Phoenix Mill.--
Perry Henderson, who came to Mason in 1854, afterwards purchased the old grist-mill, which stood on the opposite side of the road from the present structure, and was originally operated by water-power. The dam caused so much adjacent territory to be flooded, and so much sickness was consequent, that it was finally removed and a steam-engine put in the mill. About a year after Mr. Henderson purchased the mill, it was destroyed by fire, together with 1500 bushels of wheat. This mill had been built by Noble, Skinner, & Page, the first grist-mill in the place having been a primitive affair, consisting of one run of stone set up in one corner of the old Danforth saw-mill in 1840. After the old mill was destroyed, Mr. Henderson, in 1858, built the present "Phoenix Mill." It is now the property of George G. Mead, and contains three runs of stone. Two only were at first put in. Steam-power is used. The mill machinery, which was purchased in Buffalo, was brought to Detroit by boat, and from there to Mason by teams.
Mason City Mills.--
The Mason City Mills were moved here in the fall of 1869, from De Witt, Clinton Co., by Near & Wade. The building, which is frame, contains two runs of stone, the machinery being operated by steam-power. The capital invested in about $8000. Three hands are employed by the present proprietor, O. Crane. This mill has passed through many different hands. Feed and flour are manufactured, the mill having a capacity of about 300 bushels daily.
Stone-Boat Factory.--
A Stone-Boat Factory, fo rmaking Gregg's patent stone boats, was built in 1879, by William Gregg & Co. About $2500 capital is invested in the business, and six men are given employment, the factory still belonging to the same firm.
S. A. Paddock & Co.--
S. A. Paddock & Co., architects and builders, manufacters of sash, doors, blinds, and building material, are the proprietors of a business which was established in 1872, by Jessup, Stanton & Co., who built the plaining-mill. In 1876 the present firm was organized, and has enlarged the buildings and largely increased the business. The establishment had previously changed hands several times. About @12,000 of capital are invested, and the annual business reaches from $10,000 to $20,000. From five to fifteen persons are employed. This firm has erected nearly all the brick business buildings in Mason, aside from its work elsewhere. The shops are located in the north part of the city, near the railroad.
Stave-Factory.--
The Stave-Factory of A. J. Bailey & Co. was built in 1872, and at present gives employment to ten or fifteen men and boys. About $10,000 are invested in the business, the capital being principally furnished by Dr. McRobert, of Mason. The business amounts to $20,000 or $25,000 annually. The firm has its headquarters at Leslie, where it has also a large establishment of the same kind.
Patent Gear- and Carriage- Factory.--
A Patent Gear- and Carriage- Factory was started in the place in 1872 by B. F. Rix & Co., and is now the property of Griffin & Rogers, who have owned it since 1878. The capital invested, including that in the buildings, etc., is about $15,000. Fifteen to twenty hands are employed. The factor is built of brick. The bent gear which is manufactured is for use in platform-wagons, and was patented by B. F. Rix, for whom it is named. The establishment finds sale for its products in nearly every State in the Union. R. F. Griffin, one of the proprietors, is mentioned elsewhere as one of the early settlers of the place.
Cheese-Factory.--
This institution, although was not within the corporate limits of the city, is properly one of its enterprises. A frame building was erected in 1871 by a stock company, of which R. F. Griffin was President, Frank White, Treasurer, and Horatio Pratt, Secretary. The buildint etc, cost $3200, although but $2500 was ever paid in, the balance coming out of the earnings of the factory. The company was broken up in two or three years after its organization, and most of the stock was purchased by Mr. White, who is the present owner and manager. The business for the first two or three years was good, the daily receipts of milk reaching from 4300 to 5000 pounds. There has since been a large falling off. This industry, if rightly handled, might be made to return large profits. Factories in certain regions of the West -- notably in Northwestern Illinois -- receive as high as 35,000 pounds of milk daily during a part of the season, and make the business a decidedly profitable one.
Robe-Factory.--
An establishment for the manufactore of buffalo- and other robes was opened in 1876 by Marshall, Huntington & Co., and continued until April 13, 1880, when C. D. Huntington, one of the firm, sold his interest. The present firm is Marshall, Rumsey & Co., who manufacture buffalo-robes principally. The hides are procured in Montana Territory, formerly coming from Kansas and Colorado. As many as 5000 have been prepared for market in a season. From twenty to twenty-five men are employed, the capital invested being about $12,000. A frame building for the use of the company is located in the southern part of the city.
Saw Mill.--
A steam saw-mill was built in the sough part of the corporation, in the fall of 1865, by J. L. & C. D. Huntington, which was burned April 1, 1871. A second was erected by the same parties on nearly the same grount, and, on th e27th of May, 1876, it shared the fate of its predecessor. Joseph L. Huntington's death had occurred in1874, and the second mill, when burned, was the property of C. D. Huntinton and Riley P. Dunham. After this fire Mr. Huntington sold his interest to Alonzo Ellsworth, one of the present owners. Ellsworth & Dunham built a third mill, which was also burned, and the present one, owned by Ellsworth & Co., is the fourth one on the site. This firm commenced business May 1, 1879, Mr. Herrington purchasing the interest of Mr. Dunham. Six men are employed, and about 300,000 feet of hardwood lumber are manufactured annually. Steam-power is used exclusively.
Foundry and Machine - Shop.--
About 1850 a small foundry was established in Mason by Turner & Coatsworth, and in February, 1856, it was purchased by Jesse Beech, who has been its proprietor most of the time since, having had several partners. He is at present the sole owner, and, aside from general work, -- agricultural tools, repairs, etc., -- is manufacturing the Cowdery wind-mill. Four or five men is the average number employed. The capital invested in about $5000. This is the only institution of the kind ever put in operation in the place. Mr. Beech was from Monroe Co., N. Y.
Carriage -, Wagon - , and Blacksmith - Shop.--
L. F. Clark, proprietor of the principal establishment of this kind in Mason, employe six or eight men, and transacts an annual business of about $10,000. The capital invested is about $5000. General blacksmithing and repairing are done, aside from the regular manufacturers. This is the oldest shop of the kind in the place, and has been run, by different parties, for nearly thirty years.
Olin Chuck-Manfacturing Company
Charles J. Olin of Mason, an experienced watchmaker and jeweler, is the patentee of a self--centering combination chuck, for the use of those belonging to his class of workmen. It does away entirely with wax, which had been the latest improvement in the line, and is destined to revolutionize the whole business of chuck-manufacturing. It was patented in July, 1880, and a company with the above caption has been formed for its manufacture at Mason, consisting of the patentee, C. J. Olin, Wells W. Hendricks, of Leslie, and Collins D. Huntington, of Mason, the latter being treasurer. Automatic machinery, made at Hartford, Conn., will be used, and four or more workmen given employment, besides a number of salesmen. The machinery alone will cost $3000. Until the spring of 1881 the company will rent, but in the season names a building for their express use will be erected.
" Boot - and Shoe- Makers. -- The first representative of this branch of industry who put in an appearance in Mason was a queer genius, names Barney Moon. In 1840 he took up his quarters in a little wooden building, fourteen by eighteen feet, which stood just east of Mr. Day's store. He is described by those who knew him as rough, uncouth, dirty, and heathenish. When talking, his sentences teemed with idiomatic blasphemy. He cooked, ate, slept, swore, got drunk, made boots and shoes, and tanned deer-skins in that one small shop, and his ability to mingle ane make synchronous these several occupations was sometimes wonderful to behold. He remained in Mason but a short time. The last seen of him was when Chauncey Osborne found him, one bitter cole night, lying across the track, in a state of beastly intoxication, on the road between Williamston and Howell. By this time he has doubtless gone in search of his fathers.
" In the fall of 1841, O. Griffin came to Mason with forth dollars' worth of leather, for which he had run in debt, and began work as a shoemaker. At the first, Judge Danforth and H. H. Smith used to go close to his shop and peep in to see whether he was civilized or not, but they did not dare to enter, fearing he was another Barney Moon. But his good qualities must soon have become apparent, for by the first day of January, 1842, by borrowing three dollars of John Raymer, he succeeded in doubling his money. In the following year, R. F. Griffin, son of O. Griffin, came to Mason and assisted his father in his work. After them, Griffin & Son continued in the business fourteen years. In 1850 came J. L. Hungtington and sons, and again, in 1858, G. W. Polar."*
*From article in Ingham County News, 1875.
Taken from:
"History of Ingham and Eaton Counties Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers", by Samuel W. Durant.
Published by D. W. Ensign & Co., 1880.
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