Charles H. Tidey Page 269-270 Charles H. Tidey The name of Grand Rapids has been brought before the eyes of the world through the medium of various wood-working machines manufactured solely by the Grand Rapids Machinery Company, the proprietor of which is Charles H. Tidey, whose inventive genius is responsible for the creation of these machines. He was one of thirteen children born to his parents Marcus B. and Elizabeth (Jerolanem) Tidey, both of whom died in Newark, New Jersey, where the former was a manufacturer of wood working machinery, coming to that city from Canada in 1850. Charles Tidey was educated in his native city and learned the machinist's trade there. It was not until 1904 that he came to Grand Rapids, attracted by the number of furniture manufacturing concerns which formed a potential market for the wood working machinery he intended to manufacture. In that year he founded the Grand Rapids Machinery Company, the plant being located at No. 6 Huron street. He continued operations there until 1909. The need of large quarters caused by the expansion of his business became so acute that in 1909 he moved his plant to its present location. The success of the company is not only due to the high quality of the machines manufactured but also to the fact that Mr. Tidey has invented several machines which have been a great aid to the wood working industry. These machines--the Tidey automatic swing saw gauge and the Tidey circular saw setting machine--are used over the entire world and have been a force in establishing the industrial and commercial prestige of both the city of Grand Rapids and the manufacturer. He married Anna Merhood, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them were born five children as follows: Marcus B., who graduated from the medical college of the University of Michigan with the class of 1925; Ruth E.; Irene M.; Beatrice, and Charles H., who is serving his apprenticeship, fitting himself to carry on his father's business.

Transcriber: Gloria Paas
Created: 21 January 2003