USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume II > Part 10
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Harry Albert Lockwood was born in the village of Petersburg, Mon- roe county, Michigan, on the 28th of August, 1861, and in the following year the family removed to what was then a wild and undeveloped sec- tion of the county, from which was carved out the homestead farm in Summerfield township, where his parents continued to reside for nearly a half century. Thus the future jurist found his boyhood compassed by the influence of the farm and he early learned to appreciate the dig- nity of honest toil and endeavor. He gained his preliminary education in the public schools and supplemented this by a course in the Michigan State Normal School at Ypsilanti, in which he was graduated as a mem- ber of the class of 1881. Well fortified along academic lines, he forth- with began the work of preparing himself for the profession in which it has been his to achieve signal success. He entered the law department of the University of Michigan, in which he completed the prescribed curriculum and was graduated as a member of the class of 1883, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was simultaneously admitted to
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the bar of his native state and forthwith began his professional novitiate by opening an office in the city of Monroe, where his sterling character and excellent ability and attainments soon gained for him substantial success in his chosen vocation. In 1888 he was elected city attorney of the city of Monroe. In 1894 he was elected prosecuting attorney of his native county, on this platform: "All must obey the law whether they sell wheat or whiskey," and during his service of two years in this important office he added materially to his professional reputation, as he proved a fearless, aggressive and successful public prosecutor. He later served another term as city attorney of Monroe, and in 1901 he was called from his active professional work to assume a judicial office for which he proved himself eminently qualified. In that year he was appointed by Governor Bliss to fill a vacancy on the bench of the thirty- eighth judicial circuit of the state. In the following year he was duly elected to fill out the regular term, and at the expiration of the same, in 1905, he was re-elected for the full term of six years. In this office, Judge Lockwood proved in a most emphatic way his broad and com- prehensive knowledge of the law and the true judicial bend of his mind, for his rulings were signally fair and impartial in both civil and crimi- nal cases presented for his adjudication, and few of his opinions met with reversal by the supreme court.
In February, 1909, Judge Lockwood resigned his position on the circuit bench and removed to Detroit, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession and where his associates are Joseph H. Clark, William G. Bryant, and George H. Klein, the firm of which he is a member having representative status at the bar of the state, and controlling a large and important practice.
In 1905-6, Judge Lockwood was president of the Association of Judges of Michigan, composed of the judges of the supreme court and the circuit courts of the state, and in 1909-10 he was accorded further honor by professional confreres in that he was president of the Michigan State Bar Association. He has accorded a stanch allegiance to the Republican party from the time of attaining to his legal majority, and he has given most effective service in behalf of the principles and policies of the party, in the ranks of which he has been an active worker since 1883. He is a member of the American Bar Association, and has long been actively identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose faith he was reared and of which he is a zealous member.
Within the past quarter of a century Judge Lockwood has delivered many addresses before civic and religious organizations throughout the state. For thirty years he has been an aggressive and strong advo- cate of any cause he espoused. His position has never been uncertain and he has fearlessly stood for the highest and best ideals of the social, political, professional and religious life of the people among whom he has lived. He has been successful in business life as well as in his professional career. For several years he has been a director and the general counsel of The Boehme & Rauch Company, the largest manu- facturing concern in the county, and is also a director and general counsel of The Detroit National Fire Insurance Company.
On August 28, 1884, Harry A. Lockwood was married to Helen Stone,
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a daughter of William A. Stone and Caroline Lamb Stone of Macomb county, in this state. During all their married life until the past four years, this happily mated couple lived in Monroe county and are widely known by the people of the county. Those who know them well agree with the Judge that Mrs. Lockwood is to blame for at least half he has accomplished. They have three children, Albert Harry, born June 11, 1888, a graduate of the University of Michigan, class of 1910, and now practicing his profession of civil engineer, in Detroit, Michigan; Gertrude Alice, born May 8, 1893, at present a student in Smith College, Northampton, Massachussetts; and Ezra William, born May 20, 1896, a student in Detroit Central High School.
THEODORE E. ILGENFRITZ. In connection with the nursery industry with which the family name has been long and prominently identified in Monroe county, Theodore E. Ilgenfritz is an influential factor, as he is general manager of the I. E. Ilgenfritz' Sons Company, which was founded by his honored father and which represents one of the most extensive enterprises of the kind in the entire Union and one of the pioneer industries of this order in Monroe county, which section of Michigan has a national reputation in this domain of industry. Further reference to the family history is made in sketches appearing on other pages of this volume and thus further review is not demanded in the present connection.
He whose name initiates this article is a native of the city of Monroe and here he has ever maintained his home, the while he has well upheld the prestige of the family name in both civic and business lines. He is the second son of the late I E. Ilgenfritz, of whom specific mention is made elsewhere in this work and he and his three brothers are the interested principals in the I. E. Ilgenfritz' Sons Company, which per- petuates the name of its sterling founder. Theodore E. Ilgenfritz was born in Monroe on the 3d of May, 1856, and is indebted to the public schools of his native city for his early educational discipline, which included the curriculum of the high school. Thereafter he was for one year a student in Albion College, at Albion, Michigan, and upon his return to the parental home he became actively concerned with his father's extensive nursery business. He familiarized himself with every detail of the business, along both scientific and practical lines, and thus he is well equipped for the responsible duties that devolve upon him at the present time in his capacity of general manager of the great nur- series of the company, whose products are shipped into all parts of the United States and the reputation of which is second to that of no similar concern in the entire nation. The company is incorporated with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, its nurseries utilize a total area of over one thousand acres of ground, and its facilities and service in all departments are of the highest standard. The four brothers constituting the company are Willbur F., Theodore E., Frank L. and Thomas I. Ilgenfritz, and all are recognized as representative business men and progressive and influential citizens of their native county. Theodore E. Ilgenfritz is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, but has never had any desire to identify himself
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with so called practical politics. He and his family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and the beautiful home, a substantial brick residence at 903 Elm avenue, is known for its generous hospitality.
On the 6th of February, 1878, Mr. Ilgenfritz was united in marriage to Miss Kate M. La Fontaine, who was born and reared in this county, and who is a daughter of the late Louis and Sarah (Prindle) La Fon- taine, sterling citizens of this section of the state, where the father devoted his active career to banking. Mr. and Mrs. Ilgenfritz have two children-Dr. Frederick M., who was graduated in the Detroit College of Medicine, as a member of the class of 1903, and who is now engaged in the successful practice of his profession in the city of Kalamazoo, and Edith E., who was graduated in the Monroe high school and who is a popular factor in the social activities of her native city, was united in marriage May 1, 1912, to Mr. Clyde Johnson of Detroit, Michigan.
CHARLES E. GREENING. All that has been contributed by the Green- ing family to the industrial and civic development and progress of Monroe county can not easily be gauged, but it may be said without fear of legitimate contradiction that no one agency has borne afar the name of the county and that of its capital city than that afforded through the extensive operations of what is now designated as the Greening Nursery Company. This concern is one of the largest and most admirably ordered in the entire Union and it may well be understood that it has exerted potent influence in furthering the commercial prosperity and advance- ment of Monroe county, the while its name is familiar in the most diverse sections of the country-in short wherever there is appreciation of what is to be gained through the cultivation of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers. From the most modest inception this great enter- prise has been developed into one of vast ramification, and its history covers a period of more than half a century. The honored founder of the business was John C. W. Greening, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this work, so that there is no demand for the repetition of the incidental data in the present article. Charles E. Greening, the present executive head of the Greening Nursery Company, was thor- oughly trained in the business under the direction of his able and honored father, and in his chosen field of endeavor, as well as in his broad-minded, liberal and progressive citizenship, he has well upheld the prestige of the family name. He is one of the best known and most influential men of his native city and county, and that he commands here unqualified popular confidence and esteem bears ample testimony to his possessing sterling attributes of character and to the public appre- ciation of the generous contribution made by him to the furthering of the best interests of the county which has ever been his home.
The business now conducted under the title of the Greening Nursery Company had its inception in 1856, when John C. W. Greening formed a partnership with Thomas Whelpley and began operations in the nursery line, with only one and one-half acres of ground in requisition for this purpose. The partnership was dissolved in 1863 and thereafter Mr. Greening continued the business in an individual way until his elder sons were able to become his effective coadjutors. His broad and
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accurate knowledge of scientific methods and all other details of the business was supplemented by indefatigable energy, excellent judgment and far-sighted administrative policies, and thus the enterprise expanded in scope and importance from year to year, with the result that the Centennial year, 1876, found the Greening nursery represented by nearly two hundred acres under effective cultivation. In 1885 the founder of the business turned the same over to his two elder sons, who had fully profited by his instructions and wide experience, and the father thereafter lived virtually retired until his death, which occurred in July, 1908. To the memorial tribute elsewhere in this volume refer- ence should be made for further information concerning this honored pioneer and sterling citizen, whose memory will long be cherished in the county which so long represented his home.
When the two sons assumed control of the business the name and style of the firm was changed to "Greening Brothers," the partnership title being vested equally in George A. and Charles E. Greening. This was continued until 1902 when the enterprise was incorporated under the laws of the state, and the corporate name became, "The Greening Nursery Company," with capital stock of two hundred thousand dollars, all paid in. About this time George A. Greening retired from the busi- ness and Charles E. Greening became sole owner, the stock of the cor- poration being now held by him and the members of his immediate family; and under the broader corporate functions the business has continued to expand along normal and legitimate lines and in harmony with the honorable and progressive policies defined by its founder.
The personnel of the executive corps of this great nursery is as follows,-Charles E. Greening, president, horticulturist and scientist ; Benjamin J. Greening, vice-president and general manager; Roy M. Sperry, secretary-treasurer and office manager; A. Ferdine Langlois, advertising editor and landscape architect; Edward G. Greening, assist- ant horticulturist and entomologist; Miss Rose Frebes, chief clerk of collection department; George A. Schaeffer, shipping clerk and chief of order department; James Carroll, chief clerk of advertising department; William C. Drake, manager of Detroit branch of landscape department ; Walter Greening, superintendent of nurseries; Frank Yentz, assistant superintendent of nurseries ; William Navarre, Frederick Duval, Michael Frazen and Joseph Heller, field foremen; Joseph Musiel, chief gardener and superintendent of greenhouses; John W. Romine, master mechanic and inventor; and Wilbur Romine, assistant mechanic. The above list indicates an organization of experts, and the Greening Nursery Company has been signally favored in the development of its vast enterprise and harmonious business system. The highest standards are maintained in all departments, the officers and subordinates feel that their interests are in common, and the result is that the Greening nurseries offer patrons facilities and a perfection of service which can be claimed in equal degree by few if any other concerns of the kind in the entire United States.
The Greening Nursery Company has availed itself of the most scien- tific methods and most modern appliances for carrying on its great work, the machine for digging trees by steam power, for instance, being a distinct mechanical triumph. With this ingenious and powerful device
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the company can now harvest and safely store away in its mammoth cellars 185,000 trees per day, whereas the same force of men under old methods had a capacity of only one thousand trees per day. The storing of trees under roof and keeping them in perfectly fresh and prime con- dition is another important development of this great enterprise, for by its means orders are filled during the winter and made ready for spring shipment, an accomplishment which was impossible under former methods.
Horticultural science owes much to the Greening Nurseries and more especially to the scientific genius of Charles E Greening, who will always be remembered for the up-breeding of fruit trees by means of the selection of scions from trees of unusual merit. It is estimated that his work in this direction alone will add many millions of dollars a year to the wealth of fruit growers.
Charles E. Greening, president of the Greening Nursery Company and known as one of the leading factors in his line of business in the entire United States, was born in the city of Monroe, Michigan, on the 28th of September, 1858, and he has literally grown up in the business of which he is now a most prominent and influential representative. He began to assist in his father's nurseries when a mere boy and is familiar with every minute detail of the business, along both scientific and practical lines. His early educational discipline was gained in the public schools and the German Lutheran parochial school in Monroe, and his attendance was principally during the winter months, when his services were not in requisition in connection with the work of the nurseries. Through self-discipline, appreciative study and reading and long and active association with men and affairs he has become a man of broad information, cultured tastes and mature judgment, so that there was but little of handicap involved in the somewhat limited educa- tional training of his youth. Aside from his strict attention to the nursery business he devotes considerable time to scientific work and study, and might well be termed, from the results he has achieved, the second Burbank of the nation. He invites young men to visit him and takes great delight in instructing them in forestry and in the culture and care of trees, orchards, parks and gardens, as well as in other details of the ideal line of enterprise to which he has devoted his entire life thus far. His beautiful summer home and private parks make the place one of enchanting beauty on every hand, as art has effectively been called to the service of nature in most attractive landscape gardening and in the propagation of bewildering masses of beautiful shrubbery and flowers. Mr. Greening makes occasional tours abroad, in search of rare trees and flowers as well as recreation, and he has visited many points of interest in the oriental countries. With his family he passes a portion of the winter seasons in Florida, where he delights in the enjoyment of his beautiful southern home and gardens, with yachting as an incidental pastime.
Mr. Greening's own sentiments anent his own gardens are worthy of reproduction in this connection and have been expressed in the following words: " 'First a plant is married to the soil, and a garden world is born.' In the course of a very active business career I have found great
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solace in taking care of my garden, ministering to the wants of the trees, shrubs and other plants that compose it and forgetting my troubles in their tender ministrations to me. A wonderful thing is a garden. It is, in very truth and in a far greater sense than sleep, the 'balm of hurt minds and tired nature's sweet restorer.' The man who has become brain-weary and soul-fagged in the never ending grind of gold-getting can find surcease from all his cares and gain a real renewal of youth by working a few minutes a day among his flowers. So much of pleasure has come to me from the care of my gardens, both in the city and at my country home, that I could wish to urge others to like indulgence in communion with nature 'in her visible forms.' and thus to share in the joy that has been mine through the cultivation of trees and shrubs and flowers."
In the midst of the manifold exactions of a notably busy and success- ful life, Mr. Greening has not denied his influence and earnest co-opera- tion in the support of measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the community and to make like worth living. In evidence of this attitude on his part it may be noted that he was instru- mental in securing for Monroe two of its largest manufacturing enter- prises, viz : the Deinzer Furniture Company and the Weis Manufacturing Company; also he was one of those most influential in effecting the establishing of that noble Monroe institution, the Old Folk's Home. He gave of his personal time and effort in securing subscriptions to place the home on a secure financial basis, and he was most zealous in the movement which resulted in the erection of the magnificent equestrian statue and monument of General George A. Custer at his old home in Monroe, said monument having been unveiled on the 4th of June, 1910. In recognition of his earnest efforts in this connection he was presented with a handsome and appropriately inscribed silver loving cup tendered to him by the citizens of Monroe, through its common council, which voiced its sentiments in the following words, and under date of July 16, 1910: "Representing the city of Monroe and knowing as we do the hard and long work you have done and the expense you have paid with- out asking returns, we had you come before us to-night not for the purpose of anything unpleasant but for the more suitable purpose of showing you, although not so well as we could wish, the appreciation in which your work is held by the people of your home city. Take, there- fore, from the citizens of Monroe this slight but enduring token of appreciation for all you did to make the Custer monument and its dedication day the success they represent."
Still further recognition of Mr. Greening's efforts in the connection noted came to him in the presentation of an equestrian statuette of General Custer by the Old Guard Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Washington, D. C., and this valued tribute bore the following inscrip- tion : "Custer Equestrian Statuette, presented to Charles E. Greening, Monroe, Michigan, by the Old Guard Post, G. A. R., Washington, D. C., in recognition of his efforts in securing the Custer equestrian statue erected in the city of Monroe, in honor of General George Armstrong Custer. This model statuette, by the famous French sculptor, L. Boulie,
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has been for over thirty years in the custody of the Old Guard Post, G. A. R., Washington, D. C."
Though always loyal to every civic duty and responsibility and admir- ably fortified in his views concerning matters of economic import, Mr. Greening has never manifested any desire to enter practical politics, but he is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party and is ever ready to assist his friends who are desirous of entering public office. He and his family hold membership in Trinity Lutheran church and he is a liberal contributor to the various departments of its work. He is an enthusiastic devotee of aquatic sports, was one of the organizers of the State Monroe Yacht Club, and is the owner of the celebrated yacht, "Bab," as well as the racing boat named "Commodore."
On the 24th of February, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Greening to Miss Frederic Janson, of Saginaw, Michigan. She was born and reared in Saginaw county, where her father, Peter Janson, was a successful agriculturist until the time of his death. Of this ideal union have been born five children, concerning whom brief record is given in conclusion of this review: Benjamin J. is vice-president of the Greening Nursery Company; Edward G. is a member of the class of 1915 in Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York; Lillian is at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York; Cordelia is a student at National Park Seminary, at Washington, D. C .; and Ninetta remains at the parental home.
JOHN C. W. GREENING. Measured by its achievement, its rectitude, its objective influence and its abiding kindliness and humanity, the life of the late John Christoph Wilhelm Greening, pioneer in the nursery business in Monroe county, counted for much, and his name merits a high place on the roll of the honored citizens who have contributed greatly to the development and upbuilding of this section of the state. Of the great productive enterprise which perpetuates his name and of which he was the founder, adequate mention is made in the sketch of the career of his son Charles E., who is now president of the Greening Nursery Company, said article appearing on other pages of this volume, so that ready index reference may be made thereto as supplemental to the memoir here presented. He, to whom this tribute is dedicated, came from Germany to America when a young man, and though his financial resources were most meager he was endowed with determination, energy, ambition and marked technical skill as a nurseryman, so that he was well equipped for the splendid line of enterprise to which he directed his attention and in connection with which he ultimately became one of the leading representatives of the industry in the land of his adoption. He brought to bear much initiative and executive ability as well as scientific knowledge and he won success through honest and well ordered industry. His name was a synonym of integrity in all the relations of life, and after a residence of more than half a century in Monroe county he was summoned to the life eternal on the 20th of July, 1908, when nearly four score years of age and secure in the high esteem of all who knew him.
John C. W. Greening was born at Seebach, Prussia, on the 25th of June, 1829, and was a scion of one of the old and sterling families of that
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