USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 41
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and straightforward commercial transactions, is that bearing the name of Foster, Stevens & Company. This concern, than which there is none better known in the hardware trade of Grand Rapids, has had among its officials in the past some of the ablest business men which the city has produced, and at the present time many of its policies are being outlined by men of the younger generation, who are seemingly being successful in their efforts to maintain the high reputation at- tained by those who went before them. Wallace C. Philbrick, con- nected with this concern throughout his business career, belongs to the younger generation and now fills very satisfactorily the position of secretary. He is a native son of Grand Rapids, and was born May 16, 1888, his parents being Charles C. and Hattie (Brooks) Philbrick. Charles C. Philbrick was born at Cassopolis, Cass county, Michigan, and was six years of age when brought by his parents to Grand Rapids, here obtaining a common school education. After engaging in several lines of endeavor, he became connected with the hardware firm of Foster & Stevens, and later was made a member of the firm, being identified therewith until his death, which occurred Feb. 16, 1914. Mrs. Philbrick, who was born at Niles, Berrien county, Michi- gan, is also deceased. Wallace C. Philbrick was thoroughly trained in his youth for whatever vocation he might enter, attending first the public schools of Grand Rapids, later Northwestern Military Academy, and finally the Detroit University School. Expressing a preference for a commercial career, when his studies were completed he accepted a position as clerk in the offices of Foster & Stevens, and gradually rose from post to post until finally he was admitted to the firm and was elected secretary. He is recognized as a business man of the progressive and aggressive type, one who may be depended upon to make the most of every opportunity and to adopt the most modern methods, be they honorable. While he has devoted every energy to the furtherance of the interests of the firm, even to the exclusion of politics, he has not been indifferent to the general business welfare of the city, and has given conditions the benefit of his experience and ability as a member of the Association of Commerce and the Builders and Traders Exchange. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner, and a popular member of the Peninsular, Highland Country and O-wash-ta-nong clubs. Mr. Philbrick's marriage to Ruth, daughter of Henry Krekel, of Grand Rapids, took place in this city, Oct. 31, 1915.
John W. Phillips .- Prominent among the agriculturists of Kent county is John W. Phillips, who has been a resident of this section practically all his life, his present home being in the Sand Lake com- munity. All his interests from boyhood have been closely associated with this locality and no man hereabouts is better known. He has de- veloped and built up an excellent property, upon which he is carrying on extensive general farming operations, and his success is all the more gratifying to him, in that it has been self-achieved, he having started life with only his own ability and industry to aid him. Mr. Phillips was born in Worcestershire, England, Aug. 9, 1856. His father, Thomas Phillips, was also a native of England, where he passed his life as a farm laborer and did not live to see his plans ma- terialize. He married Ann Butcher, daughter of William Butcher, of Worcestershire, England, the latter of whom was for a time post- master of his native town there, and of this union were born three
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children : Emma, who died at Sand Lake as the wife of Perry Brad- ford, a mill worker of Cedar Springs; William, who is engaged in farming and still resides in England; and John. John Phillips was but four years of age when he was orphaned by the death of his father, and as he had no relatives in England who were in circum- stances which would permit them of taking care of him, he and his sister were tagged by an aunt, placed on a vessel, and shipped to America. Here they found relatives at Sand Lake who reared them and saw to it that they secured a public school education, and when John Phillips left school he at once became a member of the army of world's workers, securing employment in the mills, where his boy- hood and youth were spent in unending daily toil. He is still in pos- session of a picture of one of the mills in which he worked, one of the oldest in this section of the country. It was not Mr. Phillips' intention, however, to grind out his life as a mill-worker, for he had ambitions beyond such a career, and with this end in view he carefully saved what he could of his earnings. When he was ready to make the change he was married and settled down to an agricultural life, in which he has been engaged to the present time. He is now owner of a valuable property which brings him a good income, and he has worked his own way to a position where he commands and receives the esteem and respect that is only given men who have worked and achieved with their own hands and through their own brains. Mr. Phillips married Martha Saace, a daughter of David Seece, a farmer of Nelson township, and of this union have been born eight children, all of whom are living: Thomas, living on the home farm and assisting his father; Charley, also engaged in farming; Mary, wife of Phillip Lawrence, a chemist of Chicago; Minnie, wife of Edward Johnson, of Grand Rapids, Mich., connected with a creamery of that city ; Blanche, who is married to Andrew Westegard; Ruth, wife of Carson Cramer, a railroad man at Muskegon, Mich .; John, who was connected with the Grand Rapids Power Company but is now with the 339th Infantry, U. S. Army, Company A .; and Bertha, who was connected with a dye works at Grand Rapids and is now at Norfolk, Va. Mr. Phillips was married for his second wife to Fannie Giddings, of Sand Lake, daughter of Jonas and Anna (Joice) Giddings, of English stock. Mr. Phillips has never aspired to public office, but is a good citizen who realizes and discharges his responsibilities. He is a Mason, belonging to Cedar Springs Lodge No. 213, F. & A. M., for the past thirty-eight years, and in political matters he is a Republican.
Edward Pierson .- That mankind accomplishes most in congenial occupations and among congenial surroundings is confirmed anew by the farmers of Kent county. Greater prosperity, as indicated by large properties, high-grade schools, churches and social organizations, it would be difficult to find in any agricultural community. A union standard of excellence and a concerted effort to maintain this standard is largely responsible for this desirable condition of affairs. Algoma township claims its full share of prosperity promoters, and among these one of the best known is Edward Pierson, owner of 150 acres of fine land and one of the prominent breeders of high-grade live- stock in his community. Mr. Pierson was born in the village of West- chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1865. He was given excellent educational advantages in his youth, attending the graded
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and high schools and supplementing this by a full course at a normal school, and was thus fitted for a business life. Commercial activities, however, did not appeal to him, and instead he took up something that he considered more scientific, the vocation of agriculture, of which he had made somewhat of a study in his youth. At that time many of the farmers, a majority, perhaps, were still using the old hit-or-miss methods in their operations, but Mr. Pierson made no such mistake. He had carefully outlined plans, many of which did not come into general use for many years after, which he followed carefully and with excellent results. On coming to Michigan he located on the edge of Algoma and Solon townships, and in that locality has since developed a farm that is a credit both to himself and to the county. He is now known as the principal agriculturist of his community and has become recognized over a much larger area as a leading breeder of sheep, cattle and hogs. Of this he has also made an exhaustive study, with the result that he is obtaining some surprising results. At a time when the country is at war and all provisions must be produced in greater numbers, as well as conserved, it is men like Mr. Pierson who are doing a real service in their coun- try's cause. His live-stock is of the highest quality, commanding a splendid figure in the market, and much of it is sold for breeding purposes. Personally, Mr. Pierson is an affable man, ready to meet his fellows on any ground, and he has a reputation for strict integrity. He has supported movements promulgated for the advancement of community interests and in other ways has displayed his public spirit. In politics he is a Republican. As a fraternalist he belongs to Lodge No. 48, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, of Grand Rapids. Mr. Pierson married Miss Jennie Worth, who, like her husband, is of a very genial disposition, with the result that she has numerous friends throughout the community.
Rev. Joseph S. Pietrasik .- It is but seldom that an outsider understands or appreciates the work of the Roman Catholic clergy. Fortunately these learned and honored prelates give but little thought to the criticisms or lack of appreciation on the part of the world, resting content with the realization that they have carried out the ideas of their superiors and achieved untold good for humanity. One of these distinguished priests of the Roman Catholic church is Rev. Joseph S. Pietrasik, pastor of St. Isidor's Church, Grand Rapids, than whom there is no more greatly beloved man in the city. Father Pietrasik was born at Wieritz, in German Poland, Aug. 26, 1874, and is a son of John and Antonina (Brzezinska) Pietrasik, his parents being natives of the same place. His father, who was a laborer in his native land, was an industrious and hard-working man, but was able to make no headway in the land of his birth and accordingly, in 1878, immigrated to the United States, where he felt he could make better plans for the establishment and education of his family and the achieving of a competency for his old age. The family located at Manistee, Mich., where John Pietrasik readily found employment, and where he resided during the remainder of his life, being variously employed at honorable means of making a livelihood. He was able, through hard and persistent work, to give his children fairly good educational advantages and at the same time to maintain his family in comfort. Both he and his wife had many friends, and both were
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sincerely mourned when they died at Manistee at advanced ages. They were devout members of the Polish Catholic church and the parents of children as follows: John, who is a resident of Kewaunee, Wis .; Peter, deceased; Leo, who resides at Manistee, Mich .; and Rev. Joseph S. Rev. Joseph S. Pietrasik secured his early education in the parochial and public schools of Manistee and began his theological training at Detroit, where he spent five years as a student in a Polish seminary. Subsequently, he enrolled as a pupil at St. Francis Theo- logical College, at Milwaukee, Wis., where he completed the pre- scribed course and was duly ordained, June 19, 1898, as a priest of the church. Father Pietrasik's first charge was at Ludington, Mich., where he remained for fourteen years and became greatly beloved by the people. He was successful in guiding them aright in their spiritual affairs and in gathering together a large congregation, and built the handsome St. Stanislaus' church at that place, remaining there until he received the call to Grand Rapids, Nov. 5, 1912, to take charge of St. Isidor's parish. This parish was established in 1901 and is one of the largest and most important in Michigan, including 558 families. The Sunday school is also a most important one, there being 662 children, under the guidance of thirteen teachers. It will thus be seen that there are enormous responsibilities attendant upon the work of the priest, who, of necessity, must be a man with wonder- ful capacity for labor, as well as possessed of marked business ability. He has devoted his talent, energy and heart to the interests of the people of his parish and can look back with pride and gratification upon the work which he has accomplished. The parish includes a parish house, parochial school, and Sisters' Convent, which houses the Sisters of Notre Dame, and the new church, built through the ability of Father Pietrasik, and which was consecrated, March 22, 1917; its cost was more than $70,000, exclusive of furniture. There are few more beautiful Catholic church edifices in Michigan.
Ernest J. Plett comes fairly within the representative class of younger men who at Grand Rapids have developed most successfully their talents for the handling of financial matters. Although now in but the very prime of life, he has been fully abreast of the ever- varying tide of banking affairs and in the management and disposi- tion of the interests committed to his care as manager of the Division Avenue Branch of the Commercial Savings Bank he has steadily and legitimately achieved a prominence as a citizen and banker which is an indisputable proof, alike of worthy ambition, untiring industry and unswerving integrity. Mr. Plett is a native son of Grand Rapids and was born June 12, 1879, his parents being Hans J. and Mathilda (Wager) Plett. They are natives of Germany, who came to the United States about the year 1877, locating at Grand Rapids, where the father established himself in the meat business and subsequently developed large packing interests as a wholesale dealer. Through industry and good business management he became one of the sub- stantial men of the city and in 1902 retired with a well-earned compe- tence. Mr. Plett is independent in regard to political matters, and he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church. He has numerous friends and belongs to several social organizations, among them the Arbeiter Verein, of which he is a charter member. There were four children in the family: Anna, wife of Albert H. Prange,
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of Grand Rapids; Mary, deceased; Ernest J., of this notice; and Katherine, wife of Walter W. Schaantz, of Grand Rapids. Ernest J. Plett received his early education in the parochial and public schools of Grand Rapids, following which he pursued a commercial course at the Mclachlan Business College, and with this preparation entered upon his career as an employe of the Christensen Baking Company, with which concern he was identified for two years. He then went to the Gunn Furniture Company, by which house he was employed one and one-half years, and following this he spent two years with the People's Savings Bank. In 1904 Mr. Plett commenced his con- nection with the Commercial Savings Bank, under C. B. Kelsey, and Nov. 3, 1914, was made manager of the Division Avenue Branch of this institution, which position he has since retained. Mr. Plett has impressed himself upon his associates as a man of ability in banking affairs, of sound and conservative judgment and of painstaking capac- ity for the handling of difficult and intricate problems which arise in the course of business. While the greater part of his attention is given to the institution with which he has been connected for so long, and to the interests of which he is intensely loyal, he also has not been adverse to accepting outside opportunities when they have pre- sented themselves, and at this time he is the head of a prosperous tailoring business. His political views make him independent as a voter. Mr. Plett is a member of the German Lutheran church and Mrs. Plett of the Westminster Presbyterian church. He is prominent in Masonry, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, and DeWitt Clin- ton Commandery, and is also a Shriner, and he holds membership likewise in the Knights of Pythias. Socially he is identified with the Peninsular, Owashtanong and Highlands Golf clubs. Always inter- ested in anything that affects the welfare of his city, Mr. Plett belongs to the Association Improvement Association, of which he is treasurer, and is also one of the active, working members of the Association of Commerce. Mr. Plett was married, May 22, 1905, to Katherine G., daughter of John and Cecelia (Garrick) Armstrong, of Grand Rapids, and they have two children: Ann Katherine and Frederick A., both attending school.
William Porritt .- The localities which do not include among their residents a due proportion of intelligent retired agriculturists lack an element that may be one of great importance. The life of the farmer leads to thought and contemplation, and a man who through his own toilsome efforts can acquire a competency and retire to enjoy it must be possessed of excellent judgment, which should be a valuable addition to community life. He should be a man with clear views concerning many things, and in Bowne township may be found a number of fine examples of the retired farmer, among them being William Porritt. Mr. Porritt has been a resident of Bowne town- ship for nearly sixty years and has led a long, useful and exceptionally successful career. He was born near Greenfield, Wayne county, Mich- igan, Aug. 24, 1845, son of John and Alice (Walt) Porritt. Her par- ents, natives of Yorkshire, England, were married there and in 1830 came to the United States with various members of both the Walt and Porritt families. Here Mr. Porritt bought land in the woods of Wayne county, which is now included within the city limits of Detroit,
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although at that time about five miles from the city proper, and con- tinued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1849, when his son, William, was about three and one-half years old. In 1855 his widow disposed of the land there and moved to Oakland county, Michigan, where she purchased 120 acres, but remained only about three years, when she came with her children to Bowne town- ship and bought eighty acres of land, upon which the first family home was a log cabin. One of Mr. Porritt's most prized possessions is an old picture of this little home and its interesting surroundings. There were eleven children in the family, of whom seven died young, those who grew to maturity being: John, deceased; Hannah; Eliza, a resident of Grand Rapids; and William, William Porritt was given the benefits of a training in the district schools, but the greater part of his boyhood training was secured in the school of hard work, and he was no doubt at that time more familiar with the axe and the scythe than he was with pen and books. He was only sixteen years of age when he assumed the responsibility of clearing the home farm in Bowne township for his mother, and after years of constant work of the hardest kind succeeded in his task, developing a productive and paying property. After the death of his mother he took over the management of the home place, gradually increasing its acreage and adding to its buildings and improvements, and as his children came of age was able to give them a start in life by helping them to secure farms. Mr. Porritt still retains eighty acres in section 27, but has retired from active pursuits and merely supervises the work being done on his land. His long and industrious career has resulted in the attainment of a competency for his declining years, and he has also won and held the esteem and respect of his neighbors, who have recognized his sterling qualities of character and have un- hesitatingly given him their confidence and friendship. While he is a stanch Republican, he has not engaged actively in politics, nor has he cared for the honors of public position. Mr. Porritt was mar- ried, Jan. 25, 1867, to Rosa Platt, of Bowne township, and they have four children: Edith, who resides with her parents; Arthur, who married Florence Sinclair, is a farmer in Bowne township, and has eight children-Myra, Evelyn, Victor, Pauline, Grace, Lucy, Edith and Alice; Corwin, who married Clara Sinclair, and also follows farming in this township, the father of seven children-William, Marion, Myr- tle, Rose, Gilbert, Francis and Robert; and Charley, who lives west of Alto and has one son, John.
Benjamin C. Porter, cashier of the South Grand Rapids State Bank, has had several years' experience with the uncompromising and accuracy-compelling methods of monetary science as revealed behind the counters of Michigan institutions. As are all successful and reli- able cashiers, he is methodical in his habits and has been practical in his ambitions. Steadiness of life aim has been imparted to him by progenitors who braved the hardships and dangers of pioneer life in the State, and he himself is a product of the country, having been born on a farm in Wyoming township, Kent county, Michigan, April 18, 1864, a son of John and Elizabeth (Rossman) Porter, natives, respectively, of Seneca and Cayuga counties, New York. John Porter was a lad when he accompanied his parents to Michigan, the
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family settling in Oakland county. There he grew to manhood and adopted farming for his life work, but in 1856 changed his residence to Wyoming township, Kent county, where he followed farming until his death. He was one of the substantial agriculturists of his day and locality, and was also not unknown to public life, having been sent to represent his district in the Michigan Legislature in 1862. He and Mrs. Porter, who is also now deceased, had a family of five children : James F., a resident of Stanwood, Mich .; J. Charles, who lives in the State of Washington; Benjamin C .; Nellie, wife of Dr. W. H. Ross, a practicing physician of Grand Rapids; and Sarah L., wife of M. R. Potter, of Lansing, Mich. After securing his prelim- inary education in the common schools of Wyoming township, Ben- jamin C. Porter entered the Michigan Agricultural College and was graduated in that institution with the class of 1884. Until he was forty years of age he followed the vocation of his forefathers, that of farming, and made a success of his operations, becoming the owner of a well-cultivated and valuable property. He had been, in the mean- time, more or less interested in public affairs, and had served his township well and faithfully in the offices of township clerk two years, township treasurer for a like period and supervisor for seven years, and was finally appointed deputy county treasurer, an office in which he discharged his duties well for four years. At the time of the organization of the South Grand Rapids State Bank, Nov. 28, 1915, he became cashier of this institution, which was incorporated for $25,000, and threw open its doors to the public for business, Feb. 12, 1916. At the time of organization, George Wykes was president and W. T. Shaffer vice-president, but Mr. Shaffer subsequently suc- ceeded Mr. Wykes in the presidential position, and W. H. Richardson became vice-president. The directors are: William H. Anderson, I. J. Bear, George H. Kirtland, Benjamin C. Porter, William H. Rich- ardson, Nellie E. Ross, Wilmarth T. Shafer, George Wykes and Roger I. Wykes. A condensed report of the condition of the institution at the close of business, March 5, 1917, shows the following figures : Resources : Loans and discounts, $112,018.96; bonds and mortgages, $593,485.39 ; overdrafts, $232.13; banking house and fixtures, $11,000; cash and due from banks, $172,161.24. Liabilities: Capital stock, $25,000; surplus, $25,000; undivided profits, $3,020.03; deposits, $835,877.69. Mr. Porter is a large stockholder in the bank, and his wide acquaintance among the business men and farmers of Kent county renders him a valuable adjunct to its success. He is a strong Republican and a worker in behalf of his party, and belongs to the Masonic lodge. He is a promoter of stable and conservative interests, and as a citizen and banker maintains standards in keeping with the best welfare of the community. Mr. Porter was married, Nov. 14, 1888, to Fannie, daughter of Loren and Fannie (Knapp) Day, of Grandville, Mich., and they have one son, Benjamin C., Jr., assistant cashier of the South Grand Rapids State Bank, and one of the prom- ising and enterprising young business men and financiers of the south side of the city.
Frank C. Powers .- An old business house of Grand Rapids that enjoys the entire confidence of the business world over a wide terri- tory is the Powers & Walker Casket Company, of which Frank C.
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Powers, son of one of the founders, is vice-president and sales-man- ager. Mr. Powers was born at Grand Rapids, April 30, 1868. His parents were William H. and Sarah L. (Bradford) Powers. He attended the public schools and after completing the high school course began working for the Grand Rapids Light & Power Company and continued so engaged until he was nineteen years old, going then, as paymaster, to the Valley City Cable Street & Railway Company, with which he remained several years and for two years afterward was with the Light & Power Company, in the capacity of chief engi- neer and superintendent. Mr. Powers then went to Chicago and there was engaged for a year with the Calumet Street Railway Com- pany. Then he was with the Hyde Electric Light & Power Company for a time. He then returned to Grand Rapids for a short time, and then went to Chicago, where he became associated with the Goodman Manufacturing Company and remained with them about one year. In 1900 he returned to Grand Rapids and engaged with the Powers & Walker Casket Company as traveling salesman and continued on the road until 1914, when he became vice-president and took charge of the sales department as manager. In 1875 Joseph H. Walker and William H. Powers became interested in the casket manufacturing business. At that time Mr. Powers was operating a sash, door and blind factory on the site of the present casket factory, No. 213 Front avenue, N. W., and it was in this factory that the firm of Powers & Walker began a business that has developed into one of large impor- tance. Mr. Powers was the first president of the company and held the office as long as he lived, his death occurring Feb. 25, 1895. He was succeeded by Mr. Walker, who continued president until his death, May 18, 1910, when Mrs. Sarah L. Powers, widow of the first president, succeeded to the office. The officials of the company are: Mrs. Sarah L. Powers, president; Frank C. Powers, vice-president and sales-manager; Frederick W. Powers, secretary; Clifford H. Walker, treasurer and superintendent. Frank C. Powers was mar- ried, July 10, 1890, to Miss Minnie Jennings, daughter of George and Margaret (Quealey) Jennings. Independent in politics, Mr. Powers feels free to use his own sound judgment in giving support to men and measures, and his public record shows that he has made few mistakes. He is earnest and active in advocating the bests interests of Grand Rapids at all times and belongs to the Association of Com- merce. He is identified fraternally with the Elks and the Masons and is a Shriner.
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