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Historical Collections Made By The Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society
Volume 2, 1896

Page 165-166

    GEORGE E. DOWLING. - George E. Dowling died suddenly of heart
failure at his home in Montague, about 3 o'clock Monday morning,
March 30, 1896.  Mr. DOWLING had been in poor health for two years,
but had been on the street attending to business until a week before.
He leaves a wife but no children.  He was born in Bayham, Canada,
February 26, 1839.  The family moved to Grand Rapids in 1840 and the
father yet resides on a farm in Alpine just out of the city.  At the
age of 17 Mr. DOWLING went to Grand Haven and commenced clerking in
the general store of Ferry & Son.  During the years 1857 and 1858 he
was employed in the Chicago lumber yard of the same firm.  He went
to White River, in 1859, and assisted Maj. N. H. FERRY in his saw-
mill business, but the following year took a trip to Pike's Peak and
then on to California.  After a year he returned and assumed charge
of Maj. FERRY'S extensive business when the major entered the army.
Upon the death of Maj. FERRY in 1865 the business was closed out at
White River and Mr. DOWLING moved four miles up White Lake to the pre-
sent site of Montague.  The firm of FERRY, DOWLING & Co., composed 
of the Rev. WILLIAM M. FERRY and E. P. FERRY, with Mr. DOWLING as
resident managing partner was formed.  They platted the village of
Montague and erected the first sawmills and store.  Mr. DOWLING was
later a partner in the sawmill firm of F. H. WHITE & Co., and the
mercantile firm of S. H. LASLEY & Co.  FERRY, DOWLING & Co. also
erected a large flouring mill, hotel, etc.  They were in fact the
founders of Montague and conducted a large and successful lumbering
and general business which Mr. DOWLING managed until 1883, when the
firm was dissolved.  Since then Mr. DOWLING has given his time to
banking and real estate.  He organized the Muskegon County bank at
Montague, a partnership in which H. H. TERWILLIGER and C. H. COOK
were associated with him.  He also built the Franklin house.  Almost
twenty years ago Mr. DOWLING married Miss ANNA WILSON.  Their only
child died a number of years ago.  He leaves four brothers, WILLIAM C.,
HENRY P. and MEL DOWLING, who live on or near the old home farm in
Alpine.  Another brother, C. D. DOWLING, resides at Montague.  He was
one of the most prominent members of the Masonic order in Michigan.
For many years he was master of the Montague lodge and in 1894 reached
the exalted position of Grand Master for the State of Michigan.  He 
was a man of remarkably strong character, great intelligence and
wonderful business energy and tact, always noted for strict integrity,
public spirit and benevolence.  He will be mourned not only in Monta-
gue and Muskegon county, but throughout the entire State, of which he
was so conspicuous and popular a citizen.  A large delegation of Shriners
and many other citizens from various parts of the State were in atten-
dance at the funeral, which was conducted under the auspices of the
Grand Lodge of the State.

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