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 41
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The Constantine North Addition Land Company began the grading of their tract and raised the first building November 10, 1836; and the Repub- lican discoursed most eloquently on the water-privileges already wanted at the village, for an oil-mill, edge-tool manufactory, paper-mill, and last though by no means the least, a blast-furnace, the material to keep the latter in ope-
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FOUNDRY
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DOORS, SASH & BLINDS>
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MANUFACTORY OF GEORGE AND TWEEDALE, FOUNDERS & MACHINISTS, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, SASH, DOORS & BLINDS. CONSTANTINE, MICH.
117
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ration being declared to exist as bog-ore "in inexhaustible quantities near by."
A relic of the mound-builders was found while grading the north addi- tion, eight feet below the surface, which caused a learned discussion by the editor, who confessed his ignorance and asked of the future archaeologist "more light." Necessaries having become plentier or more easy to acquire, luxuries began to appear and find demand.
J. P. Gladding opened the first jewelry stock in the village, in 1836, and is in trade at the present time. A. Austin also competed with Mr. Gladding, coming from White Pigeon to worship the rising star of Constantine. Robert Shilcook, the first cooper, also began this year.
In the Constantine marine list, Mosely & Massey advertised for informa- tion concerning the schooner "John E. Hunt," then long over-due from Buffalo. A poem by the lawyer of the place, published in the Republican of February 22, 1837, was parodied by a leading merchant in the next number, creating considerable merriment. The new store of Albert An- drus was opened in September, 1837, the St. Joseph river was surveyed from Mottville to Constantine for canal purposes, and the house of W. T. House & Co. was merged into that of Adams, Appleton & Co.
The Bank of Constantine commenced business March 3, 1837, and bird suppers in the director's parlor added zest to the era of good feeling that pervaded the community generally. The state of bliss was too ecstatic to last, and the crash of 1837, and the depression of 1838 toppled over many artistically-wrought castles of ærial foundation and superstructure ; and when " bottom facts " were reached a revulsion was experienced that swept many fine-built schemes into oblivion. But commerce revived, and the St. Joseph remained a natural channel to take the products of the country to the sea- board, and for years, until the railroads came in 1851-52, Constantine was a busy point.
In 1839 Hon. Joseph R. Williams & Co. erected a fine large flouring-mill, having previously bought the water-power of Judge Meek, in 1836. The par- ties interested in this purchase were : George Howland of New Bedford, one- half interest, Hon. Daniel Webster,-the great expounder,-one quarter, which was afterwards assumed by Thomas H. Perkins of Boston, and quarter interest of Mr. Williams, who subsequently acquired Howland's interest for a brother-in-law and his (Williams') father. The mill was completed in 1841, and put in operation, with six run of stone ; Mr. Williams being the manager of the same, and conducting besides an extensive mercantile trade, employing in and about his business twenty men or more. Twenty-five thousand barrels of flour were made per year for many years, which were sold in New York ; from four to six months being occupied in the transit, frequently by the later cargoes in laying over winter at St. Joseph or Buffalo. The receipts for the sales of flour were frequently received a year after the wheat was purchased. The mill was destroyed by incendiarism, and the dams damaged through malice.
In 1843 the first steamboat arrived at the wharves of Constantine, and from thence to 1851 their principal business was towing keel- and flat-boats from St. Joseph to Constantine, and carrying light boats back. In 1845 Governor Barry built his warehouse on piles over the river, so that the steamers and other boats could unload directly therein without extra haul- ing. After the railroad came, and navigation in the river ceased, the ware- house was moved to the bank, where it now stands, occupied by Barry & Eacker.
Lima shipped all of her produce and received all of her merchandize at Constantine until the railroads came. The " Mishawaka" was the first steamboat that came to Constantine, and the "Algona" was a large one which also ran on the lakes as far as Grand Haven. The little "Ruby " made several trips to Three Rivers. The " Red Foxes" were lively little craft, and did a large service in transportation by towing and passenger traffic.
The bridge was built on piles, first with a swing in the centre, and then changed to a high curving arch, sufficient to admit of the passage of steam- boats. The first one was built in 1834, and rebuilt in 1841, and again re- built in 1849, by Nettleton, for one thousand dollars ; individual subscrip- tions, three hundred seventy-six dollars and fifty-nine cents, and the balance raised by tax. It was razed in 1852, before which time it was on the same level as the second-story of Barry's warehouse. The village was
FIRST INCORPORATED
in the spring of 1837, the first board of trustees being elected in May, who were as follows: Dr. Watson Sumner, president; Allen E. Massey, Willis T. House, James M. Hunt, Allen Goodridge, Pierpont E. Grover and Erastus Thurber. Albert Chandler was elected clerk.
The report of the trustees, in May, 1838, showed that three hundred and twenty-eight dollars and seventy-seven cents in taxes had been levied, of which one hundred and twenty-three dollars and ninety-three cents were de- linquent and unpaid, thirty-six dollars were consumed in fees of collection, fifty dollars had been paid for repairs on the bridge, the indebtedness of the corporation amounted to one hundred and ten dollars and fifty cents, and there were fifty-six dollars and seventy-one cents in the treasury.
This corporation lasted until 1839, when it lapsed, and the village was not again incorporated until March 15, 1861, the first election occurring in April, when the following officials were elected: H. H. Riley, president; John B. Shipman, recorder ; Ephraim H. Sheldon, treasurer; Almeron Bristol, Thomas C. Langley, John G. Miller, Levi T. Hull and Joseph Horton, trustees. Isaac T. Mozier and Cyrus Schellhous, assessors.
THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE
built in the village was Niles F. Smith's store, in 1830, and the first brick building erected was the store now occupied by A. Kahn on Water street, east of Washington. It was built by Charles R. Millington in 1856-7. Mrs. David T. Holmes was one of the earliest adults to die in the village, her death occurring in 1833. Mrs. Doctor Sumner and Mrs. Hart died in 1834. Alexander Woods' child died in 1833, and a child of Mrs. True died about the same time.
There are no public buildings other than a calaboose, which was built in 1861, at a cost of one hundred dollars. Planked sidewalks are laid down on all the principal streets. There is no fire-engine provided as yet. The bal- ance of cash remaining on hand at the end of the municipal year, in April, 1876, was seven hundred and sixty dollars. The present officials are as fol- lows : Charles H. Barry, Jr., president; William B. Pierson, recorder. Trustees, Silas Kline, Edward George, Henry E. Moore, Jacob Strohm and James M. Harvey.
MANUFACTURES.
The beginning of Constantine's somewhat extended manufacturing history dates with the erection of Judge Meek's rude pioneer grist-mill, in the spring of 1830. He completed his saw-mill the same season, and also erected a building in which he put his milling stores, and continued his gristing operations. Josiah Fisher, father-in-law of John Hull, of Florence, in No- vember, 1831, put up a shingle-mill adjoining the saw-mill, but before he could complete it and get it into operation, the water froze solid in the race, and not a wheel turned in Meek's mill until spring. Mr. Fisher went to Eschol, and put up his machinery for a time. In 1835 Judge Meek built his second saw-mill. Isaac Benham built the first foundry in 1837. It was a small affair, the power for " blowing" being furnished by a horse, and Mr. and Mrs. Benham pouring out the hot iron into the moulds. They made andirons, and such like goods. In 1836 there was a great influx of manu- factures as before named. Benham put up a foundry on the east side for manufacturing plows. A ship-yard was in operation three-fourths of a mile above the village, by John McMillan, where one steamboat-the " Constan- tine"-was built in the course of some three years, and her engines put in. She was a poor investment, except to advertize the village. Clinton Doo- little, in 1835, and Samuel Abbott, in 1832, were both harness-makers, and Mr. Doolittle is still engaged in the same line in the village. . Hawkins was the first blacksmith, but the shop and tools were furnished by Judge Meek in 1830. Henry Gibler came in October, 1832, and went into the same shop, and bought his first lot of steel and iron at White Pigeon with an order of the judge for seven dollars. Armstrong built a tannery one mile up the creek in 1836, and, subsequently, the father of Governor Bagley built and operated one in the village. House & Ulmann made a few plows in 1836, and Hunt & Grover made fanning-mills in 1834, and Grover continued the business in 1836-7. Mr. Carter built sleighs in 1837, and Beaufait made cabinet and furniture work in 1833, and Gould manufactured chairs about the same time. R. M. Welch built a carding-machine in 1844-5, which was subsequently moved to the present site of the commercial mills, and fitted up for milling purposes by Gardner. After passing through dif- ferent changes of owners, August 1, 1876, it became the property of Mr. D. Frazier, the present proprietor. Samuel Teesdale was the first wagon- maker, and continued in the business until June, 1875, when he was suc- ceeded by S. Cothermon & Co., who began the manufacture of fine carriages. Their new works are on Water street. Stafford & Mitchell manufactured separators in 1846, and carried on for several years an extensive business. Chamberlain at one time manufactured pumps in the village.
In 1841-2 a joint-stock company, composed of mechanics, of which Brush Sutherland, Jason Shepherd, L. L. Richardson and James E. Proudfit were
118
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the leading and controlling members, built a foundry, and put it into opera- tion, to which Stafford and Mitchell afterwards succeeded. David Stafford first bought and enlarged it, and made separator-threshing machines in 1843; in 1859 Mitchell & Stafford, who then owned the works, added the manufacture of reapers and mowers, water-wheels and steam-engines. George & Tweedale own and operate the works at the present time,-Mr. George learning the foundry and machinist trade of Mr. Stafford in the same shop he now owns.
The joint-stock company built a distillery after they sold the foundry, which was afterwards occupied by John Bostwick, and was run until closed by the revenue officers.
Pease & Denis built a foundry in 1851, and operated it by steam. It is now owned and occupied by Rossman, as an oil and soap manufactory.
In 1837 Almeron Bristol, carpenter and cabinet maker, carried on a thriving business, and afterwards extended his line to the manufacture of hay- rakes, doing an extensive trade in that business.
In 1864 Cyrus Schellhous and the Schoefields built a woolen-mill at a cost of twenty thousand dollars, wherein they manufactured good cassimeres and cloths, and employed twenty persons. It was burned November 19, 1872, while Hedges was operating it, entailing a loss of twenty-four thousand dol- lars on stock and building.
In 1868 Peter Lintz built an extensive brick brewery and operated it until 1871, and, failing in the business, it has not been in operation since. He had a small brewery about three miles below the village plat, and ran it successfully for many years, achieving a fine reputation on his " home- brewed ale."
Klinger built a saw-mill on Mill creek, on section 19, in 1830-1.
PRESENT MANUFACTURES.
The Williams mill was burned in June, 1856, and rebuilt in 1860, by Miller, Hagenbuch & Harvey, and is operated by Edwards & Harwood, who now own it. It has always been known as the "Fawn River mills," has four run of stone, is sixty by seventy feet on the ground, three stories, man- ufactured twenty-five thousand barrels of flour in 1876, and is exclusively a merchant mill.
The Commercial mill, now owned and operated by D. Frazier, has three run of stone. is sixty by seventy feet on the ground, two stories, and made seven thousand barrels of flour between August 1, 1876, and the close of the year, besides a heavy custom business.
Samuel Frankish, a well-known gentleman of Centreville was head-miller in the Williams mill for many years, coming to Constantine in 1837.
The foundry of George & Tweedale make heavy castings and machines. They bought Mitchell & Stafford out in 1861, and starting then with merely nothing but energy, determination and industrious habits, they have wrought out of the business the present fine establishment and extensive patronage. They employ sixteen persons.
The saw-mill of Bonebright & French was built in 1848 by Joseph R. Williams, and, passing through the hands of different owners, came into pos- session of the present proprietors in 1866. It has a capacity of four hun- dred thousand feet per year.
The furniture factory of Heywood & Francisco began in the present ware- room with steam-power in 1836. They now employ five men.
A. Bristol manufactured chairs in 1836, and built the present factory of H. E. Eldridge in 1848. He was the first chair-manufacturer in Constantine to use power. The shop is thirty by seventy feet, and seven men are gen- erally employed.
One of the most, if not the most, important improvements projected in Constantine is that of the Hydraulic Company, which was organized Feb- ruary 10, 1868, the corporators being Franklin Wells, Thomas Mitchell, S. P. Davis, Aaron Hagenbuch and H. H. Riley, who organized the company by choosing Dr. Edward Thorne, president; Mr. Wells, secretary, and George I. Crossett, treasurer, who still hold the same positions. Their works were built in 1873, and are as follows : Two race-ways or canals ; one on each side of the river, eighty feet wide, with seven feet depth of water, having a fall of nine feet. The power can be displayed or used on a front- age of more than four thousand lineal feet, embracing sixty acres. Build- ings of brick, two stories, thirty-four by sixty feet, and one twenty by twenty feet, of three stories, with frame structures, all covering an area of five thousand two hundred and twenty-seven square feet. The dam across the St. Joseph is an admirable structure, safely and substantially built. The cost of constructing the works and acquiring the necessary lands amounted to the sum of thirty-five thousand five hundred dollars, and, with one hundred
and sixty-one acres of adjacent lands for overflow, the property is valued at fifty-three thousand dollars. It has never been utilized yet.
HOTELS.
The first hotel kept in Constantine was by Harvey Hunt, in 1833, if not before. He was located on the corner of Water and Washington streets, and the old building, after being used many years, was abandoned for hotel uses, and converted into a tenement-house and known as the "Beehive," and after endangering the business houses for years, it was finally bought by Mr. Langley and moved away. This house was the stage-house, and Hunt and a landlord (Austin) at Kalamazoo, run a line of stages between Constantine, Kalamazoo and White Pigeon, breakfasting at Hunt's, taking tea at Austin's, and lodging at Hunt's, at the south end of the route, and re- versing the same at the north end thereof. This was in 1836. The same year there was a stage line established from Lima, Ind., to Constantine via White Pigeon, W. M. Carey being the proprietor.
The present hotels are the Wells hotel, kept by Henry Root for twenty years, an old resident of Constantine and the second tailor of the village, in 1836; and the Constantine House, Chester Fields, proprietor.
John M. Wells, a son of Joseph Wells, kept the American hotel 1841-6, then built and opened the Wells hotel, managing it until 1850, when he went to California.
THE POST-OFFICE
was first established in the village in 1831, and Thomas Charlton was the first postmaster and held the office until 1835, and was then succeeded by John S. Barry, who held the position until 1840; he was succeeded for a short time by Cogswell, under Harrison, who gave way to John K. Briggs, who was in the office until 1849. J. R. Williams held the appointment in 1849-52, during the Whig administration, and then Briggs came in again in 1853, and did not retire until March, 1861. Then R. E. Case, for the years 1861-5, held the office, and was succeeded for a short time by Nicholas Hill, under Johnson, and then Thomas Calam came in, in 1865, and has still the charge of the mail bags. He was the deputy-postmaster under Case from 1861 to 1865.
The present business of the office is as follows: Stamps sold during the last quarter of 1876, five hundred and ten dollars and thirty-six cents ; money orders issued last six months of 1876, two thousand three hundred and sixty-five dollars, and paid three thousand seven hundred and forty- three dollars and fifty-five cents. There are five hundred and fifty letters received and dispatched daily, and eleven hundred and forty-nine newspapers distributed weekly, and six daily mails received and dispatched.
THE BANKS.
The First National Bank of Constantine was organized under the United States banking law in 1865, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. E. H. Sheldon was chosen the first president, and Peter Haslett the cashier; Aaron Hagenbuch succeeded Mr. Sheldon as president, and held the position two years, and was succeeded by George I. Crossett, who is the present incum- bent, and has been since that time. Mr. Haslett has been the cashier from the first organization. In 1871 the present fine brick building was erected on the corner of Washington and Second streets by the bank for its own offices, which occupy the first floor, and the upper floor for professional offices for rental. Nothing has been neglected to insure the safe-keeping of the funds of the bank and of its patrons, Sargent's chronometer-lock being affixed to a burglar-proof safe, enclosed by a fire-proof vault. The present board of directors are George I. Crossett, president; Peter Haslett, cashier ; Aaron Hagenbuch, Jonas Wolf, J. Mark Harvey, F. A. Hagenbuch, T. J. Morse and Thomas Mitchell. The last published statement, dated Decem- ber 20, 1876, makes the following exhibit of its condition : Loans and dis- counts, eighty-five thousand seven hundred and one dollars and ninety-seven cents ; United States bonds to secure circulation, sixty-five thousand dollars; other securities, seven thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine dollars and fifty-six cents ; due from national banks, reserve agents and redemption fund, twenty-three thousand one hundred and twenty-three dollars and twenty cents ; real-estate and fixtures, five thousand two hundred and sixty-two dollars and fifty cents ; cash on hand, eighteen thousand five hundred and eight dollars and sixty-one cents ; liabilities, capital stock, surplus and undivided profits, one hundred and four thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine dollars and fifty-three cents ; circulation, fifty-eight thousand dollars; individual depos- its, forty-five thousand one hundred and sixty-five dollars and thirty-one cents.
.
RESIDENCE OF A. L. DRIGGS , CONSTANTINE , MICH.
BADTS & SHOES
GROCERIES
WELLS AND GALAM'S BLOCK, CONSTANTINE, ST JOE Co., MICH.
BA
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, CONSTANTINE, MICH.
119
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
THE FARMERS' NATIONAL BANK
was organized December 4, 1874. Directors : Milo Powers, president ; Charles H. Barry, Jr., cashier ; Charles W. Cond, Edward Thorne, A. M. Beardslee, Daniel Shurtz and John H. Eacker, who own all the stock, and are the present board of directors. The statement published in December, 1876, shows the following as the financial condition of the bank : Assets, -- loans and discounts, sixty-nine thousand two hundred and eighty-nine dollars and thirty-four cents; United States bonds to secure circulation, thirty thousand dollars ; due from other national banks, reserve agents, redemp- tion-fund and cash on hand, thirty-two thousand seven hundred and seventy- seven dollars and sixty-six cents ; liabilities,-capital stock paid in, surplus and undivided profits, seventy-seven thousand four hundred and sixty-seven dollars and forty-one cents; circulation, twenty-seven thousand dollars ; deposits, twenty-seven thousand five hundred and ninety-nine dollars. The history of the old Bank of Constantine will be found in the general history of the county.
THE RAILROAD
history of the township and village is given in the general history of the county. The Michigan Southern and Lake Shore is the only road running through the village, and its business for the year 1876 was as follows : Total shipments of freight, eleven millions eighty-three thousand three hundred pounds, including forty-three thousand five hundred and seventy barrels of flour. Freight received six millions twenty-six thousand two hundred and forty-six pounds. Ticket sales, six thousand seven hundred and forty-nine dollars and sixty-five cents. By the courtesy of J. W. Mckinney, station agent, we have been furnished with the above information. The Western Union Telegraph company have an office in the station-house of the rail- road, and W. P. Hibbard is the operator.
THE MINERAL SPRING COMPANY
was organized February 4, 1865, under the name of the "Constantine Pe- troleum Company," to develop an oil-well. The company leased grounds and began operations, going down eight hundred feet, at which depth the drill got fast and could not be removed. Some oil was found, but not in quantity sufficient to warrant further proceedings on its behalf. The water was tested and found to contain mineral and medicinal qualities, and there- fore the name of the company was changed to the one it now bears, Decem- ber 20, 1870. The " Ladies' Town Hall Enterprise Association" loaned the company three hundred and seventy dollars, on condition that the water should be free to the people of Constantine, the money to be refunded out of the first profits, and paid to the Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist and Lutheran churches, equally, with interest at ten per cent. Bath houses were built, and for a time used, but no one occupies them now. The first officers were H. H. Riley, president ; J. B. Shipman, secretary, and T. C. Langley, treasurer. R. C. Kedzie, professor of chemistry of the Micigan Agricul- tural College, gave the following analysis of the water of the well : Total number of grains of solid matter in the imperial gallon, 283.34, consisting of Bi-carbonate of lime, 40.00 Bromide of sodium, 3.15
Sulphate of lime, -
1.67 Bi-carbonate of soda, 41.86
Bi-carbonate of magnesia, 18.92 Bi-carbonate of iron, 1.74 Carriages and Wagons-S. Cothermon & Co., Samuel Teesdale, Robert C.
Phosphate of lime, - 2.10
Silica, -
Chloride of potassium, 66.50 Free carbonic acid, 13 cubic inches.
Chloride of sodium, - 105.30 Nitrate of ammonia, traces.
THE PROFESSIONS.
The first lawyer to locate in Constantine, was George N. Palmer, in 1835, who advertised his profession in the Statesman that year. James Eastman Johnson came next, in 1837; W. C. Pease in 1841, and Hon. H. H. Riley about the same time. Judge Coffinberry came later, having first located at Centreville in 1844, or thereabouts. Judge E. W. Keightley came in 1867, having practiced two years previously in White Pigeon.
The present members of the bar are named in the general history thereof in the county. James P. Langley is the official stenographer of the St. Joseph and Branch county circuit.
THE FIRST PHYSICIAN
in the village was Dr. Tye, an Englishman, who came and opened the first drug-store in the town, in 1831. He was followed by Dr. Peter L. Baldy, in 1833, and Dr. Watson Sumner in 1834, they forming a co-partnership in 1835, and opening a fine drug store. Dr. Sumner continued his practice so long as his health permitted, and died in 1844. He was one of Constan- tine's noted citizens.
This firm was succeeded by Dr. Edward Thorne, still a resident of the village; Doctors Montrose, Marshall, Morse, Force, Chase, Keebles, Kelly, Hibbard, Culp, Thomas and Radley.
The present medical and surgical staff is : Doctors Thorne, Morse, Force, Hibbard, Young, Thomas, Culp and Radley.
The first operator in dental surgery, aside from the regular physicians, was Dr. Galord, who operated in 1836-7, a short time at Dr. Montrose's office. The present dental surgeons are: B. H. Kingsbury and L. T. Dryer. Dr. Eagery practiced some in 1836, and Dr. Butler later.
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