USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 16
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THE HOFSTRA BLOCK is an elegant three-story brick structure, on Western avenue and
THE PRICE CLOTHING
MANN & PIERCER
C.LNICHOLS
HOUSE
HOUSE
HOUSE
HOLT'S BLOCK.
facture to order. In manufacturing clothing to order numerous hands are employed, enabling the firm to turn out suits of clothing on short notice. As the business of Muskegon is largely the manu- facture of lumber, necessitating from its handling in getting out the logs in the woods in winter, in their being run down the river, rafted to and sawed up in the mills in summer, the 'wear and tear' of quantities of clothing, bedding, blankets, mittens, etc., this firm keeps in stock and are prepared to furnish these goods in quantities to lumbermen at jobbers' prices.
HOLT'S BLOCK.
Holt's Block was built in the Spring of 1877 by the owner, Henry H. Holt, occupying lot 3 of block 65 of the city of Muske- gon, and having a frontage of sixty-six feet on Western Avenue. Mann & Pierce occupy the double store, No. 111 Western Avenue, of the main floor for their clothing, tobacco and cigar store, and Wm. Keck occupies No. 115 Western Avenue for his jewelry store.
Pine street, built in 1875, by S. A. Hofstra, and occupied by Arling- ton House, late the Hofstra House, and by Hofstra's grocery. The contractor was the late Wm. Lee, the architect Mr. VanZallinger. Mr. Hofstra was born in Holland in 1830, came out in 1858, was many years in Grand Rapids in bakery business, and has by careful industry secured quite a competence. He was elected City Treas- urer by a large majority in 1882.
TEMPERANCE REFORM OPERA HOUSE.
The Opera House building-the real name being Temperance Hall-is the proud result of a stock company which came to organ- ize in the following way: Muskegon being a lumbering and pioneer town, naturally regarded its morals less than its money, and intem- perance became a fearful scourge to the people. In the beginning of the year 1877 the wave of temperance revival struck Muskegon with great force under the leadership of one Dr. Reynolds, himself a reformed man and an eloquent apostle. This man, filled with the
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68
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
zeal of his own " new birth," aroused the city and surrounding country to a sense of their condition and dreadful threatening. Such crowds assembled and such interest was excited that the need of some regular and free place for meetings was soon developed. Temperance was the thought and prayer and action of the hour. Wives and sisters added their organizations and labors to the new and passionate interest. Temperance was business.
In March of the same year a meeting of the Temperance Re- form Association was called to organize the above stock company. Between four and five hundred takers were readily found. Each share was five dollars. The highest taken was for fifty shares. The motive was not speculation, but reform.
Among the first officers of the Association occur the names of I. O. Smith, C. C. Billinghurst, Chas. H. Hackley, Dr. W. B. Mor- rison, Patrick A. Ducey, David McLaughlin and others. The clergy were all enlisted-till, indeed, religion and temperance were lost each in the other, temperance rather taking the lead for the time.
In the Spring of 1882, after creating quite a revival in White- hall, Mr. Woodford, a lecturer from Illinois, came down to Muske- gon and succeeded in doing the same in Muskegon.
The Reform Club, in December, 1881, elected the following officers :
President, A. G. Jepson; First Vice President, J. T. McComb; Second Vice President, W. B. Kieft; Third Vice President, P. J. Connolly; Recording Secretary, P. J. Connell; Financial Secretary, D. A. Wicks; Treasurer, M. F. Reed; Steward, Wm. Moulton; Marshal, John Curray; Sergeant-at-Arms, Thomas Millen.
MASON'S BLOCK,
of which we insert a fine illustration, is situated on West- ern Avenue, Muskegon's main thoroughfare, and First Street, hav- ing a frontage of 132 feet on each. It was erected in 1875-6, and is the most notable, as it is the most central, business structure in
.
MASON'S BLOCK.
THE OPERA HOUSE BUILDING.
This building is of solid brick, sixty-six by one hundred and thirty-two feet. The time of erection was one year and a half. It is situated in the center of the city on Western Avenue, the main business street. Its Opera Hall is its chief beauty, being one of the finest in the State of Michigan. Its seating is in amphitheater style, and accommodates comfortably one thousand persons. It is in much use by the best troupes traveling, the Muskegon commun- ity being much given in these latter days to amusement and culture. The ceiling of this room is handsomely frescoed and decorated with life-size figures of historic import. The stage is furnished with ex- cellent shifting scenery, the front curtain showing an immense and striking painting representing life in its reckless voyage. The room is brilliantly illuminated with gas, which is lighted by an electrical apparatus, and contains two galleries.
There has been organized since 1876 a Women's Christian Temperance Union, Mrs. A. P. Miner being the first President.
In 1881 a lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars was organized, and the first Worthy Chief was Patrick Connell, who is also Chief Templar of the district.
the city. The material is a beautiful cream-tinted brick, with cut stone trimmings, the show windows being of heavy plate glass. It is a thoroughly built and modern improved affair, and its stores and offices are occupied by the leading firms in representative lines of trade, and by prominent attorneys, physicians, insurance agencies, etc. The Western Union Telegraph Office, United States Signal Ser- vice Station, United States Custom House and Muskegon Telephone Exchange are included among the tenants of this fine block. "Mason's Hall," having a seating capacity of 600, is a well-arranged and ac- cessible auditorium, occupying the eastern portion of the third floor. The hall is well equipped with an excellent stage, scenery, foot-lights, etc., and like the entire building, is lighted with gas.
J. H. LANDRETH'S BLOCK.
The above named gentleman came to Muskegon in 1867, estab- lishing in connection with George Hubbard their extensive hard- ware house of Landreth & Hubbard, which was located on the cor- ner where now stands the three story brick building now known as the Landreth Block. Owing to the continued ill health of Mr.
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
Landreth, who was business manager, and after a prosperous busi- ness of three years, the firm closed out their goods to E. B. Mather. The building is 45x100 ft., three stories high above a fine basement. The second floor is fitted for and is occupied by offices of lawyers, doctors, etc. The third floor was leased for ten years to the Masonic fraternity, which body have fitted it up sumptuously and made it one of the finest society halls in Michigan. In Landreth's block, among other extensive business establishments, is that of D. & M. Hirschfield's
PEOPLE'S CLOTHING HOUSE,
which was established March, 1878. This firm deals in gents' fur- nishings, hats, caps, and all the goods usually kept in that line. They keep a large stock and do a good trade. They have three
The block is located on Western Avenue between First and Jeffer- son streets and is an ornament to its locality.
MUSKEGON NATIONAL BANK BLOCK.
We present on page 73 a fine illustration of this block, the finest in the city, erected at a cost of over $60,000. It is situated on the corner of Western Avenue and First street. The history of the bank will be found on page 35.
MUSKEGON'S FIRST MAYOR.
HON. CHAUNCEY DAVIS. The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., March 15, 1812, of English parentage, his
LANDRETH'S BLOCK.
branch establishments, viz: at Eau Claire, Wis., Coldwater, Mich., and at Muskegon, with wholesale manufacturing depot at Bufialo, N. Y. M. Hirschfield is a cousin of the senior member of the firm, and came in 1881.
MERRILL & BOLZA'S BLOCK.
The fine business block shown in the illustration below is the property of E. W. Merrill and A. Bolza and was erected in 1872-3, at a cost, including the lot, of about $18,000. It is a substantial brick building and has a frontage of forty-four feet and is eighty- five feet deep and three stories high. The two store rooms on the first floor are commodious and well lighted, and are occupied, the one on the right by A. Bolza for his jewelry and book store, and the one on the left by C. L. Dearborn's boot and shoe store. The two-story building at the right is the property of E. W. Merrill and is occupied by the extensive hardware store of Powell & Hovey.
great grandparents coming to America from England. His father, Jacob Davis, at the age of eighteen married Julia :Stockwell, of Hillsdale, Vermont, and together they removed to the then wild and unsettled frontier of New York, where they encountered the priva- tions incident to life in a new country. Seven children, six sons and one daughter, were born to them, and survived to adult age, the subject of this sketch being the fourth. When Chauncey was 17 years of age his father died, and three years later he was left motherless, and was thus compelled to look out for himself. Up to this time he had been employed at farm labor, varying it a few sea- sons in the manufacture of potash. At twenty he began teaching school, and taught four winter terms and one summer term of four months each. His early educational facilities were such as the com- mon schools and the Watertown Academy afforded at that time. He also received much aid from his home studies and from practice in lyceums, thus laying the foundation for a successful public career. In 1835 he prepared to make a permanent settlement and home
70
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
6
near Theresa, N. Y., by clearing up and cultivating land purchased for the purpose, but his plans were suddenly changed by information received that a brother who had located at Chicago was sick and needed help. The long and tedious journey, then requiring seven- teen days, was at once undertaken by Chauncey, but on his arrival in Chicago he learned that his brother had so far recovered from his serious illness that he had started home and was then on the way. Chauncey remained two weeks in Chicago in the employ of Kimball & Porter, and then made a trip to what is now Kenosha, Wisconsin, where an association known as the Western Emigration
the squatters to retain their lands against would be purchasers. The squatters were the victors and succeeded in obtaining title to their lands at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre. Mr. Davis purchased 320 acres, and this, with improvements made upon it and a house built upon lots in Kenosha, all valued at about $5,000, con- stituted the principal means at his command at that time.
Business becoming dull at Kenosha, he removed to Muskegon in April, 1848, and opened a supply store for the sale of dry goods, groceries, provisions, etc., and engaged in the purchase and ship- ment of lumber, timber and shingles. In 1850 he formed a copart-
& BOLZA BLOCK
POWELL &HOVE Y
HARDWARE.
A.BOLZA
MERRILL & BOLZA BLOCK
Company had made claims upon Government lands with a view of securing preemption rights, and indulging the hope that Kenosha was to be the future seat of empire. Mr. Davis having some gen- eral knowledge of carpentry, concluded to yield to the requests of those needing building done and went into house building and con- tinued at it for some twelve and a half years. While a citizen of Kenosha he took active interest in public improvements, and built the first school house in the neighborhood, and also aided in build- ing nearly all the churches. He was for several years one of the vestrymen of the Episcopal church, and was chosen a trustee of the first village board. He also filled the offices of assessor and super- visor and for one term filled the responsible office of Sergeant-at- Arms of the Assembly at Madison. He was prominently identified with the society of Odd Fellows, and was chosen presiding officer of both the lodge and encampment and was elected representative to the grand lodge. In 1839 he was a participant in the struggles of
nership with Theodore Newell and A. D. Loomis for the purpose of manufacturing and buying lumber at Muskegon and selling the pro- duct at Chicago and Kenosha. The Muskegon branch of the co- partnership was known as C. Davis & Co., and the Chicago and Kenosha branch as T. Newell & Co., and a lumber yard was estab- lished in Chicago in the spring of 1850. In 1853 the steam mill of C. Davis & Co., was built at Muskegon, and commenced operating about the 17th of August of that year. The business continued with the partners named until April, 1863, when Judge Newell sold his entire interest in the Muskegon and Chicago business to Davis & Loomis, who continued to do business together till May, 1877, when Mr. Davis demanded a dissolution, and the property of the firm was turned over to him. It was found that Loomis had used up all he put into the business, capital and profits, and had besides accumulated a large indebtedness in the firm name, which was left for Davis to pay. The lumber yard in Chicago was sold out in
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
71
August, 1877, and the mill at Muskegon in October, 1880, and Mr. Davis then retired from the lumbering business.
In the development of the city of Muskegon Mr. Davis took a prominent part and contributed as much to its permanent prosperi- ty as any one of her citizens. He superintended the building of the first school house in the city in 1849. The building was occupied for a number of years for school purposes as well as for religious and other public meetings 'and for elections. It was finally de- stroyed in the great fire of 1874. To the various churches of the city he has always been a liberal contributor. A careful estimate shows that his contributions for church buildings, services and ex-
in the Muskegon Booming Company, and was chosen a director at its organization and was elected its first President in March, 1864, and thus gave much attention to the general interests of the com- pany.
In 1860 he was elected to represent Muskegon County in the State House of Representatives, and was reelected in 1862, thus serving through the stormy period of the war. He served on the military and public lands committees during the first term, and the second was chairman of the ways and means committee, and was also on the military committee. In 1860, at the first election un- der the city charter he was elected Mayor of the city of Muskegon,
OPERA
HOUSE
MECARTY &YORK. m
OPERA HOUSE BUILDING.
penses since 1864 foot up a total of over $10,000. He was also ac- tively identified with the development of the county and took a leading part in securing the legislation organizing Muskegon County in 1849, and providing for roads and bridges in this then undevel- oped region. His personal contributions for the construction of railroads, including subscriptions for stock, donations, expenses, etc., and for public halls and educational purposes amount to about $10,000 over and above all legal assessments and taxes for such purposes, and to this may be added $8,000 for losses and claims against the State for advances on the Muskegon improvements, and $65,000 for contributions to numerous benevolent enterprises, thus making a grand total of nearly $100,000 contributed to the public good. Mr. Davis aided in the organization of the Lumber- men's Association in 1852, and in the reorganization in 1856-7; he was named as one of the commissioners for making surveys, plans, etc., for the Muskegon River improvement, and was a stockholder
and in 1871 was reelected by a large Democratic majority in the city. Mr. Davis was an extensive stockholder in the old Muskegon & Ferrysburg railroad, and was elected a director aud chosen Presi- dent of the road, a position he held till the consolidation of the road with the G. H. & Holland and Allegan & Holland roads. He was also a director and committee on right of way and damages on the Grand Rapids & Lake Shore, Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore, and the Muskegon & Big Rapids railroads, besides having much to do with other proposed railroads.
At the organization of the Lumberman's National Bank in 1873 Mr. Davis was elected its President and visited Washington to secure a charter and currency, and he has been reelected at each an- nual election since. In 1875 he was selected by Mayor Wagner as the most suitable person to place the $160,000 water works bonds of the city, a duty which he undertook and successfully ac- complished, though under many disadvantages.
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
Politically Mr. Davis was a Democrat till the organization of the Republican party, when he became an active supporter of the principles of the Republican party. While a member of the Legis- lature he supported Hon. Jacob M. Howard for the U. S. Senate to succeed Senator Bingham, and also helped to elect Senator Chand- ler for the full term. As a citizen and representative he urged the liberal and important measures for aiding the government in the vigorous prosecution of the war against the rebellion. In 1876 Mr. Davis was chosen as alternate delegate to the Cincinnati Conven- tion which nominated R. B. Hayes for the Presidency. He has several times been tendered the nomination to tho State Senate, and has been urgently requested to be a candidate for Congressional honors, but has always preferred private life, and has, therefore, per- sistently refused to accept proffered offices.
Mr. Davis has been married three times, first in 1850 and again in 1853, and 1859, the last time, to Miss Julia Wheeler, danghter of Rev. Thomas Wheeler, now of this city. His last wife died in 1861, since which time he has walked life's pathway alone. He has had but one child born to him, a daughter by his second wife, but she died in 1864 at the age of ten years.
SOME OF THE PIONEERS.
In this connection we give biographical notices of some of Mus- kegon's prominent pioneers. Others will be found referred to under other headings, such as the Press, Sawmilling, etc .:
HENRY BRASTED, whose widow still conducts the livery business, was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., May 7th, 1820, where he resided until he was about six years of age. He then removed with his rel- atives to the State of Pennsylvania. There he grew to manhood, and at the age of 22 years he struck out westward to what were then the wilds of Michigan. In the year 1847 he removed to the State of Illinois, where he soon afterwards became acquainted and married Harriet A. Luther, the estimable lady who now mourns his loss. Soon after this, with his then young wife, he returned to Michigan and settled at Spring Lake in Ottawa County. There they resided six years in which sorrow was blended with joy, for they had and buried there, two children. For a while they resided at Grand Haven, and in 1863 they removed to Muskegon. At first Mr. Brasted was engaged in the milling business, but in 1869 he established a livery stable, which business he conducted successfully until his death. He operated the first steam ferry boat on our lake, and brought the ministers from Grand Haven who officiated at the laying of the foundation stone of the M. E. Church at Muskegon. He was affectionate in his family, honorable in his business trans- actions, and his loss is deeply felt by his widow, daughter and two sons, who survive him. Funeral services were conducted, very im- pressively, by Rev. David Engle at the Methodist Church. His sud- den demise was caused by congestion.
HENRY D. BAKER, one of the prominent and successful business men of Muskegon, was born in Holland. At twenty-one years of age he told his mother that he was going to travel due west until he came east. Landing in New York he went on to Detroit, but not liking the appearance of that city he took by chance the train to Chicago. Still bound to travel as long as his money lasted, he stepped on board a steamer which brought him to Grand Haven, and thence he went to Grand Rapids, where, being nearly at the bottom of his purse, he went to work keeping grocery until the war, when he enlisted in Co. K, 1st Engineers and Mechanics, in 1862, in the Army of the Cumberland; he was wounded in the right foot at Stone River, and lay seven months inthe hospital.
On January 4, 1864, he established his book and stationery
business, which is now very extensive in every branch, his reputa- tion as a shrewd buyer and liberal dealer having extended far beyond the limits of this city.
People thought him rash when he put up the first three story brick building with the first plate glass window ever put up in Muskegon, but his enterprise has been rewarded. He was burned out April 6, 1870, but rebuilt grander than ever.
He married June 19, 1855, Miss Harriet Lewes, of Grand Rap- ids, who emigrated when a child with her parents, who were of Van Raalte's immigrants to Holland City. Their union has been blessed with two children.
WM M. HARFORD, representative of Muskegon County in the State Legislature, was born in Holmes County, O., Feb. 15, 1842. For the first seventeen years of his life he attended school in the winters and worked on the farm in summers. In 1859 he entered Spring Mountain Academy and remained one year, and until 1863 was engaged in teaching in winter and farming in summer. He then took a course in the Ohio Wesleyan University, finishing in 1868, when he was elected Superintendent of schools in West Jef- ferson, O. Next year he was elected to a similar position at Waynesville, which he had four years, and while there he married Ella A., daughter of Dr. Dakin, of Wilmington. After holding the Superintendency of the London schools, he resigned to enter into journalism in Oct. 1875, and with Capt. Grove purchased the Fre- mont Journal, and shortly after assumed full editorial control of that paper as well as that of the Parents and Teachers Monthly, and during this period, as ever since, he took an acting and leading part in the advocacy of republican principles. In Feb. 1878, he pur- chased the Muskegon Chronicle in connection with Capt. Grove, converting it into a daily, which has met with flattering success. In the city of Muskegon, which is usually Democratic, he received a majority of 460, and in the county a majority of 1,016. He is a member of several important committees. He sold the Chronicle in 1881 to engage in stone business, the quarry of the firm, Wing, Morgan & Harford, being on Washington Island, Wis.
LAWRENCE POPPE is one of the earliest German settlers of Mus- kegon. Mr. Poppe was born in Prussia in 1834 and came to this country in 1853. In August, 1854, he landed in Muskegon, at that time a small but active and growing lumbering town. He at once secured work at a saw mill and continued at that kind of work until 1868, when, having by industry and prudence accumulated quite a capital, he opened a meat market in which business he still contin- ues. Mr. Poppe is an excellent representative of the German- American citizens.
Among the pioneers may be reckoned Alderman WM. GLUE, born in Yorkshire, Eng., in 1826, came to Muskegon June, 1853, crossing the lake on the little craft Muskegon, Capt. Schooler, worked for Newell & Co., Ryerson & Morris, and with Bushnell & Reid carried on the old "Turnbull" mill as W. Glue & Co., until burned out. He has been many years on the school board, and has been twelve years in the council, being the oldest member of the board, and was also mayor for one year.
CHAS. H. HACKLEY, of the firm of C. H. Hackley & Co., is one of the pioneer lumbermen of Muskegon. Mr. Hackley was born in Michigan City, Ind., in 1837. His father, J. H. Hackley, was a native of New York State, and came to Muskegon in 1855. A year later Mr. Chas. Hackley arrived and engaged in the lumber business with his father, the firm being J. H. Hackley & Co., and later Hackley & Sons. The firm of J. H. Hackley & Co. began in 1859, and purchased a mill near where the mill of C. H. Hackley & Co. now stands. J. H. Hackley died in 1874, and the firm name changed to C. H. Hackley & Co. Mr. Chas. H. Hackley has been continuously in the lumber business in Muskegon since 1856. He
Cap J.g. Rand
Mrs Sarah G. Rands
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CAPTAIN THOMAS J. RAND, late of Muskegon, is one of those prominently identified with the progress of the city, and whose memory is still cherished by a large circle of friends. He was born in Charleston, Essex County, Mass., in 1806. At an early age he had the misfortune to lose his mother, and then a kind step-mother, and finally at the tender age of eleven, he was left an orphan by the death of his father and his second step-mother. He was the eldest of six children. He was then placed as errand boy in a large ship- ping house in Boston, and during an apprenticeship of four years, laid the foundation of those business qualifications which were so useful during his long and busy life. When fifteen years old, from a desire to become acquainted with the sea, he shipped as cabin boy on an East India merchantman, followed the sea for seven years and saw many foreign lands. By the faithful performance of duty he rose from before the mast to the position of Captain at the early age of 25, and became also, by virtue of some speculations he had been permitted to make, part owner of the vessel which was of one thousand tons burden. Most of the time, owing to his knowledge and strict business habits, he was supercargo of the vessel. He be- came, through his voyages, a man of extensive information, and was a very interesting companion in conversation. Intelligent and gentlemanly, kind and affectionate in disposition, he was in turn loved and respected by all, particularly by the children who came
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