Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-08-07
LIVELY BUSINESS TOWN
FREMONT. NswAYoo COUNTY
Its Prospects. Surroundings. Manufac-
turers and Mercantile 6stab-
llShments.

i'a>e hOf IL Size anu cntcfpr Fremont has
population of l $40 and Is the largest and
most prosperous town on the line of the Big
Rapids branch of tne Chicago 4 Vest Mich
igan Railway between Big Rapids and Mus
kegOn, and lies about fifty miles north of
Grand Rapids.
The people of the town are intelligent and
soelabe and take commendabse pride IN
their schools, which are in a prosperous con
dition and are receiving the hearty support
of the public.
SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND HALLS.
There are two good school buildings in the
| town, the building for one of which-the
| Central School-was erected az a cost of
$500, aud Is thoroughly furnished and
fitted with all modern appliances for teach
ing the young idea how 10 shoot. The
schools for two years past have been under
the superintendency of T. q. Berkhead and
under his care tht II progress has been good.
Prof. Bean, an educator of experience, has
been employed for the coming year. Five
teachers are regularly employed.
The religious interests of the community
are looked after by five church societies. a.
| follows: Methodist Episcopal, Congrega-
| ilonal, Disciple. United Brethren and two
| Holland churches, all of which are enjoying
a fair degree of prosperity and most of them
| have coy and comfortable church edifices.
Hayes's Opera House has a seating capac-
| ity of about seven hundred, and Unity Hail.
| which is also used as skating rink can be
| seated 10 accommodate at least two thous-
| and persons.
| SOCIETIES, PIC.
The various secret and benevolent socie-
| ties we'll represented. Henry Dobson
| Post No. ls2, q. A. r., Is located here and
| has good membership. &. |. Rathbun l.
| Commander aud J. A. Milliman Adjutant
| Pilgrim Lodge, No. $50, L. * 4. NJ, has
membership of about fifty. There l. also a
| lodge of Oddfellows. Olive Branch Council.
| No. II, Chosen FIiends. has Il mem bership oi
about ninety. Joseph Gerber Is Chief Coun
| -ellor, c. |. Rathbun Secretary. and Hon.
| I'D. T.. Edwards Chairman of Supreme Board
| of Trustees of the Order and acting Supreme
| Councillor of the Third Jurisdiction, consist
! ing of Michigan aud the Dominion of Can
ada. There Ii also "A prosperous lodge of
| Good Ten lars.
| The Fire Department of the town consists
| of two companies of adults and "A juvenile
company. all of which. Judging by the exhi-
| bItions of speed and skill gwen while IHF
! TELEGRAM scribe was in the town. have ac-
| qulred great degree of proficiency. They
| use only hose carts and get their power from
| the water works which are ample for all or
| dInary emergencies. The water works were
| put in in 1853 and the pumping power is OBJ
| tanned from the powerful engines of ID. Ger
| Der * Sons. They supply the town with the
purest water obtained from three powerful
| running springs.
| RESIDENCES AND RESORTS.
| Fremont doee not boast palatial residences
| with brown stone fronts. etc. but she has
4 ALL nh
one can enjoy life without having il made
! miserable in efforts TO keep up style. Many
| of the residences give evidences of prosperity
and good taste for their owners. Some of
the best are owned 10y W. A. Webber. IL. j.
| Dudley, j. X. Odel, j. Gerber, y. b. Clark
and George McNutt.
| Fremont, like most towns in Michigan
| has her lakes, which are much frequented as
! a place of popular resort. but she Is more
| favored than even Michigan towns usually
| are In this respect. The most popular be-
| cause the most accessible. lake in the vicinity
is Fremont Lake lying about three quarters
| of q mile from the business center of the
| town. This lake Is nearly round and about
| SIX miles IN circumference. and Is a delight
1 full place TO enjoy days sport in rowing or
I sailing, fishing, etc. II IL a great fishing
point. and there Is always an abundant sup
ply of sailing craft, row boats, etc. for the
| use of tourists and Others. There are also
several lakes a short distance north winch
| average from a quarter 10 a half mile IN
| length. The fishing Is also very good in
these. The water power of the town is sup
| piled 10y Jones's creek. which i the outlet of
what are called the Upper Lakes"
FARMING LANDS.
Fremont il well favored in being located
| IN a good farming section of the country
which is being rapidly settled up and i'm
| proved 20 that her future is not matter of
uncertainty. As the country continues 20
| improve the town Il bound to keep pace with
| IL, 80 that her citizens can look forward 10 a
| substantial growth for their town iD the near
| future. The beat farming lands are in the
townships Of Sheridan. Dayton. sherman
and Garfield, those lying northwest IN the
| direction of HesperIa beng regarded A. the
| most productive. There is yet considerable
vacant land TO be had IN the vicinity. bot il
is rapidly filing up. The prices of lard now
range from 3 TO 500 Ter acre.
MASUFAcTUKNe ISTEBEsTs.
There is considerable manufacturing done
| IN Fremont. but there Is room for more. and
| considering her water power. accessibility 10
material. low taxes. etc. much more manu-
| featuring could be proftsbiy done here.
| Among the prominent establishments now
| IN operation Il the -four mill Of the Darling
| Milling Co. incorporated two years ago.
! The present officers Of the company are
/ James Darling. President. Joseph Gerber
/
| Geo NcNuff. Secretary. The mill is ron hy
| either water or steam power. and is nov
/ undergoing a thorough remodeling from top
/ 70 bottom and being msde into thorough
/ roller mill. When complete II will have six
/ double set % Gray rolls. of the r J. Allis Z
/ Co. make. The capacity of the mil viii be
/ sbout 100 barrels Of f3gY Ter day. X. Nnl-
/ der has been IN business IN the town for
/ twelve yesrs rast. He 0vns saV mill with
/ one circular ssv WITH toy and side edgsr.
/ snd having = capacity ~ 1900 feet per dag.
/ The min ras Thoroughly rebuilt four years
/ ago and is nov IN good order. M Muider
/ ozns over .fsDf10 feet of standing riDs.
/ 2.rr0n0 he7uiock and gOeDo hsrd wood.
/ fie aiso conducts = grocery Rnd provision
/ store and ~ ioys good trade.
A. 4. Andersnr is one n the leading Il
+ ruhhczns n the c0untv ard Tss lazf yesr
+ chairman of the Republican county corn-
f uitfee. NJ su8e-s01. hovtvsr. uires ma
( politics with p lively and encces-fu ifus5nezs
f He owns sb0uf 20 scras - land ~ tfss
+ nti ghfsurhoDd ard iIres ~ nss farm afrouf
at mics from town. Re II B0r buii3ine
/ neu four NH 0n ths Ifne of ths railroad
( snd r. TIE t0sn. TIE sizs ~ the huiidfuvs
srs miA s2rf2. enRint ho1ae Z2xsf ard -
evefor I1sN TIE Frin IS fcrr sfes-Ias hizh