USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 58
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four years he served as a member of Grand Rapids Battalion of the Thirty-second regiment, Michigan National Guard, during which time he rose from private to the rank of second lieutenant. In May, 1917, he assisted in the organization of the Michigan state troops and was made captain of the Sixty-seventh company. Mr. Withey was mar- ried April 16, 1902, to Margaret A., daughter of James and Mary (Cudahy) McDermott, of Grand Rapids, and they have five children, namely : James A., Paul J., John W., LeRoy B. and Robert W.
DeRoy A. Wood .- Cascade township offers many examples of successful farming, and no one could overlook, in this connection, the many richly cultivated acres that belong to DeRoy A. Wood, whose fine farm and modern home are located on section 25. Mr. Wood has been a resident of Cascade township for fifty-four years, during which period he has been identified with the movements that have made for progress and development and a factor in making this locality noted as an agricultural center. He has been no less a good citizen than he has a good farmer, and in business circles his name stands for honor- able transactions and straightforward dealing. Like many of his fellow-townsmen, DeRoy A. Wood was born in the State of New York, his natal date being Dec. 25, 1846, and his parents were Clinton A. and Louisa Markham Wood, who were born and reared in Liv- ingston county, New York. Clinton A. Wood was engaged in farm- ing ventures until his marriage, and then for a time applied his ener- gies to the manufacture of pumps, but eventually returned to farm- ing, which he followed in the East until 1863. Feeling that he was not making enough progress in New York, and having heard of the opportunities offered for success and advancement in Michigan, Mr. Wood in that year traded his home and residence lot for a farm in Cascade township, Kent county, where he arrived Dec. 4. This prop- erty was eighty acres in extent, of which all but five acres were in wood, in the clearing of which Mr. Wood found himself facing a proposition which he had never experienced up to that time. How- ever, he was industrious and persevering and quickly learned the methods of the West, so that he rapidly put his land under cultiva- tion and developed a fertile and productive farm from out of the wil- derness. Also he rose to a position of prominence in his community, won the confidence and trust of his fellow-citizens, and served several times in the capacity of highway commissioner. He was a Repub- lican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were the parents of six chil- dren : Frank A., deceased; DeRoy A .; William A. and Charlie, de- ceased; Jennie; and Daniel, who resides at Grand Rapids. DeRoy A. Wood was educated in the public schools of New York and was nearly seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Cascade township, in the Civil war period. He assisted his father on the home farm for a time and worked on a threshing outfit five falls, following which he rented land for several years and threshed for twenty falls, and finally became a property owner, when he bought forty acres of land. This he subsequently sold and bought his pres- ent farm from the other heirs of his father, and he now has one of the best and most productive farms of eighty acres in the township. Mr. Wood is a general farmer and .stock-raiser, and is thoroughly conversant with every form and department of farm work. His tract is well fenced and otherwise improved, his farming machinery is of
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ADDISON M. WORKS
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J. ALLEN GIDDINGS
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the latest manufacture, and his buildings are numerous, substantial and commodious. Politically, he is a Republican, and formerly was fraternally identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Wood was married Dec. 23, 1869, to Phoebe, daughter of Elisha Reynolds, who came from Allegheny county, New York, Mrs. Wood's birthplace, the spring following the arrival of the Wood family. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born the following children: One who died in infancy ; Jennie, deceased, who was the wife of M. Bowen and had a child, Leona, who married Robert Blackburn and had Donna, Norma and Robert E .; Clinton, who was the manager for his father of the home farm and is now a barber at Alto, married Mabel Shep- hard and has a son, Harold; Mernie, who is the wife of R. E. Hask- ing, of Saginaw, Mich., and has four children-Donald, Burrell, Ma- rion and Maxim; Donna, deceased wife of Charles Tucker, of Chi- cago, Ill .; Arch E., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cas- cade township, married Grace Heisinger, and is the father of two children-Beulah and Charles; Nettie, who is the wife of Edward P. Chappell, of Alto, and has four children-Irene, Edward, Beverly and Granville A .; and Verl, who is the wife of Frederick Erdly, of Cascade, and has three children-Thomas, Ruth, and James Ernest.
Addison Milton Works .- While the career of the late Addison Milton Works belongs to the past rather than to the present, his death having occurred a quarter of a century ago, his name is entitled to mention among the representative men of Kent county because of his connection with its professional and business life for some years. Mr. Works was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, Jan. 24, 1847, son of Thomas Works. He secured his early education in the public schools of his native county, and after studying law and graduating in the Valparaiso University embarked upon the practice of his pro- fession and also engaged in the insurance business. Mr. Works came to Kent county in 1889, in which year he opened a law and insurance office in the Michigan Trust Company building, and he continued to be prominently identified with these lines of endeavor until his death, which occurred June 4, 1893. While his residence in this city was a short one he was able to impress his ability and worth upon the com- munity, and he is still remembered by many as a citizen of unblem- ished integrity and real public spirit. He was a Republican, polit- ically, and a member of the Baptist church. Having fought as a sol- dier of the Union in the latter part of the Civil war, he held member- ship in the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Works was first mar- ried Dec. 30, 1877, to Mary J. Dow, who died Jan. 24, 1883, having been the mother of two children: Fred, born July 15, 1880, and Ma- rion, who died July 23, 1883. Mr. Works was again married, June 4, 1890, to Lottie E., daughter of J. Allen Giddings, and of Revolu- tionary ancestry. She was born at Sherman, Conn., where her father was a well-known business man, and was brought to Grand Rapids by her parents in 1859, here securing her education in the graded and high schools. Mr. Giddings became a prominent real estate man of the Furniture City and retired with a competency some years before his death. In 1859 he platted, organized and incorporated that por- tion of Oakland cemetery lying north of Hall street, and today this cemetery stands as a monument to Mr. Gidding. It is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the state, and to be the father of so splendid a
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work is indeed an honor. Mrs. Works, who survives her husband and resides at No. 705 Fulton avenue, E., is well known at Grand Rapids, where she has many friends, and she is a Daughter of the American Revolution.
Edmund W. Wurzburg was born in Grand Rapids, April 13, 1879, son of Frederick W. Wurzburg. He attended the public schools of his native city, was in school for a time in Buffalo, N. Y., and spent one year in a gymnasium in Germany, which corresponds to a high school in the United States. At the age of twenty years he en- tered the Wurzburg department store in Grand Rapids and there gained experience in mercantile business. He later spent two years in New York City, with the Textile Publishing Company, and then went to El Paso, Tex., where he had charge of a mercantile establish- ment for one year. At the end of that time he returned to Grand Rap- ids and again entered the Wurzburg store, becoming secretary and treasurer of the company when the business was reorganized. His father retired from active connection with the establishment about 1903, and Edmund W. is now vice-president of the incorporation. He is a member of the Peninsular, Kent Country, Highlands Country, and Owashtanong clubs, and also of the Association of Commerce. Mr. Wurzburg was married July 16, 1904, to Miss Marguerite, daugh- ter of M. J. and Emily (Jewell) Clark, of Grand Rapids, and of this union have been born four children-Jane, Emily, Margaret, and Ed- mund, Jr.
Frederic A. Wurzburg .- Of the business establishments of Grand Rapids which have been developed and enlarged through the gaining of public confidence by straightforward methods of business procedure, an excellent example is the house of F. A. Wurzburg & Son. Founded in 1902 by the elder member of the firm, it has dur- ing sixteen years grown to important proportions and has greatly en- larged its scope and usefulness. Frederic A. Wurzburg has been connected with business affairs at Grand Rapids since young man- hood and has been identified in a number of ways with commercial matters. He was born Nov. 27, 1865, in the city of New York, a son of Frederick W. Wurzburg, long a business man of Grand Rapids. The education of Frederic A. Wurzburg was secured in the public schools of the Furniture City, whence he was brought by his parents as a child, and at the age of sixteen years he began his business ex- perience as a clerk in his father's store. There he continued until 1890, when he entered business on his own account, buying out the stock of the old firm of E. P. Kidder & Company. He began the manufacture and handling of ladies' and children's fur goods at old No. 64 Monroe street, and remained there until 1901, when he dis- posed of his holdings there, and in 1902 started operations at 120 Monroe street, at that time founding the present concern, known at that time as Frederic A. Wurzburg. This business was the handling at retail of linens, white goods and art needlework. They also en- gaged in the manufacture of Art Needlecraft novelties and ninety people are now employed in this department, with two traveling sales- men on the road. The products of this business have a market in all parts of the United States and the concern has a well-merited repu- tation in trade circles as a reliable and dependable house, operating under a policy of honorable dealing and straightforward transac-
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tions. In 1915, when Donald B. Wurzburg was admitted as a mem- ber, the concern adopted the present style of F. A. Wurzburg & Son. Mr. Wurzburg, the elder, has had numerous other business connec- tions. For nine years he was the proprietor of a summer resort at Ottawa Beach and during that time acted in the capacity of postmas- ter there, and for twelve years he was interested in the music busi- ness. He is possessed of much musical talent, was musical director at Powers Theatre for some years and is at the present time the direc- tor of the Lalakoum Grotto Masonic Band. Organizations which have a direct bearing upon the business life of the community have found in him an able and energetic co-worker. He is now a director in the Grand Rapids Savings Bank, also a director in the Grand Rap- ids Association of Commerce, and he is vice-president of the West Michigan Fair Association, as well as a member of the Rotary club. Fraternally he is a Thirty-second degree Mason and a Knight Temp- lar, and he belongs likewise to the Knights of Pythias and the Benev- olent & Protective Order of Elks, and to the Owashtanong, Penin- sular and Kent Country clubs. In a number of ways he has shown himself a progressive citizen, a sound and practical man of business and a useful member of society whose recognized abilities have been used in the furtherance of worth-while movements. Mr. Wurzburg was married Oct. 1, 1890, to Jane, daughter of Capt. C. E. Belknap, of Grand Rapids. Two children were born to this union: One died in infancy, and Donald B. received his preliminary education in the Grand Rapids High School and in 1915 graduated in the Uni- versity of Michigan, and entered the firm in the fall of that year. He is accounted one of the energetic and progressive young business men of the city. When the United States entered the great war, in 1917, Donald B. enlisted in the United States Aviation Corps, and soon gained a commission as first lieutenant.
Joseph B. Yeiter .- Among the business houses of Kent county which have been in existence for many years and which, through the honorable policy followed by their proprietors, have attained success and reputation, one that is well known is the furniture and undertak- ing establishment of Yeiter & Company. Established at Lowell in the Spring of 1894, during the twenty-four years of its business life this house has maintained an enviable reputation in the city and its proprietors have at the same time demonstrated their worth to the community as citizens. Joseph B. Yeiter, senior member of the firm of Yeiter & Company, was born on a farm in Lowell township, Kent county, Michigan, July 18, 1855, son of John and Mary (Meck) Yei- ter, natives of Wurttemburg, Germany. John Yeiter was four years old when brought to the United States and Mary Meck was a young woman of twenty years, and both families settled in Ohio, where the union of the parents took place. Later they removed to Lowell town- ship and there passed the remaining years of their lives in agricul- tural pursuits, the mother dying in September, 1891, and the father in November, 1893. They were the parents of six children: Mrs. Elizabeth Smelker, of Freeport, Mich .; Mary Jane, also of that place ; Joseph B .; Mrs. Lydia Gosch, of Lowell township; J. Wesley, who follows farming on the old home place; and Emma, who died in in- fancy. Joseph B. Yeiter received his education in the district schools
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of Lowell township and the Grand Rapids High School, following his graduation in which he began farming at home. It was not his intention, however, to follow an agricultural career, and in the Fall of 1882 he came to Lowell, and, in partnership with D. W. Miller, started a drug store. They remained together for one year, at the end of which time Mr. Yeiter bought his partner's interest and con- tinued to conduct the business alone until 1886, when he sold an in- terest to Dexter G. Look. In 1891 Mr. Yeiter retired from the busi- ness, selling his holdings therein to his partner, and in the Spring of 1894 re-entered business affairs as the proprietor of his present furni- ture and undertaking business. Two years later he sold a half inter- est to E. O. Wadsworth, and this association continued until 1913, when Mr. Yeiter bought his partner's share and took B. S. Shaw into the business. Mr. Shaw conducted a store at Alto and the two houses were conducted under the same management for one year. Mr. Shaw then withdrew and Mr. Yeiter took as his partner his cousin's son, Orlo J. Yeiter, and this connection still continues under the firm style of Yeiter & Company. This is now considered one of the sound and reliable business establishments of the city, dealing in high-grade furniture, of which the house carries a complete line. The under- taking department is complete in every respect and includes many modern features. Joseph B. Yeiter was married March 7, 1883, to Alida, daughter of Duncan and Phila A. (Stone) Campbell, the fa- ther a native of Scotland and the mother of New York. They were married in Michigan and started their married life on a farm in Bowne township, where they were residing when the Civil war came on. In 1862 Mr. Campbell enlisted in Company M, Sixth Michigan cavalry, and was killed in the bloody battle of the Wilderness and was buried on the field. In 1873 Mrs. Campbell married William Clark, of Cascade township, who died in 1890, Mrs. Clark surviving until April, 1915. By her first marriage she had two children: Alida, now Mrs. Yeiter, and Charles D., of McCords, Mich .; and by her sec- ond union she had a son, William H., who is a resident of Lowell township. Mr. and Mrs. Yeiter have two children: Lenna B., born April 14, 1884, wife of Dr. C. H. Anderson, a physician in Grand Rap- ids, and Lela Florence, born March 29, 1896, a graduate of the Michi- gan Agricultural College at Lansing, Mich. Mr. Yeiter has taken a prominent part in community affairs for a long period, having been village treasurer two years and village assessor four years. He main- tains an independent stand upon political questions. During the past twenty years he has been secretary of the Building & Loan Associa- tion, and his other interests are large. His fraternal affiliation is with Lowell Lodge No. 90, F. & A. M., and with his family he at- tends the Methodist Episcopal church.
Orlo J. Yeiter, junior member of the firm of Yeiter & Company, was born in Lowell township, May 9, 1890, a son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Reuter) Yeiter, natives of Michigan and agriculturists during the active period of their lives. The father died in January, 1916, but the mother still survives and makes her home at Lowell. There were five children in the family: Clair D., who married Mary Clark; Orlo J .; Claud S., who married Lillian Bloomer; Lena L .; and Harold G. Orlo J. Yeiter was educated in the public schools of
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Lowell township and the high school at Freeport, and until nineteen years of age was engaged in farming on his father's property. At that time he was married and for some years thereafter was identified with a number of business enterprises, finally becoming associated with Joseph B. Yeiter, his father's cousin, in the operation of the present house. He is known as one of the energetic and enterprising young business men of the city and has already made a firmly estab- lished place for himself in commercial circles. He is an independent voter, affiliates with Lowell Camp No. 115, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is also a Mason, and belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church. In 1909 Mr. Yeiter was married to Miss Rosella, daughter of Earl and Mary Curtiss, formerly farming people of Lowell township and now retired residents of Lowell. Of this union has come a daughter, Evelyn L., born Feb. 26, 1912, and a son, Ger- ald S., born Jan. 2, 1918.
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