Moulthrop-Clift, Incorporated
Bay City "Centennial" business dating back to 1849.
by Marvin Kusmierz (Feb. 2003 - Updated Nov. 2005)
MCI Building: Madison & 6th Street (photo 2005)
Moulthrop-Clift, Inc. traces it's roots back to 1849 and John Drake who was sold insurance policies the early pioneers of Bay City, at a time it was known as the village of Lower Saginaw. Several mergers took place over the years to form the present company. The last merger took place in 1968, when the W.O. Clift & Company and Guy Moulthrop Insurance Agency consolidated their businesses to form Moulthrop-Clift, Inc.
Up September 2005, the company had dated its history to 1867. They became a Centennial business in 1967. n 1992, they received a plaque from the Michigan Historical Society which is proudly displayed at their home office in Bay City. However, the new information developed in September, which was discovered by Bay-Journal and shared with Blair Mouthrop, MCI's vice-president set in motion a series of events that were handled by Guy Moulthrop, the president of MCI that lead to the society's acceptance of the 1849 date as when MCI was established.
The History of Moulthrop-Cliff, Inc.
John Drake - Pioneer Insurance Agent
While we know that John Drake was doing business in as early as 1849, I was not able to establish when he arrived here or from where he came. Its clear from the records found that he made an a living selling selling more than just insurance during the pioneer period as the population wasn't of sufficient size to support a livable income solely from insurance policies. He also promoted himself as selling agent for lumber, and may have sold other products as well.
Ad in 1866-67 Pioneer Directory
In 1849, the area of present Bay County was still attached to Saginaw County. It wasn't until 1857 that Bay County was organized, it during that year the village of Lower Saginaw changed its name to Bay City.
A decade later, John placed ran the ad shown on the right that indicates his major focus was on selling insurance policies, while to much lesser extent he promotes his additional services as an assistant assessor, land agent and notary public.
It was around this time period that lumbering industry had establish a strong footing in the valley. The former villages of Bay City, Saginaw, East Saginaw and Midland were now cities and their populations were growing rapidly, which helped support Drake's leaning more heavily on the insurance business.
From the 1870 Michigan Census (see right-hand column), we learn that Drake is 63 years old and was born in Scotland. Living with him are Emma Drake, age 45 and William Fennif. Emmas is recorded as keeping house and is most likey his wife. Finnif works as a commission agent (salesman) and may be a relative of Emma or John, or possibly an associate staying temporarily at John's residence.
Drake and Clift-Bush Consolidation.
In 1895, John Drake decided to consolidate his business with Clift-Bush agency, which was a partnership owned by William O. Clift and Adelbert E. R. Bush. John at this time would have been 88 years based the 1870 Census information, and it's unlikely at that he any plans of continuing to sell insurance polices at that age. The deal with Clift-Bush was probably a financial arrangement allowing Clift-Bush to increase their customer base, while John picked us some cash before retiring from the business. That year the agency previously purchased the business of Mr. Corwin who died, which was a fairly substantial business he acquired from C. B. Cottrel in 1885.
Crapo block, n.w. corner of Center & Washington aves.
Information from the 1893-94 Polk Directory lists Adelbert E.R. Bush as a general insurance agent in partnership with C. B. Corwin and they are located at 407 Crapo Block (Washington Ave.). Both are selling polices for the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance located in Detroit. Bush and his wife, Catherine, are residing at 815 N. Johnson street, and Corwin is living at 1413 Sixth street.
W. O. Clift & Sons.
The Bush & Cliff partnership in 1898. William O. Clift continued the business with son, Lyle, under the name of "W.O. Clift & Sons." The following information from the 1922 Polk Directory gives a little more insight into the activities of this business:
- Clift, Lyle M., (sp. Helen), Clift & Curry and W.O. Clift & Son, Attorney-at-law, 816 Adams.
- Clift, William O., President Savings Building & Loan Assn., 1409 6th St.
- Clift, W.O. & Son (Wm. O. Clift, Lyle M. Clift, General Insurance, 816 Adams.
- Curry, Volney M., W.O. Clift & Son, General Insurance & Real Estate Loans, 816 Adams.
Moulthrop and Clift Consolidation.
In 1968, the W. O. Clift & Co. and the Guy Moulthrop Insuarance Agency merged and this began the present with Moulthrop Clift, Inc. business.
Guy Moulthrop had operated his own successful agency since 1927. When the two businesses merged it was decided that the W.O. Clif & Sons would close their office in the Phoenix block (S.w. corner of Washington & Center) in favor of Moulthrops location in the Davidson block (n.e. corner of Washington & 4th street).
Picture of founding members of Mouthrop-Clift, Inc.
Front row:
Guy R. Moulthrop (1900-1974), Guy T. Moulthrop (Current Chairman), Lyle M. Clift (1892-1976)
Back row:
Henry G. Rexer, Charles W. Grube, Jack A. Ryman, John D. Wheeler, Robert A. McKinley, (all retired)
Today, Moulthrop-Clift, Inc. is located at 701 N. Madison Avenue (n.w. corner of Madison avenue and Sixth street). They also have an office in Midland.
At 135 years of continuous service, Moulthrop-Clift, Inc. is among a rare few local Centennial companies still doing business.
Article updates:
Oct. 16, 2004:
When this article was orginally published in February 2003, the understanding was that the history of Mouthrop-Clift, Inc. dated back to 1867 and John Drake. However, in September of this year, new information has been found that shows John Drake was selling insurance as early as 1849, some 18 years earlier than previous known. This new data was submitted to the state which has validate the 1849 as most accurate represent the company's beginning. Therefore, we update the 1867 date to read 1849.
