Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-12-12

children. Agnes also was very cap
able mother, while their father ant
grandparents were just, true and kind
0 most fortunate children. no wonde
that, being so truly trained up in th'
way you should go, when you were
older you did not depart from it.
In 1848 the eighty acre tract was
in the heart of city and worth millions
/ The rentals from its blocks and lots
was daily growing Every tenant
/ before he could have a lease, musi
sign contract to put up only such
/ buildings as the company approved
which kept the neighborhood of the
| Company's property clean, sanitary
and inviting.
Other outlying farms had been
bought, toward which the city might
lily grew. The income of the company
] was now more than a million a year
In 1856 Daniel slept with his faith
| ars, passing on in his 87th year. But
2ct until five great-grandchildre had
ljmbed upon his knees, delighted his
heart and received his blessing.
These children were Jane, Lincoln
and Lydia, belonging to Joseph, who
had married Sarah Van Kamp, of a
notable Holland family, and Samuel
and Elijah, belonging to Rachel, who
had married Prof. Simon Chase.
Benjamin had married Myrtle
Moore, of an artistic and literary
house They had no children. Thv
great Grandma, Margaret, followed
or husband very closely, and so pass
ed two of the worthiest pioneers that
ever helped to build the mighty city of
the New World
In 1872 We find the Company con-
sisting of Henry and Agnes; Joseph
and Sarah; Rachel and Simon; Ben
jamin and Myrtle; Jane, Lincoln and
F4vdia and the Great-aunt Lucy;
twelve in all. Their holdings of Real
estate had reached a value of more
han twenty millions, and the Bank
10 business had grown to enormous
proportions.
Between 1872 and 1878 Jane mar
led George James, Professor of So
,iology in Columbia University; Lin
eoln married Grace Beaumont, a mu-
'ician and teacher; Samuel and Eli
Nh married two sisters, Mary and
Doreas Penn, while Lydia who like
Ter great-aunt Lucy had become a
Bank expert, was made President of
The Banking Department.
In 1889 and 80 Henry and Agnes
joined the "Choir Invisible" full OF
honors. The children and grandchil-
lren said the venerable pair had hon
Xed father and mother and so their
lives were long upon the land which
he Lord God had given them"
By this time, 1890 the property of
he Company had reached value Of
/ fifty million dollars and the income
vas three millions a year.
After the passing of Henry, Agnes
md Lucy, the Mcbride company was
made up of families, of whom the
heads were Joseph and Sarah; Rachel
md Simon; Benjamin and Myrtle;
Fane and George; Lincoln and Grace;
'amuel and Mary with Elijah and
Doreas and the unmarried sister
Lydia. Seventeen members.
Among the singular things in the
case of these McBrides were these:
I. They were all entirely democratic
in the true sense, putting on no airs
Of superiority, living a simple life,
in houses scarcely above the average,
given to hospitality, but never to
lavish or showy entertainments.
}. They recognized and practiced,
he perfect equality of women with
nen, all the girls being as we'll train
ID for useful work as the boys, so
hat the women were as capable in
building a business as a home.
B. They were all workers and earned
salaries and made it a principle 1T
to spend upon personal enjoyments,
| n for their own living, any more than
| hoy had fairly earned
They arranged their homes con-
eniently near together, so that all
eould be together whenever they
would They had weekly receptions
or authors, scholars, artists, philo-
ophers, poets and musicians, both to
| promote mutual acquaintance among
he people, and to enlarge their own
deas and sympathies.
). While not regarded as particular
y religious, they were trusted as gen.
Iinely righteous. They did not make
long prayers and devour widows
,ouses." They made short prayers
and delivered widows houses, pay.
1g off debts and comforting the faith.
,rless and widows in their affiiction.
;. They made no pretense of belle
= the teachings of Jesus. Thev actu
lily did believe and pratice them.
They kent themselves from bond