Fletcher Family

George N. Fletcher was founder of various business enterprises in Alpena, Michigan. He was born in Ludlow, Vermont on December 13, 1813. He subsequently moved with his parents to Ohio in 1832. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1840, then went to Boston where he worked as treasurer of the Old Colony Railroad, a position he held until 1850. Around this time, Fletcher, desiring new opportunities, began investigating the economic potential of lumbering. So with a partner James K. Lockwood, Fletcher scouted out and purchased timberland acreage in the area surrounding present-day Alpena, Michigan. The area had great potential with its riches of pine trees. Moving to Michigan in the mid-1850s, Fletcher decided to live in Detroit with his family though most of his business endeavors were in Alpena.

Fletcher began with the building of a dam and a saw mill on river nearby to his timber lands, then began the process of converting timber to lumber. Among the different companies that he controlled solely or with partners were Fletcher, Pack & Company, George N. Fletcher & Sons, and A. F. Fletcher & Co. As his sons matured, he began involving them, especially Frank W. Fletcher, in the operation of his businesses.

...