204 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Fruitgrowers' society is purely a commercial organization and has 

 devoted its energies to the development of a local fruit market that has 

 acquired a national reputation. The Grand Rapids Florists' club is a 

 thiiity society having a double object of bringing the florists into a har- 

 monious business relationship and through its influence to develop in 

 our community a greater love for floral embellishment about the city 

 and suburban homes. 



In this connection I wish to remind you that two of the ten charter 

 members of your society were florists, one of whom, Mr. John Suttle, 

 planted with his own hand, under the direction of Hon. Thos. D. Gilbert, 

 the trees that now give character and beauty to our central park area 

 on Fulton street. Perhaps you will bear with me a little longer while I 

 recall to your memory some of the names which were associated with the 

 organization and early efforts of your societ3\ 



My memory first suggests the name of Samuel L. Fuller. He signed 

 the first call and was chairman of the first meeting which instituted the 

 movement that culminated in the state organization. He is still living 

 in this city, enjoying the tender care of wife and daughter. He has 

 never lost his interest in our work. I do not forget that it was through 

 his p'ersistent efforts, wise counsel, and material assistance that the 

 breath of life was maintained during the first year of the society's 

 existence. Sluman S. Bailey and L. S. Scranton were the first vice-presi- 

 dents. The former is with us today, has never allowed his interest in 

 horticulture to flag. Other men have had waves of enthusiasm and have 

 been intermittent in service, but from the inception of the organization 

 to this day Mr. Bailey has the only record of continuous and persistent 

 activity. Mr. Scranton maintained his interest until his death in 1882. 

 Jonathan P. Thompson was the early idol of the society. He was the 

 first president of the incorporated organization, and was afterward sec- 

 retary until 1876. Enthusiastic, impulsive, generous, public-spirited, he 

 moulded the early trend of the society and laid its foundations broad and 

 deep. Three names of the early days will ever claim the warmest feel- 

 ings of our hearts: Edward Bradfield, Henry Holt, and George W. 

 Inickiuson. They were not only successful fruitgrowers, but their early 

 and regular exhibits at the monthly meetings of the society made the 

 sessions attractive, and their words of counsel were always wise, earnest, 

 and helpful. 



The names of Whitney, Ramsdell, Deitrich, Husted, Hathaway, Peck, 

 Ganzhorn, Dyckman, Griggs, Slayton and a host of others were con- 

 nected with the second j^ear of the society's existence. I would enjoy 

 recounting to you some of the activities of these men as they appeared 

 to me, a mere boy among them. Personally I owe them all a debt of 

 gratitude for shaping and broadening my angle of vision and opening 

 to my view the potent influence of horticulture u])on rural life. Their 

 unselfish devotion to the interests of the new organization made a perma- 

 nent impression upon me that time will not obliterate. 



But the noblest Roman of them all, the one man who towered above 

 them all in pomological equipment, in his generous service, and in his 

 molding influence upon the purposes of the society, is our respected, 

 honored, and beloved life president. T. T. Lyon. He of all others,. because 



