USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 9
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Orrin Edson Brown .- In the death of Orrin Edson Brown, which occurred May 10, 1915, the grain commission and brokerage interests of Grand Rapids lost a representative who had been connected with this phase of the city's business life for many years, and whose trans- actions in connection therewith had reflected credit upon the business and the community. His long and active career was one which was an illustration of practical industry, and in the working out of his destiny he found honor among his fellow-men and a respected name as a citizen of the city of his adoption. Mr. Brown was born at Old Deerfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts, Dec. 19, 1842, son of Elijah and Cynthia (DeWolf) Brown, natives of the Bay state and members of old and honored families which had come to this country long before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war. Elijah Brown was a miller in the East, a vocation which seems to have been followed extensively by the Brown family, but when he came to Grand Rapids, in the '70s, had already retired from active affairs, having gained a modest and satisfying fortune through industry and good management of his affairs. Later he removed with Mrs. Brown to Rockford, Mich., and there both passed away, well advanced in age, each having rounded out a life of signal usefulness. They were devout members of the Congregational church and the parents of the following chil- dren: Henry E., a resident of Chicago, Ill .; Julia and Otis L., de- ceased; Orrin Edson, of this notice; Sarah, wife of James Newman, of Fairport, N. Y .; Ellen J., widow of Charles Maxfield, a former resi- dent of Grand Rapids; James, of this city; and Albert E., deceased. The public schools of his native community furnished Orrin E. Brown with his educational training, while he learned the milling business under the preceptorship of his father and was thus well prepared to enter upon his career when he came to Michigan at the time he attained his majority. He first located at Alpine, where he found employment with John Ellis, in the milling industry, Mr. Ellis subsequently becoming his father-in-law, and for eight or ten years remained in that community, all the time becoming more and more proficient in the business and learning its minutest details. He was accepted as a partner by Mr. Ellis after several years, but in 1862 disposed of his interests at Alpine and came to Grand Rapids, where his first venture was in the insurance business. At that time he did not remain for any great length of time, but removed to Rockford, Mich., where he resumed operations as a miller and was soon joined by his parents. He remained at Rockford until 1875, when he again came to Grand Rapids, this time to try his fortune in the grain com- mission business. This venture proved an almost immediate success, and after several years Mr. Brown added the brokerage business and continued to follow these two avenues of business endeavor with constantly increasing prosperity until his death, May 10, 1915. Mr. Brown had a wide acquaintance among the prominent men in the grain trade, and that they sought his friendship was caused by the confi- dence which they placed in him, a faith generated by and based upon
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the honorable manner in which he always carried on his transactions. He was one of the active workers in the Association of Commerce and affiliated himself with numerous movements which had as their object the advancement of the general welfare, whether of city, business or public. Mr. Brown was an attendant of Park Congre- gational church and his social connections included membership in the Peninsular and Kent Country clubs. Mr. Brown was married, Aug. 11, 1868, to Rosamond E., daughter of John and Ellen N. (Fish) Ellis, of Alpine, Mich., and they had two children: Mabel, who died in infancy, and Hattie, who is the wife of Fred Tracy, of Grand Rapids, and has a child, George Winton, born Jan. 16, 1914. The parents of Mrs. Brown were born in the Empire state and her father was among the earliest settlers of Grand Rapids, whither he came in 1833. He first bought land in the vicinity of what is now the heart of the Furniture City, but subsequently disposed of this farm, after clearing it, and moved to Alpine, where he followed saw and flour milling. Both he and Mrs. Ellis passed away there. Mrs. Brown, who survives her husband and resides at No. 149 Prospect avenue, N. E., was born at Grand Rapids and received her education here. She is well known in the vicinity of her home and is active in church work and a member of a number of social bodies.
Rev. Robert W. Brown .- For nearly twenty-one years Rev. Robert W. Brown has served as pastor of St. James' Catholic Church of Grand Rapids, and during this time has succeeded in building up a large and prosperous pastorate and in the attainment of much that has been beneficial to his church and his people. His connection with this parish, however, does not represent in its entirety the period of his identification with ministerial labors, and he was ordained a priest in 1889, and for some time his experiences were varied and his work of a character to test his versatility. Father Brown was born on a farm in Chester township, Ottawa county, Michigan, Dec. 9, 1859, and remained under the parental roof until he was eighteen years of age. Until that time, he divided his attention between assist- ing his father in the work of the home place and attending the com- mon schools, and when seventeen years old entered the graded school at Lisbon, in Ottawa county. On leaving home, he began teaching a public school in Alpine township, Kent county, but after one term returned to Ottawa county and there was a teacher for three years. In 1881 he entered upon an elective course in the Grand Rapids high school, and after he was graduated, in 1883, again taught school for one year. In the spring of 1884 Father Brown entered St. Vincent College, at Latrobe, Pa., under the Benedictine Fathers, and com- pleted a classical and theological course in 1889, on June 29 of which year he was ordained a priest by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Richter, of Grand Rapids. He was at once assigned as assistant pastor at St. Simon's church, Ludington, Mich., and after six months was appointed pastor at St. Simon's. After four years of hard and unremitting work there, his health failed under the strain, and he was accordingly transferred to the Hemlock Missions, in Saginaw county. Later he had charge of the church at Merrill, in the same county, where he worked until January, 1897, when he took up missionary work with Rev. E. H. Youman, C. S. P. Laboring in the diocese of Grand Rapids until Feb. 7, 1898, on that date he relieved the late Father II-5
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Pulcher, succeeding him as pastor of St. James' church. Father Brown is much beloved by his people, in whose interests he is a tire- less worker and for whose welfare he is constantly solicitous. A learned priest and a close student of human nature, he is not only his people's spiritual guide, but their financial advisor and personal friend, and as a result his influence is far-reaching and his work prolific of results.
Claude Robinson Buchanan .- It is not alone as a thorough, skilled and painstaking lawyer and leader of the bar that Claude Robinson Buchanan is widely and favorably known to the people of Grand Rapids, but as a man of great literary ability and a dramatist whose work has gained him something more than a local reputation. He is a product of Grand Rapids, here received his training and early education, and the greater part of his career has been passed at the Furniture City, where whatever success he may have gained-and it is not inconsiderable-has been fairly and honorably won in straight- forward competition. Mr. Buchanan was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 17, 1858, and is a son of John C. and Sophia H. (Bingham) Buchanan, the former of whom came to this city in 1842 and the latter in 1855. John C. Buchanan was a respected citizen of his day and was engaged in business as a gunsmith, in which line he filled government contracts for the United States during the administra- tion of President Buchanan. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in the Union army, and from 1861 to 1864 served as captain of Com- pany D, Eighth Michigan infantry. He returned to Grand Rapids at the close of a splendid military career and here continued to be engaged in various business ventures until his death, in 1902. The common schools of Grand Rapids furnished Claude R. Buchanan with his early education, and after his graduation from high school here, he enrolled as a student at the University of Michigan, which he at- tended from 1877 to 1881. In the latter year he was graduated in the literary department with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in his senior year also took the law course. During the seven years that followed, like many other men who have succeeded in the practice of law, Mr. Buchanan engaged in school teaching, his edu- cational labors carrying him to different points in Michigan, Illinois and Iowa. During this period he continued to perfect himself in the law by reading and study during his leisure hours, and when he returned to Grand Rapids, in the fall of 1888, was admitted to the bar and began practice. His first professional business was secured while he was in a law partnership with Charles W. Tufts, this asso- ciation continuing for about three years, and later Mr. Buchanan had as his associate L. G. Rutherford, with whom he was in partnership for some ten months. During the greater part of the period of his professional labors, however, he has been, as now, engaged in an independent practice, his present offices being located at 332-332 Mich- igan Trust Company building. He carries on a practice of a general nature, being equally at home in the various departments of his calling, and has been employed as either general or special counsel by some of the leading corporations of the city, as well as having been re- tained by prominent individuals in cases involving important points of law and deciding considerations of large monetary value. He belongs to the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the Michigan State Bar
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Association and the National Bar Association, and among the mem- bers of his profession enjoys an honorable standing. Mr. Buchanan has held political offices of no kind, and his only interest in politics is that which he has as a good citizen, desiring to see good men elected and beneficial measures passed. His religious connection is with the Fountain Street Baptist church. Fraternally, he is affili- ated with the Knights of the Maccabees, the Independent Order of Foresters, the Knights of Pythias and the Masons, in the last named being identified with York Lodge and DeWitt Clinton Consistory, and being also a member of the Saladin Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is possessed of fine literary ability, and this was recently demonstrated, in October and November, 1916, when he joined in a joint debate with William P. Lovett, contributing nine articles to the various news- papers of Michigan during the liquor campaign. Mr. Buchanan had the wet side of the argument. Aside from his profession, Mr. Bu- chanan is perhaps most greatly interested in the drama, and is the author of the following plays: "The Queen's Riddle," which was produced at Powers Theatre, Grand Rapids, April 22, 1896; "Duchesse de Langeais," produced at the same theatre, May 10, 1905; "Amber Witch" and "Miss Somebody." Mr. Buchanan is a Republican. He has never cared for club membership. On July 23, 1885, he was married to Matilda S. Sharp, who died June 21, 1917, and they had one son, Claude S. Buchanan, who is now a resident of Washington, D. C., designing engineer in the National Bureau of Standards, Aero- plane Department.
Asa Filer Burch .- In the death of Asa Filer Burch, Grand Rapids lost another of that generation of business men upon whose enterprise, industry and foresight so much of the material greatness of the city was builded. He, with other men of his day, passed through the most important part of the city's growth and helped to raise the metropolis of Kent county to its present position. Courage, faith and moral strength belonged to the men of that day, and Asa Filer Burch shared those manly virtues fully. His reward was suc- cess in a measure any man might hope for, and the respect of his fellow men which all men covet. However, Mr. Burch was much more than an able business man, for he was a public-spirited citizen and deserved in the fullest degree the high credit given him in the good opinion of the people of this part of the state, while the regret of his loss was sincere. Mr. Burch, who was a resident of Grand Rapids for more than forty years, was born at Hannibal, Oswego county, New York, Nov. 8, 1827, son of Thomas and Lucy (Filer) Burch. He was educated in the public schools of Hannibal and at Falley Seminary, Fulton, N. Y., and at the latter place, upon leaving school, applied himself to the painter's trade, which he mastered. He was ambitious and industrious, and after a short time spent as a journeyman embarked in business on his own account as a painter, the scene of his first enterprise being Pulaski, Oswego county. Sub- sequently, in connection with his painting business, he expanded the scope and volume of his operations by taking up furniture repair- ing and the undertaking business, and by close application and sound business principles, combined with honest and straightforward dealings, was successful in building up a business that gave him a measure of success. However, his desires were for a more extended
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field and he accordingly decided to try his success further to the west. During a short period he was engaged in a painting and wall-paper business at Lafayette, Ind., after which he went to Kalamazoo, Mich., and organized a company for the manufacture of the Empire organ, this business being moved to Grand Rapids in 1870 and located on Monroe street. From that time forward Mr. Burch took an active and helpful part in the upbuilding of the Furniture City's commercial and manufacturing interests, as well as in movements making for civic betterment. In 1873 he resumed the painting and wall-paper business, with an establishment at No. 44 North Division street. Always on the lookout for further and more extensive opportunities, Mr. Burch shortly thereafter added a furniture repairing department, and this gradually developed into a wholesale mercantile house, job- bers of upholstery materials and furniture supplies, and Oct. 17, 1904, a stock company was formed under the style of A. F. Burch Company. Mr. Burch was elected president and continued in that capacity until his death, March 10, 1911. The Burch line of goods under his direction became noted for their excellence and high quality, and for coming up to specifications. This was Mr. Burch's policy throughout his life-to live up to all his engagements and to give honest value and honest service. His name therefore was widely known as a synonym for integrity and still gives prestige to the house which he founded, even though more than seven years have elapsed since his death. Public-spirited in marked degree, he always stood for good citizenship, but did not care for political honors. He was an active and devout member of the Methodist church and daily lived the faith in which he died.
Jenne Burg is one of the representatives of the agricultural inter- ests of Kent county who represents in his industry and prosperity the kind of material that has been contributed to this country by Hol- land. He has been a resident of this country and Kent county since 1890, and his career since coming here has been characterized by a faithful adherence to the principles which govern our civic and governmental ideals. Mr. Burg was born in Holland in 1855, son of Edgar Burg. The elder man was a native of that country and passed nearly all of his life there, but eventually joined his son in the United States, where he spent his last years, as did his wife also. She died at the age of ninety-one, and he was sixty-eight years old at the time of his death. Jenne Burg received a common school education in Holland, and was reared there, engaging in various occupations be- fore coming to America as a man of thirty-four years. On locating at Grand Rapids, in 1890, he secured employment with Thomas E. Wicks, with whom he remained for fifteen years, and after leaving Mr. Wicks' service was otherwise engaged for eight years. It had always been Mr. Burg's desire, however, to have an independent position, and this ambition was realized in 1909, when, through the assistance of his former employer, Mr. Wicks, he was enabled to secure his present farm in Nelson township. This consists of 144 acres, partly under cultivation. Mr. Burg may be termed a general farmer, although he specializes in raising corn and beans, and these crops have given him a good income, as his industry and good man- agement have served to make things prosperous for him. As his finances have improved each year, he has added new equipment and
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buildings to his property, and his farm is rapidly becoming one of the model ones of his township. In his work he has been ably assisted by his admirable wife, who learned the art of agriculture in her native country, Holland. Mr. and Mrs. Burg are contributing materially to the support of their adopted country in the present war. Their elder son, David, is at this writing at Camp Custer, Battle Creek, in train- ing and awaiting the time when his division will be sent to the front, across the waters. Their other son, Edgar, is now in France. Mr. and Mrs. Burg also have three daughters: Minnie, wife of William Norton, living in Oregon; Allie, wife of H. Hill, also of Oregon; and Maggie, wife of L. Williams, of Grand Rapids. Mr. Burg has always been a devoted Republican. He has not sought political or public office, but has rendered service in a number of appreciable ways to his community, always having been ready to support with his influence, energy and means any movement calculated to benefit the general welfare. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed church.
Walter N. Burgess was born in Lansing, Mich., Nov. 22, 1870, son of Thomas and Catharine (Case) Burgess. He was educated in the public schools and at Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, and moved to Grand Rapids in 1895. He began his mercantile career as a clerk at Big Rapids for A. S. Holcomb & Co., and was afterward employed as department manager and road salesman by H. Leonard & Sons, and became president of the Leonard Crockery Co., for which he was the buyer for twelve years. His last business engagement was with the Kinney & Levane Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, large dealers in china and glassware. He began his military career, March 30, 1888, by an en- listment in the National Guard at Big Rapids. He arose from the ranks, and served as captain from 1893 to 1895, when he resigned upon coming to Grand Rapids. Filled with the military spirit, he soon enlisted in Company K at Grand Rapids and rapidly filled the offices of corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, and was regimental sergeant major in 1905, under Col. P. L. Abbey. He was with the regiment on the Mexican border and served as first lieutenant and battalion adju- tant. He served as recruiting officer at Grand Rapids, and inspector to mounted detachments. Upon the return of the troops from Mexico he was detailed as acting regimental adjutant at Fort Wayne, and on April 5, 1917, was commissioned captain of the Thirty-second Michi- gan infantry supply company, being a member of the staff of Colonel Westenedge, of Kalamazoo. His experience as a business man and buyer has peculiarly fitted him for his work at the head of the com- missary department of his regiment, and he has shown marked effic- iency in seeing that men from Western Michigan are well and promptly provided for. Captain Burgess was married, June 25, 1890, to Miss Jesse A. Sauer, and to them two children were born-Carlton M. and Harriet L. V. Death called his first wife, and on May 3, 1916, he was married to Miss Olena P. Hermansen.
Frederick E. Burleson, M. D .- Among the men devoted to the science of healing at Grand Rapids, few have brought to their pro- fession broader experience in diversified lines of endeavor than has Dr. Frederick E. Burleson. Far from selecting his life work in the untried enthusiasm of extreme youth, the choice of this practitioner was that of a mature mind, trained to thoughtfulness by years of practical experience and by coming into contact with his fellow men,
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and to a full realization of the responsibilities and possibilities which he faced in the adoption of one of the most honored, and at the same time one of the most difficult, of the vocations in which man may engage. Dr. Burleson was born at Saginaw, Mich., Aug. 12, 1874, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Spalding) Burleson. He was one of a family of seven children: George S., who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Buffalo, N. Y .; Frank A., manager of the Burleson Hotel at Grand Rapids; Dr Willard M., founder of the Burleson Sanitarium and its president ; Jesse C., who died at the age of seventeen years; Mae, wife of C. A. Daniels, of Grand Rapids ; Frederick E., of this notice; and John F., also identified with the Burleson Sanitarium. The parents of Dr. Burleson were farming people in the vicinity of Saginaw, and it was in that city that the Doctor acquired his elementary education in the public schools. Sub- sequently, he was sent to Ferris Institute, at Big Rapids, in which he was duly graduated, and at that time entered upon a business career that covered a number of years. He eventually became a traveling salesman and came to Grand Rapids to act in that capacity for the wholesale grocery house of Amos Musselman, and it was while thus engaged that his latent attraction for the medical profession made itself felt in so commanding a manner that he decided to enter that calling. He accordingly did some preparatory work and then entered the Detroit College of Medicine and Surgery, and in the class of 1916 was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine and at once began practice at the Burleson Sanitarium, with which he has since been connected. His successful treatment of complicated and long- standing cases, and his skill in diagnosis, have already created a favor- able impression and have laid the foundation of what promises to be a career of exceptional breadth and usefulness. In political affiliation, Dr. Burleson is a Democrat. He is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Phi-Chi medical fraternity, and also holds membership in the Grand View Automobile club. To a thorough professional equipment he adds a kindly and sympathetic manner, a genuine liking for his calling, and a ready adaptation to its exacting and multitudinous demands. Dr. Burleson was married May 27, 1896, to Miss Katherine, daughter of Edward and Caroline Gyde, of Sagi- naw, Mich., and they are the parents of two children: Edward, a resi- dent of Detroit, and Miss Elizabeth, who resides with her parents.
John F. Burleson, M. D .- In the medical fraternity of Grand Rapids, one who has won distinctive success as a practitioner is Dr. John F. Burleson. In addition to having built a large and repre- sentative private practice, he is discharging the duties of the posi- tions of secretary and treasurer of the Burleson Sanitarium, and has won an enviable standing in the ranks of his calling. Dr. Burleson was born March 18, 1878, in Shiawassee county, Michigan, where the family has been known for many years. His preliminary edu- cational training was gained in the public schools of Saginaw, and his professional studies were prosecuted at the Detroit College of Medi- cine, in which he was graduated with his degree in the class of 1906. In that year he came to Grand Rapids and began practice with his brother, Dr. W. M. Burleson, and they have since remained together. On April 1, 1917, Dr. Burleson assumed the duties of secretary and treasurer of the Burleson Sanitarium, one of the well-known institu-
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Sincerely yours Midcard M. Burleson MD
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tions of this nature at Grand Rapids. The Doctor is independent in his political views. He is a Mason of high standing and holds mem- bership in several of the leading clubs of the city. Dr. Burleson was married April 3, 1907, to Miss Abbie M. Sibley, daughter of Aaron L. Sibley, of Grand Rapids, and they are the parents of two sons- John S ("Jack") and Willard M.
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