USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Flint > The book of the golden jubilee of Flint, Michigan 1855-1905. Published under the auspices of the Executive committee of the golden jubilee and old homecoming reunion > Part 5
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Jared Van Vleet
Francis Rankin, Jr.
Jonathan Palmer Ezra K. Jenkins
John W. Thomas Watson C. Pierce
John H. Hicok
John H. Hicok
M. W. Stevens John Russell Ralph L. Aldrich
Fred W. Brennan (to fill vacancy) Fred W. Brennan Fred W. Brennan Fred P. Baker
Fred P. Baker
Fred P. Baker
Delaskie D. Freeman Delaskie D. Freeman . Fred Freeman (to fill vacancy) John Ballantyne John Ballantyne
Milton C. Pettibone Milton C. Pettibone Isaac Finley Isaac Finley
J. B. F. Curtis
J. B. F. Curtis
53
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
Of the forty-five Mayors of the city there are nineteen living, all of whom still reside in Flint, except George T. War- ren and Andrew J. Ward. The surviving Mayors, Novem- ber, 1905, are:
James C. Willson, William A. Atwood, George E. Newall, Mathew Davison, George T. Warren, F. D. Baker, William A. Paterson, F. H. Rankin, Jr., Andrew J. Ward, Arthur McCall, John Zimmerman, S. C. Randall, M. C. Pettibone, H. A. Crawford, C. A. Cummings, C. B. Dibble, A. D. Alvord, B. J. McDonald and D. D. Aitken.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
The first road leading to Flint was cut through the forest from the Saginaw river to the Flint by two detachments of the 3rd U. S. Infantry, under Lieutenants Brooks and Bain- bridge, in 1822-23. It was little more than a bridle path. From the Flint river to Royal Oak the Indian trail was used and from there to Detroit a corduroy road was built across the swamps and low lands. In 1824 the Territorial Council authorized the Territorial Governor to appoint three commis- sioners to lay out and establish a Government road from Detroit to Saginaw via Flint river crossing. This was sur- veyed in 1826 but did not reach Flint until 1833, where its terminus was at the corner of Kearsley and Saginaw streets. From Kearsley street to the river there was a swamp and in order to cross the river it was necessary to go below the present bridge. In 1834 this swamp was filled and in 1835 the road was completed a few miles north of Flint. Abbott and Evart's History says the Government built only five miles, but Edward A. Todd says his father and the late Judge Albert Miller built twelve miles of it north from the Flint. Subsequently the state authorized several roads, including the so-called northern wagon road, from Flint to Lapeer, but its building was slow
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
and very unsatisfactory. Then the era of plank roads arrived. In 1851 a plank road was constructed from Flint to Fenton- ville and in 1852 one was completed from Flint to Saginaw. In 1866 another was constructed from Flint to Algerville, (now Holly), to connect with the recently constructed railway from Detroit west, now a part of the Grand Trunk System.
The coming of the stage coaches from Pontiac to Flint was a daily event for years and many good stories of Mr. Boss, the jolly proprietor of the line, are still extant. The Pontiac and Detroit railroad was opened for traffic July 4, 1843. A Detroit Directory of 1845 says : "The company now have a new and elegant car on the road, well warmed and sheated with iron to guard against danger from loose bars." This referred to the fact that the strap iron which was spiked to the wooden rails had a bad habit of getting loose and punch- ing holes through the cars. The fare from Detroit to Pontiac was $1.00. Stages were advertised to connect with the road at Pontiac for Grand Blanc and Flint River. After the com- pletion of the road to Fentonville-now Fenton-the stages ran from Flint to that village until 1864, when the road was completed from Flint to Holly.
The first railroad project directly affecting Flint was started in 1837 and it was to have connected Flint and Port Huron on the east and its western terminal was to have been at Grand Haven on Lake Michigan. General Charles C. Hascall contracted to build the line from Lapeer to the west line of Genesee county. Failure to secure expected state aid and other causes prevented the completion of this line, but even now may be seen near here grass-grown evidences of what was intended to be a railroad. It was not until thirty-five years afterwards that this project was again undertaken and then it resulted in the building of a road from Port Huron
55
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
to Lansing and is now a part of the through line to Chicago on the Grand Trunk System.
But the first road over which an engine was propelled into the city of Flint was the Flint and Pere Marquette from Saginaw to Flint, but happening in 1863, when the minds of all were intensely interested in the Civil War, no public dem- onstration was had in honor of the event. The "F. & P. M." name is now only a memory, as the word Flint was dropped recently when the road was consolidated with the Detroit, Lansing and Northern, the Chicago and West Michigan and other lines forming the Pere Marquette. This consolidation embraced nearly 2,000 miles of road and it in turn was con- solidated with the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton under the name of the Great Central. These roads are now, December, 1905, in the hands of a receiver.
Following the completion of the road into Flint from Saginaw, Governor Crapo, aided by eastern capitalists, built a line from Flint to Holly, and it was completed in less than two years. The first trip from Holly to Flint was made in November, 1864, and a few years later it was consolidated with the F. & P. M. and a little later a branch road was con- structed to Otisville and Ottar Lake from Flint.
That the question of transportation was important and received attention at an early day may be illustrated by the fact that the issue of the "Genesee Whig" of March 23, 1850, had an item relative to the "opening of navigation" from Flint to Flushing and noted the departure of the scow "Em- pire" with the stars and stripes flying at her masthead and "a considerable cargo and a number of passengers." The boat referred to was a flat-bottomed affair and it was hoped that transportation might be established between Flint and Sagi- naw by water, but the building of plank roads evidently con- vinced the early settlers that the plan was not feasible.
56
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
THE PRESS OF FLINT.
The influence of the press in municipal affairs is so evi- dent that it needs no discussion, and yet it is but just to say that the several papers published here between the years 1839 and 1905, one and all, worked for what was at the time believed by the publishers to be for the best interests of all concerned.
The first paper printed here was "The Flint River Gazette," by J. K. Averill, established in 1839, its first issue bearing the date of January 26, 1839, but it was discontinued in the summer of 1841.
The second newspaper venture was entitled "The North- ern Advocate," by William A. Morrison, and it survived but two years, its publication beginning in April, 1840, and ending in 1842.
The third paper was the "Genesee Herald," by J. Dowd Coleman and edited by Perry Joslin. It was established Janu- ary 7, 1843, but one year later the plant was removed to Pontiac.
"The Genesee County Democrat" was removed from Corunna, Shiawassee County, to Flint River in June, 1843, and its editor was William B. Sherwood. Neither the date nor the cause of its final taking off is obtainable.
The next newspaper was "The Genesee Republican," established by Gen. C. C. Hascall. Its initial number was dated April 17, 1845. No record of its obsequies appears.
"The Flint Republican" was issued by Daniel S. Merritt in December, 1845. In 1848 Royal W. Jenny became its editor and its publication continued under that name until Septem- ber, 1853. Its successor appeared the same month under the name of "The Genesee Democrat."
Soon after, the date line of its founding was changed to correspond with the birth of the "Flint Republican" in Decem-
THE HON. C. D. LONG, Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan, 1898-1907.
57
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
ber, 1845, so, nominally at least, this is the oldest paper pub- lished here. Mr. Jenny continued its publication until his death in 1876 when Mrs. Jenny, a woman of exceptional ability, continued its publication and occupied the editorial chair for a few months when it was sold to H. N. Mather, who in turn disposed of it to Jerome Eddy in 1878, whose son, Arthur J. Eddy, became its editor. The Eddys established in connec- tion with the "Weekly Genesee Democrat" the "Daily News," August 18, 1884, and continued the publications until Aprin 14, 1887, when they were sold to W. H. Werkhiser and his sons, Frank F. and George. These gentlemen continued both papers until November 16, 1905, when they were sold to M. V. Smith, of Olean, N. Y., and J. Frank Woods, of Forest Grove, Ore., who are now in possession.
In 1850 O. S. Carter began the publication of the "West- ern Citizen" and after a brief existence it was succeeded by the "Genesee Whig," its first number bearing date February 23, 1850, and F. H. Rankin appearing as its publisher with F. H. Rankin and N. W. Butts as editors. The name of Mr. Butts does not appear after August 24, 1850. In January, 1856, the name was changed by adding "Wolverine Citizen" to its title and the following December the words "Genesee Whig" were eliminated and from that time to this it has remained the "Wolverine Citizen." Mr. Rankin continued its publication until his death, August 11, 1900, since which time his son, F. H. Rankin, Jr., has continued its publication.
In the summer of 1866 the "Flint Globe"-a weekly paper-was started by Charles F. Smith & Co., (Charles F. Smith, Henry S. Hilton and Robert Smith). At that time the Flint newspaper field was occupied by the "Wolverine Citi- zen" and the "Genesee Democrat" and the establishment of the new paper by comparatively young men seemed to inject
58
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
new life into the existing publications as well. In August, 1869, the "Globe" was puchased by Almon L. Aldrich who continued its publication until September, 1899, when it was purchased by James Slocum of the "Holly Advertiser," which he had published for twelve years. In September, 1900, Mr. Slocum established the "Daily Globe" and continued its publica- tion until March, 1902, at which time he disposed of both daily and weekly papers to E. J. Ottaway, of Port Huron, who in turn disposed of them on July 12, 1902, to H. H. Fitzgerald, of St. John's, Clinton County, who also purchased the "Daily Journal" September 12, 1902, consolidating the two papers as the "Weekly Globe and Daily Journal."
"The Flint Journal," a Democratic weekly paper, was established by Charles Fellows in 1875. Later it became the property of Dr. Carman who sold it to George McConnolly in Decemeber, 1882. On March 3, 1883, Mr. McConnolly began the publication of the "Daily Journal." There had been six different attempts to make a daily paper a success at Flint, but the town became known among the editorial fraternity as the graveyard of daily papers. It remained for George Mc- Connolly with his practical knowledge of printing and his remarkable energy to make an abiding success. In October, 1888, Mr. McConnolly sold the "Journal"' to John W. Stout, of Indiana, and a few months later it became the property of John J. Coon, of Illinois. Later Mrs. Coon became its managing owner and subsequently she sold an interest to a practical man, George H. Gardner, of Saginaw. On Septem- ber 12, 1902, it was purchased by H. H. Fitzgerald and con- solidated with the "Globe." When Mr. McConnolly purchased the "Weekly Journal" it was Democratic, but when he started the daily both papers were made independent. After Cleve- land's nomination for the Presidency, both papers became aggressively Republican.
59
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
The following papers are mailed regularly now from the Flint postoffice :
The Flint Journal, daily; The Evening News, daily; The Wol- verine Citizen, weekly; The Flint Globe, weekly; The Genesee Demo- crat, weekly; The Michigan Mirror, monthly (published at School for the Deaf); The Bee Keeper's Review, monthly; The Loyal Guard Magazine, monthly; The Messenger, bi-monthly (published by Pre- siding Elder, Flint District, M. E. Church).
When the population of the embryo city of Flint was well down in the hundreds, the community was somewhat startled by the appearance of a boy on the streets of the hamlet offering for sale a paper. The boy's name was Ed. Todd and the name of the paper was the "Whip Lash." Mr. Todd informs me that nearly everyone bought a copy because, as he naively added, "nearly everybody was mentioned in its columns." He says that for many years no one knew who was responsible for it, but that William P. Crandall and Cornelius Roosevelt secured his services to sell it on the streets and that they were its editors. This gossiping sheet was printed on the hand press of the first paper published at Flint-"The Flint River Gazette"-and that nearly every item had its sting. So it seems that the modern "Town Topics" of New York City had its prototype in the forests on the banks of the Flint "way back" in the thirties."
THE OUTLOOK.
From the beginning of its municipal existence the authori- ties seem to have been reasonably conservative. The necessity for pavements, bridges, street lighting, etc., has been met grad- ually, and in the main, satisfactorily. Extravagance has not been the rule. The increase in population and the marked expansion of the business as transacted in the city has necessi- tated larger expenditures from year to year, and in the immedi- ate future still larger appropriations for the improvement of our streets will, undoubtedly, be necessary. It is a safe propo-
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
sition to assert that in the future, as in the past, Flint will "make haste slowly," and that conservative, careful action will be had in all matters requiring the expenditure of the money of the people.
It may reasonably be predicted that within another decade Flint will possess streets that will be equal if not superior to those of any of the smaller municipalities in the state, and that this will be accomplished without taxation that will be too burdensome. This is a city of homes. The owners of these homes have a natural pride in the development of the town and undoubtedly they will uphold the authorities in the improvements that are and will become necessities, but they will not supinely consent to extravagant expenditures. The principle involved when the city provided for the gradual sub- stitution of cement for the old-time plank sidewalks, extending the time for payment over a period of five years seems to be eminently satisfactory. In a larger way and covering a much longer time for its final payment, some plan will probably be devised so that the burden of taxation for the extensive pavement, or building of modern improved roadways will not fall at once upon property owners nor the city at large. In other words, the city may be bonded for these improvements and with no appreciable hardship the interest and gradual payment of the principal may be provided for. The theory of municipal ownership is being tried already and it is not an impossibility that this theory may be practically applied to other utilities. Surely we have reason to be proud of the management of city affairs in the past, and with its healthy growth, its vastly increased business and its unquestioned natural and acquired advantages the city of Flint will con- tinue to be a live, wideawake, progressive, but not extravagant town.
The Moral and Religious Development of Flint
By REV. SETH REED
The moral and religious character of a community depends largely upon the character of a few of its first settlers, Those who early gain a controlling influence, whether by virtue of distinguishing individuality, by superior intellectual endowments, by education or wealth, or any other means, do, consciously or unconsciously, impart their religious or irre- ligious features to the new settlement. Often the bias to vice or to virtue which its first settlers give will prove its bane or its blessing for generations to come. In this respect Flint was fortunate. Among her pioneers were men and women of high moral standards, while many were eminent for their religious activities. They brought their piety with them, and made it a recognized force in shaping the future character of the place. The names of those early worshippers and Chris- tian workers have become loved household words in the older homes of the city, though most all of them have long since gone to their reward. A few of those noble souls who settled here in the surrounding forests during the first decade in the history of the place may be mentioned: James McAlister, Wm. Patterson, Dr. Geo. Fish, D. S. Freeman, Lewis and Lyman Buckingham, David Foote, Jesse and Alonzo Torry, Richard Johnson, George Hazelton, Grant Decker Amzi Beardslee, Isaiah Merriman, Ebenezer Dewey, James Hender- son, Alexander McFarlan, E. M. and Peabody Pratt. Besides these there were doubtless other names, now enrolled in the Book of Life, which will appear equally luminous in the great
1xi
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
day of rewards. The wives of these men, as also the wives of some non-Christian men, were among the most influential religious factors in forming the character of the growing community. Often with great personal sacrifice, these men and women labored together to lay the foundations of good society and good government. Denominational ties were no barrier to their zeal, and the religious necessities of the com- munity served but to draw their hearts the more closely together in helpful activities.
The leading industry of the place during its earlier years was that of lumbering, which is generally thought to afford a pretty severe strain upon the habits of the people. Yet the labors of these pioneers were appreciated not only in their own, but in surrounding settlements, where Flint early gained the reputation of having a loyal band of earnest, aggressive workers. Among them were many who were deeply interested in the temperance cause, and who did all in their power tc throw the shield of protection before their neighbors and friends, and to prevent the fell, foul liquor business from fastening its blighting grasp upon Flint's coming generations.
Early, too, was there marked activity in the religious instruction of the children. They were gathered into little Sunday Schools which were held in private houses and often in rude buildings until places of worship were erected.
The first published report of a Sunday School of which we find any record, was in 1838, and was as follows: "One school, one superintendent (D. S. Freeman), four teachers, ten scholars, 150 books in the library."
Early, too, did the religious zeal of the pioneers give proof of its genuineness by transcending its local boundaries and flowing out in missionary enthusiasm to the regions beyond. Many of the preachers who followed the pioneers
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MORAL AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT.
to their new homes, and preached to them the Word of Life also followed the trail of the Indian to their wigwams in the dense forests far north and west of us, and preached to them the same gospel of salvation. Such men were Brockway, Jacokes, Bradley, Brown, Hickey, Johnson, Lee and others whose toils and hardships will be remembered by Him who sent them out. And many were the men and women of this place, now of precious memory, who cheerfully contributed of their substance, their labors and their prayers to carry the news of salvation to those sad benighted sons and daughters of the forest.
But true redeeming love stops not with any one tribe or nation; it is world-wide, and it knows neither Greek nor Jew, neither bond nor free. And so the missionary spirit brought to this place in the hearts of its first settlers and immediately put in practice, soon developed into organized forms of action, and missionary societies, both Home and Foreign, were organ- ized. These, according to the order of grace as well as nature. were formed in connection with the different branches of the Christian church as they took their places in the young settle- ment. These societies have, from the day of their organiza- tion to the present hour, fostered and directed the very best energies of the people of the Lord. Their influence, both direct and reflexive, upon all within its reach, is beautiful and Christ-like. From the deep heart springs of divine love the streams of benevolence flow unceasingly out to other hearts in distant parts of the world. Not only have the liberal contributions of money and books and Bibles been sent to lands in darkness, but noble, consecrated men and women in goodly numbers from Flint and its immediate neighborhoods have gone to tell heathen people in distant climes that Jesus died for them. There are laboring now, or have been until
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
recently, some having returned to their homes, and some hav- ing gone to their homes above, the following: Miss Caroline E. Chittenden, in Fou Chou, China; Mrs. Helen Hancock, in Burmah; Miss Bernice Hunting, in Tripoli, Syria ; Miss Har- riet A. Lovell, in Marash, Turkey; Miss Harriet Seymour, in Harpoot, Turkey; Miss Clara Merrill, in Kiu Kiang, China; Mr. Frank Kertz and wife, in India; Miss Hattie Davis, in Peking, China; Miss Julia Goodenough, in Buenos Ayres, South America; Mr. Richard Copp, in Panama, Central Amer- ica Mr. Casson Parsons, in China ; Mr. Lester Beals, in India; Mrs. Benj. Pierson, in Turkey; Miss Harriet Boss in Poona, India.
These have gone to the distant continents of our world, and the results of their labors are glowing in the history of modern Christian civilization. But others have gone as mis- sionaries to the diverse peoples in our own country, and they are doing just as valuable service to our race as any other workers in the world. Among them are Miss Ina McBurney, who is laboring in the Southern States, and Miss Laura Soule, in New Mexico, and Winston Hackett and his wife, who are laboring in Texas. Still others are engaged in different branches of the home field as teachers, nurses, deaconesses or evangelists. The idea seems to be taking a firm hold of the religious mind in Flint that America must be saved if the world is saved; and the lives and labors of these consecrated men and women remind us that the real history of a Christian church can never be written; its chapters would run through all time and eternity.
The preservation of moral standards in any community depends largely upon the harmonizing and crystalizing of the religious sentiments of its inhabitants. No greater blessings can come to a people than the organizing in their midst of an
BAPTIST CHURCH.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
COURT STREET M. E. CHURCH.
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MORAL AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT.
active, aggressive Christian church. Then are the forces that make for good brought into hopeful contact with those that work for evil, and virtue has the advantage of alliance with not only the human but the divine.
The religious settlers of Flint came here not to lose their influence in isolation, or to cover their light by worldly cares and pleasures, but to unite their strength in building up the kingdom of truth and righteousness. So those of like faith and education early formed themselves into societies or churches, and began planning for permanent influence. Hence the beautiful church edifices that now adorn our city stand, and have stood, and will stand, for spiritual excellences that are of more value to humanity than the highest towers which trade and commerce can erect, or the most exquisite works which genius and art can produce.
The facts and dates of the organization of a Christian church, of its growth, its work, and its changes, are but the faint indices of its real life. Yet those facts and dates are are valuable to a people and should be cherished among their most sacred memories. Such facts concerning the churches of Flint are here gathered and presented to its citizens for their keeping.
COURT STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
It is not certain, neither is it important to know, who preached the first Gospel sermon on the ground where Flint now stands. It is certain, however, that in 1834, Rev. Brad- ford Frazee was appointed by the Ohio Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to the Saginaw Mission in the Territory of Michigan. On his way to his mission he stopped over night at the little neighborhood of four or five families on the bank of the Flint River and preached to them. It is believed that a Baptist minister named Benedict, and a
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
Presbyterian minister named Ruggles, visited this place and preached here before Mr. Frazee, but there seems to be no evidence of any regular appointment until 1835. In that year, Rev. W. H. Brockway was appointed by the same Ohio Con- ference to the Saginaw Mission. He incorporated Flint as one of his appointments, preaching here regularly once in three weeks. Early in 1836, he organized a class which was the first religious organization of any kind here, and which was the nucleus of the present Court Street Church. The members of that class were D. S. Freeman and wife, J. Mc- Alister and wife, B. F. Robinson and wife, John Martin and wife, and Mrs. Miller, mother of Mrs. McAlister.
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