Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

825

employed. In 1880 the manufacture of barrels reached 25,000,
and the shipment of staves aggregated as many as 6,000,000 in a
year. These shipments were mostly sent to Chicago. This firm
was also the largest apple buying and shipping one in the state.
W. P. Ainsley was superintendent of the works.
There were marble works established by C. W. Hill, in 1877,
but only lasted a few months and the stock was taken to Jackson.
G. T. Davis and G. W. Bliss opened a marble shop here in 1880. I
do not know how long that continued. The first banking institution was opened by Hugh Spaulding & Company in 1871. It
carried on business until 1876 when it was closed. The Crossman
Bank was opened in 1872 by D. L. Crossman and George W.
Whipple. The National Block was erected in 1874 by D. L.
Crossman, J. B. amd and J. W. Waldo. A loan office was opened
by John Dakin in 1879. Mr. Dakin was afterwards instrumental
in organizing the Williamston State Bank, which became the first
chartered banking institution in town.
The first coal mined in the neighborhood of Williamston was
taken out by J. M. Williams on the south bank of the Cedar
river, in about 1846-1847, for blacksmithing purposes. Mining
it for market was begun as early as 1852. The coal mines have
been worked quite extensively at different times since 1872.
Williamston Lodge, No. 153, F. & A. M., was organized in the
spring of 1864, with about ten charter members. Rev. J. TI. Cornalia was the first worshipful master.
Williamston Lodge, No. 205, I. O. O. F was instituted by T. E.
Doughty, Grand Master, April 28, 1873.
The Eastern Star Chapter was organized in the spring of 1880,
with about twenty members. The Ancient Order of United
Workmen was organized in May, 1879. There was also in early
days a flourishing lodge of I. O. G. T. and a Red Ribbon Club.
The first newspaper published in Williamston was The Williamston Enterprise, by William S. Humphrey and Company, the
first number appearing June 5, 1873. August 8, 1873, Messrs.
Campbell & Phelps became the owners and publishers and issued
the paper until June 30, 1874, when Bush & Adams became proprietors and continued it until January 20, 1875, when E. S.
Andrews purchased the property. His interests were later purchased by H. A. Thompson, the present publisher.