USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 39
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help him. In the case of H. Fred Oltman, opportunity played its part, but when it came he was ready for it, having been trained to recognize it as such and to make the most of it when it was once within his grasp. In the position of manager of the Leonard Street Branch of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank he is displaying the kind of ability that is necessary for success in a city that does not lack able men ready to compete in any field. Mr. Oltman is a native son of Grand Rapids, born June 20, 1883, his parents being William and Phiene (Dykhouse) Oltman. They were born in Groningen, Nether- lands, from which city the father came to the United States about the year 1867, locating at Grand Rapids, where he received his educa- tion. As a young man he embarked in the shoe business, a line of endeavor in which he is widely and favorably known and in which he has been engaged for more than a quarter of a century, a portion of the time with the firm of Ritzema-Oltman Shoe Company. For some years past he has been prominent in civic affairs of his adopted city and at this time is a member of the City Commission. He is a Republican and a member of the Christian Reformed church. Six children were born to William Oltman and his wife: H. Fred; Carrie, wife of John B. Stuit, of Grand Rapids ; Jean, wife of Jay Verschore, also of this city; Helen, who is unmarried and resides with her par- ents; Winnifred, wife of Harry S. Richardson, of Detroit; and George, first gunner of Battery B, Eighth Coast Artillery. H. Fred Oltman was educated in the public schools of Grand Rapids and at Calvin College, and after a short business experience went to Holland, Mich., where he established a branch shoe business for his father. This he conducted for one and one-half years, when he returned to Grand Rapids and was associated with the elder man for two years. In February, 1913, he was made manager of the Leonard Street Branch of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank and has continued to hold this position to the present time. He is acknowledged to be a man of sound business and financial judgment, and in his manage- ment of the affairs of the branch has extended the scope and volume of business done by the institution which he represents. Politically he gives his support to the candidates of the Republican party and his religious connection is with the Christian Reformed church. Mr. Oltman was one of the organizers of the Lotus club and is now a member of the board of directors of that organization. He has interested himself in various matters of importance to the city and is vice-president of the Northwestern Improvement Association and an active member of the Grand Rapids Association of Commerce. Mr. Oltman was married, Dec. 3, 1908, to Miss Minna Van Bree, daughter of Arie and Henrietta (Spanger) Van Bree, of Grand Rapids.
John Oosta was born in the Netherlands, Aug. 2, 1845, son of Dick and Catherine (Bolsta) Oosta. These parents came to Grand Rapids, in 1880, and both died here. They were the parents of four children: Clara, Bertha and Nellie, all of whom reside in Grand Rapids, and John, who is the subject of this review. As a young man in the land of his birth, John Oosta learned the cabinet-making trade, and after coming to America worked at that occupation in Grand Rapids until 1898, when he purchased 200 acres of land where he now resides, in Caledonia township. There he has built a house and barn and made practically all of the improvements on the place.
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He has a fine home and carries on a general farming industry. Mr. Oosta has lived retired for the past six years and his son, August, has assumed the active management of the farm. With his family he is a member of the Christian Reformed church. Mr. Oosta was married to Garty Degager, who was born in Holland, July 3, 1849. Her parents were agricultural people and never came to America. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Oosta were born ten children: Dick and Cornelius, of Caledonia township; Joseph and Andrew, of Grand Rapids; Catherine, wife of Jacob Baker, of Grand Rapids; Bertha, wife of William Vanderhoff ; Clara, wife of Owen Madden, of Grand Rapids; August, who manages the home farm; and Henry and John, both at home.
William Oswald .- During a long period of years the late William Oswald was identified with the business interests of Grand Rapids and had the confidence of his business associates and the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances. In matters of commercial impor- tance he showed judgment and foresight, winning success and stand- ing, and in various ways took part in the busy life of the city, to which he had come as a farmer lad of nineteen years. Mr. Oswald was born on a farm near Comstock, Ontario, Canada, son of Philip and Kather- ine (Knauch) Oswald, natives of Canada, where they passed their lives in agricultural pursuits and both died. His education was se- cured in the country schools of his native locality, and until he was nineteen years of age he assisted his father in the work of the home place. At that time he left the parental roof and came to Grand Rapids, where he secured employment with a Dr. De Camp, but soon learned the trade of blacksmith, to which he devoted his attention for several years. Having thus acquired some small capital, earned by industry and retained by economy and careful management, he invested it in a retail liquor business. He was popular, honest and a good business man, and built up a good trade, continuing to be engaged in this line until his retirement, which occurred some six or seven years prior to his death, March 12, 1899. Mr. Oswald was also the owner of a good farm in Kent county, where he raised standard crops. He was a great lover of a good horse and for some time devoted a large part of his attention to the breeding of racing animals, many of which carried his colors to victory in local meets and at annual county and state fairs. Politically a Democrat, he did not seek office, but wielded somewhat of an influence in local matters. Fraternally, he belonged to the Arbeiter Verein and the Knights of the Maccabees, in both of which he was popular, and his religious connection was with the German Lutheran church. Mr. Oswald was married, Feb. 3, 1869, to Miss Emma, daughter of Carl Bettes. Mr. Bettes, who was a bookkeeper by occupation, died in his native country of Bohemia, as did his wife, whereupon their daughter Emma, who had been born there April 13, 1847, and educated in the parochial schools, came to the United States to live with her brother, Charles, she being then nineteen years of age. She still survives and resides at No. 629 Cherry street, S. E., in which neighborhood she and the members of her family are well known and highly respected. Mr. and Mrs. Oswald became the parents of the following children : Mary, Henry, William and Catherine, all of whom are deceased ; Emma and Charles J., who reside with their mother ; Katie, deceased; Frank P.,
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of Grand Rapids, who is married and has one son-William P .; George E., also of Grand Rapids, who is married and has a daugh- ter-Marion Agnes; Clara E., who is the wife of Glenn McCaul, of Seattle, Wash., and has a daughter-Barbara Jane; and Edwin F., who resides with his mother.
Edward F. Otte .- As old domestic methods, one by one, are superseded by modern ways that revolutionize in large degree the arduous tasks that formerly confronted every housekeeper, science in the household has become a familiar demand. Thus the modern laundry has become recognized as one of the most helpful of insti- tutions and, conducted as the present excellent laws require, along sanitary lines, gives relief from hard household labor, while its results are more generally satisfactory than are possible of attainment in the ordinary home. Among the modern establishments of this kind, one which has been recognized as a necessary commercial adjunct for thirty-seven years, during which its straightforward and honorable policy has served to build its business up to large proportions, is the American Laundry, at Grand Rapids, founded here in 1881 by Adrian Otte and still conducted by members of the same family. Adrian Otte was a native of the Netherlands who emigrated to the United States in young manhood and, solely by his own initiative, resource and recognition of opportunity, made himself a place among the successful business men of Grand Rapids. In 1881, in a small way, he commenced the American Laundry, the first place of business being situated in the rear of the Livingston Hotel. Five years later he was joined in business by his brother and the partners moved their estab- lishment to the Herald building, where they continued for many years. As the business expanded and attracted more and more trade, numerous additions were found necessary to be made to its equip- ment, and finally the quarters became altogether too inadequate and the present large building was erected on South Division avenue. This structure is three stories in height, 193x132 feet, and beside the general laundry department includes a dry cleaning plant, 85x122 feet, and a rug cleaning plant, 65x90 feet, the business of the concern covering all three of these departments. The business is incorporated at $200,000 and the present officials are: Adrian Otte, president ; E. F. Otte, vice-president ; and John P. Otte, secretary and treasurer. There are 260 people employed in the business and twelve automobiles and eighteen wagons are found necessary in the collection and delivery of the laundry. The great growth and development of this concern from small beginnings is illustrative of true American grit and enterprise and is representative of the manner in which Grand Rapids has attained much of its prestige as a live business locality. Edward F. Otte, vice-president of the American Laundry, was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., April 10, 1887, and is a son of Adrian Otte. He was educated in the public schools of the city and after a course at Mclachlan's Business College entered the laundry in a minor capacity to learn the business, and has known no other connection. He worked his way through the various positions, thoroughly famil- iarizing himself with every branch of the business, and in 1912 was elected vice-president, which office he now holds. Mr. Otte is a capable business man of the younger generation, a product of these energetic commercial times and a man of much resource and most
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progressive ideas. He is a Republican in his political views, al- though politics plays but a small part in his life; works actively as a member of the Association of Commerce, and belongs to the O-wash- ta-nong club, the T. P. A., and the Masonic Lodge, Grotto and Con- sistory, and the Shrine. He is also a director of the Exchange club. Mr. Otte was married, May 26, 1915, to Florence E., daughter of Mrs. Marietta Church, of Grand Rapids, and they have one daughter, Barbara Louise.
John Otte .- In the death of John Otte, which occurred Aug. 12, 1911, Grand Rapids lost a citizen who had been a builder of one of the city's prominent business enterprises and a man whose career had been illustrative of the rewards in fortune and character to be attained through a life of industry and integrity. When he came to this country, in his youth, he had no knowledge of the language or customs of his new home, nor had he influence or capital to help him in his struggle to success. He was forced to depend absolutely upon his own abilities, and that these proved sufficient is shown in the fact that although seven years have passed since his death, he is still remembered as an honorable and capable man of business and a citizen who did much to advance the interests of his adopted community. John Otte was born Aug. 31, 1855, at Ellewoutsdijk, Netherlands, a son of Peter Otte. He was a lad of thirteen years when he arrived in Grand Rapids, where, while attending the public schools, he learned to speak English, and with this preparation sought and secured employment, working in various stores as sales- man and bookkeeper for many years. What he lacked at first in knowledge of business methods he made up in energy and fidelity, and as time passed he became more and more valuable to the concerns by which he was employed. In 1886, after being with Nelson Broth- ers, dealers in wallpaper and books, for several years, Mr. Otte joined his brother, Adrian Otte, who had founded the American Laundry some five years before. The business was started in the Herald build- ing, where under the vigorous and well-directed management of the brothers it thrived and prospered and grew to large proportions, eventually securing much of the best patronage of the city. Mr. Otte continued to be connected with this business until his death, when still in the prime of life. The shock was a severe one, not only to his family, to whom the loss was irreparable, but also among the large circle of his business associates, who, knowing him, had become his warm friends. Shrewd and careful in the smallest details of his own affairs, he bore and had fairly won the reputation of straight- forward and honorable dealing with others. Mr. Otte had a number of other business interests and was a director in the People's Savings Bank. He was a member of the Knickerbocker Society, belonged to the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and was a Republican in political sentiment. Mr. Otte was married, Sept. 18, 1878, to Mary A., daughter of John and Anna (Monroe) Harris, of Grand Rapids, natives of Philadelphia, Pa. They became the parents of one child, Grace Marie, born at Grand Rapids, Jan. 8, 1896, and who attended the Grand Rapids graded and high schools and is a graduate of the Travis School of Esthetics and Dancing, a most accomplished young lady who makes her home with her mother at the attractive family residence, No. 630 Madison avenue, S. E., Grand Rapids.
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George F. Owen .- During the many years that he was engaged as a traveling salesman, there were few men who were better or more favorably known in business circles throughout Michigan, Ohio and Indiana than the late George F. Owen. His was a career which con- tained no startlingly distinctive achievements, yet from every point of view his life was a successful one, and his integrity of character, soundness of citizenship, probity of private life and fidelity to the engagements and responsibilities of existence made his long stay among his fellow-beings an eminent and honorable one. Particularly was he well known in his home city of Grand Rapids, not alone in business circles, but in civic life as well, and as a public official whose tenure of office was made notable by conscientious and constructive work in behalf of his city and its people. Mr. Owen was born March 9, 1843, in the State of New Jersey, his parents being Alpheus and Frances (Hinchman) Owen. His education was commenced in his native state, but when he was twelve years of age he was brought to Michigan by his parents, the family settling at Orion, Oakland county, where the youth completed his studies in the public schools. His first employment in business was as a clerk in a department store at Orion, and his hard and intelligent work brought him repeated promotion, which, in turn, served to make him confident and self- reliant, and to develop his abilities as well as his character. He was but little past his majority when he was married, Sept. 29, 1864, to Miss Lucia T. Bessey, thus founding a home of his own and entering upon a happy wedded journey that extended for a period of more than fifty years. He continued to reside at Orion, being variously employed, always advancing, until July 4, 1870, when, seeking broader opportunities and an outlet for his energies, he came to Grand Rapids. His first connection, however, was with a Detroit house, that of Shaw & Marvin, with which concern he continued to be connected as a traveling representative for three years. When he left their employ it was to become identified with Fowler, Slocum & Foreman, of New York, and his identification with this establishment extended over a long period of time, during which Mr. Owen acted as the house's representative in the states of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. He became one of the best known men on the road, formed lasting friendships in every city of any size in his territory, and had connec- tions with some of the largest concerns doing business within these limits. After spending a long and successful period on the road, Mr. Owen decided that he would settle down at Grand Rapids, and accord- ingly, in 1890, opened a music store. While the enterprise was suc- cessful in a material way, it did not satisfy Mr. Owen's spirit. Per- haps he had been too long on the road to remain quiet in any one place long ; at any rate, after a comparatively short experience as a proprietor, he disposed of his interests and again took up his sample cases, for some years being the traveling representative for Marvin Stanton, of Detroit. Eventually he retired from active affairs and settled down peacably at Grand Rapids, where he passed the declining years of his life amidst the comforts and conveniences that a life of industry and right living had brought him. On Sept. 29, 1914, he and Mrs. Owen celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary, but he survived only a little over a year thereafter, passing away Oct. 30, 1915. Mrs. Owen still survives him and resides at Grand Rapids,
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where she is surrounded by a host of friends. Mr. Owen was not one to push himself forward as a candidate for public honors, but he never evaded his responsibilities as a citizen, and in 1903 accepted the Republican nomination for the office of alderman from the Second ward. Being duly elected by a handsome majority, he took his seat in the City Council chamber, May 1, 1903, and served his constituents ably and conscientiously for four years, leaving that body, in 1907, with a record for clean, honorable and energetic work as a public servant. As a fraternalist, Mr. Owen belonged to the Masons and was a member of DeMolai Commandery, K. T. His standing among his fellow traveling men is noted in the fact that for several years he was honored by election to the secretaryship of the Michigan Knights of the Grip.
Pantlind Hotel .- In Grand Rapids, the business of hotel keeping has been developed into an actual science. As the city has grown and developed, it has been more and more imperative that there be maintained hostelries capable of providing comfort and shelter not alone for the transient population, but for the large number of furni- ture buyers who visit the city during January and July of each year. In 1915 there was completed one of the costliest and most handsome structures in the state, the Pantlind Hotel. This was the completion of more than three years of earnest work on the part of a progressive set of Grand Rapids business men, who had realized the needs of the city in this direction and who capably carried their plans through to a successful finish. On Aug. 17, 1912, there was founded what is known as the Pantlind Building Company, incorporated for $1,000,000. The original officers of the company were: Clay H. Hollister, presi- dent ; Charles R. Sligh, vice-president ; Meyer S. May, treasurer ; and L. Victor Seydel, secretary. The first board of directors consisted of the following: Lewis H. Withey, Charles F. Rood, A. W. Hompe, John Hoult, William Judson, Roy S. Barnhart, Charles R. Sligh, Robert D. Graham, Clay H. Hollister, Meyer S. May, O. H. L. Wer- nicke, John A. Covode and William C. Grobheiser. This company acquired the site of Sweet's Hotel, an old Grand Rapids landmark, the ground being secured at an outlay of $483,004.19, and contracts were let for the building of the structure, which commenced in June, 1913. The contract price agreed upon was $1,332,869, and the first section was completed in October, 1914, the entire building being ready for occupancy in September, 1915. In the new section there are 460 rooms, making a total of 496 rooms, and the hotel in every particular is one of the finest to be found in the Middle West or else- where, either in equipment or service. L. Victor Seydel, secretary of the Pantlind Building Company, was born at Lake Station, Ind., Jan. 24, 1875. He was educated in the schools of Hobart, Ind., where he was graduated in the high school. With some business experience back of him, in 1911 he came to Grand Rapids and started to deal in stock. He soon formed large and important business connections and impressed himself favorably upon his associates, so that when the organization of the Pantlind Building Company was effected, he was chosen for the difficult post of secretary. The capable and expeditious manner in which he discharged his duties placed him still further in the confidence of those connected with him. Mr. Seydel is well known in club circles of Grand Rapids, holding membership in the Peninsular, O-wash-ta-nong and Kent Country clubs.
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John Edward Peck .- Numbers of able men have been identified for many years with important interests at Grand Rapids, but few have left a more definite impress upon the city, not only in business circles, but also along those lines in which high personal character is demonstrated and sterling virtues are made manifest, than the late John Edward Peck. His was a noble, inspiring, helpful life worthy of emulation. During his forty-two years in this city he made an enviable reputation as a business man of sound judgment and un- questioned integrity, a capable manager, a supporter of worthy enter- prises, a friend of progress and a warm-hearted and sincere philan- thropist. John Edward Peck was born at Newburgh, in Orange county, New York, March 4, 1844. His death occurred in New York City, March 12, 1916. His father, Dr. Elias Peck, was a practicing physician at Newburgh and a practical pharmacist and for many years conducted a drug store in that city. He was a man of local importance and possessed sterling traits of character that became the heritage of his son. John Edward Peck completed his preparatory education in the schools of his native place and then became a student in Cooper Institute, New York City, and after a period of instruction there returned to Newburgh and entered upon the study of pharmacy with his father as preceptor, and he assisted the latter in the manage- ment of the drug store. In this way he secured his knowledge of drugs and some business experience. In 1874 he came to Grand Rapids and engaged in the drug business, in association with his brother, Thomas M. Peck. The business was carried on under the style of the Peck Drug Store until 1905, when a new business organi- zation was effected and the title of the business became the Peck Drug Company, John Edward Peck becoming the president of the company, in which he remained an active factor until the time of his death. While primarily identified with the great business development that accrued to the Peck Drug Company, ruling its policy and direct- ing its various activities, Mr. Peck was not blind to other business opportunities, and with the practical sense that was a part of his composition he took generous advantage of them and thereby honor- ably built up a large fortune from a very modest beginning. For nearly thirty years he was a director of the Grand Rapids National Bank, of which he was vice-president for twelve years and held that office at the time of demise. He early became interested in accumu- lating real estate and acquired many valuable properties, dealing in the same being one of his many extensive interests. Many men with a multiplicity of personal affairs to which they must give attention are prone to devote but little time to civic matters, but such was not the case with Mr. Peck. His loyalty to Grand Rapids was sincere and his zeal in her behalf continued unabated as long as he lived. Personally and in co-operation with other public-spirited men, he sought occasions to be helpful, and many admirable improvements and needed reforms may be justly attributed to his influence. Mr. Peck was married in June, 1874, to Miss Hannah M. Carpenter, born in New York City, April 24, 1854, and she died in New York City, Jan. 31, 1916. She came of equally sturdy stock with her husband, descending from an old Empire State Quaker family that was repre- sentative of high ideals in education, morality and simplicity of living. She early gave evidence of strong intellect and was but fifteen years
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JOHN E. PECK
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