USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 27
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Mr. Perry is a Democrat and has always taken an active part in the campaigns of that party. He was very prominently identified with the Tilden campaign, being a member of the comty committee. He was city treas- urer of Grand Rapids from 1886 to 1890, and in 1898 was elected Mayor by a majority of 738, and re-elected in 1900 by 1,804 majority. Ile is a firm believer in a liberal form of city government, and his campaigns have been waged along this line, with a success that has given him fame of more than local character. He was one of the prime movers in the organi- zation of the Michigan Municipal League, which was conceived for the purpose of better- ing municipal conditions which existed throughout the state. He is now the president of that organization. He is a free giver among local enterprises and has promoted many interests for the city's good. He was at one time vice-president of the Grand Rapids Street Railway Company, and is recognized as a pushing and popular representative of the second city in the state.
186
MEN OF PROGRESS.
WILLIAM MILAN EDWARDS, M. D.
EDWARDS, WILLIAM MILAN, M. D. Dr. Edwards is the present medical superin- tendent of the Michigan Asylum for the In- sane at Kalamazoo. Born on his father's farm near Pern, in the State of Indiana, he attended the district school, after arriving at sehool age, until his sixteenth year. A year was then passed at Smithson College, at Lo- gansport, Ind. While there he took examina- tion for a teacher's certificate and for the next two years was a pedagogne in his home school distriet, working as a farm hand during vaea- tions. Having saved some money, he entered the Literary Department of the University of Indiana, at Bloomington, where he remained two years, when the low state of his resourees necessitated a return to the work of teaching, at which he was employed for a time in Union county, Indiana. Having resolved to adopt the medieal profession in May, 1880, he en- tered the office of Ward & Brenton, physi- eians at Peru, where he passed a year in the study of medicine. In October, 1881, he entered the Department of Medicine and Surgery in the University of Michigan, gradn- ating with the elass of 1884. In April of that
year he was tendered and aeeepted the posi- tion of acting assistant physician at the Mieli- gan Asylum for the Insane, entering upon his duties on May 1. In Angust of the same year he was made assistant physician, which posi- tion he held until June 1, 1891, when he was appointed to the place which he now holds. He has developed the "Colony" system of car- ing for the chronie insane, entirely reorgan- ized the power, heating and lighting plant of the asylum and made many other improve- ments. It was upon his recommendation that a detached hospital for acute eases was built in 1897, being the first in this State, and one of the first in the United States, a plan which is now recognized among institutions of this kind the country through as being most prac- tieal.
Dr. Edwards is a non-resident leeturer at- tached to the Medical Department of the Uni- versity at Ann Arbor, and was instrumental in affiliating the Pathological Department at the University with the asylums of the State, and a physician is now assigned at the several asy- lums for the benefit of this department. He is a member of the American Medico-Physo- cologieal Association of the Michigan State Medieal Society, and of the Kalamazoo Aead- emy of Medieine.
For one who is as yet a young man, whose life has been spent, up to the present, in the acquisition of knowledge and in the study and praetiee of a profession, there is but a limited field for the biographer. If the purpose were to indulge in praise or eulogy, the simple ree- ord here given is the highest enlogy. True, it does not stand alone. There are many similar instances worthy of honorable men- tion and imitation.
On the paternal side, Dr. Edwards is of New York stoek. His grandfather, Uzil, came to Cineinnati from New Jersey in 1804, where his father, Asher B., aud his mother, a Louisville, Kentucky, lady, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Brenton, were married. Ilis great-grandfather, Moses Edwards, was a Baptist minister in New York City. Dr. Edwards was married at Union City, Mich., in 1897, to Miss Emma Ardelle Merritt, daughter of George S. Merritt. They have one son, Wm. M., Jr. The doctor is a mem- ber of the Masonie Fraternity, ineluding Peninsular Commandery, No. 8, K. T., and also a member of Phi Kappa Psi, of the Uni- versity.
187
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
HINMAN, EDWARD CHAUNCEY. The name of Hinman has been prominently associated with the business and social life of Battle Creek for half a century, through John F., and Harriet (Hayt) Hinman, father and mother of Edward C. The latter was born at Battle Creek, March 1, 1852. He graduated from the Battle Creek High School in 1869 and from the literary department of the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1874. After gradu- ating at the University, he accepted the posi- tion of sub-overseer in the United States En- gineering Department, on the Fox and Wis- consin rivers improvement operations. He re- mained in the employ of the United States gov- ernment six years, becoming an assistant en- gineer. Returning to Michigan in 1880, he became associated with C. A. Ward & Co., of Port Huron, in the grain trade. The firm operated grain elevators at Port Huron and along the line of the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway. In 1882 he withdrew from the Port Huron concern and purchased the J. M. Ward Flouring Mill, under the firm name of Hinman & Ward, at Battle Creek. In 1888 Mr. Hinman disposed of his in- terest to Mr. Frank W. Ward, and during the next three years gave his attention to various private enterprises. In 1891 he became in- tercsted in the Battle Creek Steam Pump Co. (now the American Steam Pump Co.), and was made its secretary. When Mr. Hin- man became interested in it, it employed 40 workmen, with an output for the year of $70,- 000. The plant, under Mr. Hinman's man- agement, has forged ahead, and is today one of the most successful manufacturers of steam pumps in the world. It employs 150 skilled mechanics and had an output in 1899 of nearly $500,000. Its pumps are sold in nearly every country in the world, and it has branch offices in all the large cities of the world. The company was $50,000 in debt in 1893, and besides rebuilding its plant, was out of debt in 1897. It is one of the few concerns in Michigan that never had a strike or a claim from any of its employes that was not amica- bly adjusted.
The Battle Creek ITinmans are direct de- scendants from Sergt. Edward Hinman, who came to Stratford, Conn., from England, in
EDWARD CHAUNCEY HINMAN.
1650. He had formerly held the responsible trust of sergeant-at-arms of the body guard of Charles I. After coming to America he served in the Indian wars under Capt. John Underhill, becoming a commissioned officer. He also served under Gen. Stuveysant, and commanded a Dutch company in the wars be- tween the then Dutch colony of New York (or New Amsterdam) and the Indian tribes. On the mother's side, the Hinmans are de- scended from Maj. Wm. Southworth and Gen. John Tillotson, both officers in the Revo- lutionary war. Mr. E. C. Hinman had three great-great-grandfathers and one great-grand- father in that struggle.
Edward C. Hinman is one of the leading spirits of his city in a business way, and the most successful manufacturer who claims Bat- tle Creek as a birthplace. He is one of the Republican leaders in Battle Creek and has served two terms as alderman. He is a Mas- ter and Royal Arch Mason and Knights Tem- plar, is a member of Saladin Temple at Grand Rapids, a member of the United Workmen and of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a member of the Board of Visitors at the U. S. Naval Academy in 1898. He has been twice married, first to Carrie L. Risdon, who died in 1887, and in 1890 to Isadore M. Risdon, both daughters of the late Lewis C. Risdon, of Ann Arbor. He has two daugh- ters, Gertrude R. and Belle R.
188
MEN OF PROGRESS.
ALFRED JOHN GODSMARK.
GODSMARK, ALFRED JJOIN. Alfred John Godsmark is of English parentage. His father, born near Horsham, Eng., came to this country in 1838 and shortly after was married to Miss Sarah Jaques, who came over the same year from Stourton, near Ships- ton-on-Stour, her birthplace and where her girlhood days were spent. The couple located at Bedford, Calhoun county, where Mr. Gods- mark was born, July 1852, he being the second son. John Godsmark, Sr., died in 1895; the mother still resides in Bedford.
Mr. Godsmark's early life alternated be- tween home duties and the local schools, until he was sixteen years old, after which his edu- cation was supplemented by attendance at the Battle Creek schools, and at Olivet College. His first business experience was as clerk in the store of Charles Austin, at Bedford. He ac- companied Mr. Austin to Battle Creek, upon his removal there in 1872, and was clerk in the drygoods store of Anstin & Hoffinaster for three years. Ile then formed a co-partnership with Clark Frasier in operating an omnibus line, which continued for three years. In 1878 they closed out the business, when Mr.
Godsmark bought out a shoe stock in Battle Creek, which he operated successfully for a year, when he sold out and went to Leadville, Colo., reaching there previous to and remain- ing during the first excitement at that point. From Leadville he went to Denver and thence to North Park, using six-horse teams in con- veying a stock of groceries and supplies 100 miles, over the "continental divide." He helped to found Luhu, Colo., built and ran the first store, built and operated the first hotel, and was the first as well as the last mayor of the burg. He remained there four years, when the town was practically wiped out of exist- enee by the Middle Park riot, in which all the county officials were killed, together with some private citizens. From Lulu he went to Rus- tic, Colo., and entered the employ of A. S. Stewart, a railroad contractor and stage pro- prietor, serving in a confidential relation for a year. In 1884 he returned to Battle Creek, where he formed a co-partnership with his old friend and former employer, Hon. Charles Austin, in the fruit commission business, which gradually developed into the wholesale grocery trade. The business soon reached a point where a third partner was taken in, in the person of William H. Durand, the firm then being Austin, Godsmark & Durand, from which, in 1894, the style of the firm was changed to Godsmark, Durand & Co. The house has gradually grown in patronage until it has become one of the most prominent and successful wholesale grocery concerns in south- western Michigan.
Mr. Godsmark is not a politician, never having had time nor inclination for politics. However, he is a stanch Republican, having stood firm for his party for nearly thirty years. Was married in the spring of 1888 to Zoa Jeanette Stevens of Battle Creek. A daughter ten years of age is the only child.
He is one of eight parties holding ten claims in what is called the Radcliffe Consolidated Gold Mining Company of Inu, California, near Ballenat, in that state, being one of the finest gold producing claims on the Pacific coast.
189
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
BIBLE, JOIIN FRANKLIN. John Franklin Bible, of Ionia, is a southerner by birth. His father was G. A. R. Bible, a planter, miller and general store owner at Sulphur Springs, Ga., since the civil war. His mother was Mary Elizabeth Stephans, a relative of Alexander II. Stephans, vice- president of the confederate states.
John F. Bible was born June 30th, 1865, at the home of his grand-parents in Marion county, Tennessee, near Jasper.
The original family of Bibles came from Holland in 1730, settling in the Shenan- doah valley. This family had seven sons- six of whom had sixteen children each-the other, eleven. These seven sons were all in the revolutionary war. The youngest of the seven sons, Capt. JJolin Bible, great-grand- father of John F., married a Miss Ryan, of the famous Trish family, and he was the one that had the eleven children.
Young Bible attended the common schools in Dade county, Ga., and later the North Alabama College at White Sulphur Springs. During vacation he worked either at his father's grist mill, general repair shop, or on the plantation. AAt the age of nineteen, through the help of some of his friends, the young man built and opened the East Point Academy, and acted as principal for three years. This academy was successfully oper- ated, and students were prepared for a col- lege course within its walls.
Mr. Bible was always of a mechanical turn of mind, and having had some experience in wagon building and repairing at his father's shops, he entered the employ of the White Hickory Wagon Company, at East Point, where, after working through the different departments, he was made assistant manager, and was entrusted with the buying of all wood stock.
In 1889 he accepted the position of assist- ant manager with the Owensboro Wagon Co., at Owensboro, Ky., and in addition to having the general supervision of the shops, he spent more or less time on the road, soon very largely increasing the output of this com- pany. His duties often took him to Michi- gan, and he became acquainted with some of those interested in the Ionia Wagon Com- pany, and was tendered a position as general superintendent of that company, accepting on July 7th, 1893. In 1896 he was elected sec- retary and general manager. He is today one of the largest stockholders in the com-
JOHN FRANKLIN BIBLE.
pany. They employ about 160 men, and have an annual business of about $350,000.
Mr. Bible is a democrat. Shortly after he was twenty-one years of age he was elected an alderman of East Point, Ga., was shortly afterwards made president of the council, and performed the duties of mayor for nearly a vear.
Mr. Bible married Mary, daughter of Col. John HI. Bell, of Hopkinsville, Ky., Decem- ber 6th, 1892. They have two children- Susan and Mary Bell.
He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Jonia Commandery No. 26, Knights Templar. He is a past chancellor of the Knights of Py- thias, past exalted ruler of the B. P. O. E., member of the Maccabees, Royal Arcanum and Modern Woodmen. He was honored by being chosen the five hundredth member of the Tonia Maccabees; and was initiated on an occasion which was made of State importance of this order. He is also a member of the National Wagonmakers' Association, and it was through his efforts that the Michigan Wagon and Carriage Makers' Association was organized, he being its first secretary. Mr. Bible is President of the Ionia Town and Business Men's Club, also of the Albert Will- iams' Ionia County Democratic Club.
Although Mr. Bible has lived in Ionia but seven years, he has made a large circle of friends, and is highly respected by all who know him.
190
MEN OF PROGRESS.
WILLIAM JAMES STUART.
STUART, WILLIAM JAMES. The sub- ject of this sketch came of vigorous stock, his father, Alexander, and mother, Martha (Noble) Stnart, came to Michigan from Ire- land in 1843, settling on a farm in the town- ship of Yankee Springs, Barry county. Alex- ander Stuart was one of a family of four brothers and three sisters (many members of the family spell the name Stewart). Wm. J. was born on the Barry county farm, Novem- ber 1, 1844, where the first fifteen years of his life were passed. Two years at school in Hastings, and a like period at the Kalamazoo College and High School, laid the foundation for a higher education. Entering the Uni- versity in March, 1864, he pursued the classi- eal course until the middle of his junior year, and in the fall of 1866 he was appointed superintendent of the Hastings schools, which position he filled for one year, when return- ing to the University, he graduated in the class of 1868. For two years following he filled his former position of superintendent of the Hastings schools. He entered the law de- partment of the University in 1870, gradu- ating therefrom in the spring of 1872. He was then temporarily connected with the firm
of Balch & Balch, at Kalamazoo, the firm soon taking on the style of Balch, Stuart & Balch. In November, 1872, the co-partner- ship was terminated, Mr. Stuart removing to Grand Rapids. Jannary 1, 1873, he entered the office of E. A. Burlingame, as assistant prosecuting attorney of Kent county, and sub- sequently became a law partner, the firm of Burlingame & Stuart continuing until April, 1876. A partnership with Edwin E. Sweet followed, continuing as Stuart & Sweet until April, 1888. Mr. Stuart then formed busi- ness relations with L. E. Knappen and C. H. Van Arman, with offices at both Grand Rap- ids and Hastings. The Hastings office was closed after the death of Mr. Van Arman in 1890, the Grand Rapids firm of Stuart & Knappen continuing until April, 1893. From this time until 1897 Mr. Stuart practiced law alone, when Sylvester W. Barker became the junior in the firm of Stuart & Barker, under which style the business has since been con- ducted.
In 1880 Mr. Stuart was appointed city at- torney of Grand Rapids, serving two terms, and during 1883-85 was a member of the Board of Education, and was ex-officio a mem- ber of the board during his two terms as mavor, to which office he was elected in 1892 and re-elected in 1893. In May, 1888, he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Kent county to fill a vacancy, and in the Fall of the same year was elected to and filled the posi- tion during the ensuing term. In politics, Mr. Stuart is a staunch Republican.
In 1877 he received the degree of "M. A." from the State University, and for 1894-5 he was president of its Society of Alunni.
Mr. Stuart is a director in the State Bank of Michigan, at Grand Rapids, in the Grand Rapids Board of Trade, is a director in and treasurer of the Citizens' Telephone Co. and the J. C. Herkner Jewelry Co., both of Grand Rapids. He is a member of St. Mark's Epis- copal Church, of Grand Rapids, of which he has been a vestryman for many years, and is connected with the Masonic Fraternity and Knights of Pythias. His wife was formerly Miss Calista Iladley, of Hastings, to whom he was married in April, 1874. They have no children, but a niece, Miss Edith Stuart, has lived with them since childhood, taking the place of a daughter.
191
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
CURTIS, MILES S. The State of Ohio, which has given four presidents to the coun- try and was the native State of a fifth one, is also the native state of the subject of the pres- ent sketeh. Mr. Curtis was born in Ashta- bula county, Ohio, April 1, 1852. His early life was spent upon a farm and his rudimen- tary education obtained in a district school. At the age of 14 he entered a select school, and from this was graduated to the Anstin- burg Institute, where he remained for fonr years. The last year in the institution he held the position of instructor in penmanship, and one year as instruetor in penmanship and teacher in the High School at Jefferson, the county seat of Ashtabula county. At the age of 21 he came to Michigan and began the study of law in the office of W. J. Baxter, of Jonesville, but he was obliged to give this up and return to farming, his father requiring his assistance. This bronght him in the viein- ity of Battle Creek, and there he has since lived, dividing his time between a farm on the outskirts of the city and business interests in the eity. Mr. Curtis was first eleeted super- visor of his township in 1891, and has repre- sented his district in the State Legislature, having been elected to the House of Repre- sentatives in 1894, serving during the session of 1895. He was mayor of Battle Creek in 1898.
While the official positions with which he has been honored sufficiently attest the esti- mation in which he is held by the business and social circles of his home, Mr. Curtis is perhaps more widely known through his con- nection with the Knights of Pythias, of which order he has been a member since 1879. He has attended every session of the Grand Lodge since 1880, and has passed the chairs, from the position of Onter Guard to Grand Chan- cellor. He has for several years held the posi- tion of Grand Keeper of Records and Seals, and bas also held the position of Supreme Representative to the Supreme Lodge. In a fraternal publication, it is said of him that he "Has wielded a remarkable influence in the affairs of the order in Michigan, and to his
MILES S. CURTIS.
eredit be it said that influence has ever been on the side of true advancement and in the interest of higher standards and truer ideals. Were we to analyze his character and disposi- tion, we believe one of the strongest qualities to be observed would be that intense earnest- ness which has characterized so much of his life work. He does whatever he has to do with his whole heart and is never content with partial results. His well-balanced mind and excellent judgment make him an excellent guide. While possessed of the courage of his convictions, he has the happy faculty of differ- ing with one and yet not antagonizing his op- ponent. He is a fast friend and one to whom our brothers may 'link themselves with hoops of steel,' and be sure that betrayal is no part of his nature. Above all, Miles S. Curtis is a gentleman, not by artificial veneer and affec- tation, which form no part of a true man's equipment, but because the Almighty turned him out from the crucible of ereation a gen- tleman by nature." He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, of the Royal Areanum and of the Elks.
Mary Nye, of Battle Creek, became Mrs. Curtis in 1879. They have two sons, Lorell, a clerk in The Merchants' National Bank of Battle Creek, and Clande, now in the senior class of the Battle Creek schools.
192
MEN OF PROGRESS.
JUDGE MATTHEW BUSH.
BUSH, JUDGE MATTHEW. Matthew Bush, Judge of Probate, Shiawasse county, and a resident of Corunna, Michigan, was born near Stone Ridge, New York State, De- cember 6, 1853. The family is one that eame from the Hudson valley, New York, and un- doubtedly of Dutch origin. At the time Matthew Bush was born his parents were liv- ing on a farm near Stone Ridge, and when he reached the correct age he was sent to the neighboring district school, where his eduea- tion commenced and continued until he was 15 years of age. Two winter terms at the graded school in the village followed this and the boy then went to Port Ewen, N. Y., where he worked for his board with Dr. Jo- siah Hasbrouck and attended the high school of Port Ewen. He stood a teacher's examin- ation while attending this latter school and received a certificate qualifying him to teach. Armed with this, he commeneed his career as a school teacher, teaching for 18 months in distriet schools at an average salary of $30 a month and board. Giving up teaching, Mr. Bush then seenred a position in the stationery store of Winter Bros., at Rondout, N. Y., now Kingston, starting in by taking charge of
the newspaper department at $5 a week. Here he learned telegraphy and it brought him a new position in the office of Frank J. Heeker, then superintendent of the Wallkill Valley Railroad, and now one of the general officers of the Michigan-Peninsular Car Co. of De- troit. Some months later Mr. Heeker gave young Bush the position of operator at Sha- wangunk, N. Y. While there and in the fall of 1872, an attack of measles laid him up for eight months ; the disease settled in one of his knees and he was forced to move about on erntehes. While in this condition he entered the law offices of Lounsbery & De Witt, of Kingston, and after three years' study he was admitted to the bar in September, 1876, at Saratoga, N. Y. He praetieed for two years at Kingston and then came to Michigan, loeat- ing first at Stanton, in 1878, and removing to Vernon, Shiawassee county, where he prae- tieed his profession until January, 1889, when he became Judge of Probate, and removed to Cornmma.
Judge Bush is a Republican and has always been a firm and consistent member of that party. He was village attorney at Vernon for many years and for two terms president of the village.
IIe is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Corunna and also a member of the school board and board of publie works of that city. He has been twice married. His first wife, Miss Flora MeKereher, of Vernon, whom he married in 1882, died in 1885. His second wife, whom he married in 1887 at Ver- non, was a Miss Annie E. Verney. He has seven children : Walter M., James V., Russel Alger, Lowell M., Helen E., Oliver' N. and Wendell H. Bush.
Judge Bush is associated with the Masonie fraternity and is past eminent commander of Corunna Commandery, No. 21, K. T. He is also a member of the Knights of the Maeea- bees, a member of the Michigan Club of De- troit, and president of the State Association of Probate Judges. He is a man of deter- mination and strong character, extremely popular in his county and well known throughout the State.
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