USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 24
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munity, for when brought here he was still a lad in his early 'teens, and the entire period of his business and public career has been passed among the people of this city. Mr. Hill was born at Wood- stock, Ontario, Canada, March 23, 1875, and is a son of Robert J. and Emily (Hicks) Hill, natives of Canada. Robert J. Hill was born in the city of Toronto, and for many years was engaged in farming in the province of Ontario, but in 1889 changed his residence to the United States, in that year bringing his children to Michigan, his wife having passed away on the farm two years before. Settling at Grand Rapids, Mr. Hill secured employment in the furniture factories of this city and continued to be thus engaged until about 1912, when he retired from active pursuits and went to Zephyr Hills, Fla., where he now makes his home. He is a Democrat in his political views, is a Mason and a Maccabee, and belongs to the Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Hill was also a member. There were five children in the family, namely: Lillian, wife of Arthur Love, of St. Joseph, Mich .; Robert G .; Richard, a resident of Benton Harbor, Mich .; Daisy, de- ceased, who was the wife of Charles Tibbitts, and Mildred, who is the wife of Wilbur Meech, of Chicago, Ill. The public schools of Grand Rapids completed the educational training of Robert G. Hill, which had been started in the country schools in the vicinity of Woodstock, and when he was still a youth he applied himself to the task of learn- ing the trade of wood turner, which he thoroughly mastered. A skilled workman, industrious and energetic, he had little trouble in securing profitable and agreeable employment and continued to work at his chosen vocation until 1904. In the meantime, he had become interested in affairs of a public nature, and in the year mentioned was given a position in the office of the city treasurer. Amid his new sur- roundings he evidenced the possession of ability in the following of office routine, and when he left the city treasurer's department, in 1907, it was to go to the county clerk's office. There his ability and fidelity won him steady promotion, and in 1914 the voters gave voice to their approval of his public record by electing him to the office of county clerk. He has continued to discharge his duties in a compe- tent and expeditious manner and has given his fellow-citizens no rea- son to regret the confidence which they placed in him in elevating him to his present office. Mr. Hill has also rendered splendid service to his country in a military way. Joining the National Guard, July 23, 1892, he subsequently served with credit during the Spanish- American war and was promoted from private to first sergeant; and in July, 1905, he was commissioned second lieutenant. He was com- missioned captain of Company I, Thirty-second Michigan infantry, Jan. 18, 1911, and in that capacity took an active part in the recent troubles on the Mexican border. Captain Hill is a member of the Episcopal church and is fraternally affiliated with the Masons, the Shrine, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He was married Sept. 5, 1902, to Miss Violet Love, daughter of Thomas Love, of Grand Rapids, and they have one daughter, Barbara, who is still attending school.
Charles Finton Hilliker .- The growth and development of any community is largely dependent upon the exertions of those men who are engaged in investment banking and brokerage. Without their energy, vim and specialized knowledge no locality will move out of
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the conventional rut; outside money will not be attracted to it, and home finances, missing the stimulating influence of legitimate action, will deteriorate. With the advent of enterprising, experienced men, well versed in the business of investments, comes a growth that is al- ways noticeable and sometimes remarkable. Many years have passed since the first work in this direction was done at Grand Rapids, but the needs of this great city have made necessary constant and con- tinued expansion, in which the investment banker plays a decidedly prominent part. One of those who is well known in this difficult field is Charles Finton Hilliker, of the firm of Kusterer, Hilliker & Perkins, who has already attained a success that many men would consider satisfying after many years of effort. Mr. Hilliker was born Dec. 17, 1884, at Grand Rapids, Mich., son of Dr. John B. and Har- riet M. (Finton) Hilliker. His father, born on a farm in Paris town- ship, Kent county, Michigan, decided upon a professional career as a youth and after some preparation entered Rush Medical College, in which he was duly graduated. He started practice at Corinth, Mich., but subsequently came to Grand Rapids, where he built up a large, and lucrative clientele, rose to prominence in his profession and was eventually elected coroner, the duties of which he has performed for the past eighteen years. He belongs to the Kent County Medical So- ciety and other organizations of his calling and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Malta lodge of Masonry and the Knights Templars. Politically, he is a Republican. Mrs. Hilliker, who also survives, is a native of Gaines township, Kent county. They have three children: Charles Finton, Blanche R., who is unmarried and resides with her parents, and Marion, wife of Clarence Harmer, of Tippecanoe, Ind. After attending the public schools of Grand Rapids, Charles F. Hilliker went to Chicago, where he became a clerk in the office of the E. H. Stafford Manufacturing Company, but remained only a short time, then going to the city tick- et office of the Grand Trunk railway at Grand Rapids, where he con- tinued three years. Following this, he was at Cincinnati, Ohio, for six months, where he was an employe of the Kimball Piano Com- pany. On his return to Grand Rapids in 1907, Mr. Hilliker embarked in the brokerage business with Aldrich Blake, as Blake & Hilliker, this association continuing until about 1909, when the present firm of Kusterer, Hilliker & Perkins was formed. Incorporated for $100,- 000, this firm now consists of the following: A. E. Kusterer, presi- dent ; C. F. Hilliker, vice-president; E. F. Perkins, secretary, and James C. Everett, treasurer. A general business in investment bank- ing and brokerage is done and the firm is one of the best known in its field in the city. Mr. Hilliker is a Republican and belongs to the Association of Commerce and the Lodge, Chapter and Consistory of Masonry, being also a member of the Shrine. He likewise holds membership in the Peninsular, Highlands Golf, Grand Rapids Boat, Grand View Automobile and Grand Rapids Curling clubs. He was married Jan. 1, 1910, to Grace M., daughter of Hiram Brink, of Grand Rapids, and they have one daughter, Dorothy.
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Charles E. Hogadone .- During a long period, Charles E. Hoga- done, of Grand Rapids, has been accounted a leader of the state Democracy of Michigan and a citizen whose splendid public service entitles him to consideration as one of the helpful men of his city
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and county. Ex-deputy labor commissioner of Michigan and present postmaster at Grand Rapids, in each of the numerous positions which he has held he has given the best of his fine abilities to the welfare and advancement of his locality and its people, and while he has al- ways been engaged in large affairs persistently conveys the impres- sion that his personality is larger than his performances. Charles E. Hogadone was born on a farm in Kent county, Michigan, Feb. 3, 1863, being a son of Edwin D. and Lucretia A. (Luther) Hogadone. His father, a native of Ontario, Canada, born in 1828, was a lad of twelve years when brought to Michigan, and here he was reared in an agricultural atmosphere and upon attaining his majority adopted the vocation of farming as his life work. He was an industrious work- man, a skilled agriculturist and a man of good business judgment, and succeeded in the accumulation of a valuable property. Also, he won and held the respect of his fellow-citizens by reason of his in- tegrity and personal probity, and when he died in 1909, his commu- nity lost one of its useful and representative citizens. He was a Democrat but not a politician. When still a young man Mr. Hoga- done was married in Kent county to Miss Lucretia A. Luther, who was born in 1840, in New York, and who still survives him and makes her home at Grand Rapids. They became the parents of three chil- dren: Frank D., the eldest, who resides on and cultivates the old home farm; Charles E., and Mary E., who is the widow of Silas Barker and resides at Grand Rapids. Charles E. Hogadone secured his early education in the public schools of Grand Rapids, following which he secured a business college training. It was at first his in- tention to follow a professional career, and to this end he studied law for four years. While he never carried his studies to the point where he would have been able to gain admission to the bar, he secured enough legal training to assist him greatly in his subsequent career, as business man, politician and office holder. When he gave up the idea of following the law as a vocation, Mr. Hogadone embarked in business as the proprietor of a news and stationery store, but after a reasonably successful experience in this direction, disposed of his holdings and embarked in the real estate field, having become inter- ested in the rapidly advancing land values of this region. In the meantime, he had been a factor in local politics and public affairs, and in the last Cleveland administration had been finance clerk at the Grand Rapids postoffice. He also served as supervisor of his ward for five years, but resigned from that office in 1894, subsequently being city superintendent of the poor during the administration of Mayor Sweet. In 1910 he disposed of his real estate business to go to Washington, D. C., as private secretary to Congressman Sweet, and remained at the national capital during that legislator's term. Upon his return to Grand Rapids he was appointed postmaster of the city, and has given the locality a splendid mail service, his term of office having been made notable by the installation of a number of improvements and the adoption of a better and more satisfactory mail schedule. Mr. Hogadone, in addition to acting as deputy labor com- missioner of the state of Michigan, has been a leader in state Demo- cratic politics for a number of years and has frequently filled impor- tant places on county and congressional committees. He is frater- nally connected with the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to a number
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of Grand Rapids clubs. In 1887 Mr. Hogadone was married to Miss Maria Walker, a Grand Rapids girl, who died in 1892, leaving two children, Clara E. and Erma L., the former of whom is Mrs. Ed- ward Isaacson, of Rose Lake, Idaho, and the latter is Mrs. Robert Sturtevant, of Rockford, Ill. Mr. Hogadone was married again Jan. 1, 1906, when he was united with Miss Lotta C. Buck, a daughter of Samuel Buck, of the state of Vermont, and they have one child, Edwina B. Mrs. Hogadone is a member of the Baptist church and has numerous friends in social circles of the city.
David Denman Holcomb .- Many of the farmers who have won success in Kent county are those who have returned to the soil after having experiences in other lines of endeavor, and in this class is Da- vid Denman Holcomb, of section 26, Bowne township. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, but with a young man's desire to see more of the world than was offered to his view amid the surroundings of his home community, he spent several years in other localities, only to return to the scene of his birth and to honorable and well-deserved success. Mr. Holcomb was born on his father's farm in Bowne town- ship, March 2, 1857, son of Martin A. and Philancia (Patchen) Hol- comb. His father, born in Ravenna, Ohio, learned the trade of wagonmaker in his youth, and when the news of the discovery of gold in California was flashed around the world made the long and peril- ous journey across the plains to the gold fields, where he spent four years. Returning to the Middle West, he settled, in 1854, in Bowne township, where he secured 160 acres of land, on which there was a standing growth of heavy timber. He displayed his ambition and progressive spirit by chopping down sufficient logs, hauling them to Alaska, Mich., where he had them made into lumber, and then brought them back to his farm, where he built the first frame house in his neighborhood, and continued to be engaged in agricultural operations until the Civil war came on, when he enlisted in Company I, Twenty- sixth Michigan infantry. During three years he fought faithfully and valiantly in the uniform of the Union, but at Spottsylvania Court House was severely wounded and thus incapacitated for further duty, and was given his honorable discharge, having in the meantime been advanced to the rank of corporal. When he returned to pursuits of peace it was to face life as a cripple, but he was a man of indomitable courage and energy and did not allow his disability to discourage him. Instead, he pursued his farming work with added vim and determina- tion and succeeded in doubling the size of his farm and in becoming one of the substantial men of his township, where he lived to be nearly ninety years of age and died in 1915. He was a Republican in poli- tics and served as school director and as supervisor and highway com- missioner of Bowne township, in addition to which he was active in the Grange during the first few years of its existence. Fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to the Blue lodge, Chapter and Knights Templars. Mrs. Holcomb died Jan. 1, 1880, having been the mother of four children: George B., who died as a lad; David Denman; Emily C., wife of W. K. Morgan, of Lowell township, and Candace C., who died as the wife of George Tucker, of St. Joseph county. The education of David D. Holcomb was secured in the district schools of Bowne township, following which he taught school in his home com- munity for several terms and in Dakota territory for two years. Next
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he was employed in mines in different parts of the country and also followed various pursuits in the West for two years, but finally re- turned to the home place, which he purchased from his father. Since that time he has been engaging in general farming operations with much success, and since 1880 has been a breeder of high-grade Jersey cattle. His success has been fairly and honorably won and he is now accounted one of his township's well-to-do farmers and a citizen who is actively and helpfully interested in the welfare of his locality and its people. Mr. Holcomb is a Republican. He belongs to the Ma- sonic lodge and was formerly a member of the Knights of the Mac- cabees and captain of the local post of Sons of Veterans for several years. Mr. Holcomb was married Oct. 18, 1888, to Lydia J., daughter of Charles and Mary English, residents of Brookside, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb have had the following children: Cecil C., a profes- sional nurse in the Aviation hospital at St. Paul; Olive M., wife of N. Flynn, of McCords, Mich .; Georgie B., who married Arthur Bar- naby, of Kalamazoo, Mich .; Jessie E., who is training to be a nurse at Butterworth hospital, Grand Rapids; Paul A., in the rifle range at Annapolis, Md .; Gaylord E., Francis E., John M. and Maurice E., who reside with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb also have four grand children : Bernice, and Walter and Elwin Flynn, and Edward Barnaby.
Clay Harvey Hollister was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 7, 1863, son of Harvey J. and Martha (Clay) Hollister. He received his preliminary education in the schools of Grand Rapids and taking a literary course in Amherst College graduated in that institution with the class of 1886. After some preliminary business training he came into the Old National Bank, May 8, 1888, and there he has arisen through the different official places until he became president, the po- sition he now occupies. Mr. Hollister was married Dec. 19, 1888, to Miss Justina H. Merrick, daughter of Timothy and Susan (Med- bury) Merrick, of Holyoke, Mass. Of this union there have been born four children: Paul M. is in New York City; Martha C. is at home; George M. is a soldier in the French army, having been a stu- dent at Harvard College prior to the great world war, and Clay H., Jr., is at home. Mr. Hollister is a Republican in politics, but has filled no official positions, other than member of the school board, which he has been the incumbent of during the past eight years. He is a member of Park Congregational church and is at the present time chairman of its board of trustees. He is a member of the Penin- sular, Kent, O-Wash-ta-nong and Colonial clubs, and of the Associa- tion of Commerce.
Frank M. Holmes .- While Frank M. Holmes did not start to publish the Sentinel-Leader at. Sparta until 1917, he was no tyro in the newspaper field when he began his activities here, as for many years previous to that time he had been connected with journalistic work at other places and had much experience as a publisher. In this thriving little city he has also made a favorable impression upon the people, and his clean, progressive, well-edited sheet has been con- stantly growing in favor. Mr. Holmes is a Kent county man by na- tivity, having been born in Tyrone township, Sept. 5, 1868, son of Alvin N. and Julia (Dersheimer) Holmes, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents were farming people, who migrated to Michigan in the
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year 1865, settling on a new farm in Tyrone township, where they de- veloped a good and fertile property and through their industry and sterling traits of character won and retained the respect of their neighbors and acquaintances. Mr. Holmes, after a useful and ener- getic career, passed away several years ago, but his widow still sur- vives and makes her home on the old farm. There were five children in the family: John A., deceased, and William O., Edith E., Andy V. and Frank M. The education of Frank M. Holmes was secured in the district schools of Kent county and the high school at Sparta, and it was at this place that he began his career, entering the drug busi- ness, in which he continued for a matter of thirteen years. He then turned his attention to journalism, his first experience being gained with the Grand Rapids Herald, at Grand Rapids, but he subsequently removed to Sault Ste. Marie, where he bought a part interest in the Sault Ste. Marie News. His experience there lasted over a number of years and was attended by a certain measure of success, but in 1917 Mr. Holmes disposed of his holdings and returned to Sparta, where he bought the Sentinel-Leader. This he is rapidly developing into a leader among the smaller papers of the northwestern part of the county. He has built up the circulation in a satisfying manner and the advertisers have come to recognize that his paper presents a good medium for the presentation of their wares. It is the aim of the paper to give its readers accurate information as to national and state news and to cover all local matter, with timely editorials and some feature matter. Connected with the newspaper plant is a job printing office, where Mr. Holmes is prepared to do all kinds of first-class work. He is also publisher of the Comstock Park News, which has a growing circulation at and around Comstock Park, Kent county. Mr. Holmes has had little time to devote to other things than his newspaper, and has therefore not connected himself with any frater- nal orders, nor has he entered actively into public life or politics. With his family, he belongs to the Baptist church. Mr. Holmes was married in 1891 to Miss Aululah Norton, daughter of the Rev. E. W. and Laura A. (Compton) Norton, and of this union there have been born two children: Maurine, who is teacher of a kindergarten at Sparta and resides with her parents, and Carol B., who is engaged in assisting his father in publishing the Sentinel-Leader.
Frank L. Houghton .- One of the sound, substantial men and suc- cessful general farmers and stock-raisers of Kent county is found in the person of Frank L. Houghton, who is located on section 30, Lowell township. Mr. Houghton's interests have been devoted to farming throughout his career, and his entire life has been passed in Lowell township, being in every way representative of this com- munity's best agricultural class. He was born on his father's farm in Lowell township, May 13, 1880, one of the five children of Samuel and Louise (La Monte) Houghton. His parents were natives of the State of New York, where Samuel Houghton was residing when the Civil war came on, and with youthful fervor and patriotism he en- listed in a New York volunteer infantry regiment and went to the front as a wearer of his country's uniform. He participated in a num- ber of hard-fought and important engagements before being disabled by a serious injury received on the field of battle, but even then his usefulness to his country did not end, as until the close of the war he II-12
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served as a clerk in assisting to take care of the multitudinous office details entailed in the proper handling of a large army. At the close of the war Mr. Houghton came to Kent county and purchased eighty acres of uncleared land, which he subsequently traded for another tract of like acreage, in Lowell township. There he continued to be engaged in agricultural operations until he died, his death undoubt- edly having been hastened by his army experiences. He passed away in 1884, but his widow survived him for many years. Mr. Houghton was a Republican politically, but found little time to engage in pub- lic affairs. His fraternal connection was with the Masons. He and his wife had the following children: Albert S., who is engaged in farming in Oklahoma; Louise, who died in infancy; Florence, who died at the age of twelve years; Walter C., a farmer in the State of Washington, and Frank L. Frank L. Houghton was but four years of age when his father died, but he was given good educational ad- vantages, attending the district school in Lowell township and for one year being a pupil at the Central High School, Grand Rapids. When seventeen years of age he gave up his studies and began the operation of the home farm for his mother, and from that time to the present his life has been one of constant industry, rewarded by a full measure of success. His present farm of eighty acres, in section 30, is a part of the home place and was purchased from his mother by Mr. Houghton. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising operations, in which he is thoroughly informed as to the latest meth- ods and the most advanced ideas, and each year finds him installing new improvements to his already valuable equipment. Mr. Houghton has various interests in the community and is a stockholder in the Bank of McCord. He has contributed to the cause of education in Lowell township by serving as school director and has been active in the ranks of the Republican party, in which he wields some influence. With his family, he attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Houghton was married Oct. 9, 1900, to Bessie B., daughter of George and Roxie (Easterby) Lewis, formerly of Lowell township, but now of Cascade township. Of this union there have been born five chil- dren: Lloyd and Howard, who are attending high school, and George, Francis and Lewis.
Henry L. Houseman .- For more than sixty-five years the name of Houseman has been associated with some of the leading business interests of the city of Grand Rapids. The members of this family have displayed a remarkable aptitude for successful participation in commercial affairs and those bearing the name have accordingly risen high in reputation and the rewards that able management, industry and integrity bring to the favored few who are able to rise above the rut of mediocrity. In this connection it is not inappropriate to sketch in brief the career of Henry L. Houseman, president of the Houseman & Jones Clothing Company, and a man who has long been identified with the mercantile interests of the city and with its civic life. Mr. Houseman was born in Savannah, Ga., but when still a child was brought to Grand Rapids, and here his education was secured in the public schools. He was an industrious and ambitious youth, and as soon as his studies were completed entered the clothing business which had been established by his father and with which he has been identi- fied ever since. The nucleus for the present business was established
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