Samuel Field Perkins, Shoes and Leather

Perkins, S. F., Shoe Store and Tanner, Monroe St.

PERKINS, WOODARD & CO., Shoe Store and Tanners, Monroe St. So reads the entry for Samuel Field Perkins in the 1856 Grand Rapids Business Directory. Baxter has this to say on page 104 of his "History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan". Samuel was carrying on the family trade, as learned at his father's side in Woodstock, Vermont.

From "History of Woodstock, Vermont", by Henry Swan Dana, 1889, p 119.

The Gaius Perkins home in South Woodstock, Vermont, built in 1831, courtesy Google Maps.

On page 494 of Baxter, we find the following account of Samuel's trade.  Also mentioned is Charles Taylor, the subject of a previous post.

Here is the site of the Perkins and Woodward Tannery on Mill Street to the left of the East Side Canal, from the Henry Hart map of 1853.

The site where Samuel and Mary built their house is shown above on the corner of Pearl Street and Greenwich Street, Lot #8.  Subjects of previous posts who also lived on the same block are William Haldane, Dr Charles Shepard, and Dr Lemuel Putnam.

Looking down Pearl Street East, either from the tower in William Haldane's back yard or the Ledyard Building, after 1879.  The house in the middle with front facing Ionia is Byron Ball's.  Next coming forward is Samuel Perkins'.  Across the street is the new Post Office building.

You can see this house from the other direction at the top of this page, right behind the right steeple of St Mark's Church.

Looking West down Pearl Street about 1910 at the cross of Ionia. On the right is the Post Office fence.  The house on the corner was built about 1842 by Samuel F and Mary D Perkins, and lived in continuously by the family until demolition after 1913.  The space occupied by the Michigan Trust Company once held the homes of George H Foster, Charles D Preston, George Smith, and William Haldane.  On the next corner, Pearl and Ottawa, is the Ledyard Building with its beautiful roofline.

 The Grand Rapids Herald, Wednesday Morning, December 24, 1913. 

Dies In Home She Occupied 70 Years 

Mrs. Mary Perkins, Pioneer Resident of City, Was near Centenarian. 

Sentiment Was Strong 

Business Interests Encroached Upon Modest Homestead But Could Not Prevail Against Life-Long Wish. 

Caring more for her modest home than a palatial mansion and watching year after year the steady and relentless encroachment of business interests, the one great wish of Mrs. Mary D. Perkins, 94 years old, had its fulfillment when she died yesterday within the walls of the Perkins homestead at Ionia avenue and Pearl street.
Mrs. Perkins was a pioneer resident and the widow of Samuel F. Perkins one of the city's earliest and well known business men. She was a native of Ithaca, N.Y. and came to Grand Rapids from Ohio in 1840. Samuel F. Perkins became a resident of Kent county in 1837 and was one of the first members of the "old Settler's Society of Kent County." Shortly after her marriage, Mrs. Perkins took up her residence in the house in which she died.

Contrast Afforded. 

For 70 years Mrs. Perkins resided in the little one story and a half frame structure. The building never failed to attract the attention of visitors to Grand Rapids because of the contrast afforded and a tender story of sentiment was usually unsuspected by the passing pedestrian. Towering 10 stories high to the west of the Perkins homestead is the Michigan Trust building. Directly across Pearl street is the Y.M.C.A. which has already outgrown its quarters and will have a larger and more handsome home. Across Ionia and on the corner Mrs. Perkins noted the building of a handsome new federal building. Within a half block two of the largest furniture exposition buildings were erected.
One of the these, the Furniture Exposition building, abuts upon the Perkins lot, which extends along Ionia avenue for a distance of about 140 feet. Between the Perkins lot and the Trust building another vacant lot is located of about the same size.

Lot Valued at $80,000. 

Within the rapid growth of the city, enterprising real estate men and financiers have looked upon the Perkins lot as being one of the most valuable in the city, and repeated efforts have been made to acquire the property. When hotel building talk was at its height a short time ago, Dudley E Waters procured an option on the corner, the price being fixed at $80,000. With increased building activity in the business section the value of the real estate grew year after year and as an investment, the modest little home did not yield new revenue, but it did afford solace to the pioneer woman who could not bear to leave the spot so dear to her heart. She has been in excellent health, considering her advanced years, until a few years ago, when she became ill.
Mrs. Perkins is survived by a son, Gaius W Perkins, president of the Perkins Lumber company; two grandsons, Charles F and Gaius W Perkins Jr., and two first great-grandchildren, Voigt and Pauline Perkins.
Funeral services will be held at the home of her son, 241 Fountain street this afternoon at 2:45 o'clock. Burial will be in the Fulton street cemetery.

The unlovely view, today.

Samuel Field Perkins and Mary Desire McIntyre married 4 September 1842, according to Albert Baxter, p 623.  Samuel died 14 February 1866 and is buried in Fulton Street Cemetery, as was Mary.
Son, Frederick Barker Perkins, a grocer, born 13 June 1843, died a suicide 2 April 1890, married with one son.  The family lived in Albany, New York before moving back to Michigan.
Son, Charles Dunham Perkins died at the age of two years and is buried in Fulton Street Cemetery.
Son, Gaius William Perkins started the Grand Rapids School Furniture Company in 1887 and moved it to the West Side, Broadway, between 9th and 10th.  He was an active and influential member of the Grand Rapids Board of Trade, a director of several banks, an officer of the Citizen's Telephone Company in 1906, and a board member of the Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan Transportation Company.
He married Emma Louise Pike, a daughter of Abram W Pike, and had Charles Francis, 11 June 1870, who married Amanda N Voigt; Frederick Louis, 1 August 1872, died 14 March 1875; and Gaius William Jr, born 30 January 1879, and married Jessie Eunice Watkins 3 March 1913.  Gaius William Sr died 23 April 1934.

Here is the house Gaius Perkins built for himself, courtesy of Grand Rapids As It Is, 1888..  A lot different than the one he grew up in.  Built in 1881, in 1883 it was listed as 183 Fountain, later changed to 181 Fountain, then 241 Fountain in 1912.  

In 1891 the house had a beautiful wraparound porch.  Windows have been added and dormers enlarged.  This from Baxter's.

In 1917 it was extensively remodeled, and today the front door is on Lafayette and it is listed as 111 Lafayette.

Picture courtesy of Heritage Hill.org.  This link gives history of the house to 1971.

Here is a little more on Samuel's father Gaius Perkins, from The Family of John Perkins of Ipswich, Mass:Complete in Three Parts (Google eBook), George Augustus Perkins, 1884.

Pp95-6

339 Gaius (Wm. ²⁴⁶, Abraham ¹⁵², Abraham ⁶⁴, Isaac ¹², John ², John ¹) was born in Lyme, Conn Sept 9, 1778. 

He removed to Hartland, Vt., and afterwards to South Woodstock, Vt., in 1801.  There he married Eunice Field, June 26, 1804. She was born Feb. 12, 1785, and died June 25, 1858. He carried on an extensive business of tanning and shoemaking in South Woodstock for many years and died there March 3, 1870.

He was an ardent supporter of institutions of learning and contributed largely towards the establishment and support of an academy in South Woodstock.  We quote the following in relation to him from Prof W. R. Shipman.

“Major Gaius Perkins died in South Woodstock, March 3, 1870, aged ninety-one years and six months. His long life was not more remarkable for the number of its days than for the wonderful preservation, to its very close, of the faculties and spirit of youth. He was not, indeed, exempt from the weariness of age, but not one of his senses was materially impaired; his judgment remained adequate to the transaction of business, while his heart was as young as ever; and his interest in passing events, whether of the neighborhood or the nation was undiminished.

Naturally social, he was to the last a genial companion for all, and his beautiful old age was a perpetual joy to the home in which children's children rose up to call him blessed. His favor was extended to all good enterprises, and be always heeded the injunction to ‘follow after the things that make for peace.’

A life-long and active Universalist, his venerable form was, until very recently, familiar in the gatherings of the denomination far and near. He made the first and largest subscription in Vermont for the Green Mountain Central Institute, (Now the Green Mountain Perkins Academy), and gave more than any others to sustain our school at South Woodstock. It was hardly too much to say that, as his last days were his best so like the evening twilight were his lingering years. Honored and loved by a multitude of friends, his memory will long be cherished in their hearts, while he, departing from the earth at peace with man and God, and now, united with the great company of the redeemed, shall dwell forever in the mansions of the blest.”

Children of Gaius and Eunice Field Perkins were:

510 Samuel Fields, b May 12,1805; d Feb 14,1866.

511 Adeline, b Aug 18,1807; unm’d; d Feb 19,1830.

512 Marcia, b March 1,1809.

513 Frederick, b Oct 18,1810 d March 23,1868.

514 Charles Dunham, b March 23,1813.

515 Edward, b April 9,1815; unm’d; d in 1882.

P 132

510 Samuel Fields, (Gaius, ³²⁹  William, ²⁴⁶  Abraham, ¹⁵²  Abraham, ⁶⁴ Isaac, ¹² John, ²,  John, ¹) was born in South Woodstock, Vt., on Sunday, May 12, 1805. He married Sept. 4, 1842, Mary Desire McIntyre who was born in Hector, Tompkins County, NY, Feb. 25, 1819. She was the daughter of Thomas and Desire (Barker) McIntyre. He was from Deerfield, Mass., and she was from Connecticut.

Soon after he became of age he removed from South Woodstock, Vt. to Plattsburg, NY, where he resided one or two years; thence to Lockport, NY, and from there to Detroit, Mich., about the year 1832, where he remained until 1836. He then removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., and settled there permanently. Here he established himself in the boot and shoe business and built a tannery, which he conducted during the remainder of his life. He died Feb.14, 1866.

Children of Samuel F and Mary (McIntyre) Perkins were:

697 Frederick Barker, b June 13, 1848.

698 Charles Dunham, b Nov 13, 1845; d May 13, 1847.

699 Gaius William, b July 16, 1847.

P 157-8

697 Frederick Barker (Samuel F, ⁵¹⁰ Gaius, ³²⁹ William, ²⁴⁶ Abraham, ¹⁵² Abraham, ⁶⁴ Isaac, ¹² John, ² John,¹) was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., June 13, 1843. He married Agnes J Wishart, Nov.1867. He resided in Grand Rapids until 1874, when he removed to Albany, NY, where he now lives. He is engaged in the grocery trade.

Child of Frederick and Agnes (Wishart) Perkins was:

817 Edward Wllllam b Jan 22, 1872.

699 Gaius William (Samuel F, ⁵¹⁰ Gaius, ³²⁹ William, ²⁴⁶ Abraham, ¹⁵² Abraham, ⁶⁴ Isaac, ¹² John, ² John,¹) was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., July 16, 1847. He married Sept 9, 1869, Emma Louisa Pike, of Grand Rapids. He is engaged in the hide, wool and fur trade in Grand Rapids.

Children of Gaius and Louisa (Pike) Perkins were:

818 Charles Francis, b July 11, 1870.

819 Frederick Louis, b Aug 1, 1872; d March 14, 1875.

820 Gaius William, b Dec 30, 1878.

The Green Mountain Perkins Academy in South Woodstock is still there, now a museum.

Frederick Barker Perkins returned to Grand Rapids after 1880 and died a suicide at the age of 47.  He had been a tanner and a grocer.

Gaius William Perkins started the Grand Rapids School Furniture Company which became American Seating Company.

From the "1945-46 Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University"

From "The Men Behind the Guns in the Making of Greater Grand Rapids", p 174-5.

OK, so now I want to know what a "Hoo Hoo" is. (see above)  Here is a description and the ritual of membership, which includes the kissing of a cat statue's butt.  It is not a very serious fraternal organization.  Wikipedia also has this.

"Tanner" Taylor and the Cold Brook

Charles Watters "Tanner" Taylor bought several acres of property on the east side of the Grand River around the Cold Brook, north of the city of Grand Rapids in 1839.  He promptly set up his own little village of manufacturing and hostelry, running a tannery, from whence he acquired his nickname, a hotel, a grist mill, and a lumber mill.

The Henry Hart map of 1853.  

The little buildings above the word Cold Brook are Charles Taylor's house and hotel.  The mill is to the right.  There is a large cemetery between Cold Brook and Wallbridge Streets, with Cemetery Street on the left and Livingston Street on the right.  Cemetery became Taylor Street by 1876.

"In 1836-37, Dwight and James Lyman built a grist mill on Coldbrook, a little above where now is the railroad station. A man named Fish, and after him John C. Stonehouse, were millers there. In 1838 some gypsum grinding, for plaster of paris, was done at that mill. Afterward some wood turning machinery was operated in connection with it, and Charles W. Taylor put in a second set of stones. The stream did not furnish sufficient power to run it steadily in dry seasons, but this became a popular custom mill, and flour from it for home use always found ready sale. In 1861-62 it was operated by Asahel Hubbard. Some years later its use became unprofitable, and the flouring apparatus was removed. February 28, 1880, the building was blown down in a gale."
From Chapter XXXIX, Flouring Mills, Saw Mills and Lumber, 

Grist Mills, Baxter's History of the City of Grand Rapids, 1891.

"Like the woolen factory, which died for lack of sheep, the pioneer tannery, established by Tanner Taylor (as he was familiarly known) upon Cold Brook, was started before there were any cattle. Nevertheless, Mr. Taylor pluckily tanned everything there was for many years, including sheep’s pelts, deer hides, horse hides, and some say woodchuck skins; and so much leather as he was able to produce was of first class quality. But the business finally died for want of material, having been a great help in its time to the early settlers, and a typical pioneer industry in the persistent pluck with which it was carried on in the face of hopeless circumstances."
From 1889 BUSINESS BEGINNINGS.HOW THE BUSINESS OF GRAND RAPIDS BEGAN AND GREW , Pioneer Pluck and Enterprize-A History Of Remarkable Achievements in the Face of Difficulties-A Story That the Old Settlers are Justly Proud Of. (Grand River Daily Eagle - 25 December 1889)  

Here is the Taylor house as illustrated in Baxter, p 763.

By 1857 the area looked like this, when Charles sold it to the City of Grand Rapids:

The big reason for all the changes can be seen from the lower right to the upper middle:  The Detroit and Milwaukee Railway, which was put through in 1858.  The cemetery has disappeared and the area has been platted for housing and industry.  There are dams for the saw mill, middle, and the grist mill, right, forming two holding ponds.  The tannery has a system of canals diverting the stream for water power.

"DETROIT, GRAND HAVEN AND MILWAUKEE The first railroad incorporation within the old Northwest Territory was that of the Pontiac and Detroit Railroad, chartered by the Territorial Legislative July 31, 1830. Five years were allowed to complete the line, but, the corporators failing to carry out their projects, a new corporation, that of the Detroit and Pontiac Railroad Company, was chartered March 7, 1834. In 1835 contracts were let for clearing the line at the Detroit end, but the progress of construction was slow. In 1838 the State loaned to the company $100,000, and before the end of May in that year the road was in operation for a dozen miles. At first the cars were operated by horse power, and on wooden rails. It was opened to Pontiac in July, 1839, and as late as 1845 the cars ran on what was called the strap rail. The Detroit and Pontiac Railroad Company, chartered March 7, 1834, and the Oakland and Ottawa Railroad Company, chartered in 1848, were consolidated April; 21, 1855, under the name of the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway Company, to construct a road from Detroit to Grand Haven, a distance of 180 miles. The line west of Pontiac was completed by this company November 22, 1858, reaching Grand Rapids early in July, and the first through train from Grand Haven to Detroit passing here September 1, 1858. Trains between Grand Rapids and Detroit began running July 12, 1858. In 1860 the property was sold under foreclosure, and a reorganization under the name of the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad Company was effected. In 1873 the new company made default in the interest on its bonds, and the road was put into the hands of C. C. Trowbridge as Receiver, April 11, 1875. September 4, 1878, it was sold to the bondholders, and in November the company was reorganized as the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway Company. From the west this road crosses the lines of the Chicago and West Michigan and Grand Rapids and Indiana about half a mile north of the city limits, and crossing Grand River, bears in a southeasterly direction to the depot on Plainfield avenue and East Leonard street; thence, skirting the hills past Highland Park, leaves the city line on the east near Waring and East Bridge streets. An average monthly pay roll of $3,500 is distributed among sixty employes. Eight passenger trains are run daily. This road ever since its construction has been operated in connection with a daily line of steamers across Lake Michigan, between Grand Haven and Milwaukee. It has also made connections with steamboats plying between Chicago, Grand Haven and Muskegon. The principal officers of this railway, up to 1889, have been, since its opening to Grand Rapids: Presidents--C. J. Bridges, 1858 to 1863; C. C. Trowbridge, 1863 to 1878; S. Baker, 1878 to 1880; Frances D. Grey, 1880 to 1882; since 1882, Joseph Hickson. General Superintendents--W. K. Muir, S. R. Calloway, each for a brief period; since August, 1884, W. J. Spicer has been General Manager. Secretaries--1861 to 1864, W. C. Stephens; 1864 to 1866, Thomas Bell; since January, 1866, James H. Muir. Agents at Grand Rapids, in succession--A. B. Nourse, A. M. Nichols, J. C. McKee. W. Wallace, J. W. Orr, and since November, 1882, F. C. Stratton."

The above picture and caption appeared in Etten's A Citizen's History of Grand Rapids, Campau Centennial September 23 - 26, 1926 but I copied the picture from Robert Kline's website containing scans of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids' photo collection.

 (1870) "The view up river from the hill.  First Leonard street bridge, built in 1858.  Right foreground, old Ionia street school.  Behind the school tower is Tanner Taylor's tannery and just beyond C. C. Comstock's famous "row," first multiple apartment in city, built to house negroes who worked in Comstock mills."

Notice how dilapidated the tannery is in 1870, without a roof.  Taylor's house would be out of the picture on the right. 

This excerpt from Baxter explains why:  "Charles W. Taylor came in 1839, and began the tanning business in a small way at Coldbrook, a short distance from the river, which he continued at the same place nearly thirty years. His tannery was burned three times, by each of which disasters he suffered a loss of upward of $10,000--first on December 16, 1851, again February 5, 1856, and the third time May 31, 1867, after which he discontinued the business."

By 1876 the mill pond has been filled in.

Charles' first wife, Lovina, died 25 October 1864, as published 26 October 1864 in the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle.

Taylor, Lovina, 52 yrs., 25 Oct , 1864, Hb-Charles W., Grand Rapids, MI, GRDE, 26 Oct 1864

He married again to a woman much younger.  From the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle, 18 January 1866.
"Taylor, Charles W., Grand Rapids, MI, Long, Martha Ann, Rockford, ILL, 13 Nov 1865, Rockford, ILL, GRDE, 18 Jan 1866"

Charles W Taylor and his second wife, Martha Ann Long Taylor, have moved to Big Dry Creek, Fresno, California by 1880.  He is listed as retired.  His three sons, Oliver N, Ethan A and Henry Clay have moved from Grand Rapids, Oliver and Henry to Mason County, and Ethan to Nelson Township.

From Kent County GenWeb Site.

By 1888 the city has added a pumping station to the head of Cold Brook.

Here it is.

This picture shows the pumping station and the tannery, which has been rebuilt and re-roofed by someone.  Even though there is now city water for plumbing, notice all the little outhouses.  Wonder if they are now garden sheds?

1894 Polks.  I wish I had a picture of page 17.

By 1895 the tannery is "Vacant and Dilapidated" and both the Taylor home and hotel are gone.  According to Baxter, the house was still on the corner in 1891.

Here is that same area today courtesy of Google Maps.  The area of the cemetery is now some sort of game court.

~~~~~~~

Tanner Taylor also owned another piece of property that would prove to be troublesome.  Lot 1, block 1, of the Campau plot.

"TAYLOR, Chas W. & Lovina (w), Grand Rapids, Grantor. Daniel Ball, and Chas Babcock,Grand Rapids, Grantee. Convey Lots 1 in Blk. 1, Campau Plat, Grand Rapids.

3 Sep 1852 Liber R Pg. 397, 398"

It is the farthest building in the row on the right hand side.  (One window above two.) Sweet's Hotel behind it.  Photo from Robert Kline's site.  According to Baxter, this was a boot and shoe, or leather store:  "The leather store of Mr. Taylor was at an early day by the foot of Monroe street, and later on Canal near Bridge street;"

Here is the corner with the buildings removed.  Sweet's Hotel on the left, City National Bank on the right.  Photo from Robert Kline's site.

Tanner died in California and is buried in Fresno.  I didn't find the grave of either of his wives.

Edmund Bunnell Bostwick, Grand Rapids Forty-Niner

The tale of Edmund B Bostwick is a short one, but of a life boldly lived.  Born in Vermont in 1801, he was one of 12 children of Gershom Bostwick and Naomi Northrup.  Gershom moved his family to Ohio around 1812, and died in Portage County, Ohio, 11 May 1831.  Naomi died shortly after.

Edmund's first wife was Emmeline Smith, whom he married 16 December 1831, (unsubstantiated), and the second was Charlotte Lovett, married 21 December 1835, at the Philadelphia Episcopal Church of the Epiphany..



This blurry clipping from The American Railroad Journal reads:  "On Monday evening, 16th instant, after a short illness, Emmeline, wife of Edmund B Bostwick, and only daughter of Thomas R Smith."  Which means Emmeline died on 16 January 1832, after only a month of her wedding date.  She is buried in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut.

Edmund had moved from Ohio to New York City and was evidently quite successful at whatever business he was engaged in there.  He started buying and selling land in Michigan and eventually came to Grand Rapids to live around 1841.

Here are a couple of items that appeared in The History of Kent County, Michigan, by C.C. Chapman & Co., 1881:
      "W. N. Cook built the first buggy ever built in the valley, for E. B. Bostwick, in 1842-3.  Another          one, built afterward for Bostwick, was sold by him to Antoine Campau, and is still in his family.            Mr. Cook make the elliptic steel springs, bolts, woodwork and everything connected with the              vehicles.  Bostwick sold this buggy to Jeff. Morrison, who in turn sold it to a settler on Gull                Prairie, after he had convinced the buyer that the iron work was not cast.  This was so well and          neatly done, that it resembled casting." (p818)

       "The village was platted Dec. 1, 1848, for LeGrand Cannon, of Troy, New York, who                        commissioned E. B. Bostwick to purchase lands in Cannon.  Mr. Bostwick platted the village of            Cannonsburg." (p681)

Taken in order, these following land records tell a sad tale.  Edmund B and Charlotte Bostwick bought up a quantity of lots in the Village of Grand Rapids, sold a few lots, then Edmund caught gold fever and left for California.  Unfortunately he died along the way, near what is now Brady, Lincoln, Nebraska, on the way to Fort Laramie, according to a contemporaneous diary written by Micajah Littleton, also a traveler to California.  The last two entries show that his wife had to sell the properties.

Bostwick, Edmund B. & Charlotte (w), Grand Rapids, Grantor. John H. Hollister, same place, Grantee. Convey Lots 2, 3, Blk. 14, Bostwick & Co., Add., Village of Grand Rapids.
4 May, 1850. Liber R Pg. 59

Bostwick, Edmund V., by the Sheriff of Kent Co., Grand Rapids, Grantor. Alfred D. Rathbone, same place, Grantee. Convey numerous Lots on Blks. 2, 9, 13, 17, 21, in the Village of Grand Rapids Bostwick & Co., Add.
1 June, 1850. Liber S Pg. 7, 8.

Bostwick, Charlotte, Timothy J. Tanner, Mary Ann Tanner, James M. Smith, James W. Smith and Charlotte Bostwick as executrix of Edmund B. Bostwick,- by Charles G. Rood, Circuit Court Commissioner, forced sale of Property, Kent Co., Grantor. David A. Neal, Trustee of Nancy F. Barstow, Res.-----, Grantee. Convey land on Sec. 17, 160 acres, Paris Twp.
16 July, 1852. Liber R Pg. 265

Bostwick, Edmund B. – forced sale of Property by Harvey K. Rose, Sheriff of Kent co., Grantor. Ralph Clark, Res. – not spec. - , Grantee. Convey numerous Lots on Blks. 2, 9, 13, 12, 17, 21, Bostwick & Co., Add., and ½ Lots 168, 217, Kent Plat, Grand Rapids.
17 Aug., 1852. Liber R Pg. 328, 329

From:  http://kent.migenweb.net/land/earlyrecords/b.html

These lots were the blocks encompassed by Park Street, Jefferson Ave, Wealthy Ave, and Division St, a good chunk of urban property.  The Bostwick home was "on the south side of Cherry, east of Madison" or "at the head of State Street and south of Cherry".  Interestingly, on the Henry Hart map of 1853 Madison is named Charlotte.  Franklin Everett's "Memorials of the Grand River Valley" has this to say about that street name:

Here is what Baxter had to say about the Bostwick homestead:  "In 1863, the Eagle Hotel property was sold for $4,000, in 1867 for $8,500, in 1872 with some betterments, for $20,000. The old Gilbert, or Bostwick place, as it was once called, on the south side of Cherry street east of Madison avenue, now known as the Morris place, was sold in 1865 for $45,000. It then contained about twenty acres of ground." 

Earlier, Baxter had said this:  "Taking the region enclosed by Fulton street on the south, Division street on the east, Bridge street on the north, and the river on the west, we have all that had the appearance of a village. A few scattering houses were outside, on Bostwick's Addition, and on the west side of the river. Several very good residences were on Fulton street, east of the limits given; and far out of town Mr. Bostwick had his cosy home, fitted up with admirable surroundings, at what always should be called the "Bostwick Place." 

And, in speaking of Robert W Morris "in 1865, Mr Morris realized as his share upward of $250,000. Early in the latter year he returned to Grand Rapids for permanent residence and purchased the old Bostwick homestead, with about twenty acres of land and improvements, at the head of State street and south of Cherry -- one of the finest homes in the city. . . . Mr. Morris lived but about a year after settling his family at Grand Rapids, his death occurring May 5, 1866. He was a man possessed of fine traits of character; abhorred profanity; won the respect and affection of those in his employ, and was at once strong and manly and tender and affectionate in his social and domestic life. Since his death the fine property has been managed by his widow, Mrs. Sarah A Morris. Except the residence part, the homestead is platted and being sold in city lots, many of which are further improved and very valuable. The locality is elevated, slightly and pleasant, and has become one of the most desirable spots for residence within the city."


The person who owned the Bostwick house between Bostwick and Morris was Francis B Gilbert.  Baxter has this to say about him: 
"Francis B. Gilbert was born at Greenfield, Mass., May 25, 1818; came to Grand Haven, Mich., in 1837; to Grand Rapids in 1840; returned to Grand Haven in 1844; came again to Grand Rapids in 1855, and resided here until his death, May 25, 1885. He was a man of affairs, successful in business, upright and esteemed. For much of the time in business interests he was intimately associated with his brother, Thomas D. Gilbert. He was President of the Grand Rapids Gas Light Company for more than a quarter of a century, and was also connected with banking."
Both Francis and Thomas were listed as living in the house in the 1859 Grand Rapids City Directory.

The house referred to is the large one on the south side of Rose (Cherry) before College on the 1853 Henry Hart map.   

The above is from the 1868 Ruger map of Grand Rapids.

This is from the 1876 Grand Rapids Map, courtesy of Barbara VanderMark.

The Bostwick house in 1888, from "Grand Rapids As It Is".

The belvedere on the house furnished a great place for panoramic views of the city, as this view attests.  Looking Northwest over Fulton Street Park, (nw of Park Church).

Another view of Fulton Street Park after 1868.  (First (Park) Congregational Church was built in 1868.)  Thomas D Gilbert, an early Sheriff and later bank president, cared for the park, installed the fence and also planted the trees.  In recognition of his service to the park, a monument to him was installed there in 1896.  He also planted trees in Triangular Park.  Both of these parks are undergoing restoration lately and here is a link to a city architectural assessment on them. 

Both above pictures from the GR Public Museum via Robert Kline's site.

Here is the house at 384 Cherry in 1895 after Morris Avenue was put through.  The house has lost a wing, and is now in the "Morris Addition to the City of Grand Rapids."

Here is the house today at 434 Cherry (from Google Streetview.

This was not the first land speculation done by the Bostwicks.  They were early buyers of land in Eaton County, Michigan, as this entry from the book, Honey, I Bought An Airplane, page 130, attests, but it is doubtful that they ever lived there.

Here is more about Charlotteville:

The land on which the original village of Charlotte was laid out was purchased from the government by George W. Barnes, who sold it to Edmund B. Bostwick, of New York City, through the latter's agent, Mr. Lawrance. In the Charlotte Republican of Oct. 10, 1879, H. I. Lawrance caused the following old letter from Mr. Bostwick to be published, and it settles any doubt as to the origin of the name of the place; 

" New York, Dec. 29, 1835. 

Dear Lawrance, — 
Your favor communicating the terms on which 
you purchased the balance of the Eaton county-seat property is be- 
fore me. I am much pleased with the purchase, and will soon write 
you a long letter submitting a plan for the town. You speak of call- 
ing the place after me, but as I have just become a married man, I 
would prefer calling it Charlotte, or Charlotteville, after my wife. I 
will make a deed for one-quarter of the property as soon as my deed 
arrives, and hand it to your father. Next spring we will try to bring 
the place into notice.
You will have heard through the papers of the late destructive 
fire in this city. We, among others, were burnt to the ground, though 
our loss is but small. On Sunday next I will write you a long letter, 
and give some of the particulars of the late fire and also of my mar- 
riage. 
 In haste, your friend, 

 E. B. Bostwick."

It is stated also that Mrs. Bostwick offered, in case the county-seat should be honored with her name, to donate a fine bell to the first church that should be erected here. Afterwards one of the churches (Methodist or Congregationalist) is said to have claimed the fulfillment of the promise, but the offer was asserted to have been made only to an Episcopal Church. Mr. Bostwick died in the mountain region of the West, in Carson Valley.

In August of 1835, Edmund had also bought over 1000 acres in Illinois.
In 1838 and 1839 he bought land in Berrien and Eaton counties in Michigan, and LaSalle and Grundy counties in Illinois.

Edmund also, in 1841, received 340 votes running on the Whig ticket for  Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, in  St Clair County, with Philo C Fuller as his running mate for Governor.  The Democrats won.

Lest you think politics and land speculation were his only interests, in 1847 Edmund was interested in railroads.

And plank roads.

And insurance.



In 1845, Edmund Bostwick and John Almy collaborated on a 6-page brochure to entice people to settle in Michigan, entitled "To Emigrants", and it contained a map.  I have not seen a copy of this rare document, but this link shows which libraries have a copy.  I did find a copy of it published in the Ypsilanti Sentinel, 11 June 1845.  The map was not published.

In 1850, with mounting debt, Edmund caught gold fever and joined a group of men from Grand Rapids to seek their fortune in California.  Unfortunately, he caught another fever, probably cholera, and died along the way, about June 25, 1850, near the present city of Brady, Lincoln, Nebraska, then Wyoming Territory. This is about 254 miles from Fort Laramie, where he is preported to be buried, although carrying a choler(Make sure you read the reader's comment below this post for more information!)

Here is an account of that final, fateful trip from the 24 May 1850 edition of the Milwaukee Daily Sentinal.

Charlotte didn't let any grass grow under her feet after learning of Edmund's death on the way to Fort Laramie in late June, being enumerated both in Grand Rapids in the spring of 1850, and Washington, DC, in December of that same year with her family, and lived on rents and investments in this not-too-shabby house in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, until 1899, when she died.

Photo from Mount Airy, A Victorian Suburban Place.

Charlotte left a trust to the city of Philadelphia for the running of the Lovett Memorial Library, named for her family.  The Bostwick Trust had some legal issues in 1959.  The following history is from their website:

Picture from GermantownNewspapers.

"Branch History

Germantown Avenue began as an Indian footpath through the woods used as a road by settlers. In 1865, Thomas Lovett purchased more than ten acres along the avenue as a family estate. Mount Airy Free Library was founded twenty years later by a trio (one of whom was Miss Louisa Lovett) in a rented room at a lumberyard, where 7153-55 Germantown Avenue now stands. Another of the trio, Mrs. Sheldon Potter, acted as volunteer librarian. She had a small circulating library at her home for neighborhood boys, hoping to raise their standard of reading materials from the "dime novels" that were all they could afford for themselves. In 1887, Charlotte Lovett Bostwick built and endowed the library as a memorial to her brother, Thomas R. Lovett. This portion now serves as a meeting room. Lovett Library became a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1924. A new addition was opened in 1961, and in 1982 the Friends of Lovett Library started. The library was renovated in 1999 as part of the "Changing Lives" campaign. In 2004, the Lovett Memorial Reading Garden was dedicated." In 1982 the Friends of Lovett Library organized for the purpose of raising funds for the library.  Their website has a more comprehensive history, as well as a few historical photos, here. Here is an article about the memorial to the first World War dead in front of the library. Franklin Everett, who knew Edmund B Bostwick, wrote a beautiful tribute to him in his "Memorials of the Grand River Valley": E. B. BOSTWICK.

There are men whom society feels, who, when living, the community must know, and who, departing, leave a blank. At present we purpose to notice one of this character, the Hon. E. B. Bostwick, who for some 15 years was identified with the Grand River Valley, and who at the time was in all probability its most honored citizen. 
Bostwick, had been an Eastern merchant--a partner in a heavy firm, in New York, which, failing, divested him of all property which he held in his own right. He had still some $40,000 which belonged to his wife, and with that, and the funds of others, he did an extensive business. He fitted up for himself, with refined taste, a modest suburban residence, the location of which still bears his name. He located lands extensively, laid out and put in market that part of the city known as Bostwick's addition; built mills in different towns; established a colony on Crockery Creek; represented the people in the Senate; and in short,,was in all kinds of speculations, each a brilliant scheme, when he began it, but sure to end unfavorably for him. If he had had-means, he would have done great things, but he would have needed a renewal of his fortune once in five years. Too ardent for a business man, he was sure to overleap himself, and his schemes were about as sure to fail. 
Generous to a fault, noble and manly, he won the deferential esteem of all, and, they honored him with their highest distinctions. His personal presence was of uncommon dignity. Physically, he was a specimen of noble, manly beauty. His mind was highly cultivated and refined-ardent, poetic and enthusiastic. His social qualities were unsurpassable. When his poetic enthusiasm could kindle itself by conversation with a sympathizing spirit, there was an entrancing power in the man. 
We loved and honored him, and we could have wished him the best of fortune, but such was not his lot. Scheme after scheme failed, and he found himself involved in harrassing law-suits, and he felt what many others have;felt when money gave out. Would you know what that is?.Once fail honestly, and you will be thoroughly instructed. Fail as a scoundrel, in an open and above-board way, swindling your creditors, and you are, called shrewd and keen. But if you struggle manfully to maintain your honor and do justice to all, look out for hard words, and for costs superadded to your burden of debt. So it was with E. B. Bostwick. He struggled, and struggled manfully, but every move seemed to sink him deeper, until finally he started for California as a last resource. He sleeps his last sleep on the desert plains. It matters little how he died. While on the way he sent back letters for publication in the Grand Rapids papers. In one of those he thrilled the hearts of his readers by an account of "a grave by the wayside." Another letter came, but not from him. It was from Canton Smith, his companion, and it told of Bostwick's death, and his "grave by the wayside."