USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Vassar > Vassar, Mich. : an illustrated description of its enterprises and the men who built them > Part 2
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placed him for three years in charge of their trade in the cities and large towns of Michigan. At the end of this time he purchased the store of G. W. Rogers and Company, of Watrousville, extending it to a big branch concern at Reese. Ten days after, the Reese store burned to the ground and between $4,000 and $5,000 of Mr. Root's good money went up in smoke. Although this was a serious blow to the young man, he sacrificed his personal property and paid out dollar for dollar. He retired to his old home, remaining there for two years before again taking the road for the Stephens company, a position that he holds today. Mr. Root has been identified with everything that has Vassar tacked to it, and has been popular with the people, having served as Justice of the Peace, as a member of the city council for two years and a mem- ber of the Board of Education, an office he holds at the present time. Socially, Mr. Root is a member of Vassar Lodge, F. and A. M., Caro Chapter, Bay City Commandry, and Moslem Temple of Detroit. His farm near the outskirts of the city is one of the finest in Tuscola county and his residence one of the pret- tiest that grace our city. Mr. Root was married in 1870 to Miss Christie A. Stack, of Reese, and they have one daughter, Miss Mabel.
FRANK MILLER, proprieter of the Vas- sar elevator and lumber yards, is a man who has little to say, but conducts more business in his line than any other man in the thumb. At his elevator he purchases all kinds of grains and farm produce at
JOHN L. ROOT.
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the market price, and for this reason Vas- sar has be comea great grain market. He purchases annually from 80,000 to 100,000 bushels of potatoes alone and his ship- ments in all departments are from 700 to 1,000 cars per year. At his saw mill he cuts from two to three million feet of lumber each year, and during the sum- mer months gives employment to fifty hands, with a weekly pay roll of $400. He carries a full line of rough, dressed and manufactured lumber, lath, shingles, coal, lime, salt, plaster, etc. A planing mill and bed factory is also conducted in connection with this business and quite a shipping demand is made for the beds. He owns and operates the Caro Electric Light Works and also owns an elevator at Caro. Mr. Miller handles a large amount of grain and produce for numer- ous smaller buyers throughout the county. Being acquainted and doing business di- rect with the largest dealers in the United States, he is able to furnish them the best of the metropolitan markets.
EDWARD G. BECKERSON was born in Halderman county, Ontario, in 1864, and followed the occupation of agricultural pursuits until about ten years ago when he came to Vassar. His first position here was the management of the Justin W'enthworth farm, where he remained about a year, going to the T. North farm the five years following. He then came to Vassar and purchased the livery busi- ness of E. A. Bullard, which he has con- ducted since that time. Mr. Beckerson in connection with Nelson G. Spaulding,
CITY RESIDENCE OF JOHN L. ROOT.
FRANK MILLER.
this fall purchased the Jewell House, one of the best hotels in this section of Mich- igan. Good management and liberal busi-
F. MILLER'S FURNITURE FACTORY.
ness methods continue to make the house popular and profitable. Mr. Beckerson was married in 1885 to Miss Lizzie Stahl. He is one of the popular business men of the city and is always to be counted in on anything that concerns the welfare of the town.
EDWIN E. ANDRUS was born in As- tabula county, Ohio, on January 28, 1862. Six years ago Mr. Andrus came to Vassar and opened up business for the Singer
E. J. BECKERSON.
Sewing Machine Company, handling ill connection pianos, organs and all kinds of musical merchandise, which he has car- ried on successfully since. Mr. Andrus is a member of the Maccabees and Knights of the Loyal Guard. He was married in 1883 to Miss Alyeda E. Clay of Painsville, Ohio.
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E. E. ANDRUS.
JOHN PARKER, proprietor of the Vassar Foundry, is truly a selfmade man. His opportunities for education when a boy were limited, but he made the best of this and by pluck and perseverance he has be- come one of Vassar's representative citi- zens. When he came here he learned the pumpmaker's trade and followed that occupation until about two years ago, when he started into the foundry business in the old building where several other firms had made a failure. He manufac- tured numerous different agricultural im- plements, among which might be mention- ed the"Parker Plow," which is fast gaining the favor of the farmers of the surround- ing country. Being a good mechanic he makes most of his own patterns, and if you are in need of a heavy or light casting call on Mr. Parker, and he will supply your wants.
JOHN PARKER.
PRESCOTT L. VARNUM was born July 25, 1850, in Lapeer county, and came to Vassar in 1875. He immediately engag- ed in the shoe business here, and has been closely identified with the city's growth and interests since that time. Mr. Varnum has held various offices of public trust, being an alderman eight years, city treasurer two years, county supervisor five years, and a member of the Board of Education for ten years, a position he now holds. Mr. Varnum has in connection with his shoe business been the agent of the American Express Com- pany at this point.
C. J. TEETERS, of the firm of Knowles and Teeters, was born in Columbus, St. Clair county, Michigan, December 31,
P. L. VARNUM.
1865, and received his education at Romeo. Mr. Teeters' debut in the butcher busi- ness was marked by a whole lot of hard work, but it proved a good stepping stone to the progress he made in later years. In 1885 he opened a market at Washing- ton, Michigan, which he continued for two years, removing to Reese, where he remained three years. In company with W. O. Knowles he formed a partnership three years ago, and the firm have contin- ued at their present quarters since that time. This is one of the young business houses of the city and that people endorse the square-toed methods of these two young men is evidenced by the patronage accorded them. Mr. Teeters was mar- ried in 1889 to Miss Maude l'ardee, of Reese, Michigan.
C. J. TEETERS.
The subject of this sketch (Mr. J. W. McLellen) was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1858, was afterwards apprenticed and worked in that city for several years and has had over twenty years experience in Vassar, Toronto and Detroit. He re- moved here from the latter place three years ago, filling the position of head cut- ter for the Vassar Pant Company, and six months later established his present busi- ness. Mr. Mclellan comes honestly by his adaptibility to the trade, his paternal grandfater, two uncles, father and three members of this family being engaged in the business. In addition to the trade that is accorded him at home he also does an extensive business at Caro, Mil- lington, Mayville and adjoining towns. Mr. Mclellan employs a force of skilled workmen that enables him to turn out an article of work second to none in the state.
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J. W. MCLELLAN.
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GILBERT H. MOORE, the subject of this sketch is a native of Michigan, and was born in Mt. Clemens, Macomb coun- ty, May 18, 1857. In boyhood he was de- prived of many advantages generally en- joyed by the youth of the country, and when he made a start in the world the only thing he had to recommend him- self was good health, industry and energy, and they proved a good stepping stone to success. Mr. Moore came to Vassar six years ago, and opened up neat tonsor- ial parlors, where he made cleanliness and diligence the ruling feature. Social- ly, Mr. Moore is a Mason, holding the office of Senior Deacon, is a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Knights of the Loyal Guard, and has represented Vas- sar Lodge of Odd Fellows in the Grand
G. H. MOORE.
Lodge. Always willing to lend a hand in anything that pertained to the welfare of Vassar, he has made for himself somne- thing that is always beneficial, "a good name at home."
CHARLES O. EVANS was born January 12, 1862, in New Boston, Michigan. Ever since he was able to wear long pants he has been in the brick business, working first for his father at his New Boston yards, and later was twelve years in busi- ness for himself at Caro. Six years ago Mr. Evans came to Vassar and in com- pany with F. Miller organized the Vassar Brick and Tile Company. The concern is one of the best institution in Vassar, giving employment to a large number of men and doing an extensive chipping
business. Mr. Evans is an unassuming, straightforward business man and belongs to Vassar lodge of Masons. He was married in 1890, to Miss Kate Adams, of Vassar.
CHAS. O. EVANS.
W. O. KNOWLES, the subject of this sketch, is a Canadian by birth, being born at Dorchester, Ontario, April 3, 1867. Mr. Know'es had only passed the second mile stone of his existence when his fam- ily removed to Vassar, and it was here that he received his eduration at our high school. Three years ago Mr. Knowles in company with C. J. Teeters, formed a partnership and established the meat and poultry business at their present lo- cation. Strict attention to business and
W. O. KNOWLES.
square business methods win for the firm a good patronage. Mr. Knowles was married in 1889 to Miss Anna A. Lewis, o' Varsar.
The county of Lapeer has contributed some pretty good citizens to the domain of Vassar during the past twenty-five years, among whom we mention W. R. Hollenbeck. He was born on November 14, 1862, and received a common school education, that was afterwards polished off at the Otisville grade i schools. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Hollen- beck embarked in the grocery business at Columbiaville, removing to Vassar two years later, being mayor of Columbia- ville at the time. During his residence in Vassar Mr. Hollenbeck has served as township clerk for three years, been a member of the board of alderman for two years, and in 1893 was honored by being elected supervisor, on the republican ticket. He has always been looked upon
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W. R. HOLLENBECK.
as a consistent worker for the interest of the people, and is at present a member of the Water Board of this city. Mr. Hollen- beck's grocery business is located at the corner of Cass and Huron avenues.
JAMES A. TROTTER, editor of the Tus- cola County Pioneer, was born in 1852, in Schoharie county, New York. In 1863 he removed to Vassar where his educa- tion was completed in the Union schools. In 1869, when he was about seventeen years of age his father purchased the Pio- neer and in conjunction with the two sons, J. A. and William, began its publication. In 1875 the two purchased the father's in- terest and two years later the interest of William was bought by the present owner. Mr. Trotter was clerk of the city from 1876 to 1880, was for four years a
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J. A. TROTTER.
member of the Common Council and served six years on the Board of Educa- tion. He has been connected with the Tuscola County Agricultural Society for many years and that organization owes a measure of its popularity and success to Jim's good head work. Mr. Trotter is conspicuous in Masonic circles and has served as Master of the Vassar lodge for a number of years.
W. T. WATSON was born in New York state in 1864, and removed with his par- ents to Mecosta county, Michigan, at the age of one year. Mr. Watson is the son of Rev. R. H. Watson, a Congregational minister of considerable repute in Mich- igan. His first venture in the art of pho- tography was at Bellevue, Michigan, and afterward at Shephard. Three years ago he came to Vassar and purchased the gallery at his present location. His work embraces every branch of photography. . Mr. Watson was married in 1892 to Miss Alice Monroe, at Calamo, Michigan.
W. T. WATSON.
E. EMMETT MILLER, one of the "young crowd" of Vassar, was born January 1, 1873, in this city. He attended the Vassar high school and got a good start in the world by staying around the old Times office on "press days," and "learning the cases" by the ruddy glow of an oil lamp at nights. Six years ago he was given the charge of the mechanical department of the Tuscola County Pio- neer, one of the best county papers in Michigan, a position he now occupies. One year ago he assumed the manage- ment of Miller's Opera House, one of the prettiest and most substantial theaters in the " Thumb." The liberal and consis- tent methods that characterize his man- agement has given the house a "good name at home," and as theatrical people express it, "a good place to come to."
E. E. MILLER.
The class of attractions that have visited Vassar since he assumed charge have been of the highest order.
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M. AND C. MILLER'S FLOURING MILL.
W. J. SPEARS, of the law firm of Huston and Spears, was born thirty-two years ago in Arbela, Tuscola county, and by his own pluck and energy pushed him- self to the front in his profession. In 1854 he began the study of law in the office of which he is now a partner, was admitted to the bar of Tuscola county in 1885, and in June, 1886, graduated from the Univer- sity of Michigan receiving the degree of Bachelor of Law. He returned to Vassar the same year, was elected Circuit Court Commissioner, and re-elected in 1888. Mr. Spears was elected City At- torney in 1892, an office he holds at the present time. He is also Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Michigan School for the Deaf, and has been honored in various ways by the people.
W. J. SPEARS.
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One of the substantial business con cerns of Vassar has for its founder and perpetuator, C. A. Mapes. His business was established in 1887 and the trade that has been accorded him has been .nothing short of phenomenal. The stock of clothing, furnishing goods, hat, caps, etc., is the largest carried in Tuscola county and his sales foot up the heaviest of any local concern doing business here in that line. Mr. Mapes has vast inter- ests in Vassar, being one of the directors of a local bank and holding various other business interests. He was honored by the people by being elected alderman and is prominent in the Pythian and Masonic fraternities.
The Tuscola County Agricultural So- ciety is one of the few successful county fair organizations in the state. Organized over thirty years, the society has each year met with the hearty approval and liberal support of the people and every succeeding fair seems to be an improve- ment over its predecessor. The society is an institution believed in and appre- ciated by the farmers of the county, who realize its value from an agricultural as well as the commercial standpoint. In addition to its distributing many hundred dollars yearly to patrons, it is through the stimulus of its exhibitions that the best products of the farm and household have been developed and the "scrub" been forced to give way to the thorough- bred, until no county in the state can boast of finer or better bred horses, cattle,
A CORNER IN MAPES' BIG CLOTHING HOUSE.
sheep or swine, than can ours. The an- nual fairs of the society are held at Vassar,
WILLIAM GRANT.
VASSAR BRICK AND TILE COMPANY'S YARDS.
the railroad and commercial center of the county. The fair grounds comprise twenty-three acres, artistically laid out and fully equipped with commodious buildings excelled by no town or city in the state. The half-mile track is pro- nounced by hoursemen to be the best in Michigan. The grounds and improve- ments represent an outlay of nearly $20,000.
The officers for 1895 are, President, Wm. Kirk, Fairgrove ; Vice-President, N. E. York, Arbela; Secretary, R. S. Weaver, Watrousville ; Treasurer, J. A. Trotter, Vassar.
WILLIAM GRANT, crack laundryman, is a native of this city, and was born Feb- ruary 5, 1864. Nine years ago he opened an unpretentious hand laundry that re- received so much encouragement in both the city and surrounding towns that a steam plant was soon necessary to keep apace with the volume of business. This was put in six years ago. Since that time new and approved laundry machin- ery has been constantly added and facili- ties for handling out of town work materi- ally increased. Regular agencies at Yale, Columbiaville, Reese, Richville, Brown City and fifteen other Michigan towns give the shipping department of the busi- ness plenty to look after. Mr. Grant is purely a Vassar product and by a persist- ant exhibition of pluck, together with a general popularity, has gained a success that anybody could be proud of.
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ALDERMAN C. C. HILL.
ALDERMAN J W. GOLLAN.
ALDERMAN T. M. STEPHENS.
W. H. STARK, Mayor.
ALDERMAN H. J. MILLER.
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ALDERMAN SANFORD.
ALDERMAN J. E. VESCELIU'S.
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Vassar's Common Council ...
WILLIAM H. STARK, the present Ma- yor of Vassar, was born in Port Dover, Ontario, July 15, 1861. In 1862 he remov- ed with his parents to Saginaw, where he worked in the soap factory owned by his father. At the early age of sixteen he began in the livery business for him- self, which he carried on successfully four years, turning his hand to railroad contracting next, at which he was especi- ally fortunate. In 1883 Mr. Stark return- ed to Vassar and engaged in the livery business which he conducted for six years, and later was in the boot and shoe business for three years. After selling out his boot and shoe business he became one of the firm of Stark and Mapes, now known as the Vassar Pant Company, and after a year of successful business pur- chased the entire interest which has since been carried on by him. From the mod- est beginning, the business of this concern has grown so rapidly that it requires a working force of thirty employes. In the past year the business of the concern covered every town north of Vassar in Michigan and many Wisconsin cities. Something over $10,000 was paid during the year just ending for labor, which rates this institution among the best. Mr. Stark is a member of Vassar Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Foresters, Knights of the Maccabees and Loyal Orange Lodge. In politics he is a Republican and has been honored by being elected township treasurer in 1889 and 1890, and in 1891 was elected Mayor of Vassar, an office which he fills efficiently at the pre- sent time. Mr. Stark was President of the Tuscola County Republican Club for one year and is at present a member of the Republican County Central Commit- tee. He was also honored in the Sena- torial Convention at Lapeer by having the solid vote of his county for 104 ballots for the nomination of Senator for the twenty-second senatorial district. It was in this memorable convention that John L. Preston was nominated on the one hundred and fifth ballot by a unanimous vote. Mr. Stark possesses more than or- dinary force of character, which is guided by a clear discernment and excellent business capacity.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Sanford, was born in Green county, New York, in 1842, and came to Michigan in 1870 and settled in Ingham county. It was in 1881 that Mr. Sanford came to Vassar and started in business in the hardware line, a branch of trade with which he had been identified since his boyhood days. His success is not therefore the result of chance, but the fruit of wise and consist- ent methods and business vigilance. His store in Vassar is located in the Huston block and is one of the most centrally located, and his stock the peer of any in Tuscola county. Mr. Sanford has always been identified with the best interests of Vassar and has backed his faith in the proud city of the Cass by encouraging all of her institutions, He was elected by the people as a member of the board of aldermen two years ago, a place he holds at the present day. Socially Mr. Sanford is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Vassar lodge.
CHARLES C. HILL, the shoe man of Vassar, was born in Birmingham, Michi- gan, April 20, 1863, and was a son of Rev. S. N. Hill, the widely known pastor of the Presbyterian church in Vassar. Mr. Hill received his education at the Vassar high school, and in 1881 allied himself with the Vassar Woolen Com- pany as house salesman, continuing in that capacity until 1894 with the excep- tion of two seasons. Three years ago he formed a partnership in the shoe and fur- nishing goods business under the firm name of Hill and Lewis. On January 1, 1895, Mr. Hill succeeded the firm, and has conducted the business since that time. He was elected alderman last year on the Republican ticket, is prominent in Ma- sonic and Pythian circles and is well liked by patrician and plebian. Hill owes his success in business to the liberal use of printers ink and common sense. There are not many homes in Tuscola county that have not heard of Hill, the shoeman. In addition to the shoe business he finds time to act in the capacity of City Clerk and secretary of the Business Men's As- sociation. Mr. Hill was married in 1885 to Miss Alice Hough, of Almont.
The subject of this sketch, J. E. Ves- celius was born October 10, 1848, in Em- field, New York. In 1857 he removed with his family to Tuscola county, and settled on a farm three miles south of Tuscola. Mr. Vescelius came to Vassar in 1877 and engaged in the gun and sport- ing goods business. His business house is located on Cass avenue near Huron. He also buys raw furs in season and does considerable business.in this line. In 1885 he organized the Vassar Rifle Club with twenty-five members. The range of the club is located within the city limits, and its members enjoy the distinction of win- ning a large number of first prizes in the state shoots. Mr. Vescelius is a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Vassar and is one of her good citizens.
ALDERMAN THOMAS M. STEPHENS was born in Almont, Lapeer county, Michigan, November 24, 1855, and was satisfied to till the soil of Lapeer county until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1880 he was married to Miss Hattie A. Hough, of Al- mont, and removed to Vassar and formed a partnership with M. T. Butts in the grocery business. The firm continued in existence for three years. Mr. Stephens then removed to Romeo and entered the store of J. J. Cochrane where he remained for four years. He then took the road for H. P. Baldwin and Company, a Detroit shoe house, and removed his family to Vassar. Mr. Stephens was elected last spring to the office of alderman, he is sup- erintendent of the Baptist Sunday School and is an active worker in church affairs. Mr. Stephens is the kind of citizens Vas- sar is glad to hold.
As an evidence that it pays to attend to business and follow the straight and narrow path, it is only neccessary to point to the career of H. J. Miller, one of Vas- sar's crack druggists. He was born on September 6, 1866, at Lawrence, Ontario, and received only a common school edu- cation. At the age of sixteen he entered a drug store at Fort Gratiot where he remained for ten years. In March, 1891, Mr. Miller came to Vassar and started in business for himself with but little money
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and whole lots of energy. By a liberal use of the latter he got a good fund of the former and has one of the best con- ducted drug concerns in this county. He has served two years as alderman of this city, and is trustee and treasurer of the M. E. Church, is a Mason and a member of the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Miller was married in 1892 to Clara A. Swartzfeiguer' of Vassar, and has one of the neatest little homes in the city.
JOHN W. GOLLAN was born in Ran. somville, New York, in 1861, and received his education at Lockport, New York. In 1880 Mr. Gollan came to Vassar and entered the dry goods store of McHose and Gage, remaining there something over a year when he was engaged as sales- man for William Barie and Son, of Saginaw. In 1888 he formed a partner- ship with J. T. Stecker in the dry goods business which continued up to the time of Mr. Stecker's death, when Mr. Gollan assumed the entire business. This was in 1890. The business has been conduct- ed by him on a strictly first-class plan since that time, and is one of the model places of business in Vassar, and is pop- lar socially. He was married in 1890 to Miss Birdell Garman, of Vassar.
Mr. Gollan was elected alderman of of the city last year.
IRA L. FORBES.
IRA L. FORBES, superintendent of the l'assar schools, was born in Wayne coun- ty, New York, in 1842, being fresh from school in 1862, when his patriotism caused him to enlist in the 18th Michigan Infan - try. After nine months in camp and field, his education and attainments
RICHARD MORRIS, M. D.
caused him to be released from field duty and assigned to duty in the Provost Mar- shal's department as clerk of the military prisons at Nashville, Tennessee. He was soon made chief clerk, a position which he filled to the satisfaction of the General in charge to the close of the war. After the war he was again at school for a year, after which he began his career as a teacher of the young, which he has fol- lowed continuously ever since. He is now in his ninth year as Superintendent of the Vassar schools, having successfully held the position against a most wicked attack by the County Board of Examiners in the interest of one of their number. Not one of the corrupt board is now in the teaching profession in our county. Mr. Forbes is always prominent in any move- ment for culture or advancement and it is due to him that Vassar's schools are in a prosperous condition.
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