USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 68
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508
MEN OF PROGRESS.
HON. THOMAS A. E. WEADOCK.
WEADOCK, HON. THOMAS A. E. Though a resident of Detroit since 1895, Mr. Weadock's public service was 'rendered in Bay City. He was born in County Wexford, Ireland, fifty years ago (January 1, 1850), one of a large family, the children of Lewis and Mary (Cullen) Weadock. His father's family, although originally Flemish, were prominent in Irish affairs for many genera- tions, his mother's family also being one of the oldest in Ireland. The parents came to America a few months after the birth of the son Thomas, and located on a farm near St. Mary's, Ohio. The son attended the public schools up to the age of 13, when by reason of the death of his father, he had to assume the management of the farm, his older brother being absent in the Union army. He con- tinued a course of private study in connection with his home duties, until the discharge of his brother from the army in 1865, when he ยท went to Cineinnati. He first entered a print- ing office, which did not prove to his taste, and after a few months' service as clerk, he re- turned to his home and was employed some five years in teaching in his own and adjacent counties, pursuing his studies meanwhile. He entered the Law Department of the Univers- ity at Ann Arbor in 1871, graduated there- from two years later and was at once admitted to the bar. He was also admitted to the Ohio bar, and in 1884 to the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Weadoek located at Bay City in September, 1873. He was elected
mayor of the city in 1883, serving until 1885, but declined a further election. Since 1881 he has been a law partner with his brother, John C., under the firm name of T. A. E. and J. C. Weadock, and the firm still continues. Mr. Weadock was Assistant Proseenting At- torney of Bay county (January, 1875, to July, 1877) and on the death of the Prose- cutor, his partner, G. M. Wilson, he was ap- pointed by Hon. Sanford M. Green to fill out the term, giving a vigorous administration. His law practice has been extensive and his cases are found in the Michigan Reports, from 36 Mich. down.
A Democrat in polities, Mr. Weadoek has been active in the work of the party, both on the stump and in its counsels. He has served as chairman of the city and county commit- tees and has presided over the Congressional and State Conventions of the party, and was a delegate-at-large to the Chicago Convention of 1896. He was elected to Congress from the Tenth District in 1890 and re-elected in 1892, being the only Democrat ever elected from that distriet withont fusion. He was a useful member of that body and especially successful in securing appropriations for local improvements. He aided in securing an in- crease of pay for the Life Saving Service men and had the eastern judicial district of Miehi- gan divided into southern and northern divi- sions. In both his campaigns he was viru- lently opposed by a seeret anti-Catholie so- cicty, which has been not inaptly rendered "Ambushed Political Assassins." His most notable speech in Congress was an exposure of the seeret oaths and aims of this society. He declined a renomination for Congress in 1894. In 1893 he made an extensive tour in Europe. He has published papers on Rev. Gabriel Richard, Hon. Sanford M. Green and Pere Marquette. He was the author and snp- porter in Congress of a joint resolution allow- ing the statue of Pere Marquette to be re- ceived in Statuary Hall at Washington (though not a citizen of Wisconsin), that state having appropriated the money for the statue many years before. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Detroit Bar As- sociation, member of the American Bar Asso- ciation and the Detroit Club. Mr. Weadock has been twice married. His first wife, Mary E. Tarsney, died March 11, 1889, leaving three daughters and three sons. The oldest son, Thomas J., is now a lawyer in Detroit. His second wife was Miss Nannie E. Curtiss, who is the mother of one child. Of the eleven children born to him, Mr. Weadoek has lost four by death.
509
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
STEWART, DR. GEORGE DUFFIELD. The Stewarts from whom Dr. G. Duff Stewart is descended first came from Scotland to America, settling in Connecticut. The doc- tor's father, Dr. Morse Stewart, came to De- troit in 1842. He was a practicing physician for more than fifty years, stood at the head of his profession, having, however, retired from active practice a few years since. The mother of Dr. G. Duff Stewart, Isabella Duffield, was of the well known family of that name, a daughter of Rev. Dr. George Duffield, the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church (the first of that denomination built in De- troit), holding his pastorate for some thirty years. The father of Dr. Duffield was a resi- dent of Pennsylvania, was also a clergyman and officiated as chaplain in the Continental Congress.
Dr. G. Duff Stewart was born in Detroit March 21, 1855. His primary education was received in the Detroit public schools, and his scientific education in the Detroit College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1878. He then spent a year in Heidelberg, Ger- many, as a rounding out of his professional course. Returning to Detroit he at once set- tled down to the practice of his profession. In 1883 he was appointed city physician, and in 1885 county physician, holding each posi- tion two years. In 1886 he was elected a member of the Board of Education of Detroit, serving as such until the constitution of the board was changed by act of Legislature, which took effect in 1888. For the succeed- ing ten years the doctor devoted his full time to his practice, while yet keeping in close
DR. GEORGE DUFFIELD STEWART.
touch with his party, and in 1898 was nomi- nated for sheriff of Wayne county, and was elected by a handsome majority over one of the strongest Republicans in the county, being the only Democrat elected on the county ticket that year. The doctor is well known as a hustler, professionally and politi- cally.
Dr. Stewart's ancestors on both sides (Stewarts and Duffields) have been well rep- resented in the country's wars. The annals of 1776, 1812, the Mexican war, the war of the Rebellion and the war with Spain, bear testimony to their services in the field. The Stewart Light Infantry, of Detroit, is so named in honor of Dr. Stewart, he being an honorary member of the corps. Dr. Stewart is a member of the Order of Elks and is a bachelor.
510
MEN OF PROGRESS.
HON. ROBERT OAKMAN.
OAKMAN, HON. ROBT. Mr. Oakman is of Irish lineage, and from a printer's ap- prentiee has become one of the best known men in the state. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Normille) Oakman, were both na- tives of Ireland, coming to Detroit in 1846. The father was a machinist and was employed for many years in the Michigan Central shops and helped build the first locomotive engine built by the Michigan Central Railroad. The son Robert was born in Detroit, August 21, 1860. He passed from the public schools to the printers' art at the age of 15, becoming an apprentice in the mechanical department of the then Detroit Post. After a service of seven years as apprentice and journeyman, he established a weekly paper called the "Spec- tator," devoted to the interests of the labor organizations, with which he had for some years been identified. In 1882 he was a can- didate on the labor ticket, for a seat in the City Council (then ealled the "upper house"), coming within 200 votes of an election. In 1884 he was a candidate for the same place, on the Republican ticket, but the party was in a minority at that time. After publishing his paper a year and a half, he sold out and
engaged in the real estate business, which was then having what is termed a boom. He han- dled property in the North Woodward Ave- une seetion and in the northeastern part of the city, near the Milwaukee Junetion, and seored a suceess by a new departure in real estate handlings, in the form of linge auction sales. Although latterly giving his time largely to politieal and official life, he has vet considerable real estate interests and handles several desirable trusts.
While holding no office by election, Mr. Oakman may be said to have been a success, politically. His sympathies with labor in- terests drew him towards Gov. Pingree, then mayor of Detroit, whose altrnistie tendencies are well known. Becoming a political lieu- tenant and faithful adherent of Mr. Pingree, that gentleman, both as Mayor and Governor, has recognized his claims to preferment. In 1889 he was appointed Assistant City Asses- sor, but resigned in 1891 to become private seeretary to Mayor Pingree, serving as sueli until 1895, when he was appointed a member of the Board of Assessors of Detroit, whiel is composed of three members serving the full term of three years. In March, 1899, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Assessors of railroad, telegraph, telephone and express companies, which aet was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In July, 1899, he was appointed a member of the first Board of State Tax Commissioners for the long term (six years). His work as a member of this board has given him promi- nenee thronghont the state, as well as having inspired a high degree of eonfidenee in and respeet for his impartial but firm administra- tion of the offiee.
Mr. Oakman is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Michigan Club, and was one of the organizers of the "Lincoln League" of Michigan, a Republiean organization. He was for four years a member of the Republi- can State Central Committee and two years a member of its executive committee. Miss Mamie R. Moross, a descendant of one of the early Freneh families with Cadillac, became Mrs. Oakman in 1887. There are no eliil- dren.
511
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
LITTLE, ANDREW JAMES. Starting out as a newsboy and printers' apprentice, Mr. Little has had, to say the least, a some- what varied career. Born at Northville, October 6, 1862, like many another young- ster, he attended the public schools and "picked up" bits of knowledge and informa- tion as he picked up the type from his case, and as the type were formed first into the line, then into the stiekful and finally into the full form, so Mr. Little has locked up an average form of general information in his mental chase. He began work as an appren- tice on the Northville Record, of which his brother was proprietor, before he was 12 years of age, and at the same time worked np a route and carried the Detroit Evening News in Northville. In 1874 he went to work for Comfort Bros., druggists, in Detroit, remain- ing with them about two years. He then went to work in the office of the Ingham County News at Mason, working there three years. He then started the South Lyon Sen- tinel at South Lyon, of which he was editor for two years. This he sold out and started the Bancroft Sentinel at Bancroft, which he edited for about a year, and then sold out and went to Chicago. Here he secured a position on the Chicago Times, remaining there about a year. In 1883 he went to Grand Rapids as manager of the Heury G. Allen Publishing Co., remaining with them three years. In 1886 he went to Battle Creek and purchased an interest in the Art Album Manufacturing Co., securing a position with them as traveling salesman. In 1892 he brought about a reor- ganization of the company, merging it into the Metal Back Album Co., of which he was made vice-president and manager. The plant was sold out in 1898 and Mr. Little then or- ganized the first independent telephone com- pany in Calhoun county, of which he was made treasurer and manager. The plant is but a trifle more than two years old but has been a remarkably successful one from the first.
During his fourteen years' residence in Battle Creek Mr. Little has always been an
ANDREW JAMES LITTLE.
active promoter of all enterprises tending to the improvement and advancement of the eity. He is treasurer of and helped organize the A. T. Metcalf Lodge (Masonic) at Battle Creek, the Calhoun County Republican Club and the Battle Creek Guards (the latter one of the finest companies to go to the front dur- ing the Spanish war), and assisted in getting them mustered into service. He has been an active Republican from boyhood, secretary of the Executive Committee of the Calhoun County Republican Club and is frequently chosen as delegate to Republican Conven- tions, and is a member of the Michigan Club. His society connections are numerous. Is a Mason of the higher degrees, including the Knights Templar and the Mystic Shrine, and a member of the Elks, of the Order of the Red Men and of the Athelstan Club of Battle Creek. He also holds honorary membership in the Sheriff and Police Association of Miehi- gan, and in military companies in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids and Detroit. Miss Rose Wert, daughter of Samuel Wert, of Laingsburg, became Mrs. Little February 6, 1882. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Little's father was Edward Little, proprietor of the Argo Flouring Mills at Northville. Mr. Little's parents were Presbyterians and natives of Belfast, Ireland. His mother's maiden name was Rose Harkins.
512
MEN OF PROGRESS.
LEE E. JOSLYN.
JOSLYN, LEE E. Mr. Joslyn was born February 26, 1864, at Darien, Genesee county, N. Y., his father, Willis B. Joslyn, having been a building contractor. When he was seven years old his parents removed to McLean county, Pa., and two years later they settled in Dryden township, Lapeer county, Mich. The son, being one of a family of eight children, had some primary school in- struction, at his former place of residence, but after the removal to Dryden he was a regular attendant at the public schools for eight years, and was graduated from the Union School at Dryden in 1881. Soon after leaving school, being then but 17 years of age, he began reading law with Judge William W. Stick- ney, of Lapeer, who paid him the compliment of saying that he mastered Blackstone the most readily of any student he ever had in his office. Mr. Joslyn's law reading was in- termitted by the necessity of pursuing some remunerative employ, mainly at teaching, he having been principal two years of the graded sehool at Otisville, and one year principal of the ward school in West Bay City, not omit- ting to mention a season as night clerk in a hotel. His later law reading was pursued
under Judge George H. Durand, of Flint, and Thos. A. E. Weadoek, then of Bay City but now of Detroit. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1886, and at once began prac- tice in West Bay City, spicing out the small income of a beginner with some receipts from newspaper writing. In March, 1888, he re- moved his office to Bay City, occupying an office in connection with U. S. Commissioner MeMath. At the November eleetion in 1888 he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner and re-elected in 1890. He was advanced from this position to that of prosecuting attor- ney in 1892. He is at present city attor- ney for West Bay City and local attor- ney for the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway Co. His political preferment has come through the Democratic party, of which he is an adherent and active member.
Mr. Joslyn is especially known in connec- tion with the Order of Foresters, of which he has been a member since 1887, and at the hands of which he has enjoyed the highest honors. He was elected High Counsellor at the Bay City meeting of the High Court in 1892 and High Vice-Chief Ranger at the High Court meeting at Saginaw in 1893. In the fall of that year he was appointed High Chief Ranger, to fill the vacancy eaused by the death of Frank Millis, and served as such until 1897. He declined an election at the Port Huron meeting in that year, succeeding to the position of Past High Chief Ranger. At the Detroit meeting in 1898 he was elected High Secretary, which position he now holds. He was Michigan delegate to the Supreme Court meeting at Chicago in 1893, and a dele- gate to the Supreme Court meeting held in London, England, in 1895, and a member of the committee on laws. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, including the Michi- gan Sovereign Consistory of the Scottish Rite at Detroit, was four years Chancellor Com- mander of the Bay City Lodge, No. 23, Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Grand Lodge four years. He is also a mem- ber of the Maeeabees, Oddfellows and Modern Woodinen. Miss Alice L. Wilson, daughter of F. L. Wilson, of West Bay City, became Mrs. Joslyn in 1893. They have two chil- dren, Lee E., Jr., and Allan F.
513
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
PHELAN, HON. JAMES. The Associ- ate Recorder of Detroit, and a judge of the Recorder's Court, Hon. James Phelan, is a native Detroiter, and is of Irish extraction. with a mixture of French. His father, John 1. Phelan, was a sea captain and was lost at sea in 1862. ITis mother, Catherine New- man, daughter of William Newman, a native of Waterford, Ireland, still lives with her son James in Detroit. James Phelan was born in 1858 and at the age of 42 has served the peo- ple of his native city in various positions of trust. His primary education was received in Detroit schools (partly in private schools), up to the age of 14, his expenses during the last two years having been met by his personal labor during the summer months. Leaving school in 1872 he secured a position with the Michigan Central Railroad as check clerk in their lumber yard, serving in that capacity three years. He was then promoted to the train department of the same road, secing a like term of service there, when he was ad- vanced to the position of yardmaster, which position he filled five years. A partial faihire of eyesight caused him to give up this work in 1883, when he went west and spent a year and a half in traveling in the western states for his health. Returning to Detroit in the fall of 1884, he entered the law office of James H. Pound and began the study of law. His funds running short, at the end of two years, he accepted a position in the supply depart- ment of the Board of Education, and later in the office of the County Clerk, in each of which positions he remained six months, pur- sning his law studies at night, during the year. Having saved a little means, he re- sumed his studies with Mr. Pound and in 1888 was admitted to the bar before Judge C. J. Reilly of the Wayne Circuit Court. Begin- ning active practice in 1889, he was the same fall nominated for Justice of the Peace on the Democratic ticket and was elected by about 1,000 majority over Felix A. Lempkie, the Republiean candidate, beginning his offi- cial duties July 4, 1890. He served in this position three and a half years, and resigned
HON. JAMES PHELAN.
in December, 1893, to accept the position of Collector of Internal Revenue under Presi- dent Cleveland. His removal in February, 1898, followed as a sequence to the election of President MeKinley in 1896.
During his term as collector, Mr. Phelan collected over $8,400,000 for the government. for the whole of which vast sum his books showed perfect balances. Ile incurred the displeasure of the so-called Good Government League, by his neglect to furnish them with data from his books, designed to aid them in their work. They filed charges against him but he went to Washington in his own de- fense and was sustained by the department. In March, 1899, he was nominated for Asso- ciate Recorder and was elected by 3,376 ma- jority, despite the hostility of the Good Gor- ernment League, taking his seat January 9, 1900, for the term of six years. Judge Phe- lan is unmarried. Ilis society connections are Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association, Ancient Order of Hibernians, American In- surance Union and Michigan Bar Association.
The foregoing brief sketch will show that Judge Phelan is a self-made man, having made his own way in the world, from the first, without outside help from any source.
514
MEN OF PROGRESS.
JOHN CHRISTIAN HARTZ.
HARTZ, JOHN CHRISTIAN. Mr. Hartz is the well known dealer in clothing, hats, shoes and gentlemen's furnishings on Monroe Avenne, in Detroit. He was born near Kiel, Holstein, Germany, April 9, 1855, the son of John H. and Mary (Behring) Hartz. His early education was received in the schools of his native country and at the age of 12 years he came with his parents to America. They located at New Baltimore, Mich., and after a stay of a couple of years there, the son came permanently to reside in Detroit. After attending a business college for a year he entered the establishment of C. C. McCloskey, hatter, as an apprentice,
subsequently serving with other prominent manufacturers and dealers in the same line. Having acquired a thorough knowledge of the business, he in 1883, became senior partner in the firm of Hartz & Kernaghan, hatters and
furnishers. After three years in this connec- tion, he in 1886 became sole proprietor of the business, which he has since conducted with marked success. Mr. Hartz has served the public as a member of the Board of Metro- politan Police Commission, as a member of the Board of City Assessors, and as Under Sheriff of Wayne county, the latter under Sheriff Chipman. He was appointed on the Police Commission by Mayor Pingree in Feb- rnary, 1896, which office he resigned in 1897, to accept the appointment of City Assessor under Mayor Maybury. Mr. Hartz is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Harmonie and Concordia Singing Socie- ties and the German Salesmen's Association. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1879 he married Lena Orth of Detroit. Four chil- dren, Henrietta, Gertrude, Viola and Harry M., are the fruit of the marriage.
515
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
LOTHROP, HENRY BROWN. Mr. Lothrop was born in Detroit July 8, 1855, the son of George Van Ness and Almira (Strong) Lothrop. George V. N. Lothrop was a lead- ing light in Michigan for fifty years until his light went out with his death in 1897. Born and educated in New England, he came to Detroit in 1853 and entering upon the study of the law, he became the able lawyer, the courteous gentlemen and the matchless orator. He was a favorite in the Democratie party, was twice its candidate for Congress, and only an adverse political majority stood between him and the highest honors of the nation. His talents seenred for him retainers from the large corporations, and an ample fortune, the fruit of just endeavor, was mainly represented by real estate and commercial interests in and around Detroit. His professional career was practically terminated by his acceptance of the Russian mission, to which he was ap- pointed under the first Cleveland administra- tion, and which he held for two and one-half years, when he returned to Detroit, where the remainder of his life was passed. The son may well feel proud of such a parentage. Henry B. Lothrop has chosen a business rather than a professional career, and while he mod- estly announces himself as a Grosse Pointe farmer, he has the active management of large property interests. His education was rounded out at the State University, from which he graduated in 1877. On the com- pletion of his education he entered the em- ploy of the Michigan Central Railroad Com- pany, and later accepted a position with the wholesale hardware house of Buhl, Ducharme & Co., where he remained three years. In 1881 he was offered and accepted a position with the Griffin Car Wheel Company, and a vear later became a stoekholder in the Michi- gan Carbon Works, with an active participa- tion in the office work of the company. On the appointment of his father as minister to Russia, Mr. Lothrop threw np all other busi- ness engagements to take charge of his large business interests. Since the death of his father he has been the manager of the estate,
HENRY BROWN LOTHROP.
which is now represented by the Lothrop Estate Company, Limited, of which he is treasurer. He is also treasurer of the Lothrop & Duffield Land Company, Limited, and a director in the First National Bank and in the Hargreaves Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Lothrop has been an enthusiastic mem- ber of the state militia, having been actively connected with varions organizations for the past twenty-five years. He joined the Detroit Light Guard in 1875 and the Detroit Light Infantry in 1877, in which company he passed from the grade of lieutenant to that of eap- tain. Ile was appointed Inspector-General of Michigan State Troops by Gov. Winans, in 1891, with the rank of Brigadier-General. On the expiration of his term he re-enlisted in the Light Infantry and the same year was elected captain of Company H. His service, however, has not all been of the carpet knight order, he having been captain of Company L, Thirty-second Michigan Infantry, during the war with Spain. Being a bachelor, Mr. Lothrop has quite extended societary connee- tions. He is a member of the Detroit, the Century, the University and the Detroit Yacht Clubs, of the Harmonie Society, of the Order of Elks, is an associate member of De- troit Post, G. A. R., and a member of the Veteran Corps of the Light Infantry. Like his father, he is a Democrat in polities.
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