USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 11
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Charles Whitney Carman .- Few men have lent more practical encouragement to the grain and general produce raisers of Kent coun- ty than has Charles Whitney Carman, of Grand Rapids, whose ca- reer has been a remarkable one by reason of the vast extent of his operations as well as because of the number of fields which it has invaded. The founder of the great Carmanday farming community in Alberta, Canada, in 1912, he began agricultural experiments on a large farm in Caledonia township, and here has demonstrated the value of modern methods in farming work in a manner that has lent impetus to the activities of the men who are seeking to develop to the full extent the resources of this rich region. Mr. Carman was born at Walworth, Wayne county, New York, Dec. 16, 1858, son of John and Electa (Camburn) Carman, natives of Rush, N. Y., who in 1868 came to Fenton, Mich., where the elder Carman engaged in buy- ing and selling land. Charles W. Carman was the youngest in a family of four children, the others being Georgia, wife of H. H. Her- bert, of Ann Arbor, Mich .; Mary A., also of that city ; and George M., of Chicago. He received good educational advantages in his youth and attended the University of Michigan during the several years that the family resided in that city, serving for one year as librarian of the college. While there he had the duties of reporting all ob- servations to Lansing and Washington, and when he completed his collegiate course he became principal of the high school at Owosso, a position which he held during 1885 and 1886. In 1887 he was ap- pointed instructor in science at the Grand Rapids Central High School, following which, for eight years, he was Grand Rapids city electrician. Next, for two years, he was president and general man- ager of the Grand Rapids Electric Company, and at the end of that period went to Chicago, where for several years he had charge of the electrical appliances in the public schools of the Illinois metropo- lis. In 1905, when he purchased 16,000 acres of land in Alberta, Can- ada, he founded the Carmanday Farm Company, an enterprise that has since grown to stupendous proportions, and four years later, through his efforts, the Canadian Pacific railway was influenced to build a branch line to the newly formed town of Carmanday. How great a matter of importance this venture has become is shown in the fact that during four years Mr. Carman has raised 150,000 bushels of wheat on this land. This is now leased, and he spends his summers in Alberta, looking after his interests, while his winters are passed at his home in Grand Rapids, in which city he also has important con- nections. In 1912 he bought 165 acres of land in Caledonia township, Kent county, and since that time has added 400 additional acres to his original purchase, and here he is engaged in experimental work in growing grain and produce and in raising Holstein cattle and Bel- gian horses, as well as Berkshire hogs. His operations thus far have been of great benefit to the farmers of this section and have been an incentive to spur them to renewed efforts in getting the greatest amount of value and production out of their labors. Mr. Carman is the owner of two apartment buildings in Chicago and land and real estate in other parts of the country. He is a Blue Lodge Mason and is well known in club life at Grand Rapids, where he belongs to a number of prominent organizations. He was married June 17, 1899, to Gertrude A., daughter of George M. Gay, of the Berkey & Gay
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Furniture Company of Grand Rapids. They have one child, George Gay, born June 11, 1902, and now attending the Grand Rapids Cen- tral High School.
Joseph A. Carroll .- In business and financial circles of Grand Rapids the name of Joseph A. Carroll has come to be known in re- cent years as that of one of the younger generation who is rapidly ยท making a place for himself in the field of finance. Practically his en- tire career has been identified with banks and bankers and his rise to important position has been as steady as it has been well deserved. At the present time he is the energetic and progressive assistant treas- urer of the Grand Rapids Trust Company, which, while one of the newer financial institutions of the city, is already one of the leading ones. Mr. Carroll was born at Mount Pleasant, Mich., March 19, 1882, a son of John and Celia (Gorman) Carroll, natives of Ontario, Canada. His parents, who were agricultural people, came to the United States about 1877 and settled in the vicinity of Mount Pleas- ant, where the father rounded out his life as a farmer and passed away as one of the highly respected men of his community. He is survived by Mrs. Carroll, who makes her home with her son at Grand Rapids. After attending the public schools of Mount Pleasant, Joseph A. Car- roll prepared for a business career by taking a course in a commer- cial college in his home community, and secured his first experience in the difficult field of finance after graduating from Ferris Institute, Big Rapids. He was employed in the Isabella County State Bank, at Mount Pleasant, and for three or four years acted in the capacity of bookkeeper of that institution, then going to Lake View, Mich., to become assistant cashier of the Farmers' & Merchants' State Bank. After three years with that institution he came to Grand Rapids and entered The Michigan Trust Company, but two years later, in 1913, when the Grand Rapids Trust Company was organized, joined its forces as assistant treasurer and still retains that office. Mr. Carroll is a Democrat in politics, but has had no time to enter the political arena as a contestant for public favors. His religious connection is with St. Andrew's Cathedral, and he has numerous friends in the Plainfield Country and Schubert clubs, of which he is a member. Mr. Carroll was married Sept. 16, 1916, to Maud, daughter of John D. and Sarah (Rowan) Carpenter, of Tacoma, Wash. He resides at 366 Richard Terrace, S. E.
Lavant Z. Caukin .- In tracing the careers of men who have met with success in their undertakings in any community, it will be found that each one possesses in common certain qualities, among these be- ing included ambition, perseverance and industry. To these, as in the case of Lavant Z. Caukin, vice-president of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, are added sound judgment, unswerving integrity and a thorough appreciation of responsibility that produce a man of force, usefulness and undoubted achievement. Mr. Caukin was born in Oakfield township, Kent county, Michigan, Oct. 23, 1860, a son of Volney W. and Frances (Marvin) Caukin, natives of New York, and a grandson of Thompson I. Caukin, who was county treasurer of Kent county in 1861 and a well-known agriculturist. Volney W. Cau- kin came to Michigan, March 30, 1844, and first located in Grattan township, where he took up land from the United States government. Later he removed to Oakfield township, in 1866 went to Sparta, where
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he resided until 1887, and in that year took up his residence in Ant- rim county, near Chestonia, where he lived about three years, and there his death occurred, in 1889, while his wife passed away in 1872 at Sparta. Mr. Caukin was one of the prominent citizens of his day and locality and served in the offices of county surveyor and super- visor, and was also sent to the State Legislature. There were eight children in the family, as follows : Lucy A., of Grand Rapids ; Emma, deceased, who was the wife of S. P. Petersen; Belle A., who is the wife of Albert Kocher and resides near Shelby, Mich .; Benton A., a farmer of Antrim county; Ada F., of Grand Rapids; Marvin E., of Sparta; Lavant Z .; and Cornelius H., who is connected with the Fourth National Bank. Lavant Z. Caukin attended the public schools of Sparta and the University of Michigan, where he took both the literary and law courses and was graduated in the latter in 1891. At that time he began the practice of his profession at Grand Rapids, with Myron H. Walker, over the Fourth National Bank. After six months of practice he gave up the law for banking, entering the in- stitution named as teller, and rapidly rose through industry and fidel- ity to auditor, assistant cashier and cashier, and finally to vice-presi- dent, the position which he now occupies. Mr. Caukin is a member of the Park Congregational church and is fraternally affiliated with Lodge No. 34, F. & A. M. He has taken a good citizen's part in the movements which have been founded for the betterment of Grand Rapids and its institutions, and is accounted one of the sound and substantial men of the community who have had its welfare at heart while advancing their own interests. Mr. Caukin was married June 30, 1892, to Miss Fannie Daniels, daughter of John Spencer and Mary A. (Hill) Daniels, and they have two children-Howard D. and Park H. The business of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids reaches back to the year 1868, when the bank of E. P. and S. L. Fuller was established with offices on old Canal street. The Fuller bank was succeeded, in 1876, by the Graff & Dennis Bank, and Jan. 20, 1879, the latter combined with Randall & Darragh's Bank and incorporated under the state law, taking the name Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, with a capital stock of $100,000. The officers were as follows: Leonard H. Randall, president; Harry H. Dennis, vice- president ; James C. Darragh, cashier. The first board of directors of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank consisted of the following: Leon- ard H. Randall, William Sears, James Nelson, Amasa B. Watson, Thomas M. Peck, Henry H. Dennis and Edwin Bradford. On Jan. 23, 1880, the capital stock was increased to $200,000. On Jan. 17, 1882, the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank reorganized as a national bank, taking the name The Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, Michi- gan, and increasing the capital stock to $300,000. The first officers of the Fourth National Bank were: A. B. Watson, president ; A. J. Bowne, vice-president, and I. M. Weston, cashier, while the first board of directors consisted of A. B. Watson, A. J. Bowne, William Sears, E. S. Pierce, James Blair, George W. Gay, D. A. Blodgett and I. M. Weston. On May 24, 1884, A. B. Watson resigned as president and A. J. Bowne was elected to that office. William H. Anderson was given supervision of the bank as managing director, Nov. 16, 1891, and Jan. 13, 1892, was appointed cashier. On the latter date D. A. Blodgett was elected president and S. F. Aspinwall, vice-president, II-6
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but Mr. Aspinwall died April 3 of the same year, and on the following May 16, George W. Gay was elected vice-president to succeed him. D. A. Blodgett desiring to retire, March 21, 1898, William H. Ander- son was elected to succeed him and still continues as the executive head of the institution. The death of George W. Gay, Sept. 13, 1899, caused a vacancy in the vice-presidency, and Nov. 20, 1899, John W. Blodgett was elected vice-president to succeed him, serving in that capacity until his resignation, Nov. 27, 1916, his election as a Class B director in the Federal Reserve Bank of the district including Grand Rapids, making necessary a severance of all official connection with a member bank. Lavant Z. Caukin was appointed cashier March 6, 1906, and J. C. Bishop, assistant cashier, and Jan. 9, 1917, Mr. Caukin was advanced to the vice-presidency and Mr. Bishop to the cashier- ship, Alva T. Edison being appointed assistant cashier. When the Fourth National was incorporated in 1882, it occupied quarters at the southwest corner of Lyon and old Canal streets. It moved across the street Oct. 25, 1884, into a building especially prepared for it on the site now occupied by the new Commercial Savings Bank build- ing. In 1902 the present location, on Campau Square, was purchased, the building was extensively remodeled, and this has been the home of the Fourth National to the present time.
George Clapperton .- Among the strong figures of the day who are boldly standing for a reform in social and economic conditions, none of the leaders of Kent county have a better record and more appreciative audience than has George Clapperton. One of the lead- ing attorneys of Grand Rapids, he is also one of the most forceful advocates before the public of betterment of civic and state institu- tions, to which purpose he has contributed his fine abilities in a num- ber of important capacities. Mr. Clapperton was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, July 10, 1857, and as a youth was brought by his parents to the United States. After attending the public graded and high schools, for two years he was a student in an academy at Otsego, Mich., and then came to Grand Rapids and began to read law in the offices of Taggart & Denison. Admitted to the bar in 1888, he began practice and continued until 1894, when he became a mem- ber of the firm of Wylie & Clapperton, this firm being in existence until 1898. Mr. Clapperton then continued practice as an individual, but in 1904 formed the partnership that brought about the firm of Clapperton & Owen, this being succeeded by Clapperton, Owen & Hatten, when C. R. Hatten was admitted as a member. The firm has offices at No. 1017-1021 Michigan Trust building and is engaged in a general practice, although Mr. Clapperton specializes to a consider- able extent in corporation law. Mr. Clapperton is intensely interested in his profession and it forms his principal interest in life, but he is broad-minded in his views and makes more than a business out of his calling. In 1900 and 1901 he performed the difficult task of prepar- ing a report on taxation in regard to corporations in the United States, as a member of the commission appointed for this work, and this report is to be found in Vol. 19 of the United States Industrial Commissions. His practice is of a nature that naturally demands his attention nearly to the exclusion of other matters, but in some way he has found the time to prove himself a very useful and progressive citizen of his city and state, and in a number of public positions has
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displayed rare executive and legislative ability. As a keen student of economic and social conditions, he served for three years as a member of the State Board of the Pontiac Asylum, and for three or four years as a member of the State Board of Corrections and Chari- ties. During the administration of President Taft, he was appointed United States collector of internal revenue for Western Michigan and served from Sept. 1, 1911, to September, 1914. Mr. Clapperton was married in 1887 to Miss Harriet Parker, of Byron, N. Y., and they have two children: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Howard Baxter, of Grand Rapids, and George Douglas, a student at the University of Michigan, who is a graduate of Amherst College. He attained the degree of M. A. at the Michigan University in 1917 and is now work- ing for his degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Charles W. Clark has spent the greater part of his life in Kent county and is now actively engaged in farming in the vicinity of Sand Lake. While there have been but few exciting chapters in his life, his career having been passed for the greater part in peaceful and pro- saic pursuits, in his history there are to be found lessons which will appeal to the man who recognizes the force of energy, industry and integrity in the affairs of life, for it has been due to these elements in his character that Mr. Clark has won his success and become one of the substantial men of his community. Charles W. Clark was born on a farm in the township of Hinton, Mecosta county, Michigan, Jan. 3, 1866. I. W. Clark, his father, was born in the State of Indiana, from whence as a young man he went to Missouri, and later settled in Michigan. He secured land in Hinton township, Mecosta county, where he was compelled to clear off the timber before he could plant and work the soil, and continued to be engaged in farming until about 1881. At that time he turned his attention to draying at Cedar Springs, and continued to be thus engaged until about 1911. Selling out, he moved to Sand Lake, but after a short time resumed farming and is agriculturally engaged at this time. Mr. Clark married Miss Ada Louise Rockwood, daughter of Reuben Rockwood, and of this union there were born nine children: Charles W., Grace, John, a resident of Grand Rapids; Etta, deceased; Forrest W., employed at the canning factory at Hart, Mich .; Reuben, deceased; Ada, de- ceased ; Nina, and Albert. Charles W. Clark was educated in the dis- trict schools of Hinton and Algoma townships, and when he entered upon his independent career was variously engaged as honorable- em- ployment of a profitable character presented itself. After working in the mills and on the railroads at Cedar Springs, he embarked in the draying business as his father's assistant, and continued thus em- ployed for a period of ten years. Mr. Clark eventually turned his at- tention to farming and he is thus engaged at the present time. He has gained an enviable reputation for marked integrity in the dis- charge of his engagements, personal, civic and business, and is gen- erally well thought of in the community of Sand Lake. Mr. Clark married Miss Edna I. Whiticar, daughter of Isaac F. and Louisa A. (Bristol) Whiticar. Mr. Whiticar was a mill hand until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted as a soldier of the Union in the Seventh Michigan infantry, serving through the war and returning in safety to his family. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark there have been born the following children: Ernest I., who died when five months of
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age; Leo Leroy, who married Edna Wilson, daughter of Phillip Wil- son, a farmer of Montcalm county, Michigan, and has two children- Claude and Viola O .; and Glenn and Howard, who are attending the district schools of Nelson township. Mr. Clark has not been particu- larly desirous of holding public office, but has served as a member of the school board and has been a hearty supporter of worth-while movements in his community. He votes with the Republican party in national and local elections.
Melvin J. Clark .- A resident of Grand Rapids for more than thirty-four years, the late Melvin J. Clark was variously identified with its business interests, and in his career rose to a place only occu- pied by those who have striven honorably and unselfishly for the at- tainment of their goal. While he was persevering in his efforts to attain a competence and business prominence and never passed by an opportunity for advancement, in his transactions with his fellow-men Mr. Clark was ever honest and straightforward, true to his engage- ments and faithful to his contracts, and that is why, although nine years have passed since his death, his influence is still felt among those who associated with him during his sojourn in the city. Mr. Clark was born at Morpeth, County Kent, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 7, 1835, a son of James and Sarah (Richardson) Clark. He was eight years of age when brought to Michigan by his parents, agricultural people who settled on a farm on Bear Creek, in Cannon township, Kent county. There the parents rounded out long, useful and honor- able lives, attracting and holding the esteem and respect of their neighbors and rearing their children to lives of honesty and industry. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which they died, and Mr. Clark was a Republican after coming to this country. They were unassuming people, kindly and charitable, who were content to follow the simple lives of tillers of the soil and had no desire for the more strenuous activities of the city. They were the parents of five children: Esther, James D., Mary, Melvin J., and Isaac M., of whom all are now deceased. Melvin J. Clark started to school at Morpeth, but had not advanced far when he was brought to Michigan, and here resumed his studies as a pupil in the country district schools in Kent county. Later he secured an acad- emic training at Grand Rapids and when he embarked upon his inde- pendent career did so as a farmer, taking up wild land in Solon town- ship, which he cleared and cultivated. He met with success in till- ing the soil and also as a merchant, establishing himself in business as the proprietor of a small country store at Solon Center, but after three years at the latter place removed to Cedar Springs and engaged in mercantile lines on a larger scale. In 1875 he disposed of his in- terests at that place and came to Grand Rapids. By this time he had developed to such an extent that he was ready to enter the wholesale field, which he did in the grocery business, with Isaac M. Clark, his brother, as partner. This proved a successful venture, as did also the hardware business which was added to the grocery enterprise, but after several more years Mr. Clark sold his holdings in both concerns and turned his attention to the lumber trade, in association with Frank Jewell. He was still engaged in that business at the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 23, 1909. The business interests of Grand Rap- ids lost a valuable representative in his death, and the city a citizen
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who had always been public-spirited and generous in his support of beneficial civic movements. He was a Republican, although not ac- tive as a politician, and in fraternal life was identified with Cedar Springs Masonic lodge. Mr. Clark was married Dec. 15, 1861, to Miss Emily Jewell, daughter of Edward and Jane (Dunham) Jewell, of Solon township, Kent county, and they have three children: Mar- garet, wife of E. W. Wurzburg, of Grand Rapids; Edward J., and Melvin Jewell. Edward Jewell, who came to Michigan, in 1855, from New York state, built the first frame building in Solon township and was the first supervisor of that township. Later he moved to Cedar Springs, where he lived for some years and had several business con- nections, but in 1880 retired from active pursuits and came to Grand Rapids, where he lived quietly for some years. In the evening of life he went to California, and there his death occurred, June 11, 1900.
Capt. Jess W. Clark .- One of the best-known men in military circles of Michigan, Capt. Jess W. Clark has for many years ren- dered services of the most important character to his country. His record as a soldier began in 1898, and since that year he has steadily advanced in the service, where he is particularly valuable because of his brilliant achievements in the building of rifle ranges, although his entire career has been one of notable vigilance in safeguarding the public, praiseworthy enthusiasm in official service and splendid loyalty to his country. Captain Clark was born at Marshall, Calhoun county, Michigan, April 9, 1868, son of Charles D. and Josephine C. (Vail) Clark. His father was captain of a troop of New York regulars in the cavalry service during the Civil war and served under the intrepid Custer, and in 1866 came to Marshall, Mich., where, with J. O. Fitch, he conducted a carriage-making establishment until about 1897. He is now deceased. Captain Clark was educated in the graded schools of Marshall and the high school at Cedar Springs, and as a youth worked in grocery stores at Cedar Springs and Rockford. In the meantime he had entered upon his army career, and in 1907 built the government rifle range, known as Bailey Range, since which time his duties have largely been centered in the building and inspectorship of government rifle ranges. Captain Clark enlisted as a private in Com- pany H, Thirty-second Michigan infantry, June 22, 1898, and was mustered out of the service Oct. 29, 1898. On Feb. 13, 1899, he be- came a member of Company K, of the same regiment, and in July, 1900, was promoted corporal, being made sergeant in July of the fol- lowing year. His term of service expiring, he re-enlisted, Feb. 13, 1902, and in February, 1903, was promoted first sergeant, and July 2, 1903, was commissioned second lieutenant of Company K. On July 11, 1904, he was transferred to Company M and commissioned first lieutenant, and Aug. 30, 1906, was commissioned captain of Company M. He was transferred to the regular staff in April, 1911, and at that time made inspector of rifle practice. For twelve consecutive years Captain Clark qualified as an expert rifleman, and in 1909 was captain of the official state rifle team. While acting in the capacity of inspec- tor of rifle practice, he composed the problem of change of field fir- ing, at Grayling, Mich., in 1914, where for the first time in a problem in the history of the state the troops used service ammunition. Cap- tain Clark was transferred to the command of Company L, June 7, 1916, and in that capacity saw active service on the Mexican border
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