Bay County, Michigan - The whole text, 1883 (part 14 of 20)

He has passed a life thus far upright and industrious, and at the charter election, 1883, under the re-division of the wards of West Bay City, was elected alderman of the Second Ward without opposition, being nominated by each party.

Thomas P. Hawkins was born in May, 1839, in Hume, Allegany Co., N, Y., where he lived until 1866, though serving a part of the time as clerk in a dry goods store in Buffalo. In 1866 he married Miss Mary A. Bennett, of Hume, a native of Dryden, Tompkins County, and removed to Wenona, Mich., now West Bay City, and engaged as clerk for Sage & McGraw. He remained in their employ about one year, and soon after started in the grocery business for himself. He continued in the business until 1877, when he was appointed resident agent for a portion of the late John McGraw estate in West Bay City and vicinity, at the same time engaged for himself in lumber and timber business. Mr. Hawkins was obhged to give up active business in consequence of declining health, resulting from a complication of diseases, dropsy and consumption, which terminated fatally in April, 1881. He was a member of the village council three years, recorder one year, and member of the city council one year. He took a lively interest in all matters for the general good of the village, and afterward of the city. He left a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, all living. Mrs. Hawkins is well and pleasantly situated in a good home, corner of John and Crapo Streets.

Carlos E. Koot was born in Lewis County, N. Y., in 1839. He lived with his father until 1862, when he married Miss Charlotte J. Williston, of the same place. After the usual course at the common school, Mr. Root attended the academy at Lowville, and afterward followed teaching for a number of years. In 1863 he engaged in a retail grocery business at his native place, which he followed until the time of his coming to Wenona in 1865. He soon bought an interest in some fighters and gave his attention to that business, the boats plying from Saginaw and other points on the river to the bay, making up vessel loads. He followed that business until 1870, when he engaged in scaling logs for J. W. Babcock, Winters for three years, after which he gave his entire attention to putting up ice, principally for retaihng, but wholesaled some to the South. In 1882 he estabhshed the manufacture of Root beer, ginger ale, pop, etc., for wholesale trade, which business he still carries on. Mr.

Root was for some years a member of the village council, being one of the first under the village charter, and for the past two years alderman from the Second Ward in this city. He has a fine residence on Midland Street.

West Bay City Incorporated

We come now^ to an event in which the three villages disappeared from the map to be succeeded by a city well equipped for a race with any rival. The consolidation was a forcible illustration of the oft-repeated maxim: - "In union there is strength." In connection with this change there is a very natural tendency on tha part of curious minded people to inquire why the musical and beautiful name of Wenona was dropped and the present name adopted in its stead.

The organic history of West Bay City is substantially as follows: - The Legislature of 1877 passed an act entitled "An Act to consolidate Wenona, Banks and Salzburgh, to be known as the city of West Bay City," which provided that so much of the township of Bangor, in the County of Bay, in the State of Michigan, being formerly the incorporated villages of Banks and Wenona, and such other territory as is included in the following limits, to- wit: - Beginning at a point in the middle of the Saginaw River, where the north line of Section Fourteen, Town Fourteen north, of Range five east, crosses said river; thence southwesterly along tne middle of said Saginaw River, to a point where the south line of Section Thirty-two, Town Fourteen aforesaid crosses said Saginaw River; thence west on the south line of said Section Thirty-two, to the southwest corner thereof; thence north along the west side of Sections Thirty-two, Twenty-nine and Twenty, Town Fourteen aforesaid, to the northwest corner of said Section Twenty; thence east along the north line of said Section Twenty, to the quarter post ( f said Section Twenty ; thence north along the quarter fine of Section Seventeen, Town Fourteen aforesaid, to the north line of said Section Seventeen ; thence east along the north side of the east half of said Section Seventeen, and north line of Sections Sixteen, Fifteen and Fourteen, to place of beginning, be and the same is hereby set off from the aforesaid Township of Bangor, and declared to be a city by the name of West Bay City.

The wards were divided as follows : - The First Ward embraced all that portion of the city within the following-described limits: - Beginning at the center of the Saginaw River where the north fine of Section Fourteen, Towai Fourteen north, of Range Five east, crosses said river, running thence west on the north line of Sections Fourteen, Fifteen and Sixteen, to the northwest corner of Section Sixteen ; thence south on the section line between Sections Sixteen and Seventeen, to the southwest corner of Section Sixteen; thence east on the section line, between Sections Sixteen and Twenty-one, to the point where said line crosses the south line of the property belonging to Ballentine, Moore & Co. ; thence southeasterly along the south line of said Ballentine, Moore & Co's property, to the center of Saginaw River. The Second Ward shall embrace all that portion of the city contained in the east half of Section Seventeen, entire Section Twenty and that part of Section Tw^enty-one not included wdthin the boundaries of the First Ward. The Third Ward shall embrace all that portion of the city contained in Sections Twenty-nine and Thirty-two.

The first election was ordered on the first Monday in May, 1877, at the village hall in said First Ward, and the inspectors of election were: - Patrick Lourim, Robert Leng, Alexander B. More, Thomas B. Raymond and Ephraim J. Kelton. In the Second Ward the election was ordered held at the common council room in said ward, and David Gr. Arnold, Thomas P. Hawkins, James A.

McKnight, Spencer 0. Fisher and George G. VanAlstine, inspectors. In the Third Ward the election was ordered held at the hotel of William Davis, and Frank Fitzhugh, John W. Babcock, Bartholomew Staiidacher, Aaron Wellman and Eobert Elliott, inspectors of election.

David G. Arnold, an old resident of the place, was the first mayor of the city. Officers of the city for the several years are given elsewhere.

A slight amendment was made to the charter in the Winter of 1880, affecting the matter of salaries of city officers, but making no other material change.

In the Winter of 1883 the charter was amended materially, by act of Legislature, and the number of wards increased from three to five, and their boundaries described as follows:

"The First Ward shall embrace all that portion of the city within the foil owing- described limits, to-wit: - Beginning at the center of the Saginaw Eiver, where the north line of Section Fourteen, Town Fourteen, north of Eange Five east, crosses said river, running thence west on the north line of Sections Fourteen, Fifteen and Sixteen, to the northwest corr.er of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of said Section Sixteen ; thence south on the subquarter line to the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section Sixteen ; thence south forty-one degrees and twenty minutes east between the lands of John Bourn and the Keystone Lumber and Salt Manufacturing Company to the center of Saginaw Eiver.

"The Second Ward shall embrace all that portion of the city contained in Section Sixteen not included in the First Ward, the east half of Section Seventeen, the north half of Section Twenty, and all of Section Twenty-one north of the center line of Dunbar Street, in Litchfield's addition to the village of Wenona, to said road track, and north of the north line of said Dunbar Street, if extended easterly from railroad track to the center of the Saginaw Eiver.

"The Third Ward shall embrace all that portion of the city contained in Sections Twenty and Twenty-one north of the center line of Jane Street, extending in a direct line east through Fitzhugh and Kissell's sub- division of the west half of the southwest quarter of said Section Twenty and the plat of Lake City, to the center of the Saginaw Eiver, and not included in Second Ward.

"The Fourth Ward shall embrace all that portion of the city contained in Section Twenty south of the center line of Jane Street as described for the Third Ward, the north half of the northwest quarter of Section Twenty- nine, and that part of the plat of Salzburgh north of center line of Ninth Street, to the center of the Saginaw Eiver.

"The Fifth Ward shall embrace all that portion of the city contained in Section Twenty-nine not included in the Fourth Ward, and all of Section Thirty-one."

The salaries of city officers are fixed in the new charter not to exceed the following sums: - "Eecorder, $600, an increase of $200; comptroller, $800; city attorney, $600, an increase of $400; marshal, $600, an increase of $300 (the above providing for extra pay for police duty is stricken out); harbor master, $100, same as before; mayor and aldermen, $1 per session, an increase of 50 cents. It is also provided that any physician reporting diseases dangerous to the city's health shall receive remuneration for the service."

The election of officers is provided for as follows: - "At the annual election for the year 1883 there shall be elected a mayor, treasurer and recorder for a term of one year and a comptroller for two years. The comptroller shall be elected at the annual election held each two years thereafter; at the annual election in 1884 there shall be elected a mayor and recorder for a term of two years and they shall be elected each two years thereafter, also a treasurer who shall be elected annually thereafter, these shall also be elected annually thereafter ; there shall also be elected at the annual election in 1883, two school inspectors, one for one year and one for two years, and each year thereafter there shall be elected one school inspector for two years. At such election there shall also be elected in each of the several wards, one alderman whp shall hold his office for one year, and one alderman who shall hold his office for two years, one supervisor, one constable and three inspectors of election.

"In the year 1885 it is provided that four justices of the peace shall be elected for terms of one, two, three and four years respectively, to succeed the present incumbents."

Officeks Of West Bay City Spencer O. Fisher

Present Mayor of West Bay City, was born at Camden, Hillsdale Co., Mich., February 3, 1843. In his boyhood he received a common school education and worked upon a farm until eighteen years of age. From that time until twenty-one years of age he was in the employ of Sutton & Fisher, buying hard-wood lumber and shipping it East. From twenty-one to twenty-three years of age he was clerk in a general store at Hillsdale for the firm of Hall & Marvin. His salary for the first year was to be $200, but at the end of the year they paid him $600, and for the remaining two years $1,000 per year. He then engaged in the mercantile business for himself at Hillsdale, and remained there about six years when he sold out and removed to West Bay City, at that time the village of Wenona. June 26, 1867, he married Miss Kate H. Crane, of Hills- dale, and they now have three daughters. Mr. Fisher was alderman in the city of Hillsdale two consecutive terms of two years each. He arrived in Wenona in October, 1871, and engaged in the lumber and timber business. He was one of the charter members of West Bay City, formed by the consolidation of Banks, Wenona and Salzburgh, and gave the new city the name it now bears ; has been an alderman two terms, run for mayor on the organization of the city, but was defeated by D. G» Arnold, the strongest man in the city, by eleven votes. He was the unanimous choice of the Democratic congressional convention for the tentli district last Fall, but his business arrangements were such that he could not accept.

He built his present dwelling in 1873, bought the ground June 30th, and was living in the house October 1st, of the same year. Cost of building f 6,000. He joined with H. H. N'orrington in building the opera house in 1876, and in 1877 bought Norrington's interest; value of opera house $20,000. Burned December 19, 1881, insurance only f 6,000. After the fire he bought seventy-live feet adjoining the opera house site, and rebuilt what is now known as Fisher Block, at a cost of $35,000. Also built in 1881 the bank building, occupied by Lumberman's State Bank, and Moslier and Fisher as an office, at a cost of $15,000. He built two or three dwelhngs, which he has rented, and barns and warehouses amounting in all to $15,000, and built in Williams, in 1872, a mill costing $20,000.

First year handled 1,000,000 feet of square timber; next year added short logs and handled from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 feet. During the panic of 1873 he slacked up somewhat, and for six years handled from 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 feet a year; in 1879 he increased his business, handling from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 feet, in 1880, 20,000,000 feet, and in 1881, 35,000,000 feetoakand pine tnnber and short logs, the firm, as we should have said, being Mosher & Fisher. Their sales and shipments of lumber in 1882 aggregated 34,389,943 feet; square timber 3,000,000 feet board measure; oak timber 1,000,000 feet. For 1883 they have under contract 50,000,000 feet of new short logs and 10,000,000 feet of last year's logs in boom limits, also 5,000,000 feet of square timber, pine, and 1,000,000 feet of oak; this being the estimate for Winter lumbering only. In addition to this they will realize from Summer lumbering, having purchased last Fall S. McLean's entire stock, 40,000,000 feet, all to be cut within three years; 5,000,000 feet of logs which they expect will be available late in the Fall, and expect to purchase at least 5,000,000 feet of pine short logs, beside what they already have in stock and under contract. As another side issue in addition to the one at East Tawas, M. & F. purchased last year 4,000,000 feet of logs at Ludington, which, not having been thus far available, will figure in the aggregate of operations for 1883.

He is also president of the Lumberman's State Bank, and in the Spring of 1883 was elected mayor of the city. He is one of the trustees of the Presbyterian church, and has contributed liberally of his time and means to the building of the elegant new church edifice now in process of erection. At the organization of the bank of which Mr. Fisher is president, mention was made of him as follows: "It is only necessary to state what is well known, that its president, S. 0. Fisher, is reputed to be one of the most successful lumber operators in this section of the state, and that by his energy and rare business talents he has acquired within a few years a large fortune, and which entitles him to rank among the lumber kings of the Saginaw Valley as a future millionaire. To his enterprise and push West Bay City is more indebted for her fine paved streets, handsome buildings and metropolitan eclat than to any other citizen she possesses, and his motto that "a man should spend his money where he makes it" is exemplified in his construction of the opera house and the elegant block in which the Lumberman's State Bank takes up its quarters"

Post Offices

In the consolidation of Wenona, Banks, Salzburgh, each place retained its postoffice, that of Wenona being changed in name to West Bay City.

The West Bay City Office

was established by the postoffice department in February, 1865, in the village of Wenona, and appointed Mr. George H. Bates postmaster. He held the office until June, 1866, when he resigned, and Mr. J. H. Plum was appointed to fill the vacancy. During the official terms of these two gentlemen the office was kept in a part of Sage, McGraw & Co's store. Mr. Plum, in October, 1866, was succeeded by Major Newcomb Clark, who held the office until the Fall of 1869, when he was succeeded by Henry Aplin, the present incumbent. The office was removed from the store of Sage, McGraw & Co. to a building on Midland Street, near John Street. It was afterward removed to Linn Street, and in July, 1881, again removed to its present location, in the Aplin Block, on Midland Street.

When Mr. Aplin took the office in 1869, there were thirty-eight boxes, and in 1883 there are_l,089 boxes. The salary of of the postmaster then was $490 a year, and at the present time it is $2,000. The business of the office at that time aggregated about f 800, and in 1883 it has reached between |8,000 and |9,000. These figures indicate something of the general growth of the place, and it must be remembered that within the city limits are two other postoffices.

Henry H. Aplin, the present postmaster, was one of the early business men of Wenona, and has been one of the active men in building up the city. He was born in the city of Flint, Mich., and at the breaking out of the war of the Eebellion enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, serving until its close, and was raustered out as quarter-master's sergeant. In 1865 he came to Bay City and engaged in the grocery trade, subsequently removing to the west side of the river. In 1869 he was appointed postmaster of Wenona, succeeding Col. N. Clark, and has held the office up to the present. The name of the office has, however, been changed to West Bay City. He also is engaged in the news and stationery trade, in the same building with the postoffice, which was built by him especially to accommodate the two different kinds of business. He is married and has one child.

the banks postoffice was established about 1865. Up to that time the place had been called Bangor, but there being another office of that name in the state it was necessary to choose another one, and Banks was selected in honor of Gen. N. P, Banks. The first postmaster was William F. Benson, a merchant of the place. The office was kept in his store. The mail was carried from Bay City to Banks in a skiff every day, for wiiich Mr. Benson received $15 a year. His salary as postmaster amounted to the magnificent sum of $35 a year.

Mr. Benson held the office about four years and was succeeded by David Trombley. Following him w^ere Joseph Marchaneo, Henry S. Walworth, George McKoy, George McKoy, Jr., and William Stewart, the present postmaster, who received his appointment in 1880. The present salary of the postmaster is f 320 a year.

men who participated in the civil war from its commencement to its close. He enlisted in April, 1861, and remained in the service until April 1865. He saw a great deal of active service, and lost a leg while in service. He has been a resident of Banks since 1867.

The Salzbukgh Postoffice

This office was established in the year 1868 largely through the efforts of Mr. Charles Orton, who was then a resident of the place. The first postmaster was Mr. George Staudacher, who held the office until 1879, when he was succeeded by Mr. Michael Eiegel, the present incumbent.

Michael Kiegel was born in Germany, in 1852, and there learned the machinist's trade. He emigrated to America in 1871, and for a short time worked at his trade in Brooklyn, N. Y. Coming to West Bay City the same year he entered the employ of George Staudacher & Co., general merchants, and in 1878 engaged in the same business for himself. In 1879 was appointed postmaster for Salzburgh, which position he yet retains. He was president of the German Working Men's Society four years and is at present one of its trustees. He married Annie B. Schmidt of Frank enlust, Mich. They have three children.

West Bay City Chueches

The early settlers in Wenoua were fully alive to the beneficent influences of churches upon a community, and particularly during its formative period. Hence, we find that while the outlines of a town were being marked out, church organization was being contemplated; and even before the village of Wenona was foreshadowed, Kev. D. B. Campbell was doing missionary work in the township of Bangor. Following are historical sketches of the several churches now represented in the city:

The Westminstek Pkesbyterian Church Of West Bay City

Until recently this church was called the First Presbyterian Church of Bangor. About November 1, 1863, the Kev. D. B. Campbell was sent as a missionary by the Presbytery of Saginaw, to the lower part of the Saginaw Kiver. His field of labor comprised Bangor, Kawkawlin and Portsmouth. Services were held in the schoolhouses at Banks and Wenona, for the convenience of people living in the township of Bangor. At that time there was no such place as Wenona, either in fact or prospect.

In January, 1864, after Sage and McGraw had purchased the site of the village, the Eev. Mr. Campbell called on Mr. H. W. Sage, and asked a donation of two lots upon which to erect a church. The request was promptly granted and two lots on Catherine Street were donated, and on behalf of the firm Mr. Sage generously agreed to double any subscriptions that could be raised for the purpose of building the church.

Early in 1865, a call, signed by ten persons, was issued for a meeting to organize a church society. The med)ing was held at Mr. Campbell's house, and an organization effected. The first elders of the church were Stephen Buchanan and J. H. Plum. First trustees, J. S. Taylor, J. B. Ostrander, John G. Sweeney.

The efforts to raise money for a church edifice were successful, and the work of building was vigorously pushed forward. On the 23d of August, 1865, the corner stone was laid, and on the 3d of the following December it was dedicated, the Eev. J. Ambrose Wight, of Bay City, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the building was $3,500, furnishing $500 more. Of this amount Sage, McGraw & Co., contributed about $2,000. The Eev. Mr. Campbell continued with the society until some time in 1868, when he was succeeded by Eev. E. T. Sanford, of Schenectady, N. Y""., who resigned the pastorate in January, 1870. The church was then without a pastor about a year. In April, 1871, a call was extended to Eev. L. W. Chapman, who began his labors with the society soon afterward, and continued until May 1, 1880. In October following the present pastor, Eev. Donald L. Monroe, entered upon the pastorate of the church and has been very successful in his labors.

About 1879 or 1880, the question of building a new church edifice that should better meet the increasing requirements of the society, and be more in harmony with the progressive spirit of the city, began to be agitated. It was finally decided that the work should be undertaken, and a building committee consisting of Spencer 0. Fisher, J. H. Plum and E. T. Carrington, was appointed. The question of location was very easily decided, by the offer of Mr. H. W. Sage to donate two and one-half lots on Midland Street, and seU the third lot for $500. The offer was accepted, and in June, 1882, work upon the new edifice was begun. It is expected that it will be completed in September, 1883.

The cost of the church, when finished, will reach fully $20,000. It is built of red brick, after a semi- Gothic style of architecture, and presents a unique and attractive appearance. The interior finish is rich and costly. The auditorium is semi-circular, and is expected to seat 500 people. The structure is a credit to the enterprise and liberality of the society and is an ornament to the city.

The present membership of the church is 126. The Sabbathschool has an average attendance of about 150. The superintendent of the Sabbath-school is E. T. Carrington.

The history of the society has not been marked by any unusual events. For the most part the church has prospered, and at the present time its affairs are in a healthful and prosperous condition. In its membership are included some of the leading financial and business citizens of the city, who take an active interest in the welfare of the society.

The first members of the church were as follows : - J. H. Plum and wife, Seth Bourn and wife, Peter Smith and wife, Mesdames Margaret Sweeney, Delia Huckins, Emily Algoe, Emeline Ostrander, Isabella Campbell, C. Gilbert, and S. A. Buchanan, and James Mc- Donald. Of that number eight have died or removed from the place. Those who remain are Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Plum, Mr. and Mrs. Seth Bourn, Mrs. Peter Smith and Mrs. Margaret Sweeney.

The Methodist Episcopal Society

Wenona charge was formed in the Fall of 1866, and the Eev. A. C. Shaw appointed pastor. The charge includes Portsmouth and Banks. The first societies were formed at Wenona and Bangor, by Eev. William Fox and his colleague, Eev. E. Wigle, in the Winter and Spring of 1866. Eevs. Fox and Wigle were then of the Bay City charge. The former particularly is held in affectionate remembrance by those who knew him. He died at Bancroft, Shiawassee County, March 28, 1881.

During the pastorate of Eev. Shaw, a church was erected at Banks and dedicated by Eev. B. I. Ives, of New York. In the Fall of 1867 Eev. Shaw was succeeded by Eev. Alexander Gee.

In 1868 the work was divided, Portsmouth being taken oft", and Eev. Gee was succeeded by Eev. Joel B. Goss. Until a short time before Eev. Gee's removal the society had worshipped in a hall which they were obliged to vacate in August, 1868. After Eev. Goss arrived he held services at Bangor until November 18th, when Babo Hall was rented, and the following Sabbath a Sunday-school was organized, of which J. S. Taylor was superintendent.

The trustees began building a church at Wenona about this time on some lots given to the society by Mrs. Chillson. She also circulated a paper and procured money to erect and partly enclose a building. It remained unfinished for want of funds until July, 1869, when a meeting of the trustees was held and J. S. Taylor requested to circulate a subscription paper, which he did, and work upon the building was resumed.

September, 1869, Eev. Jacob Horton was appointed pastor, and in November following the church was dedicated. Eev. Horton was returned in the Fall of 1870, and during the year that followed the chapel was built with half of its cost provided for.

In the Fall of 1871 Eev. W. Q. Burnett was appointed pastor. At the close of that year the financial affairs of the church were investigated, and it was found that the society owed a debt of f 2,500. A subscription paper was circulated and so liberal was the response that the entire debt on both church and chapel was paid. In the Fall of 1872 Eov. Burnett was returned, and during the next year about f 600 was expended in improvements. Mr. Burnett remained until the Fall of 1874 when he was succeeded by Eev. E. Woodhams. The following year was one of great financial depression, and the church suffered by reason of it. During this year Mrs. Augusta C. Lester, wife of Capt. T. G. Lester, and one of the oldest members of the church, was removed by death. She was a woman greatly beloved, and her death was deeply mourned. The financial condition of the church was improved about this time by the bequest of $400 of Duncan Lothian. Two mission schools were established one at the Oak Eidge Cemetery Mission, and the other the Salzburgh mission.

September, 1875, Eev. Woodhams was returned, and during the following year fche membership of ,the church was largely increased as a result of revival meetings. In 1876 Mr. Woodhams was succeeded by Eev. D. W. Misner, who remained one year. In 1877 Mr. J. S. Taylor removed from the place, and the society lost one of its most liberal and zealous members. He had been superintendent of the Sunday-school from the beginning, and was ever active in the interests of the church.

From that time to the present, the society has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. The church at Banks was attached to the Woodside Avenue Church, at Bay City, and in 1881 the building at Salzburgh was sold^to the German Lutheran Society.

In the Fall of 1877 Eev. William Dawe was appointed pastor. He remained three years, and was succeeded by Eev. L. P. Davis who is still in charge of the work.

In 1881 the society purchased a house and lot adjoining the church for a parsonage. The house has been enlarged and improved since the purchase.

The trustees are T. F. Shepard, H. H. Aplin, David Lusk, T. G. Lester, John Brigham, H. S. Lewis. Dr. N. E. Gilbert, George L. Mosher and George Lester.

Luthekan Societies

The German Lutheran Church of West Bay City was among the early institutions of the place, and has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. The church was built in 1868, and is located on Alp street, south of Midland street. Eev. Mr. Wiest is the pastor. The church has seventy-five members.

The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church at West Bay City was organized in 1880. The church building located on the corner of Henry and Thomas streets, was built in 1881. The pastor is Eev. H. E. Miller. The church now has one hundred and fifty members, and is in a flourishing condition.

Episcopal Society

St. Paul's Church was organized in 1872 as a parochial parish, by Trinity Church of Bay City, under charge of Mr. Geo. A. Cooke as Lay Eeader. There were two missions, one at Wenona and another at Banks. The first rector was Eev. Lewis L. Eogers. In 1874 a neat church edifice was built at Wenona, upon the lots presented by Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Sage. Eev. J. E. Jackson received an appointment as missionary in October, 1874. Eev. Wilson succeeded Mr. Jackson. For some time past there have been no regular services, and only Sunday schools kept up; the membership not being sufficient to sustain the society.

The early history of the Eoman Catholic church in Bay County has already been given in connection with the history of Bay City. In November, 1873, the building afterward used as a schoolhouse was dedicated as a church by St. Mary's society of Wenona. It was designed to be used until the permanent church edifice should be completed. The present church building was dedicated in December, 1881. The event was mentioned at the time by the local paper as follows: " Without doubt one of the largest gatherings ever assembled in this city took place on Wednesday upon the occasion of the dedication of St. Mary's church. Long before the time appointed to commence the impressive services the large and commodious edifice was filled to overflowing while hundreds were compelled to remain outside during the entire services. The Eight Eev. Bishop Borgess of Detroit blessed the church and dedicated the same to the service of God. At the conclusion of which the Eight Eev. Bishop McMuUen of Davenport, Iowa, delivered one of the ablest as well as eloquent sermons that has been heard in Michigan for many years. The erection of this church has been a wonderful work. Costly and beautiful, and a very large share of the credit is due to the untiring energy and enterprise of the Eev. Father Schutjes for this magnificent structure in our young and prosperous city." The parish was set off from Bay City in 1873, and the first pastor was Eev. M. G. Cantors. The present pastor is Eev. Father Schutjes.

Evangelical

The First Evangelical Eeformed Church of West Bay City dates from' the Spring of 1881, when articles of association were filed at the court house. They showed that Eev. E. W. Henschen, of Manitowoc, Wis., was pastor; Godfrey Kubach, Eudolph Laderach, and Johann Tschmann, trustees; Jacob Laderach and Conrad Baumveller, eiders, and Jacob Grundger and Johann Bauman, deacons. The society was first organized in 1880. They purchased the building erected by the M. E. Society in 1875 for the Salzburgh Mission. The church has one hundred and twenty-five members, and is in a flourishing condition. The Elders are Frederick Eckert and Eichard Burn; Deacons, Adolpli Kusch and J. L. Hofman; Trustees, Otto Kusch, David Schueppach and John Schroeder.

First Baptist Church Of West Bay City

This society has just begun its career having effected an organization in April of the present year. Thursday evening April 19, 1883, about twenty of tlie leading members of the Baptist denomination of West Bay City assembled at the residence of Dr. Marsh, and organized the First Baptist Church of West Bay City. The following officers were elected: Clerk, Dr. J. P. Webster. Board of Trustees, A. C. Haven, chairman; F. E. Hixson, Dr. J. P. Webster, F. D. Pierson and Capt. A. Neal. A call was extended to the Eev. Willis Clark, then in Cheboygan, to become the pastor of their church.

Non-Denominational

Walter Sims, evangelist, non-sectarian, began preaching in West Bay City, Nov. 1879. There is now an assembly of over one hundred and twenty, who meet on the ecclesiastical ground of the early church of the New Testament. Walter Bims, the evangelist, came to Bay City from Detroit in the autumn of 1879, opening a series of meetings in Eouech Hall, at which he energeticahy preached the gospel, and, to use his own language, earnestly contended for the faith once delivered unto the saints, which, he claims, has been, and still is entirely ignored in the sectarian organism of Christianity. He is, by birth, a native of Canada, with English parentage, receiving from his parents the invaluable boon of a good education. Subsequent to the labors in which he is at present engaged, in fact before even the thought of his ever preaching had crossed the horizon of his life his occupation was varied. Soon after the completion of his educational course, he devoted himself to teaching. After a few years of practical experience as a teacher, in which he proved liimself a very successful educator, he was appointed to a very r^- ponsible position on the staff of one of the leading newspapers of the Dominion, in which position he remained for some years. During the time of these secular occupations he has traveled much, in both this and foreign countries, acquiring a store of general knowledge of both places, peoples and things, which proves to be of invaluable service to him in his evangehcal labors. The work which he began, upon his arrival here, has been notably successful. Upwards of one hundred and twenty-five, in this place alone, have acknowledged the faith as taught in the Scriptures. He labors incessantly, preaching on an average six times each week, and to large audiences of interested hearers.

Oak Eidge Cemetery is one of, if not the oldest burying grounds in the county. In 1851-52 the Drake Bros, built their mill on the west side of the river, and soon after they set apart a tract of about twenty acres for a burial place. The location was admirably adapted to that purpose, the ground being high and beautifully wooded with oak trees. The name Oak Ridge was given to the place by Mr. John Drake. The first person buried there was one of the workmen in the Drake mill. Mr. Drake kept the property until about the year 1866, when he sold it to the to;vnship of Bangor. In 1877 after the incorporation of West Bay City, the city purchased the property, and had it re-platted and improved. It is under the control of a board of cemetery trustees appointed by the city council, of which the city Recorder is an ex-officio member and clerk. The present members of the board are Robert Leng, C. F. Corbin, Morris Westover, and the city Recorder. Oak Ridge is situated on section seventeen between the Au Sable State road and Henry street. The annual report of the trustees, March 81, 1883, shows:

Whole number of lots sold during the year, 84, for which the city received cash |841.50, and there is still due on same, $80.00. There has also been received in cash during the year, on account of amounts due on sales previous to this year, the sum of |28.80, and there is still due on the same, |87.60. The entire number of lots laid out in the old cemetery grounds according to the platting thereof is 789. The whole number of lots for which deeds have been given, as appearing from official records of same is 291, from which it would appear that many are yet unsold; but a reference to said lots nominally unsold, however, reveals the fact, that a great number are now occupied as burial lots, for which no owners can be found. The diligent inquiry and notices printed calhng upon parties claiming ownerships to said lots in said cemetery to appear and claim and prove titles have been of little avail. During the year many of the lots in the same platted cemetery grounds, have been taken and fenced with board strips six inches wide, numbered and painted, and material improvements made throughout the said cemetery grounds by clearing away stumps, rubbish, undergrowth, etc. During the same time many lots have been tastefully and permanently improved by their owners by the addition of new soil, the setting of shrubs, flowering plants, etc., while not a few costly and elegant monuments have been erected, materially beautifying the general appearance of that part of the cemetery grounds. The past ten years services of the present sexton, Mr. Coy, have been very satisfactory to all concerned in the management of the cemeteries, and we cheerfully recommend him to your honorable body for reappointment, whilst we cannot close our brief report without testifying in most unquahfied terms to the valuable services rendered this boaid in its official operations, by your late Recorder, Mr. Henry C. Thompson.

St. Joseph's Cemetery belongs to the Cathohc society, and is situated near Oak Ridge. It was purchased of Mr. B. B. Hart, and has received that careful attention for which Catholic societies are noted.

The first schoolhouse in the township of Bangor was built about 1860, on a lot given for that purpose by the owner of the land. It stood back from the river a distance of a quarter of a mile and was used for various pubhc purposes other than schools. The sovereign people of Bangor gathered there to vote at an early day, and the zealous missionary assembled the pioneers within its walls and proclaimed to them the glad tidings of salvation or the appalling terrors of a judgment to come.

About this time a school was started in the village of Banks, called at that time Bangor. A diminutive shanty was the temporary temple of learning. About 1868 the town haU was finished, and the school was kept there until 1868.

Further toward the south were still other youth thirsting for knowledge, and a school for their benefit was started in the Salz. burgh District. This place had just been "salted," and was a candidate for metropolitan proportions.

In 1861 Wenona bloomed forth, and grew so famously that, in 1866, the place ripened into an incorporated village. The necessity for better school accommodations was felt, and an effort was made to induce the district to build a new schoolhouse. The pioneer in this movement was Mr. J. A. McKnight. There was a large element opposed to the project; but after a hard struggle, which called into play persistent determination and some strategy, the friends of the measure gained the victory, and bonds to the amount of $10,000 were voted. The morning foUowing the meeting at which this result was reached Mr. McKnight started for Detroit to negotiate the bonds, which he did, and work was begun on the new school building, which, with some additions is the one now in use near Midland Street in School District No. 2. It was built by Mr. George Campbell, of Bay City, and cost about |9,500. The furniture cost f 1,200 more. It was opened Monday, January 27, 1868, with Mr. A. L. Cumming as Superintendent. There were about 800 pupils in the district, of whom about 180 attended school. The old wooden building was removed to a lot nearer the brick building, and fitted up for further use.

In 1868 a schoolhouse was built at Banks, then School District No. 2 of Bangor. This building was a credit to the intelligence and enterprise of the place. It must be remembered that a considerable portion of the population of the district were temporary residents and non-taxpayers. The school fiourished and was liberally sustained. In November, 1877, that building was destroyed by fire, and the following year the present elegant brick building was erected at a cost of §8,000, including ground. The school has a

The School System

The schools of West Bay City are organized inider the State law, and the territory of the city of West Bay City and township of Bangor is divided into three school districts. Efforts have been made to separate the schools of the city from those of the township, but never have succeeded. The provision of the city charter relating to school districts is as follows :

Section 1. All the territory within the limits of West Bay City included in sections fourteen, fifteen and sixteen, and sections nine, ten and fractional section eleven of the township of Bangor, are hereby organized for school district purposes into a graded school district to be known and designated as school district number one of the city of West Bay City, and all the territory included within the limits of the east half of section seventeen, and all of section twenty, section twenty-one, and the north half of section twentynine in the city of West Bay City, and sections seven, eight, the western half of section seventeen and sections eighteen and nineteen of the township of Bangor are hereby organized for school district purposes into a graded school district, to be known and designated as school district number two of the city of West Bay City; and all the territory included within the limits of the city embraced in the south half of section twenty-nine and the whole of section thirty-two is hereby organized for school district purposes into a school, to be known and designated as school district number three of the city of West Bay City, and as such school districts numbers one, two and three respectively of the city of West Bay City, they are hereby made owners of all the property now owned by districts now numbered one, two and three respectively of the city of West Bay City, and subject to all contracts made with and by said districts respectively, and are hereby declared liable respectively for the payment of all bonds, notes, debts and liabilities of said school distiicts numbers one, two and three respectively of said city, whose legal successors said school districts numbers one, two and three respectively, of the city of West Bay City are declared to be, and the officeis of said school districts, numbers one, two and three respectively, of the city, are hereby declared to be and are hereby created the officers of said school districts numbers one, two and three respectively, of the city of West Bay City, and shall continue to hold their offices till the expiration of the terms for which they were elected as officers of said school districts numbers one, two and three respectively of the city of West Bay City.

Section 2. The full amount of all the taxes to be levied for school purposes upon the taxable property of said school districts numbers one, two and three respectively of the city of West Bay City shall be certified by the officers or boards of trustees of said districts respectively to the supervisors of said township of Bangor and the comptroller of said city, who shall each certify to the other the amount of taxable property in those parts of said districts lying in his- township or city, and such comptroller and supervisor shall respectively ascertain the proportion of such taxes to be placed on their respective assessment rolls according to the amount of taxable property in such parts of such school districts, and the same shall be spread upon the assessment rolls accordingly.

Section 3. No trustee or officer of either of said school districts shall be directly or indirectly interested in any contract as principal surety, or otherwise, ihe expenses or consideration whereof are to be paid under any act of ordinance of the board of school officers or trustees of which he is a member, nor be surety or bondsman on any contract or bond given to said board of school officers or trustees.

Section 4. All provisions of the general laws of the state relative to common and union or graded schools shall aj)ply and be in force in said city, except such as may be inconsistent with the provisions of this act or with the by-laws and ordinances of the board of school officers or trustees of either of said districts made such under this act."

There are now in the three school districts six school buildings belonging to the districts, and one rented building in district No. 2. Two sites for buildings have recently been purchased in district No. 2.

District No. 1, E. J. Demorest, superintendent; Mary Abernethy, Emma Abernethy, Jane Kern, Molhe Donohue, Anna Eevenaugh. Total number of puxDils m this district is 850; number enrolled, 400.

District No. 2. F. W. Lankenaw, su23erinfcendent; Mrs. C. C. Faxon, Lucy Swift, Marcia Davis, Ida Scofield, M. Silsby, M. Dwyer, Avis Johnson, Ada E. Talbot, Maggie McMullen, Etta Ostrander, Mrs. (L A. Thomas, Miss N. L. Coy. Total number of pupils enrolled in this district 1,076; number belonging 713.

District No. 3. Frank C. Thompson, Principal; Misses Wilma Burton and Ef!a Weatherby. Number of i)upils enrolled 190; average attendance 160; total number of school children in the district 240.

Seceet And Benevolent Societies

The various societies represented in West Bay City are in an unusually healthy condition, evidently sharing in the general prosperity of the community in which they are located. Their early organization and present condition is sketched as follows :

Temperance Societies

The history of temperance societies on the west side of the river-corresponds with that of similar societies elsewhere. Like individuals, they have lived and died. The first temperance society was a lodge of Good Templars, organized in Wenona in December, 1866, of which Dr. J. A. Chase was Worthy Chief Templar. In May, 1867, we find the following record:

Templar of the sfcate, visited West Bay City and instituted a lodge of forty-seven members. The officers elected were as follows : - W. C. T., Rev. L. P. Davis; W. V. T., Mrs. T. P. Hawkins; W. S., Edwin Yan Tnyl; W. T., Miss Lucy McNeil; Fin. Sec, Miss Avis Johnson; W. M., C. Kaynor; W. I. G., Miss Mary Chillson; W. 0. G., George Lusk.

Masonic

Wenona Lodge No. 221, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted March 19, 1874. The event was mentioned at the time as follows: - "Past Grand Master Thomas E. Doughty, of East Saginaw, assisted by members of Bay Lodge, No. 104, and Valley Lodge No. 189, of this city, last evening instituted a new Odd Fellows Lodge at Wenona, to be known as Wenona Lodge, No. 221. The ceremonies commenced at 3 p. m. and continued until 5, at which time an adjournment was made for supper. The lodge was again called to order at 7 o'clock and the ceremonies proceeded. Eleven candidates were initiated, making the total membership sixteen.

At 12 o'clock those present, to the number of over a hundred, adjourned to the basement of the Ernst Block, where a bountiful repast had been prepared by the ladies of the village. The tables were filled, and all did ample justice to the supper, after which volunteer toasts were proposed and responded to as follows :

Mr. Newkirk proposed : "The Past Grand Master and the brethren from Saginaw," and called upon T. E. Doughty, P. G. M., to respond. Mr. Doughty made some well timed remarks.

Mr. Crabb, of East Saginaw, proposed: "The Brethren of Bay and Valley Lodges," which was responded to by Thomas J. Kelleyin his usual happy manner. At this juncture one of the large number of gentlemen who had not partaken of the repast called upon Mr. Newkirk to propose a toast regarding them. The hint was a good one and was taken immediately, as was evinced by the lively manner in which those seated at the tables made way for their fasting brethren. It was supposed that all were seated at the table,

"The lodge was again called to order at 2 a. m., and while waiting for some of the charter members, Mr. Newkirk, being called upon, made a speech giving the lodge some sound advice.

"The new lodge starts out with brilliant prospects for the future, and it will, no doubt, make a shining light in the Odd Fellows' firmament. The hall, which is in the Ernst Block, is tastefully fitted up, the regalias are handsome, and, in fact, everything is the best."

Royal Arcanum

Wenona Council, No. 31 Royal Arcanum, is one of the prosperous institutions of West Bay City. It was organized December 3, 1877, with thirty-one charter members. The officers for 1883 are as follows:

Knights Of Maccabees

Sir Knight Hugh Elliott, deputy grand commander of the Knights of Maccabees of the World for Michigan, instituted a tent of that order in West Bay City, in March 1883, with twenty-six charter members, and installed the following officers:

A history of West Bay City would be lamentably incomplete without some notice of an organization that, for a brief moment, fiercely threatened the matrimonial interests of this fair city with disappointment and disaster. Bachelors have cast their shadows upon the path of life in all periods of the history of mankind. At divers and sundry times they have banded themselves together in order to more successfully resist the arch enemy of single blessedness. It is both singularly true and truly singular that a matrimonial epidemic never raged among a community of bachelors with such sweeping fierceness as immediately after the organization of a bachelors' club. Bay City has a bachelors' club, though its decimated ranks revive the proverb that history repeats itself. The history of the Bachelors' Club of West Bay City is about as follows :

December 25, 1877. - C. S. Ford, then a young man living in single blessedness in this city, gave a Christmas dinner at his hotel, to which were invited the gentleman friends who now compose the club.

After the party had banqueted and were presumably lingering over the wine in the true convivial style peculiar to bachelor dinners, some one moved that a resolution be drawn up and signed by the gentlemen present, requiring each signer to give a reunion supper at any time during the first year of his future wedded life, to celebrate his advent into the "reign of terror," commonly called matrimony. The suggestion was suitable to the spirit of the party and was drawn up with all due legal extravagance of terms and technicalities, after which the company separated.

The following are the names of the gentlemen who composed the club: - C. S. Ford, G. H. Francis, Curt Pierce, J. S. Taylor, Jr., S. L. Brigham, George Young, James Sayles, Fred Ward, Dr. J. H. Hauxhurst, W. W. Vedder, H. Weber, E. Green, J. E. McNeil; and they have renounced bachelorhood in the following order: - Francis, first in less than one year from signing the resolution; Hauxhurst, next in quick succession; Ward, third; Ford, next; Taylor, next and McNeil, sixth. The members have become scattered somewhat, but with the exception of the last reunion have generally managed to participate in the pleasures of the meetings. Young is in Texas, where he has been located for a couple of years. Ward is in Flint and Sayles is in Oscoda; the rest still reside in this city.

Since that Christmas dinner in 1877, of the thirteen bachelors who signed the agreement, six have married, and almost regularly every year the dinners have been given by the benedicts.

At every reunion new resolutions are adopted, and as the conditions require each member to be present with his family, the company gradually increases and new faces are present at every meeting. As Dr. Hauxhurst laughingly said when giving the history of the club, "Heaven help the last, unless he gets there pretty soon, for he'll be obliged to lease an opera house to hold 'em."

The last reunion occurred at the residence of Capt. B. F. Pierce, father of Curtis Pierce, Thursday evening, October 5, 1882, the occasion being the marriage of J. S. Taylor, Jr., which occurred some time ago, but which was not celebrated at the time, owing to Mr. Taylor's departure from the city, almost immediately after his marriage.

Whether any of the original members will still remain good and regular at the time this sketch meets the eyes of the reader is a query fraught with too much uncertainty to warrant the writer in recording an opinion.

Public Libeaey

At the annual school meeting in 1873, the directors called attention to the fact that there was in the treasury $250, belonging to the library fund, and proposed that $250 more should be raised by tax that year for the purpose of starting a public school library ; but this proposition was immediately voted down. Nothing daunted, however, the School Board at one of their meetings determined to expend the money on hand and purchase what books they could for such a library, and immediately sent for catalogues to various publishers, from which they made selections as far as the money would go, and were rewarded by seeing that it was going to be a valuable auxiliary to the schools.

At the annual meeting in 1874, the librarian, Mr. Whitmore, made a report showing that there were in the library 351 volumes; and at that meeting the board were instructed to purchase a complete set of Appleton's American Encyclopedia, w^hich was done.

From that time to this the library has been increasing until now it contains about 1,700 volumes, and this number will be increased to 12,000.

When the library was first started it was placed in the brick school building, but that place proving to be insufficient, the fine library room on the second floor of Aplin's building on Linn Street was rented and a librarian hired to take charge of it. This has nearly all been accomplished without direct expenditure of the people's money, the funds being received from the money paid for fines by the law breakers.

A year or so ago, Mr. H. W. Sage concluded to leave something to West Bay City besides docks and saw mills, and it was very natural thai his mind should turn to some enduring benefit in which all classes might share. Having the youth of West Bay City uppermost in his thought he decided to give them a good public library, and forthwith proceeded to carry out his benevolent designs. His gift was to consist of a library building costing $22- 000, the lots occupied by the building and $10,000 worth of books. The building was commenced in 1882 and is to be completed in September, 1883. It is situated on Midland Street, opposite the new Presbyterian Church, and when finished will be a rich addition to the possessions of the city. In this institution the citizens of West Bay City are endoAved with a legacy of great and enduring value, and one that will remain a fitting monument to the memory of the founder of Wenona.

The control of the library is to be placed with a board of trustees, of which, ministers in charge of churches in the city, the mayor and president of the Board of Education are to be ex-officio members.

The Peess

By 1869 the village of Wenona had arrived at a degree of importance such as seemed to warrant the publication of a newspaper, and in the Summer of that year Mr. J. B. TenEyck started the Wenona Herald. He afterward sold his office to Messrs. Cowles & McMullen, who, in 1872, removed the office to Bay City. In November, 1872, Mr. S. H. Egabroad entered upon the field with a paper bearing the same name as the one that swam the river a few months before. April 5, 1873, William J. Ward, a journalist of long experience, purchased the office and published the Herald until November, 1879, when he removed the office to Dowagiac, where he published a daily paper for a short time. In 1881 he returned and has since then been connected with the daily papers of Bay City. He is now upon the staff of the MoniitKj Call. Mr. Ward worked at the case thirty years ago.

November 19, 1879, a few weeks after the Herald of^ce was removed, Messrs. Dowling & Stuart started the E.m)niner. They were succeeded by the firm of M. A. Dowling & Co., and May 1, 1882, the firm was again changed to Dowling & McLaod. July 1, 1882, Mr. Dowling retired and Mr. McLaod ran the paper alone until the following December, when the present firm of McLaod & Platts began. At the same time the publication of a daily was begun, which is still continued. The present publishers are young men of good ability and enterprise and their business is in a flourishing condition. The Exatniner office was one of the victims of the great fire of 1881.

Banking

The Lumberman's State Bank of West Bay City is an institution deserving of more than passing notice. The elegance of its business apartments is in harmony with the high order of commer- ciiil and social enterprise wliich characterizes the community in which it is estabhshed, and its management is so uniformly successful that it has attained high rank among the banking institutions of the state. It shares the general prosperity of the place and affords the business of West Bay City ample and safe banking facilities.

The history of banking in West Bay City dates from January, 1872, when H. H. Norrington, of Bay City, and John S. Taylor, of the lumber firm of Taylor & Moulthrop, formed a company partnership for the purpose of carrying on the business of banking in the village of Wenona. At that time Wenona possessed less than 2500 inhabitants, but Mr. Norrington was far-seeing enough to behold in the future a thriving city, and an unusual opportunity to control a good field for a lucrative investment. It is needless to say that the Bank of Wenona fully justified his expectations, and that it was not long before it became necessary to increase its capital in order to meet the requirements of its fast increasing business.

As a result of its prosperity it was not a difficult task for Mr. Norrington to induce capitahsts to subscribe sufficient money to organize a bank of |50,000 capital; the stock being rapidly taken by parties in West Bay City, Bay City, Detroit and other places. The Bank of Wenona then became merged into the Lumberman's State Bank of West Bay City, the stockholders electing S. 0. Fisher for its president and H. H. Norrington its cashier; both of these gentlemen being the present incumbents and retaining, as then, the entire confidence of its stockholders and the business community.

The management of the affairs of the bank has devolved upon Mr. Norrington, Mr. Fisher having extensive business interests requiring all of his time and strength. Few young men have a more successful business career to record than Mr. Norrington, of whom we give a brief personal sketch as follows :

Henry H. Norrington, banker, although a young man, having been born in 1847, may be considered among the representative men of Bay County. Being left an orphan at an early age he was placed under the guardianship of Col. H. A. Morrow, now of the United States Army, but then an eminent lawyer at Detroit, for the purpose of being educated in the legal profession. The war of the Eebelhon breaking out, he entered the famous '^Loomis Battery" at the early age of sixteen, with the rank of quartermaster's sergeant, participating in thirty-two engagements, being wounded at the battle of Stone Biver, and also taken prisoner. After his exchange and recovery he was ordered to report to Gen. Heintzelman, at Cincinnati, by whom he was made assistant ordnance officer in the campaign against Morgan in his raid through Ohio. In the report of Gen. Eeynolds, commanding the department of Western Virginia, September, 1861, he was recommended to the secretary of war for a commission for bravery in having carried dispatches through the lines of the enemy after six attempts of the same nature had failed. *For this service he w^as placed on the general staff and received a sword from his commanding officer. The incident was pubhshed at the time, m full, in the New York papers as one of the bravest deeds of the war. On his return he was given an appointment in the postoffice department, which he resigned after one year's service, for the purpose of making the tour of Europe. On his return he finished his legal studies, and after admission to the bar, located at Bay City in the Fall of 1867. In 1868 he was elected circuit court commissioner and re-elected in 1870. Becoming interested in the growth of the west side of the river, through an investment in real estate, he decided to enter into the banking business and organized the Bank of Wenona, which was afterward merged into the Lumberman's State Bank of West Bay City. His reputation as a financier is second to none in the state, and the institution of which he is a large stockholder possesses the confidence of the community. Mr. Norrington has done much toward the growth of the city by erecting of the Lumberman's State Bank at West Bay City, Mich., at the close of business, Monday, July 2, A. D., 1883, made ill accordance with Sections Eighteen, Nineteen and Sixty-seven, of the general banking? law as amended in 1871.

The Bank Building

and the appointments of the business apartments of the bank are particularly fine. The block is the property of Mr. S. 0. Fisher, and was built in 1881. We find the following very faithful description of it which was written soon after its completion: - "Located in the most central part of the city, on the corner of Midland and Linn Streets, an elegant three-story red brick building of modern style, designed by Watkins, Hidden & Arnold, attracts the eye of the observer. The half basement, surrounded by a massive iron railing, is reached by a flight of wide, stone steps, and a pair of heavy oak doors with elaborate ground glass panels discloses to us the offices of Mosher & Fisher, in which the large lumber and timber business of that firm is transacted. After a cursory glance at the oiled flooring of the front office and the elegant furniture of the private office, we return to the street, and passing up a short flight of heavy iron steps to the second floor we reach the office of the Lumberman's State Bank. With the evident purpose of security, the outside double doors are of great thickness and strength, while the interior doors of frosted glass and polished oak seem constructed more for the purpose of harmonizing with the elegance displayed within.

Outside a counter of elaborate workmanship designed and built by Messrs. Weller, Brown & Mesner, of Buffalo, N. Y., and costing a trifle over 1 1,000, the material of which is red oak and Hungarian ash of fine pohsh, decorated with oak leaves and the monogram of the bank, is a flooring of encaustic tihng of various designs, whilst inside the counter is a flooring of inlaid specimens of the various kinds of oak found in the forests of Michigan. Indeed the only wood used in the interior of the building is oak of different varieties, intended we presume to be typical of the institution as possessing firmness and solidity.

"At the extreme end and extending from haU to hall is the large fire-proof vault constructed by John Donovan, of Flint, and lined with plates of thick boiler iron made at the works of John McKinnon & Co., of Bay City, inside of which is the burglar-proof safe, an appropriate receptacle for the storage of books and papers, leaving a sufficient space for the erection of small steel boxes for

"Connected by a double folding door of unique design, constructed by the West Bay City Manufacturing Company and uniting the banking office with the director's room, is an elegant railing of carved oak, and over the doors elaborate carved woik done by George Earl, of Bay City. Within the room, furnished with a rich Brussels carpet from the house of Phelps & Co., is appropriate furniture of the Japanese style, and surmounting the swinging windows of French plate glass is a beautiful arch of stained glass furnished by George Misch, of Chicago. Messrs. Thompson & Peake, of West Bay City, are entitled to much praise for the skillful manner in which the carpenter work was performed, and A. W. Green, of the 'same place, who executed the necessary painting and polishing.

"The third floor is occupied by the order of Odd Fellows. The entire building is hghted by gas manufactured on the premises, and is heated throughout by Martin's improved steam heater, whilst the excellent plumbing and ventilating arrangements were designed and constructed by George L. Mosher, of West Bay City. Too much credit cannot be bestowed upon the good taste and enterprise displayed on this building, and West Bay City may well take pride in an institution so closely connected with its general welfare and prosperity. "

The Arhngton House is the principal commercial hotel in the city, and was known in early days as the Bunnell House. In the Summer of 1867 Messrs. M. & H. Bunnell erected a frame two story building on the present site of the Arlington, for a hotel, which was burned in the fire of November following. The owners proceeded immediately to rebuild of brick ; the substantial three story building still standing. It was formally opened in June, 1868, and the event was noticed at the time as follows :

"The Bunnell House was formally opened on Thursday evening, June 25th, by a ball and supper w^iich was numerously attended by citizens of that place, this city and various neighboring towns. This house is on the corner of John and Linn Streets, on the same site as the hotel of the same name which was burned down. It is built of brick, three stories high, with a basement in which are the billiard room, bar-room and barber shop. On the first floor are the office, reading, dining rooms, kitchen, etc. On the second, parlors and a number of sleeping rooms. The third story is divided up into sleeping apartments. The building presents a fine appearance on the outside, and its inside arrangements are very convenient. It is furnished in good style. The total cost of building is 117,000, furniture about |4,000 more. It will be kept by Messrs. M. & H. Bunnell."

The house was kept by them for several years. Subsequently Mr. A. M. Eouech kept it and changed the name to the Eouech House." Still later the name w^as changed to the "Wells House." In tlie Summer of 1882 Mr. Louis Potter purchased the property' and changed the name to the "Arlington." This property has recently been purchased by Thomas Toohey, the present proprietor.

Thomas Toohey, who is at present proprietor of the Arhngton House, West Bay City, is a native of County Mayo, Ireland, where he was born in 1888. In 1840, he, with his parents, came to South Burgess, Leeds County Canada, where he remained fourteen years, then removing to Greenick, Bruce Co , Hving there eight years. He came to Detroit, Mich., in 1862. From there went to Ypsilanti, and in 1864 went to South Saginaw, where he was in the employ of Flagler & York as agent three years, at the end of which time he came to West Bay City where he has resided for the past fifteen years. During that time he was general agent for J. M. Ballentine & Co. three years and six months, the field of his operations being the Saginaw Eiver during the Summer and the lumber camps during the. Winter. He afterward built the Toohey House and was proprietor of the same ten years. For- the past six j^ears Mr. Toohey has been engaged in the lumber business, and on December 1, 1882, he took in Michael Hagerty as a partner. Mr. Toohey has held the office of village treasurer, and was supervisor during the years 1879, 1880 and 1881.

The Fike Of 1881

The most destructive fire which has ever visited West Bay City occurred December 19, 1881, and was described by the Bay City IV/7>///,'^', as follows: - "At 11:15 o'clock last night, as S. L. Brigham was passing up Midland Street, in West Bay City, on his way home from this side of the river, he discovered a fire in the tailoring estabhshment of Waldbauer & Szysperski, and it proved to be the beginning of the Avorst conflagration that has visited the West Side. Mr. Brigham at once broke in the door with the intention of subduing the flames, but after a hasty examination found them too fierce to control. He immediately ran to the engine house and sounded an alarm. By this time a small crowd had congregated in front of the store, and when the hose cart and engine turned out, gave assistance. The engine Defiance, was run to the tank on Linn Street, and had on a stream as soon as possible under the circumstances. Other fines of hose were laid from the water works hydrants, but the works, which were located in Sage & Co's mill, were shut down, and it was fully a half hour before steam was raised and everything in running order. Before this time the whole building, in which the tailor shop was located, was in flames, and a general alarm was sounded. Mayor Wilkinsthen ordered out the department of this city, and the Second and Fourth hose companies, the hook and ladder truck and Neptune steamer repaired to the scene. The flames rapidly gained headway and the firemen concluding that the building was to be totally destroyed, turned their attention to the Fisher Bank and Postoffice building, and to the Fisher & Norrington Block, situated on the west and east sides respectively. Despite the strenuous efforts of the firemen, the flames invaded the store of Phelps & Co., in the Fisher & Norrington Block, and as if by magic swept through from rear to front, in an instant. At 12 o'clock the building was one mass of flames, and in a few minutes later the front wall fell crashing into the street, scattering fire in all directions. The furious flames were carried to the eastward by the fight wind prevaifing, and to the surprise of all found their way into the brick block of W. W. Vedder, on the corner of Walnut and Midland Streets. Previous to this advancement on the part of the fire, the powder cask in the hardware store of Henry Weber exploded, making a terrific noise. Several persons were in the block rescuing' goods at the time, and became so frightened as to jump through windows on the pavement regardless of results. C. D. Vail, of the firm Eddy & Co., of this city, w^as one of the last to issue from the store, and informed the Trilmue reporter that he saw no one behind him and thought no lives were lost, though there were reports to that effect on the street.

At 1 : 15 o'clock the fire was thought to be under control, having been confined to the west store in the Vedder building. The fire department had now got down to work, and was doing good service, though the water works w^ere not performing as they should. A half hour later the danger of the fire spreading was over, and at 2:15, A. M., was fully under control.

The Burned Buildings And Losses

Gpmmencing in the Aplin Block, with Dr. A. Cnniiingham; who had only the day before finished fitting up his cffice. His loss to furniture, electric apparatus, hooks, etc., will be in the neighborhood of f 150, with no insurance.

Next again was the barber shop run by Henry Hawkins, and who lost nothing, however, but his razors. The furniture and fixings belonged to T. F. Shepard, who loses $400, with no insurance.

Just east of this store was the tailoring estabhshment of Waldbauer & Szysperski, where the fire originated. Their stock was valued at f 2,000, on which there was $1,000 insurance.

Over the drug store, W. Munshaw resided, and he lost all his furniture valued at $900, together with |24 in cash. A man named Smith and another named Bates, also lost their furniture, worth about $500.

Following next was the opera house block, built at a cost of $20,000. This was occupied on the ground floor by Phelps & Co., as a double grocery and dry goods store. In this building there was a $40,000 stock, most of which was destroyed. There was an insurance of $22,200 on this stock and $6,000 on the building. Over this store was Emery Bro's office, Avho lose about $800, which is thought to be covered by insurance.

Directly above was the council chamber and the city surveyor's office. The loss here will reach $1,500 with $800 insurance. Continuing eastward, the flames entered the Vedder block, first attacking Henry Weber's hardware store, which soon fell a prey. The total loss on this building, stock and fixtures, was about $9,000, on which there was $4,500 insurance. M. A. Dowling occupied the rear of the upstairs as the Mmminer office. This involved a loss of $1,500, on which there was no insurance. The next building attacked was the drug store of W. W. Vedder, over which was the residence of S. Phelps, and the insurance office of G. A. Allen. There was a loss of $1,200 on Phelps' household furniture with $500 insurance. On Allen's office furniture there was a loss $150 and no insurance. Vedder's, on block and stock, will be in the neighboihood of $8,000 with $5,000 insurance. Underneath the drug store was the job printing office of McConnelly & Co. Their loss by water and damage will be covered by $100, but loss by being thrown out of a season's work will double that amount. It was thought at one time the blocks on the opposite side of the street would fall a prey to the devouring element, nearly every pane of glass in four buildings cracking to pieces in the heat. The front of H. W. Sage & Co.'s store was coveied with wet blankets which prevented the store being extensively damaged, though they claim a loss of $400 or $500, which is covered by insurance. Going south on xhe same side, A. Laroche sustained a loss of $250 in the damage of glass, cornice, etc., but it is covered by insurance. Charles Fitzhugh's building which John Ehle occupies as a shoe store was damaged $200 worth; insured. Mr. Ehle claims a loss of $300 on stock and furniture. Next west is the extensive drug store of Perry & Woodward, owned by Dr. Lewis of Ehode Island. Every pane of fine plate glass is smashed causing a loss of $225, which is not insured. Ford's clothing store sustained a nominal damage; $50 will fully cover the loss on this building.

List Of Losses

What is left to compensate this immense loss is $45,650 in£,urance money, about half the actual loss. By the foregoing sum it will be seen that the loss sustained will nearly reach the "enormous sum of $100,000, which at this time of the year will greatly hinder the prosperity of the city." The energy and enterprise of the losers were fully equal to the emergency, and the following year the burnt district was rebuilt with handsome brick blocks.

The subject of water works was agitated by the citizens of Wenona as early as 1874, but nothing was done until 1880, when a contract was made with the firm of H. W. Sage & Co. for pressure, and pipe has been laid from time to time. In 1882 it was decided to put in water works to be operated by the city under the Holly system. It is expected to have them ready for operation during the Summer of 1883, at which time there will be about six miles of pipe. The following description is as fuU as can be made at the present date: - The building will be located according to direction of the board and will occupy an area equal to that shown on ground or basement plan, namely, 50x72 feet, and have an altitude equal to that shown per elevations and sectional drawings, namely, 25 and 18 feet for main building and engine rooms respectively. There will be but -two rooms, designated on basement plan as boiler and machinery rooms, both of which will extend as high as the plates and into the roof which will leave an inclination of forty degrees. The boilers will be placed in position as shown and the pumps and machinery on their proper beds and in exact place.

There will be an entrance to the boiler room from Linn Street, also one to machinery room; the machinery room will also have an entrance from Henry Street opening onto a balcony, the floor of which will be nine feet wide, extending entirely across the front, with guard rail and balusters. From this a descent of fifteen steps will be made to the flocTr of rooms which will be eight inches lower than the thresholds of doors opening at opposite ends of the building. The boiler-rooms will be floored with hard-arched brick set on end. All the stone work below the grade lines will be of the best rubble construction, and of a good sound quality of brick, Sandusky limestone, or some other article equally as capable of resisting the great weight to be put upon it, of good size and in such shape that the walls will be thoroughly bonded. The walls will be eighteen inches in thickness, to start on footings not less than twenty-four inches square and eight inches in thickness. The exterior of the front wall, as well as that on the south side of the building, will be of stone, while the interior will be of brick.

There will be a coping stone to engine beds that will extend over their entire surface of foundation, eight inches thick; all cut stone work (excepting quoins and copings) will be of first-class quality of blue or buff Ohio sandstone, perfectly clear of flaws. All corners and angles of the building are to be carried up level, plumb and square, accurate measurements to be made from time to time from center to corner around the building in order to insure a uniform height of courses, so that a "hog" of any proportions whatever will not be permitted to "squeal" on the job. The gable ends of the building will be coped with galvanized iron, which will also be used in the construction of cornice. The roof will be slated with 12x24 inch slate, variegated, of a good, sound quahty, laid with ten and one-half inch margin. From the architects specifications and drawings it is intended that a satisfactory job will be done, and being as they are complete in every particular, no extras for any case whatever will be allowed. The water works board are at present considering between the construction of an iron and brick smoke stack.

Board Of Water Works

The Board of Water Works is composed of T. F. Shepard, C. Smith, Morris Westover, J. A. McKnight, Charles Smart. T. F. Shepard is President and E. S. Van Liew Secretary.

The fire department of West Bay City dates from 1869, when the steamer " Defiance" Avas purchased, and a citizens' fire company organized, with S. A. Plummer as chief. As is the result of all similar experiments, the system did not prove a success, and, after about two years, the company disbanded. The Council of Wenona village then tried a paid fire department, and afterward changed to the plan of paymg firemen when they turned out. Finally the present system of hiring a chief and paying firemen wdiile on duty at fires was adopted. The department consists of the steamer and three hose companies, Nos. 1, 2 and 3. John Charters is chief of the department, and L. Eoundsville engineer of the steamer. Since 1880 the city has been practically supplied with water works, through the contract with H. W. Sage & Co. to furnish pressure, and after the present season will have the Holly system in operation.

West Bay City Industkies

The most extensive industries of West Bay City, very naturally, are the manufacture of lumber and salt, and ship building. The mill now owned by John Welch was the first saw mill built on the west side of the river. It w^as built by Drake Bros., in the Winter of 1852. The next was built by Whitney, Coit & Co., at Bangor, in 1852, and is now owned by C. E. Lewis. Then, in 1854, folowed the mills of the Keystone Lumber and Salt Manufacturing Company, and H. J. & C. J. Smith. The former was built by Mr. George Lord and the latter by the firm of Moore, Yose & Co. These were the early mills. There are now eleven saw mills belonging to West Bay City, and their history is given in connection with the general lumbering interests.

Ship Building

This is an important industry, and is treated fully among the general resources of the county. The pioneer ship builder of the West Side is William Crossthwaite, who commenced operations at Banks in 18G4, an account of which is given with the history of Banks. John A. Weed started a ship yard at Banks in 18G5.

Capt. James Davidson, ship builder, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., and has followed sailing from his youth up, two years of which he spent on salt water, making several voyages between New York and Liverpool, and, in 18G1, to Calcutta. In his twenty-second year he commanded the schooner Sea Gull, and afterward purchased an interest in the schooner Philena Mills, and took command of her. For the past thirteen years he has been engaged in ship building in the Saginaw Yalley, during which time he built and sailed the schooner Kate Winslow (at the time the largest saihng vessel on the lakes), schooner E. M. Davidson, and steamers Jas. Davidson, Oceanica and Siberia and also several tugs. He is now engaged on the largest steamship on the lakes, the dimensions of which are, length, 285 feet; breadth of beam, 40 feet; average depth of hold, 21^ feet, with a carrying capacity of 2,500 tons, exclusive of fuel, machinery and outfit. She is fitted with fore and aft compound engines, high pressure cylinder, 80 inches bore, 42 inches stroke; low pressure cylinder, 50 inches bore, 42 inches stroke, and two steel boilers 8i feet shell, 10 feet long, and will be fitted with all modern improvements. The captain resides with his family in Buffalo, N. Y., but owing to his large ship building interests in West Bay City, and the time he necessarily spends there, he is looked upon as a resident of the place.

Wheeler Sc Crane, ship builders, have been in busmess since 1879, the location of their yard being conveniently situated on the Saginaw Eiver in the First Ward of West Bay City. They do a large business in ship building and repairing, having had during the past three years upward of twenty boats on their docks, among which may be mentioned the Lycoming and Connamaugh, belonging to the Erie and Western Transportation Company. They furnished the timbers for the steamer Clyde, and built for James McBrier, of Erie, Pa., the propellers Fred MacBrier and Galatea, and the Osceola for the Ward Line of steamers, and are at present engaged on a large steam barge for William Forbes, of Port Huron, to cost $75,000. Frank W. Wlieeler and Albert A. Crane are the members of the firm.

Frank W. Wheeler is a native of New Y^ork, but when twelve years of age came to Saginaw with his parents where he remained ten years. After acquiring an education he sailed about three years, after which he engaged with his father in ship building. In 1875 he removed to West Bay City and opened a ship yard, and in 1879 formed a partnership with Albert A. Crane, the style of the firm being Wheeler and Crane. Married Eva Armstrong of Saginaw. They have one child, a daughter.

Albert A. Crane was born in the State of New York in 1849, and in 1861 removed to Hillsdale, Mich., and in 1874 came to West Bay City and engaged with Wm. Moots in hardware, also doing business in the line of logs and timber. In 1879 entered into partnership with F. W. Wheeler in ship yard. Married Josey K. Keefer, of Hillsdale, Mich. They have one child living, a daughter.

Under the firm name of J. D. Ketchum & Co., a copartnership ' was formed in 1879 at Cleveland, Ohio, for the purpose of manufacturing certain chemical articles, wdiicli are below enumerated, and the following April the company commenced building operations in the 1st Ward of West Bay City, where their large manufacturing establishment now stands. On Dec. 1, 1881, a joint stock company was organized, the jfirm of J. D. Ketchiim & Co. ceasing to exist. The capital of the concern is |400,()00, and the following are its present officers: J. D. Ketclmm, treasurer and general manager; Herman Frash, superintendent; C. H. Morgan, assistant superintendent. Manufacture refined alkah, (ammonia process), sal soda, bi carb. soda, carb. magnesium, sulphate magnesia, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, precipitated chalk, basic magnesia lining for Bessemer converters and salt, producing of the latter 90 bbls. per day. Employ 40 men.

The Wilson Hoop Co

The knife hoop machine which is operated by The Wilson Hoop Co., is the result of two years hard and peculiarly exhaustive labor known only to inventors. Money, time and energy have been spent in perfecting it, the ridicule of those who beheve that nothing new can succeed has been overcome, and to-day it is beheved to be the best machine for the purpose known. As there are in this section something hke 18,000,000 hoops used annually, many of which are brought in from outside, this industry must prove a very valuable addition to the growing prosperity of the city, as well as a credit to the inventor and owners. The first aim of the inventor was to save timber - an important question to all manufacturers of wooden articles - and as hoops are formed thicker on one edge than on the other, he conceived the idea of cutting directly from a round or nearly round log, and has adapted his machinery to that end. The advantages of the machine are that it wastes no timber as in sawing, and hoops can be made wdth less labor. In the beginning Mr. Wilson, the inventor, made his plans and interested his partner, Mr. Alex. Bush, in the enterprise. They were at this time, July, 1880, associated with the Saginaw Barrel Co. of Saginaw City, in the manufacture and sale of the Wilson washboard. When the plans were perfected and a machine constructed, it was not at first a success as many details had to be changed, and it is thought that the first 20 coils of hoops cost not less than flOO each. But at length every obstacle was overcome and a strong, simple and easily operated machine was the result, which during 1881 cut one million hoops. Owing to poor facihties for steaming, and prejudices existing in the minds of coopers against cut hoops, the growth of the enterprise was slow. A new machine with improvements was added at the place in the Fall of 1881, and about three million more hoops were made up to Nov. 1882, at which time the factory was entirely burned down. In Feb., 1882, Messrs. Wilson & Bush formed a copartnership with H. M. Wilhams, under the name of The Wilson Hoop Co., and established their business in West Bay City. In Dec. 1882, Mr. Wilhams sold his one-third interest to WiUiam G. Pierce, of Watertown, N. Y., and Mr. Isaac Pierce of Alma, Mich., purchased a quarter interest. The capacity of the machine is from 25,000 to 30,000 hoops in 10 hours, and the works employ at present (1888) BO hands.

West Bay City Manufacturing Company

This company was organized March 16, 1881, with a capital stock of $24,000, divided into OGO shares of f 25.00 each. It purchased the planing mill formerly operated by Arnold & Cathn, and is engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, mouldings, etc., doing also a general planing mill business. The products of the estabhshment find a ready market in the northern part of the State. The officers of the company at this date (1882) are John Bourn, president; E. T. Carrington, secretary; H. H. Norrington, treasurer; M. W. Brock, manager, and the following named directors: J. Bourn, £. T. Carrington, H. H. Norrington, M. W. Brock, J. H. Plum, and E. M. Fowler. The whole number of stockholders at present is thirteen, whose names are, L. E. Noyes, Geo. L. Mosher, Eeuben Green, H. S. Ingersoll, J. Thompson, D. G. Arnold, The

Lumberman's State Bank, and the above mentioned officers. The bookkeeper is Mr. I. C. Thompson. The property of this company was sold March 21, 1883, to S. 0. Fisher, who subsequently sold an interest to F. P. Cob and A. A. Crane. These gentlemen continue the business under the name of the West Bay City Manufacturing Company.

Business Blocks

The pubhc buildings liave already been described as has also the elegant bank block, which adorns the central part of the city. The business blocks are substantial brick structures, and give an air of sohdity and thrift to the city. Those erected since the fire of 1881 are particularly attractive in style of architecture. The Fisher block was built in 1882. This block contains the Opera House and Council rooms, both of which are unusually elegant. Another block belonging to S. 0. Fisher was built in 1880. Views of the Opera House and Bank blocks are given in this work. The Norrington, Aplin, Mosher, and Westover blocks, all brick, were built in 1882. Another block belonging to H. H. Aplin, the Van Alstine, and George Being blocks were built in 1880. Mrs. Moots' block, also the Babo, Eose, Fitzhugh, Allen, and Tschauner blocks were built in 1869. The Davis block was built in 1870; the Vedder block in 1872; the Sage block in 1878; another Tschauner block in 1878, and the Larouche block in 1879. These are the principal brick business blocks in the city.

In February, 1883, the Bay City Press contained a carefully prepared review of the improvements made in West Bay City during the year 1882, which we copy, as follows:

"The West is noted for the remarkable growth and prosperity of its young and flourishing cities; but we doubt if in all the vast territory of the Western country, a parallel can be found with that of the enterprising city located on the west side of the Saginaw Eiver, opposite the 'third city' of Michigan. Certainly cities of mushroom growth, which spring up in a night as it were, and disappear with equal rapidity and facihty, with an abnormal growth, may be cited, but we unhesitatingly affirm our behef that no place on the continent can be named which exceeds the young and prosperous city of West Bay City, which is rapidly forging ahead, and is even now. the 'third city of the Saginaw Valley' in population, manufactures, and permanent city improvements. Unlike many Western cities, with a forced, unnatural growth, West Bay City has been permanently planted, because a city is absolutely demanded. Her natural resources have impelled her natural but unrivaled growth in population and wealth and all the other elements which insure an enduring foundation and continued advancement. Until six years ago the place was known as the village of Wenona, and although its advancement as a village was remarkable, its unequaled development did not receive its present wonderful impetus until its incorporation as the city of West Bay City. The change seemed to have a magic influence, and from the day of its incorporation to the present, each succeeding year has outrivaled its predecessor in present development as well as in insuring a permanent future. Her citizens have proven themselves men of enterprise, with pubhcspirited proclivities, and possessed of that Western characteristic recognized as 'push.' They have labored for the success of their city, and deserve the eminence they have achieved. The city has increased in population from 3,000 to 8,000 in six years; nearly eight miles of cedar block pavement has been laid in the past three years, the city is hghted by electricity, extensive water works are being laid, and all the improve meiits demanded by a live city are being or have been secured. Her system of sewerage is excellent, and is extended to meet the necessities of every situation.