Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-02
ALMA.
A SHORT REVIEW OF THE
r0WN.
ITS GROWTH AND FUTURE
PROSPECTS.

| The birth ana lie OF town is In
many respects correspondent with
the birth, infancy, and development
of human being. There were the
earlier days and years of its being
when its pulsating life knew no re-
cognition beyond the fond associates
which brought it forth and nursed it
with care. Then came its period of
youth it could walk, put on the habili-
ment ofyouthful manhood, and begin
to breath the air of independent act
ion. Then it must pass through the
era of various experiences. Alma
has expressed these changes. Mr..
Ralph Ely located here in 1854 and
was the first man settling north of
Pine River and his wife the first
woman. In 1856 5. 5. Hastings,now
county surveyor, surveyed the prem
Uses and the place was named Ely
town or Ely's Mills. Mr.. Ely had
erected saw mill that year. In the
year 1858 the village was plated and
named Alma, by James Gargett.
Mr.. Ralph Ely, keeping the first
store. In the same year Mr.. Gargett
purchasd the stock of goods of Mr..
Ely and since that time until the
present, has been interested in Alma
and has been an active bus
mess man in some line, Mrs. Gargett
running the first Millinery store, in
1859. The first blacksmith shop
was opened by William c. Rogers,
and the first minister was Rev. Todd,
a Universalist. Miss Martha Wood
in later Mrs Elias Smith, was the first
school teacher 30 years ago, in log
school building standing where the
college now stands. Mr. Geo. Chan
der was the first school director, in
1857. The first hotel was known as
the Pine River House, owned by Mr.
Mosier, located below the skating
rink, in those days the citizens all,
fed and roomed travellers. The first
frame hotel was built by JAS. kress,
ST., standing on the lot east of
l. =. Gillman's harness shop and
one year later Mr.. Meyer erected one
across the river near the foot of
Woodwork Ave. The first physi-
clan was DIR. n. w. Barnes; the first
Attorney was Judge Isaac Marsden,
now at Detroit. In the year of 1872
Alma was first incorporated and the
first officers were: Pres.-Ralph
Ely: trustees.-D. Ely, VIM. Han
nah, O. Ellison, John Montigel, Geo.
Bahlke, and VIM. Carpenter; Clerk,
G. G.. Holiday; Assessors.-Jas. T.
Hall, and Samuel Brewbaker; Marsh
alt. A. Ely. Treasurer:-Daniel
Leech. The first newspaper was est
ablished in 1879 by NJ. l.. Hart, and
called the Weekly Lder, after time
it was sold to a. ID. Petit, who
named it the Gratiot County Record.
One year after it was sold to j. II.
Phillips who run it ayear and sold it
to n. G.. Davidson who changed it
to the Alma Record. In 1888, X.
w. Ely purchased it and run it one
year when it was sold to and di-
rected by John Harris, who in
June 1885 sold it to Miss c. NJ.
Fleming who having some experience
put it on It's feet adding a large
amount of new material and general
ly renovating the paper, she ran 1t
until March 1887 when it was sold
to c. +. Brown the present propri-
etor making the eighth owner in 10
years. 1t has now one OF the best
equipped Job offices in the state and
the paper has reached circulation
where it is a valuable advertising
medium and patronized as well as
any paper in the state for town of
its size. Seven years ago Mr. y. w.
Wright located here, purchasing
much real estate and at once common
ced the erection of brick block and
the famous Wright House which has
attained the reputation of the best
Hotel in the state, following these
buildings in quick succession, other
buildings and interests, prompted by
Mr.. Wright, began to spring up, and
from that time our Alma has contin-
ued to grow and its population has
increased five times, and as the most
progressive town in the state, Alma
is near the head of the list. In 1885
Mr.. Wright erected the Alma San
itarium, which has been his browning
effort, and will serve as n monument
to perpetuate It's founders memory
long after he and his have passed
away. Every building built by Mr..
Wright has been of the best and most
substantial kind. New industries
are constantly being added and the
hum of machines is increasing, with
excellent prospects of the largest fac
tory of the kind in the state.
The educational facilities of Alma,
through superior management, has
attained n state of such pronounced
excellence that they are unexcelIcd
by any town treble its population
in the state, there are many fam
lies from different parts of the state
! 49,. ..,x....l -. E.. H.