USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 105
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to the respeet, confidence and goodwill of his fellow townsmen is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.
CHARLES HEIDEN. Among those men who left the impress of their individuality and ability upon some phase of Detroit's development and progress was Charles Heiden, who was for many years well known as a member of the firm of Gutow & Heiden and later vice president of the firm of C. H. Little & Company and a director of its successor, the United Fuel and Supply Company. His efforts were at all times intelligently directed so that he seemed to have accomplished at any one point in his career the possibility for successful accomplishment at that point. He was born in Germany, October 3, 1850, and was one of a family of eight children, whose parents were Fred and Mary (Hausherr) Heiden. The father was also a native of Germany, where he remained until 1868, and then became a resident of the United States, his death occurring in Detroit in January, 1892.
Charles Heiden spent the first eighteen years of his life in his native country and obtained a public school education there. He came with his parents to the new world when a lad of eighteen years, the family home being established in Detroit and here he em- barked in the sand and gravel business, working for a time in the employ of others. He later established business on his own account as a dealer in builders' and paver's supplies and was a member of the firm of Gutow & Heiden, which later was merged into the firm of C. H. Little & Company in 1898. He developed his business enterprises along substan- tial lines and his reliability and enterprise were force- ful factors in the attainment of his growing success. Mr. Heiden became vice president of C. H. Little & Company, serving in that capacity for a number of years until it became a part of the merger forming the United Fuel and Supply Company, and of the latter corporation he became a director and served until he retired from active business a few months prior to his demise. He was a member of the Detroit Builders & Traders Exchange.
On the 6th of October, 1871, Mr. Heiden was married to Miss Caroline Breu, a daughter of Charles Breu, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1869, but Mrs. Heiden did not come until 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Heiden reared a family of eight children: William C., born January 27, 1873; Herman, born November 13, 1876; Emma, born January 22, 1879; Lillian, born August 19, 1883; Edward, born January 1, 1886; Florence, born April 17, 1889; George E., born June 10, 1891; and Raymond W., born October 19, 1893; and all are residents of Detroit. The family are of the Lutheran faith. Mr. Heiden was a repub- lican in his political views and always voted for the men and measures of the party, believing that its platform contained the best elements of good gov-
CHARLES HEIDEN
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ernment. His principles were such as never sought or required disguise. His life was guided by worthy motives and when death called him naught but good was said of him, his memory being yet cherished and honored by all with whom he came into contact. The family residence at 716 East Grand boulevard was erected by Mr. Heiden in 1913. His death occurred on June 7, 1917.
J. BELL MORAN, a native son of Detroit and a scion of one of the old and distinguished families of the city, is a foremost figure in business circles here, operating extensively in the field of real estate. He also deals in insurance and both branches of his busi- ness are proving profitable. He is a son of the late John V. Moran, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work, and the name has been closely and inseparably interwoven with the history of the city from the early days of its settlement. Coming to Detroit in pioneer times, members of the family purchased a large tract of land in what is now the center of the city and the name has since been a prominent and honored one in connection with the upbuilding and development of the city. The name is of French extraction and was originally Morand.
In the public schools of his native city, J. Bell Moran pursued his early education, after which he attended the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana. Subsequently he studied electrical work for two years and continued to follow that line of activity for the next five years, after which he devoted two years to railroading and for one year was identified with the Detroit United Railways. He then decided to found an independent enterprise and in 1912 estab- lished a real estate and insurance business, in which he has continued, and he is well regarded by his associates. He has figured in several large realty transactions, and also writes a large amount of in- surance annually, and both branches of his business are capably and profitably conducted.
In 1915 Mr. Moran was united in marriage to Miss Serena K. Murphy of Detroit, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Murphy and also a representative of one of the old and prominent families of the city, her grandfather having erected the Penobscot building. Two sons have been born to this union: Charles Vallée and William Hayward.
Following America's entrance into the World war Mr. Moran enlisted for service in the army, being sent to the first officers training camp at Fort Sheri- dan, Illinois, and in August, 1917, was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He was sent to Camp Custer and subsequently was transferred to the Tanks Corps as first lieutenant, being stationed first at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania, and then at Camp Dix, New Jersey, and was honorably discharged in December, 1918.
In his political views Mr. Moran is an independent republican, casting his ballot for the candidate whom
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he deems best qualified for office without regard to party affiliation. He is an earnest and active member of the Real Estate Board and is also identified witlı the Oakland Hills Country, Detroit Athletic, Detroit, Detroit Country and Players Clubs. Although yet a young man, he has already gained an enviable position in business circles of Detroit.
CHARLES CLEMENT CONKLIN, engaged in the general practice of law, was born in Livingston county, Michigan, April 8, 1878, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Robb) Conklin, the former a farmer by occupation. The son prepared for his professional career as a student in the Detroit College of Law and on the completion of the regular course was graduated with the class of June, 1906. He has prac- ticed continuously in Detroit for fourteen years. Ad- vancement at the bar is proberbially slow, yet he has made steady progress, early demonstrating his habit of thoroughly preparing his cases and his ability to present his cause with clearness and force. He has been connected with considerable important liti- gation and has a very satisfactory clientage. He belongs to the Detroit Bar Association.
On the 10th of November, 1909, Mr. Conklin was united in marriage to Miss Leocadie Roll of Clinton county, this state, who passed away on the 27th of July, 1916, leaving two children: Lavora and Thomas Lester. Her death was the occasion of deep regret to many friends as well as to her immediate family.
Mr. Conklin is identified with the Knights of Co- lumbus. His friends-and they are many-attest the sterling worth of his character, while the courts bear record of his ability in the line of his chosen profession.
FRED A. EVANS, a representative of the archi- tect's profession in Detroit, and a native son of the city, was born April 7, 1886, his parents being Frederick and Sarah (Dace) Evans, both of whom were natives of England, whence they came to Amer- ica, the father arriving when about twenty-eight years of age. They were married in Detroit and Mr. Evans turned his attention to the business of a mason con- tractor, winning a liberal patronage and accumulating a comfortable fortune in this connection. At the present time he is living practically retired. Here he and his wife have reared their family, numbering a son, Fred A., and a daughter, Edith, who is with her parents.
Fred A. Evans is indebted to the public school system of Detroit for the educational advantages which he enjoyed in early life, and when he had completed the high school course he was sent by his parents to London, England, where he received his technical training in the London Polytechnic school. He also attended the Wolverhampton high school of England, and remained at his studies abroad for six years. He was graduated on the completion of
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his course in architecture in 1906, after which he returned to Detroit and immediately entered the office of Louis Kamper, a prominent architect, with whom he remained for several years. He then re- signed and became superintendent of construction with his father. He also laid out the work in hand and in the fall of 1912 started in business on his own account, since which time he has designed and erected some of the attractive modern buildings of the city, one of his recent structures being a fine apartment building at Fourteenth and Virginia streets in De- troit. He also built the freight warehouse at Monroe and Dubois, has erected factory buildings without number and many of the fine residences of the city.
Mr. Evans votes with the republican party. He belongs to the Detroit Board of Commerce, and has membership in the Michigan Society of Architects, thus keeping in touch with the advanced thought and purposes of the profession.
RICHARD THOMAS KETTLEWELL, who has come to the front in manufacturing circles as a result of his well directed energy and unfaltering industry, is now at the head of a business that not only fur- nishes him with a gratifying annual income but also gives remunerative employment to a large number of people, for he is the proprietor of an enterprise conducted under the name of the Michigan Pattern & Machine Company. The business has enjoyed a steady growth, developing with Detroit's remarkable advancement. Mr. Kettlewell was born on a farm in Ekfrid township, Middlesex county, Canada, May 13, 1878, a son of George and Fannie (Lakin) Kettle- well, who were also of Canadian birth. The father in later life engaged in farming, in which he con- tinued active to within a few years of his death, being numbered among the successful agriculturists of Middlesex county. The last years, however, were spent in retirement from business cares and he made his home in Walkerville, Ontario, where he passed away December 25, 1919. His widow still occupies the old home in Walkerville. In their family were eight children, of whom Richard Thomas is the eldest, the others being: Mrs. Ida Blackmore; Benjamin, who is engaged in the real estate business in Detroit; Mrs. Anna Sailor, living in Midland, Ontario; Stella, deceased; Willard, a building contractor of Windsor, Ontario; Flossie, who has passed away; and Floyd, also of Detroit.
Richard Thomas Kettlewell attended the country schools of Middlesex county, Ontario, pursuing his studies for a time at Longwood station, and later was graduated from the high school at Strathroy, Ontario. Through vacation periods and after his school days were over he worked on the home farm until he had attained his majority, and then at the age of twenty-one years he came to Detroit, where he entered a pattern-making shop and learned the trade with the firm of A. Harvey & Son. After com-
pleting his apprenticeship he went to New York city, where he found employment as a pattern-maker, but soon afterward returned to Detroit and became con- nected with the Ford Motor Car Company. This was at the very beginning of Mr. Ford's career as a motor car manufacturer and Mr. Kettlewell remained with him for three years. He then entered a jobbing pattern shop and in 1908 established business on his own account, developing the enterprise that is now successfully carried on under the name of the Michi- gan Pattern & Machine Company. The success of this undertaking is due entirely to his efforts and capa- bility. He started the business with a capital of but two hundred and fifty dollars and necessarily his shop was small and his equipment limited, but as the months flew by the business grew and developed under his management and as a result of his expert skill, until in 1913 he purchased his present site at 3429 Jefferson avenue, East. Here he erected a large modern building and the Michigan Pattern & Machine Company is now well housed and employment is fur- nished to one hundred and fifty people. They do ex- perimental work in connection with the various branches of Detroit's manufacturing industries and a large outside business is conducted in addition to that which has to do with the city's specialized indus- try. Mr. Kettlewell was one of the organizers and principal owners, also the president of the Olson Pat- tern & Machine Company of Muskegon, Michigan, and his cooperation is regarded as a valuable asset in the conduct of mechanical interests.
On the 3d of June, 1903, Mr. Kettlewell was married to Miss Maude Wickens of Detroit, a daughter of George Wickens, and they have become parents of three children: Eleanor, born in Detroit, February 22, 1904; Grace, born December 6, 1906; and Richard Earl, born July 29, 1911. All are attending school.
The Masonic fraternity finds in Mr. Kettlewell a loyal and consistent follower and from the Blue lodge he has advanced to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the Michigan Sovereign Consistory. He is also a member of Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and faithfully follows the teachings and purposes of these societies. He has displayed most commendable qualities in his business career and the thoroughness and enterprise which have characterized his life find tangible expression in the large establishment of the Michigan Pattern & Machine Company of Detroit. Since 1917 Mr. Kettlewell has resided at 1475 Atkin- son avenue.
EDMUND L. EBERT is one of the best known real estate operators of Detroit and a representative of one of the older families of the city. His busi- ness position is an enviable one, owing to the enter- prise and progressive methods that he has ever dis- played, and the thorough reliability which has marked all of his transactions. He was born in Detroit,
RICHARD T. KETTLEWELL
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December 28, 1869, and is a son of John M. and Amelia Ebert. John M. Ebert was one of the well known retail grocers of the city, conducting his store with success to the time of his death, which occurred in 1918. He had for two years survived his wife, who died in Detroit, April 27, 1916, at the age of seventy- two years. Their family numbered four childen: Louis L .; Mrs. Clara A. Weaver; William C., and Ed- mund L., who was the second in order of birth. All are residents of Detroit.
Edmund L. Ebert pursued his education in the graded schools and also attended the Detroit Business University. After his education was completed he entered the employ of Edson Moore & Company and later became connected with Burnham, Stoepel & Company, wholesale dry goods merchants. He was subsequently with A. Krolik & Company, wholesale dealers in dry goods, and continued with these dif- ferent firms until 1901, when he determined to engage in business on his own account, having in the mean- time carefully saved his earnings until he felt that his industry and economy justified the step. He then turned his attention to real estate activity, special- izing in land contracts and loans and in the sale of highly improved real estate. Since establishing busi- ness on his own account he has made more than ten thousand loans of various descriptions among real estate borrowers. He has also bought and sold many valuable pieces of improved and unimproved property and thereby has contributed to the development and upbuilding of the city. He belongs to the Detroit Real Estate Board and is prominently known in business circles as a thoroughly reliable and pro- gressive man.
WILLIAM A. PETZOLD, secretary-treasurer of the J. L. Hudson Company, is thus widely known in the business circles of Detroit. He was born in Detroit August 28, 1869, and pursued his education, after the completion of his preliminary course, in the Detroit College of Law, being admitted to the bar in 1899. He never practiced, however, but his knowledge of law has been of immense benefit to him in the con- duet of business affairs. In 1881 he became associated with J. L. Hudson, clothing merchant, and has since been identified with this undertaking. Advancement came to him in recognition of his thoroughness, ability and efficiency and in 1899 he was elected secretary-treasurer and has so continued to the present time. He is thus associated with one of the many corporations of Detroit and his position as a leading business man of the city is widely acknowledged.
Mr. Petzold was united in marriage to Miss Jose- phine Thompson, sister of William B. Thompson, who was mayor of Detroit in 1911 and 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Petzold have become the parents of five children: Helen L., now the wife of B. A. Clark; William A .; Thomas T .; Herman G .; and Mary Josephine. William A. Petzold, Jr., served in the American navy in the
World war. He enlisted in Detroit in May, 1918, and spent three weeks in training on the Great Lakes, after which he was transferred to the Philadelphia Navy yards and two weeks later was on the high seas on the Cythera, a converted yacht, attached to the Mediterranean fleet, doing convoy duty. He was honorably discharged in April, 1919.
Mr. Petzold of this review served on the charter commission in Detroit and was active in patriotic work during the World war. He belongs to the De- troit Athletic Club, to the Detroit Boat Club and to the Board of Commerce and is interested in all those forces which make for higher ideals in citizenship, for advancement and progress in business circles and for development in all those interests which lead to individual advancement.
EDWARD J. HICKEY. Almost from the initial point in his business career Edward J. Hickey fore- saw his future and outlined his course toward the accomplishment of a purpose which he never for a moment relinquished and which has made him an out- standing figure in the mercantile circles of Detroit. He dreamed dreams in those early days and saw visions and he has lived to witness their accomplish- ment in tangible form. There is not a single esoteric phase of his career. An analyzation of his life in- dicates that industry, persistency and knowledge have been the salient features in his success.
Mr. Hickey was born in Detroit, November 18, 1863, and is a son of Patrick B. and Mary (Ready) Hickey, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Michigan. The father came to America in his boyhood days and passed away in Detroit at the comparatively early age of forty years, while his wife also died in this city. Their two children are: Edward J. and Mrs. Mary F. Macdonald of Detroit.
At the usual age Edward J. Hickey became a pupil in the public schools but in September, 1873, when not quite ten years of age, he began serving as eash hoy in the old dry goods house of George Peek, where he was employed for three years. Even then he realized quite fully the value of education as an asset in business advancement and he returned to school for a year, during which time he sold papers in the evenings in order to provide for his own support. In April, 1877, he obtained a position as parcel wrapper and stock boy in the store of C. R. Mabley, who was then the leading clothier of Detroit, and his desire for a broader and more thorough edu- cation caused him to attend night classes at a busi- ness college. It was his ambition to qualify for a bookkeeper and his instructor frankly discouraged him, pointing to model pupils for whom he predicted brilliant futures, not realizing that book learning is only one phase of education. The boy may not have mastered his lessons with the rapidity of other pu- pils, but he possessed certain other qualities which are absolutely indispensable to advancement and he
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continued his course until he was able to fill a clerical position in the Mabley store, where in June, 1877, J. L. Hudson became manager and later entered into a partnership in the business. He became acquainted with Mr. Hickey, and when in 1881 Mr. Hudson with- drew from the Mabley store to open a store of his own, he offered Mr. Hickey the position of bookkeeper and, notwithstanding the opinion of his one-time teacher, the young man made good. His capability rapidly developed and after a few years he was given full charge of the office, remaining with Mr. Hudson until February, 1901, at which time he was vice presi- dent and general manager of the J. L. Hudson Com- pany. All through the intervening years, however, he had never lost sight of his boyhood dream of one day owning a store on Woodward avenue and he felt that the time had arrived when his early visions might reach consummation. On the 16th of March, 1901. therefore, he opened a store at 201 Woodward avenue, having a space twenty by one hundred feet. Almost from the beginning the trade increased rap- idly, necessitating the securing of greater space. At length the E. J. Hickey Company was incorporated, several department heads being admitted as share- holders in the business. In 1916 Mr. Hickey pur- chased the land and buildings now occupied by the E. J. Hickey Company and the Traub Brothers Com- pany and on the expiration of the lease will erect a ten-story building, sixty by one hundred feet, to be used exclusively by the Hickey interests. The com- pany now employs one hundred sales people and several others. From the beginning Mr. Hickey has been the president of the company and, moreover, he is a director of the Peninsular State Bank of De- troit, the Peninsular Bank of Highland Park and the Grosse Pointe Savings Bank. If one were asked to characterize his career in a single word, it could perhaps best be done in the word "thoroughness." Throughout his business experience Mr. Hickey has striven to promote his efficiency day by day. He finds that each day presents new problems for which a correct answer must be secured. Out of his rich stores of wisdom and experience he is continually drawing and yet each day he learns something new concerning mercantile interests. He is thoroughly alert and the methods which he has employed in the attainment of wealth awaken approval and admiration.
On the 22d of January, 1890, Mr. Hickey was mar- ried to Miss Louise Mehling, daughter of George F. Mehling, and they have become parents of four chil- dren: Joseph L., born in Detroit in 1892, is a graduate of the high school, of the University of Detroit 1912, and of the University of Michigan, 1913. Since then he has been connected with his father's business but for fourteen months was in the United States army as a member of the ordnance department, located at Augusta, Georgia. He entered the army as a private and came out as sergeant. Edward J. Hickey, Jr., born in Detroit in 1893, was also graduated from the
high school and after graduating in 1914 from the University of Detroit, he entered Harvard University, graduating in 1916. He also studied at St. Paul (Minn.) Seminary, where he was ordained to the priesthood of the Catholic church in June, 1919. He is now continuing his education in the university at Washington, D. C. The younger members of the fam- ily are: Helen M., who was born in 1895 and is a graduate of the Convent of the Sacred Heart and the Knox School at Tarrytown, New York. She is now the wife of Clem W. Murphy; and Frederick Melling, born in 1904 and now attending school.
Mr. Hickey belongs to the Detroit Club, the De- troit Athletic Club. the Detroit Country Club and the Lochmoor Country Club. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and has membership with the Knights of Columbus. Starting out in the business world before he was ten years of age, his breadth of view saw possibilities for his advancement, and he has mastered the lessons of life day by day until his postgraduate work in the school of experience has placed him with the men of eminent business ability. Following constructive methods, his path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes, for at all times he has the keenest desire for the welfare and happiness of others.
JAMES E. WILSON, president and manager of the Wilson Shoe Company, handling the Walk-Over shoes in Detroit, was born in Wilsonville, Ontario, April 15, 1866. The town in which his birth occurred was named in honor of his grandfather, who was one of the pioneers in that section of Canada. His parents are David and Wealthy (Rounds) Wilson, both of whom are natives of Ontario, and for many years the father engaged in mercantile pursuits in Waterford, but he and his wife are now living in Brantford, Ontario, and he has retired from active life. His grandfather was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and came to Canada at an early day. He was the Rev. James Wilson, a Methodist minister, who, after devoting some years to the active work of the ministry, turned his attention to merchandising and also followed farming. He was a man of prominence in the public life of his community and served as a member of the Canadian parliament. Representatives of the family since that time have been prominent in connection with the public affairs of Ontario and with the business de- velopment of the province. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. David Wilson were four children: George W., still living in Toronto; David W., who makes his home in Detroit; Josephine, the wife of Dr. J. W. Willson of this city; and James E.
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