USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 16
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The bath house nearly adjoins the hotel, and is erected over the spring. It is large, elegantly furnished, and complete in all respects, with every approved adjunct deemed advantageous for in- valids. Bathing in this water is a luxury. It is perfectly cleansing without soap, and remarkably strengthening. The attendants are faithful and experienced, having been connected with the establish- ment for the past five years.
SINCLAIR HOUSE.
S. S. RIDEOUT, proprietor of Sinclair House, came to the Haven
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in 1868, and two years afterward to Spring Lake, and in 1879 pur- chased the Sinclair House, where he does a good business, having accommodations for about thirty guests. This house is on Division street, near State street, and is the oldest hotel in the place. It was owned over twenty years ago by Robert Clydsdell, who was killed some years ago by a falling tree. When kept by Mr. Barnum it was called the Barnum House. Then it was kept by Walter Sinclair, now foreman of Sisson & Lilley's mill, and its name changed to Sinclair House. Then Mr. Dickson kept the house for a few years, until in March 1879 Mr. Rideout took it, having been burned out of the National Hotel in January preceding.
SCHOOLS.
The Spring Lake graded school contains eight rooms and is under the superintendence of James Warnock, Jr., with Miss Stella Skinner, as first assistant in the high school, which has 40 pupils. Miss Lizzie Shore teaches the 1st grammar department with 53 pupils, Miss Richards in the 2nd department with 45 pupils; in the intermediate department Miss Carrie Patchin has 58 pupils; in the 2nd primary Miss Jessie Gray has 62 pupils; in the 1st primary Miss Fannie Hopkins has 63 in charge. Miss Edith Miller has the Ward School, at Nortonville, with 65 scholars.
SAW MILLS.
The saw mills of Spring Lake in order from the north side of the peninsula, and going first west and then turning east around the south side, which lies on the river, are first the Monroe, Boyce & Co. mill, above which is an unused fruit drying factory, built 1871 by Messrs. T. D. Denison, Aloys Bilz and Mr. Vos. Then west is W. H. Bell & Co.'s one circular mill, then the ice houses and the elegant Spring Lake Hotel and grounds; then the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company's two mills, one a single circular and upright and the other a single circular mill. The company have also a fine planing mill and machine shop.
On the river are Cutler & Savidge's, then Sisson's & Lilley's, and finally, farther up the river, White, Friant & Co.'s mill. These three mills are about equal, we believe, cutting about 150,000 feet a day, and all have two circulars and a gang with edgers, etc.
Messrs. Sisson and Lilley have two fine, new residences in close proximity at the east end of the village, beyond the residence of Mr. Gee, which would be a credit to any city.
HUNTER SAVIDGE.
A history of Spring Lake would be incomplete without a sketch of one whom all acknowledge to have been one of the chief fact- ors in the present prosperous condition of the village, a man of great energy and business capacity, beloved by all who knew him. We of course allude to the late Hunter Savidge, who was born in Columbia County, Penn., April 6th, 1828. At the age of nine years he removed with his parents to Northumberland County, where he remained until the age of 21, assisting at carpenter work in the summer and attending school in the winter. At that time he started westward and located at Rockford, Ill., where he was engaged at contracting and building. In 1855 he came to Spring Lake and en- gaged in the manufacture of lumber. In 1860 the firm of Cutler & Savidge was formed, which became one of the most extensive and best known lumber firms in the West. He was married February 12, 1857, to Sarah C. Patten, of Grand Rapids. Six children were born to them, three of whom have died, and three are still living. January 1st the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company was formed, of which Mr. Savidge was president. Possessed of a wonderful degree of energy, Mr. Savidge devoted himself unremittingly to the vast business concerns of the company, and his great physical endurance enabled him to perform an almost miraculous amount of labor. But
in time his strength began to fail, and it became apparent that he must have rest if he would prolong his life. In the fall of 1880, accompanied by his wife and Miss Millie Cutler, he made a trip to California, returning late in December, feeling very much improved in health. But the seeds of disease were already too firmly rooted, and upon the 11th of the following April he passed away. His funeral was conducted by the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, of which he was a member. His death was the occasion of wide and deep mourning. All who knew him felt that they had lost a personal friend. Upon the day of his burial the villages of Spring Lake and Grand Haven were arrayed in the habiliments of deepest mourning; flag ; were at half mast, business suspended, and the appearance of all testified to the universal grief which was felt. Mr. Savidge was be- loved by all, and to-day his memory is treasured as a rich legacy by all who knew him. A finely executed steel portrait is presented in this book.
JOHN B. HANCOCK.
Intimately connected with Mr. Hunter Savidge in his life work in developing Spring Lake lumber interests, was John B. Hancock, who was born in England April 5, 1849, which country he left when young, with his parents for Corning, New York; and when about sixteen years of age his parents again removed to Spring Lake, his father having an interest in the Hopkins Mill. John early assisted his father, and chiefly by his own exertions he was enabled to give himself a good education. He had been in a New York city school before he came west, and then went to Grand Rapids High School, and was also a pupil of Prof. Everett, and spent one year at the State Agricultural College, withdrawing on account of his health. In order to be of more assistance to his father, and to perfect his business qualifications, he went to Grand Rapids Business College, and when he returned he was employed by Aloys Bilz for about a year as book-keeper and manager of his hardware business. He then entered the employ of Haire, Savidge & Cutler, as book-keeper and foreman of the shipping department. Previous to this he had been in the mill at Nortonville, now White & Friant's, when Mr. Haire sold the mill to Cutler & Savidge and they formed the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company, taking in Mr. Hancock as one of the partners. In two years he rose to be Secretary of the company, in which capacity he served five years, when his death occurred. The company was eminently successful.
He was married October 20, 1875, at Spring Lake, by the Rev. Mr. Snyder, of Muskegon, to Miss Ruth M. Beckwith, a native of Spring Lake, and daughter of the Rev. Hiram Beckwith, a retired Universalist minister.
Mr. Hancock died March 19, 1881, and with the exception of that of Hunter Savidge, who died three weeks later, his funeral cor- tege was the largest that has ever been seen in Spring Lake. He was buried at Grand Haven on the 22nd of March, the Rev. S. H. Wood- ford, officiating clergyman. Mr. Hancock's kind and generous dis- position had greatly endeared him to all, and many were the flowers strewed upon his grave, and his widow has been gratified by the kindly letters from firms in Chicago with whom he did business. The pall-bearers were representatives of the leading lumbering firms. He was in politics Republican, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and a member of the Baptist church. He was beloved and respected by all, and the death of two such men as Hunter Savidge and Jolin B. Hancock, within a few days of one another, was a severe shock to the community in which they lived. His portrait in steel will be found elsewhere.
GEORGE D. SISSON, of Spring Lake, .was born in Oxford, Che- nango County, New York, in 1839. In the spring of 1871 he came to Spring Lake, and for two seasons was landlord of the Spring Lake House. His natural tastes were for a more thoroughly busi-
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ness life, and he turned his attention to lumbering. His first venture was the purchase of 300,000 feet of logs from Wilson Shaw, on Crockery Creek, and had them sawed at the Cutler & Savidge mill. In June 1872, he formed a co-partnership with Thomas Seymour, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. This firm continued until 1874, when Mr. Seymour sold his interest to Francis Lilley, and the present firm of Sisson & Lilley was formed. Mr. Sisson is a thorough business man, a most genial gentleman and deserves the abundant business success which has thus far crowned his under- takings. The firm of which he is the senior member is one of the most extensive lumber manufacturers in the State, and one of the most prosperous as well. He has just completed an elegant residence in the suburbs of Spring Lake, and within easy distance of the mill.
FRANCIS LILLEY, of Spring Lake, was born in England June 23d, 1844. After coming to this country he remained for a time in Milwaukee. In 1867 he came to Spring Lake and tallied lum- ber for about five years. Possessed of excellent business qualifica- tions and indomitable energy, he began to look for an opportunity to get into business for himself. In February, 1874, he purchased the interest of Thomas Seymour in the firm of Sisson & Seymour, and the foundation of the present prosperous firm of Sisson & Lil- ley was then laid. Although obliged to undergo. severe business trials during the hard times, yet the firm has kept moving, and is one of the soundest and most prosperous in the State. Mr. Lilley has just completed a fine residence in the suburbs of Spring Lake, which is a credit to the place and an elegant possession for the owner. Mr. Lilley is a thorough business man in all respects, and a most excellent citizen as well.
In November, 1881 the lumber yard of Sisson & Lilley was visited by a disastrous conflagration, which consumed about 10,000,000 feet of lumber, chiefly, however, the property of a Chicago firm. Messrs. Sisson & Lilley suffered but little loss, as only their office was burned.
PRESS.
The press of Spring Lake is represented by the Spring Lake Message, an independent sheet, first issued in September, 1881, by Charles F. Wasson. It is a sprightly, newsy sheet, full of in- teresting local matter, and devoted to the moral and material pro- gress of the village and vicinity. The office is on the corner of State and Division Streets.
POST OFFICE.
Le Moyne S. Smith was the first postmaster of Spring Lake, and he resigned in 1857, when H. A. Reed held the office for sev- eral years. Mr. L. O. Perham, the present postmaster, has held ever since Lincoln's inauguration, and the office has grown from a salary of $75 a year to be worth $900. The office is in the rear of Mr. Perham's drug store.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Ferries ply regularly every few minutes to Grand Haven and back. They are the "Geo. P. Savidge," belonging to the Savidge Estate, and the "Maude Lilley," owned by J. McCluer.
Brick making is carried on largely by Hiel Gray at Stahl's Bay, at the head of the lake.
The greatest fire that ever occurred at Spring Lake was that at Sisson & Lilley's lumber yard, when 10,000,000 feet were consumed in the fall of 1881.
Mr. Martin Walsh has a very extensive dry goods and grocery establishment, and J. B. Perham, Representative in the Legisla- ture, has also a fine dry goods store.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
H. M. ADAMS came to Spring Lake from Clyde, Ohio, in 1867, and in 1870 began work for Cutler & Savidge and has continued in
their employ since that time. He has been foreman of the yard at mill No. 3 since 1878. Mr. Adams enlisted at New Haven, Ohio, in 1864, and served one year.
D. W. AINSWORTH, foreman of the planing mill of the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company at Spring Lake, has been engaged in lumber mills since 1865. In 1863 he enlisted in the army and served in the war until 1865. For some time he was in the employ of the Wait Manufacturing Company at Grand Haven, and has been in his present position since 1877.
ALOYS BILZ was born in Germany in 1841 and came to this country in 1849. In 1854 he came to Michigan from Buffalo, and remained at Detroit until 1866, when he came to Spring Lake and engaged in the hardware trade. He continued in that business until 1871, when his store and dwelling house were destroyed by fire, together with their contents, involving a loss of $30,000. Since that time he has been engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business. He was married in August, 1864, to May Alice, daughter of Rev. O. C. Thompson, of Detroit. In 1878 he was elected County Register, which office he held for one term. He was President of the village of Spring Lake in 1876, and has held the offices of Supervisor and Alderman for several terms. During 1879 and 1880 he was editor and proprietor of the Spring Lake Republican-having interested himself in the establishment of a village_paper, he was subsequently obliged to assume its entire con- trol. Mr. Bilz is a stirring business man, full of enterprise and succeeds at whatever he undertakes.
LAMBERTUS BOEREMA is a native of Holland and came to this country in 1868 and located in Spring Lake. For several years he followed civil engineering, and since 1877 has been at work for Sisson & Lilley at their mill.
C. P. BROWN, M. D. Spring Lake, was born in Medina, Mich., in 1844. His father, Dr. David Brown, of Medina, is one of the pioneer physicians of the State. Dr. C. P. Brown is a graduate of Hillsdale College and of Rush Medical College at Chicago. He be- gan practice in 1869, and in 1871 came to Spring Lake from Hud- son, Mich. At the beginning of his practice he encountered numer- ous and varied obstacles, but they only tended to increase his energy and strengthen his determination to succeed, and he has done so to a remarkable degree. To-day he ranks among the first physicians of the State, and his practice is very large.
One of the old settlers is MRS. M. BURBANK, whose maiden name was Madora McMahon, and who carries on a confectionery and cigar store and restaurant on the main street. She came to Grand Haven thirty-three years ago, and her husband, Mr. I. Bur- bank, a carpenter, came from Canada thirty-two years ago. They formerly lived in Crockery in the Patchin neighborhood, and expe- rienced the hardships incident to pioneer life.
T. D. DENISON is a native of New York State, and came to Spring Lake in 1850 from Grand Rapids. Most of the time since coming to Spring Lake he has spent in the lumber mills. His pres- ent place as engineer at the mill of Monroe, Boyce & Co. he has held since 1869. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Denison was elected President of the village for the term of one year. He is one of the few remaining pioneers of the place, and has always been a most excellent citizen. His portrait and a view of his residence adorn this work.
JOHN D. DIXON came to Michigan from New York in 1856, and located in Spring Lake. He has been at work in lumber mills about twenty-six years, fifteen of which he has been filing. He has been filing at the mill of Sisson & Lilley at Spring Lake since 1874.
OTTO DE WIT is a native of Holland and came to this country in 1863, and settled in Spring Lake. For a number of years he
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worked at his trade of millwright. In 1878 he engaged in the un- dertaking business, and also opened a wagon and carriage factory," both of which he still continues to operate.
R. F. GRIFFIN is a native of New York and came to Michigan in 1869. Since 1876 he has been in the employ of Sisson & Lilley as saw filer. He has been filing since 1865.
H. H. HUNGERFORD is a native of Spring Lake, and has always resided there. After leaving school he learned the tinner's trade, and in 1877, in company with C. A. Pearson, purchased the hard- ware stock and business of Aloys Bilz, at Spring Lake. The firm does a large business and is very prosperous.
HORACE HOWE is a native of New York State and came to Michigan after the war. He enlisted in 1861 in New York State, and served in the army as a member of the 13th New York Infantry until discharged in 1863. For several years he worked at filing, but has been running an engine since 1875. In 1876 he began in his present place as engineer at the Bell mill, Spring Lake.
A. A. JONES is a native of New York and came to Spring Lake in 1868. He finished learning the trade of millwright in 1865 and has followed it since that time. In 1872 he built Sisson & Lilley's mill, and has continued in their employ as millwright since that time.
JOHN LOOSMORE is a native of Canada. In 1868 he came to Spring Lake and entered the employ of Cutler & Savidge. He has been in his present position of engineer at what is known as Mill No. 3, since 1879.
R. H. LEE is a native of Ohio and came to Spring Lake from Wisconsin in 1866. In 1864 he enlisted in the service and received his discharge in 1865. During his term of service he was promoted to first Lieutenant and afterwards to Captain of Company C., 41st Wisconsin Infantry. After coming to Spring Lake he was engaged in the jewelry business there for seven years, and at the end of that time removed his business to Grand Haven, but still continues to reside at Spring Lake.
GEORGE G. LOVELL is one of the pioneers of Spring Lake. He was born in Vermont in 1813 and went from there to Kalamazoo County, Mich., in 1832. From there he went to Ionia County where, for eight years he was engaged in the milling business. In 1846 he came to Spring Lake where he has since resided. For many years he has been engaged in lumbering and fruit growing. His fruit farm, which is a splendid one of forty acres, is situated near the village of Spring Lake, and is very valuable. Deacon Lov- ell, as he is called by his townsmen, is a plain, unassuming man, always noted for integrity and held in high esteem by all who know him.
J. McCLUER, boat owner, was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in 1832, and come to Grand Haven in 1836, and after a year there, spent many years in Grand Rapids, returning to Grand Haven in 1872. He built the Maude Lillie steam yacht, and in 1881 one to ply up to Nortonville, costing $3,000. He enlisted in 1862 in the 6th Michigan Cavalry, but was discharged for physical disability in 1868. He works near Kirby's ship yard; residence Spring Lake.
M. C. MESSINGER is a native of Vermont and came to Spring Lake in 1855. Mr. Messinger has always been engaged at mill work and has been filing since 1869. He began in his present place as saw filer at the mill of Monroe, Boyce & Co., in the Spring of 1873.
W. H. MILLARD is a native of Michigan. After spending some time in Canada he came to Spring Lake in 1863, and in 1865 pur- chased a building and opened a meat market. In 1877 E. Devries went into partnership with him, and the business is continued un- der the firm name of Devries & Co.
JOHN H. NEWCOMB, one of the pioneers of Ottawa County, was
born in New York State in 1811. In 1837 he determined to try his fortunes in what was then the far west, and set out upon the slow and toilsome journey to Michigan. He made his way to Muskegon, and his first work after reaching that place was to build a mill. He remained at Muskegon until 1841, when he came to the place where the village of Spring Lake now stands. Here he built the first house and the first mill built in the place. From 1842 to 1848 he spent in Chicago selling lumber. In 1848 he was married in Chi- cago and returned to Spring Lake, and for a time operated a lumber mill, and afterwards engaged in the mercantile business which he continued for several years. He was also engaged in the insurance business, and after going out of the trade he confined his attention to that business which he still continues. Mr. Newcomb has held various town offices, and has always interested himself in the growth and welfare of his town. Having passed the limit of three score years and ten, he is now spending the remainder of his days in quiet comfort, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he holds the es- teem of his fellow townsmen, all of whom have a good word to say of "Uncle" John Newcomb.
WILLIAM H. NEWHALL came to Spring Lake in the Spring of 1880, and entered the employ of the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Com- pany as saw filer. He has been at mill work since 1871.
NELSON READ, sailor, Spring Lake, was born in Jefferson Coun- ty, N. Y., in 1829, and came to Grand Haven in 1862, and has for years sailed on the lakes. He married in 1854 Adeline M. Calhoun, of East Cleveland, O., and has four sons and four daughters.
HENRY RYSDORP is a native of Holland and came to Grand Haven in 1859. For a few years after coming here he worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1863 went into the lumber business as senior member of the firm of Rysdorp & Co. This firm continued untll 1877, when their mill was burned and the firm dissolved in consequence. In 1880 the Grand Haven Lumber Company was formed and Mr. Rysdorp became a member of the company, and since that time has had the management of one of the company's mills, known as the Beech Tree mill. .
THOMAS SAVIDGE is a native of Pennsylvania and came to Spring Lake in 1865, and remained for a short time. In 1868 he returned and became connected with the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company, of which his brother, Hunter Savidge, was president. Mr. Savidge has always been actively interested in local affairs, holding various offices and was president of the village of Spring Lake during 1879 and 1880. He is a most genial gentleman and very popular with his fellow townsmen.
GEORGE SCHWAB is a native of France. While a child his parents came to this country, and until 1860 he remained in New York. At that time he came to Spring Lake, and in 1861 enlisted in the service with the 14th Michigan Infantry. He served in the war until 1864, when he received his discharge and returned to Spring Lake. In 1868 he went into the grocery business, which he still continues.
GEORGE SEAGROVE was born in England in 1827, and for several years before coming to this country was in the English navy. In 1855 he came to this country and located at Spring Lake, where he has since resided. The first three years after coming here he worked at lumbering, and then bought a fruit farm in the suburbs of Spring Lake, and has devoted his time to the raising of fruit.
JOB S. SESSIONS, of Spring Lake, was born in Onondaga County, New York, in the memorable year of 1812. In 1833 he came to Michigan and first located in Ionia County. In 1867 he removed to Livingston County, where he remained two years. In 1869 he came to Spring Lake, where he has since resided. For many years Mr. Sessions was engaged at farming, and still lives on a fine farm in the suburbs of Spring Lake. More recently he has been engaged in
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furnishing fruit packages to fruit growers, and still devotes most of his time during the season to that business. Mr. Sessions is a brother of Hon. Alonzo Sessions, who was Lieut. Governor of Mich- igan from 1876. to 1880.
WALTER G. SINCLAIR is a native of Illinois, and in 1855 came to Spring Lake from Chicago. For several years Mr. Sinclair was engaged at lumbering in the woods, and in 1879 took the position of foreman and book-keeper for the lumber firm of Sisson & Lilley, in which place he still continues.
O. SLAUGHTER is a native of Holland, and came to this country in 1851. In 1870 he removed to Spring Lake from Eastmanville, Ottawa County, and opened a meat market in which business he still continues.
J. VANDERBERG is a native of Holland and came to Spring Lake in 1858, and has resided here continuously since that time. He has been scaling lumber since 1869.
JOSEPH VOLMER is a native of New York, and came to Spring Lake in 1867, and began work in the mills as engineer. In 1873 he entered the employ of Sisson & Lilley as engineer at their mill, and has continued in that place ever since.
WARNER Voss is a native of Holland, and came to this country in 1853. In 1856 he came to Spring Lake, and for twelve years worked for Cutler & Savidge in charge of millwright work. From 1868 to 1873 he was a member of the lumber firm of Monroe, Thompson & Co. In 1873 the mill burned and Mr. Voss built sev- eral mills up north, after which he returned to Spring Lake, and at the present time is millwright for the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company.
DR. W. S. WALKLEY is a native of Hillsdale, Michigan, and in 1853 came with his parents to Casnovia, Muskegon County. His early life was spent in assisting his father to clear up land and work the farm. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in the 24th Michigan In- fantry. He was in active service until the close of the war, and was then engaged in the Freedman's Bureau in North Carolina. In 1877 he graduated at Ann Arbor, and immediately began the practice of medicine. In 1879 he came to Spring Lake and opened an office. He already has an excellent practice and ranks well among the phy- sicians of the county.
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