|
Rumely
Rumely was
named in the year 1912. Read the contributed story below to find out
how and why...
The early 1900's saw saw several Belgian families from Wisconsin settle in
Rumely, including Heyrman, Van Der Zande, Ver Der Vorde, Stuer, and Dhondt.
On the page
devoted to township histories, I noticed you were unaware of the origin of
Rumely. I have the answer. The source is a letter my brother Michael, operator of the Rumely Store, found in the Store’s safe. This letter
reads as follows:
May 18, 1965
Meinrad Rumely of LaPorte, Indiana is the person for whom the town of
Rumely, Michigan was named. He was one of the first manufacturers of
threshing machines and tractor engines and became the largest employer of
men in LaPorte. The “M. Rumely Co.” is now a branch of “Alis Chalmers Co.”
which makes LaPorte one of the largest manufacturing towns of
agricultural implements, in the world.
Mienard Rumely is the great grandfather of E. H. Scott Rumely. He is named
for his grandfather Ernest Hoyt Scott of LaPorte, Indiana to whom the town
of Rumely owes its existence.
E. H. Scott organized the “Lac La Belle Company” which built the town of
Munising, on Munising Bay, and the Munising Railroad.
While the railroad was being built, E. H. Scott and son Emmet invited
Meinrad Rumely and son A. J. Rumely to go up with them to the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan to see the great development the “Lac La Belle
Company” was making. It was on that visit that E. H. Scott named one of
the new railroad stations for his friend Rumely.
The “Lac La Belle Company” was sold afterwards to the Mather interests of
Cleveland, Ohio, including the Munising Railroad. Its railroad bonds were
excellent and paid off in full.
Yours as ever,
Fanny Scott Rumely
LaPorte, Indiana |
The Rumely Company of LaPorte, Indiana was quite famous for the tractors
they produced. My research indicates that the author of this letter, Mrs.
Fanny Scott Rumely, passed away in 1979. Another interesting fact is that
her father, E. H. Scott, had a brother, A. L. Scott, who died on Isle
Royale in 1878.
I hope this information helps,
Julian Ninichuk
(Contributed April 2004)
Fanny's letter will surely
help Rumely researchers a great deal. Thanks Julian. :)
|
