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History of Grand Rapids
And Its Industries
by Dwight Goss
C. F. Cooper & Co., Publishers
Chicago, 1906

Volume I

CHAPTER I - PRE-HISTORIC GRAND RAPIDS - 9

 

CHAPTER II - EARLY INDIAN DAYS IN THE GRAND RIVER VALLEY - 36

 

CHAPTER III - EARLY LAND ENTRIES, FIRST SETTLERS, AND EARLY DESCRIPTIONS

Ten Years Afterward – Welcome To Michigan - 70

 

CHAPTER IV - THE VILLAGE OF GRAND RAPIDS - 145

Village Legislation – Early Settlers

 

CHAPTER V - MEDICINE AND SURGERY - 197

Pt. I – By Joseph Bascom Griswold, M. D. – G. R. Sanitary Ass’n – U.B.A. Home and Hospital – Butterworth Hospital – Early Physicians –Dentistry – Early Dentists

 

CHAPTER VI - MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT - 243

Township Proceedings – Walker Township – G. R. Lyceum – 1842 Young Men’s Ass’n – Fourth of July, 1844 – Michigan – Incorporation – Assessors – Collectors – Street Commissioners – Highway Commissioners – Appointive – Justices of the Peace and Years When Chosen – Constables – Old Settlers’ Society – Reorganization and Change of Name – Membership Roll

 

CHAPTER VII -CHARTER LEGISLATION - 301

By Ernest L. Bullen The Village – The City – First Recorded City Election – Number of Votes Cast – The First Revision – Other Revisions and Amendments – The School Board – Board of Public Works

 

CHAPTER VIII - THE SCHOOLS OF GRAND RAPIDS - 318

Grand Rapids Union School – Board of Education – Central School Building – List of Schools – Board Presidents – Expenditures – Graduates, 1862-1905 -Normal School Graduating Class, 1893-1905 – Post-Graduates, 1893-1905 – Manual Training – Training School – Night Schools – Free Lectures to the People – School Supply Department – Exposition Exhibits – New Orleans Exhibit – Academic, Private and Parochial Schools – Grand Rapids Academy – Other Early Select Schools – Kindergarten Ass’n – St. Andrew’s Academy

 

CHAPTER IX - BANKS AND BANKING - 412

By Clay H. Hollister
Early Banks – Village and Private Scrip – “Wildcat” Banking – Private Banking and Exchange – The Old National Bank – The National City Bank – Kent County Savings Bank – The Grand Rapids National Bank – The Farmers and Mechanics Bank – The Grand Rapids Savings Bank – The Fifth National Bank – The Commercial Savings Bank – The State Bank of Michigan – The Michigan Trust Company – Grand Rapids Clearing House

 

CHAPTER X - POMOLOGY - 457

By Robert D. Graham
First Shipment – First Growers’ Ass’n – The Big Year – The Garfield Paper – Early Nurseries – Horticultural Society

 

CHAPTER XI - STREETS AND BRIDGES - 475

Early Wagon Roads – First Village Roads – Laying Out Streets – Their First Condition – Further Plattings – Grading, Cutting and Filling – Number and Length of Streets – Mileage of Streets – Street Numbering – Pavements – Street Sidewalks – Derivation of Street Names – Bridges Across Grand River – Bridge Street Bridge – Leonard Street Bridge – Pearl Street Bridge – Fulton Street Bridge – Sixth Street Bridge – Wealthy Avenue Bridge – The Railroad Bridges

 

CHAPTER XII - CITY WATER WORKS - 496

City Water Supply – Hydraulic Company – City Water Works – Work Done in 1874 – Improvements – Cost – Report of Experts - Break in The Reservoir – Expenses – Artesian Wells – Sewerage – Water Companies

 

CHAPTER XIII - GRAND RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT - 515

The Beginning – The Petition – The First Engine – Hook and Ladder No. 1 – Protection Fired Co. No. 2 – Cataract Co. No. 3 First Engine Houses – Fires – Steam Engines – Fire Alarms Fires of 1871-1872 – Review of 1872 – Big Fire of 1873 – West Side Fire of 1875 – Reorganization – Board of Police And Fire Commissioners – Method of Entering Service – Fires of 1882 – Firemen’s Ass’n – Houseman Block Fire – Recent Fires – Luce Block – List of Commissioners – Cost Of the Department – Members of the Department – Henry W. Lemoine

 

CHAPTER X1V - SAW AND FLOURING MILLS - 564

The Mission Mill – The Lincoln Mill – The Country Mills – The Nelson Mill – Later Saw Mills – Pine Lumber – Log Running – Four Periods of Lumbering – State Foresters Ass’n – Flouring Mills – The Lyman Mill – The “Big Mill” - The Kent Mills – Valley City Mills – Globe Mill – Star Mills – Crescent Mills Mills – Model Mills – Voigt Milling Co.

 

CHAPTER XV - PARKS AND CEMETERIES - 576

----YS? – The Park and Boulevard Ass’ns – Park and Cemetery Commissioners – Fulton St. Park – John Ball Park – Comstock Park – Crescent Park – Antoine Campau Park – Lincoln Park – Highland Park – State St. Park – Foster Park – DeCommer Park – Monument Park – Grand River Drive – Summary of Parks – Cemeteries – Early Burial Places – Fulton St. Cemetery – Catholic Cemeteries – Oak Hills – Valley City – Greenwood

 

CHAPTER XVI - COMMERCE AND TRADE - 599

Government Price of Lands – First Sale of Lots – Prices and Values Of Lots – Values of Business Blocks – Kendall Addition – Campau Farm – Penney Eighty – Valuations – Dealers and Brokers – City Extensions

 

CHAPTER XVII - IMPROVEMENTS AND PROGRESS - 606

View of Long Ago – Transition – First Improvement – Water Power – Changes at Pearl Street – Campau Place – Public Improvements – Contrast in Homes

 

CHAPTER XVIII - GRAND RAPIDS ROADS - 611

Early Wagon Roads – Days of Stages – The Concord Stage – Stage Incidents – Kalamazoo Plank Road

 

CHAPTER XIX - RAILWAYS - 617

First Railroad Meeting – Penney’s Prophecy – First Railway – The Grand Trunk – The Lake Shore Road – G. R. & I. – Grand River Valley R. R. – Chicago & West Michigan – G. R., L. & D. – Pere Marquette – Saginaw Railroad – Muskegon Electric Road – Holland Electric Road – Projected Roads

 

CHAPTER XX - STREET RAILWAYS - 631

First Road – Valley City Street and Cable Co. – North Park Road –Reeds Lake Road – South Grand Rapids Road – Street Railway Lines of 1906

 

CHAPTER XXI - TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICE - 636

First Telegraph – First Month’s Business – Postal Telegraph – G. R. & I. Telegraph – Western Union – The Telephone – First Exchange – Citizens Telephone – Universal Use of Telephone

 

CHAPTER XXII - SECRET SOCIETIES AND CLUBS - 640

Masonic Bodies – Odd Fellows – Knights of Pythias – Maccabees –Woodmen of America – Elks – Red Men – Hibernians – Knights of Columbus - Royal Arcanum

 

CITY CLUBS - 651

Peninsula Club – Owashtanony Club – Lakeside Club – Country Club –Canoe Club – Curling Club – Knickerbocker Society – Sons of The Revolution – Daughters of The American Revolution – The L.L.C. - West Side Ladies Club – Grand Rapids Women’s Club

 

CHAPTER XXIII - WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE - 663

First Wholesales – Judson Grocery Co. – Lemon & Wheeler Co. – Musselman Grocery Co. – Wordon Grocery Co. – Hardware – Retail Trade – Mercantile Trade in 1837 – Trade in 1850 – Origin Of Present Business Houses – Herpolsheimer Co. – Spring Dry Goods Co. – Drugs – H. Leonard & Sons

Volume II

CHAPTER XXIV -PUBLIC LIGHTING - 683

Grand Rapids Gas Light Company – First Officers – First Customer Electric Light and Power Company – Edison Light Company – Grand Rapids Edison Company – Municipal Lighting

 

CHAPTER XXV - MILITARY AFFAIRS - 688

The Toledo War – Mexican War – Early Citizens Soldiery – Beginning Of the Civil War – Service in the Field – Various Regiments – Other Organizations – Soldiery Since the War – Reunions – The Spanish War – Grand Rapids Military Companies

 

CHAPTER XXVI - BENCH AND BAR - 715

Pioneer Days – Poetic Age – Romantic Age – Prosy Age – First Murder Trial – Mils Trial – Leading Admiralty Case – Celebrated Will Case – Old Time Lawyers – Federal Courts – Circuit Courts – Court Officers – The Superior Court – Probate Court – Police Court – Justice Courts – Members of the Bar

 

CHAPTER XXVII - BOARD OF TRADE - 804

First Board – Organizaation of Present Board – Its Accomplishments – Leading Members – Business of 1904 – Directors – Committees

 

CHAPTER XXVIII - POLITICAL HISTORY - 815

French Governors – English Governors – Northwest Territory – Michigan Territory – State of Michigan – Organization of Kent County – Campaign Of 1840 – Early Political Meetings – Campaign of 1876 – The Greenback Movement – The Blaine Campaign – Political Meetings in 1888 – The McKinley Meeting of 1890 – The Bryan Meeting of 1896 – Campaign of 1900 – Political Conventions in Grand Rapids – Exciting Municipal Campaigns – The Ford-Belknap Campaign – State Officers from Grand Rapids – State Senators and Representatives – National Representatives

 

CHAPTER XXIX - EVENTS OF CITY LIFE - 841

Transition from Village to City – First Daily Newspaper – Coming of the Railroad – War Times – Street Railroad – New Railroads – Women’s Temperance Crusade – Centennial Celebration – Campau Claim – Coming of the Telephone – Loss of the Alpena – Electric Tower Lights New Bishop – Going out of the Logs – Reunion of the Army of the Cumberland – Regatta at Reed’s Lake – Cable Cars – Blaine Meeting Famous Lecturers – Opening of the Court House – Eagle’s Exit – McKinley Meeting – Furniture Exhibitions Organized – Bryan Meeting Water Scandal – Famous Floods – Ryerson Library

 

CHAPTER XXX - NAVIGATION - 886

First Boats – The Canal – State Aid – Congressional Assistance – Report Of 1905 – Ship Yards – List of River Steamers – Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan Transportation Company – “The Grand” and “The Rapids”

 

CHAPTER XXXI - THE PRESS OF GRAND RAPIDS - 899

Grand River Times – The Enquirer – The Eagle – The First Daily – Morning Democrat – Daily Eagle – The Times – The Leader Telegraph Telegram-Herald – Herald – Trade Papers – Defunct Papers

 

CHAPTER XXXII - LIBRARIES AND MUSEUM - 918

First Library – The Mercantile Library Ass’n – School Libraries – Ladies’ Library – The Union – The Public Library – Board of Education Management – The Reyerson Letter – Board of Library Commissioners – Reports – New Library – Dedication – Phillip Sidney Patton Memorial – K. S. I. – The Museum

 

CHAPTER XXXIII - POLICE DEPARTMENT - 945

Its Organization – Village Watchman – First Policemen – Board of Police and Fire Commissioners – Members – Chiefs of Police – Form of Application – Requirements – The Headquarters – Bertillon System – Police Beats – The Expenditures – List of Policemen

 

CHAPTER XXXIV - PUBLIC BUILDINGS - 958

The Government Building – The Postoffice – Postmasters – Carriers R. F. D. Service – Internal Revenue Service – Custom House – United States Courts and Officials – Court House – Dedication City Hall – City Officers – Soldiers’ Home – Conditions for Admission – Woman’s Building – Reports – The Jail – Police Headquarters – Engine Houses

 

CHAPTER XXV - THE WATER SCANDAL - 1019

Conditions in 1900 – Partisan Politics – The Civic Conscience – The City Attorney – The Corruption Fund – The Press – Arrest of Salsbury in Chicago – Grand Jury – Salsbury’s Trial – The McGarry Trial – Salsbury-s Confessions – The Conspiracies – Aldermen Arrested – Please, Trials, and Punishment – The Eng – Results

 

CHAPTER XXXVI - CABINET MAKING - 1035

The Artistic Side – The Material Aids – Early Cabinet Makers – The Widdicombs – Berkey & Gay – Nelso & Matter – Phoenix Furniture Company – Luce Furniture Co. – Oriel Sligh Furniture Co. – Wm A. Bukey Co. – Stow & Davis – New England – Royal Furniture Co. – Wood Carving – Mich. Chair Co. – The Imperial – Gunn Furniture Co. – Welch Folding Bed – Bissell Carpet Sweepers – State Report of Grand Rapids Furniture

 

CHAPTER XXXVII - MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIES - 1084

Sketches of Industries and Institutions – The Last of the “Dexter Band”

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII - THEATERS - 1107

First Exhibition – Pioneer Public Halls – Modern Halls – Squiers’ Opera House – Powers’ Opera House – Redmond’s Grand – Smith Opera House – Auditorium – The Majestic 1107

 

CHAPTER XXXIX - HOTELS - 1114

Guilds’ Tavern – Eagle Hotel – Bridge St. House – Morton House –Rathbun House – The Pantlind – Livingston – Cody – Crathmore – Clarendon – Old Time Taverns – Grand Rapids Hospitality

 

CHAPTER XL - THE CHURCHES - 1122

Church Sentiment – Adventists – Methodists Churches – Congregationalists – Presbyterians – Baptists – All Souls – Christian Science – United Brethren – Liberal Holland – Hebrews – Swedenborgians – Zion Church – Lutherans – Disciples – Episcopalians – Reformed Churches – Theological School – Independent Reformed Churches – Catholics – St. Mary’s School – Sacred Heart Academy – Salvation Army – Volunteers of America

 

CHAPTER XLI - BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES - 1259

U. B. A. Hospital – Training School for Nurses – List of Graduates – Officers of the Ass’n – Butterworth Hospital – Officers of the Ass’n Graduate Nurses – Charity Organization Society – YMCA. – Holland Benevolent Ass’ns – Children’s Home – St. John’s Orphan Asylum – Little Sisters of the Poor – Home of the Good Shepherd – Woman’s Home and Hospital – Masonic Home – Rescue Mission – Bible Society – Bissell House

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