USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 42
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Frederick W. Powers, secretary of the Powers & Walker Casket Company of Grand Rapids, bears a name that has been known and honored in this city for over forty years. He was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 19, 1866. His father was the late William H. Powers, one of the founders of the above business and his mother, Mrs. Sarah L. (Bradford) Powers, is the president of the company. It was May 31, 1875, that William H. Powers, who at that time was operating a sash, door and blind factory here, became interested, with Joseph H. Walker, in the casket manufacturing business. They were both men of industry and enterprise and, after purchasing the only casket business in Grand Rapids, established their factory at No. 213 Front avenue, N. W., which has been since retained, although
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the plant has been greatly enlarged and modern facilities have been introduced. William H. Powers was the first president of the Powers & Walker Casket Company and continued in the office until his death, which occurred Feb. 25, 1895. Mr. Walker then succeeded to the presidency and continued at the head of the business as long as he lived, his death occurring May 18, 1910, when Mrs. Sarah L. Powers, widow of William H. Powers, became president, no change in the honorable policy of the business having been made in all these years. Frederick W. Powers obtained his education in the public schools and Swensberg's Business College in his native city and for two years afterward had practical training as an apprentice with the Grand Rapids Electric Light & Power Company, with which he was later identified for a number of years after returning from Spearfish, S. D., where he was a bookkeeper for six months in the lumber office of his grandfather, William T. Powers. On Feb. 24, 1903, he became asso- ciated with the Powers & Walker Casket Company and was elected vice-president. On Jan. 26, 1904, he was elected vice-president and secretary, and held these offices until March 2, 1907, when F. C. Powers became vice-president and Frederick W. secretary, which office he has held ever since. He is active in all that concerns substantial develop- ment at Grand Rapids and is a valued member of the Association of Commerce. In his political views he is independent, but never negli- gent as a citizen. Fraternally he has been identified with the Knights of Pythias and was a charter member of Imperial lodge at Grand Rapids, and he belongs to the Grand Rapids lodge of Elks and to the Owashtonong club. He was married, Sept. 8, 1898, to Miss Frances A. Patterson, daughter of James W. and Ida (Morse) Pat- terson, of Kalamazoo, Mich.
John W. Powers has been actively connected with the Grand Rapids bar for twenty-four years, during which period he has gained a substantial reputation as a close student of the law and a pains- taking, able and strictly reliable attorney. Retained at one time and another by some of the large business interests of the city and county, his success in a number of important cases has been fairly and honorably attained, his abilities not only winning him material recog- nition, but the respect of his fellow-practitioners and the public in general. John W. Powers was born at Louisville, on the St. Lawrence river, in the county of that name, New York, Nov. 19, 1869, a son of Henry and Susan (Shoen) Powers. His father, a native of the Empire State, made the long journey over the plains to the gold fields of California as one of the original "forty-niners," but after a short ex- perience there returned to New York, where he rounded out his life in agricultural pursuits, both he and Mrs. Powers dying there. John W. Powers secured his primary education in the public schools of Louisville, following which he attended the Potsdam (N. Y.) Normal School. Having decided upon the law as a profession, he matricu- lated in the University of Michigan and was graduated with the law class of 1894. In that year he began practice at Grand Rapids, where, through personal ability, continued industry and strict fidelity to the interests of his clients, he soon built up a gratifying practice. In 1906, in the administration of Prosecutor McDonald, he entered the prosecuting attorney's office as assistant, and in 1908 was appointed
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to that position to fill an unexpired term. Upon his retirement from the office he resumed private practice and has since been identified with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of city, county and state. Mr. Powers belongs to the Kent County Bar Asso- ciation and is a Mason. He was married in December, 1900, to Clara Belle, daughter of William and Helen (Stone) Winchester, of Grand Rapids, and they have two sons: John W. and Russell H.
Rev. Jerome Preisser .- The Roman Catholic church in Grand Rapids is represented by many able clergymen of such power and lives as would bring honor to any community in which they might live, men of such lovable natures as win the affections as well as the respect of those under their charge, and are consequently the better enabled to move their people along the path whose watchword is religion and whose lights are faith and morals. Of the Catholic priests of the diocese of Grand Rapids there is none of higher personal consideration among the members of his own faith, as well as those of a different religious opinion than the Rev. Jerome Preisser, pastor of St. Anthony's church. Father Preisser was born at Albany, N. Y., April 27, 1865, a son of Joseph and Mary (Frank) Preisser. His parents were natives of Germany, his father born in Bavaria and his mother in Baden, and they came to the United States when young and were married in Albany, N. Y., where Joseph Preisser was engaged in working as an employe of the New York Central Railway. Both parents are deceased. Rev. Jerome Preisser attended the parochial and public schools of Albany in his boyhood, and when his early training was completed enrolled as a student at St. Francis' College, at Syracuse, N. Y. Later he went to Rome, Italy, where his theologi- cal studies were prosecuted for four years, and April 12, 1891, he was ordained as a priest of the Catholic church. His first charge upon his return to this country was at Hoboken, N. J., where he was assistant at St. Joseph's church for one year, spent the next two years as assistant at the Church of the Assumption, Syracuse, N. Y., and then went to Louisville, Ky., where he remained for eighteen years as pastor of St. Peter's church. On Aug. 6, 1912, he was called to St. Anthony's parish, Grand Rapids. Under Father Preisser's spiritual direction are 200 families, while there are 145 children in the parochial school, taught by four teachers from the Dominican Sisters. The new church, the basement of which is now finished, was dedicated March 7, 1915, and when completed will be a monument to Father Preisser's artistic taste and successful energy. In the prime of his life, a man of active habits and never-failing industry, Father Preisser essays nothing for his parish in which he does not succeed. Neither is there any priest in Grand Rapids who has more thoroughly succeeded in endearing himself to his parishioners.
Ward W. Proctor .- The traveling public which visits the thriv- ing community of Alto, Kent county, finds excellent accommodations awaiting at the Hotel Proctor, of which Ward W. Proctor is pro- prietor. During his career Mr. Proctor has been engaged in a variety of pursuits, which have included farming and the operation of sev- eral mercantile enterprises, and in each connection he has shown himself an able and energetic man of business. Since taking over the caravansary he has made his house one of the most popular in II-20
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southeastern Kent county and at the same time has maintained his reputation for honorable business methods and straightforward deal- ing. He was born near McCords (Whitneyville), in Cascade town- ship, Kent county, Michigan, July 14, 1870, son of Oliver and Marcia (White) Proctor, natives of Walpole, Cheshire county, New Hamp- shire, who came to Michigan as young people. At the time of their marriage the parents had eighty acres of land in Cascade township, but this they later traded for another farm, near Whitneyville, where both died, the father in 1878 and the mother some years later. In addition to being an agriculturist, Oliver Proctor engaged extensively in buying live-stock, which he drove to Grand Rapids for disposal, and for several years he operated a threshing outfit. He was a well known and highly respected citizen of his township, and while never prominent in public life was always a factor in good movements and worked with other public-spirited citizens in gaining good govern- ment for his community. He and Mrs. Proctor were parents of three children : Lucy, wife of Frank Van Amburg, engaged in farming in Cascade township; Vella, wife of Will Thomas, a farmer of Whit- neyville; and Ward W. Ward W. Proctor received his education in the public schools of Cascade township, following which he was engaged in farming for several years. His tastes, however, ran more toward a business career than one connected with agricultural work, and his career as a merchant commenced at Whitneyville, where he started a grocery. Subsequently, he removed to Alto, where he conducted a like business for nine years, and then for six years was proprietor of a meat market at the same place, at the end of that time removing to Grand Rapids, where he was in the meat business for three years. Returning to Alto in October, 1916, he embarked in the hotel business, when he bought his present house, naming it the Hotel Proctor. He has made numerous improvements and now has a hotel which is up-to-date in every respect, in the administration of which he has increased its patronage and elevated its standing. He is well known, not only at Alto, but throughout this section, as his position brings him into contact with people from the surrounding counties, as well as those from more distant points. He is genial and courteous, ever seeking to meet the wishes and provide for the comfort of the patrons of the house, and to his judicious supervision of every detail and department connected with the establishment is due its high reputation. His general and diversified business experi- ence, his wide knowledge of men and his natural qualifications, make him just the man for the place of manager of a hotel. . Mr. Proctor is a member of the modern Woodmen of America and is one of Alto's most popular citizens. He was married, April 3, 1895, to Margaret, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hobart McVean, of Bowne township. Mrs. Proctor has one sister, Lennie, wife of P. Frank Kline, who was township treasurer and is now with the Yeiter Company at Alto. To Mr. and Mrs. Proctor have been born two children: Neil and Lyle, both living with their parents.
William S. Proudfit .- In every large manufacturing city, such as Grand Rapids, there is to be found a class of men from the ranks of which are chosen those who are called upon for leadership in impor- tant enterprises. This industrial sovereignty is conferred by popular
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recognition of superlative ability. Varied talents adapt these few men to captain enterprises of a varied nature; and they are, therefore, placed in a position to render highly valuable and valued services to their city, while at the same time securing for themselves a compe- tence sufficient to their needs. By originating, organizing and direct- ing a manufacturing enterprise which gives employment to a large number of people and adds to the city's prestige in manufacturing circles, William S. Proudfit, president of the Proudfit Looseleaf Com- pany, has achieved just such a double object. Prior to coming to Grand Rapids, his experience had been varied and his activities diver- sified. Since locating in this city, however, he has practically devoted himself to one line, and he is now at the head of a prosperous and constantly-growing business. Mr. Proudfit was born at Edinboro, Pa., April 7, 1868, son of William S. and Harriet Amanda (Lewis) Proudfit. His father, who was a pharmacist and engaged in business in Edinboro, Pa., for twenty-seven years, is deceased, but his mother still survives and is a resident of Chicago. There were the following children in the family: Sheldon Lewis, a resident of Chicago; James M., also of that city; William S., of this notice; Sarah, widow of William Roden, of Chicago; and Ralph C., deceased. William S. Proudfit attended the public schools of Edinboro, Pa., and secured his early training for his business career in the commercial college of Bryant & Stratton, at Chicago. Returning to Edinboro, for five or six years he was engaged in the general merchandise business and then returned to Chicago and secured a position in the sporting goods house of Thorson & Cassidy. He was next employed in the general offices of Nelson Morris & Company, at the Union Stock Yards, Chicago, following which he entered the Chicago branch of the Fire Association of Philadelphia. Later, in the same city, he was identi- fied with C. J. Farwell & Company, bookbinders. Mr. Proudfit came to Grand Rapids in 1906 and started traveling on the road for the Edwards-Hine Company, as a salesman, but after a short experience left the road, and, with his brother, James M., established the firm of Proudfit & Company, for the manufacture of metal parts for the Proudfit devices, all the patents for which were (and still are) held by the brothers. This business was continued until 1908, when the Proudfit Looseleaf Company was established, this being a $60,000 corporation with the present officers: William S. Proudfit, president ; William H. Edwards, vice-president and manager of sales and fac- tory ; and C. Evan Johnson, secretary and treasurer. Seventy people are employed in the Grand Rapids factory and office, one traveling salesman is on the road, and sales branches are maintained at the following points: Auburn, Binghamton, Buffalo, Glens Falls, James- town, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Troy and Utica, N. Y .; Altoona, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Punxsutawney and Scranton, Pa .; Appleton, Manitowoc, Marinette, Wilwaukee and Sheboygan, Wis .; Atlanta, Ga .; Baltimore, Md .; Boise, Ida .; Boston and Springfield, Mass .; Bangor, Me .; Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, New Philadelphia and Toledo, Ohio; Charleston, Huntington and Wheel- ing, W. Va .; Clinton, Creston, Davenport, Des Moines and Dubuque, Iowa ; Dallas, Tex .; Detroit, Mich .; Denver, Colo .; Duluth and Minne- apolis, Minn .; Elkhart, Evansville, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis,
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Ind .; Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla .; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo .; Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn .; Los Angeles and San Francisco, Cal .; Louisville, Ky .; Metuchen and Newark, N. J .; New Britain, Conn .; Norfolk and Richmond, Va .; Omaha, Neb .; Peoria and Rock Island, Ill .; Providence, R. I .; Portland, Ore .; Salt Lake City, Utah ; Seattle, Wash .; Tulsa, Okla .; Wichita, Kas .; Washington, D. C .; Amsterdam, Holland; Eskiltuna, Sweden; Toronto, Canada ; Leicester, England; Aukland, New Zealand; and St. Johns, New- foundland. The plant is two stories in height, 80x100 feet, and has 20,000 square feet of floor space, the building being complete through- out in equipment, machinery and labor-saving devices. Mr. Proudfit is one of the business men of Grand Rapids who has made his own way, and he has always carried out his transactions in an entirely honorable manner. As a result his reputation in business circles is an excellent one, and he well merits the esteem in which he is held by his associates. He is fraternally affiliated with the Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Proudfit was married, first, Nov. 10, 1886, to Mattie, daughter of Elizer Goodrich, of Edin- boro, Pa., and they became the parents of six children: Bernard M., of Grand Rapids; Russell E. and Kenneth L., deceased; Ruth, wife of Harry Smith, of Albion, Pa .; and Naomi and Leona, of Chicago, Mrs. Proudfit died, and Mr. Proudfit was again married, June 23, 1904, to Mrs. Jennie (Brown) Nicoll, of Chicago, Ill.
Henry J. Rademaker .- Connected during the past ten years with the Kent State Bank, and since February, 1914, manager of the Ful- ton Street branch of this institution, Henry J. Rademaker is one of the best known figures in the younger banking element of Grand Rapids. He has spent his entire life in this city, where he has been interested in a number of things that have aided the community in its aims for advancement, and at this time is a member of one of the organiza- tions of his part of the city that is working along lines of progress. Mr. Rademaker was born at Grand Rapids, March 5, 1886, son of John L. and Jennie (Kievet) Rademaker. His father was born at Milwaukee, Wis., and was brought to the Furniture City when two years old, here being reared and educated and learning the trade of turner. For some years he worked for his father and later became a member of the firm of H. Rademaker & Sons, which is still in exis- tence, although John L. Rademaker is now retired. He is a Republi- can, and a member of the La Grave Avenue Christian Reformed church, of which Mrs. Rademaker, who was born in the Netherlands and brought to Grand Rapids when about ten years of age, is also a member. There were five children in the family: Henry J .; Ada, wife of John Burg, of Grand Rapids ; Lillian, wife of Louis De Maagd, of this city ; Jay, also a resident here; and Elitha, who is unmarried and resides with her parents. After securing his education in the public schools of his native city, Henry J. Rademaker began his con- nection with business life as an employe of the American Seating Company in a clerical position. In 1907 he resigned his position to become a clerk in the Kent State Bank, and through industry, fidelity and ability won his way through several promotions until, in Febru- ary, 1914, he was made manager of the bank's Fulton Street branch, an office which he has retained to the present time. He is recognized
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as a clear-headed young banker, in whose entirely capable hands the interests both of the institution and the depositors are safe and whose likeable personality has been a decided factor in gaining new busi- ness for the institution. He is also secretary of the Furniture City Pearl Button Company and is otherwise known in business circles of the city. Politically he supports the Republican party, while his regard for his community's welfare finds expression in his work as a member of the West Fulton Improvement Society. For ten years Mr. Rademaker was a member of Company H, Michigan National Guard, and rose from private to first sergeant. He is now a member of the Michigan State Guards. His religious connection is with the La- Grave Avenue Christian Reformed church. Mr. Rademaker was married, April 20, 1908, to Florence, daughter of Spencer and Belle (Radley) Adams, of Lamont, Mich.
Samuel Haverstick Ranck, librarian of the Grand Rapids Public Library, was born on a farm in Lancaster township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, just outside of the limits of the city of Lancaster, Oct. 23, 1866, oldest child of Jacob Eby and Martha Bausman (Haver- stick) Ranck. Both parents are natives of Lancaster county, where they still live. The father's ancestors (Huguenots) came to the United States in 1729 and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where many of the successive generations have lived. The old French spell- ing of the name was Ranc, and it is a tradition in the family that dur- ing the period of the religious wars in France some of them suffered martyrdom at the stake. The mother's ancestors (German and Swiss) came to America later in the Eighteenth century, and some of them served our country in the army of the American Revolution. Mr. Ranck has two brothers and three sisters, all of whom are living. At the age of five years he entered the district school and at the age of sixteen became a student in the First Pennsylvania State Normal School, at Millersville. After two years of preparation in that school he taught two terms in rural schools, in the winters of 1885-86 and 1886-87. This was followed by a year in the Franklin and Marshall Academy, where he finished his preparation for college. He was graduated at Franklin and Marshall College with the degree of A. B., in 1892, and in 1895 received from the same institution the degree of A. M., on the basis of original work. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He began his library work in his Freshman year in college, when he was appointed an assistant in the Goethean Literary Society Library, an organization of college students. During his last two years in college he served as librarian of this library, when he re- catalogued the collection of about 6,000 volumes. In March, 1892, three months before his graduation from college, he was appointed and began work as librarian's assistant in the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore City, Maryland, where he later served as assis- tant librarian from 1898 to 1904. Since Oct. 1, 1904, he has been the librarian of the Grand Rapids Public Library. In 1895 Mr. Ranck organized the publishing work of the Franklin and Marshall College Alumni Association and has been chairman of the publishing commit- tee of this organization since that date. In this period he has edited, written, and published for the association some forty books, pamph- lets and leaflets. The most important of this work is the Catalogue
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of Officers and Students of Franklin and Marshall College, from 1787 to 1903, of which he was the editor, and the Franklin and Marshall College Obituary Record, which contains biographies of all the gradu- ates of the college who have died. Nearly all of the biographical sketches appearing in this record were written by Mr. Ranck. On its establishment, in 1903, he became president of the Advisory Coun- cil of Alumni of Franklin and Marshall College, and has been president of this organization, which represents the alumni in the affairs of the college, ever since. In newspapers and magazines Mr. Ranck has pub- lished many papers on college education in general, and on Franklin and Marshall College in particular ; also many papers and articles on library affairs and the out-of-doors. Since 1896 he has been a regular monthly contributor to the Library Journal. He is a life member of the American Library Association and since 1908 has been a member of the council of that organization, twice elected to that position. From 1915 to 1918 he has been a member of the executive board of the American Library Association. In this association he has served on many important special committees, as well as on standing com- mittees. Of the special committees mention may be made of the com- mittee to reorganize the association so as to provide regional repre- sentation in the council, on the relations of the library to the munici- pality, on library insurance, on the ventilation and lighting of library buildings, etc. He was chairman of the special committee of the National Municipal League to draft the library section of the pro- posed model city charter. He has also been a member for many years of the Pennsylvania Library Club, of the American Library Institute, and, since coming to Michigan, of the Michigan Library Association. Of the latter organization he was president from 1905 to 1907. Mr. Ranck holds membership in many learned societies, among which may be mentioned the American Historical Association, the Maryland His- torical Society, the Lancaster County Historical Society, the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society (of which organization he has been elected an honorary life member), and of the Historical Society of Grand Rapids, of which he has been secretary since 1905, at the same time editing the publications of the society. He is also a member of the Bibliographical Society of America and a number of national organizations in the interest of sociology and science. Since coming to Michigan Mr. Ranck has spent his vacations chiefly in canoeing the rivers of the state, and in that way he has covered thousands of miles of the water courses of Michigan, from source to mouth, and has made a collection of photographs of Michigan waterways of unusual interest and value. Before coming to Michigan his vacations were usually spent in connection with the waterways in the eastern part of the country. Mr. Ranck has a summer home at Woodbrooke Farm, near Grand River, in Plainfield township, used chiefly for his recreation and the education of his children. As the result of this, however, he takes great interest in all agricultural and horticultural subjects. He is a life member of the Michigan State Horticultural Society and a member of the Michigan Potato Association. Since the United States entered the war Mr. Ranck has given considerable time to the work of libraries in connection with the war, and especially as a member of the Executive Board of the American Library Associa-
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