USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 5
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In August, 1837, Jonathan H. Ford, agent of the Buffalo and Black River Company, began building a water mill at the mouth of Bear Lake, on the site where Ruddiman's flouring mill afterwards stood. It was completed next year, and the first cargo of lumber made at this mill was hauled to the mouth of Muskegon Lake in February, 1839, and put on board the Victor, Capt. Jackson, a vessel that would carry about 40,000 feet. The vessel started for Chicago, but soon after got in a drift of ice, and it was ten days before she reached her destination, those on board having suffered severely from cold and hunger in that time. Hiram Judson & Co., bought the mill in 1840, and made very extensive repairs and improve- ments upon it, among which was the putting in of a new water wheel by Geo. Ruddiman. The mill, which was valued at $20,000, was the best one on the lake for several years, it was burned in 1853, and never rebuilt.
Theodore Newell & Co., began to build a mill in the spring of 1838 and finished it in 1839, on the site now occupied by Ryerson,
Hills & Co's. mill; this was a small mill with one upright saw, costing altogether about $4,000, and would saw about 6,000 feet in twenty-four hours. The engine was eight inch bore and twenty- six inch stroke; the boiler was sixteen feet long and thirty-six in- ches in diameter, with one thirteen inch flue, the engine not hav- ing sufficient power to saw up a log, and haul up another at the same time. The first lumber was shipped from this mill in the au- tumn of 1839. In September, 1845, Martin Ryerson and J. H. Knickerbocker bought the mill of Mr. Newell, and in the winter following removed the old mill and built a new one on the site, and had it ready to run within three months from the time of commenc- ing operations. In 1847 Mr. Knickerbocker sold his interest to Robert W. Morris, who continued a partner until the sale of his interest to the present firm of Ryerson, Hills & Co., 1865. The latter firm in the autumn of 1881 removed the old mill, and has now ready for occupation, one of the best, if not the best mill on Muskegon Lake.
Joseph Stronach built a small water mill in 1842, near the site of the McGraft & Montgomery mill, and ran it until 1844, when he sold it to George and John Ruddiman. The latter afterwards put in a small engine, and used water and steam at the same time. This double power not proving sufficient to haul up logs at the same time as the saw was in operation, another was also provided and applied to mechanical purposes, an ancient white bull being used to haul up the logs; hence the origin of the name of the bull-wheel in a saw mill.
One evening in the autumn of 1848, after a heavy rain, George Ruddiman heard the water escaping through the dam, and on re- turning to the house after examining it, told the man that in the morning they must cut some brush and repair the leak. About two hours afterwards he visited the dam again, finding that the break had increased, said that it would be necessary to haul some sand in order to repair the break. On going out in the morning to begin work, there was nothing to be seen of the mill, the long slide, or the dam, even the engine and machinery had been carried out into Muskegon lake. The next winter a portion of the present steam saw mill was built by George Ruddiman, on the site of the present mill; but this has since been considerably enlarged and improved.
In 1846 a small water mill was built on the north side of the lake, near where the Gale mill stood, by Samuel S. Green, and the small creek on which it stood, hitherto nameless, took the name of Green's creek. The mill had one mulay saw, and when it had wa- ter enough could run out 3,000 feet a day. It stood about ten years, and in 1855 was sold to Stilson & Co., who made extensive repairs, but next spring the dam burst, completely wrecking the mill which was never repaired.
The mill now known as the Chapin & Foss mill, was com- menced in 1848 by Wm. Lasley and G. T. Woodbury, the latter having a quarter interest, and completed and started in the spring of 1819, Marshall W. Lloyd sawing the first lumber that was made in the mill, he being employed at the time. Mr. Lasley sold the mill in 1852 to Chapin, Marsh & Foss,; Mr. Marsh afterwards dis- posing of his interest to his partners, who owned the property until 1881, when it was sold to Thos. D. Stimson.
In 1849 John Ruddiman built a steam saw mill on the north side of Muskegon lake, on the site now occupied by the Torrent & Arms mill. He continued to run the mill until 1862, when it went into the hands of Anson Eldred, after a closely contested suit in re- gard to the title. The mill burned soon after, and was replaced by a large mill built by James Farr, Jr., under the superintendence of L. H. Foster. The property was sold in 1871 to Torrent & Arms, and the second mill on the site was burned in 1872. The mill now belonging to this firm was erected soon after. The mills built on
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
this site seem to have been rather unfortunate in regard to fire and law suits, whose effects upon property are about equally destructive.
The foregoing includes all the saw miils built on Muskegon Lake prior to 1850. There were three mills on the lake in 1840, whose sawing capacity per day of twelve hours, was about 13,000 feet.
In 1850 there were six mills on the lake, having an aggregate sawing capacity of about 60,000 feet. During the next ten years ten mills were put in operation on the lake with the following ca- pacity:
C. Davis & Co. 38,000
Eldred, Way & Co. 20,000
Ryerson & Morris, (Bay Mill) 36,000
Smith, Fowler & Co. 20,000
Brown & Trowbridge 16,000
Trowbridge & Wing 22,000
J. C. Holmes & Co. 15,000
Durkee, Truesdell & Co. 38,000
L. G. Mason & Co.
38,000
J. & H. Beidler 36,000
Ryerson & Morris
24,000
John Ruddiman 36,000
George Ruddiman - 15,000
Not only has the sawing capacity increased, but the number of men required to do the labor has proportionately decreased. In 1860 it required a man for each 1,000 feet sawed per day, while now the daily product is on an average over 3,000 feet per day. This improvement is mainly attributable to the valuable improve- ments in machinery.
1867.
The saw mill firms in Muskegon City in 1867 were in alpha- betical order, those of George Arms, Beidler & Co., W. H. Bige- low & Co., C. Davis & Co., James Farr, Jr., Glue & Co., Hackley & Sons, Hackley, McGordon & Co., Lattimer, Day & Co, Marsh & Foss, L. G. Mason & Co., B. Merrill, Martin Perley & Co., O. P. Pillsbury & Co., George R. Roberts & Co., Ryerson, Hills & Co., Ryerson & Johnson, Sherwood, Brown & Co., Torrent & Bletcher, Truesdell & Orton, Thomas Turnbull, White & Swan, Wilson, Boyce & Olson, S. N. Wilcox & Bro., in all, twenty-five firms.
In 1872 they were: Wm. Rutherford & Co., Wilson & Boyce, C. Davis & Co., Ryerson, Hills & Co. (2 mills), Chapin & Foss, Mason Lumber Co., Wm. H. Bigelow & Co., Geo. R. Roberts & Co., Gideon Truesdell, Beidler Mfg. Co., Hackley & Sons, Hackley & McGordon, Wm. Glue & Co., Swan, White & Smith, C. J. Hamilton, J. H. Perley, Esau, Torrent & Co., A. Mann & Co., Wm. Addis & Co., Kelly, Wood & Co., D. C. Mills & Bro., Morrison & Fleming, Browne, Nelson & Co., John Torrent & Co., Storrs & McDougall, Torrent & Arms, T. B. Wilcox & Co.
C. J. Hamilton & Co.'s mill was formerly O. Pillsbury & Co.'s, and A. V. Mann & Co.'s mill had been burned in August, 1872, and rebuilt the following winter.
1877
In this year we find the names of the following firms in lum- bering: Beaudry, Vallicot & Co. Beidler Mfg. Co., W. H. Bigelow & Co., Chapin & Foss, C. Davis & Co., Mrs. A. Eldred, Elisha El- dred, C. H. Hackley & Co., C. J. Hamilton & Co., Kelly, Wood & Co., A. V. Mann & Co., Mason Lumber Co., Montgomery & McGraft, C. D. Nelson & Co., O. P. Pillsbury & Co., Roberts & Hull, Alex. Rogers, Rutherford & Anderson, Ryerson, Hills & Co., Swan, White & Smith, Esau Torrent, Torrent & Arms, Torrent, Ducey & Gale, Walworth, Bushnell & Reed. The above were all manufacturers, and in addition there were S. C. Hall and A. Petrie, dealers in lumber.
MUSKEGON SAW MILLS, 1881-2.
There never was a time when lumbering was so prosperous or when there were so many saw mills actively engaged. There are now thirty-six saw mills around the lake which we shall proceed to enumerate, commencing at the southeast corner of the lake and performing a circuit to the west, and thence around the lake on the north side.
Just near the mouth of the river is the Boom Company's mill, which has stood many years, and was operated by Blodgett & Byrne. It is a two-circular mill, cutting 575,000 feet a day. Lewis Warner, Manager. Near this is Peck's shingle mill.
Next is M. Wilson & Co.'s (T. W. Harvey, of Chicago,) gang and one-circular mill, M. Wilson, manager.
Next the Davies Mill, built by Major Davis and Newell, a circu- lar mill, cuts 80,000 feet a day and uses the electric light.
Then comes Ryerson, Hills & Co.'s grand new mill, more fully described elsewhere. It is a model mill in every respect.
Then comes the old Foss mill, now owned by Stimson, of Big Rapids. It was refitted in 1881.
Then come in succession the great mill of the Thayer Lumber Company, after which is the two-circular mill of the Bigelow Lum- ber Company, the Blodgett & Byrne mill, C. H. Hackley & Co.'s, Beidler Company's, Swan, White & Smith's, Walworth & Reed's, Hamilton, Gerrish & Co.'s, McCracken & Co.'s, the new mill of the Muskegon Lumber Co., McGraft & Montgomery's, Tilottson & Blodgett's (a one-circular and gang mill) ; next A. V. Mann & Co's two- circular mill, then the one-circular and gang mill of Stimson, Fay & Co., A. Rodgers & Co.'s two-circular mill, the old : Kelly, Wood & Co.'s, now G. E. Wood's mill, E. & C. Eldred's two-circular and gang mill, Allen's one-circular and gang mill (now S. C. Hall's), and lastly, the Hon. C. D. Nelson's mill at the mouth of the lake in Pt. Sherman.
These twenty-four saw mills are all on the south side of the lake, and extend along the lake shore through the City of Muske- gon into the little town of Lakeside, which commences about the McGraft & Montgomery mill. The Wood, Eldred and Allen mills are in Bluffton, and Nelson's mill in Pt. Sherman. The following are some short notes on the above mills.
MATTHEW WILSON & Co.'s MILL was built in 1867, rebuilt in 1870, and again in 1880-1. It is situated on block 198 of the City of Muskegon, and Mr. Wilson has had an interest in it from its com- mencement, giving it his earnest personal supervision. Last year its cut was about twenty million feet, and it has one circular and gang saw, with the usual complement of edgers, etc. It is the first mill west of that of the Boom Company's. The engineer is Philip Etches. Mr. Wilson has served acceptably as City Treasurer for the last three terms.
RYERSON, HILLS & Co. The first steam saw mill erected on Muskegon Lake was built in 1839. It was a miniature affair com- pared with the extensive mills of to-day, which rip up their 100,000 and 150,000 feet per ten hours. And yet this mill, built by Theo- dore Newell, was a greater enterprise, and involved more risk at that time, than one does to-day, cutting 50,000,000 per season. The mill built by Newell was erected on the site recently occupied by Ryerson, Hills & Co.'s mill. In the spring of 1845 Messrs. Martin Ryerson and J. H. Knickerbocker purchased it from the builder, and remodeled and refurnished it immediately. In 1849 Mr. Knicker- bocker sold his interest to Robert W. Morris, and the firm of Ryer- son & Morris remained unchanged for sixteen years.
In 1865 Messrs. Chas. T. Hills and Henry H. Getty bought Mr. Morris' interest in the mill, and the firm was changed to Ryer- son, Hills & Co. Mr. Ezra Stephens belonged to the firm at that time, and was a partner until his death, in January, 1869. On
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
January 3, 1881, Mr. Martin Ryerson, Jr., was admitted as a mem- ber, the firm still being known as Ryerson, Hills & Co.
Mr. Ryerson has for the past thirty years or more had his resi- dence ostensibly in Chicago, but has for the past twenty years passed the time in travel in this and foreign countries. From his intimate knowledge of foreign matters, and his general ability, Mr. Ryerson had the honor conferred upon him of being appointed by our government as one of the three commissioners to the Paris Ex- position.
ยท The business of the firm has from its organization been man- aged by the other partners, Mr. Hills and Mr. Getty. Mr. Hills has had his residence from the first in this city, and until a short time since has had the immediate supervision of the interests of the firm at this place, while Mr. Getty used to reside in Chicago, where he attended to the management of their two extensive lumber yards (now discontinued), and made contracts for and sales of shipments from the mills here.
The firm are owners of thousands of acres of choice pine land, and accessions are constantly being made thereto as opportunity offers. This vast acreage lies here and there for two hundred miles on either side of Muskegon River and its tributaries. The regular yearly accretion by natural growth of the timber upon this land would be no inconsiderable amount.
The company own two mills, one the mill on the site of the one above referred to, which was built in the winter of 1881-82, and is a mammoth affair 150x45 feet, and perfect in all its arrangements built under the supervision of Mr. Henry Jacobs, the able foreman of the firm. It will cut as much lumber in the day time as the old mill just torn down, would, working day and night. It is the model mill of Muskegon. It is situated with the company's substantial brick offices, extensive yards and docks near the eastern end of Mus- kegon Lake. The other mill is the Bay mill, at the western end of the same lake, which will be described in its place. The united capacity of these mills will probably reach 60,000,000 feet a year.
THE FOSS MILL,
at the foot of Market Street, in the rear of the American Hotel, is now owned by Thomas Stimson of Big Rapids, but who is about set- tling in Muskegon. It was originally erected in 1848-9 by Wm. Lasley and Giles B. Woodbury, and sold by the former to Chapin, Marsh & Foss, in 1862. After the dea.h of Mr. Marsh it was oper- ated by Chapin & Foss until in 1881 they sold to Mr. Stimson. The mill has lately been thoroughly overhauled. It cut last year 110,000 feet per day. G. B. Woodbury has been engineer for 28 years. .
MC GRAFT & MONTGOMERY.
The members composing the firm of McGraft & Montgomery are, Messrs. M. McGraft and A. S. Montgomery, of this city, and Hon. T. W. Palmer, of Detroit. The saw mill was built by George Ruddiman in 1849. The present firm was organized in 1874, and in 1875 it purchased the mill.
At the time the mill came into their hands it had a capacity of only about 25,000 feet of lumber per day, bnt under their manage- ment it has been almost entirely rebuilt and supplied with improved machinery until its cutting capacity has been increased from 75,- 000 to 80,000 feet per day. The mill is now supplied with two cir- cular saws, mulay, two patent edgers, two trimmers, and has steam feed on both sides of the mill. A new lath mill and a picket mill have also been added, and a new engine put in, so that the equip- ment of the mill is now in good condition. The addition of the trimmers is a great improvement, as all lumber manufactured at the mill is now trimmed before it goes to dock. The size of the mill is 75x120 feet, and its motive power is supplied by an engine 20x26 and with four boilers. The amount of lumber cut by the mill is now
about from twelve to fifteen million feet per annum, and each year from added improvements, increases the quantity. The firm also have two large lumber yards in Milwaukee, one on Mill Island and the other on the Kinnickinnick Creek, where they handle a large amount of lumber, and by using their piling space at these two yards they are able to pile lumber to an almost unlimited extent, and can also take advantage of sudden advances in the market.
TILLOTSON & BLODGETT.
The mill operated by this firm was built by Esau Torrent about the year 1872. During a period of four years it was operated by other parties and was purchased by its present owners, Messrs. Geo. J. Tillotson and D. A. Blodgett in 1876. They have succeeded in making the mill a profitable piece of property, and are doing an ex- tensive and satisfactory business with it. The cost of the mill, in- cluding improvements, has been about $30,000, and it is supplied with one circular saw, one gang edger, one bolting and one trimming saw, and has three boilers to supply motive power. The mill has a cutting capacity of about 10,000,000 feet of lumber, during the saw- ing season, by running in the day time only, but during the past season, by extra time, the amount of lumber manufactured was in- creased to 12,451,379 feet. The firm does its shipping chiefly on Torrent's vessels. The number of regular hands employed aver- ages about twenty-seven.
Mr. Tillotson, the senior member of the firm, has been for a good many years engaged in the lumbering business in various ca- pacities, and thus has a large amount of practical experience, which in the lumbering business, as in almost any other, is one of the great essentials to success.
Both members of the firm are reliable business men, and have the fullest confidence of the community in which they live, and the firm will doubtless continue to be among the most successful lumber operators in the vicinity of Muskegon.
MC CRACKEN, HOVEY & CO.
On the 21st of January 1881, a saw mill was commenced, and finished on the 1st of June following. It is just west of Hamilton & Gerrish's mill, and is known as McCracken, Hovey & Co.'s. It was built further out into the lake, and vessels can approach its docks. It has a capacity of 125,000 feet daily, from a gang of 43 saws and circular gang edger. J. J. Lennon, Foreman. The part- ners are, J. B. McCracken, H. N. Powell, G. T. Jones, and J. J. Lennon.
HAMILTON, GERRISH & CO.'S MILL
is located on the south shore of Muskegon Lake within the city lim- its, and was built in 1855 by the firm of O. P. Pillsbury & Co., who operated it until 1873, when they sold it to C. J. Hamilton & Co. This firm thoroughly overhauled and quite rebuilt the mill, greatly enlarging its capacity and cut, and ran it until the fall of 1877, when they in turn sold their interest to Gerrish & Woods, who sub- sequently changed the name to the present one of Hamilton, Ger- rish & Co.
The mill has a capacity for cutting from 175 to 200 thousand feet of lumber, according to the quality of logs, in the usual day's run of eleven hours. The boom connected therewith has capacity for storing 10,000,000 feet of logs, and the docks are ample for pil- ing or cross piling the same.
In a newspaper communication dated Jan. 10, 1882, the firm speaks of its cut for 1881 as follows;
Considering the fact that our mill is a two circular and gang (the circulars being 60 and 72 inches respectively, and the gang a 48 inch gate, carrying 39 saws), we think the showing good. We ran 184 days and 101} nights, on time, about equal with other mills
C. D.NELSON & Cos. MILL & VIEW OF PORT SHERMAN, MUSKEGON CO. MICH.
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
here. The cut has been: Lumber, 49,404,038 feet; Lath, 13,566,- 110 pieces; Pickets, 504,893 pieces. Reduced to shipping feet the above equals 52,622,153 feet lumber.
"The logs cut have been low grade, averaging seven to the thou- sand. We have on dock, cross-piled, and belonging to various parties, 9,446,432 feet lumber.
THAYER LUMBER CO.,
organized in 1878, bought the L. G. Mason & Co. mill, with a ca- pacity of 34,000,000 lumber and 8,000,000 lath, and employs eighty men. This Company owns over 100,000,000 feet of standing pine. The mill was built in 1865 by L. G. Mason. Officers of the Com- pany are, Geo. C. Kimball, President; F. A. Nims, Secretary; H. Park, Treasurer.
THE BIGELOW MILL.
Prominent among the large mills of Muskegon is that of the above firm. It was built by L. G. Mason & Co., and sold in 1866 to W. H. Bigelow & Co., but has been so thoroughly repaired and renewed that but little of the original mill now stands. At the mill is always to be found the genial gentleman who is junior member of the old and extensive establishment, Mr. Peter Walker, who has had a long and extensive acquaintance in the business.
BLODGETT & BYRNE
bought their mill of Hull & Watson, January, 1881. Capacity 27,- 000,000 ft. of lumber, and 7,000,000 lath. They employ one hundred men.
C. H. HACKLEY & CO.
purchased the old mill of Wisconsin parties in 1869. Having a capacity of 14,000,000 a season, employing forty men. The pres- ent mill was built in 1872-3. Capacity 30,000,000, ft of lumber and 8,000,000 ft. of lath. Ninety men are employed.
BEIDLER MANUFACTURING CO.
This mill was built by Jacob and Henry Beidler in 1871; has a capacity of 27,000,000 feet of lumber, and 6,000,000 feet of lath. It employs eighty-five men.
SWAN, WHITE & SMITH.
This mill was built by Alvah Trowbridge in 1863, and bought by White & Swan in 1864; Swan, White & Smith succeeded in 1871. Their annual cut is 22,000,000 lumber and 5,000,000 lath. They own 120,000,000 feet of standing pine.
A. V. MANN & CO.
bought their fine mill from Sharp, Harris & Co., in Lakeside, in 1867, which was burned in 1872 and rebuilt the following winter. It has a circular and gang, gang edger, lath mill, and refuse burner. Daily cut from 100,000 to 125,000 feet, and in 1881 cut 23,000,000. Mr. J. W. Moon has been the "Co." from the commencement.
RODGERS & LEBOEUF,
lumbermen, at Lakeside, began January, 1881. The mill was built in 1874 by Alex. Rodgers. The capacity of the mill is 80,000 per day, and 25,000 lath. Mr. Leboeuf has charge of the mill. He has lived in Muskegon and been engaged in lumbering about four- teen years.
WOOD'S MILL.
This mill, as has been already mentioned, was built by Latti- mer, Day & Foster, was next owned by Watson, Addis & Johnston, then Kelly, Wood & Co., and in 1877 by Geo. E. Wood. This mill, although not among the largest, is kept in good shape, and is under excellent management.
E. C. ELDRED & CO.
E. C. Eld red resides at Chicago, and D. M. Eldred at Muskegon Their mill is located at Bluffton, and was bought in 1873. Its an- nual cut is about 30,000,000 feet of lumber, and 6,000,000 feet of lath. The firm are extensive owners of pine lands. The mill gives employment to about eighty-five men. The mill was purchased o Morrison, Fleming & Co., and was built by O leson & Jones in 1869
HALL'S MILL (BLUFFTON).
Stephen C. Hall has been closely identified with the lumber interest of the county almost from its inception, and was one of the pioneers on White Lake. He has been fortunate in acquiring wealth by the purchase of pine lands. On the 1st of January, 1880. he purchased from D. D. Erwin the property which the latter had purchased in 1878 from A. M. Allen, who had purchased in 1872. This is a large, fine mill.
C. D. NELSON & CO.
This firm have the only mill at Pt. Sherman, at the mouth of Muskegon Lake, romantically situated on the harbor within full sight of both Lakes Muskegon and Michigan, and with a view of bare sand bluffs across the harbor. A view of this mill and surroundings has been specially sketched for this work. This is a well equipped mill and stands in the first class. Hon. C. D. Nelson is a gentle- man whom all will take pleasure in endorsing as an earnest worker for the good of the city, and a thoroughly practical business man. This mill was built in 1861 by B. T. Lameraux, and purchased by its present proprietor in 1869. It employs about seventy men, and has a capacity of 30,000,000 feet of lumber and 6,000,000 feet of lath.
THE MILLS ON THE NORTH OF LAKE MUSKEGON.
The saw mills are the leading and distinguishing feature of the northern suburb, and we will enumerate them in order. The first of the cluster of mills commencing at the head of the Lake and going to the west, is the new mill of A. H. Petrie & Co., which is nearly completed, and will be ready to open about the first of April. It is designed to cut ties as well as lumber, and its cut may reach 12,000,000 this season. It has steam feed, and is a well equipped mill.
Next we come to John Torrent's new mill, which will be ready in the spring, it is a thoroughly equipped affair, costing over $30,- 000, has steam feed, Hill's patent steam nigger, Torrent's patent log carrier, as well as his patent edger, which is an ingenious contriv- ance to steady the boards by an automatic claw which adjusts itself by swinging back to its place. This is intended to be a model mill, and its probable cut will be 16,000,000 feet from one circular, with lath mill attached. It is intended to cut stuff of any length.
Next we see Gow & Majo's, erected by Bassett & Burns, a one circular mill, operated last season and cutting hard wood chiefly.
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