USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > Compendium of history and biography of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan > Part 113
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Asked where he gained his viewpoint of life, he replied :
"Of a nervous disposition, I cannot rest in idleness. My descent is from a literary and art-loving people. My father was a Yale col- lege man. I am related to the Conway and Burgoyne families, but more closely am of Welsh descent. I have my coat-of-arms, but in this country we don't pay attention to such things. People here are too much in earnest to care for blood. The man who can do has a greater patent to nobility than that which comes to him through twenty generations of ancestors. My father was a lawyer, but he had the good sense to see his qualities were those of the inventor. I received a common- school education only, and just a glimpse of college life; then father was killed, and from that moment the world was changed for me. Home faded, the road divided, the path I took led to many disappointments, heartaches and sorrows; but I never gave way to despair. I was blocked a hundred times; when I wanted to go this way I had to go that way; if I wanted a piece of bread I had to earn it; and if I hadn't any money for clothes, I made my old suit last. But my disposition has been
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never to say die, and never to complain, but with a light heart be up and doing, with the consciousness that there is a destiny that con- trols the affairs of life, regardless of what a mere day may brng forth."
Mr. Griffith has a characteristic way of walking the floor when he is deeply interested in his theme. That is what he did, as he re- sumed his story :
"At that time, away back," he continued, "some of the folk thought that I was born to be a great artist, and they sent me to Dusseldorf to study art. I hadn't been there over six months before I knew that their fond hopes were never to be realized. I think now, as I look back, that it was my inherited sense of the practical and the useful, from my father, that intervened to mar my progress. I was so poor that I kept thinking how I could turn art into money-and when a student is obliged to think that way it is a sign that he will never make a success in the world of art. I began moving about Europe,-here, there, every- where. I remember, one day, I was at Lake Geneva, sketching the Castle of Chillon, and that sort of thing, just to pass away the time, when along came some tourists in a carriage. 'What'll you take for that?' one asked. I thought a moment and said to myself, 'By jove, here's my chance!' Then I answered quickly, 'I'll take twenty-five francs.' I made the sale and the money saved me from starva- tion. Encouraged, I stayed around there for six weeks, I think, making those trifling bits of work, don't you know; they weren't art, in any sense, but they sold, and that satisfied me. It convinced me more than ever that art was not my forte."
Director Griffith has been obliged to lay siege to the world in many forms, and often enough he has been repulsed. It was a long, winding path that led the unknown Indiana boy of the '6os to the directorship of the De- troit Museum of Art, in the 'gos. He had to meet many persons and to sleep among strangers in a dozen cities, but he always made friends. The leading characteristic of his life
is here revealed-everywhere he went, he made friends. He was the man to sell things, to persuade close fisted shopkeepers that what they ought to buy was what he wanted to sell; he practiced diplomacy in handling men; and if he could not untie a knot, he never went to the extent of cutting it, but he just smoothed it away-and began again in some other town.
Defeated in one city, he returned to the siege of life in some other place. He made many a forced march, on an empty bread box; he leveled many an Alps by a mere sunny smile or by the grasp of a hand.
Almost every move he made in life seemed to be disconnected. He made decisions in an hour-and they had immense influence on his future. But at the time he never thought of the future, nor dreamed of to-morrow's pos- sible regrets. He had that cordial, earnest way, that bright-eyed interest that made him friends wherever he roamed. His coming to Detroit was characteristic of a hundred changes in his history.
"I had been down in Cincinnati," he said, "and had a good position in a book store. I was bothered by the hay fever. Every year it came back and distressed me terribly. I had to sit in a dark room, sometimes, with a hand- kerchief over my eyes. One day I made up my mind that I must suffer a thousand deaths were I to remain there another week. I re- signed my position on the spot. I was going away, anywhere, I didn't know where, but away from that town. The manager said : 'Griff, you'll be back in a week or two.' I thanked him for his interest, took the boat for Kelly's Island, staid there a week, and came to Detroit. I didn't know a soul in town and hadn't the least idea what I would do for a living. That's eighteen years ago, and I haven't seen the necessity of returning to Cin- cinnati since."
Director Griffith's connection with the Mu- seum of Art, like every other turn in his life, came through an unexpected road suddenly opening to him in the midst of the innumerable highways of his life. He was offered a small
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sum to become secretary to the directors, but We live along for awhile, and meet some man instead of accepting at once, went down east, where he wrote "pot-boilers" for newspapers; returning, he entered upon his duties. He has seen the museum grow from two to twenty- two rooms and has been instrumental in rais- ing money for many of the changes.
Director Griffith's lectures have proven very popular. He is now in his sixteenth season, has spoken over two hundred times, and is now in demand in various parts of the country. The lecture course, as was the case with almost everything else in his life, began in an acci- dental way, one Sunday, when a number of visitors asked for a little special instruction about some vases. They returned the follow- ing Sunday, and with them a few friends; gradually the interest grew, and Director Grif- fith was obliged to lecture in one of the halls. The present lecture room holds seven hundred visitors and is jammed to the doors each Sun- day, while fully two thousand visitors wander through the various departments. From De- troit the Sunday lecture movement was spread to various parts of the country ; the good work of Director Griffith has thus become widely recognized as adding a new stimulus to art work in America.
Director A. H. Griffith's style of discourse is pleasing. He blends romance and poetry with his facts; in this way he gains and holds the popular attention. His art talks are col- ored by a belief in the superstitions of the people, in the legends of the past, and in visions of the future. He understands that the ma- jority of mankind are controlled by their hearts and not by their brains. He tries to respond to this theory by taking the sentimental view- point of life.
Here is a little illustration: Talking about his career and its seeming indifference to cause and effect, his moving about from place to place, and his many changes of purpose, Mr. Griffith said :
"Where are you going to find a man who can plan out his life to its close-who can say without condition: 'My future is to be this?
or woman who overturns all our past theories of life, and we soon find ourselves traveling' new roads,-beginning we scarcely know how, ending we know not where. I believe in a destiny that controls. I think that the world estimates a man at about his own valuation; and I am optimistic enough to believe that we shall receive that to which we are entitled-it may not be to-day, but sometime. All men have felt the caprices of fate. Remember the old English story of the son of George II., of whom an old fortune teller said: 'His fate is to be drowned!' And so they put him in a tower, where he was surrounded by everything that heart could desire, and his friends were sure he never would be drowned. But one day, during the absence of some workmen who were pressing grapes, he fell into the vat and was drowned. And that other story of the son who was to die, killed by a lion. His father, who thought he could overcome that fate, sur- rounded his son with everything that was beau- tiful and tried in every way to lead the boy's mind from the chase and hunt. Years passed and the legend of the old soothsayer was almost forgotten, but the boy was unhappy and one day, looking at a beautiful tapestry of a lion, said in despair: 'If it hadn't been for you, my life might have been different! You have cursed my whole existence!' With that, in a moment of despair, he struck at the tapes- try ; a nail behind, in the wall, pierced his hand, blood poisoning set in, and he died-a victim to the lion, even as the old soothsayer had predicted."
WILLIAM K. ANDERSON.
Prominently identified with financial and in- dustrial interests in Detroit, Mr. Anderson is known as one of the representative citizens of the Michigan metropolis. He was born near Owensboro, Kentucky, on the 24th of March, 1847, and his ancestors were numbered among the pioneers of Virginia and other sections of the south.
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Mr. Anderson secured his early education in the schools of his native state, and after due preparatory work he was matriculated in the University of Michigan, in which he was grad- uated as a member of the class of 1868, duly receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while later he received from his alma mater the de- gree of Master of Arts. After his return to Kentucky Mr. Anderson organized the Owens- boro Savings Bank, of which institution he was chosen cashier. He continued to be identified with this bank for a period of seven years, and in January, 1877, he took up his residence in Detroit, where, representing the late Hon. John S. Newberry and the late Senator James McMillan, he became manager of the Detroit Seed Company. When this company's inter- ests were merged with those of D. M. Ferry & Company he continued with the latter for a few months, and then resigned to assume finan- cial charge of the various and important cor- poration interests of Messrs. Newberry and McMillan. In this connection he became treas- urer of several of these companies, notably the Michigan Car Company, the Detroit Car Wheel Company, the Baugh Steam Forge Company, the Detroit Iron Furnace Company, the Detroit Railroad Elevator Company, be- sides other manufacturing and navigation cor- porations in which he became a stockholder and director. He thus gave effective executive service until 1892, in which year he became treasurer of the corporation representing the consolidation of the Michigan and the Penin- sular Car Companies. He retained this office one year and continued to be identified with the other interests mentioned until 1894, since which time he has given the major portion of his time and attention to his private interests. He is vice-president of the Home Savings Bank and a director of the Detroit Savings Bank, both of which institutions are individually men- tioned on other pages of this work.
In politics Mr. Anderson gives a staunch adherence to the Republican party, and in 1897 President Mckinley conferred upon him the appointment of United States consul at Hano-
ver, Germany. This important post he retained until 1900, when he tendered his resignation and returned to Detroit. Mr. Anderson is a charter member of the Detroit Club, and also holds membership in the Lake St. Clair Fish- ing & Shooting Club and the Country Club.
On the 26th of January, 1877, Mr. Ander- son was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia M. Cook, daughter of the late Joseph Cook, of Detroit, who was for a number of years United States supervising inspector of steam vessels for this district. Mr. and Mrs. Ander- son have one daughter, Catherine Clarke Anderson.
BENJAMIN F. GEIGER.
One who left the impress of a righteous and prolific life on the annals of the city of Detroit was the late Benjamin F. Geiger, who was one of the city's foremost business men and who was for many years the most prominent figure in the Ancient Order of United Work- men in Michigan. At the time of his death he was managing partner of the well known firm of Theodore H. Eaton & Company.
Mr. Geiger was of staunch German ancestry and was a native of Canton, Stark county, Ohio, where he was born on the 27th of Jan- uary, 1847, being a son of George Geiger, who was one of the sterling pioneers of that section of the old Buckeye state. The common schools of Ohio afforded the subject of this memoir his early educational advantages, and as a youth he secured employment in a drug store, for the purpose of learning the business. He was thus engaged in several towns in Ohio, where he remained until he had attained to the age of seventeen years, when he came to Detroit, where he secured a position in the establish- ment of Theodore H. Eaton & Son, manufac- turers of chemicals and dye stuffs. His ability and fidelity soon won him promotion, while his personal attributes of character endeared him to both members of the firm. In fact the atti- tude of the senior member of the firm toward him was almost that of a father, and the feel-
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ing and devotion were fully reciprocated on his part. Mr. Geiger was finally admitted to partnership in the business, and thereafter its practical management was vested in him until his death, while the title of the firm remained unchanged. By very nature he was not a man to long remain in a subordinate position, for his capacities and ambition led him constantly to larger and greater things, while his impreg- nable integrity of purpose gained and retained to him inviolable confidence and esteem as emanating from those with whom he came in contact in the various relations of life.
In his connection with the active duties of life he had no fortuitous aid aside from busi- ness ability of a high order and personal worth seldom equalled, but through these he was ad- vanced step by step through the appreciative judgment of a just employer of the strictest business principles and discipline,-an em- ployer who was a judge of men and motives and one to whom young Geiger made himself indispensable. The latter was signally faithful and efficient in his services, in no matter what capacity, and he was rational in his ambition and material aspirations. He ever consulted the interests of the firm by which he was em- ployed and thereby advanced his own interests. His relations with Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., both in a business and social sense, were those of a brother, and he became the chief adviser and executor with him in the settlement of the estate of Theodore H. Eaton, Sr., to whom he ever acknowledged a debt of gratitude for consideration, solicitude and kindly affection.
Mr. Geiger was possessed of executive abil- ity of exceptionally high order, and his sys- tematizing of the details of the business of his firm was such that when their establishment was practically destroyed by fire, in 1905, the insurance adjusters stated that they "had never before encountered a situation where the show- ing was so entirely beyond question or im- peachment." At a bankers' meeting in Detroit the query was once raised as to who was the best business man in the city, and to Mr. Geiger was awarded the favorable decision,
though a more modest man never availed him- self of banking privileges.
Next to his family and his business Mr. Geiger's most pronounced interest was in his loved fraternity, the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He became a member of Detroit Lodge, No. 6, on the 29th of January, 1878, and on the 21st of the following May he was elected its recorder,-a position of which he remained incumbent for twenty-seven consecu- tive years, having been unanimously re-elected each successive term until impaired health and business responsibilities rendered it impossible to again accept the office. Detroit Lodge under his leadership became the largest in point of membership of all lodges of this order in the world. It also had the record of the largest class initiation of all lodges or societies of a fraternal character, and this honor was gained largely through the individual efforts and lead- ership of Mr. Geiger. The following resolu- tion was drafted and submitted by a special committee of the Michigan grand lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at the time of his death :
Workmen of the State of Michigan :
Your special committee, appointed to draft resolutions on the death of Past Grand Master Workman Benjamin F. Geiger, recommend the following :
Benjamin F. Geiger, past grand master workman, born January 27, 1847; died No- vember 9, 1905.
"His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that nature might rise up and say-here was a man." A member of the fra- ternity for twenty-seven years, for twenty- seven years recorder of his local lodge, the largest local organization of the order. Twenty-seven years a member of the grand lodge, receiving the highest honors at its com- mand; supreme representative for four dis- tinct periods,-is surely a record of esteem and confidence that has scarcely a parallel in the development of the order represented here to- day. Here was a man of great heart, great intellect and great loyalty,-one whose sacri- fice and devotion bore no taint of selfishness or personal ambition to the detriment of the cause he served.
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Benjamin F. Geiger died where "manhood's morning almost touches noon and as the shad- ows were falling toward the west." He was a grand exemplar of the highest type of man. This poor old world is better for his having lived in it. To emulate his virtues is our duty and our opportunity.
Brothers, let us keep the example and rec- ord of Brother Geiger green in our hearts until we too shall be gathered to the land where our fathers have gone before us.
Resolved, That this resolution be spread upon the records of this grand lodge and a copy, under its seal, be forwarded to the be- reaved family of our late brother.
Fraternally submitted, GEORGE L. LUSK, WALTER J. G. DEAN, JOHN C. ELLSWORTH, Committee.
In politics Mr. Geiger gave his allegiance to the Republican party, though he was never active in the domain of practical politics and never sought or desired official preferment in this line. His religious life was not one of ostentation but was a very part of his nature. He was identified with various civic and social organizations and as a citizen was ever loyal, progressive and public-spirited.
In 1865 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Geiger to Miss Rose Redmond, who was born at Almont, Michigan, and who is a daugh- ter of the late S. H. Redmond, of Almont. Mrs. Geiger survives her honored husband, as do also three daughters,-Rose Gertrude, who is the wife of Edwin Merrill Smith, of Detroit; Edith Margaret, who is the wife of Albert Frederick Bull, of this city; and Florence, who remains with her widowed mother in the beautiful family homestead.
The home life of Mr. Geiger was ideal. Society in its accepted sense did not appeal to him. He loved his own and also the circle of friends whom he attracted. He loved the hearthstone and the gentle traditions that will always cling to it. His charities, generous and liberal, were such as "let not the left hand know what the right hand doeth." Hundreds of persons whom he had quietly helped felt a sense of deep personal loss and bereavement
when he was called from the scenes of this mortal life, and it was found on settling his estate that many members of his fraternity, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, had been kept in good standing by his paying their assessments, so that they were enabled to en- joy the protection offered while unable per- sonally to make their payments.
As before stated, Mr. Geiger was summoned to the life eternal on the 9th of November, 1905, and in concluding this necessarily brief tribute to his memory there is consistency in perpetuating the following editorial which ap- peared in one of Detroit's leading daily news- papers at the time of his demise :
"No community, however large and pros- perous its industries, however sturdy and loyal its citizenship, can suffer the death of a man like Benjamin F. Geiger without a genuine sense of loss. Beginning life as an humble employe of the firm in which he died a partner, his advance in business, by force of merit alone, was rapid, steady and substantial, as was his growth in influence and prestige in the commercial world. Such was the modesty of his disposition and the quietness of his habits, both socially and commercially, that he was personally known, perhaps, to fewer individ- uals than any other man who has played an equally important part in the local business world; but his worth and capacity were almost universally recognized by all who did come in contact with him."
RANSOM GILLIS.
The late Ransom Gillis came to Detroit as a young man and here he rose to a position of prominence in mercantile circles, becoming one of the city's representative business men and ever maintaining a tenacious grasp upon the confidence and esteem of the community in which the major portion of his life was passed. He was a man of sterling integrity, rose to a plane of distinctive material success through his own efforts and ability, and made good use of his talents and their results.
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Mr. Gillis was a native of the Empire state of the Union, and the annals of the nation in- dicate that the family was founded in America in colonial days. He was born in Washington county, New York, on the 20th of December, 1838, and was a son of Alexander and Jane (Wilson) Gillis, both of whom were likewise natives of that county, where they passed their entire lives and where the father followed the vocation of farming throughout his entire active career. From the farm have come the vast majority of men who have in America in past generations risen to prominence in the broader fields of human endeavor and accom- plishment, and the discipline has ever been one promotive of self-reliance, courage, and in- sistent integrity of purpose,-attributes which can not but make for success. Such training was that received by Mr. Gillis in his youth, and he was afforded the advantages of the pub- lic schools of the locality in which he was born and reared, after which he continued his studies in Argyle Academy. At the age of fifteen years he entered the employ of a dry-goods firm in Argyle, and he remained thus engaged for nearly two years. During the succeeding eight years he was similarly employed in the establishment of John Stevenson, of North Argyle, and he withdrew from this connection in December, 1864. He thereupon came to Detroit, where he felt assured superior oppor- tunities were offered for advancement through individual effort. Here he secured a clerical position in the wholesale dry-goods house of Thorne & Shelden, which firm was later suc- ceeded by that of Allan Shelden & Company. With the latter he remained until 1872, when, upon the organization of the firm of Edson, Moore & Company, he became one of the in- terested principals in the latter. As a partner in this wholesale dry-goods concern he as- sumed the general management of the business. He devoted his splendid energies to the up- building of the business of his house, which soon gained precedence and eventually became the largest of its kind in the state. He was a prominent figure in its administrative affairs
during the long years of his identification with the same. He continued an active factor in the business until the time of his death, which occurred on the 31st of December, 1901, and his demise marked the passing away of one of Detroit's most honored and substantial busi- ness men. He was a director of the Citizens' Savings Bank and was interested in other local enterprises. His political support was given to the Republican party, and while he showed a loyal interest in public affairs he was never an aspirant for political office. He was one of the organizers of the old Michigan Club, whose organization finally lapsed, to be revived in 1908. This club was long a factor of power in forwarding the interests of the Republican party in Michigan. Mr. Gillis became a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church in 1865, and from 1873 until his death he served as an elder in the same. He was ever a devoted and earnest worker in the church. He was for some time secretary of the board of trustees of Grace Hospital and was a man of broad human sympathies and philanthropic instincts. He was a member of the Lake St. Clair Fishing & Shooting Club.
On the 20th of July, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gillis to Miss Helen A. Gaylord, daughter of Silas Gaylord, a promi- nent and influential citizen of Pontiac, Michi- gan. Mrs. Gillis survives her husband and still resides in the old home, endeared to her through the gracious memories and associa- tions of the past. Mr. and Mrs. Gillis became the parents of three children,-Ransom F., Grace M., and Gaylord W. Grace M. is now the wife of David S. Carter, of Detroit. Gay- lord W. succeeded to his father's interest in the business of Edson, Moore & Company, with which he remains actively identified.
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