USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 38
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 38
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In 1839 the township voted two hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of building a bridge across the river at the Washington Street crossing, and during the same year Messrs. Ball, Green & Co. erected the first grist-mill. This was a great acquisition to this portion of the country, as previously no grist-mills were nearer than the "Thread Mill" in Flint. Other business enterprises, such as wool- carding and eloth-dressing mills, an iron-furnace, and various small mechanical shops, soon followed, and the village slowly yet steadily gained in importance and population.
It would be a matter of impossibility at this time to follow in close chronological order the further history of Owosso, so far as relates to the names of inhabitants, the precise date of their settlement, and the gradual development of business interests. It will not be attempted therefore, other than to give the names of resident tax-payers at two or three different intervals of time.
In 1844 the tax-paying residents of the village of Owosso, alphabetically arranged, were
Ament, Edward L., news- Gould, Daniel, & Co., fur- naec.
paper publisher.
Ament, Winfield S., black- smith.
Gould, Amos, attorney and owner of grist-mill.
Barnes, John B., physician.
Barnes, Erastus.
Becker, H. W.
Gould, Amos, and others, water-power, and all the land between the mill- race and river, about fif-
Comstock, Elias.
Comstock & Pattison, mer- chants.
teen acres. George, Oscar.
Chipman, Anson B.
Hardy, Seth, elergyman.
Chipman, I. M.
Howell, Simon.
Comstock, Luther.
Moses, Charles M.
Collier, Rufus.
McGilvra, Daniel.
Collier, Orrin. Carr, William A., cabinet- shop.
Pattison, Samuel W., phy- sician.
Chipman, William.
Crooks, Henry.
Perkins, Sprague, brick- maker.
Parkill, George, carpenter.
Phillips, John G.
Conrad, Justus.
wagon- Fletcher, Daniel,
maker.
Roberts, J. P.
Smith, L. V., earpenter.
Goodhue, Charles L., mer- chant.
Simons, William.
Tyler, David F., blacksmith. Tillotson, Matthew N., mer- chant.
Goodhue, J. M.
Griffis, Austin, saw-mill.
Griffis & Whiteomb.
Griffis, Alanson, cooper. Graham, J. N., physician. Gould, Daniel, surveyor.
Williams, Benjamin O. Whitcomb, Samuel II. Whitlock, Joseph,
Additional residents mentioned in 1850 were James M. Williams, William H. Keytes, David Ingersoll, Dr. Charles T. Disbrow, David W. Wheeler, Ebenezer Gould, Samuel Wallace, Ira Merell, Robert G. Martin, Arthur Keytes, Dwight Dimmick, Jesse H. Quackenbush, Lucius G. Hammond, George L. Hall, George Jones, Alexander Clagherty, William R. Chipman, Thomas D. Dewey, Ran- dolph L. Stewart, Joseph Hedges & Co. (woolen-mills), Merrill II. Clark, D. Stewart & Co., George W. Collier, William Smith, and Ezekiel W. Stiekney.
CITY INCORPORATION AND ORGANIZATION.
By the completion of a portion of the lines of the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad in 1856, and the Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay road in 1862, and the activity created in consequence of Owosso becoming a railroad junction, the people concluded that for their better government a city charter was necessary. The village then contained about one thousand inhabitants, and in accordance with their wishes, by an act of the State Legislature approved Feb. 15, 1859, the city of Owosso was created.
Extraets from that aet describe its original and present boundaries, etc., as follows :
" That so much of the townships of Owosso and Cale- donia, in the county of Shiawassee, as are included in the following territory, to wit : Sections 13 and 24, and the east half of sections 14 and 23 in township 7, north of range No. 2 east, and also the west half of sections 18 and 19 in township No. 7 north, of range No. 3 east, being in the county of Shiawassee, be and the same is hereby set off from the said townships of Owosso and Caledonia and de- clared to be a city, by the name of ' the City of Owosso,' by which name it shall hereafter be known."
The city was divided into four wards, whose boundaries were defined as follows : The First Ward to include that por- tion lying north of the centre of Main Street and west of Washington Street. The Second Ward all that portiou lying north of the centre of Main Street and cast of the centre of Washington Street. The Third Ward all that por- tion lying south of the centre of Main Street and east of the centre of Washington Street ; while the Fourth Ward embraced all that portion lying south of the centre of Main Street and west of the centre of Washington Street.
After arranging for the election and appointment of officers, designating their duties, and the enaetment of various laws for the government of the city, it was further ordered that the first election under the charter should be held on the first Monday of April, 1859. The polling- places designated were " In the First Ward, at the inn kept by Jacob Aberle ; iu the Second Ward, at the inn kept by Alfred Stewart ; in the Third Ward, at the store now kept by William Goff ; in the Fourth Ward, at the inn kept by S. J. Harding."
FIRST CHARTER ELECTION.
Pursuant to the provisions of the foregoing aet, the elec- tors assembled at their respective polling-places on Monday, April 4, 1859, for the purpose of electing city officers, and as a result the following-named officers were declared elected : Amos Gould, Mayor ; John N. Ingersoll, Clerk ; Daniel
.
Casper, Felix, wool-carding, etc.
Morton, Benoni.
Parkill, Charles P., an early teacher.
Foot, Philip.
Williams, Alfred L.
149
CITY OF OWOSSO.
Lyon, Treasurer ; E. W. Barnes, Supervisor of the First District ; Elisha Leach, Supervisor of the Second District ; Charles M. Moses, Charles L. Goodhue, Aldermen of the First Ward; Daniel L. Thorpe, Thomas D. Dewey, Alder- men of the Second Ward ; John Gutekunst, George R. Black, Aldermen of the Third Ward ; Stillman J. Harding, Eli D. Gregory, Aldermen of the Fourth Ward ; Ira Mer- ell, Justice of the Peace for the Second District ; George K. Newcombe, Amos M. Kellogg, School Inspectors; Daniel Wait, M. W. Quackenbush, Directors of the Poor ; Robert Hodgkins, of the First District, and Ephraim Gould, of the Second District, Constables.
FIRST CITY ASSESSMENT.
In June, 1859, the first assessment was made on the people residing within the city's corporate limits, and their Dames,* arranged alphabetically, were :
Heartstuff,+ John.
Robinson, W. E.
IHitchcock & Bro.
Randall, A. M.
Howard, Charles.
Randall, E. P.
Ilarmon & Retan.
Russell, John.
Hłowe, E. L.
Retan, B. L.
Ingersoll, D.
Rice, John.
Ingersoll, Wm.
Rushton, Mrs. J.
Ingersoll, Jno. N. Reynus, Russell.
Josenhauns, G.
Stewart, John.
Knill, Henry.
Stewart, M. L.
Kellogg, Amos M.
Smith, E.
Kingsland, Geo.
Smith & Yates.
Keytes, Wm. Il.
Shattuck, Charles.
Kelly, John.
Secord, M.
Kitredge, Frank.
Sly, Wm.
Lyon, W. J.
Struber, L.
Leach, Elisha.
Spencer, Laura.
Lamunion, Abel.
Stewart, A.
Lyon, Daniel.
Simmons, C. B.
Andrews, H. S.
Chamberlin, Levi.
Andrus, W. H. Chapel, G. W.
Aberle, Jacob.
Corbin, Mrs. W.
Ayers, -.
Chipman, Wm. R.
Mullen, D. J.
Taylor, Benj. F.
Almandinger, J. D.
Caille, Joseph.
Moss, Morris.
Todd, Edwin A.
Beckel & Co.
Carr, W. A.
McBain, Newton.
Thorpe, Daniel L.
Bradley, Il. II.
Colt, Mrs. M.
Miller, A.
Van Doren, J. D.
Brooks, Daniel.
Dewey & Stewart.
Mann, J. W.
Whitman, E. A.
Bush, Frank.
Dewey, T. D.
Merell, Ira.
Whalen, Mrs. Sarah.
Bush, G. & E.
Davis, Lewis B.
Mann & Gould.
Williams, A. L.
Burnham, W. D.
Dimmick, D.
Moses, Charles M.
Williams, B. D.
Burpee, M. W.
Decker, S. C.
Morris, W. M.
Williams & Bro.
Bagg, H. C.
Fletcher, William.
Newcomb, Gev. K.
Wait, Daniel.
Bagg, C. C.
Gutekunst, John.
Osborn, L. E.
Williams, A. L. (agent).
Bagg, J. H.
Guile, J. W.
Phillipson, C.
Williams & Co.
Barnes, Erastus.
Gilbert, Thomas.
Pangburn, J.
White, E. E.
Brynell, II. D.
Gute, Fred.
Post, A.
White, E. E. & Bro.
Barnes, Mrs. S. K.
Goodburn, E.
Perry, J. B.
Young, James H.
Babcock, Wm. F.
Gregory, E. D.
Baldwin, George.
Gould, L. A.
Black, Geo. R.
Gould, Amos.
Bellinger, A. D.
Gould & Co.
Barnes, E. W.
Gould, Mrs. I. II.
Beebe, A. M.
Gould, D.
Beebe, Charles M.
Gould & Todd.
State ...
$257.99
County.
382.12
City
990.00
School district. library ...
2148.25
Comstock, Elias.
Howell, Simon.
Howard Street grading.
95.00
Comstock, L. R.
IFurgenhaus, II.
Ilighways.
5.67
Case, William.
Hedges, Joseph.
Cobb, D. J.
Hughes, Geo.
Chipman, A. B.
Hodgkins, Robert.
Chipman, M.
IJakes, S. W.
Collier, Geo. W.
Horton, J.
Collier, Mrs. R.
IFarding, Stillman J.
Collier, C. II.
Holman, Charles.
* These names aro copied from the roll. If any are misspelled the errors must bo attributod to the assessor.
+ Probably Hartsuff.
$3984.II
Sinee its incorporation, and especially during the last decade, many and important improvements have been made. Streets have been filled and graded, miles of side-walks laid, a fire department created, and the many other details neces- sary to the health and comfort of its citizens have been attended to by efficient municipal authorities.
The total amount of tax levied in that year was $3984. II, applied to the following purposes :
Barnum, Mrs. J. A.
Goodhue, C. L.
Burgess, F. W.
Goodhue, S. II.
Parsons, H.
Young, Russell.
Palmer, J. C.
Yates, Joseph.
Quackenbush, M. W.
Collectors' commissions.
80.08
Byerly, Adam II.
Colar, Jacob.
Murray, John.
Van Doren, J. B.
Bennett, J. S.
Cornelius, J. W.
Lewis, Iliram L.
Stillwell, Mrs. M.
Laubengayer, Jno. F. Stewart, R. L. .
Laubengayer, J. B.
Sherman, Mrs. Louisa.
Amnet, W. S. Clark, Robert.
Lyou, Joel.
Smith, Wm.
Miller, John F.
Weeks, D.
25.00
150
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Matters pertaining to its present manufacturing and banking interests, churches, secret associations, etc., will be found upon other pages.
LIST OF CITY OFFICERS.
The following lists show the names of mayors, clerks, treasurers, supervisors, justices of the peace, and aldermen elected during the years from 1860 to 1880, inclusive :
Treasurers.
1860. Amos Gould.
1861. Adam HI. Byerly.
And'w J. Patterson. "
1862. Benj. O. Williams.
1863. Charles M. Moses.
1864. Josinh Turnor.
R. L. Stowart.# Stillman I. Harding.
1865. 16
Charles Y. Osburn. 64
Henry B. Grogory. Andrew G. Kelso.
1867. Anson B. Chipman. And'w JJ. Patterson.
1868. Thomas D. Dowoy.
16
16
=
1869. Benj. F. Taylor.
1870. Edwin A. Todd.
1871. Eli D. Gregory.
1872. David Gould.
1873. =
6
1874.
Nowton Baldwin. =
1875. Win. M. Kilpatrick. 66
1876. And'w J. Patterson. George Colt.
1877. James Oshurn. 66
66
Newton Baldwin. = =
1878.
Thomas V. Perkins.
1879. Jeromo W. Turner.
George Colt. 16
ISSO. Wm. A. Woodard. George W. Loring.
ALDERMEN.
First Ward.
Secund Ward. Third Ward. Fourth Ward.
1860. R. L. Stewart.
Thos. D. Dewey. R. C. Beckwith, Ell D. Gregory.
1861, Chas. M. Moses.
Newton Baldwin. John Gutekunst. Daniel Wait.
1862. Gilbert R. Lyan.
Daniel Lyon. R. (. Beckwith, Jos. J. Newman. Juseph J. Anstin, John Gutekunst. J. B. Van Doren.
1863. Jolin Stewart, 1864, Eli D. Gregory.
Robt. W. Durkeo, Win. S. Boerem. Edwin L. Howe. Bonj. F. Taylor. John Gutekunst. Benj. F. Robbins.
1865. I. M. Chipman.
1866. Edwin N. Knupp. G. L. Hitchcock, Darius Elwell.
M. Hansman.
1867. I. M. Chipmun.
M. A. Gregory .; John Gute.
James F. Yeats.
1868. Cephus W. Clapp. George R. Black. Edgar P. Byerly. Leonard L. Howe.
1809. Jumes Osburn.
Gen. W. Loring. 11. 11. Waters.
N. II. Welcher.
Arthur MeHardy. 1870. Geo. B. Hughes, Chas. P. Parker. Edgar P. Byerly. William Lewis.
1871. Erastus E. White. C. W. Hastings. Juhn W. Thorn. 1872. James Osburn. Benj. S. Rutan. L. C. Brewer.
Henry B Gregory. John Guto.
1871. W. H. Andrus.
Bonj. S. Rutan. =
D. L. Donsmoro. Leonard L. llowe. A. J. Patterson. Eli D. Gregory.
Jumes F. Yeats.
1876. Chas. A. Osburn. Geo. W. Loring. J. F. Wilder- muth.
1877. Nath. A. Finch.
Arthur Mellardy, Geo. W. Chapel. J. F. Wolverton.
1878. Edwin A. Todd.
Oxcar Wells. Edgar P. Byerly, Eli D. Gregory.
1879. Fred. Osborn. Clins. Lawrence. W. J. Westlake. James F. Yeats.
1850. Thomas Nelan. Oscar Wells. F. Wildermuth. Elliott V. Smith.
SUPERVISORS.
First District. Second District. Al large.
1860. Bonjamin W. Davis. M. W. Quackenbush.
1861. Benj. O. Williams.
1862. Ebenczer Gould.
Charles A. Baldwin.
1863. George P'. Moses.
1864. Gco. L. Ilitchcock.
IS65.
Charles E. Shattnek.
1866. Ebenezer Gould.
1867. Ezekiel Salisbury.
J. L. Quackenbush.
1868. Isaac S. Bockec.
Adam Il. Byerly.
1869.
16
1870. David Gould. =
16 Charles Y. Osburn.
1871. 44
# llenry B. Gregory appointed to fill vacancy, May 16, 1861.
+ George W. Loring elected to fill vacancy, April 20, 18GS.
First District.
Second District.
At Large.
1872. Ezekiel Salisbury.
46
1871.
1875.
1876. Tim. M. Templeton. Henry W. Parker. 1877. = Chas. A. Baldwin.
Wmn. M. Kilpatrick.
1878. Leonard L. Howe. 66
1879. Nathaniel A. Finch.
46
Stearns F. Smith.
ISSO.
=
=
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
First District. Second District.
IS61. Elias Comstock. 1863. Tra Merell.
1865. John B. Van Doren. 1867.
1869. Iliram L. Chipman. 1871. Benjamin F. Taylor.
1873. John B. Van Doron. 1875.
66
1877. Lawrenco Van Dusen. I879.
=
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WATER SUPPLY.
Prior to the autumn of 1871 the city possessed no fire apparatus of any description, although the Common Council had voted upon the matter frequently. During the time mentioned, however, fifty leather fire-buckets and soure eight or ten ladders were procured. In the spring of 1870 a hook-and-ladder truck and eight Babcock fire-extinguish- ers were purchased. A fire company-of which Frederick Wildermuth was foreman-was organized at about the same time. But the real organization of Owosso's fire department did not take place until 1876.
In February of that year a Silsby steam fire-engine was purchased, and in April following city fire department officers were elected. Centennial Engine Company, Defi- ance Hose Company, No. 1, Reliance Hose Company, No. 2, and Phoenix Hook-and-Ladder Company were regularly organized during the same year.
Following are lists of city and company fire department officers for the years of 1876 to 1880, inclusive :
City, 1876 .- Thomas D. Dewey, Chief Engineer ; James Osburn, First Assistant; Henry B. Gregory, Second Assist- ant ; Moses Keytes, Treasurer; Newton McBain, Secretary. 1877-79 .- Thomas D. Dewey, Chief Engineer; James Calkins, First Assistant ; John D. Evens, Second Assist- ant.
1880 .- Nathaniel A. Finch, Chief Engineer ; Henry A. Woodard, First Assistant; William Douglass, Second As- sistant ; Warren A. Woodard, Secretary ; Moses Keytes, Treasurer.
Centennial Engine Company, No. . . . : 1876 .- A. E. McCullom,t Foreman; George W. Collier, Assistant Forc- man; L. A. Hlamblin, Secretary ; 1I. B. Gates, Treasurer ; Walter A. Osboru, Engineer; George W. Collier, Assistant Engineer.
1877 .- George W. Collier, Foreman ; Moses Keytes, Assistant Foreman ; Walter A. Osborn, Engineer.
I878-79 .- Moses Keytes, Foreman ; Warren A. Wood- ard, Assistant Foreman ; Walter A. Osborn, Engineer.
1880 .- Moses Keytes, Foreman ; Warren A. Woodard, Assistant Foreman ; George B. Hughes, Treasurer ; George W. Loring, Secretary ; Walter A. Osborn, Engineer ; Frank
# MeCullom resigned in May, 1876, when George W. Collier was elected foreman and Charles A. Baldwin assistant foreman.
1875, Geo. Carpenter.
C. A. Baldwin, Gieo. W. Chapel.
W'm. J. Miller.
Adam Il. Byerly. 16
John H. Champion. Win. M. Kilpatrick. " = Gilbert R. Lyon.
Adam Il. Byerly.
Mayors. Clerks, John N. Ingersoll. Anson B. Chipman.
1866. John B. Barnes.
=
66
Ilenry W. Parker. I. G. Gates.
Jones S. Davis.
llenry C. Knill. H. B. Gates.
I. C. Beckwith. Leonard L. Howe.
1873. George Fanth.
64
=
FACTORY
H
tAt
H
ri
-
PROPERTY OF THE ESTEY MANUFACTURING CO. WEST HAVEN, MICH.
. U.F
ESTEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY. OFFICE & WAREROOMS COR. WASH, & HURON STS. 'HOIN 'OSSOMO
.. 4
15I
CITY OF OWOSSO.
Cherry, Assistant Engineer; Charles Owen and Frank Cherry, Firemen.
Phoenix Hook-and-Ladder Company : 1876 .- J. Fred. Wildermuth, Foreman ; Charles W. Matthews, Assistant Foreman ; John F. Wolverton, Secretary ; J. Fred. Wil- dermuth, Treasurer. These officers have served continu- ously to the present time.
Defiance Hose Company, No. 1: 1876-78 .-- Albert Chip- man, Foreman ; D. Dwight, Assistant Foreman ; George Il. Bedford, Secretary and Treasurer.
1879-80 .- D. Dwight, Foreman ; D. A. Barnum, As- sistant Foreman ; George II. Bedford, Secretary and Treas- urer.
Reliance Hose Company : 1876-79 .- Nathaniel A. Finch, Foreman ; John S. Iloyt, Assistant Foremau ; Isaac S. Cooper, Secretary ; George Smith, Treasurer.
1880 .- Thomas J. Ilorsman, Foreman ; John S. Hoyt, Assistant Foreman ; Isaac S. Cooper, Secretary ; and Fred- erick Osburn, Treasurer.
The city fire apparatus, including two thousand feet of hose, is in good condition, and its water-supply, in case of need, is derived from the river and mill-race, also from two capacious cisterns where a large quantity is stored. Water for drinking and culinary uses is obtained from wells.
MILLS AND MANUFACTURING.
Among the manufacturing interests which once had an existence in Owosso, but have now passed away, was that carried on in the pioneer saw-mill erected by Daniel Ball & Co., in 1837; the grist-mill built by Ball, Green & Co., in 1839, which burned ten years later ; Felix Casper's wool-carding and cloth-dressing works, established some time between 1840 and 1844, in a building now forming part of Woodard's furniture- manufactory and planing-mills ; the woolen-mill which burned in 1867; and the building owned and occupied by the " Owosso Woolen Manufac- turing Company," which was built in 1867, and burned in 1873. These mills all deserve a place in history, and some of them have been alluded to on previous pages.
The manufacturing interests of' to-day are represented as follows: The flouring-mill of Messrs. Dewey & Stewart was established by them in 1850. It stands near the foot of the mill-race, below and on the opposite side from the site of the old grist-mill. It began operations with two run of stones. Gradual additions have been made to its capacity until it now has six run of stones, and will flour sixty bushels of wheat per hour. Power is derived from both water and steam. They have in connection, also, a saw- and feed-mill, which is carried on in a building erected in 1863 as a saw- and plaster-mill.
Messrs. Fletcher & Roberts' grist-mill was built in 1871, the present owners always having had a controlling interest. Steam-power is used, and the work-chicfly custom-is per- formed by two run of stones.
L. E. Woodard's sash-, blind-, and door-manufactory, in connection with his lumber-yard, has been operated by him since 1866. Previously it had been controlled by the Messrs. White Brothers, who first established the business. Thirty men are employed, and his annual sales are from fifty thousand dollars to seventy five thousand dollars.
The Owosso Foundry and Machine-Shop of Messrs. Yeats & Osborn came into their possession in 1876. This is the site of the original furnace or foundry established by Daniel Gould & Co. previous to 1844. Meanwhile it has been owned, enlarged, and occupied by many parties. The business of the present consists in general repairing and the manufacture of pumps, plows, and various agricultural im- plements. Seven men are steadily employed, and power is derived from the Shiawassee River.
The Shiawassee Irou-Works were established by Ran- dolph L. Stewart about 1865. The present firm, Messrs. Howell, Cossitt & Bateman, came into possession iu 1869. Their business is general repairing, the manufacture of en- gines and agricultural implements. From five to ten men are employed. The building occupied is the one formerly" used by Russell Young as a sash-, door-, and blind-manu- factory.
George W. Oakes' sash-, door-, and blind-manufactory was established by himself, July 1, 1879. Ile employs six men.
The Union Mattress Company, which manufactures ex- celsior, husk, hair, and moss mattresses, was established in June, 1879. Seven men and women are given employment.
The Owosso Handle-Factory, now controlled by Mason Wood & Co., was established by Mason Wood and Charles Osborn in 1872. They continued the business about six months, when finding that with their facilities they could not successfully compete with others, operations were dis- continued. Mr. Wood improved the lathes in use, and again successfully engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of handles of irregular forms. He has since had several partners. In the fall of 1879, David Gould assumed an interest, and under the present firm-name eight men are employed, and the most complete wood-turning lathes in operation in the United States are daily turning out scores of perfect hickory handles. Axe-handles are a specialty, and their goods find ready sale in the various States from Maine to Texas.
The Estey Manufacturing Company, composed of Jacob Estey, of Brattleboro', Vt., D. M. Estey, and Charles E. Rigley, of Owosso, Mich., was incorporated as such Feb. 3, 1879, and the actual stock paid in at that date was fifty- three thousand three hundred and fifty dollars. This busi- ness was first established iu 1868 by D. M. Estey, who controlled it until the formation of the present company. A factory for the manufacture of common bedsteads, a saw-mill, store, and village-lots are owned at West Haven, in New Haven township,-a village which has sprung up since the projection of this enterprise. In Owosso City are situated the offices and warerooms of the company. Here also are manufactured ash and walnut chamber-suits, elegant in design and finish, under contract by the Messrs. White Bros. Eighty men receive direct employment by the operations of this firm, and their manufactures, the sales of which amount to seventy-five thousand dollars yearly, are shipped to various points extending from Vermont to Missouri.
The Woodward Brothers' furniture-manufactory has been controlled by them sinee Aug. 1, 1866. The first edifice on the site of their buildings was the woolen-mill, built as early as 1844, and for a number of years carried
152
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
on by Felix Casper and others. In 1855 it was changed into a manufactory of furniture, sash, doors, and blinds, and operated principally, we believe, by the Messrs. White Bros.
The Messrs. Woodards have thirty men in their employ. Their manufactures consist of medium and fine grades of furniture, done in ash and walnut, and their sales aggre- gate twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand dollars yearly.
John Gute established the first brewery in the county in Owosso in 1855, and at first made present-use ale. During the past fifteen years attention has been chiefly devoted to the brewing of lager beer. The Owosso City Brewery has a capacity of two thousand barrels per annum, and is now owned and operated by Albert Gute.
BANKING.
Under the name of D. Gould & Co. and the manage- ment of Amos Gould, banking business was first com- meneed in Owosso in 1854 on the corner now occupied by the First National Bank building. The present building was erceted in 1857, and in 1865 the busi- ness of exchange and brokerage was merged into that of the First National Bank. The latter bank organized with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. It was afterwards increased to one hundred thousand dollars ; but has since been decreased to its present capital of sixty thousand dol- lars. Upon its organization, Amos Gould was elected President, Thomas D. Dewey Vice-President, and Adam II. Byerly Cashier. Messrs Gould and Dewey still occupy the same positions, but the cashier's desk has since been filled by Orville Goodhue, George P. Moses, and Charles E. Hershey ; by the latter since the death of Mr. Moses in November, 1875.
Mr. M. L. Stewart established his present bank of ex- change and brokerage in 1869. He came to Owosso first in 1860, and engaged in merchandising. His present busi- ness house was erected in 1869, when, in consequence of losing his hearing, he relinquished trade and engaged in banking. From a small beginning he has, by the exercise of industry and economy and a strict attention to the minor details of his business affairs, attained his present financial success.
EDUCATIONAL.
Samuel N. Warren, who officiated as clerk at the first township election in 1837, and was elected as one of the assessors at the same meeting, taught the first school in the village, in the winter of 1837-38. This was a private school, and its sessions were held in an unoccupied log house which stood on or near the site of the present brick planing-mill.
Prior to this, however, some action had been taken by school inspectors and the school director, as will be shown by the following extracts from the records : " At a meeting of the inspectors of primary schools of the township of Owosso, held at the office of the township clerk, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1837, Alfred L. Williams and Elias Comstock were present. Elias Comstock was chosen chairman of the board, whereupon it was concluded to set off scetions 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, in township 7 north, of range No. 2 cast, and sections 7, S, 17, 18, 19, and 30, in township 7
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