HARDWOOD RECORD 



15 



'Builders of Lumber Histort;, 



UrUMBER XXII. 



Isaac Mark Darnell. 



(Sfc Portniit iSitijplctntiit.) 



When a man has passed the allotted age 

 of three score years and ten, and still finds 

 his life full of content and happiness, he 

 ■can count himself particularly fortunate. 

 He can then accept the honor that comes to 

 liim from a life ■well spent and the loving 

 reverence of children, whom he has edu- 

 cated and cared for, grown to maturity. It 

 is a particularly auspicious state of affairs 

 in this country that we can count among 

 our citizens many such grand old men, who 

 have done their part in the world's work 

 •without ostentation or thought of reward 

 ■other than the comforts of home and fam- 

 ily. 



Such a man is Isaac Mark Darnell, of 

 Indianapolis, who was born in Philadelphia, 

 Nov. 13, 1823. Mr. Darnell received bis 

 education and youthful training in the 

 Quaker city. He celebrated the twenty- 

 seventh anniversary of his birth by mov- 

 ing to Terre Haute, Ind., where he prac- 

 ticed his trade as foreman in Grover's ma- 

 chine shop. Two years afterward he made 

 another change and moved to Freedom, Ind., 

 where he engaged in a general merchandise 

 business and was postmaster for several 

 years. In 1856 he built the first steam cir- 

 cular sawmill erected in Owen county, In- 

 diana. 



He enlisted in the Union army in the 

 War of the Rebellion, in 1862, and was 

 wounded in the battle of Duncan's Farm, 

 ■Ga., in 1864, during Sherman's famous 

 march to the sea. He served until peace 

 was declared. In 1866 he moved to Spencer, 

 Ind., where he operated a sawmill untO 

 1872, when, owing to the diminishing tim- 

 ber supply at that point, he transferred his 

 plant to Worthiugton, Ind. During this 

 time he sawed into lumber great quantities 

 of the magnificent oak and walnut for which 

 Indiana was famous. For several years he 

 produced walnut exclusively for John Mc- 

 Graw & Co., who were the black walnut 

 kings of the time, when the ambition of 

 ■every housewife was to have her parlor and 

 "spare-room" furnished with solid black 

 walnut. 



In 1S82 Mr. Darnell was joined in busi- 

 ness by his son, R. J. Darnell, who became 

 the active member of the firm, which 

 ■erected a sawmill in Dyer count}', Tennes- 

 flee. In 1883, however, this mill was moved 

 to Lauderdale county, the same state. In 

 188.5 two other sons, Harry Y. and Walter 

 S. Darnell, were taken into the firm, and 

 in 1887 a retail yard was opened at Mem- 

 phis, and continued for two years, when it 

 was sold to open a wholesale hardwood yard 

 in the same city. This was the first yard in 

 Memphis to operate exclusively in oak. The 

 Darnells, father and sons, were thus the 



pioneers in the oak ti-ade of the southern 

 city. They moved their planing mill from 

 Lauderdale county to Memphis and erected 

 a band sawmill in 1895, sawing oak, ash 

 and poplar. This plant was the first mill 

 of any pretensions erected in Memphis, the 

 existing mills being small circular affairs. 



In 1897 Rowland J. Darnell withdrew 

 from the firm and entered business on his 

 own account, which prosperous house is now 

 known as E. J. Darnell, Inc. Harry Y. and 

 Walter S. Darnell remained with their 

 father in the present corporation of I. M. 

 Darnell & Son Company. Mr. Darnell, 

 senior, has retired from active pursuits and 

 the details of the business have devolved 

 almost entirely upon Walter S. Darnell. 



Isaac Mark Darnell has resided in In- 

 dianapolis for some years, in comfort and 

 content. He still enjoys an occasional trip 

 about the country and last year visited Salt 

 Lake City. He is a man who has not let 

 the world get past him, and his six chil- 

 dren — three daughters and three sons — con- 

 tinue to look to their father, who educated 

 and started them well in life, for counsel 

 and advice. Mr. Darnell is a valued mem- 

 ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 

 lows, and has always been esteemed for his 

 commercial integrity and admired for his 

 specific knowledge of the hardwood busi- 

 ness, in which he was not only successful 

 himself, but in which he propitiously 

 launched his sons. 



Now in his declining years he takes his 

 well-earned rest secure in the knowledge 

 that his sons will perpetuate his name with 

 honor to the trade and continue the wise 

 business methods which they have learned 

 from his experience. Age is most honored 

 when it crystallizes the best there is in hu- 

 man nature, and to it everyone bows with 

 reverence and respect. 



Annual Michigan Maple Company. 



The fourth annual meeting of the ilichigan 

 staple Compan.v was held Thursday. Feb. 15, at 

 the Hotel Pantlind. Grand Kapids. There were 

 two sessions, morning and afternoon. At the 

 stocliholders' meeting the detailed statistics for 

 the year were gone over, and the annual report 

 accepted, which showed a very satisfactory busi- 

 ness for 1005 and a good sized dividend for the 

 stccl;holders. It was decided that the outloolj 

 for 1006 is very bright. 



Compared with the demand for lumber, the 

 amount of stocli on hand Jan. 1 was somewhat 

 small and both previous to and at the meeting 

 booljings of orders were made which disposed of 

 over fifty per cent of that stocli, ieaving the 

 amount to l)e marl<eted somewhat limited as 

 compared with previous years. Full reports were 

 received from members as to amounts being put 

 in this winter and the total to be produced 

 between now and July 1 next. The following 

 resolution was passed unanimously : 



"Resolved, That it is the sense of this meet- 

 ing of the stocliholders of the Michigan Maple 

 Company that it be continued after 1006, and 

 that a committee of five be appointed by the 

 president to present a report at a meeting to be 



called at a subsequent date, such committee to 

 report any improvement in the plan of our 

 organization to broaden its scope so as to handle 

 other hardwoods." 



The following directors were elected for the 

 ensuing year : 



Henry W. Carey, East Lake ; 



Wilmer T. Culver. Ludington ; 



Wm. H. White. Hoyne City ; 



G. von Platen. Boyne Cily : 



Wm. P. Porter. East Jordan ; 



F.dward Bucliley, Manistee ; 



Henry N. Loud, .•iu Sable : 



Harry Xicholls, Charlevoix ; 



Marshall F. Butters, Ludington. 

 .\t the directors' meeting otEcers were elected 

 as follows : 



President, Henry W. Carey : 



First vice president, Henry N. Loud ; 



Second vice president. Wm. P. Porter ; 



Treasurer, Wm. H. White : 



Secretary, Wilmer T. Culver. 

 A vote of thanks was extended to President 

 (_'arey for his efficient conduct of the business 

 during the past year, and pledging to bim the 

 heartiest cooperation of the board for the ensu- 

 ing one. 



IIEXRY W. CAUEY. EAST LAKE, PRESI- 

 DENT MICIIKJAN MAPLE CO. 



The following price list. f. o. b. doclis or over 

 rail of vessel according to the custom of the 

 port from which shipped, was adopted, to go into 

 effect immediately : 



No. 2 Com. Xo. 1 Com. Ists and 2ds. 



1" .f 11.00 ?17.00 $23.00 



IH" -■ • 110(1 17.00 23^00 



ly.." 11.00 17.00 23.00 



1%" 11.00 17.00 23.00 



1%" •. . 11.50 17.50 23.50 



2" 12.00 18.00 24.00 



2%" 13.00 19.00 25.00 



2y2" 13.00 19.00 25.00 



2%" 14.00 20.00 26.00 



3" 14.00 20.00 26.00 



3H"and4"... 15.00 21.00 27.00 



New Piano Stool Factory. 



Kiverhead, Long Island, has a new industry 

 which promises to be an extensive and remuner- 

 ative one. J. W. Sutton of Brooklyn has in- 

 vented a piano stool, which is being manufac- 

 tured at Sltidmore's sash and blind factory. 

 Orders are already coming in so rapidly that 

 the demand exceeds the supply. 



The piano stool- is really an adjustable bench 

 of red birch, so arranged that the seat can be 

 raised or lowered quickl.y. and having a device 

 whereby the seat can be placed slanting or level. 

 It is designed to meet the requirements of 

 pianola players also, the slant arrangement 

 being particularly desirable to operators, giving 

 more "purchase" to blow easily. The new piauo 

 stool meets all requirements and also consti- 

 tutes a very handsome piece of furniture. 



