This village is located on the line of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway,
in the eastern part of Burdell Township. It was laid out upon the advent
of this railroad, the first train of which gave a happy New Year's greeting
to the pioneers January 1, 1872. Its site is on rolling ground, which
affords the residents some very fine locations for dwellings. W.J.
Townsend was the enteprising man first to locate here, who after settling
had energy enough to cut the first tree. In the spring of 1872, a general
store was opened by Daniel McGovern. About this period the Swedish Colony
of New Bleking located in and around here, with headquarters at the
village. The railroad company, to encourage Swedish immigrants, gave the
colony 40 acres of land here for church and school purposes, and for
building lots. There were in this colony some 80 families, numbering in
all about 300 persons.
In the spring of 1875, Mr. Townsend erected and opened the first hotel,
which was called the Tustin House. This building is stil used as a hotel.
In 180, the first Fourth-of-July celebration was held. A gentleman from
Chicago delivered the oration, which is reported to have been very eloquent
and patriotic. A liberty-pole was raised, games of various kinds were
indulged in, and a grand old time was had.
Tustin has a population of about 350, and is a thrifty, growing town,
sustained principally by the lumbering trade.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
Belsher & McGowan and Truman A. Stephens, have two good saw-mills in the
place, which were started in 1883.
Sawyer & Knox are manufacturing bowls.
G.A. Estes is one of the merchants, and has a large stock of general
merchandise, with a thriving business.
Kennedy & Sons are manufacturers and dealers in flour, feed and grain.
George W. Bevins, who is one of the old settlers, has an extensive line of
general merchandise.
Stokes & Co. deal in groceries, provisions, dry goods, drugs and medicines.
A.J. Thompson has a full line of drugs and medicines, and is also a
practicing physician.
J.W. Ransom has drugs and medicines.
F.J. Luick deals in confectionery, fruits, tobacco and cigars.
L.B. Stephens has a real-estate office, and is also a Justice of the Peace.
Stark Layman looks after the surveying interests.
S.S. Stephens has a billiard hall, and keeps "soft drinks."
P.L Compton and J.T. Willner carry on the livery business.
Maxwell & Moore have a wagon and blacksmith shop, and G.S. Deal does
blacksmithing.
O.L. Knox handles groceries and provisions.
Charles Johnson keeps a restaurant, and A.J. Anderson wines and liquors.
The Commercial House is conducted by S.C. Jones, proprietor. He has
recently purchased this hoouse, and when completed will be one of the
largest hotels in the county. He is an old pioneers of this part of the
State. In early days he was an extensive trapper, and in this business
having of necessity roughed it much, he now knows how to make his guests
comfortable and at home.
The Tustin House, kept by J.T. Cavanaugh, is a good hotel, and the first
opened in Tustin. Mr. Cavanaugh also keeps a meat market.
The postoffice was established here in 1872, with W.J. Townsend as
Postmaster. He was succeeded by George W. Bevins in 1878, who is still in
possession of the office.
Tustin has a flourishing and attractive school, with 85 scholars. They
have a good school building, which cost $1,250. Albert Demory is the
present teacher.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the spring of 1882, with 16
members, namely: L.D. Cool and wife, Henry D. Mowers and wife, Daniel
McGovern and wife, Wm. E. Walker and wife, John E. Mitchell and wife, Mrs.
Mary Stokes, A.M. Demory, Mrs. Alice Letson, Mrs. Jane Edgett and Mrs. Lucy
DuBois. It was organized by Rev. Owen J. Golden, of LeRoy. This society
haas no church building, but hold their meetings in the building formerly
occupied by the Swedish Church.
Services are held here every Sabbath by Rev. J.F. McKinley, of LeRoy. It
has a membership at present of 25.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized April 10, 1874, with
10 members. Articles of faith are those of the Augsburg Confession, and
accepted by the Scandinavian Synod, to which body this society belongs.
This was the first Church organized in Tustin. In 1882, they erected their
church edifice, which cost $2,500. At present there are 225 members,
having one of the largest congregations in the county. Rev. John Forsburg
is their Pastor.
Episcopal Church. - This Church was organized soon after the town was
settled, and embraced in its membership a part of the Sweish Colony. Owing
to some misunderstanding, the Swedish portion of the congregation withdrew
and organized a separate society, known as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran
Church, and erected for themselves a new church building. This action
reduced the membership of the Episcopal Church to a very few. The socity,
however, still holds together, and is occasionally served by Bishop Gillespie, of Grand Rapids.
THE PRESS.
The Tustin Echo is a six-column folio paper, published and edited by Frank
J. Luick. The Echo is a very neat, newsy sheet. The editor says there is
nothing miraculous about his paper further than that "it has come to stay."
It first presented itself to the reading public Dec. 18, 1884. The office
was formerly the plant of the Advance, which was established in 1878. It
existed until Oct. 1, 1884, when its light was withdrawn from the world.
Anothe paper was published in the office, called the Herald. It had a
brief life and then its flickering light went out, to be rekindled by the
Echo. The Echo will be independent in politics, enterprising, and faithful
to its patrons. We bespeak for it a successful future.
SOCIETIES.
Col. Stewart Lodge, No. 285, Grand Army of the Republic, was instituted
Oct. 8, 1884. Charter Members - A. Corwin, Daniel McGovern, Stark Lampman,
S.N. Barron, M.B. Houghton, G.F. Naygle, Joseph G. Fenner, H.B. Chapman,
John Byers, John Grove, John MItchell, G.C. Taylor, Frank Allen, William
Degart, Frank Edgett, Jerome Morgan, Charles Winchell and C. A. Bolin. The
lodge has at present 20 members with the following officers: Commande, M.
B. Houghton; Senior Vice Commander, Stark Lampman; Junior Vice Commander,
George Naygle; Quartermaster, John Grave; Adjutant, Areteus Cannon;
Chaplin, Daniel McGovern; Officer of the Day, H.B. Chapman. This lodge has
a good hall and is in good working order.
Odd Fellows, No. 372, was instituted in October, 1882. Charter members -
Oliver Platts, A.M. Demory, Stark Lampman, Davis Collins, Wm. Laughrae,
James H. Anderson, Joseph H. George, A.J. Morgan, Irael Sherman, S.B. Root,
Wm. Gage and W.J. Townsend. The lodge is in a flourishing condition and
has now 38 members with a good, well equipped hall. Officers - N.G., W.J.
Townsend; Recording Secretary, D.R. Marvin; Treasurer, A.J. Thompson.
Rebecca Lodge, Florence, No. 64, was chartered April 6, 1883. Members -
Oliver Platt, D.F. Collins, Stark Lampman, David Kennedy, A.J. Thompson,
Wm. Byers, S.D. Cool, H.A. Morgan, George Hawkins, J.H. Anderson, George
Clark, Henry Hoover and George W. Davis. Sisters - Mary R. Collins, Nellie
Kennedy, Eunice B. Thompson, Alta Hoover, Maria George, Mary A. Townsend,
Mary Byers, Lucy B. Cool, Jane Morgan, Mary M. Somers, Sarah L. Anderson
and Elma Clark. Officers - Mrs. A.W. Somers, N.G.; Mrs. K. Anderson,
Secretary; and Mrs. M.A. Townsend, Treasurer.
The lodge of United Workmen was instituted March 11, 1881. Charter Members
- Francis Smith, Daniel McGovern, W.J. Townsend, W.E. Walker, A.L. Cool,
D.T. Jacques, Daniel Buse, H.D. Mauer, J.E. Graves and Oran Hewit. Present
membership, s8. Officers - Master, M.W. Perry, Secretary; S.B. Root,
Treasurer; A.J. Thompson, Chaplain, Daniel McGovern.
