USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 16
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ty, where Mrs. Flynn and her brothers and sisters, who are now scat- tered all over the United States, were born. To Mr. and Mrs. Flynn there have come seven children: Mary, wife of John Weaver, of Caledonia; John, a resident and farmer of Bowne township; Ber- nard J., also a farmer in that township; Thomas, a tailor in Grand Rapids ; and Leo, Margaret and Ivan, living at home.
Charles P. Foote .- In order to make possible the success of such large business enterprises as rule the commercial affairs of a leading city, there must be men of great ability, keen commercial sense and unlimited industry to found, foster and bring to completed impor- tance these same concerns. Among the men of Grand Rapids who possess these necessary characteristics is found Charles P. Foote, president of the Clipper Belt Lacer Company, an enterprise which has had a phenomenal growth during the comparatively short period of its existence. Mr. Foote was born at Hobart, Delaware county, New York, March 24, 1860, son of William S. and Mary A. (Blish) Foote. His parents passed their lives in that community, where his father was a hardware merchant until his death in 1880, the mother passing away five years later. There were four children in the fam- ily : Frederick, who died in 1867; Harriet, of Los Angeles, Cal., widow of George D. Ostrom; Charles P., and Frances M., wife of Stoddard Stephens, of Springfield, Mass. Charles P. Foote was edu- cated in the public schools of Hobart and his earliest business expe- rience was secured in his father's hardware store, of which he took charge at the time of the elder man's death, in 1880. He continued to conduct this business until 1889, when he disposed of his eastern interests and went to Atkinson, Kans., remaining there variously en- gaged until 1891, in that year locating at Grand Rapids. Here he identified himself with the firm of Foster, Stevens & Company for three years, and subsequently interested himself in other lines until January, 1908, when he acquired an interest in the Clipper Belt Lacer Company. This concern had been established by J. B. Stone, a resi- dent of London, England, who had the patent for the ingenious device known as the Clipper belt lacer. This Mr. Stone sent to his brother, Frank A. Stone, of Grand Rapids, who, in 1907, founded the business as J. B. Stone & Company. Mr. Foote, as noted, joined the firm in January, 1908, and in 1910 the company started to build its own plant at the corner of Commerce and Louis streets. The company was in- corporated for $12,000, with the following officers : Charles P. Foote, president ; John E. More, vice-president, and Frank A. Stone, secre- tary and treasurer. The stock was increased later to $20,000, and at the start of the year 1918 the capital stock was $500,000. The new plant of this concern was built in 1912, being occupied June 20 of that year, and the new offices were occupied July 1, 1916. There are now three buildings-one 100x300 feet, another 60x80 feet, and a third, of two stories, 80x80 feet. More than 100 skilled mechanics are em- ployed in the manufacture of this device, which is used, as its name implies, for the lacing of pulley belts; five traveling salesmen are maintained on the road, and a foreign office at London, England, cares for the European trade. A man of unusual business capacity, Mr. Foote's years of orderly and abundant work have resulted in ac- quired wealth and a sane enjoyment of it. He has given strict at- tention to his business, conducting it with a thoughtful and intelli-
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gent management which could not help but bring about satisfactory results. In business circles he is widely known and among his fel- low-members of the Rotary club and the Association of Commerce his reputation is an excellent one. In politics he is a Republican, and while he has not sought positions of preferment at the hands of his fellows or his party, he keeps himself thoroughly posted on public events and matters of general interest and is highly esteemed as a forceful, substantial man and an excellent citizen. Mr. Foote be- longs to the First Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a mem- ber of the board of trustees. His social connections are with the Highlands Golf and O-Wash-ta-nong clubs. Mr. Foote was married June 12, 1883, to Miss Alvira Stevens, daughter of Samuel H. and Mary (Foote) Stevens, of Coppersfield, N. Y.
William Rice Foster .- Without a doubt no individual has con- trol over all the circumstances which work for or against the favor- able completion of his plans, but the man who gains the ultimate end which he seeks is he who looks back upon the past for naught but experience upon which to base his future ventures. To glimpse back at discouragement untempers courage, while a glance at past suc- cess is apt to breed a complacent laxity which allows the plodder just behind to pass. The late William Rice Foster was an earnest student of the old, time-worn doctrine which the hare and the tor- toise propounded, and he used his every advance to gain footing only for a further leap. As a result he became one of the best known and most successful insurance men who have ever made Michigan their territory, and his declining years were passed in the enjoyment of well-won rewards at his home at Grand Rapids. Mr. Foster was born at Lockport, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1834, son of Theron and Mary (Pierce) Foster, natives of the Empire State. The family came West to Coldwater, Mich., in 1839, and there the father established him- self in business as the proprietor of a hotel. In his later years he went to San Jose, Cal., where he was the owner of the well-known and popular Willows Hotel, and where both he and Mrs. Foster died. William Rice Foster received his education in the public schools of Coldwater, Mich., and as a youth secured his first knowledge of busi- ness customs as clerk in a general merchandise store. Later he rose to be a partner in the largest merchandise, grain and wool-buying business in Southern Michigan, and in 1860 embarked in the insur- ance business, opening an office at Coldwater. For sixteen years he centered his activities in that city, where he built up a good business and attracted a large following, but in 1876 transferred his head- quarters to Grand Rapids, at that time a prolific field for experienced and skillful insurance men, the city having entered upon an era of business development and prosperity. In 1882 Mr. Foster was made assistant state agent for the New York Underwriters' Agency, and two years later was made state agent, which important position he held until he was retired, in 1892, with a liberal pension. From that time forward he lived quietly and died at his Grand Rapids home Dec. 22, 1904. Mr. Foster was a man of many excellencies of char- acter. He possessed the natural requisites without which no man can hope to succeed in the insurance business, and was an industri- ous, persevering and persistent workman in whatever he undertook to accomplish. His associates in the business world knew him for a
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man of his word; his integrity was never questioned. In politics a Democrat, he never sought the honors of the public arena, but was stanch in his support of party and friends. Fraternally he was an Elk, stood high in Masonry, being a Templar, and also belonged to the Shrine. In his vocation he belonged to the Local and Field In- surance Association of Michigan and the Northwestern Underwrit- ers' Association. His religious connection was with All Souls' church, of which he was a consistent attendant, although not a member. Mr. Foster was married Oct. 6, 1856, to Martha A., daughter of Samuel and Mary (Bridge) Love, of Coldwater, Mich., who survives him and makes her home at No. 556 Wealthy street, S. E.
Allen M. Freeland .- The story of the struggles and triumphs of a self-made man is always an interesting one, and it is instructive as well. It has, in a broad sense, been told many times, but the circum- stances of life are so various, that it can never be told twice alike, and it always possesses the element of novelty in some of its details. Among the self-made men in Kent county there are few who are more highly regarded than Allen M. Freeland, county commissioner of schools ; there is none whose honest and triumphant fight for success is more worthy of emulation. Mr. Freeland was born in Barry coun- ty, near Caledonia, Mich., March 18, 1872, a son of Horace and Ma- rian (Meyers) Freeland. His father was born in County Sussex, England, and came to the United States in 1851, when seventeen years of age, settling in Barry county, Michigan, near Caledonia, where during the remainder of his life he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. When he died, in September, 1899, his community lost one of its honorable and dependable citizens and a man who had, through his own example, assisted in elevating the standards of agriculture. In politics he was a stanch Republican, although he never aspired to public office, and in religious affairs he was of the United Brethren faith. Mrs. Freeland, who survives her husband and makes her home with her son, Homer H., at Grand Rapids, was born at Berlin, On- tario, Canada, of Swiss parentage. There were six children in the family as follows: Mary J. and John, deceased; Sarah B., widow of Homer Aukney, now a teacher in the Sheldon Street school, Grand Rapids; Amos, who resides on the old home farm near Caledonia ; Allen M., of this review, and Homer H., of the law firm of Maynard, Freeland & Munshaw, one of the leading concerns of Grand Rapids. In connection with Mr. Freeland's English ancestry at this time it may be noted that an uncle is captain of a British battleship doing duty off the coast of Great Britain, a cousin is in the British army in the Dardanelles region, and another cousin, who formerly held the chair of classical science at Oxford University, is at the front with the forces of the Allies. Allen M. Freeland was reared in a log cabin on the home farm and secured the rudiments of an education in a small rural school, situated two miles from his home. He was thir- teen years of age when he began to be partly self-supporting, at that time securing work as "devil" in a country newspaper office, where he mastered the art of setting type while performing the various du- ties devolving upon the humble position which he held. He spent one and one-half years in this menial work and his persistence and industry brought their reward when he was promoted to the proud position of compositor in one of the largest and best equipped print-
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ing offices in Northern Indiana, where he worked for a similar period of time. It was while thus engaged that he came to a realization that he needed a better education, and forthwith returned to his home and for five months attended a small village school. He was but seven- teen years of age when he succeeded in securing his teacher's certifi- cate, and for four years thereafter acted as teacher in one-room rural schools. He continued to teach in various communities in Kent county until able to enter the Indiana Normal School, connected with the Northern Indiana University at Valparaiso, where he took both the teachers' and scientific courses and graduated in 1900, with the de- gree of Bachelor of Science. He spent two years in teaching at Alas- ka, Mich., and a like period at Cannonsburg, and was then elected superintendent of the South Grand Rapids schools and held that of- fice until he became commissioner in 1907. He is now serving his third term in this latter capacity. During the time he was teaching, Mr. Freeland found time from the duties of the school room to at- tend to other matters. He completed the philosophical course at Hope College, Holland, Mich., in 1906, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from that institution, and Oct. 16, 1914, passed the state bar examination and was admitted to the bar by the United States Supreme Court. While at South Grand Rapids he conducted nine consecutive summer schools for teachers, which were largely at- tended by instructors from Kent and surrounding counties, and dur- ing that time was also a member of the state examining board for Kent county, from 1902 to 1906, while during the summers of 1909 and 1910 he was instructor in English in the Western Normal School at Kalamazoo. Politically, Mr. Freeland is a Republican, and in 1911 was elected a member of the first Grand Rapids charter commission, which framed a new charter for the city. He is fraternally a Thirty- second degree Mason, affiliated with Caledonia Lodge No. 387, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of DeWitt Clinton Consistory and Saladin Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Grand Rapids; Kent Camp, Modern Woodmen of America ; and the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also identified with the Michi- gan State Teachers' Association and has held several offices therein. Some of Commissioner Freeland's views in regard to education are quoted from an educational publication, Moderator-Topics: "Mr. Freeland believes thoroughly in the rural schools, and thinks that the two most important factors essential to their real progress are (1) an improvement in the quality of the teaching staff, and (2) more whole- some, more sanitary and better equipped school buildings. In his work as commissioner he is assiduously emphasizing these two phases of school betterment. He does not believe in the doctrine advocated by so many that the son of a farmer should necessarily be a farmer any more than he believes the son of a blacksmith should be a black- smith ; but he believes that the rural child, as well as the city child, should have the widest and best opportunities attainable to develop himself to the fullest capacity intellectually, morally, socially and physically, to the end that he may be of the greatest possible service no matter what occupation he may pursue in later years." Mr. Free- land was married Nov. 24, 1899, to Miss Bertha L. Dean, daughter of Henry R. and Carrie (Wood) Dean, of Grand Rapids, and they have a son, Forrest Dean, a graduate of the South Grand Rapids High School, where he was captain of the football team in 1916.
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Homer H. Freeland .- The qualifications and characteristics nec- essary to real success in the legal profession are of so peculiar and varied a nature that few men are found to possess them. Among these must be an intellect of more than ordinary activity, retentive to a high degree and with great receptive power ; a will strong to as- sert and indomitable in resolution and persistence, and a spirit cour- ageous and unfearing. Perhaps it is in the legal profession more than in any other that these gifts and talents have an opportunity to dis- play themselves. At any rate, the essentials of success are labor un- ceasing, energy unrecognisive of unsurmountable difficulties, and per- petual perseverance. The prizes offered to the eminent are numerous and splendid, but talent alone cannot conquer ; prolonged and ardu- ous effort must ever accompany. Of Homer H. Freeland, of Grand Rapids, it may be stated that he possesses in the full the qualities mentioned above and that they have served to place him in the lead- ing ranks among Kent county's legal practitioners. Mr. Freeland was born on a farm near Caledonia, in Barry county, Michigan, April 11, 1874, and is a son of Horace and Marian (Meyers) Free- land. His father was born in County Sussex, England, and was sev- enteen years of age when he came to the United States, in 1851, set- tling on a farm in Barry county, where he passed the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits and died in September, 1899. He was one of the industrious farmers and substantial citizens of his locality, a stanch Republican, and a faithful member of the United Brethren church. Mrs. Freeland, who lives with her son, Homer H., was born at Berlin, Ontario, Canada. There were six children in the family: Mary J. and John, who are deceased; Sarah B., widow of Homer Aukney, of Grand Rapids; Amos, who resides on a farm near Cale- donia ; Allen M., who is county superintendent of schools and resides at Grand Rapids; and Homer H. Homer H. Freeland secured his early education in the public school at Middleville and after his grad- uation began following the vocation of educator, in which he was en- gaged for sixteen years. During this time he decided to enter the legal profession and applied himself to the study of law, and June 15, 1895, was admitted to the bar. He did not at that time commence practice, however, for he continued to teach school until 1906 and then came to Grand Rapids and embarked actively in the vocation which he has since made his life's work, entering into partnership with Smedley & Convin, with whom he remained for two years. From 1908 until December, 1912, he practiced alone and then formed an as- sociation with Earl W. Munshaw. On Jan. 1, 1917, Fred A. May- nard became a partner, and the firm at that time took its present style of Maynard, Freeland & Munshaw. This is accounted one of the strongest legal combinations in general practice at Grand Rapids, and its members have been identified with much of the important liti- gation that has come before the courts of city, county and state in re- cent years. Mr. Freeland is well versed in the various branches of his profession and has gained an enviable standing, not alone as a skilled, thorough and learned practitioner, but as one who adheres to the best ethics of his calling. He has interested himself actively in matters that have affected the general welfare, and with other men of ability and public spirit has sought to advance movements for the civic betterment of the community. He has rendered the city faith-
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ful and efficient service as a member of the Board of Education, has given his time and abilities to assisting the work of the Division Ave- nue Improvement Association, and takes a helpful part in the meet- ings and movements of the Grand Rapids Association of Commerce. In fraternal affairs, he is identified with the Masonic Blue Lodge No. 86; Grand Rapids Lodge No. 2, Knights of Pythias, and Kent Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. With his family, he belongs to the South Congregational church and is a teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. Freeland was married July 9, 1902, to Miss Mabel F. Berridge, daughter of John and Arvesta Berridge, of Sand Lake, Mich., and they have two children-Marion Arvesta and Russell H., who are at- tending the public schools.
John W. Freyemuth .- One of the prominent agricultural fami- lies of Kent county bears the name of Freyemuth, and from the time it was established here, in 1865, to the present its members have been representative of the county's best citizenship. They have been iden- tified with the upbuilding of this section in every way, not only as industrious and successful farmers, using methods that teach others to make agriculture profitable, but they have given hearty support to public movements and to educational and religious organizations. It may well be deemed an honor to belong to such a family and one of its members may be found in John W. Freyemuth, who is a gen- eral farmer on section 30, Lowell township. Mr. Freyemuth was born Sept. 11, 1858, at Havana, Huron county, Ohio, son of John and Caroline F. (Leib) Freyemuth. His parents, natives of Baden, Ger- many, on first coming to this country spent one year at Boston and then moved to Huron county, Ohio, where the father followed his trade of wagon-maker for eighteen years. In 1865 he came to Kent county, Mich., and purchased eighty acres of land in Lowell township, the greater part of which was heavily timbered. This he cleared and cultivated, and through his industry and good management was able to add several tracts to his original purchase. After coming to Mich- igan he devoted his attention almost wholly to farming, but occasion- ally did work in the neighborhood in connection with his trade and was known as a skilled and finished workman. When he died, June 16, 1902, at the age of eighty years, his community lost one of its rep- resentative, respected citizens. In politics he was a Democrat, and while not a politician in the generally accepted meaning of the term, was a faithful supporter of his party, on the ticket of which he was several times elected to school offices. Both he and Mrs. Freyemuth were faithful members of the German Lutheran church. They were the parents of five children : Elizabeth, who died in 1916; Catherine, wife of Rev. J. J. Walker, a Lutheran preacher now stationed at Cale- donia ; Lucy, wife of George McConnell, of Carlisle, Mich .; John W., and Charles F., a resident of Lowell. John W. Freyemuth was edu- cated in the district schools of Lowell township and the Caledonia High School, where he spent one year and was reared, as were most farmers' sons of his day, being trained in all the work that goes to make up the personal equipment of a successful agriculturist. He re- mained with his father and tilled the home acres, and when he was ready to engage in farming on his own account did not leave the home place, but bought his present farm of eighty acres from his father, this being located in section 30. In addition to general farming, Mr.
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Freyemuth engages extensively in stock-raising and in both depart- ments has met with the kind of success that comes only to those who are thoroughly familiar with the latest and most approved methods, and who know how to apply them and combine them with hard and persevering work. He has made numerous improvements on his property, which now bears an air of prosperity that testifies to its owner's good business qualities, while its large and well-kept build- ings give it an attractive appearance. Mr. Freyemuth is a stock- holder in the Alto State Bank and has other interests. He belongs to the Grange and to the Methodist Episcopal church and takes an ac- tive and prominent part in the life of his community. A Republican in politics, he has served his locality in school offices and otherwise. Mr. Freyemuth was married Nov. 6, 1888, to Inez I., daughter of Peter and Eliza Horn, of Eaton county, Michigan. Mrs. Freyemuth is one of the well-known ladies of Lowell township, especially in religious circles, and for ten years has been vice-president of the La- dies' Aid Society.
Hugo C. W. Friedrich .- One of the most reliable and progressive men connected with the musical instrument trade in Michigan, who stands high in citizenship and as a man of broad business and finan- cial judgment, is Hugo C. W. Friedrich, of the well-known family of that name, treasurer of the Friedrich Company. His entire business career has been passed in connection with this, one of Grand Rapids' oldest-established concerns, and his success and enviable standing have been fairly won and honestly deserved. Mr. Friedrich was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., July 24, 1879, and is a son of Julius A. J. Friedrich, a sketch of whose career will be found on another page of this work. He went to the parochial schools and the Central High School, later pursued a commercial course in a business college, and with this preparation entered the Friedrich Music House, which had been established many years before. He was nineteen years of age at that time and a youth of ambition and industry, so that he quickly mastered the details of the business and through fidelity and real abil- ity won his way to the management of the company's offices. At the time of the incorporation of the concern, April 1, 1914, he was made treasurer, and still retains this position. He has also a number of other business connections, is widely known in the music trade, and is accounted one of the substantial men connected with Grand Rap- ids' commercial life. He has done much to assist in the growth and development of Grand Rapids in a business way as a member of the Association of Commerce, the Greater Grand Rapids Association, and likewise belongs to the Shubert and Keewanis clubs and to Emanuel Lutheran church. His political sympathies, support and co-operation are given to the Republican party and its candidates. Mr. Friedrich was married June 11, 1912, to Irma, daughter of William A. and Emma (Bonney) Shinkman, of Grand Rapids, and of this union there have been born three children: Robert H., William J., and Mary Irma.
Julius A. J. Friedrich .- Among the long-established business houses of Grand Rapids, one which has built up a reputation for hon- orable dealing and substantial worth during a period of forty-four years, is the Friedrich Music House. This business was established as Friedrich Brothers in 1873, by Paul W. and Otto D. T. Friedrich,
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