I bought this image in about 2000 at a flea market in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was in a box among other images. There are other Michigan images, but this is the only one from Big Rapids.
The photographer was William Eliphalet Marshall (1852-1923). He seems to have spent his entire life in Michigan, having been born in Ottawa County in 1852 to farmers. His mother was from Canada.
Mr. Marshall was operating his Big Rapids photography studio by at least 1900 and until at least 1910. At some point around the mid-1910s, he relocated to Grand Rapids where he seems to have had a studio.
I have found a great-granddaughter of William E. Marshall who is collecting images taken by her ancestor and will be mailing this to her next week.