Blodgett Family papers, 1872-1953 (majority within 1884-1934)

Summary

Creator:

Blodgett family.

Abstract:

Family of Delos A. Blodgett, his son John W. Blodgett, and his grandson John W. Blodgett, Jr., residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan and owners of a series of logging companies active in Michigan, Mississippi, California, Oregon, and Vancouver Island. Correspondence, journals, cash books, ledgers, and maps of family businesses, including the Blodgett Company, Wright-Blodgett Company, Michigan-California Lumber Company, Michigan Timber Company, Hill-Davis Company, and Tidewater Timber Company; also personal correspondence and photographs.

Extent:

33 linear feet
43 oversize volumes
12 oversize folders

Language:

English

Call Number:

851371 Aa 2; AC

Authors:

Finding aid created by Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection, although still largely unprocessed, has been grouped into different kinds of records. These include correspondence, business records, maps, and photographs.

Biographical / Historical:

The Blodgett Family of Grand Rapids, Michigan were owners of a series of logging companies in Michigan, Mississippi, California, Oregon, and Vancouver Island. Members of the family included Delos A. Blodgett, his son John W. Blodgett, and his grandson John W. Blodgett, Jr.

Chronology of the Blodgett family

Date	Event
1825	Delos A. Blodgett born, Otsego County, N.Y.
1848	Delos A. Blodgett moved to Michigan and began lumber business
1851	Delos A. Blodgett moved to Hersey, Mich.
1859	Delos A. Blodgett and Jennie S. Wood married
1860	John W. Blodgett born, Hersey, Mich.
ca. 1870	Delos A. Blodgett began logging in Osceola, Missaukee, and Clare Counties
1871	Blodgett & Byrne firm formed (lumbering in Roscommon and Crawford Counties, mill at Muskegon)
1876	John W. Blodgett graduated Highland Military Academy, Worcester, Mass.
1878	John W. Blodgett took charge of Blodgett interests in Muskegon
1878	Tillotsen & Blodgett firm formed (Muskegon mill)
1880	Delos A. Blodgett delegate to Republican National Convention
1881	Delos A. Blodgett moved to Grand Rapids
1882	John W. Blodgett took charge of Blodgett & Byrne interests
1885	Blodgett began buying land in Mississippi
1886	John W. Blodgett president of Muskegon Boom Co.
1890	Jennie Blodgett died
1890s	Delos A. Blodgett involved in lumber manufacture in Cadillac
1892	Delos A. Blodgett delegate to Republican National Convention
1893	Delos A. Blodgett and Daisy A. Peck married
1893	Blodgett Muskegon basin timber exhausted
1895	John W. Blodgett and Minnie A. Cumnock married
1896	Delos A. Blodgett delegate to Republican National Convention
1900	John W. Blodgett took over all his father's interests
1900	Delos A. Blodgett delegate to Republican National Convention
1900-1912	John W. Blodgett member Republican National Committee
ca. 1905	Blodgett Co., Ltd., formed
1908	Delos A. Blodgett died
1918	Michigan-California Lumber Co. formed
until 1922	John W. Blodgett director of Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
1925	John W. Blodgett, Jr. became member of business
1931	Minnie Blodgett died
1951	John W. Blodgett died

Acquisition Information:

The bulk of the collection was donated by John W. Blodgett, Jr. (donor 4302 ), in 1965. A further accession was received in 1990 from the Grand Rapids Public Library (donor 767 ) which had been given the materials by Mrs. John W. Blodgett, Jr.

Accruals:

No further additions to the papers are expected.

Physical Location:

Portions located in offsite storage; prior notification required for access.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Business records.
Logging -- United States.
Lumbering -- United States.
Banquets.
Lumber industry.
Forests and forestry -- United States -- Maps.
Logging -- United States -- Maps.
Logging railroads -- United States -- Maps.

Formats:

Photographs.

Names:

Republican National Committee (U.S.)
Blodgett Company -- Maps.
Blodgett Company.
Hill-Davis Company.
Michigan-California Lumber Company.
Michigan Timber Company.
Tidewater Timber Company.
Wright-Blodgett Company.
Blodgett family.
Blodgett, Delos A., 1825-1908.
Blodgett, John Wood, 1860-1951.
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
Blodgett, John W., Jr.

Places:

California.
Canada.
Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Mississippi.
Oregon.
Vancouver Island (B.C.)
California -- Maps.
Clare County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Lake County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Louisiana -- Maps.
Mecosta County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Missaukee County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Mississippi -- Maps.
Montmorency County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Muskegon County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Oregon -- Maps.
Osceola County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Oscoda County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Otsego County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Roscommon County (Mich.) -- Maps.
Vancouver Island (B.C.) -- Maps.
Wexford County (Mich.) -- Maps.