USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 91
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Albion until 1902, when he rented both properties. In March of that year he purchased the Bismarck hotel in Battle Creek, this being a modern house conducted on the European plan, and in January, 1911, he amplified his enterprises in this city by the purchase of the Clifton hotel, a house of sixty-eight rooms and one that has long been the most popular American-plan hotel in the city. He has brought both of these houses up to a high standard in all lines and both receive large and appreciative patronage under his effective supervision. Mr. Callahan is one of the progressive and public-spirited business men of Calhoun county, and it may consistently be said that his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he is a charter member of the lodge of Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks in the city of Jackson. Mr. Callahan still remains on the roll of eligible bachelors and he main- tains his home in the Clifton House.
GEORGE W. PERKINS. Another of the native sons of Calhoun county who has done well with his life in a business way is George W. Perkins, agent of the Standard Oil Company and wholesale and retail dealer in oils, in Albion, since 1882. For years he was identified as a member of the firm of Perkins & Steele with one of the leading enterprises in Al- bion, as dealers in coal, wood, flour, feed and illuminating oils, at whole- sale and retail, but after nine years of that association, he withdrew from the firm, thereafter to confine his attention to the oil business exclu- sively.
Mr. Perkins is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Calhoun county, and was born in the township of Tekonsha, March 30, 1853. He is the son of Stephen and Mary Ann (Strobe) Perkins, both natives of New York state, who moved from that state to Michigan in 1849, locating in Calhoun county. The father first settled in Marengo township, where he leased a farm for a time and then bought eighty acres in Tekonsha township, to which he gradually added until he had one hundred and twenty acres. He improved his farm con- stantly, with new buildings and in many other ways as well, so that with the passing years his farm took on the appearance of the home of a well-to-do farmer, which, indeed, it was. He resided on the place until 1871, when he moved into the village of Tekonsha, and in 1884 he bought another farm in the township, on which he continued to reside until his death in 1885. He was ever an enterprising citizen and a man of energy and thrift, and a strong man in his convictions.
George W. Perkins received the usual early training of the country boy, and his education was commenced in the district schools of the community, and continued in the village school of Tekonsha. He re- mained on the farm until he was about twenty years old, and then pur- chased a team and wagon, when for six years thereafter he was engaged in draying in the village of Tekonsha. In 1882 he came to Albion and engaged in the sale of coal, wood, flour, feed and oils, dealing both at wholesale and retail. As mentioned above, he formed a partnership with one Francis E. Steele, and this partnership continued for nine years, dur- ing which time they conducted a large local business, as well as shipping to neighboring towns and cities. After nine years Mr. Perkins bought out his partner and continued the business alone until he disposed of it to L. C. McDougall, himself retiring from the firm, thereafter to give his entire attention to the oil business. He has enjoyed a large and worthy success in that business as such enterprises are reckoned in a city of the size of Albion, and has accumulated a goodly quantity of city'
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property, represented in the main by business blocks and store buildings in desirable parts of the city.
In 1874 Mr. Perkins married first, Miss Dora Simonds. She died in 1889, leaving two children: Glenn, who died, aged nearly sixteen years, and Elizabeth, wife of Louis McDougall, of Albion. He married secondly, in 1890, Mrs. Ella (Sears) Hoglin. Mr. Perkins is a prominent Mason, having membership in Murat Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., Albion Chapter, No. 32 R. A. M. and Marshall Commandery No. 17. He is also con- nected with Moslem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Detroit.
Mr. Perkins occupies a leading place among the business men of the city.
FREDERICK LEE. All his life Frederick Lee has been a resident of Fredonia township in Calhoun county, his birth occurring there Octo- ber 16, 1856. He is a son of James and Christina (Katz) Lee, the father being a native of England, born there on April 3, 1832, and the mother of Germany where she was born in 1847, a daughter of William Katz. They became the parents of eleven children, of which number eight are now living, Frederick being the third in order of birth. Mr. Lee came to America with his parents in 1842. They were John and Sophia Lee. They located in Fredonia township, and there John Lee became the owner of sixty acres of land, working it up into a fine state of productiveness. On this farm they spent the remainder of their days. Their son James, the father of Frederick Lee of this review, after reaching years of manhood, took a farm on the west side of the town- ship, and he gradually increased his land holdings until he was the owner of more than five hundred acres of fertile land. He was more than ordinarily successful in all his undertakings, and was known as one of the leading farmers in this section, as well as the most prosperous. He began with no capital beyond his natural pluck and energy, and when he died on January 31, 1904, he was known for one of the well-to- do men of the community. In 1874, on February 4, his wife died and in later years he married Miss Kate Malloy, of which union four children were born. Three of the number are yet living. Mr. Lee was a Lutheran in earlier years, that being the faith of his first wife, but when he mar- ried Miss Malloy he united with the church of her faith, the Roman Catholic, and has maintained his membership in that body ever since. He was a Democrat all his life.
Frederick Lee was educated for the most part in the district schools of Fredonia. For a time he was employed on his father's farm, but eventually entered a partnership with his brother, Charles Lee, now deceased, and they together conducted a threshing business, in which Mr. Lee continued for about twenty years. In 1897 he decided to settle down to farm life and accordingly bought the farm he now occupies, consisting of one hundred and forty-two acres, in addition to which . he has a forty-acre wood lot, considered to be a valuable adjunct to his farm proper. He has erected suitable buildings on the place, and all are strictly modern and well appointed in every respect. He has every modern appliance and convenience known to practical and scientific farming, and in addition to his general farming operations, raises large numbers of stock, but principally sheep.
In 1908 Mr. Lee was united in marriage with Dora Snyder, a girl of German birth. They have no children. She, like her husband, is a member of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Lee is a stanch Democrat, in his political relations being a firm supporter of the cause. He is a mem- ber of the Maccabee Lodge, beyond which he has no fraternal affiliations.
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ALFRED LATTA. There are inherent qualities in some men that in- sure success in almost any undertaking, and this genius of adaptability was well demonstrated in the career of Alfred Latta, whose death oc- curred in Battle Creek, December 13, 1886. A master of expedients, in his long and intimate association with the history of this section, he did not fail to make the most of opportunities presented, and was known as one of the representative business men and public-spirited citizens of Battle Creek, the scene of his well-directed efforts for inore than a third of a century. Mr. Latta was born in the Empire state, being a native of Lewiston, Niagara county, where his birth occurred April 6, 1821, his father, John Latta, being an early pioneer and lead- ing manufacturer of western New York.
One of a family of ten children, Alfred Latta received the benefits to be derived from a common school education, and subsequently passed two years in the Lewiston Academy. When twenty-two years of age, in 1843, he went to Wisconsin, on his way passing through Chicago, then a city smaller in size than Battle Creek, at the time of his death. He taught school in Wisconsin for a short time, after which he took up land for farming purposes, but soon returned to New York, where he entered upon an agricultural career. In 1848 he was married to Miss Martha E. Hill, and in 1853, came west again, settling in Michigan, and purchasing a farm on South Portage street, Kalamazoo, formerly owned by Judge Mitchell Hinsdale, a prominent pioneer of Michigan, and father of the late Hon. E. C. Hinsdale, of Detroit. Moving to this land with his family, Mr. Latta improved and added to it, and in 1865, on account of failing health, sold the land to D. C. Reed and during the next two years lived retired from active life. He then purchased the Downs farm of 600 acres. located near Ceresco, and entered the agricul- tural field on a large scale, but his health again failed and he sold out and came to Battle Creek in 1872, from that time on being engaged in real estate matters and house building. Mr. Latta belonged to that class of men to whom the city is indebted for its present prosperity. A member of the Congregational and Presbyterian church, (now the In- dependent Congregational church on Maple street), he is remembered by those of the older generation as an excellent neighbor, and as a gen- erous friend to the sick and needy. He was buried in the family lot at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Latta was married in 1848 to Martha E. Hill. who died March 25, 1909, at the old home at No. 202 North avenue, where her husband had passed away so many years before. In her eightieth year at the time of her death, Mrs. Latta was esteemed and beloved by all. She was identified with the Women's Club of Battle Creek for many years, and had been almost continuously on the official board of the Independent Congregational church. where she was recognized by her associates as one of the most useful and valued members. She was also one of the founders of the Independent Movement, under the late Reed Stuart, and as a kindly, lovable Christian woman, her death was sincerely mourned by a wide circle of acquaintances. She and her husband had a family of five children : Mrs. A. R. McIntyre, of Battle Creek ; H. A., the owner of a fine fruit farm in Oregon : Mrs. C. J. Paul, of Minneapo- lis, Minnesota ; Mrs. E. S. Glouer, of Tacoma, Washington; and Col. Frank H., of Battle Creek.
COL. FRANK H. LATTA. It is always gratifying to note the success which has been attained through personal effort, and the title of self- made man, so peculiarly American and so often mis-applied, is one of
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which any person may well be proud, for it implies energy, application and integrity of character. Among the business men of Battle Creek, one who has attained a very appreciable amount of success in his private ventures and has also risen to positions of trust and responsibility in public life, is Col. Frank H. Latta. Mr. Latta was born in the. little town of Lewiston, New York, situated on the Niagara river, in Niagara county, July 18, 1851, his father being Alfred Latta, a native of New York, who moved with his family to Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1853, and separate mention of whom is made in another part of this volume as one of the pioneers of Battle Creek.
Mr. Latta obtained his early education in the public schools of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and on coming to Battle Creek entered the twelfth grade, high school, being graduated after one year, in 1873. He then attended Olivet College for one year, and went to Chicago, but in the spring of 1875 returned to Battle Creek and at once opened a repository for the sale of carriages and farming implements, a business which he conducted successfully until the winter of 1898-99. At that time, in order to give his entire individual attention to his official duties he disposed of the business of which he had been the originator and sole manager for nearly a quarter of a century. Aside from his business career, Mr. Latta has manifested his public spirit in many enterprises affecting the welfare and prosperity of his city, and has found a congenial field in politics, in which he has been especially active. He has always been a stalwart Republican, and has done yeoman service as chairman of the county committee of Calhoun county and the city committee of Battle Creek, serving therein four and eight years, respectively. He has attended numerous conventions, has been alderman from his ward, and has always worked actively in the interests of his party. A personal friend of the late President Mckinley, he attended receptions in the White House, and through his efforts the martyred president spoke in Battle Creek while touring the country, and in 1898 Col. Latta was the president's choice for the office of postmaster of Battle Creek. Subse- quently, he was reappointed by President Roosevelt, and continued to act in the capacity of postmaster until 1906. He was a charter member of the Elks, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and A. T. Metcalf Lodge No. 419, F. & A. M., and the Knights Templar. At the present time he is platting nine acres just one block outside the half-mile limit of Battle Creek, reached by the Garfield avenue car line, and known as the Latta Addition. He has already spent something like $8,000 in grading and making numerous improvements to this property, which will be a valuable addition to Battle Creek. He also built the block on the corner of Jackson and Jefferson streets, and owns considerable other city property, but has invested more extensively in manufacturing projects than in real estate, being interested in the Union Steam Pump Company, the Advance Pump and Compressor Company and the Citi- zens Electric Company of Battle Creek. Military affairs have been given a due share of Mr. Latta's attention. For four years he was aide on the staff of Governor Rich, with the rank of colonel, and while serving was instrumental in obtaining the acceptance of the local military company into the state service as Company L, the quota of state troops being otherwise full at the time. The credit for the formation of this company is largely due Mr. Latta, it being composed of some of the finest young men in the city, and ranked with the best in the enrollment of the state troops. During the Spanish-American war, Mr. Latta devoted both time and money in enlisting recruits, personally conducting one squad to Island Lake. For nine years he was a member of the executive board
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of the State Agricultural Society, remaining thereon until the society was cleared of debt, and has served as a member of the Battle Creek Board of Trade, and as president of the local branch of the Standard Building and Loan Association of Detroit. He is duly recognized as one of the city's leading men, his success in business, his agreeable social qualities, his high character and his excellent judgment on all questions of public interest giving him influence of a potential nature among those with whom he is associated.
. The marriage of Mr. Latta occurred November 10, 1881, when he was united with Miss Kittie Upton, daughter of the late Stephen Upton, a well known manufacturer of Battle Creek. One daughter has been born to this union : Belle, who was married November 18, 1907, to Wells L. Walker, of Battle Creek. Mrs. Walker graduated from the Battle Creek high school in the same room in which her father had graduated so many years before. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have one son, Frank Ward, who was born at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Latta, No. 171 North avenue. The family attends the First Presbyterian church of Battle Creek, and is prominent in church circles and social life of the city. ,
HON JOHN WILLIAM BAILEY. Battle Creek, Michigan has no better known resident than John William Bailey, ex-mayor, prominent lawyer and energetic Democrat, whose courage, resource and general ability has caused his name to be frequently mentioned in association with gubernatorial honors. A strong, fearless and hard-fighting Democrat in a city that is strongly Republican, he has long been the dominant figure in local politics, and the capacity he has displayed in executive positions has won the respect and admiration of Battle Creek citizens generally regardless of party and made him universally recognized as a man the force of whose influence is a leading factor in the city's gov- ernment.
Mr. Bailey was born in Battle Creek in the home in which he still resides, at No. 24, College street, and is a son of Michael and Catharine (McCarthy) Bailey, natives of Ireland.
Michael Bailey came to the United States when fourteen years of age, and met and married his wife in Battle Creek. On their wedding day they started housekeeping in the family home, at No. 24 College street, which Mr. Bailey had just built on two lots purchased from Judge Sands McCamly, one of the old pioneers here, who had secured the land from the government. Michael Bailey spent forty years in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad, being yardmaster at Bat- tle Creek during the greater part of this time, and died in this city, August 9, 1889, his wife following him to the grave, November 24, 1892.
There were seven children in the family, all of whom survive: Mary, the wife of Peter W. MeLee, of Battle Creek; John William; Julia, the wife of Robert S. Egan, an attorney of Elgin, Illinois; George F., of Battle Creek; Helen B., the widow of the late Edward L. Murphy of Marshall, the mother of four daughters; Catharine, who was principal of the Maple Street Number Five School in Battle Creek for several years, and for three years principal of the United States Government Schools at Ancon, Empire, and Gorgona, Panama, Canal Zone, and who now teaches at Boise, Idaho; and Anne, a graduate of the University of Michigan, who also taught in the high schools of Battle Creek, Du- luth, Minnesota, and Toledo, Ohio, who is now a teacher in the Central high school of Detroit, Michigan. All the children graduated from the Battle Creek high school.
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John W. Bailey was the youngest member of and the valedictorian of the class of 1876 of the Battle Creek public schools, Professor Hempl, now of Leland Standford University, being also a member of the class. After his graduation he accepted a position with the Michigan Central Railroad, drawing wood with one horse, and piling it on a stand for use in the old woodburning engines of that day. Later he was pro- moted to a position in the warehouse of the company, and subsequently became foreman thereof, later was baggageman, ticket-seller, cashier, and chief clerk and in 1883 was appointed freight and ticket agent of the Battle Creek station, which position he held until 1896 when he was appointed commercial agent of the Michigan Central at Toledo, Ohio, having charge of the freight business of the company and its fast freight lines at that point and also being in charge of traffic from the Ohio, Indiana and Illinois territory, and all points south, but dur- ing this time continued to make his residence in Battle Creek.
In 1899, Mr. Bailey left the railway service and entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, graduating in the class of 1902 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He immediately commenced the practice of the law in Battle Creek, with George W. Mechem, a partnership which continued until 1905, since which time Mr. Bailey has continued in practice alone. In 1889, Mr. Bailey was elected a member of the Battle Creek school board, and was elected for three successive terms of three years each thereafter, but resigned in 1896 when he went to Toledo. When he was first elected mayor, in 1890, he was the youngest chief executive the city has had before or since that time. He served one term in that office, and in 1909, despite the fact that he is a Democrat and Battle Creek is overwhelmingly Re- publican he was again sent to the mayoralty chair.
When he returned to Battle Creek, after graduating with honor, from the University of Michigan, a full-fledged corporation lawyer, he set politics aside forever, as he thought, but the strenuous insistence of his own, the Democratic party, and of his friends in the Republican party finally induced him to break his resolution to keep out of pub- lic office and after one of the most spirited local elections ever held, when the votes were counted it was found that Mr. Bailey had been elected mayor.
When John W. Bailey, Democratic lawyer, was elected mayor, his friends and enemies alike forecast an administration in which the chief executive would be but a figure-head, unable to accomplish his desires through the unbending opposition of the antagonistic city council which was entirely Republican, but Bailey, a giant Irishman with a square jaw that sets like a steel trap when the occasion demands, calmly an- nounced : "Having been elected mayor, I intend to be mayor." From the moment he took office, Mr. Bailey made good his claim, and his altercations with the Republican council attracted widespread interest. At that time, the Republican mayor, Charles C. Green, was in South American, and Alderman L. G. Nichols, President of the Council, was acting mayor. Custom dictated that such a condition maintain for two weeks before Mr. Bailey should appear in the crowded council chamber and with a great celebration assume the mayoralty. Custom, however, did not figure in Mr. Bailey's plans. He walked over to the office of City Recorder Thomas Thorne, where he forced Mr. Thorne to swear him in, and he left the office mayor of Battle Creek. This was an innovation, and the newly-elected Republican aldermen, not knowing just what to do, were also sworn in, one by one, just as Mr. Bailey had been, and the annual inaugural show was cancelled.
It was then that Mr. Bailey's resource, courage and determination
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began to assert themselves. He appointed Dr. Eugene Miller, a Demo- crat, to the office of health officer, but the latter was immediately re- fused by the Republican council, and Mr. Bailey subsequently named Dr. A. S. Kimball, a Republican, who at the time was in Europe study- ing medicine, whom the aldermen accepted forthwith. Mayor Bailey, as soon as Dr. Kimball was confirmed, at once installed Dr. Miller as "temporary" health officer, thus gaining his point. Mayor Bailey wanted Elza Shoup for street commissioner, but the aldermen advised Charles Caldwell, chairman of the Republican City Committee, to keep his position as street commissioner, as they would not confirm Shoup. This Mr. Caldwell did, until he found that without the Mayor's sig- nature he could not collect his salary, nor the wages for the inen he hired, and until the mayor preferred charges of graft against him and started in to prove them, when Caldwell resigned under fire. Mayor Bailey at once appointed Shoup to fill the vacancy which appointment did not require the Council's confirmation.
In Mr. Bailey's election, Alderman F. H. Starkey, a Republican, had played an important part. Mr. Starkey had wanted the Republi- can mayoralty nomination and had been defeated by Mr. Jacobs, who at the election was defeated by Mr. Bailey. For a while Mr. Starkey was the mayor's only support, but subsequently, when he attempted to dictate to the chief executive, their friendship ceased, and Mr. Starkey became "opposition leader." After leading numerous encounters, Mr. Starkey became so pugnacious one evening that Mayor Bailey ordered his removal from the council chamber. Police Capt. McCarthy obeyed the mayor, and Mr. Starkey was ejected. He came back later, con- siderably cowed, but once again his belligerency arose, and the mayor instructed Chief of Police Farrington, a Republican, to eject the alder- man. The chief refused, and the mayor at once suspended the chief for ten days. The mayor had not bothered to ask the police commis- sion to co-operate, whereupon the commissioners became angry and made threats. Chief Farrington, however, remained suspended for ten days, when he resumed his duties after assuring the mayor that in future he would promptly obey all orders. None of the threats materialized. A $10,000 damage suit was brought by Starkey against Mayor Bailey and Capt. McCarthy, but it was not looked upon seriously by the gen- eral public, and it was finally dismissed.
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