USA > Michigan > Montcalm County > History of Montcalm County, Michigan its people, industries and institutions...with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families Volume I > Part 40
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In 1873 a constitutional commisison was appointed by the governor and consisted of two members from each congressional district of the state, pursuant to joint resolution No. 19 of the Legislature of 1873. There were no members in this commission elected from Montcalm county. This Con- stitution was submitted to the people on November 3. 1874. and rejected by a vote of 39,285 yeas to 124,034 nays.
The next and last constitutional convention convened at Lansing on October 22, 1907, and adjourned on March 3, 1908. This convention con- sisted of ninety-six delegates who were elected on September 17, 1907 according to the provisions of Act No. 272 of . 1907. Three delegates were elected from each of the thirty-two senatorial districts as districted by Act No. 264 of 1895. Frederick J. Baldwin, of Coral, represented Montcalm county and was one of the three delegates elected from the eighteenth dis- trict. The new constitution was submitted to the people on November 3, 1908, in pursuance to a writ of mandamus issued out of the supreme court
on March 9, 1908, and adopted by a vote of 244,705 to 130,783. Since the enactment of local option laws in this state, Montcalm county has voted five times on the local option question. In 1903, prohibition car-
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sented was held in the year 1867. This convention convened at Lansing,
432
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ried in the county by a majority of 118 votes. Two years later the county voted against prohibition by a majority of 1,567. Prohibition lost again in 1909 by a majority of 302 but carried in 1911 by a majority of 532. In 1913, Montcalm county gave a majority of 144 in favor of local option.
Interesting in this connection is the vote cast by Montcalm county at the general election of 1912 on the proposed amendment to the constitution giving to women the right of suffrage in the state. Although the amend- ment lost in the state by the small majority of 760, it carried in Montcalm county, where there were 3,315 votes in favor of the proposition and 2,705 against it. Montcalm county is now joined with Ionia, Clinton, Gratiot. Saginaw and Shiawassee counties in the eighth Congressional district which according to the census of 1910 had a total population of 240,104. For senatorial purposes, Montcalm county is joined with Ionia county and together they constitute the eighteenth Senatorial district. For the purpose of electing a representative to the state Legislature, Montcalm county con- stitutes a single district. Montcalm and Ionia counties are also joined together in the eighth judicial district.
STATE SENATORS.
Josiah Russell bears the distinction of being the first state senator elected from the newly-created county of Montcalm. He was elected in November of 1852 and served in the session of 1853. At that time Mont- calm county was in the twenty-fifth district. Stephen H. Warren was the next state senator elected from Montcalm county. He was elected in November. 1856, and served in the sessions of 1857-58 and at that time Montcalm county had been changed to the thirtieth district. Westbrook Divine was next elected in 1862 and again in 1864, serving in the sessions of 1863-64-65 and at that time Montcalm county was in the twenty-eighth district. Henry HI. Hinds served in the legislative sessions of 1873-74 and was elected from the twenty-seventh district. Joseph P. Shoemaker served in the sessions of 1879, representing the twenty-fourth district. James Bel- knap was the next state senator from Montcalm county, taking his seat in the sessions of 1883-85 from the twenty-first district. Aaron B. Brown was elected in November. 1890, and served in the sessions of 1891-92 from the twenty-third district. Edgar S. Wagar served in the Legislature of the state in the sessions of 1897-98-99-1900 from the eighteenth district. Charles H. Laflamboy served in the session of 1903 from the eighteenth
433
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
district and the last member was William H. Bradley who served in the sessions of 1909-11 from the eighteenth district.
REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
Ananias Worden, 1847; Henry H. Moore, 1850; Charles C. Ells- worth, 1852; Rosecrans K. Divine, 1854; John D. Fargo, 1856; Jacob Ferris, 1858; Martin P. Follett, 1860; Levi Camburn, 1864-66; Dr. John Avery, 1868; Richard C. Miller, 1870-72; William Backus, 1875; Stephen R. Stevens, 1876-78; Stallham W. LaDu, 1880-82; S. Perry Youngs, first district, 1883; Edwin K. Wood, first district, 1885; James W. Robinson, first district, 1887; Norris J. Brown, first district, 1889; Lucius L. Church, second district, 1891-92-93; Edgar S. Wagar, first district, 1893-95; Henry Kent, second district, 1895; Chester A. Miller, second district, 1897-98-99- 1900; Arthur L. Bemis, first district, 1897-98; Barry J. Lowery, second district, 1900; Charles Laflamboy, first district, 1898-99-1900-01; Cornelius D. De Young, 1909.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
John Porter was the first treasurer for Montcalm county. He was elected on April 1, 1850 and re-elected on November 5, 1850, and again on November 2, 1852. Joseph Griffith was elected on November 7, 1854; Bed- ford Birch, 1856-58; Levi Camburn, 1860-62; Albert S. French, 1864-66- 68-70; Henry Kent. 1872-74; George Howorth, 1876-78; William M. Thomas, 1880-82; Orville F. Mason, 1884-86; Martin Richland, 1888-90; George Douglass, 1892-94; Lucas Miel, 1896-1898; Benson L. Gaffiels, 1900-02; \V. M. Hattie, 1904-06; Benson Gaffiels, 1908; W. J. Stearns, 1910-12; Frank W. Bailey, 1914.
SHERIFFS.
Ginson S. Fargo was elected on April I and November 5, 1850; Abel French, April 7, 1851, and November 2, 1852; Dan T. Fargo, November 7, 1854; Chauncy W. Olmsted, 1856; William Phinesey, 1858-60; Hiram Amsbury, 1862; Hiram B. Fargo, 1864; Decatur O. Blake, 1866; Ira C. Horton, 1868-70; DeWitt C. Carpenter, 1872; Zenas E. Briggs, 1874; Leonard Rossman, 1876-78; John Q. Crippen, 1880; Jacob G. Summers, 1884-86; Newton A. Porter, 1888-90; Charles M. King, 1892-94; James K. (28)
434
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Train, 1896-98; Elliott O. Bellows, 1900-02; J. Wesley Gaffield, 1904-06; Alphonsus E. Ward, 1908-10; William E. Rasmussen, 1912-14.
COUNTY CLERKS.
Enos T. Peck began his services as county clerk when the county was first organized. His name is found on documents as early as April 9, 1850. He was first elected on November 5, 1850. John A. Miner was elected on November 2, 1852, and Enos Peck was re-elected on November 7, 1856. Seth Sprague was elected on April 7, 1856; and was re-elected on November, 1856, and again in 1858. The later clerks follow in order: William Backus, 1860; Bedford Birch, 1862; Aaron Lynn, 1864-66-68; H. Irving Garbutt, 1870-72; S. Perry Youngs, 1874-76; Joseph M. Fuller, 1878-80-82; Frank A. Lamb. 1884-86: William S. Whittlesey, 1888-90-92; John W. Dasef, 1804-96; John W. Nickerson. 1898-1900; Charles L. Meach, 1902- 04-06; W. Glenn Abbott. 1908-10; II. W. Taylor, 1912; Alfred L. Stearns, 1914.
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
Newcomb J. Ireland was elected on April 1, 1850: Westbrook Divine was elected on November 5, 1850, and re-elected on November 2. 1852; Lucius E. Backus, November 7. 1854: Frank T. Peck. November 7. 1856; Daniel .A. Cornell, 1858-60-62: Bedford Birch, 1864: Jenson P. Beers, 1866- 68; Thomas N. Stevens, 1870; Oscar Fenn. 1872-74: Edwin N. Finch. -876-78; Thomas N. Stevens, 1880-82-84-86; Charles M. Northrup, 1888- 90; F. C. Snyder, 1892; W. P. Lunn, 1894-96; S. B. Newcomb, 1898-1900; Lemuel L. Teed, 1902-04: Robert Montgomery, 1906-08; Allen B. Dicker- son, 1910-12-14.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Josiah Bradish was the first surveyor for the newly-created county of Montcalm. He was first elected on April 1, 1850, and re-elected on Novem- ber 5, of the same year. Dan T. Fargo was elected on November 2, 1852; James B. Farnsworth. November 7. 1854; Henry M. Caukin, 1856; Asa Ward. 1858; Henry M. Cankin, 1860: Edward H. Jones, 1862: Edward H. Jones, November 7. 1864; Henry M. Caukin, 1866-68; Henry E. W. Palmer. 1870-72: . A. De F. Gardner, 1874: Francello A. Palmer, 1876-78-80-82; James F. White, 1884: Henry M. Caukin. 1886; Edward H. Jones, 1888- 90; William A. Sweet, Jr .. 1892: Henry M. Caukin, 1894-96-98-1900-02;
435
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
John F. Daoust, 1904-06-08; E. Deiff Youdan, 1910-12; R. D. McNutt, 1914.
COUNTY CORONERS.
John Green, April 1, 1850; C. W. Olmsted, April 1, 1850; Ethan Satter- lee, November 5, 1850; George Van Ness, November 5, 1850; Ursin Good- man, November 2, 1852; George Van Ness. November 2, 1852; Seth Sprague, November 7, 1854; Mark Willsley, November 7, 1854; Harvey Allen. Joseph E. Morrison. 1856; Joseph B. White and Harvey Allen, 1858; Henry Ber- ridge and Richard C. Miller, 1860; Henry Berridge and. Richard C. Miller, 1862: Egbert I .. Heath and Harvey Allen, 1864; Luman Meach and Charles M. Woodard, 1866; Levi Camburn and Harvey Allen, 1868; Oscar Fenn and Alonzo H. Monroe, 1870; Seth M. Moon and Levi. Camburn, 1872; George Howorth and David H. Lord, 1874; James H. Moon and Emory J. Blanding, 1876; William H. Snyder and Hezekiah B. Ramsey, 1878; Walton C. Sherwood and Norman E. Bachman, 1880; Walton C. Sherwood and Charles W. Stafford, 1882; Horace J. Pixley and Norman E. Bachman, 1884: Daniel W. Day and Barnwell B. Clark. 1886; Daniel W. Day and Barnwell B. Clark. 1888; Davis D. Clough and William H. Budd, 1890; William R. Griffith and Barnwell B. Clark, 1892; Barnwell B. Clark and Isaac L. Tower, 1894-96; John Reynolds. 1898-1900-02-04-06-08-10-12-14; Walter Mosier 1898; Norman L. Otis, 1900; Cyrenius C. Sagles, 1902; Charles M. King. 1904-06-08-10: Robert Secunah, 1912-14.
SUPERVISORS OF MONTCALM COUNTY.
Eureka Township.
George Loucks, 1851 ; S. Rossman, 1852; D. C. Moore, 1854; S. Ross- man, 1855; W. Divine, 1856; J. M. Fuller, 1857; W. Divine, 1859; H. Serviss, 1882; Herman Johnston, 1882; Frank A. Moon, 1884; Ezra Satter- lee, 1866; F. C. Snyder, 1888; George W. Gravelle, 1891; Dana Bower, 1904; John E. Taylor, 1909; George B. King, 1913.
Belvidere Township.
George Wysel, 1867; George Wysel, 1870; William Gardner, 1873; L. C. Sumner, 1874; C. H. Corlis, 1876; William Gardner, 1878; John Van Duren, 1879; William Gardner, 1880; Albert E. Hunter. 1881; William H.
436
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Johnson, 1886; A. E. Hunter, 1888; L. M. Miel, 1892; Albert E. Hunter, 1897; William H. Helmick, 1900; L. D. Love, 1903; William H. Helmick, 1904; WV. A. Wood, 1905; Thomas Musson, 1907; L. D. Love, 1912; Albert A. Aliny, 1915.
Bushnell Township.
Chauncey W. Olmstead, 1850; W. Castel, 1852; Chauncey W. Olm- stead, 1853; William Castel. 1854; Chauncey W. Olmstead, 1856; William Castel, 1857; Stephen Alchine, 1861; William Castel, 1862; John K. Gillet, 1863; William Castel, 1864; Lora C. Jenks, 1866; William Castel, 1867; Lora C. Jenks, 1868; George Howarth, 1871; Robert W. Hoy, 1873; John H. Chapman, 1882: Robert W. Hoy, 1884; William Castel. 1885; R. W. Hoy, 1886; L. A. Bush, 1891; John W. Lunn, 1893; R. W. Hoy, 1896; James Wescott, 1897; Vir C. Allchin, 1903: James Wescott, 1904; Vir C. Allchin, 1907.
Bloomer Township.
George Benjamin, 1852: Mark Wilsey, 1853; Asa Ward, 1854; William Patrick, 1855; Benjamin F. Fuller, 1858; William Patrick, 1859; Aaron Lyon, 1860; John T. Irish, 1862; Benjamin F. Fuller, 1863; William Pat- rick, 1865; C. C. Forbush, 1866; Alfred W. Holmes, 1867; Charles R. Dickinson, 1868; Charles R. Dickinson, 1878; Vinal B. Luce, 1882; Thomas J. Cooper, Charles R. Dickinson. 1885; W. A. Sweet, 1894; C. R. Dickin- son, 1895; George II. Lester. 1898; Robert Montgomery, 1900; Charles F. Dickensen, 1906; Otis J. Cliffe, 1907; Charles F. Dickensen, 1908.
Crystal Township.
Daniel A. Cornell, 1856; A. A. Proctor, 1857; John L. Smith, 1860; Isaac Morse, 1863; John Burke, 1864; James M. Beck, 1865; Gilbert Ward, 1871; James M. Beck, 1874; Gilbert Ward, 1875; Abraham Mench, 1877; Milton H. Lascelle, 1881; Martin Kickland, 1882; A. Mench, 1884; Charles Swarthout, 1886; Martin Barger, 1888; George Lester, 1891; Charles Swarthout, 1892; George Lester, 1893; Charles Swarthout, 1895; Lemuel J. Teed, 1896; George Lester, 1903; Charles Lute, 1904; George H. Lester, 1906; James II. Steere, 1910; W. S. George, 1913; L. J. Teed, 1915.
437
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Cato Township.
Harvey E. Tucker, 1857; David R. Hart, 1858; Albert S. French, 1859; Ellsworth H. Stryker, 1864; George W. Crabb, 1870; Ellsworth H. Stryker, 1871; Elias H. Heath, 1872; E. R. Ellinwood, 1873; Aaron Amidon, 1877; Oscar A. Adams, 1878; John H. Jenson, 1879; C. H. Steb- bins, 1888; George C. Youngman, 1889; John H. Jensen, 1896; George C. Youngman, John H. J. Jensen. 1908; Scott Swarthout, 1915.
Reynolds Township.
David Swarthout, 1869; A. F. Stevens, 1870; Amos R. Mather, 1871; Austin C. Leonard, 1876; William F. Thompson, 1877; Solomon Lisk, 1879; Albert P. Thomas, 1880; Frank A. Lamb, 1884; Alexander Denton, 1886; Solomon Lisk, 1888; C. C. Messenger, 1893; Alex Denton, 1899; C. A. Van Denbergh, 1900; Austine Barber, 1903; Lucius L. Church, 1904; Clarence M. Gates, 1914.
Day Township.
Sylvester Derby, 1865; George F. Case, 1866; Edwin K. Wood, 1869; George F. Case, 1870; F. D. Finch, 1871; George F. Case, 1873; George Howarth, 1874; Asa Morse, 1876; Henry H. Hinds, 1877; A. F. Gardner. 1880; Andrew B. Nevins, 1880; Samuel L. Mead, 1882; D. J. Maynard, 1884; L. C. Palmer, 1888; Volney Heath, 1889; Frank Boyer, 1891 ; O. J. Houton, 1892; W. A. Carpenter, 1895; Jacob McCrea, 1896; Frank Boyer, 1897; Lotton Kelly, 1914.
Evergreen Township.
Aaron Abbey, 1864; Mortimer Gilleo, 1865; Jonathan Forbes, 1866; Mortimer Gilleo, 1867; Thomas E. Dunn, 1868; Charles H. Stanton, 1870; John S. Maning. 1872; George Holland, 1873; John S. Maning, 1875; George Holland, 1876; Ephraim Follett, 1880; George Holland, 1886; Alan- son McComb. 1888; Ephraim Follett, 1888; Robert Evans, 1891; John F. Fumagan, 1898; Robert Evans, 1900; W. J. Stearns, 1901; Robert Evans, 1906; John H. Mitchell, 1913.
438
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
Fairplain Township.
Rufus K. Moore, 1850; Josiah Russell, 1851; Charles H. Miel, 1852; Mark Dibben, 1853; C. W. Miel, 1854; Daniel Fargo, 1855; Bradley, B. Crawford, 1856; Quartus Joslyn, 1857; Martin P. Follett, 1859; John D. Fargo, 1862; William M. Porter, 1867; Elijah Coffren, 1868; Henry Kent, 1870; John D. Fargo, 1872; Tyler M. Burley, 1873; James H. Moon, 1874; N. H. Evans, 1875; Henry Kent, 1878.
Ferris Township.
Peter Schlappie, 1857; Micijah Douglass, 1862; Egbert L. Heath, 1863; John D. Throop, 1865; Egbert L. Heath, 1866; Calvin M. Woodard, 1867; Egbert L. Heath, 1869; Calvin W. Dalloff, 1871; H. Douglass, 1873; Egbert L. Heath, 1874; O. F. Mason, 1876; Micajah Douglass, 1882; O. F. Mason, 1884; Thomas Wood, 1885: Frank A. Dyer, 1886; George Douglass, 1891 ; W. A. Mahie, 1893; E. O. Bellows, 1895; Grant Terwilliger, 1901; William Kirker, 1903; Alfred L. Stearns, 1906; James P. Throop, 1910; Alfred L. Stearns, 1911; C. L. Hicks, 1913.
Pine Township.
Joseph Wilcox, 1862; John E. Bloomburg, 1871; Zenas Briggs, 1872; Joseph Wilcox, 1875; William D. Bellows, 1878; Joseph Wilcox, 1880; Thomas K. Ward, 1882; C. J. Nielsen, 1888; Fred D. Briggs, 1889; William McHattie, 1895; L. B. Farnsworth, 1896; Lars Johnson, 1902; John Attnen, 1904; William McHattie, 1911; L. B. Farnsworth, 1914.
Home Township.
A. M. Volaker, 1879; Charles S. Knight, 1881; W. S. Whittlesey, 1886; F. H. Geiger, 1889; James K. Train, 1892: Charles E. Taylor, 1897; George Mathison, 1902; James K. Train, 1904; George A. Fournie, 1905; William V. Crockett, 1914.
Maple Valley Township.
Charles Parker, 1864; Philo B. Ingham, 1868; Henry Stamp, 1869: Samuel Wiseman. 1871; D. L. Shook, 1872; Charles Parker, 1873; A. C.
439
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Fisher, 1875; William Birkett, 1880; John S. Klock, 1881; Wesley L. Bur- nette, 1883; Thomas Kaine, 1884; R. M. Wright, 1885; Newton A. Porter, 1886; Frank Bailey, 1889; Thomas Kaine, 1891; Frank A. Bailey, 1902; George B. King, 1909; Frank Bailey, 1910; Van I. Reynolds, 1914.
Pierson Township.
M. C. Purdy, 1862; Henry M. Carpenter, 1864; O. A. Pierson, 1865; Henry M. Carpenter, 1866; James D. Parker, 1870; Joseph De Wolf, 1880; J. D. Pardee, 1888; J. R. De Wolf, 1889; S. B. Newcomb, 1897; A. S. McNoughton, 1899; Martin H. Holcomb, 1903; Franklin B. Henkel, 1908.
Douglass Township.
S. L. Smith. 1864; T. J. Scidmore, 1867; S. L. Smith, 1869; James Lee, 1871; S. L. Smith, 1872; Charles W. Bloomberg, 1873; Silas L. Smith, 1879; Charles Bloomberg, 1880; George Bucknell. 1882; Corydon Rice, 1886; George Buckrell, 1888; Edwin Porter, 1891; Charles W. Bloomberg, 1897; Edwin Porter, 1898; George Comden, 1914.
Montcalm Township.
Frederick W. Worden, 1845; Ananias Worden, 1846; Josiah Russell, 1847; Rosekrans Divine, 1849: Volney Belding, 1850; Elihu Burrington, 1851; W. T. Potter, 1853; Frank S. Peck, 1854; William T. Potter, 1856; Stephen Rossman, 1857; Newell J. Pratt, 1861; Daniel S. Smith, 1862; Thomas Spencer, 1864; Stephen Rossman, 1867; Frederick Spencer, 1870; Henry Smith, 1871; H. S. Sharpe. 1872; Horace J. Pixley, 1873; Isaac Underwood, 1879; Horace J. Pixley, 1880; Henry S. Sharp, 1912; Peter Nielson, 1913; Henry S. Sharpe, 1915.
Winfield Towmship.
Andrew J. Macomber, 1865; Eben R. Ellinwood, 1866; D. E. Knight. 1870; H. C. Smith, 1872; J. M. Dickerson, 1873; L. L. Church, 1880; Van S. Reynolds, 1891 ; J. W. Gaffield, 1892; L. L. Church, 1893; O. D. Wilson, 1896; B. L. Gaffield, 1898: A. B. Dickerson, 1901 ; Enoch C. Yanke, 1907; Frank P. Church, 1913.
440
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Sidney Township.
William F. Turner, 1871; Franklin H. French, 1875; Harvey W. Rill, 1876; Franklin H. French, 1877; William F. Turner, 1878; William Noah, 1881; John Green, 1884; J. Watson Courter, 1886; C. E. Wood, 1888; George Holland, 1893; A. B. Courter, 1913.
Richland Township.
Samuel Zink, 1879; J. W. Robinson, 1880; John E. Evans, 1884; Win- field S. Miner, 1886; C. M. Guild, 1888; I. M. Freeman, 1889; J. W. Nicker- son, 1892; I. M. Freeman, 1893; J. W. Nickerson, 1897; I. M. Freeman, 1899; J. E. Guyman, 1900; I. M. Freeman, 1902; George Gorsuch. 1908; William T. Fisk, 1909; Charles O. Sherwood, 1911.
Greenville, First Ward.
R. R. Robinson, 1879; John Avery, 1880; George B. Gibbs, 1893; L. E. Clark, 1896; L. E. Clark, 1899; R. H. Stevens, 1901 ; L. E. Clark, 1902; James Newton, 1904; Charles B. Rarden, 1905; William Ockerman, 1907; Jacob M. Parkhurst. 1910: James Gracey, 1912.
Greenville, Second Ward.
William Backus, 1879; Henry Seaman, 1881; Jefferson Potter, 1882; George W. Stevens, 1884; A. W. Nichols, 1888; C. F. Morgan, 1889; A. W. Nichols, 1891; W. W. Slawson, 1892; A. W. Nichols, 1893; A. H. Tibbits, 1895; J. L. Van Wormer, 1896; A. H. Tibbetts, 1897; A. W. Nichols, 1898; Jesse L. Van Wormer, 1905; Nichols A. W. 1907; Alex- ander E. Savage, 1911; John W. Finch, 1914.
Greenville, Third Ward.
L. W. Sprague, 1879; C. C. Coates, 1886; L. W. Sprague, 1887; N. G. Nelson, 1889; G. E. C. Wilson, 1894; E. D. Bradley, 1896; Paul E. Willey, 1898: Ed. D. Bradley, 1899; E. A. Kemp, 1901; L. W. Sprague, 1902; David Long Necker, 1906; Smith A. Booth, 1908; James B. Taylor, 1911; Wells Sprague, 1912; James Callaghan, 1914.
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Stanton, First Ward.
A. D. Forest Gardiner, 188t; H. H. Hinds, 1884; Asa Morse, 1885; Israel J. Lucas, 1886; Asa Morse, 1889; D. F. Tallman, 1891; I. J. Lucas, 1893; Asa Morse, 1895; I. J. Lucas, 1896; A. Biglow, 1897; I. J. Lucas, 1899; J. WV. Dasef. 1900; B. F. Cadwell, 1901; E. L. Camburn, 1903; I. J. Lucas, 1904; S. P'. Youngs, 1906; Wyllys R. Thomas, 1910; J. W. Nicker- son, 1912.
Stanton. Second Ward.
William F. Turner, 1881 ; James D. Baker, 1886; Daniel Easterbrooks, 1888; Franck French, 1889: E. D. Childs, 1991; William H. Turner. 1895; Z. E. Briggs, 1896; William F. Turner, 1897; Z. E. Briggs. 1898; William Willett, 1899; C. W. French, 1901 ; J. S. Holcomb, 1902; R. Arthur Car- others, 1909; Jesse H. Holcomb, 1913; S. P. Youngs, 1914.
Stanton, Third Ward.
Eliah Eply, 1896; Robert C. Dales, 1897; N. E. Backman, 1899; Robert C. Dales, 1904; R. L .. Bentley, 1906.
POPULATION.
The high water mark in the population of Montcalm county was reached in 1884 when the population of the county was 35,356. Before that date the population had risen continuously and steadily from 891 in 1850 to 2,056 in 1854: 3,968 in 1860; 5,629 in 1864; 13,629 in 1870; 20,815 in 1874; and 33,148 in 1880. Since 1884, there has been a slight decline in the population of the county from year to year. The population fell off from 35.356 in 1884 to 32,637 in 1890 and increased again to 34,158 in 1894. In 1900, it had fallen off to 32.754 and during the next four years increased slightly to 33,260. The population according to the census of 1910 was 32,069.
TAXES.
The taxable property in Montcalm county in 1911 as equalized by the state board of equalization was $17,000,000 and this represented an increase of $3,000,000 over the valuation of all taxable property as equalized by the
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
state board of equalization in 1906. The aggregate state tax paid by Mont- calm county in 1912 was $40,511.03.
of Montcalm county in 1915 is given in the Edmore Times as follows : The total state and county tax paid by each of the several townships
County Tax.
5,852.81 $ 2,151.71
3,254.66 4,242.03 3,330.59
3,261.42
2,151.7I
2,295.14
2,826.3.4
2,075.45
3,082.10
2,264.65
3.442.79
3,311.63 4.019.24
2,688.62
2,134.47
2,154.80
3,049.31 1,803.29
2,655.83
8.944.95
1,327.81
$71.642.71
State Tax.
6,243.06 $ 2,295.14
4,524.86 - 3,552.74
3,471.64
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Township.
Belvidere
Bloomer
Bushnell
Cato
Day
Douglass
Evergreen Eureka
Fairplain
Ferris
Maple Valley Home
Montcalm
Pierson
Reynolds Pine
Richland
Sidney
Winfield
Greenville
Total
Stanton
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2.520.60 3,104.66 3.768.02 3,227.61 2,123.12 2,889.47 1,945.75 2,649.70
2,020.15 2,001.09
2,489.86 2,858.74 1,690.62
1,244.89 8,385.79
$67.165.00
442
Crystal
3,478.86
CHAPTER XXXIV.
INDUSTRIES OF MONTCALM COUNTY.
Among the larger industrial enterprises of Montcalm county are the Gibson Refrigerator Company, of Greenville; the Ranney Refrigerator Com- pany, of Greenville; the R. J. Tower Iron Works, of Greenville; the W. R. Roach Company, of Edmore; the Moore Plow and Implement Company, of Greenville; the L. Barber Company, of Edmore; the Rockafellow Grain Company, of Carson City ; Frank H. Miner's cheese factory at Carson City, and the various flour-mills of the county.
The Gibson Refrigerator Company, of Greenville, was organized on November 2, 1908, with the following men as officers: Frank S. Gibson, president ; John Lewis, vice-president and general manager; John J. Foster, secretary; Cass T. Wright, treasurer. The directors included besides the officers, Walter C. Winchester, of Grand Rapids; Otis A. Felger, of Grand Rapids, and William C. Grobhiser, of Sturgis. The present officers and directors are the same as the original ones except that Charles J. Gibson has replaced John J. Foster as secretary. The Gibson Refrigerator Company is capitalized at $roo,ooo and does an annual business of more than one- half million dollars. The refrigerator manufactured is strictly a high-grade article and has met with such genuine approval that it has been necessary constantly to increase the output of the plant.
The Gibson Refrigerator Company has two of the largest warehouses for the storage of refrigerators in the world. Besides its large domestic business, it has an exceptionally good export business, and has introduced refrigerators into many foreign countries where refrigerators were thereto- fore unheard of.
The Ranney Refrigerator Company is the largest exclusive manufac- turer of refrigerators in the United States. It was incorporated on October 5. 1892, with a capital of $35,000, by F. E. Ranney, C. T. Ranney, F. A. Lamb, R. F. Sprague, W. D. Johnson, C. W. Johnson, C. Jesse Church, Cass T. Wright. Eugene Rutan, Charles F. Morgan, James Gault, T. J. Phillips, W. A. Hall, William W. Slawson and D. K. Beach. The present officers are F. E. Ranney, president; C. T. Ranney, vice-president; John Lewis,
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
secretary; W. S. Cutler, assistant secretary and W. D. Johnson, treasurer. Besides the factory at Greenville, the company also operates a plant at Beld- ing. The Greenville plant covers something more than 150,000 square feet of floor space and is lighted from a plant owned by the company. The annual sales of the company now amount to nearly a million dollars. In addition to their factory proper, the company operates its own saw-mills and carries in stock a large amount of lumber at all times. Besides all this, the company owns a great many private cars in which the output is shipped to distant points. The company manufactures several different lines of refrigerators and considerably more than one hundred styles. The com- pany maintains branch offices at New York City, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Chicago, Illinois.
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