Grand Rapids Furniture Manufacturers' Association
The Grand Rapids Furniture Manufactures’ Association was organized June 13, 1881, for the purpose of promoting the mutual interests of the manufacturers and dealers in furniture and kindred branches of business, by securing just and equitable rates of transportation and insurance, giving particular attention to trade matters, and insolvent and dishonest dealers, for the mutual benefit and protection of all the members interested. The first officers were: Elias Matter, President; T.F. Richards, Vice President; J.C Darragh, Secretary, and T.M. McCord, Treasurer.
August 9, 1886, the Furniture Manufacturers’ Association of the United States was organized with office at 62 Bowery, New York, for the purpose of giving those interested information in reference to labor troubles or strikes, and securing co-operation with local associations, and enabling manufacturers to act united whenever decided. The office of the Grand Rapids Association is at 13 Canal Street
Albert Baxter, History of the City of Grand Rapids, page 473
Dwight Goss, History of Grand Rapids and its Industries, page 814; Goss mentions in an article about H.D. C. Van Asmus that the Furniture Manufacturers’ Assn. inspired the founding of the Board of Trade (later Chamber of Commerce) in November of 1887.
Grand Rapids Furniture Manufacturers’ Association Members, 1889-1890
|
NAME |
COMPANY |
CROSSED OFF |
WRITTEN IN |
|
Amsden, H.M. |
New England Furniture |
|
|
|
Allen, Z. E. |
Z.E. Allen |
|
|
|
Berkey, W. A. |
W.A. Berkey Furniture |
|
|
|
Berkey, Julius |
Berkey & Gay Furniture |
X |
|
|
Berkey, C. H. |
Universal Tripod |
|
|
|
Buss, C.E. |
Buss Machine Works |
X |
|
|
Black, C.W. |
Oriel Cabinet |
|
|
|
Burch, M.C. |
Grand Rapids Cabinet |
X |
|
|
Covode, Jno. A. |
Berkey & Gay Furniture |
|
|
|
Chase, J. J. |
Chase Bros. Piano |
X |
|
|
Creque, J.P. |
Kent Furniture Mfg. |
|
|
|
Case, J. D. |
Sligh Furnture |
|
|
|
Crosby, M.S. |
Widdicomb Furniture |
X |
|
|
Davidson, A.J. |
Folding Chair & Table |
X |
|
|
Davis, Geo. A. |
Stow & Davis Furniture |
|
|
|
Earle, W.S. |
Welch Folding Bed |
|
|
|
Fox, J. W. |
J. W. Fox |
X |
|
|
Foote, E. H. |
Grand Rapids Chair |
|
|
|
Falkel, A. |
Valley City Rattan Works |
|
|
|
Gay, Geo. W. |
Berkey & Gay Furniture |
|
|
|
Hodges, L. C. |
Valley City Table |
L.C. |
A. N. |
|
Ives, Henry |
Ives Mattress |
X |
|
|
Jones, W.H. |
W.A. Berkey Furniture |
X |
S |
|
Judd, C.B. |
Bissell Carpet Sweeper |
|
|
|
Knowlson, A.B. |
Peninsular Furniture |
X |
|
|
Leonard C. H. |
Grand Rapids Refrigerator |
|
S |
|
Mowatt, John |
Grand Rapids Chair |
|
|
|
More, J. C. |
Grand Rapids Furniture |
X |
|
|
Matter, Elias |
Nelson, Matter |
X |
|
|
MacBride, J. G. |
Nelson, Matter |
|
|
|
Merrill, R. W. |
Phoenix Furniture |
X |
S |
|
Perry, T. R. |
Widdicomb Mantel |
X |
|
|
Perkins, G. W. |
Grand Rapids School Furniture |
|
|
|
Russell, H.C. |
Grand Rapids Mattress |
X |
|
|
Stow, L.C. |
Grand Rapids Furniture |
|
|
|
Smith, I.C. |
Converse Manufacturing |
X |
|
|
Smith, Frank |
Phoenix Furniture |
X |
|
|
Sligh, C.R. |
Sligh Furniture |
|
|
|
Sweet, Frank |
M.L. Sweet |
|
H |
|
Shanahan, J. |
Bissell Carpet Sweeper |
X |
|
|
Thwing, A.C. |
Grand Rapids Veneer Works |
X |
|
|
Tower, D.W. |
Grand Rapids Brass |
|
|
|
Utley, J.D. |
Nelson, Matter |
X |
|
|
Van Asmus, H.D.C. |
Honorary Member |
|
|
|
White, J. B. |
Crescent Cabinet |
X |
|
|
Wolcott, R. N. |
Kent Furniture Mfg. |
|
|
|
Walker, J. H. |
Powers & Walker Casket |
X |
|
|
Widdicomb, H. |
Widdicomb Furniture |
X |
|
|
Widdicomb, Jno. |
Widdicomb Furniture |
|
|
|
Widdicomb, E.L. |
Widdicomb Mantel |
X |
|
|
Names Added in Pencil |
Honorary Members added in Pencil |
|
|
|
Strahan, J.T. |
Deacon W. Haldane |
|
|
|
Goodman, A.S. |
C.C Comstock |
|
|
|
Jordan, H.S. |
S.A. Winchester |
|
|
|
Mueller, J. F. |
W.T. Powers |
|
|
|
Paine, C.S. |
|
|
|
|
Corson, R.W. |
|
|
|
|
Stickley, Albert |
|
|
|
|
Maddox, E. L. |
|
|
|
|
Gunn, W. S. |
|
|
|
|
Illegible |
|
|
|
|
GR Public Library |
Coll. 084 -2 1889-90 Membership Book |
|
|
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