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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, June 28, 1998, pg. 7 The Calhoun County Genealogical Society has just reprinted the classic 1830-1877 History of Calhoun County With Illustrations. It was originally published in 1877 in Philadelphia by L. H. Evers & Co., and the latest version was produced by Windmill Productions of Mt. Vernon, Indiana on acid-free paper. This of course is a major reference source on 19th century Albion history, and having one of these in your own personal library is very helpful. The originals are antiques, and many are brittle, not condusive for research. This reprint also has added the massive name index compiled several years ago by Marshallites Marcia and Susan Udell, which is quite helpful. The book size has been reduced from the original, but you wouldn’t know it unless you had an original. It is still big and thick. The illustrations are not as crisp and clear as the original lithographs and some of them may be a tad dark, but they came out acceptable in my opinion. The book is approximately 350 pages in length (including the new index), and the CCGS has extra copies available. For more information, call Sandy Redmond at (616) 729-5258, or write, CCGS, Book Sales, P.O. Box 777, Marshall, MI 49068. This is a “people” book, focusing on biographies and lithographs of prominent citizens at the time, rather than buildings, businesses, etc., although the latter are covered. There are numerous lists of names, such as supervisors, fire department members, club and organization members, and lots of statistics. If you are into details, this book is for you. Ample space is devoted to Calhoun County’s participation in the Civil War, and there is a synopsis of each infantry or regiment’s participation in the war. Of interest are the various biographies of farmers in the area. I’ve noticed that several of the farms illustrated are still standing today. There are also lithographs of pioneers such as Tenney Peabody, Chandler Church, Wareham Warner, their wives, and others. We congratulate the CCGS for their initiative in getting this book reproduced. They’ve already done a great job in getting township cemetery records printed. Perhaps the 1873 Calhoun County Atlas could be next? From our Historical Notebook this week we present a lithograph of the original Gale Manufacturing Company which was located on the corner of Cass & Superior Streets as found in the original 1877 History of Calhoun County, page 106. I encourage our readers to obtain a copy of this reference book before they are sold out. 
Original Gale Manufacturing Company, 1877 All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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