"Growing Up In Union City" by Ross D. Pendill

"Growing Up In Union City" by Ross D. Pendill is a collection of short stories Ross wrote for the Union City Register Tribune between 1982 and 1983.  His daughters, Penny and Linda, reprinted the collection in this booklet at the time of his death, September 23, 1997.

Linda gave me permission to add the book to my blog ...hope everyone enjoys reading the great stories as I have. 

To view the collection of  short stories Ross D. Pendill wrote, click on Short Stories below.  To return to this page, click on the back button of your browser.

Short Stories

Note - The pages of the booklet are viewed in Google Picasa and you can view the stories a page at a time, view in slideshow, print a page, or download a page.

Moving Day in Union City - early 1920's ...Re-post with comment on 21 Nov 2011

The picture was sent to me by my brother Marty.  The truck moving a families possessions sitting at the corner of Broadway and Allen Streets, with Soldiers Park and the Congregational Church in the background. The picture is estimated to have been taken in the early 1920's.

Does anyone have a clue as to who the men are in the picture or correct date?

Comment - Hi Ron:

The Union City Bicentennial 1976 booklet in the UC Public library, the picture is titled "Ed Lincoln and his truck".  Hope this helps. 

I enjoy your blog and check it frequently.  I grew up just outside of UC and graduated in 1980, approximately a year ago moved back and bought a house on Ellen Street.  I have been doing research on my house and happened to see this same picture that you have on your blog so I thought I would send you a note.

Have a great day.

Julie Gregory

  

Captain Burr Olson - Newspaper articles from his scrapbook

Captain Burr Olson wrote several short stories for the Union City Register Tribune.  The stories are about his interesting life and the Union City area.

The scrapbook was sent to me by Stanley Smith and after scanning the pages, gave to my brother Marty for the Union City Historical Society. 

To view the collection of the newspaper articles Captain Burr Olson wrote, click on Short Stories below.  To return to this page, click on the back button of your browser.

Short Stories

Note - The pages of the scrapbook are viewed in Google Picasa and you can view the stories a page at a time, view in slideshow, print a page, or download a page.

Uncle Burr's Residence

Uncle Burr's Residence in Union City. The Uncle Burr referenced in the picture is Captain Burr Osborn.
Note - If anyone can identify the location of this home, please email at rchard1960@gmail.com (click on email address to send an email ..thanks!).


Below is a theory sent to me by Beatrice (Madden) Lake on the possible location of the home ...does anyone have any additional thoughts on her theory?

Hello,
In way of introduction, I am Beatrice (Madden) Lake. I am the oldest sister of your classmate Jim Madden. I was referred to your website when it first began, and Have enjoyed your postings. I have a personal collection of all the yearbooks and "Peerless Union City" and "Union City on the St. Joe" to which you have referred. And a couple of Branch County Atlases. I just love a mystery, and have enjoyed trying to figure out where this building would be in Union City. First I thought it would be John Street, where Zae Robinson White lived, but there are more gables on that house, and then I thought it was the one Klaudia Fisher lives in next door, that being one of the older homes. But..........My Theory: I believe this is Captain Burr Osborn, an interesting man who sailed the world 3 times before settling in this area. His accounts of "Early Pioneer Days" he wrote for the Register-Tribune in the 1920's is in the Bi-Centennial book 1976. From those article he lived on Thrams road, south of Girard (confirmed by my 1879 Branch County Atlas). He moved to Allen Street, (the street that runs on the south side of Congregational Church). The house the 1976 book refers to is the one left standing across from the church. But in my minds eye, I remember a house that looked like this just around the corner from Broadway that Mrs. Enner (sp) lived in, in the 1940's. She operated the Strand Theatre when I was a kid. That house has been razed, (now back of the Dollar Store) and I feel that could be that one. My 1909 Union City Directory, publishedby Tom F. Robinson. says he lived on Allen St. The listing of those living on Allen St. are as follows: Roy D. Rayner, Leo L. Johnson, J. Calvin Richards, Burr Osborn, S. Eugene Lee and Henry Corey. I would assume that the listing began at broadway, and if that is so, He would have lived approximately where that home is. I can't see that is the same home, even with remodeling. I guess it will take more investigation. I don't know if there was any other verification that he lived in the house still standing or not. It has been fun researching this postcard, but mine is only a theory. I hope to see many more interesting things on this website, and I would appreciate your response on my theory when you have time.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Beatrice Lake

Captain Burr Osborn - Peerless Union City 1903

Captain Burr Osborn

Note - Regarding the "Captain Burr Osborn" ...(from the publication titled "Historical Industrial and Social Record of Peerless Union City Michigan" edited, compiled, and published by Tom F. Robinson in March 1903), EARLY HISTORY OF UNION CITY, reads: .... Among the older residents of Union City there is no more familiar figure or one who is more popular than the gentleman named above. Capt. Osborn was born near Bridgeport, Conn., April 25, 1826, and he lived in that locality until he was sixteen years old. At that early age he embarked in a whaling vessel and for the following seven years he sailed the oceans, during the last three years of this period being in the U. S. navy. His was a varied and interesting experience. He sailed round the world twice, visiting all the grand divisions of the globe, besides many of the islands. For a period of several months he was a subject of King Kamehameha III, of the Sandwich Islands, and it was at Honolulu that he enlisted in the U. S. navy, May 6, 1846, when the Mexican War was in progress. During this war he was on the U. S. surveying vessel, " Shark," and U. S. men of war in the Pacific, and was also with General Fremont in California. He assisted in the U. S. survey of the west coast of America from Terra del Fuego to Alaska and in the first survey of the Columbia River. He received his discharge in 1849 and afterward returned to Connecticut where he lived for several years. He came to Michigan in 1852, since which time his home has been in Sherwood and this place. While a resident of the first-named place he was for twelve years a justice of the peace, highway commissioner for six years and also school director for an extended period. In Union Township he was also chosen as highway commissioner and he always performed his duties in a highly satisfactory manner. Capt. Osborn is by nature one of the most companionable of men. His extensive travels have provided him with a fund of most interesting reminiscence and his memory serves him well in telling. A few years since, he published a volume entitled "Reminiscences of a Voyage Round the World in the Forties" and the same proved most interesting. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the three local Masonic lodges, and he was a charter member of Union City Chapter No. 53, R. A. M. He has two sons, C. R. Osborn, who is the station agent for the Michigan Central R. R. Co. at Albion, and G. A. Osborn, who lives at Jackson.