History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 8

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

USA > Michigan > Mason County > History of Mason County, Michigan > Part 8

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).

Among the changes that occurred during the year in the business of the city, the Record noted the following:

Jonn H. Highland, of the firm of J. H. Highland & Co., died during the year, and the business was being conducted by the other members of the firm, Jason Gillette and B. J. Goodsell. They had connected the Ludington Boiler Works with their business.

Johnson & McConnell had succeeded Johnson & Ely in the drug business.

J. Roussin had opened a boot and shoe shop.

B. Betz had opened what was known as the "City Grocery Store," on Ludington Avenue.

E. J. Lockman had started a new furniture store, just east of the Record building.

H. P. Beardsley had located himself in Johnson & McConnell's drug store, as jeweler and repairer.

J. F. Clemens was dealing in knit goods.

W. G. Hudson had started in business as a house, sign and carriage painter.

Finsterwald & Johnson had purchased the old store formerly occupied by Danaher & Melendy, and opened a clothing store.

Fred Falkner and Edward Gagnon had each opened meat mar- kets during the year.

The banking house of Blain, Yerkes & Co., was started during this year.

Drs. P. P. Shorts and E. N. Dundass had located here during the year.

The bar had received accessions in the persons of Hon. H. H. Wheeler, Newcombe & Wing, and M. D. Seeley.

It was in 1878 that the first brick block was erected in the city, by Horace F. Alexander.

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RES. OF HON . A . E. CARTIER , LUDINGTON , MICH.

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

POSTAL MATTERS.

The first postoffice in this region was started in 1847, and was located in the hollow of a pine tree that stood on the point, south of the present site of the Taylor mill. The Indians were poor corres- pondents, at best, and the Government did not think it best to send here after the mail patronage of the two or three white men who were stopping here temporarily.

Two men named Parkes were making shingles up the river, and the " Hooker," that took the shingles, brought their mail to the old pine tree and took their letters to Grand Haven, which was the nearest postoffice.

In 1851, a man named Cooper, in consideration of a small sum raised by subscription among the few inhabitants, made three trips during the Winter from Grand Haven to Manistee, carrying the mail.

In 1852 Thomas Livingston performed the same duty. In 1853 a man named Holmes made several trips.

In 1855, the year that the county was organized, a postal route was established by the Government, and the contract for carrying the mails was first taken by one Metcalf, who carried the mail on the back of one pony and rode another alongside. On one occasion, & young man sent by him was drowned while crossing the ferry at Pere Marquette River. The ferry-boat was an old raft, and it went to sea with the two horses and man on board.

The ferry at this time was just north of the bluff, and on the day that the mail was expected, some one about the mill would keep watch, and when Uncle Samuel's transportation company hove in sight would go down to the ferry and bring the carrier and mail across on the boat, letting the ponies swim behind.

Those were the days of primitive postal facilities. The tele- phone was yet hidden in the mines of genius; postal-cards were not born; and in this region newspapers and letters were luxuries not largely indulged in.

For several years the mail was left at the mill store. In 1864 a postoffice was established at Pere Marquette, but the name of the postoffice was Ludington. David A. Melendy was the first post- master. He held the office until 1868, when he was succeeded by Frederick J. Dowland, who held it about a year and resigned. He was succeeded by George W. Clayton, who retained it until 1878, when he was succeeded by Judge Wheeler, who was succeeded in May, 1882, by the present postmaster, Dr. R. F. Dundass. The office was first kept in James Ludington's store. When Mr. Clayton took the office he removed it to a building near where J. Allen & Son's warehouse now stands. In 1871 he moved it into a new building that was erected on Ludington Avenue, opposite where the Filer House now stands. It remained there for three years, when Mr. Clayton erected a building on the corner of Ludington Avenue and James Street, and removed the office to that place. There it re- mained until the fire in 1881. After the fire, Mr. B. J. Goodsell built a brick building on the corner of Ludington Avenne and Charles Street, and the office was located in a room on Charles Street, where it still remains.

It was made a money-order office August 1, 1870, and the amount paid out the first year was about $8,000.

In February, 1874, the business of the office for the previous six months was as follows:

Amount of stamps cancelled.

.$ 1.065.88

Postage on newspapers

156.16

Collected on unpaid letters

59.02

Box rent ...

176.00

Number of money orders issued during the year

1,730

Amount of orders

.$28,535.03

Amount paid out on orders ..

7,797.11

The amount of business done in the office for the year ending December 81, 1881, was as follows:

MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.

Amt. of domestic money orders issned .. $79,461.68 Amt. of foreign money orders issued .... 6,459.20 Amount of domestic money orders paid. 20,742.56 Amount of foreign money orders paid .. 4,232.10 Amount of stamps, postal-cards, stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers, etc., sold during the year, $6,494.04.

DR. ROBERT F. DUNDASS, P. M., was born in Canada in 1847. After two years in New York, he went to Pentwater, in 1867, and came to Ludington in 1869. In 1873 he graduated at Rush Medi- cal College, at Chicago, and soon after began practice in Ludington. For several years he has conducted a drug store in connection with his practice. Dr. Dundass has always been active in politics, and in the Fall of 1880 was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature. He has been prominent in efforts to secure an exterior harbor of refuge at Ludington, and has visited Washington several times in the interest of that project. Last Spring he received the appointment of postmaster at Ludington, to succeed Judge Wheeler, who held the office for one term.

LUDINGTON DOCK.

In the Fall of 1871, Joshua Allen and his son, Eugene Allen, came to Ludington from Augusta, Me., and commenced the manufacture of turned goods, such as mop handles, curtain rollers, etc. Their factory was situated in what is now the Fourth Ward, and was operated by them until a disastrous fire, in June, 1872, swept away their factory and stock, involving a loss of seven or eight thousand dollars. While considering the matter of rebuild- ing, they were induced to improve the dock and establish a for- warding and commission business. They at once purchased from the Pere Marquette Lumber Company the dock property on the north side of Pere Marquette Lake, and adjoining the mill site of that company. The dock had been partially built up of slabs, which had rotted away, and a little old building was all that was there at the time of the purchase. Messrs. Allen & Son went at work to in- prove the property. They have built a splendid dock, three ware houses, and their business, which at first consisted of handling one ton of hay or a few bushels of oats at a time, has increased every year, and their sales of merchandise amounted last year to over forty thousand dollars. They are continually adding to their busi- ness facilities, and use every effort to bring trade to this point. Probably no one enterprise has done more to help the city of Ludington than the business and labors of this firm.

JOSHUA ALLEN, senior member of the above-named firm, is an excellent type of the New Englander. He was born at Fairfield, Me., in 1809. Like the majority of New England sons of that day, he spent his early life at home, and when he arrived at years of maturity, settled in business in his native state. . His busi- ness for the most part was lumbering. He lived at Calais, Me., for a time, and afterwards at Augusta. From the latter place he removed to Ludington, in 1871, and engaged in business as stated above. Mr. Allen is a hale gentleman, although seventy-three years of age. He still attends to business as regularly as ever.

EUGENE ALLEN, of the firm of Joshua Allen & Son, was born in Maine, in 1845. His early life was spent for the most part at home, and his business career has been identified with his father. In 1871 he came to Ludington and has been one of the most active business men here since that time. He is an active business man, possesses great energy, and is prominently connected with all public

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

improvements. He was a leading spirit in the Library Association, and more recently in the work of the Tax Payers' Improvement Association. At the present time he is prominently connected with the system of waterworks in operation here, and the efforts being made to secure a harbor of refuge at this point. Mr. Allen was married October 1, 1879, to Miss Mary M. Ferry, of Grand Haven, niece of Senator T. W. Ferry.

FOUR PLY MUSIC.

Some of the musical talent of Ludington was utilized for sys- tematic service by the organization, last Spring, of a quartet club, called the " Congregational Church Quartet," and incorporated under the laws of the state. The quartet is composed of Miss A. R. Bibbins, soprano; Mrs. R. M. Keyes, alto; L. C. Waldo, tenor; E. W. Marsh, basso; Mrs. E. W. Marsh, pianist. The officers are: Mrs. R. M. Keyes, president; E. W. Marsh, secretary; L. C. Waldo, treasurer. The organization owns its music, a piano and organ, and is altogether a prosperous and interesting institution.

LUDINGTON CORNET BAND.

In the Spring of 1872 a long-felt want began to manifest itself in an effort to organize a cornet band. There was a superabund- ance of wind power and musical talent waiting to be utilized, and an organization was easily and speedily perfected. The officers were: E. W. Marsh, president; William A. Welch, leader; G. W. Slater, secretary; L. W. Steffy, treasurer; Frank M. Plumb, librarian. A meeting was held at the office of Justice Shackelton, and a stock company formed with a capital of six hundred dollars, divided into sixty shares of ten dollars each. This was early in May, and about the middle of June a set of silver instruments arrived, and sweetest strains of horn music proceeded forthwith to float. The organization was called the " Ludington Cornet Band," and did valorous service until about 1876, seeds of dissolution be- gan to germinate, and in 1881 the organization finally broke up. But one band goeth and another cometh, and after pulling through nearly two years without the aid of horn music, the city was again enlivened, in the Spring of 1880, by the organization of the " Ser- enade Band," which was composed of ten young men. This band did splendid service until the Spring of 1881, when it consolidated with the Knights Templar Band, which had been recently organized. This band existed until last Spring, when it disbanded. L. N. Curott was leader of the "Serenade Band," and Chas. Bergman, of the "Knights Templar Band." Last Spring the present band was organized under the leadership of Prof. Treloff.

CITY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.

Prior to 1878, the burying-ground was located about two miles south of Ludington, on the road to Pentwater. It comprised about an acre of ground rudely. enclosed and persistently neglected. But few graves were made there, and fewer grave-stones erected. An old resident said to the writer, "But few people died in those days; they had too much else to do." As the inhabitants multiplied, and the village attained the metropolitan stature of a city, the necessity of a cemetery suitable to the needs of the future as well as the present, began to be felt. In the Spring of 1873, it was manifestly desirable that a cemetery association should be formed, and a suitable spot selected for the location of a burial place for the dead

of the city and vicinity. Accordingly, a meeting of citizens was held in the schoolhouse, Monday evening, March 31. The matter was freely discussed, and an association formed. A committee, con- sisting of Charles E. Resseguie, L. H. Foster, George Tripp, S. D. Haight and M. D. Ward, was appointed to select suitable grounds, and report at the next meeting. During the Summer the matter was considered, and a purchase finally made of Charles Mears. The site selected included a picturesque elevation, fronting on Lincolu Lake, being lot No. 3, and the north half of southwest quarter of northwest quarter of Section 10, embracing fifty-four acres, at an aggregate cost of $1,080. The land, when purchased, was in a wild condition, but it needed only the touch of art to transform it into a beautiful and fitting resting-place for the dead. It is located within easy distance of the city, and yet far enough away to preserve the quiet and serenity in harmony with the place and its associations. Improvements have been pushed forward, as rapidly as circumstances would warrant, and it already reveals treasures of scenery, which henceforth will more rapidly develop. The selection was an ad- mirable one, and is a credit to the thoughtful taste, and refined in- telligence of the thrifty city, whose dear ones it will hold. It is the intention of those having the enterprise in charge to beautify the place as rapidly as possible, so that, in the years to come, its culti- vated scenes shall awaken affectionate remembrance of those who are sleeping beneath its sod. Already its surface is dotted with numerous graves, and ere long it will become the resting-place of those, who laid the foundation of this growing city. Let the pros- perity of the living be contributed toward beautifying their "city of the dead," to which all are hastening.

The present officers of the association are P. Ewing, chairman; I. H. McCollum, secretary; Dr. A. P. McConnell, J. B. Roby, Eugene Allen, committee.

CATHOLIC CEMETERY.

The Catholic cemetery is very beautifully situated, upon a romantic elevation in the southeast part of the city. It was located about four years ago, and is being improved as rapidly as circum- stances will permit. The enclosure contains about twenty acres, from which a delightful view of Pere Marquette Lake and adjacent scenery is obtained.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

In 1872 the village of Ludington presented a physical appear- ance that was primitive and rude. The eye of a stranger would have wearied in looking for traces of culture and æsthetic tastes among the thronging stumps that bedecked the village in ungraceful pro- fusion. The work of transformation, however, had been begun. The inhabitants had come hither to abide, in the full belief that in due time the wilderness would blossom as the rose. They were, for the most part, possessed of superior intelligence and ambitious to excel. Appreciating the desirability of fostering and encouraging a wholesome taste for reading and mental improvement, the advan- tages of a public reading-room and library had been frequently dis- cussed, and plans were taking shape for the attainment of that end. On the evening of April 24, 1872, a meeting of those interested was held in Ludington Hall, to effect a permanent organization of a library association. The organization was perfected, and the following officers elected: D. L. Filer, president; S. F. White, vice president; Miss Sarah E. Melendy, secretary; J. E. Danaher, treasurer; Miss Mary J. Filer, librarian; Miss Mary A. Melendy, collector. Executive committee: I. H. McCollum, G. N. Stray, C. C. Ward, M. D. Ward, E. Allen.

A meeting of the officers was held the following Tuesday

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SEo. M. Stray

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

evening, and it was decided to open a free reading-room, for three months, and if it proved a success, to make it permanent.

A few days after the organization was effected, a letter was received from James Ludington, expressing his interest in the enter- prise, and containing a draft for $100 to be used in the purchase of books.

Early in June, Mr. S. F. White visited Milwaukee in the interest of the association, and made a purchase of books. Donations of suitable books were made by citizens, so that in a short time quite a good library was gathered. For some time the association occupied a small building that stood just south of the Pere Marquette Lumber Company's store, the free use of which was donated by that company.

In the Spring of 1874, the library contained between 300 and 400 volumes, and the association was in a prosperous. condition. The question of finding a new location was agitated, and various plans considered. Mr. D. L. Filer, who had been president since its organization, proposed, on behalf of the Pere Marquette Lumber Company, to donate a suitable site on Ludington Avenue, also all the lumber necessary for its construction, provided the $2,500 donated by James Ludington, to the city of Ludington, be approp- riated to the erection of a suitable building, to be used for library and city purposes. June 16, a meeting of the association was held, and officers elected for the ensuing year, as follows: D. L. Filer, president; C. G. Wing, vice president; Miss Emma Stanchfield, secretary; James Danaher, treasurer; Miss B. Danaher, librarian; Mrs. G. N. Stray, assistant librarian; George Westcott, janitor. Board of directors: Mrs. Hutchins, H. B. Dean, George N. Stray, George Westcott, S. D. Haight. Steps were at once taken toward securing the erection of a building. The city council voted to appropriate the $2,500, donated by Mr. Ludington, upon the con- ditions offered by Mr. Filer. Nothing further was done toward building, and in time the matter was practically dropped. The association subsequently moved into the Gebhardt Building, where it remained until Temperance Hall was completed, when it moved into its new quarters in that building. In the fire of June 1881, all the books and effects of the association were destroyed. There were about $500 worth of books at the time of the fire, besides other property, none of which was insured.

Mr. Eugene Allen, and a few other members of the association, are making an effort the present season to reorganize the associa- tion, and start a new library, and there is some reason for believing that their endeavors will be successful.

BANKS.

In 1871 Mr. I. H. McCollum came to Ludington from Detroit and opened a private bank in a frame building on Ludington Avenue, opposite the building which is now the Filer House. The bank was first called the Exchange Bank of F. Blackmarr. Mr. Blackmarr was a son-in-law of Mr. McCollum, and was interested in the bank. The name was afterwards changed to the Lumberman's Exchange Bank. The bank did quite an extensive business until 1878, when heavy losses forced it to suspend. Most of the creditors of the bank have since been paid in full. This was the first bank started in Ludington.

Iu 1872, Mr. Charles Blain sold out his interest in the dry goods business in which he was engaged to James Burton, and opened a private bank, the firm being Blain, Yerkes & Co. This firm continued until 1874, when it was succeeded by Blain & Ely, who continued the business until July, 1880 At that time the Ludington State Bank was incorporated with a capital of $50,000. The officers

were, George W. Roby, president; H. B. Ely, vice president; Charles Blain, cashier. In August, 1881, Mr. Ely sold his stock to Mr. Blain and resigned the office of vice president, and George N. Stray was elected as his successor. The stockholders are, George W. Roby, Charles E. Resseguie, A. E. Cartier, Charles Blain, Frank Filer, George N. Stray, Amos Breinig, H. H. Wheeler, R. D. Mallet. The bank does a very safe and prosperous business.

CHARLES BLAIN. cashier of the above-named bank, Ludington, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., in 1845. When about twenty years of age, he concluded to try his fortune in the gold re- gions of the great West. After spending about three years at gold mining and prospecting, he returned East and entered the employ of the Chicago Hide and Leather Company, in 1869. In the latter part of 1870 he came to Ludington and opened a general merchan- dise store on Ludington Avenue, near George Tripp's old meat market. This was the third store of the kind started in Ludington. He continued in that business two years, and then sold out to James Burton. Soon after that he opened a private bank in a building on the lot where the State Bank is now located. The firm was Blain, Yerkes & Co. This was the second bank started in the village. Two years later, Blain, Yerkes & Co. was succeeded by Blain & Ely, who continued to do a private banking business until July, 1880, when the present Ludington State Bank was incorporated, with Charles Blain cashier. Mr. Blain has been a very successful banker. He is a very cautious business man, and through all the trouble- some times of the past ten years, has conducted his affairs safely and prosperously.

In the Spring of 1881, Thomas R. Lyon started a bank, but after running it a few months, not being satisfied with its prospects, he wound up its affairs and discontinued the business.

In March of the present year Mr. George W. Clayton started the Exchange and Loan Bank of Ludington, as a private enterprise. This bank is gradually working its way into a good business. A biographical sketch of Mr. Clayton appears among the early settlers of Ludington.

LUDINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The fire department was first organized in September, 1873, by Bennett J. Goodsell, and consisted of one hand engine company with sixty members, and a hook and ladder company with twenty members. The officers were: B. J. Goodsell, chief engineer; M. J. Danaher, assistant engineer; Thomas Crily, foreman of engine com- pany; F. B. Piatt, foreman hose company; Dr. L. T. Southworth, foreman hook and ladder company. In 1878 the department was without efficient organization and remained so until last Spring, when Mr. M. G. Smith was elected chief engineer and a thorough reorganization has been effected.

TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONES.

A telegraph office was first established here in 1872. Horace F. Alexander has been in charge of the office since it was first opened. It was kept in his store until the fire of 1881. The Fall after the fire, it was moved into permanent quarters over Cartier & Filer's store.

Telephones were introduced in Ludington, by Horace F. Alex- ander, in the Fall of 1881, and up to the present time, less than a year, nearly one hundred instruments have been put in operation. The central office is in the telegraph office in the Cartier & Filer block.

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

LUDINGTON WATER SUPPLY COMPANY.

The question of water works for the city of Ludington has been repeatedly agitated during the past four or five years. The project has been presented in various forms, but there appeared to be no way for the city to take hold of the enterprise without first amending its charter, and efforts to make it a private enterprise for a long time failed of success. Mr. Cartier, while mayor of the city in 1880, made a vigorous effort to have some plan adopted, and even offered to take ten thousand dollars in stock in a company organ- ized for the purpose of putting in a system of water works, but nothing definite was accomplished at that time. Last year, how- ever, the project was aguin revived by Mr. Eugene AHen and a few others, and in October an organiz ition was effected. A stock com- pany with a paid up capital of thirty thousand dollars was formed, under the name of the Ludington Water Supply Company. The officers are, S. F. White, president; Eugene Allen, secretary; F. J. Dowland, treasurer. There is a board of directors composed of T. R. Lyon, George W. Roby, F. J. Dowland, S. F. White, P. M. Dana- her. Work was commenced early in April of the present year, under the supervision of Eugene Allen and F. J. Dowland, with N. J. Gaylord as superintendent. Six thousand feet of main pipe is to be laid, with forty hydrants and one watering trough. The building for the machinery is located at the foot of Ludington Avenue, and is a substantial structure, 52x32 feet in size. The main suction for fire purposes connects with the channel, and for drinking purposes, with an artesian well. The city pays an annual rental of eighty dollars for each hydrant, and the usual water rates are established for private purposes. With these works in successful operation, the city will have ample protection from fire, and residents will have access to a very great convenience.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKS.

On the 4th of July, the works were tested for the first time. The following description of them was published in the Record of July 7:

"The Ludington Water Supply Company, which has been laying mains, and putting in the necessary pumps for a complete system of water works in Ludington, steamed up, for the first time, Saturday evening, July 1st, and put a heavy pressure upon the mains, leading to twenty-three hydrants in various parts of the First, Second and Third Wards. The mains through the Fourth Ward are not com- pleted, but will be put under pressure before the 1st of August. The engine, or pump house, is located at the foot of the avenue, 250 feet from Lake Michigan. This building is divided into a boiler room and a room for the pumps and compression chamber. The two boilers are each forty-eight inches in diameter and twelve feet in length with forty eight flues. The steam pumps are Mr. M. Walker's patent and are fine models of workmanship and strength. They are so placed that they will work separately or together. The steam cylinders are each 14x12 inches, and the water cylinders are each 73x12 inches. The compression chamber is built of heavy boiler iron and is capable of standing an immense pressure. It is forty-eight inches in diameter and twelve feet in height. The suc- tion pipe which leads to the river for present purposes is ten inches in diameter, and the main leading from the engine house to the cor- ner of James Street and Ludington Avenue, is also ten inches. The main extending further up the avenue and the one extending through James and Dowland Streets, is eight-inch. The main in the Fourth Ward is six inches, with a four-inch branch on Madison Street. The entire system of piping is the celebrated Wyckoff patent, and will sustain an immense pressure. At present there are 2,500 feet of ten-inch pipe, 6,700 feet of eight-inch pipe, 6,000 feet of six-inch pipe and 4,000 of four-inch pipe in the ground. A total of forty-two hy-

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History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 8

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

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