MILLBROOK ITS BUSINESS MEN AND THEIR BUSINESS Big Rapids Current - June 3, 1880

Remembering pleasant visits to Millbrook in former years, we have been anxious to go down there ever since the Current was established; but also remembering the long and tedious journey which it took to get us there, we have patiently waited for the completion of the new railroad. Hence we started oit last Monday morning to make the trip on the first train, but only got near enough to see the train start, which tickled us immensely. But we tried it again on Tuesday morning and reached the train in due time, and in about an hour afterwards found ourselves at our destination. After partaking of a good square meal at Ed Harmon's we set out to "interview" the town, which we did most effectually. The village is located on Pine River at the extreme soith-east corner of this county, and was named "Millbrook" because a brook ran through it upon which a mill was located and running at the time the burg was christened. It is not an incorporated village although at this time it contains about 300 inhabitants. The country about it is very rolling. It has ever been a thriving business place. It contains two church organizations, Methodist Episcopal and Congregational. The latter has a neat and commodious house of worship nearly completed, which is occupied by both societies, alternately. Its location at the summit of a towering hill is somewhat suggestive. The village school is not graded. One teacher is employed the summer and two in the winter. The Detroit, Lansing & Northern railroad runs within a mile and a quarter of the village, and should have run through it, but citizens are alive to their best interest and are grading and graveling the road between the village and the depot, awnd will reap great benefit from the railroad, after all. Below we give a brief mention of the business men and their business, which is necessarily brief on account of a lack of space in our columns:

F.W. ALDRICH Has a wagon shop near Glenn & Denny's Mill, and adjoining it.

H.B.BROWN Keeps the village post-office, of which he took charge about two years ago, succeeding C.H. Clements. He also keeps a stock of books and stationery. Mrs. Brown is his efficient and agreeable deputy, and between them the business of Uncle Sam seems to be in good hands.

BURDICK & CLEMENT Harness manufacturers, do custom-work, principally and have the only establishment of the kind in the village.

C.H. & C.M. CLEMENTS Run an exclusive Agricultural Implement establishment, and are doing a good business. They are brothers and Mr. C.M. Clements came to Millbrook in 1865, and has been engaged in the shoemaking business most of trhe time since. He went to California about a year ago and spent several months in an endeavor to regain his health, in which he was successful. On returning he entered into the above named copartnership, and also became a member of this firm.

C.H. CLEMENT Is a dealer in general merchandise, and has a well selected stock, which occupies a double store in an excellent location. He located in Millbrook in June 1868; was the village Postmaster for nine years and has held several town offices. He is ably assisted by Mrs. Clements in conducting their extensive business, the latter having become as proficient and indispensible therein, as in the management of home affairs.

E.S. DECKER & SON Deal exclusively and flour and feed. They have a good stock and are doing a good business. Mr. Decker came to Millbrook in 1868 and has been engaged in mercantile business most of the time since. He is at present one of the Justices of the Peace of the township and has held various other town offices during his residence there.

W.F. DENNEY Is an exclusive dealer in furniture and undertaker's goods. He has been a resident of Millbrook about twelve years.

T.C. GARDNER Has a large and neat store, well filled with a stock of miscellaneous goods, systematically arranged. He employs two clerks, and Mrs. Gardner shares with him the cares and labors of their business, which has grown to large proportions, from a small capital, since it was established in 1870.

GLENN & DENNY'S MILL A new lumber and lath mill is rearly completed on the site of the Carman & Main's Mill, which was destroyed by fire last August. Messrs. Glenn & J.S. Denney are the proprietors. The latter has been a resident of Millbrook about 11 years and the former about 6 months. Theirs is the only saw mill in the village.

W.S. HOWD The first man to open a store in Millbrook, is an extensive dealer in general merchandise. He also runs the village grist mill and an 80 acre farm adjoining the village plat. His stock of goods occupies a double store, and two clerks are kept very busy. His flouring mill has two run of stone, and an experienced miller superintends this breadmaking establishment. In farming, Mr. Howd gives his attention exclusively to grass, wheat and oats. He came to Millbrook in June 1864, and started in business in March 1865. He was Judge of Probate of this county from 1872 to 1875, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace most of the time for 16 years.

THE HARMON HOUSE Is the only hotel in the village and is kept by Ed Harmon, who knows how to keep a hotel. He became proprietor of the house about two years ago. Lewis Shay runs a livery stable in connection with the hotel. He keeps six horses and can turn out a rig to suit almost anybody.

DR. F.M. HAWKINS Has practiced medicine in the village and vicinity several years. His office is at his residence.

R. HERRICK Looks after the village time, and does a jewelry repairing business. His bench is in the same room with the post-office. He came to Millbrook about five months ago.

E.H. HENRICK His is a very cozy and well filled drug store, and also keeps a stock of books and stationery. He came to Millbrook just two years ago.

E.T. HORTON Keeps a general store and employs one clerk. He came to Millbrook in 1866, and has held the office of town clerk, and in former years was associated in business with W.S. Howd * Son.

MITCHELL & SNELL Runs a wagon and blacksmith shop near the river, which business was established seven years ago.

PATTERSON & TERRILL Practicing physicians. Mr. J.W. Patterson has a drug store in which office of the firm is located. He graduated at the Toronto medical school and has lived in Millbrook nine years. Mr. F.C. Terrill graduated at the Michigan University and took up his abode in Millbrook about a year ago.

REED & HORTON Blacksmiths. Mr. J.M. Reed has resided in the village about five years., and Mr. D. Horton three years.

J. RICHARDS & SON Have a very extensive, and the only exclusive, hardware store in the village, which they have been running about four years. They are building a new store which they expect to occupy when completed. They have a branch store at Blanchard.

J. STANTON Has a blacksmith shop in the vicinity of the school house.

J.A. TORRY Runs an exclusive boot and shoe store. the only one in town and makes custom work a specialty. He has been in the business in Millbrook over a year, has a good stock and is not only a practical shoemaker, but is apparantly a practical man in every way.

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