USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich. > Part 82
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is a part of Comstock's hotel. Many are the stories told of the days when everybody was "hard-up,"and lodging could scarcely be obtained anywhere ; in fact, there were no houses except little cabins that were already filled to overflowing. The entire floor of Comstock's hotel was frequently covered with tired men, who for lack of better accommodations were forced to lie upon the bare floor with only a coverlet. The man who was unfortunate enough to snore and awaken his fellow lodgers was obliged by the law of custom to sit up and keep a fire burning until an- other unfortunate was in like manner compelled to take his place.
There are many men now living in the vicinity of Ithaca who have assisted largely in building up the village, none of whom perhaps deserves greater credit than W. W. Comstock. Always ready to aid any en- terprise, he disbursed his means with a liberal hand, and nearly all the early business ventures were under- taken and carried to completion by his financial aid. He resides upon a farm near the village, happy in the thought that his efforts were the means of accomplish- ing great good for the town of his choice.
Village Incorporated.
HIE village of Ithaca was incorporated and & its first officers elected Nov. 16, 1869. The territory is enclosed by the following boundary : "All the territory in the county of Gratiot, and State of Michigan, commencing at the quarter- post on the south side of section thirty-one (31), in Emerson Township, thence running north one-half mile, thence west one mile, thence south one-half mile, thence east one mile, to the place of beginning, comprising portions of the townships of Emerson, Arcada, Newark and North Star, in said county and State.
William E. Winton was elected first President of the Board of Trustees.
Trustees-Nathan Church, William W. Comstock, A. W. Russell, D. Taylor, Andrew J. Utley, C. E. Williams.
Clerk -- James W. Howd.
Treasurer-W. D. Scott. Assessor-E. C. Cummings.
Marshall -- E. N. Du Bois.
Street Commissioners-C. N. Howd, Henry Kink- erter, B. F. Shepard.
Business Interests.
De . nly for a few years past has the village assumed a healthy growth. The more for- tunate towns on either side had railroads, which gave them facilities not possessed by Ithaca for the purchase and shipment of grain and lumber. As the result, what rightfully be- longed to her was given for years to her neighbors, thus building up in a substantial manner the mer- cantile and other business of the towns of the county. The growth of Ithaca was retarded in the same pro- portion as her trade was taken away, and for many years few improvements were made. The growth was healthy, however; but with the new railroad came a boom and the town received an impetus which places her on an equal plane with St. Louis, Alma and St. John's. A market for all the produc- tions of the country is found here, and prices rate the same as elsewhere. New life is apparent, and the business industries of the place are springing up on every hand. During the next ten years, Ithaca will surprise even the most sanguine in the extent of her improvements and substantial growth. Where the massive oak stood in its grandeur a few years ago, are now beautiful lawns upon which stand tasteful cot- tages, surrounded by all that wealth can procure or the comfort of man require. In place of the primi- tive log huts in which a few groceries were packed, are magnificent brick blocks, which would do credit to cities of great pretentions, and the attractively arranged display of merchandise indicate the cul- tured tastes of her people.
William C. Beckwith has been continuously en- gaged in the furniture business since 1861, which makes him the pioneer dealer in the county. His factory is well equipped with machinery for the manu- facture of sash, doors and blinds. Irving Wright owns an interest in the furniture manufactory.
The extensive saw-mill and butter-tub factory owned and operated by Mr. W. F. Thompson, is a source of much revenue to the farmers in the vicinity of Ithaca. This enterprise was put into operation in
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the fall of 1883, and has a capacity of 20,000 feet per day in the lumber, and 600 tubs per diem in the manufacturing department. Mr. Thompson gives employment to 30 men, and has orders for more goods than he can manufacture. Thousands of dol- lars' worth of logs fill his ample yards, and he esti- mates that Gratiot County can supply the material to keep his mill in active operation for the next five years.
The Stare Factory of Messrs. Richards & Althouse is also quite an addition to the manufacturing inter- ests of Ithaca, and a large amount of timber is used by the firm. They employ a large number of men, and expend thousands of dollars annually for material in this village, aside from their extensive mill at St. Louis, which has a larger capacity than this.
The Postoffice is not yet a " salaried " one, but the commissions have lately been overrunning the amount required to constitute one. Robert Smith, the editor and proprietor of the Gratiot Journal, is Postmaster, and has recently removed the office to a neat and commodious building at the corner of Cen- ter and Pine Streets.
William Pullen is largely engaged in the manu- facture and sale of furniture, and carries a splendid line of goods. In addition to the saw-mills and planing factories there are several wagon and buggy manufactories, a number of blacksmith and harness shops, a foundry, a splendid grist-mill, and three ex- cellent livery barns.
Livery .- Messrs. Peet & Johnson, J. P. Whitman A. Sons, and L. M. Lyons represent this business.
Wilbur Nelson, of the firm of Nelson & Barber, is the oldest merchant in the city. Their stock is the largest carried by any firm in the county; it consists of general merchandise suited to the trade in this neighborhood. Their business in the line of mer- chandise alone amounted to more than $100,000 in 1882.
Messrs. Scaver & Lewis also have an extensive line of merchandise, and occupy elegant quarters.
George Richardson is proprietor of the finest drug- store in the village, making his purchase of Dixi Ilall, Jan. 1, 1884. There are three other places where drugs may be obtained, but all handle some other line of goods.
Elevator. The large elevator belongs to Nelson
Barber, the senior member of which gave not only Ithaca but also St. Louis its trade in wheat.
Hotels-Are two in number, the " Retan House " and " Commercial Hotel." The former hotel is under the management of Messrs. Retan & Covert, the other under the supervision of Mr. Charles Vaughn. Both hostelries are crowded to their utmost capacity and the guests are well pleased with the accommo- dations.
Banks .- Two banks are necessary to transact the business of the village and country adjacent. The first to commence a legitimate business in this line were Church, Bills & Co., on July 1, 1877. They are pioneers in the banking and collection business, and have a good building, centrally located, a bur- glar and fire proof safe, and all the capital necessary to carry on the enterprise in a successful manner. W. B. Scattergood is cashier. The firm is com- posed of N. Church, W. B. Scattergood, M. H. Church, O. P. Bills, Wilbur Nelson and Mrs. C. Bills.
Steel, Turck & Co. opened their doors in 1879, and do a general banking business. They have ex- cellent quarters in the Jeffrey building, and the firm is composed of wealthy gentlemen who report the business in a prosperous condition. Mr. John W. Lewis is Cashier, with R. M. Steel, J. Hicks, J. W. Lewis, J. M. Thurber, J. H. Seaver, W. E. Winton, J. Scriven, Mrs. Louisa Seaver and Josiah Upton as stockholders.
Millinery-Is well represented by three prosperous stores. The ladies of Gratiot are well dressed, and present to the best advantage everything which can be gained from the dressmaker's and milliner's art.
Real Estate .- Mr. S. W. Ambler does an exclusive real-estate business, and is one of the most reliable and best known men in the county. Mr. Nathan Church carries on a real-estate and abstract office in the rear of the bank. His loans have been so se- curely placed that, in making the same to the extent of one and one-fourth millions of dollars, not one was ever lost, nor was the land mortagaged taken to pay the loan.
The Legal Profession -- Is represented by a num- ber of able lawyers. Judge William E. Winton, and Mr. Elisha McCall are the two oldest members of the Bar in the county. These two men have been pitted against each other for more than a quarter of a cen- tury and many a hotly contested case has been gained
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by their eloquence and knowledge of law. Hon. Giles T. Brown, B. H. Sawyer, John Winton and E. H. Ashley complete the members of the Bar residing in this village. All are talented men and enjoy ex- cellent reputations as expounders of Blackstone.
Michigan State Mutual Relief Association is lo- cated here and is doing a nice and rapidly increas- ing business. T. S. Barnes is the Secretary of the society.
Medical Profession-Is well represented by sev- eral physicians, of whom Dr. Charles W. Marvin and Dr. W. D. Scott are the oldest; Dr. Marvin came in 1860, Dr. Scott four years later.
Dr. J. H. DeMay is a very popular physician, and, although a young man, enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Although the village of Ithaca and the surrounding country is considered remarkably healthy, the large population and the diseases peculiar to the northern climate make the services of good physi- cians necessary.
Ithaca Brass Band .- The Ithaca Brass Band was organized in May, 1883, and numbers 21 pieces. As an amateur band they have few equals, and have re- ceived universal praise in every town in which they have appeared.
It is under the efficient leadership of Mr. William Pullen, who is without a peer as an instructor. The names of the members are, Ellis Fuller, Charles Brown, George Fink, Rolla Peet, Ed. Crawford, Dr. J. H. DeMay, George Lewis, Dewitt Johnson, Arch- ibald McCall, Fred Fox, Frank Sutliff, John Beller, Will Moye, Charles Baker, Frank Keys, Arthur Stur- gis, Charles Wilson, Ambrose Brooks, M. J. Criss and Wm. J. Paine.
Ithaca has reason to feel proud of her band, and should encourage the boys with financial aid in pro- curing such uniforms as they deserve. The reputation of any village or city is enhanced by culture, and music forms one of the chief factors.
Fire Department .-- This is well equipped. having a splendid force pump, worked by horse power, of the celebrated Howe's patent, which has a capacity of throwing 18 barrels of water per minute. With this effective apparatus is 700 feet of three-inch hose. There is also a hook and ladder outfit, supplied with four Babcock extinguishers. Mr. J. W. Lewis is Fire Marshall, O. F. Jackson, Fire Warden, and the company number 45 active men. The force pump
cost $1,200, and works to perfection. Water is pro- cured from the city water works, which empties into several large underground reservoirs at convenient places in the village. There are few villages the size of Ithaca that are better prepared to protect property from loss by fire, and none have a more complete outfit.
Opera-House Block,- With all the conveniences of churches, schools etc., the need of a substantial opera house was anticipated by Messrs. Wilber Nel- son and Nathan Church, who erected a neat and im- posing building for this purpose. The lower story is occupied by Nelson & Barber, with a large stock of merchandise. The opera house is well arranged and seats comfortably 400 persons. The stage is a model of convenience, and the appurtenances were furnished by artists of merit. The citizens of Ithaca have rea- son to be proud of this building which is so neces- sary to their enjoyment, and Messrs. Nelson & Church have erected not only a monument which will always be a reminder of their business enterprise, but their investment has enhanced the beauty and worth of the business center fully 100 per cent. The Opera- House Block was completed in 1878, at a cost of $12,000.
Bank Block .- The best evidence of prosperity of the business men in any village is the erection of substantial business buildings. Of these the hand- some brick block erected by the heirs of John Jef- frey is one of the finest and most imposing structures in the county. It is built of brick, artistically trimmed with stone, and is three stories in height, with a large, airy basement. The building was com- pleted in 1880, at a cost of $20,000. It is an orna- ment to the business portion of the village.
Educational.
N educational matters the public schools of the county form an important part. Ithaca leads with the finest school building, it hav- ing cost when completed in 1884, together with the site, $23,500. The two former school buildings were located at the corner of Centre and Maple streets, but were both destroyed by fire. The corner stone of the new building was laid with
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appropriate ceremonies, on Friday, June 15, 1883, and the same was ready for occupancy Jan. 1, 1884. It is a handsome brick structure, trimmed with stone, two stories high, with a large, airy basement, built upon the latest improved plans as regards ventilation and utility. The entire structure is heated by two large furnaces and the rooms are furnished with all the recent improvements in furniture and equipments.
There are 300 pupils enrolled, although the last school census gave a total of 410. The seating ca- pacity of the school building accommodates 600 pu- pils. The gymnasium, in the third story, and the nice play rooms in the basement form important features in the athletic training of the youth of both sexes. There is also a nice library belonging to the school district which comprises over 400 volumes, and fifty dollars is annually expended in the purchase of new books.
The schools of Ithaca are a credit not only to the village, but the county as well, and this will induce many substantial men to locate here for the purpose of educating their children. The school site is sit- uated on a beautiful elevation containing three acies, at the head of main street.
County Buildings.
IRST, it may be observed, that the county buildings are ample and well constructed. The court-house is a neat two-story frame building, with rooms for county officers in the lower story. It was erected in 1870, on the site donated by John Jeffrey. The entire cost of building, furniture, etc., was $10,000.
The Sheriff's residence and jail was completed in 1878, which together with the site cost the county $12,000. This building is a handsome and substan- tial brick structure, built in modern style, and is not only an elegant but a very secure building. Sheriff K. P. Peet keeps the premises in fine condition, and the jail, in a sanitary point of view, cannot be much improved.
Ithaca is destined to become an important city. Situated as it is, in the midst of an excellent agricult- nral district, with railroads tapping all the important commercial centers, her future is assured.
Cemetery.
HE cemetery is beatifully located, and ad- joins the corporation on the northwestern boundary. It comprises five acres of land, which gently slopes away from the village, and the neatness in which it is kept under the man- agement of the Cemetery Association is credit- able to the officials in charge.
The original association was composed of 13 mem- bers, and was organized in 1863, with W. W. Com- stock as President, Emery Crosby, Clerk, and Judge Elijah Peck, Treasurer.
The grounds are nicely underdrained and are at all times accessible. The first body interred was that of Mary Nelson, a daughter of Rev. Francis Nelson in September, 1864.
Ithaca Township.
THACA Township was organized by a spe- cial act of the Legislature in 1881, which was rendered necessary from the inconven- ience in voting, the village plat comprising a section of each of the townships of Arcada, Newark, Emerson and North Star. This also caused a reorganization of the school district, which has resulted beneficially to the village in many re- spects. Abraham Russell has represented the town- ship since its organization as Supervisor. The terri- tory, although small, demands considerable attention on his part, and he has given general satisfaction on the Board.
Church History.
MONG the numerous evidences of the in- tellectuality and morals of any community, the churches stand pre-eminent as the basis in measuring the standard. Gratiot County, in this respect, equals and even excels some of her sister counties whose advantages have been meas-
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urably greater. The advent of several ministers dur- ing its early settlement tended largely to promote the cause of religion, and through their efforts was the interest in theological matters maintained. The names of these reverend gentlemen are mentioned else- where, and their zeal and untiring devotion to the cause has met with a fitting reward.
Baptist Church .-- This is the pioneer organization of the religious denominations in this village, a soci- ety being formed by a number of persons July 18, 1857.
The meeting was held in Ithaca, Rev. Israel Fay being Chairman, and J. A. Guthrie, Secretary. The following persons were present and became members of the society, which is known as the First Baptist Church of Ithaca. At this meeting Lafayette Church received sanction from the society to preach, and for a number of years he ministered to their spiritual wants. Elder Fay was an ardent worker, and did much in an early day to promote the cause of religion in the neighborhood.
The Deacons chosen at this meeting were: La- fayette Church, N. Thomas, Sether Dean, S. S. Hast- ings. J. A. Guthrie, Secretary.
.
The organization being thus completed, the names of those present were enrolled, consisting of: Na- than Thomas, E. W. Mead, William Allen, George Luce, Lafayette Church, Jacob E. Bullock, Sether Dean, Sidney S. Hastings. J. A. Guthrie, Christopher Dingman, Hiram Burgess, John Jeffrey, Rexonia Fay, Lydia Thomas, Rachel Mead, Mary Allen, Nancy Luce, Amanda Church, Hannah M. Bullock, Miran- da Dean, Julia D. Hastings, Emma M. Guthrie, Mother Ray and Mary Bradshaw.
Meetings were held in the school-house until the completion of their church in 1867. The member- ship has always been a large one, the records now having eighty names enrolled on its pages. Rev. D. M. Christie, an able divine, is pastor, whose efforts are meeting with a fitting reward.
The society suffered a great loss on March 13, 1884, by the burning of the church edifice. As there was no insurance, and the church being already burdened with a debt of over $400, the building having been sold under mortgage in 1883, the loss will be keenly felt. A larger and finer church will, however, take the place of the former, as the enterprising people of Ithaca have gladly contributed to the building fund.
Congregational Church .- In the pleasant month of June, 1866, a few persons met at the residence of Judge William E. Winton, to discuss the question of organizing a Congregational society in this village. After a conference they decided to meet at the same place next day and complete the organization. Sat- isfactory preparations were made and the meeting adjourned until the evening of June 7, when the fol- lowing named persons met at the school-house and formally organized the society : Judge William E. Winton and wife Marietta, Dr. Charles W. Marvin and wife Martha, Elijah and Sally Peck, Zachariah Hoag, Mrs. Mary A. and Miss Helen C. Hoag.
Rev. Samuel Sessions was engaged as pastor, and commenced his labors Dec. 7, 1866.
The first communion service was held the first Sab- bath in May, 1867, at the Advent Church, and their Sabbath-school was organized in the same month.
Rev. Edwin Shaw was called to this pastorate in February, 1869, in consequence of the resignation of Rev. Sessions, and took charge of the congregation until August, 1871, when Rev. Edward Cleveland was called, and preached one year. The member- ship had grown until there was a real necessity for building a church, which was completed in 1868, and dedicated July 29 of that year. The Chapel was clear of debt and the members active workers, thus making it a thriving organization from the beginning.
Dr. Charles W. Marvin was elected Deacon at the annual meeting in July, 1872. He still retains the office of Clerk, which position he has held for many years. The membership has maintained a healthy, although moderate, growth, and the congregation is composed of the best class of people in the village and vicinity.
An addition was built to the chapel several years ago, but need of more room will necessitate the erec- tion of a new building in the near future.
The Trustees first elected were : Chas. W. Mar- vin, Zachariah Hoag and Wm. E. Winton. Deacon, Elijah Peck.
The attendance at their Sabbath-school equals if not excels that of any other denomination in the vil- lage. In this branch of theological education the Congregational people take great pride, and the de- meanor of the youth of Ithaca is in a great manner due to their excellent training at the Sunday-schools in the village.
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Rev. F. L. Bristol, the present pastor, is a learned and gifted gentleman, whose sermons are the means of attracting large and intelligent audiences. His salary is adequate to his needs, and is promptly paid by his parishioners.
Seventh-Day .Adventists .- The following brief sketch of the origin and progress of the Seventh- Day Adventists was furnished us by Rev. Frank- lin Squire :
Our field of inquiry leads us back only to the great Advent movement of 1840-4. Respecting that movement it is presumed that the public are more or less informed ; but they may not be so well aware of the causes which have led since that time to the rise of a class of people calling themselves Seventh-Day Adventists.
Adventists looked for the end of the world in 1844, because it is said in Dan. 8: 14, that at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days the sanctuary should be cleansed. They believed those days would end in that year. They held that the earth was the sanctuary then to be cleansed, and that its cleansing was to be accomplished with fire, which would ac- company the manifestation of the Lord from heaven. Ilence they supposed the Lord would then come. There were, of course, many other facts and argu- ments in support of the view that the second coming of Christ was near; but what we have stated was the principal argument for fixing upon that particular time for the occurrence of this great and important event.
The time passed, and the coming of Christ did not take place as was expected. It then became appar- ent that a mistake had been made in one or both of the following points: either the period of 2300 days did not end at that time, or the cleansing of the sanctuary was not to be the burning of the earth by fire at the second coming of Christ. While there was a possibility of their being mistaken on both these points, a mistake on either one would be suffi- cient to account for the fact that the Lord did not then appear.
A movement which had enlisted the whole inter- est of thousands upon thousands, would not, of course, be abandoned without reflection. The ground was looked over, and two methods adopted for ex- plaining the disappointment. One class jumped to the conclusion at once that they were wrong on time, and the prophetic periods had not ended. Another class, on a careful survey of the whole field, im- pressed with the strength and harmony of the argu- ment on chionology, saw no ground to change their views upon that point, but became satisfied that the mistake lay in the subject of the sanctuary and its cleansing. This class are the ones now known as
Seventh-Day Adventists. This brings us to note
THE DIFFERENCE
Between Seventh-Day Adventists and First-Day or No-day Adventists, as respects chionology. The latter, believing that the prophetic periods were given to inake known the time of Christ's coming, and that they have not yet ended, are held to one of two con- clusions : either that all that is said in the Bible about these periods is so much of revelation unrevealed, or else that the time of Christ's coming is to be known. The first conclusion, as consistent believers in the Bible, they cannot adopt, and hence their continual efforts to re- adjust the prophetic periods and fix upon the time for Christ to come. From this has arisen, in these latter years, all the fantastic time-setting which has very properly disgusted the world, and worse than this, has brought reproach on prophetical study. On the other hand,
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS SET NO TIME.
They do not believe that any prophetic period given in the Bible reaches to the coming of Christ, or was designed to mark the day or year of that event. As already noticed, they believe that the chronological argument of the great Advent movement of 1844 was all right, locating the termination of the longest prophetic period, the 2300 days, in the autumn of that year. The prophecy said that then the sanctu- ary should be cleansed. That sanctuary they found to he, not the earth, which is never so called, but the sanctuary of which Paul so fully and definitely treats in his epistle to the Hebrews, "the sanctuary " and " true tabernale" in heaven, "which the Lord pitched and not man," of which Christ, our great High Priest, is minister while "on the throne of the Majesty of the heavens,"-Heb. 8 : 1, 2. The tabernacle erected by Moses in the wilderness of Sinar about 1500 years before Christ (Ex. 25 and onward), which was the sanctuary of the first covenant (Heb. 9: 1), from that time till the first advent, was a type, figure, or pattern of this heavenly sanctuary of the new covenant. Heb. 9: 9, 23, 24. The ministration of the sancti- ary consisted of two grand divisions, which were ac- complished every year : the daily ministration, and a brief service in the most holy place, or second apartment of the sanctuary, which completed the yearly round of service. This latter work was called the cleansing of the sanctuary, and was performed by the priest. So, likewise, the cleansing of the heav- enly sanctuary (Heb. 9 : 23) must be performed by Christ while yet a priest, before he takes his kingdom and appears in his glory.
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