History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

1352

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

days were followed by practical experience in the lumber woods during
the winter and in the driving of the logs during the spring and summer
and other work at his father's sawmill. Subsequently he and his brother
Frank engaged in the sawmill business at Forrest, Michigan, for several
years. On selling out his mill property, Mr. Begole bought four hundred
acres of land in Genesee county, and for twenty years or more was a
highly prosperous farmer and stock raiser, specializing on blooded horses
and fancy sheep. In I906 he moved to Flint, and managed his farm for
several years from the city until his manufacturing interests so absorbed
his energies that he was obliged to dispose of his county estate. At
Flint Mr. Begole began the manufacture of wagons and buggies in a
small shop, but the industry in a few years assumed much importance
and represented a large investment and an excellent organization of
skilled labor. Mr. Begole was also one of the organizers and directors
of the Gas and Water Works companies, the properties of which were
subsequently sold to the city of Flint. In the meanwhile the Flint wagon
works, of which he was a director, grew to be one of the largest in the
state, and at the high tide of its prosperity employed from eight hundred
to one thousand workmen.
About the time the influence of the automobile made itself felt in a
general decline of the output of horse-drawn vehicles, Mr. Begole was
one of the far-sighted men to recognize the posibilities of the automobile,
and took steps to utilize the experience of his older organization and the
capital for the production of motor-driven cars. Mr. Begole with others
in I9OI organized the Buick Motor Company, of which he was president
until the Buick interests were absorbed by the General Motor Company,
in which organization he is a prominent stockholder. In I908 he organized
the Little Motor Company, of which he became active head and president.
This company took for its factory the large and substantial brick building formerly used by the buggy and wagon plant, and that nucleus has
since been greatly enlarged until the present plant covers more than eight
acres, with the most of the buildings three or more stories in height, and
ideally located on West Kearsley street adjoining the Grand Trunk railway tracks and the Flint river. It is a splendidly equipped modern
factory, and a credit to the state. The Little Motor Company was reorganized in June, 1912, and has since been known as the Chevrolet Motor
Company, of which Mr. Begole is president. Although the Chevrolet
Company has been established only two years, the fund of experience
which has resulted in its present products of perfection traces back to
the earliest formative stages in automobile development. The cars are
built by men who are experts in all branches of the industry, and are
being introduced to the public by an organization which has made a
splendid record of sales. The daily output of the Flint factory is about
seventy cars, manufactured in three types, so that the purchaser has the
widest selection of cars that represent the highest achievement of inventive and constructive experience. The three classes of Chevrolet cars are,
the Royal Mail Roadster, a popular priced model; the Baby Grand Touring car; and the Classic Six, a touring car built of the highest quality in
car and passenger accommodations. At the factory in Flint the company
employs from eight hundred to one thousand men, and the capitalization
of the company is two and one-half million dollars.
Mr. Begole is also a director in the National Bank of Flint. Fraternally
he is a Knight Templar Mason, is 'a Democrat in politics, and his church
is the Presbyterian. In November, 1872, at Ypsilanti, he married Miss
Emma Begole, who was born at Ypsilanti, a daughter of Evan Begole,
also of a prominent pioneer family of the state. They have one daughter,
Louisa Begole, and both she and her mother take an active part in
woman's club and charitable and church affairs in Flint. Mr. Begole