CHAPTER XXIII

                                                                 City of Mt. Pleasant

                                                            (transcribed by: L. Johnson)

     In the summer of 1863, Harvey and George Morton, of New York, purchased of David Ward the original plat of ground where the village of Mt. Pleasant (now city) was located, and caused it to be platted and recorded, which was done in February, 1864.  At that time there were in buildings the old court house;  a residence on lot 10 of block 7, built and owned by Doctor Burt, afterward bought and occupied by William Preston and family;  it is still standing;  also a house built by Joseph Miser, built on the block where now stands the Fancher block.  During the summer and fall of 1863 the Mortons built a hotel on the lot where now stands the Donovan hotel.

     The old Morton house was a wooden structure of the style and finish of a village hotel of fifty years ago, consisting of twenty-two rooms, and was of sufficient capacity for the wants of the public for some time.  It was run for a time by the builder, Harvey Morton, and then, in May, 1864, Wallace W. Preston rented it and ran it for a time, when John M. Hursh bought it.  He conducted it for a time and then, about May, 1865, sold the property to Wallace W. Preston, who took possession and conducted the hotel business for about three years, and then rented it to David Morse, who ran it for about two years, when Preston sold it to William Bamber.  He conducted the business for a time and then sold to Frank and Mike O’Horo, who ran it until 1883, when Patrick Donovan purchased the property and conducted it till 1890, when he commenced the erection of a forty-five room brick structure, heated with steam and finished in a commodious and attractive manner.  He finished and opened his new building in 1891 and is still conducting the business.  It is the best situated of any hotel in the city.  It has been a good paying investment.

     The next hotel was built by Henry Dunton on South Main street, about half a block off of Broadway.  It was first used as a store building.  He used it as such for a time and then turned it into a hotel.  He afterward sold the property to John Nicols.  This hotel finally burned under peculiar circumstances.  It had a mortgage upon it, the mortgage was foreclosed and sold by the sheriff in the forenoon, and at ten o’clock at night of the same day it was burned to the ground.

     Mt. Pleasant commenced her commercial career in an humble way.  Henry Dunton opened a small store in 1864, J.C. Groves brought in a small stock of goods and also sold to John Kinney.  In the winter of 1864-5 Moses Brown was running a peddler’s wagon;  the roads were simply trails through the woods, just so one could with great caution and perseverance get along.  He broke down at Patrick Clary’s, on the south line of Union township, and Mr. Clary hitched up his ox team and brought Moses out of the wilderness into the city.  Moses placed his goods in the hotel Morton and proceeded to lay the foundation of what was afterward a successful business.  Soon after Alexander Stevenson built a store and dwelling on North Main street and opened up a store of groceries and dry goods.  He remained in business for a number of years and then closed out his business and moved away.  Not long after Stevenson opened up business he was followed by William N. Harris, about 1866, who rented for a time and then, in 1869, built upon the block where the Commercial block now stands.  He put in a stock of dry goods and groceries and continued in business for several years.  Soon after Harris came, Babbitt & Nelson moved their store building and stock of goods from Isabella City to the lot where the Foster furniture and hardware store is now located.  Then came the Doughty brothers, Wilkinson and Jared H.  They opened up a store where the Fancher block now stands, and remained there until they were burned out in 1875.  In 1876 they built a double store on the south side of Broadway, it being of brick and the first brick store in the city.  Theirs was the first hardware store in the county.  They remained in business for many years, but when they moved into the new stores divided the business, Wilkinson taking the dry goods and Jared the hardware.  Jared afterward built a three-story building farther east on Broadway, moved out of the store on the corner and rented it to Marsh & Lewis.

     In the fire of 1875 thirteen business houses were destroyed, among them the store of Carr & Granger, which was situated at that time on the north side of Broadway, so in 1877 they built their brick store on the south side of Broadway and moved their stock of drugs and groceries into their new building, and they are still doing business at the old stand.  Carr & Granger and the Doughtys are the only parties that have continued in business continuously since 1869 and 1871.

                                                                 Plats And Additions

      Business houses and residences kept dropping here and there so that the old plat was filling up, and enterprising men thought that it was opportune that additions should be added, and Langdon Bentley, Elisha H. Brooks, F.C. Babbett, W.H. Lockwood, Lucius R. Parker, Emily L. Case and John M. Hursh platted what is known as the Bentley addition to the village (now city) of Mt. Pleasant.  This was in December, 1867, and comprised a part of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15, township 14 north, range 4 west, consisting of fifteen blocks and eighty-one lots.  It is today one of the best built portions of Mt. Pleasant.  July 13, 1875, J. Rufus Smith platted twenty-three and one-quarter acres of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of said section 15, into nine blocks, containing eighty-six lots, now known as Smith’s addition to said city of Mt. Pleasant.  This joins the old plat on the southwest.  This proved to be a judicious proceeding, for the reason that it is nearly all built upon, there being scarcely a  vacant lot.

     A little later Hon. Samuel W. Hopkins, desiring to better his worldly condition, conceived the idea of adding to his material wealth a few more shekels, and to add glory in the perpetuation of his name did, with I.E. Arnold, Sarah C. Huntress, C.M. Brooks and E.J. Wiley, on the 15^th day of October, 1875, plat a portion of the south part of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of of section 15, aforesaid, into what is known as Hopkins’ addition to said city of Mt. Pleasant.  This consisted of six blocks and fifty-one lots.  This, too, is now all or nearly all built upon, with many of the finest residences in the city.  Among those now living on the said plat is Mr. Hopkins, Howard Chatterton, of the firm of Chatterton & Son, Robert C. Wardrop, F.J. Thiers, Hon. F.H. Dodds, Samuel Morrison.  While the city was building up on the south, it was also extending east, and on June 27, 1877, John Kinney platted the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of said section 15, into thirty-one blocks, having two hundred and fifteen lots.  A large portion of these lots are now occupied by residences, among them some of the most costly and elaborate of any in the city.  It contains the quiet part of the city, not disturbed by the presence of the large number of normal students that are found in closer proximity to the normal school on the south side of the city.

     Hall’s addition was the next to be added, platted by Alexander Hall and wife March 29, 1880, and was a part of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15, aforesaid.  It consisted of eight blocks and thirty-one lots, block eight consisting of but one lot, as that was the location of his home where he lived for a great many years.

     Partridge addition lies west of Hall’s and is part of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15 aforesaid, and consists of five blocks and is divided into twenty-two lots.  It was platted by D. Scott Partridge, Frank and Jared Doughty, S.A. and Fred Huntress, S.W. Hopkins, Francis L. Brooks and Sarah E. Henderson, April 9, 1880.  It adjoins Normal avenue on the east, and has several residences of the normal professors, among them President Grawn, Professor Calkins, Professor Bellis and Bessie Wightman, head of the drawing department.

     Bennett’s addition was laid out by Cornelius Bennett and wife on May 5, 1882, being the east thirty-three and one-third acres of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15, and consisted of sixteen blocks, divided into one hundred and twelve lots.  This is pretty well built up with residences and lies just east of the grounds of the Pere Marquette railroad.

     July 31, 1884, Thomas J. Fordyce and C. Bennett platted fifteen and ninety-two one-hundredths acres of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 10, in township 14 north, range 4 west, into eight blocks, divided into fifty-one lots;  some of these have been built upon, while the rest are still vacant.

     John Kinney platted his second addition September 15, 1884, covering a part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of said section 15, into nine blocks and seventy-two lots.  This addition has been partially built up, but there are still some lots suitable for good residences.

     A few houses had been built on the west side of the Chippewa river.  Leaton and Upton, owning some lands on that side, thought it would be a good idea to plat the land and on the 11^th day of October, 1886, they laid off a part of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15, into four blocks, containing thirty-six lots.  Most of these lots are now occupied by permanent residents.

     Hopkins & Lyons seem to have been impressed with the same spirit, for on the next day, the 12^th day of October, they platted a part of the south one-half of the north one-half of the southeast quarter of section 16, into twelve blocks and one hundred lots.  These are nice, rich garden lands and also good residence property.

     November 5, 1887, Young & Vedder platted a part of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15, into lots and blocks and known as Young & Vedder’s addition to Mt. Pleasant.  There were thirty-two lots in six blocks.

     Douglas H. Nelson was the owner of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 22, within the city limits, and on the 18^th day of May, 1888, he platted thirteen and thirty-eight one-hundredths acres of the forty into eight lots and six blocks.  A few good houses have been built upon the property and the balance is suitable for city property or for farms.

     Addition of Stone’s outlots were platted by Mary and Celia Heather, in connection with Stella G. Leaton, May 15, 1891.  It consisted of sixteen lots on East Broadway, being a part of the north half of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 14 north, range 4 west.  These lots are quite well built up, they are good grounds for gardening and some of them are used for that purpose.

     The old gentleman, William Bamber, some years ago, bought and built up on a part of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 15 aforesaid, which property afterward came to his son William, who on October 5, 1891, platted his holdings into twenty-two lots.  Most, if not all, has been sold and largely built upon.   

     The next addition was that of Martins, which was a part of the north half of the northeast quarter of section 22, known as the Hursh farm, it being the first piece of land settled upon in the township.  The People’s Savings Bank, by its president, Henry Dittman, and its secretary, John F. Ryan, executed the plat on the 21^st day of March, 1892.  There were twenty-two lots.  It is well located and has a number of good residences upon it.

     College Hill addition was added about the same time, consisting of two blocks, and being also a part of the old John M. Hursh farm.  This was platted May 26, 1892, is a fine level piece of ground, and largely built over, being in close proximity to the normal school, where large numbers of students find rooms and board.

     Bennett & Burrows added another plat to the city June 22, 1892, consisting of sixty-eight lots in eight blocks, and being a part of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 14, and lying on East Broadway.  The soil is good for gardening as well as for building purposes.

      John W. Hance was the next to seek his fortune by laying out an addition to the city.  This time it was on the southeast part of the city, and was a part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 22, in said township.  On the 3d of October, 1892, Hance and W.W. Preston perfected the plat, consisting of fifty-five lots in three blocks.  This plat is also near the normal school buildings, is of good soil and is building up as fast as could be expected.

     The Mt. Pleasant Improvement Company was formed in the year 1892 for the purpose of building a normal school building and equipping the same to be used for the purpose of conducting a normal school, especially to prepare teachers for teaching in the rural schools of the state.  A part of the old John M. Hursh farm was secured and divided into lots and blocks, being platted December 21, 1892.  There were two hundred and seventeen lots and twelve blocks.  Ten acres of the said ground were laid out in one block and donated to the normal school.  The school building was built upon that block, which was numbered on the plat as block 10.  The school building was placed upon this block, the balance of the block and a considerable portion of the plat in fact was an still is covered with native hardwood timber and is as fine a park in its natural state as can be found in the state.  More will be said about the normal school under a separate head.

     On December 27, 1892, Moses Brown laid off into lots and blocks a part of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14, in township 14 north, range 4 west, there being sixty-eight lots in four blocks.  There is also in this plat a part of the south half of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of said section 14.  This is also good farming land.  It was built up some and the rest us used for farming purposes.

     October 16, 1893, Edward S. Crowley and wife platted two pieces of land, one addition to Mt. Pleasant and the other in outlots, the lands being a part of the north half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the other a part of the north half of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23, township 14 north range 4 west.

     John F. Ryan, in April, 1896, laid out the east third of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14 aforesaid, into two blocks.

     Lea’s addition was added in 1898, being the north half of the south half of the northeast quarter of section 16, and divided the same into twelve lots.  Not many of these have yet been built upon.

     John Kinney and Dr. Peter E. Richmond, in July, 1904, platted the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15, into seven blocks;  this was so recent that not much has been done upon the addition.

     In 1894 and 1895, the then Commercial Bank platted what was called South Mt. Pleasant and an addition to South Mt. Pleasant, being a part of the southwest quarter of section 27, and being located about two miles south of the center of the city of Mt. Pleasant.  It is so far from the city that it has not met the hopes and anticipations of the founders.  It has one redeeming quality—it is good land and can be utilized for farming purposes by its founders, and as the bank has busted, it makes a good place for the officers to retire and reflect upon the uncertainties of life.

                                                                 Early Business Houses

      Dennis Ryan commenced the grocery business in Mt. Pleasant on South Main street in the year 1878 and continued for a time, when he was burned out, which occurred in April 1, 1885.  He then bought a building which was being constructed on South Main street.  This he finished and finally moved into it, where he remained doing a good business until 1889, when he was elected county treasurer and went out of the grocery business.

     B. Grossefent commenced business for himself in 1902 in the confectionery and bakery Business.  He continued in that business about one year and then added groceries and has been engaged in that ever since.  He is having a good run of trade and has bought the building that he occupies as a grocery and the one adjoining, so that he is very nicely situated.

     In the year 1870 H. H. Graves came, in the government employ, to Isabella City and finally located there for a time.  Soon after he came, Maj. J.W. Long was sent up by the government to designate the Indians as to their competency and he, too, finally settled there.  He built a store building which was occupied by Crane & Gilman as a general dry goods store.  They remained there until 1874 and then moved to Mt. Pleasant with their families and stock of goods and remained here for some time.

     The Major also bought a piece of land on the east side of the river at Isabella and built a store there and Long & Westlake opened a drug store which they carried on for a time there and then moved to Mt. Pleasant, where they went into business.  The Major finally took down his store buildings and moved them to Mt. Pleasant, having secured the lot where the Commercial Bank block now stands and put them on the lot, one on the east side of the lot, which was occupied by Angell & Wood, and Long & Westlake put their stock of drugs in the west one, next to the Carr & Granger lot.

     These buildings were moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1874 and the Major had also bought the lot that Doctor Richmond’s office is on and had built a dwelling house there for his family.  There being a necessity for a court room, the Major conceived the idea of taking his two stores, removing the roof of each facing each other and then putting up rafters that should reach from the peak of each to a peak common to both so as to cover the space between the two stores and thus make another store and also have a number of rooms in the second and third stories and this was done and completed and turned into a hotel called the St. James, which remained there until the fire which destroyed the St. James hotel, about 1882, after which about 1885, the Major sold out and moved away.  The burning of the St. James hotel caused some changes to be made, as Thomas McNamara was occupying one of the stores and Fred Pferdsteller another.  McNamara removed to the Tunis W. Swart store, on the southeast corner of block 16, where Swart had, in 1879, built a brick store building.

     About 1885 the principal men and firms in business in Mt. Pleasant were Carr & Granger, in the drug and grocery business;  in dry goods, John Maxell, E.E. Wood, A.E. Chatterton, E.A. & W.E. Ward;  in staple and fancy groceries, D.H. Gilman, W.S. Hunt, D.Ryan, E.G. Curtis, F.L. Davis & Company, and Kane Bros.;  in dry goods, boots and shoes were T. McNamara, H.M. Angell and W. Doughty;  strictly boots and shoes, W.H. Yerrick and Alex Hall;  in jewelry were C.H. Thompson and D. Switzer;  in hardware, L.N. Smith, J.H. Doughty and George Falkner & Company.  The hotels at that time were the Bennett house, built in 1883 by Cornelius Bennett and run by F.A. Stebbins and Marvin Richardson;  the Bamber house, at the corner of Main and Broadway streets;  the Peninsular house, operated by J.N. Vancise;  the Union hotel, by M.S. Garvin, and the Exchange hotel, by Linus D. Estee;  the Bamber house, conducted by Patrick Donovan, who built the present Donovan house in 1890.  And, by the way, he is the only landlord now in business and most of them are now deceased.

     Of the drug men in business in 1885 there is now W.W. Cox and Granger.  Charles Westlake run the city drug store in the early eighties and McQueen & Ralph the Main Street drug store.  They, too, are out of the business.

     At that time J.E. Wilcox and Fred Pferdsteller were in the furniture and undertaking business.  The millinery business was represented by Mrs. C. Kimball, O.S. Stanton and Ruth M. Davis.  For clothing we had Sam May, and he is here still and in the same business;  Wadhams & Farrell and Frank F. Foster, both of the last gone.  Russel & Whitney were in the insurance work, and in real estate were Hopkins & Lyons, Hance & Devereaux, Brown & Leaton, A.B. Upton and W.I. Cutler.  V.F. Conlogue was the lone dealer in agricultural implements and in farm wagons and buggies.  The dentists at that time were Dr. G.A. Goodsell and J.B. Van Fossen.  Of liveries, we had George McDonald and Whitney Brothers, with V.K. Brown.

     About these days, Proc & Bamber were running a foundry and planing mill, which has long since gone out of commission.  F.E. Prince & Company had a hoop and novelty mill and were doing a good business.  That, too, is gone, and Fred has gone to Texas, where he has made a small fortune.

     Mt. Pleasant at that time boasted of a novelty works owned and operated by Charles Jeffords and Charles C. Whitney.  They manufactured doors, sash, blinds and did scroll sawing and ornamental work.

     The city of Mt. Pleasant has had a slow and steady growth.  After the great fire of 1875, which destroyed nearly every business house in the city, the parties losing their property by the incendiary fire did not lose courage.  Although but few of them had any insurance, still they went to work with a will and some of the burned district was rebuilt with brick.  The Doughty Brothers built a double store of brick two stories high in 1876 and what gave them additional courage was the building of the then new court house, which is still standing.  In 1877 Carr & Granger built a large two-story brick store which they soon thereafter occupied with their grocery and drug store and are still at the old stand, except that Mr. Carr was removed by death about the 27^th day of December, 1910.  In the year 1877 the Fancher brick block was erected on the southwest corner of block 18.  It is a two-story building, intended for two stores and with offices in the second story.

     The east half was fitted for a hardware store and was rented to L.N. Smith, a hardware merchant, who remained in it for seventeen years.  Then he built in 1894 on South Main street where he continued in business for several years, when he sold the stock to Frank B. Clark, who remained for a time and then Clark purchased the hardware stock of Jared H. Doughty and rented the Doughty hardware store and moved in, combining both stocks.  Clark continued the business for some years, when he sold his stock of hardware and business to Johnson & Harper.  They continued for a time and then Johnson bought out Harper and is still conducting business.  Smith has retired from active business, but still owns his store and it is now rented to a clothing firm.

     One of the first of our merchants was Francis C. Babbitt.  He came to Isabella City at first and when the Indians first settled there.  He was from Cleveland, Ohio.  Starting with a very small capital, by saving, and prudent management and the full trade of the Indians for several years, he was able to amass quite a competency.  He remained for a few years at the mills and then moved his buildings and business to Mt. Pleasant and established himself in the northeast corner of block 16, where the firm of Babbitt & Nelson continued in business until the death of Mr. Babbitt about 1875.  About August 31, 1897, the building and lot was sold by Nelson to the Foster Furniture and Hardware Company and they took possession and commenced to improve and beautify the property preparatory to putting in a new stock of goods, which, as soon as it was completed, were put in and they commenced an active and very profitable business and kept it up for a long time and until a disastrous fire overtook them in June, 1905, destroying the building and injuring many of the goods.  As soon as the insurance matters were adjusted they commenced the erection of a fine three-story brick building, which was finally completed about December 9, 1905, and they moved in with a fine stock and have been doing business ever since.  They now have one of the best corners for business in the city and one of the finest store buildings and they are doing a nice and safe business.  With their furniture and hardware, they have conducted an undertaking establishment and have done a handsome business in that department.

     Another old firm was that of Doughty Brothers, who came about 1869 and opened a hardware business on the southwest corner of block 13, where the Fancher block now stands.  They Continued in business there until the fire of 1875, when they, with others, were burned out.  They then bought some lots on the south side of Broadway, opposite where they had been in business, and in 1876 the completed a double store of brick and two stories high with basement.  They then divided their stock, Jared H. Doughty taking the hardware and Wilkinson Doughty  taking the dry goods, he drawing the east store, where he continued in business up to the time of his death, which occurred on February 7, 1909, and after his death his son, Ralph Doughty, continued to carry on the business and is still at his post waiting upon his customers as of yore.  They have always been considered a good and reliable business house, and have in the time they have been in business done a very extensive amount of trade and today Ralph is enjoying his full share of patronage of the city and country.

     Jared H. Doughty took the west and corner store and continued his hardware business for a number of years and then, finding his quarters too small for the business, he, in the year 1883, purchased a lot just east and adjoining Carr & Granger and built a three-story building of brick and adapted it especially for the hardware business.  As soon as it was completed he moved his stock into it and continued to carry on the business until he sold his stock to F.B. Clark and rented the store building to him.  Mr. Doughty was a constant man in business, was always at his post and did a fine business all of the years he was so engaged and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor and care, which he is justly entitled to.  The business when sold to Clark was a union of the L.N. Smith stock and the Doughty stock.  Clark continued in the business for a time and then sold to Johnson & Harper and then Johnson took over the Harper interest and is still conducting the business.

     Alexander Stevenson came September 17, 1867, and built a store and dwelling combined directly opposite and west of the court house and put in a stock of groceries and some dry goods.  He continued for a number of years and then closed out and went to Ann Arbor, where his children were then in school, and finally died there.

     William N. Harris was an early merchant here, locating in the city about January, 1866.  He rented a store on the southwest corner of block 13, Mt. Pleasant, and opened a dry goods and grocery store.  He remained there for about three years and then built a store on the northeast corner of lot 4, block 17, and moved over there.  He continued doing business as before and remained several years, when he closed out and moved to British Columbian, where he died and was brought back to Mt. Pleasant for burial.

     Moses Brown was another venturesome individual who commenced business in an early day, as noted above.  After he made his start he prospered and carried on a lively and paying business.  He changed locations several times and finally, with Mr. Balmer, built what was for some years known as the Brown block, located on the northwest corner of block 24, Mt. Pleasant, a three-story building of brick, well constructed, but at the time too far from the center of business in the city and, times being dull, there was not much to invite a change to that particular place, so that it did not prove to be as good an investment as they had expected and after a time the property was disposed of and Mr. Brown went out of mercantile business.  He had invested somewhat in real estate and laid out an addition to Mt. Pleasant known as M. Brown’s addition.  He built a brick dwelling house upon a part of his addition where he made his home up to the time of his death, which occurred April 8, 1907.

     Worden & Gavitt came to Mt. Pleasant from Ohio about 1867 or 1868 and erected a building on the north side of Broadway, on block 13, for a drug store.  They commenced business in that line and continued the same until 1871, when they sold the store and stock of drugs to F.W. Carr.  They remained but a short time and then went back to Ohio.

     Mr. Carr having bought and entered upon the business, soon thereafter George Granger took an interest in the business and the firm name was Carr & Granger and has remained so ever since.  They remained in the first building until the great fire of 1875, when they, with the rest of us, were burned out.  They commenced immediately to rebuild and in sixty-six days they moved into the new building.  This was a wooden building two stories high.  They remained in this store while they were building the one they now occupy, which they commenced soon after the fire and continued at it until 1877, when it was completed and they moved from the wooden building to the brick and have been there ever since.  They have been very busy men and have done a very large business in the retail of drugs and medicines and also of groceries, carrying at times thirty thousand to forty thousand dollars worth of stock and doing at times a large wholesale business.

Mr. Carr died very suddenly on the 27^th day of December, 1910, and since that time Mr. Granger has gone on with the business.  It is a great load on Mr. Granger and as he has richly earned a rest he is reducing the stock with an idea, we understand, that as soon as it can be done with proper regard  to all concerned the business will be closed up and Mr. Granger will take a long-needed rest from the active business of a store and spend more time on his farms and with his fat cattle and occasionally take a stroll up the river where the trout are always pleased to see him and seldom refuse to nibble at the tempting bait that he casts before them.  He has a competency and as there is no need of his further spending his time over the books of a store he ought, in justice to himself and his family, save his strength and take especial care of his health.

     In 1875 the Fancher store was burned with the rest.  In 1877 he built a double brick building suitable for two stores and offices above.  As before stated, L.N. Smith occupied the east portion for seventeen years as a hardware store.  The west store was rented November 1, 1877, to Angel & Wood to be occupied as a dry goods store.  They continued in the business until November 1, 1881.  It was afterward rented for a time to E. Angel and he continued for some time and after he went out then Alpern & Company took possession and remained for some time, when S.J. Harrison went in with a stock of dry goods and ran the business for some time and then went east to New York state;  after which Seitner & Company went in and remained for some time, doing a large business, when he concluded that he ought to be in a larger city and moved to Toledo, Ohio.  In 1901, when Seitner moved away, it was rented to F.D. Graves for a racket store and he continued in that for a time, when he sold to the Wattermans.  Watterman had taken the east store, having bought out the stock of Mr. Zank, the firm being then Watterman & Hagan Company, Limited.  This firm continued in business at that place until February 15, 1903, when the Wattermans bought out F.D. Graves and they took possession of the west store and have continued in that store ever since and are still occupying it.  The Watterman Brothers have since enlarged their business to such an extent as to require more room and when the Kennedy Brothers and Patrick Leahy vacated the two one-story buildings north of the Fancher block they rented those and added to their business to correspond to the extra room.

     This change was made about November, 1907.  They continued for a time in this way until they and the Hagan Company each of them desired more room and neither desired to relinquish what they had, but finally Mr. Hagan, seeing no prospect of obtaining more room where he was, bought a double lot across the street and in 1910 built a fine double store of modern style and finish and about the 15^th of last October moved his stock of goods to his new quarters.  As soon as he moved out the Watterman Brothers took possession of that store also and commenced to remodel it to suit their purposes and are now running a large department store of many kinds of articles such as are generally found in such a store.  They are all good workers, attend strictly to business and are doing an excellent business and are reaping their reward in an advanced patronage.  They are introducing several new lines in their now extensive stock, which has already an extensive variety.  When they have all of their lines in place they will have a model store and one where all can get a fair deal and their money’s worth.                                              

     Mr. Hagan started in with Mr. Watterman, as above mentioned, and continued in that name until Watterman bought out Graves and then Hagan took in Mr. Proud and the firm was Hagan & Proud.  This continued until about the first of January, 1906, when Mr. Proud went out of the firm and Mr. Hagan ran the business alone.  He continued until about January, 1909, when the business was taken over by Hagan & Company, a joint stock company with ten thousand dollars capital, all paid in.  This organization is still conducting the business and in their new store they surely have a fine show and are doing a clever business and displaying a fine line of goods.  They are progressive and will surely, with their advantages of a fine store and good location, reap a good reward from their business.

     Away back, about 1877, W.S. Hunt and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary M. Henion, came to Mt. Pleasant and purchased each of them a business lot where the Kane Brothers are now located.  They each built a building for business and Hunt started in the grocery business.  He was a bright and alert individual and very eager to do business.  He kept a good stock of goods and was alert to keep the best and freshest in the market.  He prospered and some time after built a fine brick dwelling, the one where John Neff now lives.  After awhile and about 1879, he purchased another building lot and built the brick store now owned by Mrs. McNutt and occupied by her brother, Mr. Harris as a bakery.  Mr. Hunt, after building his brick store, moved his stock of groceries into the new building and continued in the business until about 1883, when he sold his stock of groceries to Chattertons and the building to Gruner, who established a bakery there and continued it up to the time of his death and after that his widow continued in the business up to 1909, when she turned the business over to her brother, Ralph Harris, who is still running the business.  It has been a fine business and a fine place for the business.

     In 1883 the Kane Brothers came to Mt. Pleasant to start in business and bought the Henion building and also the east building formerly owned by W.S. Hunt, he having sold the property and Mrs. R.S. Johnson then owning it.  The Kane Brothers started in the grocery business and continued in that for the space of eighteen years, doing a good and profitable business.  Then they sold out the groceries and opened up a boot and shoe store.  In 1902 they concluded to build a brick block and entered upon the work.  Having completed that, they then moved their stock of clothing into the new building and also opened up a clothing department and have since that time continued to handle both departments and with eminent success.  They are reliable and steady workers, always accommodating and anxious to please and satisfy their customers.  They have done a handsome business and have built up a good and substantial trade and stand today among the strong men of business.  They have made good money and today are on easy street.

     Palmer & Taggart, druggists, started in business together on December 20, 1902, in the building where they are now located on East Broadway, north side, and have continued and are always at their place of business.  Palmer had been employed for about eight and one-half years with Carr & Granger just before he started in the present enterprise and Taggart had been in the drug business for himself in the city of Olivet for some six years before coming to Mt. Pleasant.

     Mr. Palmer is at present city treasurer and has held that office for some time.  They are attentive to business and are doing a good business.  They do not carry a large stock, but are credited with having good fresh drugs and medicines, and as being honest and competent in their deals.

     Will Lewis, the clothier, is the next on the street east in the clothing business.  He started in Mt. Pleasant twenty-eight years ago clerking for Thomas McNamara and continued with him for six years, when he formed a partnership with Lew Marsh and they together bought out the clothing stock of Frank Foster, who was then in business here and had been for some time and was then located in the Hance & Deveraux block on the north side of East Broadway street.  They remained at the same stand for some six years and then bought the J.H. Doughty store on the south side of Broadway and moved their stock of clothing into that building.  There they remained until March 8, 1908, when they sold the buildings to the Exchange Savings Bank and the firm then dissolved, dividing their profits and the business and each went their way. 

     Mr. Lewis took a short rest and then opened another gents’ clothing and furnishing store where he is now located in the Dusenbury block on the north side of Broadway and is having a fine trade and doing a splendid business and following the old plan of a fair deal with all who come.  

     Mr. Marsh, after a short rest, rented the John Neff building on South Main street and put in an up-to-date fixtures and furniture and is doing a very satisfactory business.  He has been in the city for a long time until everybody knows him, as he clerked for Foster for a long time before he and Lewis bought him out in about 1889.

     W.W. Cox, the druggist, is located in the Deveraux block on the north side of Broadway street.  He is one of the ancient business men of the town, having started in business here in 1884.  He started on the south side of East Broadway and was there two years when he moved to his present quarters.  He is a good, reliable and substantial druggist and business man, attends strictly to business and has made a success of it.  You will always find him at his post ready to wait upon his customers, keeps a good stock and pleases his customers, and what more can anyone do.

     The Normal Drug and Book Company is an organization formed a few years ago as a successor of the Fox & Thiers and afterward the Thiers drug and book store.  Fox came here and located in 1895 and Thiers followed the next year and they were together until 1898, when Fox went out of the firm and moved to the north.  F.G. Thiers then continued the business up to 1907, when he and others formed a stock company of the business and it has continued in this form up to the present time.  Mr. Cowdrey & Rowlader are the principals in charge of the business and have been for some time, as Mr. Thiers has been interested in other classes of business, being connected with the Isabella County State Bank and dealing in real estate and loaning money on his own account, so that Cowdrey & Rowlader are now in charge of the business and are well adapted to it.  They are punctual and well informed in that class of work and seek to satisfy all customers and are surely making a success.  Their stock is full and complete in both drugs and books, also stationery—in fact as to all that is expected to be found in such an establishment.

     Continuing east on Broadway, we come to another of the old established and well respected boot and shoe firms, Henry Diittman & Son.  Henry Diittman started in business some twenty-eight years ago on the south side of East Broadway in the stand where Alex Hall was located.  He remained there one year and then bought a wooden building where he is now and moved into that.  This was in 1883.  He continued in business at this place until the fire of 1894, which burned his building.  They immediately commenced to rebuild with brick and soon had a fine brick store completed and moved into it and have remained there, one of the reliable dealers in boots and shoes.  In 1901 the business was taken over by H. Diittman & Son, the son being Edward Diittman.  This is the present form of the firm.  They surely get their share of the business and are as surely entitled to it, as they are considered as one of the most reliable of business firms.  They carry a large stock from which their customers may select.  They are reasonable in charges and reliable in recommendations.  They intend to furnish you with just what you want and at a fair price and in all things be square and upright in their deals.

     Sam May, the clothier, is another of the solid men of the city.  He has been in Mt. Pleasant over thirty years and in business all of the time.  He is very attentive to his business and ready at all times to meet you at the door and show what he has for sale.  He will treat you as a gentleman and give you the worth of your money.  He came when he had to come by stage from St. Louis to Mt. Pleasant.  Sam has some knowledge of pioneer life as well as mercantile business, having had long experience in both.

     Frank A. Sweeney came to Isabella county some thirty-eight years ago when the country was wild and not much settled.  He had the pleasure of coming on foot from St. Louis to Salt River and there he secured an old gray horse to help in the balance of the journey.  His mission was looking land and timber, which he followed for some time and then, in 1881, he concluded to enter the mercantile business at Mt. Pleasant and located on the spot where he is now doing business.  He put up what then seemed to him to be of sufficient capacity for what he expected to do, but after being in business for a time he saw that he needed more room and in 1897 he remodeled and enlarged his building.  His business has been general groceries and with that he has an elevator and handles beans and seeds.  He has had a good business in his store and elevator and has also dealt some in real estate and timber and lumber and, being a genial, happy and companionable fellow, has occasionally united business and politics and is now enjoying the honor of being one of the aldermen of the first ward of the city.

     P. Cory Taylor, the druggist, settled in Mt. Pleasant on September 11, 1888.  He came from Williamston, Michigan and, with his brother, started in the drug business on the spot where Keenan & Son are now located on the west side of South Main street.  They remained there until November of that year and then moved north on that street to the store where Minto Woodruff Company are located, next to Foster’s furniture block.  There they carried on the business for one and one-half years and then P. Cory bought out his brother and continued the business.  He was in all fifteen years  in the Nelson building and then moved to the Jacob Neff building, remained there six years and then, when the Exchange Savings Bank changed location, they fixed up their vacant bank building into a modern store building and Mr. Taylor took possession of that and is still occupying it.  He carries a large stock of drugs and medicine, wall paper, books and stationery, school supplies, kodaks and phonographs and other things to numerous to mention.  He is doing a large and prosperous business, gives good satisfaction and is considered one of the stanch merchants of the city.

     On the same street and on the same side of the street is located Johnson Brothers’ shoe and clothing store.  John H. Johnson and James P. Johnson came to the county about 1883 and were employed in lumbering, which they followed until about 1893, when they built a store on the west side of South Main street and in 1894 put in a stock of shoes, both ladies and men’s wear, and followed that for eight years, when they added men’s clothing and furnishings and have continued the same from that time.  They have made a success and are doing a capital business, making money for themselves and doing good to others.  They have a large and convenient store, two stories and a basement, all occupied by themselves and whoever calls on them will be nicely treated and surely made better and happier.

     John A. Kenney & Son are another of the prosperous firms of the city.  They have been in business for the past eighteen or nineteen years and are carrying a large stock of groceries, dry goods, clothing and shoes—in fact, a general assortment of almost anything in that line that you may want.  Mr. Kenney carried on the business alone until about ten years ago and then his son Mike became a partner in the business.  They are carrying on a very large and lucrative business and probably have as many customers as any in the town.  They are rushing all the time to keep up with the trade, are generally liked and are bound to succeed if fair dealing will do it, and it surely will.

     Keenan & Son commenced business in Mt. Pleasant in 1893 in the line of meats and canned goods.  They built their brick block in that year and continued the business.  Their store is a two-story and basement building, with all of the appliances for the meat market business.  After continuing in that line, they then added groceries, so that for some years past they have been carrying both these lines and have made a success of the business.  They are good business men and look after their affairs personally.  When you go to the store and ask for any article that they have for sale you may be quite sure that you get what you call for and will at all times be nicely treated so as long as you appreciate the favor and return the compliment. 

     Jesse Struble also has a meat market on the same street which is located in the L.N. Smith building which has been fitted up so as to be a model market building.  He opened his business during the last year and is carrying on a good and satisfactory market.  He has been for years a dealer in cattle and other fat animals and is a good judge of all kinds of meat and can furnish you anything that your appetite may crave.  Although he has been but a short time in this particular line, he is doing a very satisfactory business and giving good satisfaction.

     On the corner of South Main and Michigan streets, in the McNamara building, is located the firm of Pappas & Terkos, Greeks, who are engaged in the candy business and run a soda fountain in connection, also make and dispense ice cream, all of their own make.  Their fountain is of the latest style and make, being the 1911 style.  It manufactures its own ice, so that they do not have to depend upon the city ice.  It is really a very nice, commodious and up-to-date piece of work and in warm weather will no doubt be an attractive and wholesome portion of their business.  They are experts in making candies and are doing a fine business and say they are here to stay.  They purchased the business of Patterson Brothers in October, 1908.  Patterson Brothers were here some four or five years and had made a very good settlement, when they sold out and removed from the city.

     On the opposite side of South Main street, and south of Michigan street, is located one of the principal milliners, Mrs. Ella Fishley.  She located in Mt. Pleasant something over a year ago, coming from the village of Clare.  She carries a good stock of millinery supplies and is doing a good business, considering the time that she has been in the city.  She is bright and alert in her business, gives good satisfaction and her trade is increasing to her great satisfaction and that of her customers.

     Thomas Dougherty, the music man, has been in the city for some twenty-five years and has all of the time been in the music trade in some form.  He started in a small store just north of the Donovan hotel and remained there for two or three years and then moved to the building that McMillan now occupies on South Main for a coal office.  There he remained some five years and then moved to a store just north of the Fancher block where he remained about a year and then went back to the Welsh store, which he bought.  He remained there two years and then sold the store to Sam Coverstone and moved into the second story of the Neff building, where he remained for a year and then moved back to the old stand north of the Donovan hotel, where he remained for five years and then moved to his present quarters in the Doctor McEnte brick store, just south of Michigan street.  Here he is now snugly located and doing a large business.  He has not been asleep, for if he had been he couldn’t have moved so often, but it seems that he is like the boy’s snowball, that every time it rolls over it adds one more layer of material;  so with Tom—he just accumulates and now has everything you want in the music line from a jew’s-harp to a piano and it will surprise you to go into his place of business and see all that he has and the splendid bargains you can make with him.  He has guitars, mandolins, violins, organs, pianos, phonographs, both Victor and Edison, sewing machines, a cart load of records, sheet music till you can’t rest—in fact, it would be easier to give a list of what he hasn’t got than of what he has.  And he runs the United States Express besides.  Now just give him a call and see if he doesn’t make you happy, and if he can make a little out of you he will be happy also.

     Martin Welsh is another groceryman that has been here for some time.  He came to Mt. Pleasant about twenty-four years ago, clerked for a time for Dennis Ryan and then bought a new stock of groceries and went into business for himself and has continued in that ever since.  About five or six years ago he moved into the brick building where he is at present and has continued there, doing a fine business and one that is steadily increasing in volume and in profits.  He keeps a good class of goods and gives general satisfaction to his customers.

     The next one on that side of the street is that of Morrison & Dains.  They have the honor now of being the oldest firm in continuous business in Mt. Pleasant.  A few weeks ago it was Carr & Granger, but on the death of F.W. Carr they, ranking second, became first.  Mr. Morrison came into the city in 1871, when the place was very small, and went into the lumber and shingle business and has been an active business factor ever since.  If any one can tell what he hasn’t been into that is legitimate, we should be glad to not it.  He was for himself for some time and then took in a partner, Mr. Dains, about twenty-six years ago.  They have handled real estate, mortgages, all kinds of lumber and shingles, driven logs on the river, clerked, run an agricultural implement store, bought out all kinds of broken and bankrupt stocks, sold bicycles, run a repair shop for the past twenty years, had a garage for the past sixteen years, sold automobiles for several years, and bought a brick store building in 1894 where they are now in business.  Sam has acted as under sheriff for a time and may be considered as an all-round man of business.  The only way that we can account for his versatility in business is that he was born on the banks of the Kennebec river, in Bath, Maine, and if we were sure that he would not object we would say in the year of our Lord 1846.  They are successful operators and have the ready money always to take any good thing found laying around.  They are good citizens and are entitled to all of the prosperity that they enjoy.  Mr. Dains, desiring to keep abreast the times and the ambitions of his partner, accepted the position of under sheriff last winter and is now enjoying that distinction.

     Daniel Anderson was in the grocery and shoe business commencing in 1884.  The first firm was Anderson & McLellan, who occupied the present Anderson block on South Main street.  The company continued for about two years and then Anderson bought out his partner and for fourteen years continued the business alone.  He then sold his boots and shoes to Morrison & Dains and the groceries to Will Hapner.  Hapner continued in the business for some two years and then sold the stock and it was removed out of the city.  Mr. Anderson remained for a couple of years in Mt. Pleasant, then moved to Detroit, where he remained for two or three years, and then returned to Mt. Pleasant, where he still lives to enjoy the fruits of his toil for the time he was in business.  He was a careful, prudent trader and made many friends while in business and money enough to keep the wolf from the door.  Anderson built his brick block the same year he commenced business at Mt. Pleasant and owns it still.

     The Minto Woodruff Company is another clothing, shoes and furnishing business house, located on the west side of South Main street, next the Foster furniture and hardware store.  They have been in business here about eight years.  Mr. Woodruff, who is in charge of the business, was originally from Union City, Michigan, and an old head in the business.  They are carrying a good stock and doing a fine business.  They have a centrally located place for business, being so near the main crossing of Broadway and Main street that they catch the eye of all persons coming to town.  They are fair dealers and will give you a generous price if you want to buy and, by their square dealing, they are justly entitled to the reputation that they have earned since they came into the community.

     Stephen Dondero is another dealer who is entitled to favorable notice in this history on account of his faithful and efficient work done here in his line of work.  He is a dealer in fruits and confectionery, together with all kinds of nuts.  He came here from Owosso in 1899 and commenced his trade in a small way in a small store building on South Main street, east side, and second door from Michigan street.  There he located and there he is still doing a prosperous business.  At his post at all times, with a smile that says to every comer, “Buy my candies, for they are sweet, and my oranges, for they will suit you, and the price is just right and will please both of us.”  If you go into that place you are sure to buy and as sure as you do you will come away satisfied.  Don will take religious care of the nickel you leave with him.  We have never known of his departing from his legitimate business but once, and then he got back as quick as he could, and soon had nickels enough to fill that little gap and I pity the chap that shall undertake to tell him how to get rich quick again.

     C.F. Marsh, the grocery man, went into business in the city in 1900.  He commenced business on the south side of Broadway, next to Davy Rodman’s store building, in a place rented of George Granger.  He remained there for about four years and then moved to the north side of the street in the Deveraux building, where he is now located.  He has been actively engaged in the business since he first started and has built up a large and prosperous trade.  He keeps up a good fresh stock and his prices are reasonable.  The volume of his trade marks the success of the business.

     Ed Ward came here in June, 1880.  At the time his father had located in Blanchard, Isabella county, but remained there but a short time, coming to Mt. Pleasant soon after Ed came.  The father, C.A. Ward, commenced business here in 1880, in connection with one Christopher Chrysler.  Chrysler only remained for a short time and then turned over his interest to Mr. Ward.

After that the father, Chester A. Ward, joined with William E. Ward, and the firm was known as C.A. & W.E. Ward.  They continued doing business for a long time and were located on South Main street in what is now the McNamara store building.  They did a large and lucrative business and were at the time considered one of the strongest firms here.  They continued their trade until the old gentleman died February 13, 1891, and after that W.A. continued the business for some time when he sold out the business and lived on the money they had accumulated. 

     Taylor and Ratliff are comparatively a new firm in the grocery business, having established themselves in the business June 18, 1907, in the present place opposite the Bennett house to the east, where they are doing a good and safe business.  Mr. Ratliff has been here for the past twenty-nine years and Taylor was born here and was one of the very first in the county, having been born on the old Charles Taylor farm in Chippewa township on the 21^st day of October, 1855.

Their citizenship in Isabella county gives them a right to expect generous and fair treatment, which they are receiving.

     Fred Stebbins was in the county in 1883, coming from Ithaca and going into the Bennett house with Marvin D. Richardson.  They remained for a time and then he went into the jewelry business and followed that for a time.  Then he sold out to J.C. Freeman, who carried on the business for some time, when he sold to Mr. Palmer, who conducted it for a time and then sold to Charles E. Hight.  The latter conducted business for about five years and then turned it over to Russell & Folen, August 1, 1905.  Since that time it has been largely increased by the adding of several new branches, so that now it is one of the best and largest establishments of the kind in this section.  They carry a large assortment of all kinds of jewelry, diamonds and precious stones, cut glass, watches, and fancy clocks.  They also keep two men at work on repairing, so that it always has a lively and prosperous as well as attractive look.  They are doing a fine business and are justly entitled to the patronage that they enjoy.

     Thomas Lawrence opened up in Mt. Pleasant in the coal and agricultural business in 1905 on East Broadway, where he is still carrying on his trade and is doing a satisfactory business.  He occupies one of the stores of the C. Bennett estate and is in the very same place where he started.

     Just across the street is the Howard Harkins block, built in 1903.  The building is a three-story building, the upper story occupied by the Masons, the second one by the Pythians, the east portion by the Mt. Pleasant post office.  The west portion is now occupied by Mr. Harkins as a bakery and grocery.  He commenced in June, 1909, having bought out Veeder and he in turn purchased the business of James Lynch.  He is doing a satisfactory business and is well pleased with his outlook for the future.

     O.H. Longcor is located just west of the Harkins block.  He has been in business there for the past thirteen years, having migrated to this place at that date.  He has a resaw, small planer and tools for making door and window frames, also boxes for the use of the condensed milk factory.  It is a busy place and he seems to be happy.  He built and occupies his own building.

     Alfred B. Warwick owns and carries on a harness shop just west of Longcor’s.  He built his building in 1901 and has occupied it since that time.  He has been in the business in Mt. Pleasant sixteen years in May next, having for a time been located on the east side of North Normal avenue, opposite the Bennett house.  He has had a good business for many years and is ready to retire to a good farm just as soon as he finds a man that desires to take his place.  He has a good location and a good business for some younger person to now step into.

     Gray & Lathrop commenced in the drug business in 1909.  Lathrop has been a citizen of Mt. Pleasant for the past thirty-four years and Gray was a clerk for Carr & Granger for about seventeen years before he formed a partnership with Lathrop and launched out in the drug business.  They have a large and commodious business place finished in the modern style and method and are doing a thriving and successful business.  They carry a large stock and it is fresh and gives satisfaction to their customers.

     Mitakos & Lianos are comparatively a new concern.  They started in business of catering to the public in the Barber building, April 20, 1910.  They conduct a restaurant, ice cream, candies and soda and are doing a very satisfactory business.  Their prices are reasonable and very satisfactory, and they appear to be entirely satisfied with the patronage they receive.  They are men of experience and attend strictly to business.

     Toy S. Dean, jeweler, is located in the Opera House block, in a fine and commodious store equipped with modern and convenient appliances.  He is having a fine trade and is in a prosperous condition.  He expresses himself as well pleased with his trade and outlook.  He has a good stock of watches, jewelry and all things connected with the business.  He is an artist in his trade and is receiving the patronage that is his due.  He opened up his business in September, 1907, and has been steadily increasing in popularity as well as in his trade. 

     Marsh & Graham, dealers in dry goods, carpets and ladies’ furnishings, have been in business now about eighteen years.  They first started in a one-room store about twenty by fifty-five feet, but they soon outgrew their quarters and then added a room at the rear of the first room.  They continued after that for a time and then again their business outgrew their quarters and they took on an addition to the west of their first room.  In that they continued and finally, in 1909, they induced the owners of the building to remodel and make it more convenient and attractive and they did so and now they have one of the most attractive places of business in the city.  They carry a good line of goods, are fair dealers and are enjoying a lucrative trade.  Every thing looks prosperous and they seem happy in the fact that they have accomplished what they set out to do in the commencement of their career as merchants.

     Theison & Boland started in the grocery business some four or five years ago and continued until September 10, 1910, when J.J. Theison purchased the interest that Boland had and then continued the business and is still in the business, carrying a good stock of goods and having his share of the trade in the city.  He enjoys the confidence of the people as a fair and honest dealer and it is giving him a good hold on the people, all of which he is deserving of.

     The firm of Breidenstein & Kane opened in the hardware business in the Chatterton building, next west of the Commercial Bank block, in 1904, and they are there still, but are preparing to build them a store opposite their present location next summer.  They expect to put up a store twenty-six by one hundred and twenty feet, two stories and a basement, which will give them ample room for their extended business.  Since they first opened they have added paints and oils, and also sell doors, sash and glass and have opened a furniture and undertaking department.  They are very accommodating dealers and give the people what they desire in the way of good goods  and fair dealing.  Their business has increased from the start and is still on the increase, so that they will soon fill the large store they are expecting to erect.  The store building will be of modern style and finish, with plate glass front and in every way up-to-date.  Their stock consists also of stoves of all kinds, also woven wire fencing, as well as barbed wire for fencing and all kinds of general hardware.

     F.A. Schmidt, the tailor, commenced business in Mt. Pleasant in 1894 and has been in the harness ever since.  He usually has three or four helpers and is doing a thriving business and giving satisfaction.

     J.L. Anspaugh started a moving picture show in May, 1910, in a building of George L. Granger on South Main street, which he fitted up for the purpose.  He reports that he is having a good attendance and is satisfied with the business and its outlook in Mt. Pleasant.  He is showing a very satisfactory class of pictures.

     Up until recently there were three moving picture establishments in Mt. Pleasant, but one sold out a short time ago and was removed from the city.  There is one still running just east of the Isabella State Bank, owned by Westlake & Trevegno.  This has been the leading one for some time and is still having a good run and giving good shows.  The building has been remodeled and presents a fine appearance from the street and walk.  These shows seem to pick up a good many nickels.  They are great things to draw the children and it is very necessary that the older ones go with them to see how they enjoy the show.

     Mrs. R.S. Johnson is one of the older persons in business, having located in Mt. Pleasant in the bazaar business November 20, 1883, in the place now occupied by the Kane Brothers clothing store.  She continued for three years and then bought the building and carried on her trade there until 1902, then sold her building to Kane Brothers and moved her stock of goods to the Wright store on South Main street, where McMillan & Son are now.  She carried on the business there for five years and then moved to her present quarters on the corner of Main and Michigan streets.  She sold the bazaar stock to Morrison & Dains when she moved to her present quarters and now has but the millinery business.  She expresses herself as being satisfied with her business at present, but would sell if she had a good opportunity, and take a much needed rest.

     Kate Feeney is another milliner located at the west side of the Bennett house on Broadway.  She entered the business in 1905 and was then located on North Main street, but after a time found the present location and moved to that.  She is having a nice trade and gives her customers satisfaction, and is considered as one of the best in the city.

     Peter Dent, the garage and bicycle repair man, is located on South Main street and is doing business in his profession.  The city is filling up so fast with autos that it requires several men and firms to keep the machines in order.  Morrison & Dains keep one man all the time at such work.  On West Broadway is Beebe, with a shop, and on South Main Mr. Bush has lately opened up a place for repairing, painting, storing and educating people how to run and how to care for machines and also proposes to house and keep in order any machine you desire to leave in his care.

     John W. Morrison is one of the older members of the mercantile profession.  He is a New York man, but came to the West in an early day, locating for a time in Lenawee county and moved to Isabella in 1882.  He at first located on a farm and afterward, in 1887, entered into the business of handling agricultural implements.  He opened up on West Broadway, where Smithers now is, but in a different building.  He remained there one year and then located at the skating rink corner, where he remained until 1897, when he secured his present site on the northeast corner of block 24, corner of Normal avenue and Michigan street, where he still remains.  He carries all kinds of agricultural implements, also woven wire fencing.  Any one wanting a good article at a fair price call on Uncle John and you will find it and may get it if you have the price or can satisfy him that you are reliable.

     On West Broadway you can find another agricultural implement man, Ed Smithers.  He can sell you anything you want in that line and sell it to you right.  He commenced business some years ago and is still there waiting on his customers, who are many.  He carries a full stock, has a good building for the business, being built of brick with cement floor.  He is there to stay and the people want him to as they are satisfied with the treatment they receive and the bargains they can make.

     C.M. Brooks & Company was one of the very earliest of the agricultural implement houses, Mr. Brooks having gone into business as early as 1881-2 with J.W. Hance and A.B. Upton.  They continued in the business until the fall of 1882, when they sold the entire stock to Victor F. Conlogue, who continued the business for several years.  Conlogue finally sold to Curtis & Dougherty, who ran the business for a time and then sold to Ivenson & Sampson, they conducting it until they sold to Morrison & Dains.  They held it a while and sold to Hamilton & Son, who carried it on for a time and then resold to Morrison & Dains, who in the end closed it out.

     J.W. Hersey is another of our long-standing business men.  He came to Mt. Pleasant in 1888 and was in several kinds of trades until 1894, when he entered into the feed business on North Main street, north of the Donovan house, where he remained doing business up to 1894, when he went out of that business and went upon the road until 1901.  Then he bought a stock of agricultural implements and started out on that line.  He opened up April 11^th of that year and is still at the old place, which is situated just east of the post office, in what was originally the brick livery barn of George McDonald.  He bought and now owns the property.  He has added to the original business the selling of harness and of automobiles, together with everything else usually kept in that kind of an establishment.  He is doing a rattling business, is always busy and is liked by all his customers and is generally a might good all-round man. 

     Cornelius Bennett built a hotel in 1883 on lot 10, block 13, of the Mt. Pleasant plat.  It was the best by far in the city.  It was first rented to F.A. Stebbins and Marvin Richardson and formally opened by them in the month of June.  It was built at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars, and has served its purpose well ever since it was built.  Messrs. Stebbins and Richardson conducted the business for some time and then Stebbins sold his interest to Mollette and after a time the firm of Irish & Jones went in and they conducted it until Mrs. Day purchased it, about twenty-five years ago.  She and Mr. Day conducted the hotel for about twenty years, when her health failed her and she could no longer stand the labor and worry of its attendance, so they finally sold it to George Dillan, who is now conducting a first class hotel.  There is not so much money in it today as of yore, on account of the fact that the county went dry some time ago and no bar is kept.  It is a good piece of property and is needed in the city, as that and the Donovan house are the only two hotels of consequence in the city of five thousand inhabitants.

     E.J. Lee & Company are active in the business of gathering butter, eggs and poultry and are located on Michigan street, west, where they have been for the past three or four years.  They are doing a lively business and gathering in the shekels as well as the chickens and the fruit thereof.

     F.L. Klunzinger located here in 1907, having bought out the stock and jewelry business of S.W. Rogers, who had been in the business in Mt. Pleasant for the past twenty years, but who took a notion to go West and did so, settling in Portland, Oregon, where he now resides.  Mr. Klunzinger followed in the steps of a good jeweler and took up a line long and favorably known.  He is doing a very satisfactory business and is having a nice line of customers and a splendid repair business.  He keeps a full and complete stock and is giving good satisfaction to his customers.  He also keeps a line of optical articles and is doing a fair business in that line.  He is located on South Main street in the brick owned by Thiers & Keeler.

     The millinery firm of Larson & McDonald also carry on their business in the same store building.  They are good milliners and have been here about a year, coming from Alpena to this place.

      Benjamin Goldman is just across the street in the Jacob Neff building.  He came from Cadillac, where he had been in business for the past ten years.  He carries a full line of dry goods, shoes and clothing and is doing a good business.  He has a full stock to select from and although only here since the 10^th day of October, 1910, he has established a satisfactory trade and is well satisfied.  He has made no mistake in his selection of a place and location for business.

     A.D. Butterfield is engaged in the tailoring business and is located in the building so long occupied by Hon. S.W. Hopkins on East Michigan street.  He came here from Gladstone, Michigan, in April, 1910.  He is having his share of the trade and expresses himself as satisfied with his prospects and business.

     The next door east of him is located the steam laundry now owned and operated by L. Holman, who bought out Emmett Cole in January, 1910.  This is the same laundry that Clement owned, having bought it of Kinch.  Holman is doing a nice business, having a good trade and is well satisfied.  His business has grown so that it requires as many as four to six employees to handle the trade.

     Kennedy brothers commenced in Mt. Pleasant about 1891 in the draying business and continued in that for some time;  then they engaged in the feed business and afterward added coal to their list of trade.  On October 15, 1901, they moved to the store building just north of the Fancher block, where they remained until November, 1907, when they purchased the building and lot where they are now located on North Main street.  They have a very commodious store and barn building, where they keep all kinds of feed and hay, also cement, lime, brick and tile, with a full supply of coal and coke of all kinds.  They are doing an extensive business and are giving satisfaction.  They are now located on a paved street, which gives their business a city air and better conveniences for handling their coal, feed and other commodities kept in their business.

     Mrs. Munro is located just south of the Kennedy Brothers’ place of business.  She came with her husband to Mt. Pleasant in 1881 and commenced  business at the stand she now occupies as a boarding and rooming house.  At that time her husband was with her, but he fell sick and in November of that year he died and she has continued the business ever since.  She has been a hard worker and prudent manager and has received, as she deserved, the confidence and support of the people and has saved a nice sum for a rainy day should it overtake her.  She is surely deserving of a great deal of credit and all of the success in business that she has acquired.

     Mrs. William O’Brion is another deserving of remembrance on account of her faithfulness and fidelity.  She and her husband came to Mt. Pleasant twenty-two years ago and started in the grocery business.  They were carrying on a good business up to 1901, when the husband sickened and died, leaving her with quite a family of small children to care for and the business to conduct.  She has struggled along until now the children are some of them at least large enough to be of help to her and together they are still carrying on the store, adding to the business feed, hay and draying.  She boasts of a plate glass front in her store building and is prospering to a very satisfactory degree and no longer fears the wolf or dire distress.

     Patrick Leahy also came to Mt. Pleasant some years ago and, with Donohue, commenced the business of grocerymen.  They continued for a time and then Donahue went out of the firm.  They Leahy bought out Tim Battles and moved into the store north of the Fancher block.  He remained in that location until 1907, when he moved across the street to where Bringard is now locating, remaining there for about one year, and then bought the building and lot where he now is, remodeled that and moved in about April, 1908, and is still there.  He has recently been confined to groceries, but is now preparing to increase the business and to add feed and hay.  Pat is attentive to business and now has his son William with him and together they are doing a prosperous and satisfactory business.

     H.H. Hunter, on December 1, 1897, opened up a bazaar store on South Main street, on the west side, in the O’Horo store building.  He carried a full line of common bazaar supplies and continued the business up to February, 1908, when he sold to R.C. Damman, who had been in the superintendency of a bazaar stock in Ithaca, Michigan.  He has continued the business and is now doing a good and thriving trade, is well patronized and is having his share of the patronage of the city in that line of goods. 

     McMillan & Son are in the coal and feed business on South Main street.  They started in business about 1904 and were then located in the Nelson office building.  At that time it was a coal business, but after a time, in 1907, they added feed to the business and continued in that until 1909, when they added groceries and are now located with their store and office on the east side of South Main street in the building next south of the Ryan store building.  They are square dealers and are doing a large business, especially in coal.

     There are several persons that are in the business of manufacturing and selling cigars.  D. Trevegno, who has been in it for the past twelve years;  C.C. Allen, who has been in the business about ten years, and Frank Bringard, who has run a factory but about one year.  They are all doing considerable business and some of them employing several hands in the work.  They supply the city largely and do quite a jobbing trade with the outside cities and villages.

     When the county was new and but few settlers in the city, Cicero Kimball came from western New York and about 1869 he commenced in the butcher and meat market business.  In the fall of 1869 he bought a lot on East Broadway and put up a good store building and shop, twenty-two by forty feet, and two stories high and completed it in a good style and finish and then opened his meat market, which he continued until the fire of 1875, which destroyed his building with the others on that street.  He had no insurance, so that it was a total loss.  In 1877 he and his brother Adelbert started in the same business and followed it for a long time.

     This has been a lively town for men of the blacksmith and wagonmaking trade.  In the early days of the county, while the lumbering operations were being carried on, there was great demand for the kind of iron work that went with that business, and then the roads were of such a character that much repairing had to be done to such vehicles as were then in use.  If you should step into a shop at that time you would see it lined with log chains, pevies, pikes, cant hooks, horse shoes, clevises and such other articles as were in constant use.  In the early sixties not a buggy could be found in the county and but few double wagons.  Now scarcely a farmer is without his buggy.  Then there were but few horses, even on the farms, but now the oxen are no more to be found on the farm.  Occasionally one drives into town with an ox team, but at the time aforementioned they all drove oxen on the road, to mill and to meeting.  I presume some of our ladies that are sporting their automobiles would feel queer to step into a lumber sleigh drawn by a sleek yoke of oxen and proceed to make her social calls, but such was the style at one time in this neck of the woods.

     Milton Bradley was the first blacksmith to locate in Mt. Pleasant, his shop being east of the court house square.  He only followed the business for a short time.

     Thomas Turnbull came here in 1866 and opened up a shop and continued in the business until 1874, when he went to Dushville in the hotel business.  Afterward, about 1888, he went into partnership in the blacksmithing business with George Osborn, which continued for about three years and then quit the business.

     Peter Gardner found Mt. Pleasant October 14, 1868, and liked it so well that he is still here.  He first located on the south side of Broadway on the spot where D. Rodman’s store is now located, remained there a year and then went onto South Main street about where the Anspaugh picture show is.  He remained there until 1876, when he bought the lot he is now located upon, built a shop, moved his forge and tools into it and has been there ever since.  Mr. Gardner has been a long time in the business and from the amount of hard work he has done it would seem that he should be granted a rest.  He is a good workman, very accommodating and, withal, a genial neighbor.

    Lew Maxwell is another old timer in the business.  As a boy he worked at the trade in Mt. Pleasant in the early seventies.  He worked for Peter Gardner in 1871 and in 1876 he built the shop on Washington street, where he is now located in his blacksmithing business.  He, too, is a good workman and generally finds plenty to do.  He is well liked, which is proven by the fact that he remained so long in that calling.

     Renwick & Westervelt came here on July 14, 1875, and started in the business of blacksmithing and wagonmaking.  They bought a lot and built the shop which is still standing and is the place where Mr. Renwick is still carrying on the business.  After they had been in business about five years Westervelt went out and for about a year Mr. Renwick run the business alone and then he took in William Hovey and they were together for about ten years and then Mr. Hovey went out and since that Mr. Renwick has conducted the business alone.  Mr. Renwick is a good workman, thoroughly capable and honest and, withal, is a good citizen.  He has done an immense amount of good work and is entitled to the esteem and friendship of the community which he has.

     There is also a blacksmith shop on the corner of Michigan and Washington streets, now conducted by Mr. Barnes, who lately bought and took possession.  He bought of Joseph A. Meyers, who operated it for some time.  It was at one time the headquarters of William Manners.  There have been others, for instance Pat Stapleton and one Patrick Sullivan;  also Peter Hawley, who had a shop in the north part of town.  There is also Uncle David Lett, now on North Main street, who has been there for a long time and is one of the best of workmen in that line;  in fact, he is in some things a sort of a genius.

     There is also one situated on the north side of Michigan street, between Main and Normal avenue, conducted by Frank Drew, who bought out Robert Richie on year ago last February.  And also one owned by William McDonald, located east of the Bennett house.  He has been there some three years is having a good run of business and is prospering.

                                                                 City Official Roster

     Mt. Pleasant was first platted in 1863 by David Ward, who was then owner of the lands, but this plat was not recorded and in the spring of 1863 he sold the property, except a few lots that he had sold before to the Indians, to H.A. Dunton and Joseph Miser and to Harvey and George Morton of the state of New York.  Harvey Morton came on with his family and took possession of the property and immediately commenced to build a hotel on the lots on which now stands the Donovan house.

     When the writer of this article came to Mt. Pleasant, in the latter part of June, 1863, he found the old court house, built by Ward, on the location of the county seat at Mt. Pleasant;  the house now standing on lot 10, block 7, just across from the northwest corner of the court house square, and a dwelling where the Fancher block now stands, built by Joseph Miser.

     The present plat was drawn and recorded in February, 1864.  The plat remained in that condition and was still a portion of the township of Union and was assessed and taxes collected the same as in the township until 1875, when, by act of the Legislature, it was organized into a village.  The first election after the incorporation was held on May 11, 1875, and resulted in the election of John Maxwell as president of the village and as trustees there were elected Cornelius Bennett, William Richmond, John A. Harris, Wilkinson Doughty, Daniel H. Gilman and George W. Brower;  as clerk, George N. Mosher;  assessor, I.E. Arnold;  street commissioner, John Fox;  marshal, Cicero Kimball.

     John Maxwell held the office for two terms, when Dan. H. Gilman was elected and held it two years, then John C. Leaton was elected and held it for one years.  Then I.E. Arnold for one year, Charles T. Russell for one year, John A. Harris for one year.  Then George L. Granger was elected in the spring of 1883 for one year, Robert Laughlin for one year, Thomas J. Fordyce one year, D.H. Nelson for one year, John Kane one year, John Kinney for one year and Warner Churchill for one year, 1889.

     In 1889 the village was organized into a city, under the laws of 1873 applying to the government of cities and the reorganization of villages into cities, providing they have a population of three thousand or more.

     At the first election there were elected the usual officers, as follows;  Lewis E. Royal as mayor, with L.D. Newton, J.H. Doughty, C. Kimball, D. Rodman, William Bamber and D.G. Robinson as alderman.  On April 15, 1890, M. Deveraux was elected mayor, with aldermen as follows;  John Richmond, William H. Manners and Tobias Hornung, as new ones, and Rodman, Kimball and Bamber holding over.  The next year Deveraux was re-elected as mayor and Peter Gardner, P.J. Stapleton and Phil Garvey as the new alderman.  In 1892, E.D. Wheaton was elected mayor.  In 1893 it was C. Bennett;  in 1894, Tobias Bergy;  in 1895, I.A. Fancher;  1896, M. Devereaux, and again in 1897;  in 1898, C.M. Brooks and he was re-elected the next year. 

     At this juncture the people decided to become a city of the fourth class and accordingly reorganized as such under the laws of 1895 and amendments thereto.  Under the new arrangement Levi Schaffer was elected mayor in 1900 and again in 1901;  he was followed by A.N. Ward in 1902, and he by H. Edward Deuell for three successive years, when he was followed in 1906 by H.A. Miller and he by M. Deveraux;  he by Walter L. Snider and he by H.E. Deuel for two terms and he, in 1911, by Fred Russell, just elected at this April election.

     The present aldermen are:  First ward, F.A. Sweeny and Elmer Walsh;  second ward, James W. Hersey and E.W. Crandall;  third ward, George Powers and W.E. Ratliff, with Horace H. Hunter as clerk, E.E. Palmer, treasurer, and C.E. Russell and William Starkweather as justices of the peace.

                                                                 Improvements

     The city has made many and valuable improvements since the first organization as a village in 1875.  At that time we had no public water system, no sewers and but a small number of sidewalks and they of lumber.  Our fire department was very inferior and our streets were very sandy.  A water works system was inaugurated about 1882 and two wells were dug on the east side of the Chippewa river, just south of the Ann Arbor depot, and a pumping station was installed near by and water mains laid from the pump house south to Michigan street and thence east to the main portion of the city and from thence in various directions so as to accommodate the most of our citizens.  The largest of the pipes was at that time eight inches in diameter and a large portion of them were of logs made at Bay City, Michigan.  The first bonded indebtedness for water purposes was ten thousand dollars issued about July 15, 1882, payable in ten years, drawing five and one-half per cent, interest.  The resolution providing for the issue of these of these bonds was passed by the common council in due form and a vote of the electors authorized to be held, which vote was taken and the bonding authorized, and the council met and ratified the action and authorized the execution of the bonds, which was done.  The avails of these bonds were used for the purpose of digging a public well and installing a pumping outfit just north of the Harris mill.  The bonds have been refunded two or three times, but are all paid except one bond of one thousand dollars.

     During the said year of 1884 the village commenced the matter of sewering and a contract was let to one McSloy to build a sewer to commence at the Bennett house or Court street and to run west to the center of Washington street and there to turn north and run to the river.  The total price of said sewer, catch basins and manholes was to be one thousand six hundred forty-five dollars and eight cents.  But for some reason it cost a good deal more, money and, while there was a sewer district formed, the village finally paid for the work.  The sewer was very poorly built and was never of much benefit to the district nor to the city.  Recently it was taken up and a sewer put in, conducting the water in a different direction, east into the main or trunk line sewer;  and more recently the city has made a drainage sewer to run into the north end of the old sewer to the river. 

     There were also four thousand dollars of bonds issued by the township of Union, called public improvement bonds, about June 3, 1885, drawing interest at five and three-eighths per cent, which were refunded October 21, 1902.  The city of Mt. Pleasant afterward assumed the obligation.

                                                                 Water Supply 

     The matter of water supply for the inhabitants has been for a long time a vexatious question as at no time has the supply been sufficient for all purposes and at all times in the year.  They built first two wells and reservoirs that were supposed to be of sufficient capacity for all purposes, they going down to the water gravel or nearly so and the water flowing freely up into the reservoir.  One of the pipes they sunk to a depth of three hundred and fifty feet and there encountered brackish water, so that pipe was plugged instead of having an elbow put upon it, and the water allowed to flow into the tail race that the people might ascertain what it was composed of.  After some time the wells seemed to fail or cease to supply sufficient water for all purposes and then it was suggested to put down some wells on the west side of the river, so several wells were put down over there;  these wells were flowing ones when the sand was kept from stopping the flow.  These were down only about twenty-five feet until they struck the water, sand and gravel.  In all, they put down about a dozen of these wells and some experts that were imported for the purpose of giving expert information assured the good people that when they got down to this strata there would be an ample supply.  But each time something came in to dampen the ardor of the citizens and it was not good, pure water either.  Then it dawned upon some one that if the city would make a monstrous reservoir, say about one hundred feet long and about fifty feet wide and eighteen or twenty feet deep and cement the sides and a part at least of the bottom and dig a well in the east end of that, say about twelve feet in diameter, and put some wells in the bottom of the main reservoir and pipe that to the pump house we would all be happy.

     Well, they all nibbled at that bit of bait and as the old Dean pump had been in use for a good many years and was supposed by some to be out of date, and at one time, when the city had a very destructive fire, it gave out for a time, it was decided that they bond the city again for money enough to build the great reservoir, put in the wells as described, build a new and up-to-date pumping station, pipe the water from the reservoir to the pump house, lay a few more rods of large water main, connect these with the old water mains and then be happy indeed.

     The proposition was to again bond the city and this time for twenty thousand dollars.  The council passed the requisite resolutions, the people voted yes and the bonds were issued on the 1^st day of March, 1907, to draw four per cent and one bond of one thousand dollars to be paid each year.  The plans and specifications were made, submitted and adopted and the work commenced.  The great reservoir was built, the water wells put down, the water piped to the new well house on the east side of the river, a new Dean pump put in and every one then supposed that the water supply was inexhaustible.  Some of the good people, acting upon that theory, promised to supply the milk condensory with a large supply of cool water to be used for cooling their milk.  This extra drain on the supply was too much, so that the company were obliged to sink some wells of their own and, as good luck would have it, they were successful in finding a fair supply.

     Our water works are put upon the direct pressure plan—that is, the pump to run continuously and thus hold an equal pressure at all times except in case of fire.  What some think is that we should have an elevated water tank to be kept full of water and have it so arranged that at the hours of sprinkling that water could be utilized and relieve the pump and some feel that it should be large enough so that it could be used to relieve the constant use of the pump.  These propositions are still in embryo and the city fathers have been looking about for a greater water supply, so the good people are waiting and paying their sprinkling bills with a wry face and grinning when it is done.

     The next original bonds to be issued was five thousand dollars issued September 1, 1884, due in five years and these were issued for water works.  They became due July 15, 1892, and were then with the ten thousand dollars issued in 1882, refunded by an issue of fifteen thousand dollars and are called refunding water works bonds.  Just where the other five thousand came from, the resolution does not explain, but it must have been the five thousand dollars of 1884.  These ran the fifteen years and were again refunded July 15, 1907, to run ten years.  May 21, 1900, there was issued ten thousand dollars, water extension bonds.  Another water improvement bond of twenty thousand dollars, was authorized by a vote standing three hundred thirty-four yes to forty-seven no.  The bonds were issued on the 1^st day of March, 1907, there being twenty bonds of one thousand dollars each and falling due one bond each year, said bonds to draw interest at four per cent, semi-annually, and payable at the People’s State Bank in Detroit, Michigan.

     In 1901 the city decided to build some sewers for the purpose of providing a sanitary outlet for the sewage of the city.  Plans and specification were provided and the city was bonded for ten thousand dollars, for general sewer purposes.  The bonds were authorized and issued on May 1, 1901, the bonds to run for twenty years.

     The money from the sale of these bonds was to be used to build a main or trunk line sewer, the outlet to be in the Chippewa river just below the Bradley bridge and to run thence east and then south to Michigan street, with a branch both east and west on Michigan.  Other sewers were afterward built as laterals to the main sewer and were built by special assessment, according to the sewer district, until now we have an estimated amount of about seven and one-half miles of sewers, ranging from six to sixteen inches in diameter.

     It is to be noted that the original sewer was built as a sanitary and not as a drainage sewer, but as soon as the sewer was started the council authorized the putting in of catch basins, which were intended to receive the surface water of that part of the city traversed by the sewers and the effect has been that the water gathered has at times overtaxed the capacity of the sewer and some have had the sad experience of having their cellars inundated with sewage, to their great annoyance.

                                                                Sidewalks

     As early as about 1900 the lumber in the county began to be scarce and of an inferior quality for use for sidewalks and the people determined to utilize some more substantial material.  They commenced the use of Portland cement and found it to meet the requirements and so the scheme was inaugurated to have the city build the walks out of cement and the property owner to pay a certain price per square foot or square yard and the city do the work and furnish all of the material.  For the purpose of expediting the work and not distress the lot owner, bonds to the amount of eight thousand dollars was authorized by a vote of the people and the bonds were issued, sold and the money placed in a sidewalk fund.  It proved to be a great impetus toward building sidewalks so that at the present time they have probably more and better sidewalks in Mt. Pleasant than any other city of its size in Michigan.  There are substantially twenty miles of first-class cement sidewalks and cross walks and altogether the city is now very well supplied for walks on all of the main streets.

                                                                 Public Parks

      Something like thirty years ago the people of Mt. Pleasant thought that they should be provided with a public park and after looking over the surrounding country they discovered that there was a piece of land lying adjacent to the Chippewa river and on the west side thereof and just opposite the Ann Arbor station that could be purchased for a thousand dollars, the seller donating the sum of one hundred dollars, provided that it should bear his name and provided further that in case it ceased to be used for a public park the title should revert to him.

     With these slight conditions., the land was purchased and named Nelson park.  The land still remains there as a monument of the forethought and good judgment of the purchasers.  It has some beautiful native trees which are thrifty and on which the foliage in summer is always green and with the gravel drive and walk through the park to the cemetery it makes rather a delightful and interesting place to while away an hour or so when the sun is hot and one needs rest and something to detract his thoughts from the common things of life.

     As time advanced and the city enlarged to the point of five thousand inhabitants, there was a feeling among the people that they should make provision for a public park that could be used for the purposes for which parks are generally used, so they looked about and found what they thought would answer their purpose and they submitted a proposition to the people as to the matter of the purchase of the same.  Being submitted, it was carried by more than a two-thirds majority and bonds to the amount of five thousand dollars were issued and delivered to the owners for the grounds, including the iron bridge and right of way to the street.  The grounds were composed of about thirty-seven and one-half acres of bottom lands in the valley of the Chippewa river and including the grove of native timber.  The city immediately commenced and during the fall of 1909 completed a ditch or canal on the west side of the purchase and built a dam so as to create slack water for boating privileges.  It is an ideal place and can hardly be duplicated in the state for a natural park.  It lies within the city limits and within thirty rods of the center of section 15, which is the center of the city, so that a walk of five minutes carries you upon the grounds of the park.  When properly laid out by a landscape gardener and developed, no finer spot can be found for a park.  It has not only water for boating, but it also has a flowing well with waters of a medicinal quality, being pure and very palatable.

     The city at this time has about twelve miles of water mains ranging from four inches to twelve inches in diameter.  This gives domestic and fire facilities to nearly all of the inhabitants in the city.

                                                                 Municipal Indebtedness

      The bonded indebtedness still outstanding is as follows:  Two $1,000.00 public improvement bonds;  $15,000 water refunding bonds;  $5,000 water extension bonds;  $10,000 main or trunk line sewer bonds;  $5,000 cement sidewalk bonds;  $3,361 bonds for purchase of lands for addition to normal school;  $16,000 water improvement bonds, and $4,500 park bonds, being a total bonded indebtedness of $60,861, on an assessed valuation of about $1,000,000 for the city.

© 1999 - 2009 by Donna Hoff-Grambau
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED