Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-07-30

direction. Our citizens are social, IN
telligent and industrious. What more.
can be asked for in the way of natural
or attained advantages.
In 1854 Ralph Ely located here, and
was the first man settling north of
Pine River. and his wife the first woman.
I'm 1856 ;. :. Hastings surveyed the
land. and the place was known as Ely
ton or Ely's Mills, Mr. Ely having erect.
eel saw mill the same year. In 1895
the village was plated and named
Alma, 10y James Gargett Esq. Ralph
Ely kept the first store. In January,
1898, Mr.. Gargett purchased Mr.. Ely's
stock of goods. and since that time has
been interested i'm business in Alma.
His wife opened the first millinery store.
Mr.. Gargett also opened the first boot
and shoe store and employed VIM. +.
Meyer as foreman. The first black
smith was VIM. c. Rogers, and Rev.
Todd. auniversalist was the first minis
ter. The first school was taught 10y
Miss Martha Wooden, now (the widow
of Elias SMITH. 80 years ago in log
building which stood where the present
new Normal buildings are now located.
George Chandler in 1851, became the
first school director. The first hotel
was kept 10y Mr.. Mosier, and called
the Pine River House. The first |
physician was Dr.. ;. W. Barnes, and |
Judge ISsac Marsden now of Detroit |
was the first attorney. In 1872 Alma |
was incorporated and the first President |
was Ralph Ely; Trustees. Darwin Ely |
VIM. Hannah. O. Ellison. John Month |
tel. George Bahkc and VIM. Carpenter; |
Clerk, Geo. G.. Holiday; Assessors. |
James T. Hall, Samuel BreWbaker;
Marshal, Townsend \. Ely Treasurer, |
Daniel Leach The present officers are |
President. c. l.. Downie; Clerk. *.
W. Ely: Trustees. j. q. Lumsden. VI. |
Montigcl. j. W. Mcleod. b. :. Webb. |
+. b. Green, \. Ycrington; Treasurer, |
G.. :. Ward Assessor. Geo. w. Pulfrey; |
Marshal. =. ID. Petit; 1t. Com. W. Q.
Thomas: Village Attorney. }. l.. Clark; |
Surveyor. c. II. AXtell; Deputy Mar
shal, VIM. W. Pike; Deputy Marshal |
and Night Watch. ID. Lcech: Pound !
Master, Geo. Willard. The first news
paper was established in 1879. 10y NJ. l..
Hart. and called the Alma Weekly |
Ldcr after a time the paper was sold
to \. ID. Petit who changed the name
to the Gratiot County Record One
year after. j. II. Philips became its pro-
prietor. and conducted it one year
then turned it over TO y. c. Davidson
who changed the name to the Alma
Record I'm November 1883. Mr.. X.
w. Ely purchased the paper. and con-
trolled it until May. 1850, when Miss
G. NJ. Fleming purchased it, and has
since added new steam presses. new
body and job type. and other material.
and the circulation of the paper has ,
doubled ]
The early residents now living i'm
Alma and vicinity are ID. Ely. our
present postmaster who came here in
800 and engaged in carpenter work: j
Emery Adams. Jas. Gargett. VIM and !
Almond Rogers. Oscar Morse. Frank
GilkinS. William Howe. William Yer {
ington. John Glover. William W. Clark. .
Mrs. Gordus Smith. Mrs. Mary Weav- l
ar. H. b. Hubert. W. ;. Turck and NJ. !
Pollasky. There are Others, but their |
names we failed to le H. e
Alma had a steady rather than spas +,
nodic growth until about seven years f
lgo when y. W. Wright a gentleman
If large wealth located here and pur- y
.hased much real estate. and shortly v
Ifter commenced the erection of fine "
rick block and the famous Wright Il
louise which is SO widely known II
the land as the finest. most e
appointed and best hotel i'm K
he state. Following these buildings
u quick succession other buildings and i
interests of which Mr.. Wright was the 1t
)mder. sprung up, and from that time W
n the town has continued TO grow and ,
rosper, until to-day its population is is
nearly -four times greater than il was fin
wen years ago Last year Mr.. Wright W
to build the Alma Medical III
ld Surgical Sanitarium which has IT,
zen his crownmg effort, and will serve Sc
monument to perpetuate its foun- ie
rs memory long after ne and his have III III
used away. OF this structure we Go
all speak. further ON. An item wOr- tn
y of mention is that every building flo
hich Mr.. Wright has erected here is ~
the best and most substantial kind. tw,
I'd every business interest of which ne va
IS became engaged in has been push fir
to its utmost capacity Other bus Is -
css men of the place have caught this ro,
irit of enterprise. and the result has pa
en- that Alma to-day. is spoken of as lln
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