USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 69
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
516
MEN OF PROGRESS.
THEODORE DELONG BUHL.
BUHL, THEODORE DE LONG. Mr. Buhl is a son of the late Christian H. Buhl, who was for over fifty years one of the leading business inen of Detroit. He was mayor of the city 1860-62, the first Republican to be elected to that office after the formation of the Republican party in 1854. He was at one time extensively engaged in the fur trade, but subsequently established the first wholesale hardware house in the State, which in the course of its history came to be, known as Buhl Sous & Co. Mr. Buhl acquired a con- siderable fortune, had large manufacturing interests in Detroit and was largely interested in the iron industry in Pennsylvania, of which state he was a native. He was a liberal patron of the public institutions and charities of the city, and among his benefactions was the presentation of a valuable law library to the State University.
Theo. D. Buhl was born in Detroit August 20, 1844. His education was received in De- troit and abroad. No small part of his edu- cation, however, consisted in his training for practical business in the store of which his father was the head, and to the management
of which he succeeded on his father's death. His aetive business life, however, antedated that event by some years, and few men have contributed more to the industrial and com- mercial growth of the state. He is the senior member of the firm of Buhl Sons & Co., the largest and oldest jobbing hardware house in Michigan. He is president of the Parke, Davis & Co., corporation, of the Buhl Stamp- ing Co., the Detroit Meter Co. and the Buhl Malleable Co., a director and one of the larg- est owners of the Detroit Copper & Brass Rolling Mills, of the Canadian Meter Co., the Detroit Union Depot Co. and the Strong Luni- ber Co., and a director and vice-president of the Detroit National Bank. He is also a stock- holder in the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Co. and is interested in a number of other local enterprises and is the owner of much valuable real estate and improved property in Detroit and Wayne county, including the Buhl Block and Telegraph Block in Detroit.
Mr. Buhl has been a generous contributor to the University of Michigan, to the Detroit High School Scholarship Fund, the Detroit Museum of Art, the Children's Free Hospital, the Protestant Orphan Asylum, and other educational, benevolent and charitable enter- prises. He is a member of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church and of the Young Men's Christian Association, and of a number of social clubs, including the Detroit, Michigan (Republican), Country, Lake St. Clair Fish- ing & Shooting, Detroit Athletic and Detroit Boat Club. Mr. Buhl was married April 22, 1868, to Miss Julia Elizabeth Walker, daugh- ter of Hiram Walker, then of Detroit, but later the founder of the town of Walkerville, opposite Detroit, in Canada. Eight children have been the fruit of the marriage, four of which are living-Mary Buhl Warren, wife of Wm. M. Warren, general manager of Parke, Davis & Co., Willis E. and Arthur H., connected with their father in the manage- ment of the business of Buhl Sons & Co., and Lawrence De Long Buhl, youngest son, is still at school.
517
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
BAXTER, CHARLES ERNEST. For a young man of 37 years, Mr. Baxter has made a varied record in political and business circles and is widely known throughout the state. His paternal ancestors were Scotch-Irish, his great-great-grandfather coming to America in 1692. His parents, Daniel C., and Emily (Shepardson) Baxter (the latter a Massachu- setts lady), settled on a farm near Fayette, Ohio, where Charles E. was born March 18, 1863. In his early infancy his parents re- moved to West Unity, Ohio, where his father was a general merchant and postmaster under President Lincoln. The son passed from the village schools at West Unity to the graded schools at Bryan, Ohio, and in 1879 entered Oberlin College, remaining there two years and later completing his studies in Williams College, Massachusetts, where he was a mem- ber of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He then became connected with the Bryan (Ohio) Press, first as a reporter and afterwards as editor, thus beginning his career as a jour- nalist. Subsequently he became a reporter on the Cleveland Herald, and in 1885 bought an interest in the Republican at Charlotte, Mich. He was editor of that paper until 1892, when he disposed of his interest and came to Detroit, where he was a political writer on the Detroit Tribune, in which capa- city he remained until he became secretary to United States Senator John Patton of Grand Rapids. In 1895 he returned to Detroit and engaged successfully for a time as a bond broker, and in 1896 was tendered and ac- cepted the position of state manager of the Manhattan Life Insurance Co., which position he holds at the present time.
Incidentally, Mr. Baxter has filled many places of honor and trust outside of his stated engagements. He was assistant secretary of the State Senate in 1889, assistant secretary of the Republican State Central Committee in 1892-94, and Deputy State Treasurer
CHARLES ERNEST BAXTER.
1893-94, a period when on account of the panic and the depleted condition of the state treasury, the deputyship was a position of great responsibility. He was president of the Eaton County Republican League in 1888, was secretary of the State League of Republi- can Clubs four years and was Michigan mem- ber of the National Republican League's Ex- ecutive Committee 1895-6.
Mr. Baxter is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, including Charlotte Commandery, No. 37, Knights Templar, is a member of Moslem Temple (Nobles of the Mystic Shrine), of Detroit, and is a Past Chancellor of Knights of Pythias. He was married at Charlotte in 1886 to Miss Dora Gay Belcher, daughter of James Belcher, one of the few Kentucky plantation owners who voluntarily freed their slaves. Two children, Marie A. and Kenneth S., both at home, are the fruit of the marriage. Mr. Baxter has hosts of friends, who will wish him a long life of pros- perity and usefulness, corresponding to his past.
518
MEN OF PROGRESS.
CHARLES FLOWERS.
FLOWERS, CHARLES. Mr. Flowers' immediate parents were of the Society of Friends (Quakers), which tendency Mr. Flowers himself inherits. His ancestors were not all that way, however, or if so, they were of the fighting kind, his great-great-grand- father, Charles Flowers, having been a cap- tain in the Revolutionary army, his mother being a descendant of Gen. Timothy Pieker- ing, of Revolutionary fame, and secretary of state under President Washington. His mother was also a descendant of the Quimby family of Philadelphia, one Josiah Quimby having manufactured the clock and machin- ery of the "Liberty Bell," which announced the adoption of the Declaration of Indepen- dence. Mr. Flowers' parents, Joseph and Sarah (Pickering) Flowers, were residents of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in the immediate neighborhood of "Penn's Manor," where William Penn made his first settlement, and within three miles of where Washington crossed the Delaware to fight and win the battle of Trenton. Mr. Flowers was born there December 14, 1845. The father died in 1867 and the mother in 1876. They were farmers and the son divided his time between
farm work and school. Early in 1860 he took up the study of phonography, for which he demonstrated an especial aptness. His first employ was in the Grand Trunk Railway offices in New York city, following which he attended a Collegiate Institute at Fort Ed- wards for two years. After the close of the Civil War he was employed as official stenog- rapher of the government military commis- sion which sat at Raleigh, N. C. Subse- quently he studied law for a year at New York, and came to Detroit, his present resi- dence, in 1868. Mr. Flowers was the first to introduce shorthand reporting in the Michi- gan courts, which has now become an indis- pensable feature. He secured the passage of the law for the purpose in 1869 and the same year was appointed stenographer of the Wayne Circuit Court, by Gov. Baldwin. He was also reporter for the United States Courts in Detroit. He pursued the study of law con- currently and was admitted to the bar in 1878. In his capacity as stenographer he was one of the official reporters for the three Constitutional Conventions-Illinois in 1868, Pennsylvania in 1872 and Ohio in 1873. He also reported scientific conventions at various points in the United States, being recognized as an expert in that line of work. He was elected Circuit Court Commissioner in 1880 and again in 1882, resigning his stenographie work. He was an unsuccessful candidate (Republican) for Prosecuting Attorney in 1884. He was a member of the Detroit Fire Commission four years, 1885-9, and in July, 1896, was appointed Corporation Counsel by Mayor Pingree, holding the office four years. He is now general counsel for the Michigan Telephone Co., and a director in that cor- poration.
As a lawyer, Mr. Flowers has shown no less aptness than in his former profession. He surprised his friends (and would equally have surprised his enemies, if he had had any) by the brillianey of his presentation speech in favor of Gov. Pingree at the time of his nomi- nation in 1896. They could not well under- stand how a man could blossom out from the mechanical work of a reporter to the rank of the finished orator. But Mr. Flowers was there, beyond question.
Miss Mary E. DeNormandie, of Pennsyl- vania, became Mrs. Flowers in 1868. Of their three children, Norman is practicing with his father.
1
1
519
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
BEAMER, WILLIAM HI. When the municipal record of Detroit comes to be writ- ten, no name will stand out in brighter colors than that of William H. Beamer, now serving his third term as alderman of the First Ward. Other men may have made more stir than he has done, but for faithfulness and fidelity to his trust and firm adherence at all times, and under all circumstances, to what he deemed to be right, he stands in the foremost rank among the faithful of the city's servants. Mr. Beamer's parents, Daniel W. and Jennie (Downs) Beamer, were from Canada, but re- moved to Hillsdale county, this state, in 1855. The Beamers are remotely of Dutch extrac- tion, while on his mother's side Mr. Beamer boasts of New England blood. The parents removed to Detroit in 1859, where Wm. Il. was born, July 4, 1861. If one's horoscope may be traced from their nativity, Mr. Beamer's sterling patriotism is in political har- mony with the time of his birth, having been on the anniversary of the nation's nativity, and at the time when the nation was nerving itself for the struggle that was to determine whether it was to live or die. With an educa- tion obtained in the Detroit schools, Mr. Beamer, at the age of 16, entered the employ of the Pullman Car Company, and after a year's service went to Colorado, where he passed five years in the gold mines of that territory. Returning to Detroit in 1883, he was engaged for a couple of years as proprietor of a family supply store (groceries and meats) and in 1885 opened on a small scale the Library Park Hotel, which he has since con- dueted successfully and which has increased to more than double its original capacity. Ile has proved a popular landlord and his asso- eiation is valued for his social qualities and his personal integrity.
Mr. Beamer first came prominently to pub- lie notiee in 1894, when he was elected alder- man. At that time there was some factional feeling (as there has perhaps continued to be) growing out of the advanced ideas of Mayor Pingree regarding measures of municipal ad- ministration. Mr. Beamer was elected as a
WILLIAM H. BEAMER.
so-called "Pingree man" but it soon developed that he was such only in those things wherein in his judgment he thought Pingree was right. As a member of the Common Coun- cil, Ald. Beamer does not hesitate to advocate in his vigorons style any measure that he deems to be right, while he is pronounced, firm and consistent in opposition to whatever he thinks to be wrong. He is a good objeetor and mo measure of importance passes the C'onneil without his careful and intelligent serutiny. Among all the rumors of official crookedness, not one has attached itself to the First Warder, and the same may be said of his colleague, Ald. Coots, who may be termed the Nestor of the Common Council. At his sec- ond election to the Council in 1896, Mr. Beamer had no opposition. Ile was again elected in 1898 and during the year 1899 was President of the Council.
Mr. Beamer is quite well-to-do, financially, having real estate interests in Detroit and elsewhere. Hle is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married August 16, 1880, to Miss Florence G. Turner, daughter of P. G. Turner, of Detroit. Three children, Myrtle, Grace and Lloyd, all at home, are the fruit of the marriage.
520
MEN OF PROGRESS.
HON. DEXTER MASON FERRY.
FERRY, HON. DEXTER MASON. The name of Ferry was originally French, but the family is of English extraction, coming thence to New England, where the name appears as early as 1688. The branch of the family from which Dexter M. is descended removed from Massachusetts to Lowville, Lewis county, N. Y., where Dexter M. was born Angust S, 1833, the son of Joseph N. and Lucy D. (Mason) Ferry. The father died when the son was but three years old, and the family soon after removed to near Rochester, N. Y., where the boyhood of Dexter M. was passed. Leaving the local school at the age of 16, he began active life as a farm hand' at $10 per month, working thus two summers, but at- tending school during the winter, receiving also, for a few months, an advanced course of instruction at Rochester.
Mr. Ferry's advent in Detroit was in 1852, as employee in a wholesale stationery store. Having saved a little financial means, he entered as a partner the seed honse firm of M. T. Gardner & Company. Mr. Ferry became the head of the firm in 1865, and in 1867 its title was changed to D. M. Ferry & Company. The present company was incorporated under that name in 1879, with a capitalization of $750,000, absorbing a younger house, the Detroit Seed Company.
Some men make good lieutenants, but fail as captains. Others become captains through gifts of nature which it would be difficult to
analyze. Mr. Ferry is one of the latter. Under his management the business has grown from a small store to an extensive plant, and from sales of about $6,000 to $1,500,- 000.00 annually.
It goes without saying that worldly com- petence has rewarded Mr. Ferry's labors. He has large investments in real estate, and his name appears in the directorate and at the head of numerons manufacturing and banking interests. He has interests as stockholder, president or director in a dozen leading bank- ing and other institutions in Detroit, and also has banking and railway interests in Arizona.
Mr. Ferry's money and his personal aid and countenance have always been freely given to such projects-whether business, social or charitable-as promised to be of public bene- fit, and his private charities are large, discrim- inating and entirely wanting in ostentation. "Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth" is a rule with him. He is one of the trustees of Grace Hospital, Detroit, the Detroit Museum of Art, and of Olivet Col- lege, to each of which he has been a liberal contributor.
Politically, Mr. Ferry is a Republican. In 1900 he was urged by his friends for the nomination for Governor of the state, and at the convention at Grand Rapids was the lead- ing candidate up to the nineteenth ballot, although eventually unsuccessful. He was a delegate-at-large to the Minneapolis Conven- tion in 1892, and was chairman of the State Central Committee, 1896-98. His only offi- cial service has been as a member of the Board of Estimates, and of the Park and Boulevard Commission of Detroit.
Ile is a trustee of the Woodward Avenue Congregational Church, with which denomi- nation he affiliates.
Miss Addie E. Miller, daughter of John B. Miller, of Unadilla, N. Y., became Mrs. Ferry October 1, 1867. Three children, Dexter M., Jr., an active assistant to his father, and the Misses Blanche and Queene, now survive as the fruit of this marriage.
Mr. Ferry is domestic and social in his tastes, and while his home is his sanctuary, yet he is also an active member and supporter of many of the leading clubs and societies.
In his business relations he is a man always approachable, courteous and affable, and his employees, with whom he has never had dis- agreement or friction of any kind, are devoted to him.
521
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
STEVENSON, ELLIOTT G. The senior member of the present law firm of Stevenson, Merriam, Eldredge & Butzel, of Detroit, ranks with the leading members of the bar of Michigan and the northwest. He is of north of Ireland stoek, his parents having settled in Middlesex county, Ont., where the son was born May 18, 1856. The father, William Stevenson, was a contractor, and came with his family to Port Huron in 1869, where he continued to live up to the time of his death in May, 1899. Mr. Stevenson's mother still makes her home in Port Huron. With a primary education fitting him for professional study, Mr. Stevenson entered the law office of O'Brien & Atkinson at Port Huron in 1874, and in 1877 was admitted to the bar before Judge Harris. He at once associated himself in praetiee with his former preceptor, the firm of Atkinson & Stevenson continuing for several years. In 1882 he became senior in the firm of Stevenson & Phillips, which firm continued until Mr. Stevenson's removal to Detroit in 1887. He here associated him - self with Hon. Don M. Diekinson and Henry T. Thurber under the firm name of Diekinson, Thurber & Stevenson, from which firm he withdrew in 1896, practicing his profession alone until the formation of the firm first named in 1899.
Mr. Stevenson acquired prominence in political and official circles while a resident of Port Huron. He was for two terms prose- euting-attorney of St. Clair county, having been the first Democratic official elected in that county for over twenty years, and was the only one eleeted on his party tieket at the time. He was cleeted mayor of Port Huron in 1885, and was twice nominated for Con- gress under conditions favoring his elcetion, but deelined the honor, from business consid- eration. Mr. Stevenson managed and led to a sueeessful issue the contest for a delegation from Michigan to the Democratic National Convention of 1896 that would support Presi-
-
ELLIOTT G. STEVENSON.
dent Cleveland's financial policy, and he was made chairman of the delegation. The silver sentiment was predominant, however, in the convention, and Mr. Bryan was nominated. Mr. Stevenson was a supporter of and believer in the sound money policy of President Cleve- land, but felt bound by the action of his party convention, and supported its nominees. Mr. Stevenson has been prominent in the coun- sels of his party in Wayne county, including the chairmanship of the county committee. As a member of the firm of Dickinson, Thur- ber & Stevenson, the entire business of the firm devolved upon the latter during the time that Mr. Dickinson was postmaster-general, Mr. Thurber being in Washington as private seeretary to the President.
Mr. Stevenson's societary connections are Masonic, Pythian, Foresters and Detroit, Fel- lowcraft and North Channel Clubs. Miss Emma Mitts, daughter of George Mitts, of Port Huron, beeame Mrs. Stevenson in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have three children : George Elliott, attending Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, and Helen and Kennith, at home.
522
MEN OF PROGRESS.
ALFRED J. MURPHY.
MURPHY, ALFRED J. Judge Mur- phy furnishes an illustration of the possibili- ties within the reach of serious effort. Nur- tured in the hard school of adversity, he has been obliged to show his passport at every turnpike of life. He has resolutely fought his way, unaided, from humble beginnings, till, at the age of thirty-two, he occupies a position in the community of his birth that is seldom attained except by men of more ad- vanced years. Ilis advancement has neither spoiled nor marred him. Simple and unaf- fected in manner, it is not unnatural that, al- most daily, he should be made the confidant and friendly adviser of people in the humble walks of life.
He is a graduate of the Detroit public schools. Thenee he passed to the Detroit College, taking the full classical course there and graduating with the Bachelor's Degree in 1887. He was then employed for two years on the staff of the Detroit Free Press, at the same time pursuing a post-graduate course at
his Alma-Mater, and in 1889 received there- from the degree of Master of Arts. At the same time, he pursued preliminary studies in law, and in 1891 entered the Detroit College of Law, graduating in June, 1893, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He thereupon at once began the practice of law, eontimming it without interruption to the time of going upon the bench.
Conservative in the formation and expres- sion of opinions, he is a forcible and ready speaker, on the stump, on occasions of public interest, and at the bar. In Angust, 1896, without solicitation on his part, he was made the Democratie and Fusion nominee for the office of Attorney-General of Michigan. In the city of Detroit he ran many votes ahead of his ticket. He had previously had some experience in the way of official intercourse with the ruling spirits of the party in the State, having been assistant secretary of the State Central Committee in 1890 and secre- tary of the State Senate at the session of 1891. In 1898 he was appointed a member of the Park and Boulevard Commission of Detroit, an unsalaried but responsible position. It was while filling that position that he pro- cured the adoption of the eight-hour day on the park and boulevard system, a reform which won for him many expressions of eon- mendation. His sympathies have ever been alert and active with those to whom life is a struggle.
At the April election in 1899 he was elected one of the judges of the Recorder's Court of Detroit, taking his place on the bench January 9, 1900. In addition to the duties of that post, Judge Murphy at present occupies the chair of criminal law, and also of criminal pleading and practice, in the De troit College of Law. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Detroit Bar Association.
523
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
CORNS, HENRY COLDICOTT. The parents of Dr. Corns, Joseph and Mary (Walker) Corns, came to Detroit from Bir- mingham, England, in 1841. While in Eng- land the father was a member of the "Queen's Own Guards." In Detroit he was a furniture manufacturer on Grand River Avenue, and died in 1890, the mother being still living. The son, Henry C., was born in Detroit, July 15, 1860. Ile attended the Detroit schools until fourteen years old, after which he at- tended the night schools for three years, being assistant to his father during work hours. In the fall of 1878 he entered the Dental Depart- ment of the University, graduating from there after a three years' course. After graduating he spent a few months in the office of Dr. Watton, a dentist of Detroit, and then trav- eled for a year and a half for the H. J. Cal- kins' Dental Depot of Detroit, around the States of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. In 1883 he opened an office for the practice of dentistry in what was then known as the old Fisher Block, on Woodward Avenue, moving from thence in 1886 to No. 25 Washington Avenne, and in 1893 to his present quarters, No. 32 Adams Avenue West.
Dr. Corns is affiliated with most of the Masonic bodies. He first joined the frater- nity in 1883 and has passed the chairs of the Blue Lodge, being Past Master of Oriental Lodge No. 240. He is a member of Penin- sular Chapter (Royal Arch) Masons, is a member of Detroit Commandery, Knights Templar, in which he has held all the Com- mandery offices, and is now Past Commander,
HENRY COLDICOTT CORNS.
has been a member of the Council ( Royal and Select Masters) since 1890, is a member of the Grand Commandery of the State, and is High Priest of the Ancient and Accepted Order of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member and one of the board of directors of the Detroit Athletic Club. The doctor has had some mantical experience, having sailed as wheelman and look-out on the tng Kate Moffat during the season of 1878. He was Assistant Adjutant-General of the State on the staff of Governor Rich, 1893-4. In addi- tion to his dental practice he is in a business way, president of the II. C. Corns Hardwood Lumber Company of Detroit. Miss Clara Burden, daughter of Wm. Burden, of Cleve- land, Ohio, became Mrs. Corns August 29, 1893. They have no children.
524
MEN OF PROGRESS.
GEORGE BECK.
BECK, GEORGE. Mr. Beck is essen- tialy one of the self-made men of Detroit, having begun active work for himself as a boy of twelve years, with but a limited primary education. He was born at Tiverton, Devon- shire, England, August 27, 1844, the son of William B. and Mary Ann (Lee) Beck. The father died at Memphis, Tenn., in 1862 and the mother at Detroit in 1890. His father was an ornamental plasterer and came to America in 1847, locating at Memphis, Tenn., where he had large contracts, includ- ing contracts on government work. His fam- ily joined him in 1851. In 1853 the family moved to London, Ont., and from there to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1854, coming to Detroit a year later. The son's first work in Detroit was with the Rowena Milk Co. at 75 cents per week. After a six months' service, he hired out to Coles & Smith, of the Marine Meat Market, at $4 per month, remaining with them a year and a half. He was then with Wm. Wreford in the same business and they have been together ever since. In 1863
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.