When James Robert Button was 85 years old, his photograph and the following story by Al Barnes appeared in the Traverse City, Michigan newspaper.
"There was every reason to believe that, some day, Mable would be a 'big girl.' but the lumbering industry waned and Mable died.[:CR:] "That is the story, in a few words, of the village of Mable which flourished, floundered and faded during the last century and into the present one.[:CR:] "Mable, named for the daughter of Thomas T. Bates, pioneer publisher, was located east of the present village of Williamsburg where M-72 turns left. A dirt road extends on east and through the old site of the village.
"Originally the site of the village was a 40-acre farm owned by George Humphrey, grandfather of James and Charles Button who still live in the community.
"The land was covered by a heavy stand of hard maple trees and was operated as a sugar bush for many years.
"A portable mill, owned by Warren Hastings, moved into the area about 62 years ago and he built the first commercial building. The store building was later to be the post office which was established when the railroad came. The rails cut diagonally across the old Humphrey farm.
"James Button, who now resides in Williamsburg, was born on the site of the old village. He recalls vividly his youth and the hardships of that time.
"'When I first remember,' he said this week while discussing the story, 'there was a stage from Barker Creek to Acme and we could either walk to Williamsburg for our mail or go to Barker Creek. Then Charlie Eaton took over the mail route and we had better service.'
"With the coming of the mails, the post office was established and a sidetrack was built. Logs, ties, lumber, poles and potatoes were shipped from Mable in vast numbers.
"While the first practical mill was erected by Hastings, there was an earlier mill which was not too successful. James A. Button, grandfather [sic] of Jim and Charlie, decided to do a little mill work and utilize the power of a tiny creek which flows across the present site of M-72. Unfamiliar with mill construction or engineering, the Button mill was not a great success.
"After the structure was completed it was discovered that there was not sufficient power to operate it and Button dug a channel from another nearby stream to divert additional power but it was not found to be practical.
"The old earthworks from the enterprise are still to be seen near the railroad grade and the ditch which was made to run the two small streams together is still partially there.[:CR:] "One unusual fact makes itself known concerning the old and almost forgotten village. Descendants of the old pioneer families are still living in the region. Such names as Pray, Gilbert, Hastings, Fairbanks, Button, Wilkinson and many more are the backbone of that and the surrounding community.
"One other unusual item of intest is that the folks who still live at the site of the village always refer to their place of residence as 'Mabel."

Young James Robert Button

James R.
1869 - 1960