The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-08-14

10 supply the demands Of the countr,
contiguous. This growth, called 10
additions of territory for village pui
poses, and a special code for its gov
ernment The churches and school
had constantly received the fostering
care of the Inhabitants. They wer,
sentinels thrown ont to guard the NOR
al aud intellectual principles OF he
people. With her active growth, il wa
soon discovered that without closei
communication with the commercial
world her activity aud enterprise woult
become circumscribed and limited, vir
tually under the shadow, and in {
measure tributary to Hillsdale, the
county seat, and an important railroad
town. Viewing the surroundings from
these several stand points. the sam,
minds that had agreed on bushes,
center eighteen or twenty years before
with others now their townsmen estab.
lished in business, conceived the ideG
of bringing the Port Wayne and Jack
son Railroad 10 their door-an enter,
prise which was being talked up in
opening q railroad north and south
through the State. and To run south
/ through Indiana 20 Cincinnati, Ohio,
Fort Wayne and Jackson being fixed
points. On making the preliminary
surveys il was found that the grade
from Jonesville 10 Reading was very
/ great; that IL would be muck easier 70
keep further east aud strike the valley
Of the little ST. Joseph, causing the
road TO run through or near Hillsdale
and Cambria Mills, thence to the head
waters oi Eel River, in DeKalb county,
Ind. As against this easier route, the
importance of reaching the business OF
town like Reading, Angola and Wa
! terloo, in Ind, together with the ma
terial aid held out by the citizens OF
this place, soon oyercame the obstacle
Of high grade and brought the railroad
10 the town in 1862. Among the
active workers in this undertaking we
note again Geo. Eitzsimmous, Col.
Fowler. John & A. NJ. X. Fitzsimmons.
Daniel Kinne, II. B. Chapman, Messrs.
Gone, Parmalees' Frits, Waterman,
Berry, and others.
These railroad facilities proved fully
the wisdom OF the undertaking Of the
people Of the village aud town. A new
impetus was given 10 business az once.
additional inducements was offered 10
her mechanics, and others we're invited.
The farmers were az once benefited by
having a good market opened at their
very doors, for the disposal of their
surplus products, saving 10 themselves
two hundred per cent. in the cost OF
marketing, which was heavy tax on
profits heretofore.
Since the advent of the railroad
there has been almost an entire revolu-
tion Of their business houses. The
long wooden rows of one and two story
buildings, used for these purposes.
have given way for the permanent
brick blocks Of two aud three stories,
roomy and commodious, and finished
with a taste Of which many an older
place might be envious Her business
may be safely reckonsd as having in
creased four fold. and her population,
as a village, about doubled Her resi-
dences, both in village and town. will
compare fayorably with any other town
in the county, or village in the State,
with equal population. These results
are largely due to the taste and enter
prise of her business meu. We may
mention II. b. Chapman, Esq, as hsv-
ing contributed largely TO the erection
Of good business houses and conven-
lent aud tasty dwellings,; being the
proprietor of 0ne of the additions to
the town, il was in accord with his
taste and judgment to dot his plat
with fine class Of dwellings before
disposibg of the same. There are FIVE
very respectable churches IN the town,
belonging TO denominations as follows,
aud erected Ia the following order:
One Methodist, two Free Baptist, one
Regular Baptist, and one Presbyterian.
These indicate the religious sentiments
OF a majority Of her population. Her
schools, twelve in number, comlare
most favorably with other towns in the
State OF like population. Especially is
the Union School OF the village a
model, aud might be patterned after by
many a town OF great pretentions. We
summarize the business of the town in
1876 as follows: 3 Dry Goods Houses,
Hardware, Grocery Stores, 2 Drug
Stores, 2 Produce Dealers. Grain
Dealer, Boot and Shoe Establish
men,s, Clothing House, Millinery
Houses, Harness Shops, Cabinet
and House Furnishing Establishment,
I Carriage Mandatory, Blacksmiths
custom work, . Wagon Shops, Paint
Shops, l Foundry and Mandatory
Of Agricultural Implements, Factory
for Mandatory Of Laundry Furniture,
/ Door, Sash aud Blind and Machinery,
l Extensive Ink. Bluing and Mucilage
Factory, Pump Factories, / Patent
Medicine Dispenssry. Cheese Facto-
~, ] Cheese Box Factory, l Bakery, l
Marble shop, Stave aud Barrel Fac
tory, 2 Hotels, Liveries. Firms Of
Stock Dealers, Jewellers, l Glove
Factory, Tailor, /? Brick Makers, l
Newspaper and Bank, making a total
Of GO places Of business, and exhibit.
ing 35 different classes OF trade. An
extraordinary showing for an inland
town, limited as this has been IN natur.
oil advantages. We enquire for the
causes that have led 10 these results;
and iind the solution in n few words,
energy; energy in her leading citizens;
watchful care for the whole people,
instead Of self and selfish interests.
We have spoken heretofore OF some
of the early settlers Of the town, their
characteristics and positions they had
occupied, both public aud private.
We felt justified in doing 30, because
they are mostly dead and gone. Yet,
their works live after them, and il is a
pleasant reflection to know that when
these works are called to remembrance
they bring with them the kindest Of
feeling 81 their memories. We would
like TO speak more particularly of some
that are living. and active workers in
the affairs OF life; but IL might seem
aud probably would be looked upon by
many Ne inviiious; aud in this utili-
tartan age very few men, "unless puff
ed up with much self-esteem," care TO
hear or resd their own autobiography.
at least until they are so far advanced
In life that they may not in the IN
guarded moment undo all the good
that has been recorded in the book OF
remembrance in their favor. IL IL
proper, however, to notice the fact that
two Of your citizens, not heretofore no.
ticed as called Legislators in the affairs
Of the State. should receive proper rec
ognition here. We refer 10 Hon. Fred
erick Fowler. as member of the
House for 1851, and for the Senate in
1866. Also 30 Rev. l.. s. Parmalee, ~
a member Of the House in 1867. IL
may be said that the trusts committed
10 them by the citizens Of the county
and district we're discharged with fidel-
ity aud ability, aud received the APP
proyal OF theit constituents. And now,
as we look al the past in the light OF
history formed from observation aud
! personal acquaintance for a period Of