USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > Compendium of history and biography of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan > Part 115
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On the 9th of October, 1879, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Keller to Miss Mary J. Miller, whose father was a well known con- tractor in the city of Toledo, Ohio. Concern- ing the children of this felicitous union the fol- lowing brief data are entered : Mary A. is the wife of P. A. Closshey, of Detroit; Frank H. is individually mentioned in this work; John G. is superintendent of the Bellevue Pipe & Foun- dry Company, of Bellevue, Ohio; and Kathe- rine, Herman J. and Louis B. remain at the parental home. Herman J. is a student in Detroit College.
THOMAS E. NEWTON.
In the industrial and commercial department of this publication is entered a brief review of the history of the Newton Beef Company, of which representative concern the subject of this sketch was the founder and of which he is president and treasurer, being one of the lead- ing figures in this line of enterprise in the city of Detroit.
Thomas E. Newton has maintained his home in Wayne county from the time of his birth,
which occurred at the homestead farm of his parents, in Livonia township, on the 15th of March, 1866. He is a son of Melvin and Mary (Newington) Newton, the former of whom was born in Rochester, New York. Melvin Newton was reared and educated in the old Empire state, where he continued to reside until he came to Wayne county, Michigan, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also eventually became a successful dealer in farm lands and built up a prosperous business as a buyer and shipper of live stock.
Thomas E. Newton gained his rudimentary education in the district school near his farm home and supplemented this by attending the public schools of Detroit. Reared on a farm, and early gaining a thorough knowledge of live-stock values, he began independent opera- tions as a buyer of stock when still a youth, instituting such operations in 1882, when but sixteen years of age. He purchased stock from the farmers in this section of the state and also became connected with opera- tions in the Detroit stock yards. In 1890 he began handling dressed live-stock on a small scale, slaughtering not to exceed ten head a week. In that year he purchased the retail meat business of Captain Owen, in the old Central market of Detroit, and shortly afterward he assumed the manage- ment of the business of William Wreford, who was virtually the pioneer in the wholesale meat trade in Detroit. In 1901 he organized the Newton Beef Company, which he has de- veloped into one of the leading concerns in the meat trade in the Michigan metropolis, as is shown in the article descriptive of the business. He is practically the sole owner of the busi- ness and is known as one of the reliable and progressive citizens of the city in which he has gained success and prestige through his own well directed efforts. He was one of the or- ganizers of the Northern Assurance Company, of Detroit, and remains one of the principal stockholders of the same. He is also treasurer and general manager of the Gayety Theater Company, of Detroit.
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Mr. Newton is essentially public-spirited and he shows a lively interest in all that tends to promote the civic and industrial progress of his home city. He is an active member of the Detroit Board of Commerce and in politics he is a Republican, though in local affairs he is not constrained by partisan lines but gives his support to men and measures meeting the ap- proval of his judgment. He is a lover of horses and has exploited several fine standard- breds, among the number being "Harry H.," well known in local turf circles.
On the 2d of March, 1893, Mr. Newton was united in marriage to Mrs. Ellen Ida (Weeks) Callan, daughter of George F. Weeks, a rep- resentative merchant of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. The only child of this union is Thomas Alfred. Mrs. Newton has two children by her first marriage,-William Callan, who is secre- tary of the Newton Beef Company, and Ida May Callan, who is a graduate of the Central high school of Detroit and who remains at the parental home.
JOHN J. BARLUM.
One of the representative business men of the younger generation in Detroit is John J. Barlum, general manager of the firm of Thomas Barlum & Sons, manufacturers of pork products and wholesale and retail dealers in meats, and also president and general manager of the Postal Transportation Company. A sketch of the career of his father, Thomas Bar- lum, as well as a description of the business of Thomas Barlum & Sons, appears in this vol- ume, and in the present connection it is there- fore unnecessary to offer a further resumé of the family history or of the enterprise so suc- cessfully conducted by the firm mentioned.
Mr. Barlum is a native son of Detroit, where he was born on the 14th of April, 1866, the eldest of the five children of Thomas and Bridget (McNamara) Barlum. After pre- liminary training in the public and parochial schools of Detroit Mr. Barlum continued his studies in Detroit College, a fine institution
conducted under the control of the Catholic church, and in 1888 he was graduated in the Goldsmith Business College, of this city, hav- ing completed a thorough commercial course and thus fitted himself for the active responsi- bilities of life. After leaving school he be- came identified with the business of his father, learning the same in all its details and soon proving an able coadjutor in the enterprise. In 1889 he was admitted to partnership, under the firm name of Thomas Barlum & Son, and at a later time his younger brothers were ad- mitted to the firm, whose title then became Thomas Barlum & Sons, as at present main- tained. Mr. Barlum is also a stockholder and director of the Stewart Transportation Com- pany, operating a line of freight vessels on the Great Lakes, and in 1907 he was the chief or- ganizer of the Postal Transportation Company, which was incorporated in that year. His as- sociates in this corporation are Fred Postal, William McFall, Thomas Lewis, G. B. Green- ing, A. R. Lee, Captain Murray McIntosh, and his father, Thomas Barlum, and his two brothers, Thomas J. and Louis. He was elect- ed president and treasurer of the company at the time of its incorporation, and has since been incumbent of this dual office, as well as that of general manager. The first boat of the company's line was completed in Decem- ber, 1907, at a cost of three hundred and twen- ty thousand dollars. This vessel, the "Thomas Barlum," is of steel construction, is five hun- dred feet in length and is one of the best freight boats on the lake system. It was constructed by the Detroit Shipbuilding Company and is of the best modern type of propellers.
Mr. Barlum is a most progressive and pub- lic-spirited business man and is one of the ac- tive and valued members of the Detroit Board of Commerce, in which he has rendered effect- ive service. In politics he gives an unswerv- ing allegiance to the Democratic party, in whose local ranks he has been a zealous and influential factor, being a close adviser and energetic supporter of his cousin, Hon. Will- iam B. Thompson, former mayor of the city
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of Detroit, in the latter's various campaigns. He is a member of the Rushmere Club, whose fine club house is located in the Lake St. Clair flats, and he is also identified with the Fellow- craft Club, and with Detroit Lodge, No. 34, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, in which latter he is a member of the committee having in charge the erection of the new Elk's building.
In March, 1892, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Barlum to Miss Julia M. Lewis, a daughter of the late Thomas Lewis, who was a prominent and influential citizen of Detroit and a member of one of the city's old and hon- ored families. Thomas Lewis was a brother of the venerable Alexander Lewis, who served as mayor of the city many years ago and who is the subject of a memoir in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Barlum have three children,-Viola N., Lewis Thorne, and Charlotte M. Viola is attending the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Barlum are prominent in the social life of their home city, where both enjoy distinctive popularity.
FRANK H. KELLER.
One of the representative young business men of Detroit, Mr. Keller formerly held the office of secretary of the Northwestern Foun- dry & Supply Company. He was born at Pull- man, Illinois, on the 7th of October, 1883, and is a son of Herman D. and Mary J. (Miller) Keller. A review of the life of his father ap- pears on other pages of this volume. His early educational discipline was secured in Catholic parochial schools in the city of Chi- cago and this training was supplemented by a course in St. Joseph's Commercial College, De- troit, in which he was graduated in June, 1900. In the same year he became shipping clerk in the works of the Northwestern Foundry & Supply Company, and in January, 1903, he was promoted to the position of time-keeper. Having thoroughly familiarized himself with the varied details of the business, he was called to the position of secretary in 1906, and in
this office he showed much discrimination and administrative ability.
The subject of this sketch has long been in- terested in sleight-of-hand work and other forms of the "magic art," in which he him- self has attained to no slight adeptness. He was the chief promoter of the organization of the Society of Detroit Magicians, in 1903, and has been its secretary and treasurer from its inception. The society has a membership of about thirty persons and its objects are the acquirement of information and facility in the art of magic. Many pleasurable entertain- ments have been given by the organization and by it have been entertained many of the lead- ing public performers in the line of magic and legerdemain. Mr. Keller is also an apprecia- tive student of standard literature and has ac- cumulated a valuable library, covering a wide range of subjects. He and his wife are com- municants of Holy Rosary Catholic church.
On the 20th of June, 1905, Mr. Keller was united in marriage to Miss Quinnie May Havi- land, daughter of John Haviland, who was for many years engaged in the manufacturing of crackers in Detroit and who is now identified with the same line of enterprise in Lansing, this state.
MARTIN BREITMEYER.
Deeply appreciative of the beauties and the commercial and industrial precedence of his native city, Mr. Breitmeyer, is known as one of the thoroughly progressive young business men of Detroit, and as one who is found ever ready to lend his aid and influence in the for- warding of those enterprises which make for the development of the "Greater Detroit."
Mr. Breitmeyer was born in Detroit, on the 19th of March, 1874, and is a son of Frank and Emma (Cramer) Breitmeyer. He found in the public schools of Detroit ample provision for preliminary educational discipline and duly availed himself of the privileges thus afforded, after which he completed a commercial course in the Detroit Business University. His fa- miliarity with the manifold details of the brew-
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ing business has been gained by thorough and intimate experience in connection with the work and operations of the various depart- ments. At the age of seventeen years he be- came a helper in the brewery of Conrad Pfeif- fer, and thus, in 1891, initiated his connection with the line of industry in which he has at- tained to so marked prestige, being now vice- president and treasurer of the C. Pfeiffer Brewing Company, which is the lineal succes- sor of the concern with which he first identi- fied himself. He gave careful attention to the work in hand and gained promotion through the various grades and departments until he became essentially indispensable. In 1894 he assumed the position of bookkeeper in the of- fice of the concern, and of this office he contin- ued incumbent until 1902, when, upon the in- corporation of the C. Pfeiffer Brewing Com- pany, he became a stockholder in the same, and was elected its vice-president and treasurer. He has since continued in charge of the fiscal affairs of the company and has done much to promote its interests and gain to it the suc- cess which now designates it as one of the lead- ing industrial concerns of its kind in the city of Detroit.
Mr. Breitmeyer is well and favorably known in the business circles of his native city and here he has a host of loyal and valued friends. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Re- publican party and the only social or semi- business organization of which he is a member is the German Salesmen's Association. He has a delightful home and the same is the cen- ter of his social interests,-the place where he finds his greatest solace and pleasure. He and his wife are zealous members of the German Evangelical church, in whose faith he was reared.
On the 2d of March, 1898, Mr. Breitmeyer was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Groehn, daughter of one of the well known German- American citizens of Detroit, and they have one son, Hazen F. G., who was born on the 17th of December,' 1898.
JOHN COLL.
One of the progressive business men of De- troit is John Coll, who is a stockholder of the Independent Brewing Company, of which he was formerly president and to which consid- eration is given specifically in the industrial and commercial department of this publication.
Mr. Coll is a scion of staunch old German stock and was born on the island of Fuehr, in the North Sea, Germany, on the 6th of April, 1859. He is a son of Henry Coll, who was born in Germany. Henry Coll came to the United States and settled in the state of New York, where he enlisted for service in the Union army at the outbreak of the civil war. He became a member of the Sixty-eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, and remained with the same, as a private, until victory crowned the Union arms and the integrity of the nation was perpetuated. He died in the year 1901, at Augusta, Maine, where he had been for some time a resident in the soldiers' home of that commonwealth.
The subject of this review secured his early education in the excellent schools of his father- land, and in 1872, at the age of thirteen years, he came alone to the United States, and took up his residence with his uncle, Frederick Brardt, who was a shoemaker by trade and vo- cation. He finally entered upon an appren- ticeship at the carpenter's trade, in Detroit, be- coming a skilled workman and being employed as a journeyman for a number of years, after which he was engaged in contracting and building on his own account until 1884, when he established himself in the retail grocery business at the corner of Fort and Morrell streets. There he built up a large and substan- tial trade, in which he continued until 1898, when he sold out. He was thereafter retired from active business for some time and made a visit to his old home in Germany, where he re- mained several months. In January, 1903, he engaged in the coal business in Detroit, being associated therein with William C. Clark. He continued to be identified with this enterprise until 1906, when he disposed of his interest in
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the business and became one of the organizers of the Independent Brewing Company, of which he was the first president, retiring in 1908.
Mr. Coll is identified in a fraternal way with the National Union, and he and his wife hold membership in St. Paul's church.
On the Ist of August, 1879, Mr. Coll was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Frahm,
daughter of John Frahm, of Detroit, and they have two children: Bernhard, who was born in 1880, was afforded the advantages of the Detroit public schools and 1898 he enlisted in the United States navy, in which he served four years: he is now a salesman for the In- dependent Brewing Company; John, Jr., who was born in 1886, was educated in the public schools and remains at the parental home.
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