Furniture Pioneers
by GRHC
published: August 22nd, 2013
William Haldane, certainly among the earliest of those arriving with woodworking skills, came in 1837. We know from the letter Ebenezer M. Ball, nephew of John Ball, sent to his parents in Lyme NH that he arrived in the summer of 1845. Albert Baxter, author of the definitive history of the city during the 19th century, came in 1846, and worked for C.C. Comstock for a time. Charles C. Comstock, who appeared in 1853, had multiple interests: cabinet ware, pails, tubs, sash and door, and lumber. William Widdicomb, an 1856 arrival, was well suited to write about the early furniture community. In one way or another each of these men left his personal account or version of the furniture and lumber business during the early days of the city.
William Haldane, born in Delhi, Delaware Co., New York, moved west to Painesville, Ohio before coming to Grand Rapids, and it appears he carried his New York-made tools with him. His only written record seems to be his advertisements that appeared in the Daily Enquirer along with those of Abram Snively and Powers & Ball. (continue reading)
Ebenezer Ball’s future partner, William T. Powers arrived in 1847. Ball’s letters regarding their business venture cover the period from late 1849 to March 1853. In his correspondence Ball offers us an intimate view of the successes and trials of the Powers & Ball furniture and lumber business—possibly the earliest first-person record of those local industries during their infancy. (continue reading)
Albert Baxter married Elvira, the daughter of Joel Guild, boarded with Barney Burton for a time, and was assistant editor and editor of the early newspaper, The Eagle. He participated in the early days, but like Comstock wrote later and published in 1891. His 800-page history includes excellent details of the early furniture industry.
Comstock wrote about those early years in 1887 when he was in Washington D.C. However, they still provide a first-hand recollection of who was doing what when Grand Rapids was little more than a village. "After we settled at Grand Rapids, in 1853, I spent a week or two looking about the city doing nothing and never felt that I was of so little account before in my life. The first work I performed in Michigan was in charge of a gang of men upon the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Plank Road," (continue reading)
William Widdicomb presented his account to the Grand Rapids Historical Society in 1909. “The furniture industry of Grand Rapids had its birth in the system prevailing seventy (circa 1840) or more years ago in the smaller towns throughout the country. The cabinet maker produced by hand the simple pieces of furniture required, offering them for sale in his own workshop, or, when the business was sufficiently advanced, a small salesroom adjoining. Usually the cabinet maker was both workman and merchant. All of the earlier efforts at furniture making in our city were of this character." (continue reading)
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Bibliography
Books available at the GR History and Special Collections, Grand Rapids Public Library
- Baxter, Albert. History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- Carron, Christian G. Grand Rapids Furniture: The Story of America’s Furniture City. Grand Rapids, MI: Public Museum of Grand Rapids, 1998.
- Mussey, Robert D., Jr, editor. The First American Furniture Finisher’s Manual: A Reprint of “The Cabinet-makers Guide” of 1827. Dover, 1987.
- Ransom, Frank Edward. The City Built on Wood: A History of the Furniture Industry in Grand Rapids, Michigan 1850-1950. Ann Arbor: Edwards Brothers, Inc., 1955.
- Hundreds of books, artisan magazines, and trade catalogs related to furniture are located in this section of the library.
Books available for circulation at the GR Public Library
- Carron, Christian G. Grand Rapids Furniture: The Story of America’s Furniture City. Grand Rapids, MI: Public Museum of Grand Rapids, 1998.
- Ransom, Frank Edward. The City Built on Wood: A History of the Furniture Industry in Grand Rapids, Michigan 1850-1950. Ann Arbor: Edwards Brothers, Inc., 1955.
A Keyword Search of the Grand Rapids Public Library's online catalog for Furniture History will return over 50 pages of items related to the topic. A narrower Keyword Search of Grand Rapids furniture history or Grand Rapids furniture limits the number of returns.