Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 87

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 856

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Fire Department.

WO volunteer fire companies have been organized in this village. The Hose Com- pany consists of 26 men, with Alex. Neil, Foreman ; Ferd. Montigel, Ist Asst .; Albert Bahlke, 2d Asst .; Ferd. Montigel, Treas., and Chas. L. Delevan, Sec'y. They have 500 feet of hose, and were organized Aug. 11, 1882.

The Hook and Ladder Company was organized a year later, and have a membership of 18. They have a full complement of ladders, buckets, etc., and for the high buildings this company is a very avail- able safeguard. Marcus Pollasky is Foreman, M. D. Fuller, Ist Asst., M. Montigel, 2d Asst , Ben. C. But- ler, Treas., Ed. R. Schneider, Sec'y.

Churches.

Congregationalists .- August 11, 1872, thirteen per- sons organized themselves into a society to be known as the First Congregational Church of Alma. This number was composed of the following named per- sons: Geo. W. Jennings, Mrs. Utensia Howe, Mrs. Mary Clark, Mrs. Anna M. Pierce, Mrs. Louisa Hall, Mrs. - Truesdel, Mrs. Mary E. Scott, Miss Anna Crane,' Deacon J. I. Robinson and wife, Rev. H. M. Holliday and wife.

This society has about 40 active members, and services have been regularly conducted, together with Sunday school meetings, since their organization. The first Deacons were J. I. Robinson and C. M. Scott. Rev. H. Holliday, Clerk.

The Congregationalists will have the finest church edifice in Alma. The foundation is already laid, and will be completed before the close of 1884. The plans are entirely modern, and the building when complete will cost $4,000.

Rev. C. II. Stevens is the present Pastor.

Alma Methodist Church .- Previous to the perma- nent organization of the present society, there had been a class of Methodists at this place, but by reason of parties moving away and otherwise, affairs did not assume a degree of permanency until the spring of 1871. Wm. Bamborough and wife, Jesse Tompkins and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Tann were members of the first class. In 1871, a series of revival meetings were conducted by Revs. Wells and Theo. J. Hill, which resulted in a large number of conversions, and many persons at the close of the meeting united with the Methodist Church. Conference sent Rev. J. K. Stark to preach to them, and movements were set on foot for the building of a church.

Rev. Noah Fassett, the Pastor, laid the corner-stone in June, 1873, in which year the church was comple- ted and dedicated. Rev. F. B. Bangs presided on this occasion. The Methodist church is a very pret- ty and commodious edifice, the congregation is out of

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debt, and the membership is quite large. Rev. Jonas N. Staly has ministerial charge of the society and is stationed at Alma. The Methodist Sunday-school is a source of pride to the society, the attendance aver- aging to7 scholars, although there are three other schools in session at the same hour.

Seventh-Day Advents .- In the fall of 1864, this society was organized, Mr. James Gargett and wife, John M. Glover and wife, Cornelius Holliday and wife, B. P. Chase and wife, Mrs. Mary Ely, Mrs. C. C. Clark and others becoming members of the same. Mr. Gargett had built a room for the private educa- tion of his children, in which place their meetings were held for several years.

After the Baptist church was built, they occupied it until the completion of the Advent church in the year 1880. This is a frame edifice, costing $2,200, and the society is out of debt and in a flourishing con- dition. The members are mostly country people, but social meetings and Sunday-school are held every Sabbath.

The faith of the Advents has been productive of much good in the community, having rather a mis - sionary than strictly orthodox manner of inculcating their views. Some of the leading men of the county are members of this Church, and their precepts and example prove fully their sincerity and true chris- tianity.

They believe with the greatest confidence that the general Government will, in the near future, enact laws which will force the people to revere and keep the seventh day in a becoming and devout manner.

Baptist Church .- Among the pioneer Baptist fam- ilies in Gratiot County, were Wm. Yerington and his wife Amanda, who with their children became mem - bers of the First Baptist Church of Alma. A meet- ing was called by a number who were interested in organizing a society of this denomination, July 7, 1866, at which meeting Rev. W. Everest acted as Modera- tor, and S. S. Hastings, Clerk.

The society was formally organized, the follow- ing persons uniting by letter and otherwise : Wm. Yerington, Amanda Yerington, Stephen D. Yerington, Gertrude Yerington, Otis Bartlett, Mrs. Charity Whee- ler and Thomas H. Fitchel.

W'm. Yerington was the first Deacon; his son, Stephen D. Yerington, Clerk. Rev. Lafayette Church was the first minister to preside at their meetings.

Their church was a neat frame building, erected in 1873, at a cost of $1,800. Rev. C. Beals preached the dedicatory sermon July 13, assisted by Rev. Theodore Nelson, acting Pastor.

The church is practically free from debt, and has a talented minister, Rev. W. H. Beteys.

Secret Societies.

Alma Lodge, No. 244, A. F. & A. M .- The dis- pensation for Alma Lodge was granted Jan. 10, 1868, by Grand Master S. C. Coffinbury, who appointed T. Bamborough, W. M .; H. E. Kingsley, S. W .; N. P. Watts, J. W.

The ceremony of installing the officers, pro tem., took place on the evening of Jan. 10, 1868, Dept. G. M, A. J. Utley officiating. The officers were : Thomas Bamborough, W. M .; C. C. Clark, S. W .; D. R. Sullivan, J. W .; C. W. Tann, Treas .; J. C. Brown, Sec'y; G. S. Ward, S. D .; L. A. George, J. D .; Daniel Boyer, Tiler.

Following this was the regular installation of the officers elect, respectively :

Thomas Bamborough, W. M .; Henry E. Kingsley, S. W .; N. P. Watts, J. W .; D. R. Sullivan, Treas .; J. C. Bowen, Sec'y; G. S. Ward, S. D .; C. C. Clark, J. D .; L. A. George, Tiler.

This lodge is in a very flourishing condition, with several hundred dollars in the treasury. They will erect in the near future a fine hall, as their present quarters are too small for convenience and comfort.

The officers for 1884 are all well-known gentlemen of Alma and vicinity. Their names are as follows : W. S. Turck, W. M .; M. Pollasky, S. W .; Wm. Ad- ams, J. W .; F. Montigel, Treas .; C. H. Coates, Sec'y ; A. Yerington, S. D .; Geo. D. Barton, J. D .; Fred. Price, Tiler.

There are at present 70 active members, and their number is made up of the best men in the village and surrounding country.

William Moyer Post, G. A. R .- This post was organized in July, 1883, with a membership of 22. The first and present officers are : Wm. H. Hall, Commander; Wm. S. Turck, Sen. Vice-Commander ; J. N. Clow, Jun. Vice-Commander; A. Yerington, Adjutant; E. F. Moyer, Quartermaster; Samuel Brewbaker, O. G .; C. II. Axtel, O. D.

The old soldiers composing this post are well-tried veterans of the late war, and their annual re-unions are productive of much pleasure, Their banquet at

GRATIOT COUNTY.

the Wright House, last year, was a grand affair, and many distinguished soldiers from abroad attended.

Miscellaneous.

Brass Band .- Alma has a very creditable Brass Band, numbering 12 pieces, which was organized in 1883, under the leadership of A. Yerington, Esq., one of the best musicians in the county.

Library .- The Ladies' Library is on quite a sub-

stantial basis, having on its books 37 yearly members who each pay $ for its support. besides contributions of books, etc. They have 250 volumes now, and will increase the number during the year. Mrs. Dr. C. L. Downey has been an ardent worker in this movement.

Literary Society .- The Literary Society has fur- nished a great deal of pleasure and profit as an educator, during the year.

THE PRESS.

S mentioned elsewhere, the Gratiot News was established in this county in 1858. The material was brought from Owosso by Cornelius Camp- bell, having been purchased for S. N. Miller and Robert Sut- ton, by Frank Miller, who was editor-in-chief until its purchase by W. W. Comstock, in the autumn of the same year. The paper was neutral in politics under the first management, but was changed to a radical Republican sheet by Mr. Comstock, who continued its publi- cation for a year and then leased it to Moses Tompkins, Jr., and his brother, George. D. P. Cornell afterward became the purchaser, and finally the paper, after varying fortune and little prosperity, was discontinued, in 1865.

Nathan Church, with that enterprise for which he is noted, purchased the material, most of which was worn out, and, together with Daniel Taylor, made purchases of new type, etc. Mr. Taylor was a prac- tical printer, and Mr. Church an accomplished

writer, so the partnership was a mutually agreeable , if not a profitable one, Mr. Church assuming the editorial and business management, while Mr. Tay- lor attended to the composition, etc.

The name of the paper was changed to The Gratiot Journal, which name it retains to the present day. Mr. Taylor afterward purchased Mr. Church's interest and continued it under his own management until he sold to the present proprietor, Mr. Robert Smith, in September, 1872. The Journal is a six- column quarto, and at the present time is the recog- nized official paper of the county. Mr. Smith has an excellent power press and a splendid office, which gives evidence of the healthfulness of the Journal. The tone and influence of this paper has contributed in no small degree to the growth. improvement, intel- ligence and wealth of the county in which it is published, being ably edited and one of the newsiest local papers in the State.

Mr. Smith is to be congratulated upon his success in so firmly establishing this paper upon a perma- nent financial basis, and the encouragement given it by men of all political opinions prove the power it exerts in Gratiot County.

In the early days of journalism in this county, it was considered the proper thing for everybody in

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even moderate circumstances to patronize it. Before postoffices were plenty, as they are now, many who lived at remote distances called at the printing office for their paper. One day a fellow from one of the frontier townships, who affected a great deal more than he knew, called for his paper and was informed that it was not yet printed.

Not really knowing what that meant, he remarked that he " had as lieves have it then as at any time."

That era of intelligence has passed away, and the Journal, as an educator, has done a great work in its accomplishment.

Gratiot County Democrat.

L. HILBOURNE established this paper in Ithaca in 1878 and continued its publi- cation three years. In the fall of 1881, Mr. J. V. Johnson, a man of large experience in journalism, assumed the name and took the subscription list of the above paper, put in new office material, and commenced the publication of the Democrat in St. Louis. The first edition was issued Sept. 15, 1881, and has continued until this time increasing in popularity and circulation. A fire on the 4th of January, 1884, destroyed part of the material, but Mr. Johnson, with characteristic enter- prise, issued the paper and has not missed a number since it was established. As a Democratic organ, its success is assured in Gratiot County.

The Ithaea Times.

HE Times is a wide-awake paper, occupying an independent position politically. It was established in 1883, and the first issue dated February 2, with F. M. Vandercook editor and proprietor. Messrs. W. L. Hilbourne and R. G. Harpham purchased his stock ard good will Jan. 3, 1884, and are making the Times a splendid local paper. The large circulation it already has, is proof of their ability and its merit. These young men have enlarged and otherwise im-

proved it, and the Times looks as if it had come "to stay." The office is located in the Jeffrey build- ing, corner of Center and Main Streets, and Messrs. Hilbourne & Harpham have the energy and ability to make it a success.

St. Louis Leader.

UGUST 13, 1879, the St. Louis Leader was g established by Myer & Vandercook. After two months the firm changed to Vandercook & Pettit. September, 1881, it again changed to Hoskins & Vandercook, and in November, 1882, Hoskins bought Vandercook out, since which time Edwin S. Hoskins has been sole editor and proprietor. The Leader now has a steady and satisfactory growth, and ranks high among the enter- prising papers of Michigan. It has ever been soundly Republican and under its present management bids fair to become a power in influencing the political opinions of Gratiot County; in developing and en- couraging the growth and prosperity of a live town and thrifty community ; and in building up the best interests of Michigan generally. The Leader is one of the necessities in Gratiot County.

The St. Louis Herald.

N the winter of 1868-9, the St. Louis Ga- cette was founded by Messrs. Holcomb, Evans & Smith. The organization and management of the above paper was intrusted to W. H. H. Bartram, of Bay City. The first men engaged were James Paddock, now Judge of the Probate Court, and Dr. J. R. Baldwin, then and now a practicing physician of St. Louis. At the end of six months Bartram withdrew, and the propri- etors engaged A. L. Blood of California to conduct the paper. Five months later Blood retired from the noble work in disgust, and his valedictory will long be remembered by old settlers, for the pathetic passage, " Dear, damned, delightful town, farewell!" A Mr. Bowen, from Owosso, next tried his hand at operating the paper, but gave it up at the end of three months.

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Afterward, J. W. Bailey, foreman in the Lansing Re- publican office, was imported to take charge. His stewardship covered the space of an entire year, when the paper and its business was sold to Hattie E. Church, whose husband, E. Church, conducted it as editor and manager till the autumn of 1870, when it was sold to Aaron Wessels, who engaged Leonard and Scott as editors and managers. This practically ended the Gasette. Before Wessels got things in working order, the material was taken possession of by Holcomb & Evans, on a writ of replevin. In the suit that followed they were sustained in their claim, and soon after they sold out to W. M. Cook, a practi- cal printer from Jackson. On the 17th of March, 1871, the first number of the St. Louis Herald was issued by W. W. Cook, editor and proprietor, with the material and on the ruins of the old Gasette. The paper had always been Republican in politics and Cook clung to the same faith. In September, 1874, he sold the Herald to J. B. Graham, who proclaimed it from that date an independent paper, politically. Three years later Graham sold to Henry Smalley, who continued it as an independent journal till July, 1878, when a change of heart made it an advocate of Greenbackism. November 26, 1880, James H. Shultz purchased it, and at the end of three months sold to Willard D. Tucker, the present editor and proprietor. The paper, under the able management of Mr. Tucker, is in a prosperous condition. The circulation is large and rapidly increasing. It is an eight-column folio. Office is located in Wessel's Block.

Alma Record.

PRIL 1, 1879, M. L. Hart started a six- column folio paper, called The Alma Weekly Index. He sold to A. D. Pettit, who enlarged the paper to a seven-column folio, and changed the name to Gratiot County Rec- ord. Mr. Pettit kept the paper a year and sold to J. H. Phillips, who edited it for something more than twelve months, and turned it over to N. G. Davidson, who changed the name to Alma Rec- ord, and in November, 1883, sold to K. W. Ely, the present proprietor. Since its purchase by Mr. Ely

the circulation of the paper has steadily increased. Mr. Davidson remains in the employment of Mr. Ely as foreman, and at no distant day the paper will be enlarged and the entire sheet printed in Alma.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Lumbering Interests.

&NTIL the last ten years, the lumbering in- terests have taken precedence of all other branches of trade. The whole county was densely covered with a magnificent growth of maple, beech, oak, ash, basswood and elm, with some butternut, hickory and hemlock. The northern part of the county, and the townships of Hamilton and Elba in the southeast part, and the townships of Newark and New Haven in the west part, abound with valuable pine forests. Most of this timber has been removed, as well as a great deal of hard wood, which is now equally valuable as, if not more so than, the pine. Occasional tamarack and cedar swamps are found, in which these woods grow luxuriantly. There are several large mills in this county, in which 31,300,000 feet were cut in 1874-5. None of the mills ran at more than half their capacity, and two of them sawed only part of one season. Computing the cut for fifteen years at the low rate of 30,000,000 feet per annum, we have a total of 450,000,000 feet from 1865 to 1880. Several mills had been in active operation for years before this, and it would be safe to estimate their cut from 1857 to 1865 at 18,000,000 feet per annum, making a yield of 162,000,000 feet, or a grand total of 612,000,000 feet from 1857 to 1880. Immense forests yet stand untouched in the county and many millions of feet will yet be marketed.

Stave timber is now quite profitable, and immense quantities have been delivered to the different mills this year. When crops are light the farmers have an assurance of a fair income from their wood land, at the same time getting the soil ready for cultivation.

The resources of Michigan are unlimited, yet for years to come the lumber interest will play an im- portant part.

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GRATIOT COUNTY.

Valuation of Property.

( prove the phenomenal growth of Gratiot County, a glance at the following valuation of real estate and personal property for the past 27 years is sufficient to convince any one that her future is bright. Lands which were purchased in 1856 for 50 cents per acre, are worth to-day from $50 to $75 per acre, and only a few of these tracts are changing hands, the owners realizing the worth of them for agricultural and other purposes.

The county is rapidly settling with men of wealth and enterprise, and business of every kind is pushed with an energy peculiar to Western people.

The whole number of acres assessed in 1856 was 10,020, and the assessed valuation amounted to $36,- 274.01. The personal property was listed at $860.

In 1883, the number of acres assessed was 356,- 443, with a valuation of $6,586,854, and a personal valuation of $852,611, making a difference in 27 years of $7.403,190.99. Taking into consideration that assessments are very low, and that a fair cash valuation would double the amount above stated, Gratiot may be considered one of the most prosper- ous counties in the State. The valuation of the sev- eral townships in 1883 was as follows :

Ithaca. $262,250

Bethany 433,200

Pine River 922,700

Fulton

477,520

Elba. . 209, 100

Newark 582,860

Hamilton 170,665

Arcada . 628,800

Lafayette 181,944

New Haven

313.900

Washington 364.330

Sumner

393,910

North Star 337,365

Seville.

306,570 Emerson 296,800

This list includes only real estate.

Educational.

REVIOUS to 1867 "the examination of teachers and the supervision of schools had been done by township school inspect-

ors. The Legislature of that year passed an act to provide for county superintendents of schools. The first official elected under this act was

Judge Giles T. Brown, Republican, whose opponent was J. McKee, Democrat. This election was in April, 1867, from which date he served until 1869. when he was re-elected by an almost unanimous vote. In April, 1871, Lillis L. Hamilton, Republi- can, was elected by a small plurality over Elisha McCall, Democrat, and Randall Faurot, Independ- ent. Judge Brown was again elected in 1873, and in 1875 the Legislature abolished the office and pro- vided for the election of township superintendents of schools, with duties similar to those of county superintendents. In 1881 the Legislature passed an act revising the entire school law, and provided for a county board of school examiners, who are not elected by the popular vote, but by the chairmen of the several boards of school inspectors of the town- ships in the county. At the first meeting under this act, F. L. Bristol, of Ithaca; N. A. Richard, of St. Louis, and I. W. Cowdry, of Pompei, were elected. The first served one year.

The Agricultural Society.

HOSE who were present at the first fair held in Gratiot County remember well the crude arrangements made for the display of goods of every description. W. W. Comstock furnished at his own expense the lumber to build a tem- porary Floral Hall, which was erected on the west side of the public square. A rail fence enclosed the grounds, to which no entrance fee was charged. Those who visited the Floral Hall had to pay an admission fee, and it was well patronized. The stock exhibited was tethered to the rail fence, or tied to some convenient forest tree. A temporary race- track was constructed around the two blocks west of and including the square, and some excellent racing by Gratiot County horses was done. The fair was a decided success, and has continued to this date the best patronized and most successful agricultural association in Northern Michigan.

Gen. Nathan Church was President of the society the first year, and Emery Crosby, Secretary. It is impossible to give the names of the original stockhold- ers, the records having been destroyed.

The society has a splendid location near the vil-

North Shade. 482,300 Wheeler, 248, 1 90

Wenty

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lage of Ithaca, with good and commodious buildings, and 100 cents has always been paid for every dollar offered in premiums. The business men of Ithaca have devoted much time and money to this society and their successful efforts thus far have done a great work in the agricultural, horticultural and stock-breeding interests of this county. The display of farm products and stock equals that of any county in Northern Michigan, and the resident farmers are now fully alive to the importance of producing only the best of everything. Their grounds have been enlarged by securing a number of acres, by a long lease, from the Jeffrey estate, and the buildings, track and grounds will be still further improved until no interior county can boast of better facilities .han will the Agricultural Society of Gratiot.

The first fair was held inside the village limits in 1866.

Among the gentlemen who have contributed most largely in making this association a success, we might mention : Gen. Nathan Church, Wilbur Nel- son, Judge Wm. E. Winton, Hon. Chas. E. Webster, Geo. W. Clark, Silas Moody, W. W. Comstock. Many others might be named, but these were the men who put their time and money into the work, and they deserve a substantial recognition by the public.

The Gratiot County poor-farm is valued at $7,000.

The poor-house is located in the township of New- ark, one and one-fourth miles from Ithaca. It con- sists of a main building 22 x 50 feet, two stories high, containing 16 rooms, - 11 bed-rooms, two sitting- rooms, one dining-room, one bath-room and one room for the insane. There is also a wing, 28 x 30

feet, containing two sitting-rooms, one kitchen, one pantry, and six bed-rooms, used for the females. The barns and out-houses are all in good condition. For bathing purposes there is one small room, where tubs are used. The building is warmed by stoves, and ventilated by doors and windows. The paupers are well treated. Food consists of bread, butter, meat and vegetables, with coffee or tea twice a day. Meals are served three times a day except on Sun- days. The clothing is very good and warm, mostly woolen. The sick have good medical attendance, which is furnished by the superintendents. The nursing is done by the keeper. Have no accommo- dation for the insane and idiotic, except one room for the violently insane. All are sent to the asylum that they will receive. Have no children to educate. All that are old enough are sent to the State Public School. They let the keeping of the paupers to the lowest responsible bidder. In 1883, $900 was paid for keeping ten paupers, the keeper having the pau- pers' labor and the use of the farm, and furnishing all help, food, clothing, and nursing for the sick. When the number exceeds ten, the keeper is to receive $1.50 per week for each and every such excess, and to deduct from said $900, $1.50 per week for all under the stated number. The medical attendance is furnished by the superintendents.

The average number of paupers is 201/2 persons, although the present number exceeds that amount. Gratiot takes good care of her poor, and the reports of the Superintendents of the Poor for 1883 show the expenditure of $5,791.10 for their relief, of which $2,166.06 was paid for temporary relief of persons not inmates of the county poor house. Wmn. Marlow, Parmer R. Phillips, M. W. Martin, Superintendents.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 87

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 856

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 856