Village of Ashley

History of GRATIOT CO., Michigan. Historical Biographical, Statistical

By Willard D. Tucker pub. 1913 Press of Seemann & Peters, Saginaw, Michigan

Village of Ashley; pgs. 1063-1094

L.O.T.M.M.

Ashley Hive No. 259, Ladies of the Modern Maccabees commenced busi-ness with officers as follows: Past Com.—Emma Wolverton: Corn.— Jeannette Cobb ; Lt. Com.—Augusta Collins ; R. K.—Florence Gunn ; F. K.—Lena Fuller ; Chap.—Alvira Steadman ; Serg.—Julia Mills ; M. at A.— Belle Wiltse ; Sent.—Mary Wolverton ; Pick.—Flora Day. Other charter members: Jennie Turner, Wealtha Graim, Stacia Lockwood, Ella Bannister, Josie Briggs, Lizzie Pratt, Addie Chappell, Nellie Corwin, Climena Wiltse.

The offices are filled at the present time as follows: Com.—Mrs. Julia Coon ; Lt. Corn.—Carrie Kreuger ; F. K.—Esther Gallop ; R. K.—Belle Corwin; Past Com.—Adah Stoner; Chap.—Emma Duncan: M. at A.—Anna Howard ; Serg.—Loretta Woodman ; Sent.—Frankie Coon: Pick.— Nellie Corwin ; Organist—Frankie Turner.

The Hive has a membership of about 32.

PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The Rockafellow Grain Co. of Carson City, Mich., owns and operates Ashley’s elevator. They are extensive handlers of grain, feed, hay, flour, wool, coal, cement, etc. Bert Kimmel is the popular and efficient manager.

A cucumber salting station is one of Ashley’s important institutions, and D. E. Bickford is the capable and popular manager. About 150 acres of cucumbers are taken care of annually.

Brick and tile works, long in operation here, are owned and operated by W. S. Dove. Tile is an article for which there is a great demand. A. E. Fuller, former owner, is the foreman.

The Cremo-Cheese factory is of much value to Ashley and vicinity, its product being in great demand by good judges of cheese. C. E. Chittenden and A. G. Aldridge, proprietors, the latter being manager of the factory.

Ashley has a lumberyard second to none for completeness if appearances are of any value as evidence. Chas. A. Green is the proprietor. He has been on the spot since 1898, embarking in the business with Samuel Gordon who came from St. Louis in the year mentioned. Later Mr. Green became sole owner and has built up a fine trade.

Alma, St. Louis and Owosso Sugar factories have field headquarters here, with Chas. Townsend as manager for Alma;Asa Bigelow for St. Louis; E. A. Chisholm for Owosso.

D. W. C. Tiffany conducts a general store northwest corner of Sterling and Pine Streets. Was formerly in furniture and undertaking, and for a time dealing in hardware.

Gilleo & Son—J. D. and L. E.—deal in drugs and medicines, wall paper, school supplies, etc., east side of Sterling Street. L. E. Gilleo is resident manager.

An extensive business in general merchandising- is carried on by Harry C. Rose and Co. (Hollie J.) in Harry C. Rose’s block, west side of Sterling Street. Successors to Benj. Garrett. In trade 14 years. Bell Telephone exchange.

Whitfield De Bar, dealer in hardware, in his own block, west side Sterling Street. Successor to De Bar & Davis, J. S. Husted.

M. D. Gunn is proprietor of a grocery and meat market, in his own brick block, east side of Sterling Street. In business 13 years.

L. K. Kirby, dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries and fruits;west side of Sterling Street.

G. B. Turner, furniture dealer and funeral director. Three years in the business in his own building, east side of Sterling Street.

Morrison & Ford—F. L. Morrison, D. W. Ford—harness and sundries; east side Sterling Street.

Josiah L. Cornwell, general hardware, successor to J. Weidman & Son— Win. Weidman. Began business Dec. 8, 1913; in his own building.

O. B. Gallop; conducts the only barber shop in town. Successor to Orlo B. and Elmer G. Gallop.

C. J. Brewbaker, restaurant and ice cream parlors, west side Sterling Street, corner of Oak Street. Successor to J. Bert Landi.

C. E. Beck & Son (J. V.), dealers in groceries in their own brick block, east side Sterling Street, corner of Pine.

B. I. Zigler, meat market and canned goods; successor to Jas. Martin; in Maccabee building, east side Sterling Street.

A. M. Derry & Son (Ernest) dealers in agricultural implements, buggies, wagons, etc. In business five years, east side Sterling Street, north.

Geo. W. Todd & Son (Walter S.), bakery and restaurant, successors to Clark Burchard. Confectionery, cigars, ice cream. In their own two-story building, newly fitted up, West side Sterling.

The New Ashley House, George Kesling, proprietor and landlord, Sterling Street, north. Rates, $1.00 a day.

Mrs. C. M. Thayer, bakery and restaurant, in her own building, west side Sterling Street. Six years in the business.

Cora Hasbrook’s hotel, west side Sterling Street, near Union depot.

Moore & Gillis—Allen Moore and Lewis Gillis—proprietors of feed barn and livery. New building, 44 by 96 feet; Sterling Street, north.

Jas. McCullough, general blacksmith, Sterling Street, north.

E. W. Shimmin, three-table billiard and pool room. In business five years, Sterling Street, south.

Ed. W. Randles, general blacksmith, in Chittenden’s building, east side of New Street.

Hubert C. Rose is express agent, with office at the Union depot. The Wells Fargo and the United States companies. do business over the Ann Arbor, and the National and American operate on the Grand Trunk.

Dr. Grill Reichard looks after and corrects, very acceptably, the physical disabilities of the people of Ashley and surrounding country.

Perry N. Crittenden, D. D. S., makes new teeth and repairs old ones to the satisfaction of those needing his skilled assistance.

Union Phone Exchange;in A. L. Orser’s Ashley World office.

Millinery, by Bessie Chapman, in her own new cement block building. Eight years in the business.

R. L. Carter, jeweler; commenced here September, 1913. East side Sterling Street.

The Village of Ashley has had some very severe fires, as may be seen under the head of Elba fires. Fire protection is one of the serious problems of the small towns, and Ashley furnishes no exception to the rule. A hand engine and some reservoirs sunk in the ground and a quantity of hose constitute the appliances for fighting fire. With a lively organization, and interest kept up to the enthusiastic point this might be made reasonably effective; and as it is, citizens have frequently done very effective work in fighting the fire fiend.

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