USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph county, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 28
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In character, Mr. Parker is industrious, economical, and genial. By hard work and prudential management he has become possessed of two hundred and forty acres of improved and finely cultivated land. In politics, he is a Republican ; in religious belief, a Spiritualist. He is generally esteemed as a shrewd business man, a good, practical farmer, and an intelligent and worthy citizen. (See Illustrations.)
RESIDENCE OF D. R. PARKER, STURGIS, STJOSEPH CO., MICHIGAN.
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77
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
hundred scholars on the roll of the school, two hundred volumes constitute the library, and John Q. Wilson is the present superintendent.
The church was reorganized in 1853 (August 13), and incorporated, and J. L. Bishop, William Kyte and P. H. Buck were elected trustees. The pastors settled over the church have been, since Mr. Covey's pastorate, Rev. Charles Newberry, Rev. Mr. Fuller, who was with the church ten years; Mr. Clarke, three years ; Knapp, two years ; C. M. Temple, three and a half years, and Mr. Stevens, the present pastor. During the pastorates of Mr. Fuller and Mr. Temple very interesting meetings were held, and noted accessions were made to the church.
THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
was organized January 1, 1864, the first members of the same being Henry Lohrman, Charles Froh, Fred Pasel, Christ. Froh, Charles Witt, William Witt, Fred Zodawaten and Christin Wagoner. The church edifice, which is of wood, was built in 1871, and is valued at fifteen hundred dollars, and has one hundred sittings. The church at present consists of twenty mem- bers. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Evers, and the second, and present. Rev. Albert Henkel.
THE FIRST GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
was organized in 1869 (September), by the Rev. Mr. Ellis, as pastor, with John G. Seeb, John Kreger, John Schroeder, George Stropegal, Jacob Underkirk and other members. The present neat brick edifice, on the site of the old Methodist Episcopal church, was built in 1869-70, and cost four thousand dollars, and has two hundred sittings. The present membership of the church is seventy-five. A Sunday-school was organized in 1872, with forty scholars, and Mr. Seeb as superintendent, who still holds the position.
The pastors have been, since Mr. Ellis, Rev. Mr. Gera, Mr. Henake, Mr. Eippersoll, and Mr. Rein, the present one.
St. John's Mission of the Episcopal Church was organized in 1873. Rev. W. Forgus is the missionary in charge. There are nine members of the church, twenty Sunday-school scholars, and four teachers.
THE HARMONIAL SOCIETY
of Sturgis was organized September 2, 1858, with J. G. Wait, Harrison Kelly, James Johnson, B. B. Gardener, William Osborn and Nathaniel ' Hutchinson as an executive committee. The church walls were put up that season, and inclosed and finished the next summer. It is of brick, has a round tower, and is located east of Nottawa and south of Chicago streets, next adjoining the Baptist church. It was dedicated June 16, 1859, by Rev. J. M. Peebles, to "humanity and free thought," a large audience being in attendance. December 18, 1870, the constitution was revised and adopted, and signed by fifty-seven members.
A lyceum is connected with the society, which holds its session at twelve o'clock each Sunday. John B. Jacobs was conductor when it was first organized, Mrs. Vance being the present one. The present officers of the society are J. G. Wait, president; Nellie M. Smith, secretary ; Joel A. Fox, treasurer ; B. C. Buck, Joel A. Fox, Mary J. Peck, B. B. Gardner and Mrs. J. T. Graham, executive committee.
SOCIETIES .- MASONIC.
Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 49, A. F. M., was organized under dispensation in 1851, and chartered in the year following. James S. Bishop was its first secretary, and served four years in that station. W. H. Kent was the wor- shipful master in 1853, and Dr. Nelson I. Packard filled that position eleven years, at different times. The other masters have been : B. F. Doughty, Homer Dunne, S. Valentine and C. Jacobs, who is the present incumbent. The lodge has one hundred and nineteen members on its books, in good standing.
STURGIS CHAPTER, NO. 26, ROYAL ARCH MASONS,
was organized by charter, January 8, 1864, with B. F. Doughty as first high priest; N. I. Packard, scribe, and Charles H. Putnam, king. The office of high priest has been filled since the organization to present date by Charles H. Putnam, W. H. Kent, Homer Dunn, C. Jacobs and C. B. Peck.
COLUMBIA COMMANDERY, NO. 18, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR,
was organized by charter, May 15, 1867, with W. A. Kent, eminent com- mander ; H. H. Wallace, generalissimo, and R. H. Morrison, captain-gen- eral. The position of commander has been filled since its organization by H. H. Wallace, R. H. Morrison, Lyman Nolton, W. G. Cummins, N. J. Packard, Z. H. Wallace and Edwin Kelley. The present membership num- bers eighty rank and file. The present officers are E. W. Kelly, E. C .; W. W. Stone, Gen'o; W. G. Cummins, C. G .; Rev. Wellington Forgus, pre-
late ; R. H. Morrison, recorder, and Ira F. Packard, treasurer. The com- mandery attended the triennial conclave of the grand encampment of Knights Templar of the United States, in 1874, held at New Orleans, with forty Sir Knights, under command of Dr. N. I. Packard, E. C .; W. G. Cum- mins, Gen'o ; H. L. Anthony, C. G. The command was highly commended by the press of the city for its soldierly bearing and excellent drill. Many of the wives of the knights accompanied them. R. H. Morrison was with the grand commandery of Michigan as grand captain-general.
EASTERN STAR LODGE, NO. - ,
was organized in 1866, with Mrs. Alexander, M.D., as first worthy president. Mrs. C. B. Peck, Mrs. E. W. Pendleton, Mrs. N. I. Packard, Mrs. E. Wil- letts, Mrs. D. H. Hawley, Mrs. Elizabeth Ayers, and Mrs. Thomas Hill have held the position, some of them two years, and the latter is holding the third term at present. H. L. Anthony is the present vice-president (1876), and Mrs. Vial is the secretary. The lodge has about forty members.
ODD-FELLOWS.
STURGIS PRAIRIE LODGE, NO. 37, I. O. O. F.,
was chartered in 185 -. On July 27, 1860, a new hall was dedicated by the Grand Master - Dennis, Hon. Henry Waldron, member of Congress, being the orator for the occasion. The lodge was highly complimented in the grand master's address at the next session of the grand lodge, as one of the best working lodges in the State. Among its presiding officers (N. G.) may be named Rice Pearsoll, William Allman, Z. H. Wallace, L. S. Ensign, David Knox, R. H. Morrison and P. A. Hubbard. The present officers are E. F. Dunten, N. G .; A. A. Wilbur, V. G .; L. J. Twichell, treasurer, and Thad- deus P. Wait, secretary. There are fifty-seven members on the lodge-books, in good standing. One of its members, R. H. Morrison, has honored the lodge by holding the position as representative to the grand lodge of the United States from the grand lodge of Michigan, in 1870, and that of treas- urer of the latter body since that date to the present.
SCHILLER LODGE, NO. 137, I. O. O. F.,
was instituted January 8, 1870, to work in the German language. Its present officers are John A. Dice, N. G .; Thomas Collins, V. G .; Alvah Hawley, secretary, and has twenty-five members on its roll.
MORRISON ENCAMPMENT, NO. 41,
was instituted April 23, 1871. Its present officers are John A. Banker, C. P .; John C. Merry, H. P .; E. F. Dunten, S. W .; A. A. Wilbur, scribe; O. D. Colwell, J. W .; L. J. Twichell, treasurer. There are twenty-seven mem- bers on the roll of encampment.
DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH.
Jacobs Lodge, No. 9, was instituted -, and C. Jacobs holds the position of N. G., and Mrs. A. A. Wilbur that of V. G. There are about twenty-five members.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Sturgis Grange, No. 332, was organized in the spring of 1874. Its present officers are J. W. Parker, master ; Isaac Runyan, overseer ; Robert Hamil- ton, secretary ; Mrs. Otho Moe, Ceres. There are one hundred and fifty mem- bers in the grange.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
Sturgis Lodge, No. 955, I. O. G. T., was organized in March, 1876, with James Elliott as W. C. T .; H. O. Tuttle, W. V. T., and Ada Kent, secre- tary. The present officers are John C. Drake, W. C. T .; J. B. Phillips, W. V. T. ; Miss Elma Adams, secretary. There are fifty-six members at present in the lodge. There have been other temperance organizations effected, but they have been ephemeral, although they were productive of some good while they were in operation.
STURGIS SACRED TEMPLE, NO. 2,
is an organization the second of its genus in the State, and which exists in no other State, Hillsdale and Sturgis monopolizing the order, which was founded in the former city. Its object is the elevation of women, and no man is allowed to enter the sacred precincts dedicated to his better, though later half, except as an honorary member. The Sturgis society was organ- ized October, 1867, Mrs. General Stoughton being its first mistress. Mrs. Ira F. Packard, Mrs. Thomas Hill, Mrs. C. B. Peck, Mrs. Mary Stowe and Mrs. John McKerlie have each filled the position for two years, the latter being the present incumbent. Mrs. Stowe, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Robert Hamilton are officers of the society, which has forty-three members.
78
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
A LIBRARY AND LECTURE ASSOCIATION
was organized in 1871, with C. M. Temple as president and Mrs. General Stoughton as secretary, and secured lectures by "Nasby," Du Chaillu and Mrs. Livermore. The society has paid five hundred and fifty-five dollars for books, which circulate among its members, of whom there are at present eighty-six, the membership fee being one dollar per year. The association is organized under the statute, and its present officers are E. S. Amidore, president ; L. E. White, treasurer ; Dr. P. H. Van Vleck, secretary ; Laura Page, vice-president ; Mrs. S. Hirsh, librarian.
A former society, called the " Eclectic Literary Association," was organ- ized in 1852, but did not get so far as a lecture-course; but one formed in 1867 accomplished that object, securing lectures from Wendell Phillips, Charles Sumner, Fred Douglass, Professor E. O. Haven and John G. Saxe.
In 1846 a township library was established, and books bought by the school inspector, amounting to sixty-six dollars and seventy-four cents, were distributed among the several districts of the township, pro rata to the schol- ars therein.
In this connection it is proper to say that Major C. C. Hood, who was an enthusiast in conchology, gathered together a very fine cabinet of shells, minerals and fossils ; and when he removed, Dr. Cummins and Dr. N. I. Packard became the purchasers thereof, and have the same, well displayed, in their respective offices.
THE STURGIS AGRICULTURAL AND HORSE-BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION,
for the improvement of horses, principally, was organized January 4, 1867, Luther Savery and Major C. C. Hood being the first president and secretary thereof. The association held four exhibitions, at which some good horses were entered and good time made.
A sheep-shearing festival was held in June, 1868, and some fine equine specimens and their foals exhibited. The last meeting of the association was held June, 1870, and the society is now defunct.
THE STURGIS CORNET BAND,
of twelve pieces, was organized in 1870. The present leader is R. Dye, and A. A. Wilbur is the director. The band performs very creditably, and pro- duces some fine music. During the campaign of 1876 they were called out several times, putting money in their treasury thereby, as well as gaining a good reputation.
TRADE.
The first merchant on Sturgis prairie was a Mr. Clements, who brought a stock of dry-goods for sale as early as 1829. Edwin Kellogg, who came to White Pigeon in 1829, opened a store at Sturgis in 1830 or 1831; and E. S. Swan followed with another not long afterwards.
J. G. Wait went into the mercantile business in 1842, and continued in it until 1857. Wasson & Greene were merchants in the village in 1839, and Major Ullmann kept a little stock, of wet-groceries principally, in 1832.
C. B. Peck, at present in the dry-goods line, has been in trade in Sturgis since 1850. L. E. White, in the same line, has been in the trade since 1859, has a fine assorted stock, and is a heavy and successful dealer.
J. C. Herbert has been in the trade since 1860, and has built from his profits the fine brick block he occupies, thirty by one hundred feet, three stories in height. There are over two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, by fair estimates, employed in the mercantile trade in Sturgis at the present date.
The produce-buyers, James Thornton and Messrs. Sebring & Co., bought, from July 1 to December 1, 1876, one hundred and thirty thousand seven hundred and seventy-six bushels of grain, against one hundred and thirteen thousand two hundred and twenty bushels of the crop of 1875. The value of the amount they bought in 1876, at the average price the market has shown, figures up one hundred and thirty-five thousand three hundred and ninety-five dollars. The First National Bank of Sturgis paid out in one day five thousand five hundred dollars for wheat alone. Their average during the season of 1876 was five thousand dollars per day.
One of the institutions without which the business men of Sturgis would be sorely troubled to conduct their extensive trade and manufacturing inter- ests, is
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF STURGIS,
which was organized in 1865 with a capital of one hundred thousand dol- lars, with the following board of directors : William Allman, S. P. Williams, Z. H. Wallace, Ira F. Packard, N. I. Packard, S. Burnell, Jonathan Holmes and J. J. Beck. The same board of directors are in office at the present time, Mr. Allman being the president; S. P. Williams, of Lima, Indiana, vice-president, and Mr. Beck, cashier, which last position has been held by
Mr. Beck since the first year of the organization of the bank. Mr. Allman, an old-time resident of Sturgis, and a man identified with every interest of the town in its inception or completion, in some way, financially or other- wise, has held the position of president for some years.
The quarterly statement of the bank, dated October 2, 1875, makes the following exhibit : The capital stock paid in, surplus and undivided profits, amount to one hundred and thirty-one thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents; its circulation outstanding amounts to forty- five thousand dollars ; its deposits, subject to draft or on time, were seventy- eight thousand three hundred and eight dollars and four cents ; its loans and discounts amounted to one hundred and twenty-three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars and seventy-three cents; United States bonds, to secure circulation, fifty thousand dollars. There were due the bank from other banks, agents, and the redemption fund in United States treasury, forty thousand two hundred and ninety-seven dollars and thirty-six cents. It owned real estate, furniture, etc., valued at eleven thousand nine hundred and six dollars and forty-nine cents, and had in its vaults in cash, princi- pally legal-tender notes, twenty-five thousand three hundred and sixty-one dollars and forty-eight cents.
R. H. MORRISON & CO.,
in the insurance and real-estate business, conduct a heavy foreign exchange business, in which the firm has been engaged since 1850. Mr. Morrison's father resides in London, and gives personal attention to business in that city, and elsewhere on the Continent, having business connections in all parts of the commercial world.
THE HOTELS
of Sturgis, the successors of Clarke, Ullmann, Raymond and Backus, of the pioneer days, are
The Elliott House, on the site of the old "Exchange," kept by the first two and last-named individuals, and by E. W. Pendleton later (or after 1850), and in the charge of "Pap" Elliott when it was burned, January 1, 1876. It was opened to the public on Christmas following the fire. It is a fine brick building, three stories in height, and will accommodate one hun- dred guests in first-class style and comfort. The hosts are E. W. Elliott & Sons.
The Berridge House is a neat new structure near the Michigan Southern and Lake Shore depot, kept by P. W. Berridge, and will accommodate from forty to fifty guests comfortably.
The Central Hotel and Dining Room, on the corner opposite the "Elliott," is kept by T. M. Sheriff, a most courteous and accommodating gentleman, who is ever actively engaged in looking after the comfort of his guests, of whom he can entertain some thirty or forty.
The old Sturgis House, leased by Elliott & Sons, and occupied while they were building the "Elliott," is now vacant. In front of this house, on the stone flagging which forms the sidewalk on either front, a tablet tells the passer-by that "Judge John Sturgis was the first settler on Sturgis prairie, in 1827."
MANUFACTURES.
The first thing done in the manufacturing line on Sturgis prairie was blacksmithing, and that was confined principally to mending plows, sharpening their points and shares, and shoeing horses.
The first blacksmith-shop was built by Philip H. Buck, and one Filkins was the first smith to work at the anvil.
J. G. Wait began, really, the first manufacturing of any moment in the village, in the year 1835-6, at which time he employed five or six shoema- kers in the work of shoemaking. In 1837 he opened the first cabinet and furniture shop, employing in both lines fifteen men. He was largely engaged at the time, and later, in building, and in 1836 built the first barn ever erected on the prairie.
Previous to 1840, William Morris built a large mill and distillery, which afterwards burned down.
In 1843 Lester & Rolfe began blacksmithing, and the same business, with carriage and wagon-making added soon after, has been carried on to the present, under different names-Mr. Lester closing out his interest in the business the latter part of 1876. Other firms and establishments have grown out from this original shop, some of whom are still in business, and some are not. The present firm, who succeed to the original Lester, is Lester & Kinzie.
C. Burroughs has been in the wagon-making line in Sturgis twenty-five years.
In 1837 D. Page established the first foundry in Sturgis, and one of the first in the county, which was run, through various changes of name and
MISS MILLIE MAY MORRISON
ROBERT H.MORRISON
MRS. MILLIE L. MORRISON
MISS ANNA K. MORRISON
RES. OF ROBERT H. MORRISON, STURGIS, ST. JOSEPH CO., MICH.
79
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
firms, until now it is known as A. T. Drake & Co., and has been so known since 1870. Ten to twelve men are employed.
The first steam-mill was built by Morris & Vesey, in 1847, on the present site of the Methodist Episcopal church. It was burned to the ground some years afterwards.
The second mill was built by A. T. Drake & Co., in 1858, on the present site of Wallace's planing-mill, and was burned also about 1867.
The present flouring-mill was built, in 1865-6, for a warehouse and eleva- tor, and in 1873 was fitted up for flouring wheat, and three run of stone put in, with a capacity of eighty barrels per day, besides custom work. Fisher & Mulford are the owners of the property, and Alexander Beach lessee.
The most perfect manufacturing establishment in Sturgis, and which, for equipment and convenience for handling the product in course of manufac- ture, as well as in the rough, is the
SASH, DOOR AND BLIND FACTORY
of Z. H. Wallace. It was built by Mr. Wallace in 1869; is a frame building, with brick boiler-house detached, the main building being forty by one hundred feet, two stories, situated on the corner of Clay and Hatch streets. Twenty-five to forty men are employed. The latest-improved ma- chinery-for all kinds of work, from the rough-sawing to the polishing of the finished work-is employed, and every thing goes forward. The lumber comes in from the yard to the surfacer or saw, and never goes backward a foot, but is carried steadily forward until completed, when it is delivered on the opposite side of the building from where it entered. The amount of capital employed by Mr. Wallace in his business amounts to eighteen thou- sand dollars. Mr. Wallace has also been one of Sturgis' prominent merchants.
THE STURGIS MANUFACTURING COMPANY
was organized in 1873, with a capital of twenty thousand dollars, for the manufacture of furniture; and while it was operating its works, until Sep- tember, 1876, from fifty to seventy-five men were employed. Its factory is a brick building, forty by one hundred and twenty feet, three stories, and equipped with the most complete and improved machinery that could be had.
We give these two manufactories thus fully, to show the progress that has been made in the county since the first rude mills were made in 1830.
Johnson, Packard & Austin (James Johnson and Frank S. Packard) are heavy lumber manufacturers and dealers, their wholesale and manufacturing yards being at Lockwood. They handle in Sturgis one and a half million feet of lumber and eight millions of shingles and laths.
The Packard Drying Company operate F. S. Packard's patent dryer, for drying fruits and vegetables. The factory has a capacity of about two hundred bushels per day, and twenty persons are usually employed in the season.
The Alden Drying Company have a finely-equipped factory for the pur- pose of fruit-drying by the Alden process, but it is unfortunately in the meshes of the law, and standing idle.
Jones Brothers are manufacturers of Jones' patent portable and factory dryer; they sold one of their machines at the Centennial to go to Australia.
E. H. Funk, patentee and manufacturer of the champion churn, has a factory of two stories, forty by forty feet, operated by steam, in and about which business he employs thirty-five men, shipping seven hundred to eight hundred of his churns per month to all parts of the country. He has been engaged in the business eight years, and has built his trade up to the present status from a beginning of nothing but his "dash."
The following is the
BUSINESS OF THE PRESENT.
Trade.
Dry Goods and General Merchandise-L. E. White, C. B. Peck, D. Naylor, J. G. Seeb, Hirshfield & Dembuffsky, J. C. Herbert.
Hardware-O. Shepardson, W. E. Rundell.
Groceries and Crockery-Olmstead Brothers, S. Valentine, H. B. Champ- lin, J. Alexander, W. A. Wight, Lester & Merrick, A. W. Dice, L. J. Twichell, A. Rommel, A. V. Merrill (thirteen years).
Produce and Live Stock-James Thornton, Sebring & Co. (of Kalama- zoo), Charles B. Buck, Buck & Stowe.
Clothing and Furnishing Goods-Cahn & Somers, Hirsh & Frank.
Boots and Shoes-S. D. Flowers, H. Ely, S. Homan.
Books and Stationery-William Harrison, E. M. Roberts.
Furniture and Undertakers-E. S. Barnes, A. S. Munger, M. H. Warren & Co.
Musical Instruments-A. S. Munger, E. A. Jones.
10
Jewelry and Watches-G. N. Fairbanks, George Harris.
Drugs and Medicines-Henry L. Anthony, Frank Hibbard, Henry S. Church. Mr. Anthony has some very fine ornamental carving in black- walnut in bracket-work, in the form of wreaths and fruit-hand-work of a young artist in the town-displayed on his panels and medicine cases.
Photographers-William Reiterman, eleven years in the business, and a first-class artist in all the departments of his business ; his studio is fitted-up with the latest improvements in the art, and he himself is an enthusiastic artist. Frank Barrow.
Upholstery and Mattresses-Caldwell Brothers.
Markets-George Rogers, Lewis Zent, A. C. Russell.
Millinery and Ladies' Furnishing Goods-Mrs. Bennett, Mesdames Miller and Bagg.
Livery-E. T. Parker, " Exchange Livery."
Agricultural Implements-Sidener Brothers.
Insurance and Real-Estate-R. H. Morrison & Co., A. F. Patch.
Confectionery-C. A. Palmer.
United States Express-Henry S. Church, agent.
Manufactures.
Sash, Doors and Blinds-Z. H. Wallace.
Saw and Planing-mill-Jacobs & Sons.
Flouring-mill-Alexander Beach.
Churns-E. H. Funk.
Wagons and Carriages-Lester & Kinzie, Lester Brothers, John Shep- herd, C. Burroughs, Thomas Collar.
Fruit-dryers-Jones Brothers, Packard Dryer Company.
Pumps-Merry & Kennedy, T. I. Booth. The former make windmills, and the latter a device of endless-chain buckets.
Harness-William Lockwood, P. A. Smith, William McMichael.
Marble-cutting and Stone-yards-Kane & Bath, Thomas M. Perrin.
Cigars-B. Housinger, A. A. Wilbur.
Brewery-John Wagner.
Blacksmith-John Jones. The wagon-makers have shops for smith-work. Carriage-trimmer-George W. Beebe.
There is a capital of about one hundred thousand dollars invested in the manufacturing business of Sturgis, which employs two hundred persons the greater part of the year.
The business prosperity of the village may be gathered somewhat by the building of dwellings and other edifices in 1875 and 1876. In the former year seventy-five dwellings were erected, and all are now occupied, together with twenty-five additional ones put up in 1876. During the latter year there were also erected the new school-house, the Elliott House (and a block of several stores adjoining), all of which are now completed and occu- pied. There has been a steady, healthy growth of the village during the panic times, since 1873-the railroad business, a pretty sure indicator, show- ing a regular increase in 1875 and 1876 over the previous years.
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