USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 32
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
The school building is of brick, 76x76 feet, and cost $14,000 being two stories and a basement, and is considered the cheapest building in the State for the money. Hon. C. C. Thompson took a great deal of pains when director to see that it was well and prop-
130
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
erly built, and A. C. Elsworth who was also on the Board and had been a former principal, deserves great credit for the part he took in getting plans and selling the bonds.
PROF. ASA W. SLAYTON, principal of the Whitehall schools, is a model of what a real teacher should be, and never allows extra labor or expense to deter him from doing what he considers neces- sary to the success of his school. He is of a most ingenious mechanical disposition and has constructed a variety of useful scien- tific apparatus with his own hands, and his cases of specimens are well worthy of inspection. He has a kindly and conscientious man- ner of teaching which endears him to all those under his charge. He has been in Whitehall since 1876, and has over 30 years expe- rience as a teacher in Michigan.
SAWMILLS.
One great feature of Whitehall is its sawmills, which has been treated of under the heading of White Lake Sawmills on page 29. The history of how the Mears and the Daltons commenced saw- milling, and were followed by the Ferrys, Carletons, Alleys, Covells, Thompson, Lewis and others will be found interesting reading in the same place. Suffice it to say that Whitehall has the following saw- mills: Staples & Covell's; A. J. & C. E. Covell's, Alley & Co's, and Wilcox & Co's. Also the following shingle and planing mills: The Whitehall Manufacturing Co., Norris, Johnson & Miller's, Linder- man's, and Nufer & Carleton's.
SOCIETIES.
The chief societies in Whitehall are the Masonic, of which there is one lodge with some prospect of Royal Arch Chapter, the Knights and the Ladies of Honor, the temperance societies and some others. There was once a flourishing Lodge of Oddfellows, but it is now defunct, and the Knights of Honor use their Hall. When they disbanded they had over $200 in their treasury. In 1875 we learn that A. Mears as D. D. G. M., installed C. A. Oco- bock as N. G., T. Dawson as V. G., L. L. Marble secretary, and J. W. Ocobock treasurer.
The Good Templars were organized in 1866 and lasted for sev- eral years. This society has experienced great fluctuations.
MASONIC.
This benevolent and social organization is in a flourishing state, and they now hold their communications and celebrate their mystic rites in a fine hall over Covell's block, having removed thither from the hall over Baker's Drug Store, in the fall of 1881. Beside spac- ious ante-rooms, there are lodge rooms for the projected Chapter and the Blue Lodge, and they are fitted up in a very creditable manner. The Lodge is No. 310 of the Grand Registry of Michigan, and was instituted Oct. 10, 1872, being an offshoot from the Montague Lodge, of which all the charter members of No. 310 were members. The charter members were John Welch, C. C. Thompson, Ambrose Hood, H. E. Staples, E. Milhouse, Thomas Bennett, K. F. Morse, G. F. Goodrich, C. E. Covell, W. P. Utley, and James M. Allrick.
The first Master and Wardens were: H. E. Staples, W. M .; K. F. Morse, S. W .; and C. E. Covell, J. W. W. Bro. H. E. Staples "presided o'er the sons of light " until St. John the Baptist's festi- val, June 24, 1875, when C. E. Covell was elected and held com- mand until December 18, 1876, when H. E. Staples was re-elected. In December 27, 1878, K. F. Morse was Master, next H. E. Staples was re-elected, and in December, 1880, K. F. Morse was chosen Master. For 1882 the officers are K. F. Morse, W. M .; G. G. Delong, S. W .; E. H. Hinchman, J. W .; H. E. Staples, Treas- urer, H. Dudley Johnston, Secretary; George Ocobock, S. D .; A. Hood, J. D .; and C. W. Mckenzie, tyler.
The lodge is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of over fifty, and meets on the Monday before full moon of each month.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION was organized Jan. 25, 1876, with C. W. Redfern as President; K. F. Morse, Secreta- ry; and J. J. Gee, as Vice President, and for a time it was quite ac- tive. It is now rather dormant. H. A. Spink is President; A. L. Dickinson, Secretary, and F. Glazier, Treasurer.
THE SCANDINAVIAN AID SOCIETY was instituted in 1876. The order is a benevolent and social one. Dues, 25 cents monthly, and initiation fee $200. Ole T. Oleson was was the first President, and has been Secretary. There are over 40 members.
THE ROYAL TEMPLARS OF TEMPERANCE were organized March 4, 1880, with a membership of 29. The order originated in Buffalo, N. Y. The first select Councillor was G. J. Moog, first Secretary, G. H. Nelson; first Vice Councillor, John Michener; first Treasur- er, H. Zeller; first Past Councillor, L. Richards. They meet in Mears' hall on every alternate Friday.
THE KNIGHTS OF HONOR is a very large and popular benevolent society and was organized here Aug. 22, 1877, as White River Lodge, with the Hon. G. M. Smith as First Past Dictator. Mr. Smith shortly after died, and in thirty days his widow received $2,000.
THE KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF HONOR is also an associate branch of the Knights.
THE CHURCHES.
The churches of Whitehall are chiefly on one street and are built of wood. They are the Congregational, Episcopal, Episcopal and Wesleyan Methodist, Baptist (without a pastor), Swedish and Norwegian.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The first organization as a church was effected by the Congre- gationalists. Albert Mears and Stephen C. Hall, now of Muske- gon, having met with the Rev. P. R. Van Frank, an aged and retired Congregational Minister, who lived on a farm at "the open- ings," now Mr. Baron's in Whitehall Township, conceived the idea that it would be a good idea to have divine services in the then thinly populated neighborhood, and having urged Mr. Van Frank to come down and preach to them, he accepted and for two years until his death, faithfully labored in the Master's vineyard. The first members of the church were A. Mears and wife, a Mr. Mickel- son and wife, and Moses and S. C. Hall, then unmarried men. The meetings were held in an old log house, since removed to make way for Mears' barn. This log structure was one of the historic land- marks of Whitehall, as it was long used for meeting and was the only church and opera house for miles around. The first district school was held within its time-hallowed walls. Meetings of the Congregationalists were held here for some time, until a feeling arose for some finer temple of worship, and the result was that in 1872 the fine wooden edifice on the corner of Spring and Division street was erected. The organization was effected by the labors of a clever man, the Rev. J. G. Schaefer, who added to his duties that of editor of the Forum which latter office led him into some trouble. Mr. VanFrank has left a son William who still lives in Montague township and operates in lumber.
We give the names of most of the ministers with the dates of their appointment, Van Frank in 1863, Giddings in 1869, Schaefer 1871, St. Clair in 1868, Watts, Brown in 1875, Barker, Waters, Bartlett in 1881.
The present edifice on the corner of Division and Spring streets
WHITEHALL GRADED SCHOOL, ERECTED 1878
WUTT
131
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
was dedicated to divine service on Sunday, December, 1874, preach- ing morning and evening by Rev. I. E. Ror, D. D., of Chicago. Union services were held on the three previous days. The trustees were L. T. Covell, John Lewis, E. Vincent, W. P. Utley, F. H. Sturtevant, and Harlow Ruggles. Treasurer, J. W. Ocobock; clerk George Moog.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church like the others was a gradual growth, the nucleus being a few families of that denomination that successively came in. The church which is a neat wooden structure is on Division street not far from Colby. The present rector is Rev. E. J. Babcock, whose ministrations are very acceptable and who is noted for the manliness of his utterances. The church is named the Church of the Redeemer.
From the records in the hands of the obliging secretary, Hon. C. C. Thompson we glean that on April 1, 1872, about the first annual meeting was held at which the following were elected vestry men : Hon. C. C. Thompson, B. F. Treat, G. M. Smith, Jos. Hutty, Jos. Heald, E. C. Dicey and W. H. Parks, of whom the first named was chairman, Mr. Dicey, secretary, Mr. Hutty senior warden. It was resolved to call the Rev. Wm. Thorp at $600 stipend in addi- tion to the missionary stipend. In September following, owing to resignations P. S. Cohn was elected Junior Warden and I. M. Wes- ton vestryman. In June, 1875, Thos. Woodhams was elected Sen- ior Warden, vice Park removed, and A. Mears vestryman, vice E. C. Dicey removed.
Rev. Mr. Thorp having resigned after about a year's ministra- tion, the church was temporarily served, until the call to Rev. Robt. Wood in June, 1875, who remained four years, and who was suc- ceeded by the present incumbent in 1879. Mr. C. C. Thompson has acted as secretary since 1875. For 1882 the officials are Thos. Woodhams, Senior Warden; Jos. Webster, Junior Warden; B. F. Weston, Treasurer; C. C. Thompson, Secretary; H. D. Linsley, Sex- · ton.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was begun about 27 years ago, by Elder Charles Chick, with about 17 worshipers, in Hobler's Hall, on Colby street. It was a mission station but shortly after became self-sustaining. The first year the parsonage on Slocum street was commenced, and finished the second year; value at present $1,200. The third year a church building was commenced on Division street, and dedicated and the debt was all provided for. The membership is about 75. Elder Chick did much of the work with his own hands. The Sunday School has over 100 pupils and about 20 teachers.
THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH
is a neat wooden structure, the erection of which was com- menced in December, 1869. It is situated on Division street to the west of the other churches.
THE POST OFFICE
was established in 1862, Albert Mears, the first postmaster, holding the office for four years; next Wm. Simons, four months. Then followed Clark Parks, J. D. Sturtevant and P. I. Hedges; the last holding it four and a half years. Then February, 1879, the Hon. C. C. Thompson was appointed, and still holds the office to the satisfaction of all. The office was twice burned, first during Hedges' term, and next in 1881, but the contents were all saved. The first communication was by the White River postoffice, which received mail once a week.
The post-office is now centrally located in the rear of Covell's Block, after having been held for a few months in the front of the same building after the last great fire of July, 1881.
HOTELS.
Peter Hobler moved the first hotel from Hard Landing in 1862, known as the Union Hotel. Sold to Charles Cook in 1867, but in 1869 Hobler took it again, but it was afterwards burned down.
Next A. A. Cain moved the Cosmopolitan from "The Mouth," in 1865, and it was kept successively by himself, Wm. Sprigg, Wm. Simons, John Simons, J. T. Spearman, M. Dodge & Son, (1871-4), and H. Harwood, under whom it was burned in the great fire of 1881.
The old Mears House was built by John Gustavus.
In 1881 there were two hotels, the Cosmopolitan, kept by Messrs. Harwood, and the Mears House by Col. T. S. Watson. They were both below the tunnel and vanished in smoke in the great fire of July, 1881, and the village was without a hotel, private houses were thrown open by the hospitality of their owners, and the Franklin House in Montague was full to overflowing. The first to open a hotel was Mr. Watson, in the large building formerly oc- cupied by the Forum, which was altered by the proprietor, Albert Mears, into a commodious hotel of three stories, and on an adjoin- ing lot a large addition is being made. This is a well kept first- class house.
Messrs. Harwood have also built a large veneered brick build- ing just below the town, in which they have a large amount of room. This is also an excellent house,
THE EAGLE TANNERY
is a large and prosperous institution lying between A. J. & C. E. Covell's and Alley & Co.'s saw-mills, and is managed by a joint stock company of which Mr. Austin is president, A. M. McConnell secretary, and the head office is at 203 Lake street, Chicago, amount of capital $175,000, originally $50,000. The building is 155x40 feet, engine 20 horse power with two 50 horse power boilers; num- ber of vats 100, and it uses annually 1,400 cords of bark. It makes a specialty of preparing leather for book binding and pocket books, and is the only mill in the state that engages in such work.
Lemuel Richards is the manager, and is a very worthy gentle- man, taking a deep interest also in temperance and benevolent or- ganizations and in whatever concerns the morals of the community. He came to Whitehall in 1879 from Milwaukee to take charge of the works, having had extended experience in the management of tan- neries
AUGUST EDLUND, son of Chas. G. and Annie Edlund, was born in Sweden in 1857, and came to Whitehall in 1871, and has, since 1875 worked in the tannery. Married in August, 1877, Miss Mary Huffman, of Ludington, by whom lie lias one child, Carrie, born Feb. 10, 1881.
CHAS. EDLUND, brother of August, and dyer in Eagle Tan- nery, Whitehall, was born in Sweden in November, 1849, and landed in New York without a penny, and the first man he met, a fellow countryman, tried to entrap him, but did not succeed. He met a friend in the city wlio assisted him, and he worked three months in an iron furnace in Pennsylvania, and did not get his money. He then went to the coal mines, but could get no work and was on the point of being put out of his boarding house, when fortune smiled, and he worked on there until Spring, when he went to Chicago, where he worked in mills. He has worked in White- hall since 1873, and has accumulated some property. Married January 1st, 1873 Miss Annie Wilson. His family are Chas. G., born 1873, John E. in 1875, Louisa Maria in 1877 and Christ Olaus in 1880.
HENRY A. ZELLER, currier, Whitehall, was born in Germany in 1849, and at 19 immigrated to Chicago, where he remained six years, learning his trade at the Union Hide and Leather Co.'s. He
132
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
came to Whitehall in 1874 and has worked ever since in the Eagle Tanning Co. He married Miss Augusta Schlater, formerly of Han- over, by whom he has had five children, one of whom is dead. Resi- dence Lake street.
THOMAS E. SHARP, practical currier and tanner at Eagle Tannery, Whitehall, was born in Scotland in 1839, .but removed at an early age to Cardiff, Wales, and coming to America in 1869, as he was sent for to work in a tannery in Steuben County, N. Y. After re- maining a year he came to Chicago, where he stayed three years, until 1878, when he'removed to Whitehall. Mr. S. is married, has two fine boys, and is a member of the society of Freemasons and a Royal Templar of Temperance.
JUILUS JOHNSEN, currier at Eagle Tannery, Whitehall, born in 1841 in Norway, came here in 1867, having previously lived in Chi- cago, Battle Creek and Jackson, for over ten years. Married and has seven children.
ISAAC H. BRISCO, engineeer of Eagle Tannery, born in Schuyler, Co., N. Y,, 1826, worked on his father's farm until 30 years old. When 20 he married Lucinda L. Hewitt, of the same place, by whom he has four children. Came to Steuben Co. nine years after, and thence to Whitehall, coming with Alleys from N. Y. state, be- ing a carpenter and millwright by trade. Has worked since 1876 at the Eagle Tannery.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
of Whitehall was established in June, 1873, the fire engine, a Silsby, having been purchased at a cost of $7,500 in May previous. It is a rotary engine, nickel plated. The organization is a voluntary one, the engineer being the only salaried officer. H. E. Staples is perpetual president and Fred Hinman engineer. The engine is greatly ad- mired, having been tested in many a fire, (over 80 to date) and in 1881 she saved the whole east end of the town. The department has 40 members, 1 engine, 2 hose carts, 1,600 feet of hose.
THE CEMETERY
lies to the east of the town out on the State road, and consists of about four acres of beautiful undulating land in a square field just across a romantic ravine. Until the summer of 1881 it was allowed to be overrun with scrub oak and bushes, and presented a neglected aspect. Butin that year most of it was cleared up. Some very creditable monuments are erected, among which are those of the Hinchman family, those for the children of F. A. Fish, formerly engineer of Heald's mills, and the monument of Peter Dalton, and Mrs. John Welch are also very fine.
The cemetery was purchased in 1864, by the township of White- hall.
L. T. COVELL'S BLOCK,
On corner of Mear's avenue and Colby street is an elegant .
structure 50x80 feet, with three stories and basement, a double store with hall above, and there is vacant ground to the north to put in three more stores to come up to the other Covell block.
SOME OF THE PIONEERS.
Below we select a few of the prominent pioneers and early settlers, commencing with
CHARLES MEARS, of 254 S. Water St., Chicago, who has al- ready been referred to in the history of early saw milling in White Lake. He has been largely identified with the rise and develop- ment of Northern Muskegon and Mason and Oceana Counties, in which latter county Mears is named in his honor. He was born in 1814 in North Billerica, Mass., and educated first in his native place and afterward in the academies of Westford, Mass., and
Hopkinton, N. H., and received a good commercial education. He commenced as a general merchant in Lowell, Mass., but in the fall of 1836 he left for Michigan, importing a stock of goods for him- self and his brothers, Edwin and Nathan, into Paw Paw. The financial crisis of 1837 tried all, but E. & C. Mears & Co. stood the storm. It is unnecessary to repeat here his memorable voyage to White Lake, and his subsequent building of the old water mill. He built the Duck Lake mill in 1847. In 1850 he went to Mason County, and in 1860 was elected to the State Senate. He has built five harbors on the east coast of Lake Michigan: at Duck Lake, White Lake, Pentwater, Ludington, and Pere Marquette. He has resided for years in Chicago, hale and hearty, attending daily to his large real estate business.
ALBERT MEARS, merchant at Whitehall, is one of the earliest pioneers of this region, and was born in Billerica, Mass., eighteen miles from Boston, in 1821. He was educated at the academy in his native place, and at Hopkinton, N. H. In 1836 he went to Paw Paw, Mich., with his three elder brothers and went into mer- cantile business. In the spring of 1837, in company with his elder brother Charles he sailed down the river from Paw Paw and along the lake shore, until, after a series of adventures, he arrived at White Lake, and selected a site for a mill at Silver Creek, four miles up White River, at what is now Dalton's mill. The adven- tures of the Mears brothers in settling at Whitehall are matters of history and will be found fully detailed in another part of this volume. After enduring hardships until fall, and fearing that his brother Charles could not return from the East, whither he had gone for mill machinery, Albert and a man named Herrick, now of Racine, Wis., returned to Paw Paw. A few years after he came again to White Lake, but in 1852 he went away for nine years to California, after which he returned to Whitehall where he has ever since resided. He took his present store near the lake shore at the foot of Colby street, and kept a complete stock of general goods, which was until 1867 the only store in the vicinity. His fall stock was sometimes as high as $50,000. He was the first postmaster of Whitehall in 1862 up to 1866, his salary at first being only $110 a year, while at the close of his term it was $440. Mr. Mears resigned as he found the duties too onerous, and Mr. Simons was appointed but resigned in disgust in three weeks. Mr. Mears has been supervisor for years, school director, moderator, and president of the bank. He is married and had one daughter. The following from the Forum of 1875 is a true indication of how Mr. M. is regarded by his neighbors: "Mr. Mears' nomination is an unsought and an unbought honor. He is not a politician nor ring trickster, but a plain blunt man, who minds his own business and that which is entrusted to him. He has no ax to grind. He takes care of the people's money, and has never been known to sacrifice the public interest for private gain. He carefully provides for the deserving poor, but turns a deaf ear to the entreaties of the slothful and vicious. As a member of the Board of Supervisors he is distin- guished for his urbanity thorough acquaintance with the business in hand and earnest endeavor to promote the interest of the town he represents. He is always forced to take office, and if one is required to lead the ticket he is selected." In the spring of 1882 he had the misfortune to lose his only child.
GILES BRYAN SLOCUM, of Trenton, Wayne County, Michigan, was born in the town of Saratoga, Saratoga County, New York, July 11, 1808. His great grandfather, Jonathan Slocum, was a Quaker who about the year 1774 moved with a numerous family from Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island, to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. He was among the sufferers by the Wyoming Massacre, and was killed by the Indians in 1778. Giles Slocum, eldest son of Jonathan Slocum and grandfather of Giles B. Slocum,
·
L
138
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
was one of the sixty who escaped with their lives in the battle and massacre of Wyoming. His sister Frances, then five years of age, was carried off by the Indians, and after a captivity of sixty years was found by General Ewing in 1837 near Logansport, Indiana. A very interesting account of this circumstance by Lossing is now extant. Giles Slocum was a volunteer in Sullivan's expedition against the Indians in the Genesee Valley. He moved from Pennsylvania to the town of Saratoga, Saratoga County, New York, soon after the close of the War of the Revolution, settling about four miles from the site of the present Saratoga Springs. He purchased his farm of General Schuyler of Revolutionary fame, and they became warm friends. Jeremiah Slocum, son of Giles Slocum, and Betty Bryan (Slocumn), who was of a Connecticut family, were the parents of Giles B. Slocum, the subject of this sketch. His boyhood years were passed on a farm about two miles from the scene of Burgoyne's surrender. He had the educational advantanges which the common schools afforded, and during his early manhood taught school three winters in the neighborhood of Saratoga and one near Lockport, New York. He spent the summer of 1830 farming in Northern New York on the Au Sable River. His first visit to the West was in 1831, when he landed at Detroit, and after exploring the country up Block and Pine Rivers, and from Lake Huron to the Maumee River, he settled for the winter at Toledo, Ohio, then called Vistula, and assisted in laying out the town plat. He had the only store there, and was engaged in getting out timber for building the first wharf at that place. On the death of his father in 1832 he returned to the East and pur- chased the interest of all the heirs in his father's old homestead. He returned to Michigan early in the year 1832, and spent the winters of 1832 and 1833 in the stave business at the head of Swan Creel: Bay, now Newport, Monroe County, Michigan, where he established a store, and succeeded in getting the small steamers, "Jack Downing," "Jackson," and "General Brady," to run up Swan Creek from Lake Erie to his place. In the spring of 1834, among other pioneer experiences, he paddled a canoe from the city of Jackson down the Grand River to Grand Rapids. In the sum- mer of 1834 he established the first store and dock at Truaxton, now Trenton, Wayne County, Michigan, and continued in the mer- cantile business there for many years. In 1837 he sold the old homestead in New York, and became a Western man. Among his land purchases in the vicinity of Trenton was a frontage of over three miles on Detroit River. For twenty years following 1837 he turned his attention to farming and sheep raising, and during that time was the largest wool grower in Michigan; and during the past forty years he has cleared and brought under cultivation fifteen hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Trenton, the timber from which has been shipped to New York as staves, used in ship- building at Trenton, or as cord wood sold to steamboats. He was also engaged from 1843 to 1851 in driving piles and building docks in Detroit, Windsor, Spring Wells, Trenton, Sandwich, Gibraltar and Grosse Isle. In 1859 Mr. Slocum and Mr. Charles Mears, of Chicago, having each previously purchased tracts of land on White River and White Lake, laid out. the present village of Whitehall, Muskegon County, Michigan. Mr. Slocum now holds a body of land in the village limits and in the vicinty outside the corporate boundaries.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.