mr. Dresser got a new outfit and issued his paper as the East Shore News. Messrs. Platt & Mat- thews started up the Times with old material, but after a time re- moved it to Fremont Centre. The News passed through a number of hands, it being under Rastall, Clark Taylor of Ionia; next Mr. Lyon, next W. R. Porter, then W. J. Canfield & Co., who, on March 1, 1880, sold to L. M. Hartwick, who still conducts it successfully. The paper is named the Pentwater Vers, and is a credit to the vil- lage. The files are particularly rich in historical items, and Mr. Hartwick still devotes considerable attention to the subject of pio- neer records. The paper is prosperous and increasing in circulation. It has been Republican since its inception, and from a nine-column folio, it was changed, in 1874, to a six-column quarto.


The Oceana County Journal, one of the oldest and most ably conducted journals of the county, was commenced by Judson Pal- miter, April 30, 1869, who sold, in 1874, to B. F. Saunders, but Mr. Palmiter repurchased in 1876, and on February 18, 1878, he took in Prof. Seth Edson as partner. In February, 1880, Mr. Palmiter sold his interest to A. J. Garver, and the latter sold his interest in August, 1882, to Mr. Matthews, of the Fremont Indi- cufor. The proprietors are, therefore, Messrs. Edson & Matthews.


The Hart Argus had its origin in Hesperia, where it was com- menced as a five-column folio by Frink & MeIntyre, November 8, 1877, and conducted by Dr. L. A. MeIntyre alone from April, 1878, when he removed the plant to Hart, where he issued the first num- ber as a five-column quarto, on May 8, following, at which size it has ever since remained. In March, 1881, his eldest son, George, became a partner in the business. The .Argus is an excellent local paper, and has a rapidly increasing circulation.


The Shelby Independent is a handsomely printed sheet, and and was founded and is still conducted by that pioneer of journalism, Judson Palmiter, April 10, 1880. The office is soon to be removed to more commodious headquarters in Mr. Palmiter's large new brick block.


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RES.OF WM B.O.SANDS, PENTWATER , OCEANA CO., Mich.


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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.


TOWNSHIP OF PENTWATER.


This is Town 16 north, Range 18 west, and is only about one- third of the size of those towns which are six miles square. It is but a mile and a half from east to west on its northern boundary, and three and a half miles on its southern boundary. It is divided in twain by Pentwater Lake, which comes close to Lake Michigan, from which it is separated by a narrow range of sand bluffs, and here the C. & W. M. R. R. depot is built, the village being reached by a ferry across the channel of the harbor. The village is situated on the northeast corner of the lake, and was originally two villages, that of Pentwater started by Cobb & Rector, which extended to Hancock Street, and that of Middlesex, originated by C. Mears, and named from his native county in Massachusetts. The town of Pentwater has been well covered with pine, now cut off by the lum- berers, and the soil is generally sandy, although fruit culture is now being successfully engaged in.


SCHOOLS.


For the school year ending September 5, 1881, it appears that Pentwater school No. 1, in the village, had 377 pupils; school prop- erty valued at $7,000; and one male teacher, at $800, and five females, at $1,200 were employed; W. E. Dockry, director; Prof. Borst, principal. No. 3 Pentwater had forty-seven pupils, under a female teacher, paid $206.


The board was: C. W. Cramer, chairman; E. R. Wright, in- spector, and W. H. Tuller, clerk.


District No. 1 includes all north of Pentwater Lake; No. 3 all south. The village school is a handsome white painted structure, on the old cemetery ground.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


The first actual settlers were Cobband Rector-Edwin R. Cobb, who died some years ago at Grand Rapids, and Andrew Rector, shot, in 1864, by one Fuller, in Hart, whom he was attempting to "regulate." This same Rector was the man who shot a neighbor's hog, in his hot wrath, but which was cooled down when he was tried before "Jimmy Dexter," the primitive justice of the peace of the west shore, who sent Rector ninety-nine years to jail, at Whisky Creek, for the heinous offence. Many are the quaint stories told of "Jimmy," who still lives a few miles north of Pentwater. Rector might have been in jail yet, had it not been for a writ of habeas corpus.


They had a steam mill with an upright circular saw, and em- ployed about thirty men. Mears employed about three times as many men. Many of the early pioneers commenced to work for Mears. Among these were: S. G. Rollins, Daniel Wentworth, John Spoor, E. D. Richmond, H. C. Flagg, W. P. Harding, Mr. Jennings, Charles Blenick, Nelson Glover, Elbridge Farmer, etc. The latter was Mears' first foreman, in 1856, and H. C. Flagg took his place in 1857. G. Smith, the saloon keeper, was at this time Mears' head


sawyer. Mears built a store and boarding house near where the ferry now is. The first store was in a bed-room of the boarding house; the second was a little further west, and the third was a large store, now burned, on the bank of the river. Mears built a large hall, (Middlesex Hall) where people came from Lincoln on the north, and Muskegon in the south, to the old, fashioned balls.


Cobb & Rector were lumberers, but were not very successful. They built a little sawmill, which was burned down in 1856. They probably came in 1853. Charles Mears, of Chicago, came in 1856, and erected a sawmill, and proceeded to improve the channel. Cobb & Rector made an assignment to C. A. Rosevelt, in 1857 or 1858. Cobb had before this homesteaded "Cobb's Addition." He pur- chased 160 acres and laid out eighty acres to village lots. He enlisted in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, and after the war made his home in Grand Rapids until his death. Cobb was of an easy-going disposition, and calculated to be straight, but there was some diffi- culty with his heirs as to land titles. He deeded his property to his wife, and his heirs had a quit-claim. Rector is described as a very honorable man, but of a violent temper; " he would fly all to pieces in a moment." The first opposition to Mears' store was by Chapin & Richmond, in 1862.


The land on which Pentwater is mainly situated was in the hands of Rosevelt, as assignee of Cobb & Rector; was purchased by Wm. Brillhart, and fell finally into the hands of Hart & Maxwell. This included much pine land besides the village plot. In 1865 Richmond & Bean purchased what is now the property of the Pent- water Lumber Company.


ORGANIZATION.


The town was organized by act of the Legislature, February 13, 1855, and the first meeting was held at the house of Cobb & Rector, April 7, 1856, the following officers being elected: E. R. Cobb, super- visor; James Dexter, clerk; Norman Rogers, treasurer; A. Rector, J. D. Green and N. Rogers, highway commissioners; J. G. Blowers, N. Codner, constables; James G. Blowers, school inspector; E. R. Cobb, A. Rector and N. Rogers, inspectors of election; $150 voted for town expenses.


The following is a list of supervisors, clerks and treasurers to date:


SUPERVISORS .- E. R. Cobb 1856-'57; D. G. Weare, 1858; H. C. Flagg, 1859-'61-2-3-4-5-6; A. J. Underhill, 1860-'73; E. D. Rich- mond, 1867-'68; Sewall Moulton, 1869; F. W. Ratzel, 1870; Still- man Parks, 1871; G. W. Imus, 1872-'75-6; E. Nickerson, 1874; John Fegan, 1877-'78; A. Brillhart, 1879; S. W. Bunyea, 1879-'80- 1-2.


CLERKS .- James Dexter, 1856-'57; E. R. Cobb, 1858; E. D. Richmond, 1859-'60-'75-6; Charles W. Deane, 1861; Andrew M. Dahl, 1862; F. W. Ratzel, 1863-'65-6; E. C. Hildreth, 1864; Henry H. Woods, 1867; E. E. Edwards, 1868-'69-70; R. L. Rice, 1871- '72; Henry F. King, 1873; John S. Reynolds, 1874; A. J. Un-


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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.


derhill, 1877; E. B. Clark, 1878-'80; W. P. Lee, 1879; W. H. Tul- ler, 1881; H. A. Cross, 1882.


TREASURERS .- Norman Rogers, 1856-'57; W. P. Harding, 1858; James G. Blowers, 1859; Win. Webb, 1860-'61-2; W. H. Merritt, 1863; B. R. Hall, 1864; Thomas Crane, 1865-66; W. B. O. Sands, 1867-'68; E. W. Bovee, 1869-'70; W. A. Rounds, 1871-'72-3; Mark Rice, 1874-'75-6; H. H. Bunyea, 1877-'78-80; A. Sorensen, 1879; A. W. Newark, 1881; John N. Bouton, 1882.


LOG BOOMING.


The present is the first season that logs have been floated down the south branch to any extent, and this has been done by J. Bean, Jr.


The north branch has been partly used since 1862.


The Pentwater Booming Company was organized in 1880, with S. A. Browne, president, W. E. Ambler secretary, and W. H. Browne treasurer. It was organized for the purpose of protecting the interests of the leading lumber manufacturers, and to give them legal control of certain improvements on the stream for making it navigable for logs.




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