The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III, Part 113

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1022

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 113

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).

HON. JOHN PATTON. On the pages of Detroit's history the name and record of Hon. John Patton stands prominently forth. He was mayor of the city at a time when his progressive spirit and civic pride

left a deep impress on the side of advancement and improvement. He held many publie offices, the duties of which were discharged with promptness and capa- bility, and thus he aided in guiding the destiny of the developing city and laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the great metro- politan center that has made "Dynamic Detroit" the fourth city of the Union. Mr. Patton was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1822. His parents, however, were natives of Scotland and thus it was that he came to know both the Scotch and the Irish dialect, and his attachment for the land of his ancestors was particularly manifest in his love of Scotch literature. However, he was but eight years of age when his par- ents crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling at Albany, New York, where John Patton was reared to manhood and attended school. He was possessed of an observing eye and retentive memory and learned many lessons outside of the schoolroom as well as in poring over his books. He early developed a fond- ness for literature and this was manifest throughout his life. When a young man he memorized long pas- sages from Burns and from Shakespeare and on the day prior to his death he repeated extensive quota- tions from the Bard of Avon.

When seventeen years of age John Patton entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of carriage-making, which he followed in Albany until 1843 and then came to Detroit, where he was employed by others for about two years, embarking in business on his own account in 1845. In the great fire of 1848 his fac- tory was destroyed and he erected a new plant at the corner of Woodbridge and Brush streets, where his business prospered from the beginning. He con- tinued his activity in that field of business for many years, his enterprise growing with Detroit's develop- ment.

Mr. Patton was also very active in the public life of the community and from the beginning of his resi- dence in Detroit was associated with many interests and projects which were of great value to the grow- ing city. He became a member of the volunteer fire department, joining Lafayette Company No. 4, and capably filled every position in the company. Some years later, while serving as mayor of the city, he was instrumental in having the old volunteer fire de- partment superseded by a paid fire department and introduced the first steam engine as a part of the fire-fighting equipment. In 1848 he was chosen to represent the third ward on the board of aldermen and occupied that position for two years. He was again elected in 1852, and it was in that year he was made chief engineer of the volunteer fire department, while in 1855 he became its president and continued to serve until 1857. Mr. Patton was elected in that year mayor of Detroit, serving throngh 1858 and 1859, and he was classed with the "reform mayors" of the city. He did much that was of distinct value to Detroit while serving as its chief executive. He introduced

982

CITY OF DETROIT

a number of public improvements that were badly needed, being instrumental in having the first street- paving done, while many sidewalks were built during his administration and other works of public im- provement carried on. It is also to his efforts that Detroit owes the present city hall and he was instru- mental in having the council pass the first street rail- way charter in 1859. He was always opposed to municipal ownership of street railways on the ground that they would inevitably be turned into a political machine. After retiring from the office of mayor he concentrated his efforts upon business affairs solely for several years but was again called to public posi- tion in 1864, when elected county auditor, filling the office until 1869. On the expiration of his term in that position he was elected sheriff. In 1880 he was chosen justice of the peace and filled the position for twelve years, his opinions being at all times based upon the equity in the case and characterized by the utmost fairness and impartiality. The last official position which he held was that of United States consul at Amherstburg, Ontario, in which capacity he served from 1893 until 1897. His political allegiance was always given to the democratic party and he had firm belief in its principles.

In the year in which he embarked in business on his own account Mr. Patton also established a home of his own through his marriage on the 3d of March, 1845, to Miss Eliza Anderson of New York, and for fifty-four years they traveled life's journey happily together, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years passed. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding and then about a year later the wife passed away. Mr. Patton greatly mourned her death, which occurred October 10, 1899, and survived her for little more than a year, his demise occurring No- vember 15, 1900. The children of this marriage were five in number, namely: William, now deceased; Wal- ter, who is in business in South Africa; Mrs. John McLean and Mrs. E. B. Gay of Detroit; and John Patton of Chicago.

Mr. Patton was always a public-spirited citizen and filled every public position to which he was called with marked ability and good judgment He was a charming conversationalist and his talent as a reader made his company especially pleasant to his many friends. When he passed away Mr. Maybury, then mayor of the city, said of him: "I knew Mr. Patton as familiarly as our separation in years would make possible. I knew him as the friend of my father, who entertained for him a very warm friendship. Mr. Patton was essentially a student of life in all its relations. He was a delightful conversationalist, and always some apt quotation would come out that would fit the subject exactly. At the banquet table he was an apt and ready speaker and altogether was a charm- ing man." When death called him the mayor and all the living ex-mayors of the city acted as honorary pallbearers and many there were who bore testimony

to his upright life, his valuable contribution to the city's business and civic development and to his high standards of manhood.

CHARLES W. MUNZ, who is prominently connected with the ownership and management of theatre in- terests in Detroit, was born in Germany but came to America in 1881, when sixteen years of age. In early life he learned the cabinet-maker's trade and became an expert workman in that field. He was engaged in the furniture manufacturing business in Detroit for twenty years. He joined the Posselius Brothers Furniture Manufacturing Company and in 1893 invented and patented a dining-room table which became very popular and was a staple product of the Posselius Brothers company for a long period. Ad- vancing steadily step by step in his business con- nections, Mr. Munz eventually became president and manager of the Posselius company and so continued until the patent on his table expired, when he sold his interest in the business. In 1916 he purchased an interest in the Palace theatre and in 1918 took over the full management of that house, which is now must successfully conducted. It is located on Monroe avenue in the business part of the city. In 1919 he organized and incorporated the LaSalle Garden Theatre Company, with a capital stock of two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. He is president of this new company, which has erected a fine theatre build- ing at Fourteenth and Ferry Park avenues, its doors being opened for business on the 1st of September, 1920. Their new theatre, like the Palace, has won a most liberal patronage and has become one of the successful undertakings of this character in Detroit. Mr. Munz was united in marriage to Miss Anna Stucky and they have become parents of two children: Elmer G., born December 1, 1893; and Harold R., born August 10, 1897. Both were born in Detroit. The elder is a mechanical engineer, being a grad- uate of the Michigan State University.

Mr. Munz is a business man of wide ability and a most thorough executive. By his own energies he has risen from a humble position to a place among the substantial business men of Detroit, and, moreover, he has seen the city grow from a small town to its present metropolitan dimensions. His interest in public affairs is deep and sincere and he has lent the weight of his aid and cooperation to many plans which have been potent forces in bringing about Detroit's advancement. Mr. Munz resides at 610 Chicago boulevard, where he built his attractive home in 1914.

WILLIAM AUGUST PUNGS was born in the his- torie province of Alsace, April 25, 1849, but has resided iu Detroit since he was three years of age, his par- ents having come to America in 1852, at which time they settled in this city. He received his early educa- tion in the old Houghton school, but his school days

CHARLES W. MUNZ

985

CITY OF DETROIT

were ent short when his father enlisted in the Union army for three years' service in the Civil war. This made it necessary that the thirteen year old boy should go to work to help provide for his mother and the family, and he entered the shoe store of Rucker & Morgan, and was a clerk in that establishment when Lincoln was assassinated iu April, 1865. Leaving the shoe business he was with the Detroit Bridge & Iron Works for a year, and then in the next five years worked in the Fulton Iron & Engine Works, learning the trade of a machinist. Through the succeeding two years he was with Jackson & Wiley, building marine engines, after which he was with the Detroit Locomotive Works for two years. Later he became connected with J. P. Michael, manufacturer of wood- working machinery, and his next move took him to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was associated with the Globe Iron Works, and helped to build the engines for the first iron steamer on the lakes. He remained in Cleveland altogether for three years and during the latter part of the period was with the Cleveland Paper Box Company.

Returning to Detroit Mr. Pungs patented a nut loek of his own invention and joined the firm of Bourne & Kuowles, nut and bolt manufacturers. He was a salesman on the road for the company, and also received a royalty on his own patent. After six years spent with Bourne & Knowles, he invented and patented a brake beam, which he manufactured himself and put upon the market through the Michigan Rail- way Supply Company, of which he was general man- ager for five years. He then organized the Pungs- Anderson carriage company, but after three years sold out. He also organized the Brake Beam Company and then consolidated four companies into the Amer- ican Brake Beam Company, of which he was made general manager. This company subsequently sold out to the Chicago Railway Equipment Company, the headquarters of which were in Chicago, and for ten years he was a director of that corporation, which has been vastly successful. It started with a capital of thirty-five thousand dollars, and now has assets of five million and it has always paid dividends.

Another company organized by Mr. Pungs was the Pungs-Finch Auto & Gas Engine Company, which had a very promising beginning and was prospering when the plant was entirely destroyed by fire, entailing a heavy loss. For a few years Mr. Pungs was engaged successfully in real estate dealing and then bought out the interest of Mrs. Elliott in the Elliott-Taylor & Walfenden Company and on the 1st of February, 1919, he came into the company as treasurer and the majority stockholder. He is now the guiding spirit in this large and well known department store. He is also interested in the Lincolnshire Land Company and the Rosedale Land Company and is a director in both companies. Mr. Pungs is a living illustration of the truth of the old saying that "the bright key is used the oftenest." His has been a long and in-

tensely active business career, but he is as active as a young man and his faculties are still in their prime. His memory is remarkable and his executive ability, mastery of details, and clear-sightedness entitle him to be ranked among the big business men of the country-an estimate that is emphasized by the fact that he has made a success of everything he has un- dertaken.

Mr. Pungs also takes a warm interest in the public welfare and in everything pertaining to the benefit of Detroit. He was a member of the old Board of Commerce and helped organize the present board. He also brought the Clayton & Lambert Manufactur- ing Company from Ypsilanti and assisted them to get started and established in Detroit. Throughout his life he has advocated prohibition and has lived to see this become a law. When in the manufacturing busi- ness he changed pay day from Saturday to Monday to save working men from the saloon over the week- end; and this policy not only increased personal ef- ficiency and production but also lessened accidents. He has never taken a drink of spirituous liquor in his life, and in every way his influence has always been exerted toward right living and higher manhood.

Mr. Pungs married Addie L. Coon, and they have a family of two sons and one daughter: Earle E .; Wil- liam A .; and Ida May, now Mrs. E. D. Finch. Both sons enlisted for service in the American Expedi- tionary Force in the World war, joining the navy. Earle E. Pungs served on the DeKalb and is now assistant treasurer and a director of the Elliott-Taylor & Woolfenden Company. William A. Pungs, Jr., en- listed the day the United States declared war and was assigned to duty on the DeKalb. After a time he entered the training school at Philadelphia and was commissioned ensign. He then went to Brest, France, and had charge of the Radio station there. Since the war he has been associated with the Stude- baker Corporation.

CHARLES E. HAYES is the founder and president of the Hayes Home Appliances Company, operating numerous stores in Michigan and Ohio, in which con- nection he has developed an enterprise of importance to Detroit as well as a source of substantial profit to himself. He possesses a genius for organization and an aptitude for successful management and the ex- tensive business as it stands today is a monument to his enterprise, executive ability and administrative direction. He was born in Saginaw, Michigan. Jan- uary 15, 1883, a son of William and Katherine (Clark) Hayes, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Connecticut. Both parents came to Michigan in early life and the father entered the employ of the old Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad Company. He was identified with that corporation and its suc- cessors for a period of thirty years-a notable record of faithful and efficient service-and is now living retired in Detroit. The mother also survives and to

986

CITY OF DETROIT

their union five children were born: George; J. Earl; Mrs. George Krausman, whose husband is a physi- cian; Mrs. Walter Anger; and Charles E., of this review. All are residents of Detroit.

In the parochial graded and high schools of Sag- inaw, Michigan, Charles E. Hayes pursued his edu- cation and subsequently entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1905 with the degree of Civil Engineer. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession, being superintendent of construction and resident en- gineer on railroad construction work in Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana, and subsequently engaged as engineer on government dam work in Montana. He became an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In 1911 he resigned from government service, deciding to embark in business on his own account and in that year established a small electrical appliance store in Detroit, which was the nucleus of the extensive enterprise of which he is now the head. Since its inception the business has en- joyed a steady growth and in June, 1919, it was in- corporated as the Hayes Home Appliances Company, with Mr. Hayes as the president, in which capacity he is now serving. It is a close corporation and the business is operated on an extensive scale, branch establishments being maintained at Detroit, Saginaw, Grand Rapids and Flint, Michigan, Toledo, Ohio, and a wholesale department at Detroit. They handle every- thing for household use in the way of electrical ap- pliances, such as vacuum cleaners, ironers, washers, etc., and the business is conducted along the most progressive and up-to-date lines. Mr. Hayes gives his close personal attention to all the details of the business, also has the ability to see clearly its larger aspects, and has been farsighted in the direction of the policy of the concern. He is very enterprising and does not hesitate to extend his interests as oppor- tunity offers and he also possesses the sound judgment and executive ability which enable him to carry his plans to successful completion.

On the 9th of September, 1914, Mr. Hayes was united in marriage to Miss Rose F. Segar, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Segar, well known residents of Detroit, Mr. Segar being superintendent of the Pullman Company. Three children have been born to this union: Margaret, whose birth occurred in 1915; Rose Mary, born in 1917; and Charles E., Jr., born in 1918.

In his political views Mr. Hayes is a democrat and in religious faith he is a Catholic. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, in which he has attained the fourth degree, and he is also identified with the Red Run Golf Club, the Fellowcraft Ath- letic Club, the University of Michigan Club and the Exchange Club. He is an earnest and helpful member of the Detroit Board of Commerce, whose plans and projects for the extension of the trade relations of the city receive his hearty support. Mr. Hayes is a fore-

most figure in business circles of Detroit. He has attempted important things and accomplished what he has attempted. His insight has enabled him to rec- ognize opportunities and to utilize them. He is a big man-big in that power which understands conditions, grasps situations and molds opportunity into tangible assets. He resides at No. 2471 Virginia Park.

DANIEL LOUIS COLWELL, whose extensive op- erations in the field of real estate entitle him to classification with the builders and promoters of De- troit, is a man of determined spirit who carries for- ward to successful completion whatever he under- takes, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in his path and never deviating from the course which he has mapped out. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, for he started out in life empty-handed and has worked his way steadily upward by persistent energy and unfaltering purpose. His record should serve to inspire and en- courage others, showing what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do.

Mr. Colwell is a native of Canada. He was born March 16, 1877, at Tara, in the province of Ontario, his parents being James and Susan (Stinson) Col- well, and in the public schools of Canada he acquired his education. On the 2d of January, 1896, he came to Detroit, securing a position in a grocery store on McClellan avenue, where he remained for about two years, after which he became clerk in the Mahler grocery on Michigan avenue. He next entered the employ of J. H. Moore, whose establishment is on Grand River avenue, and then became identified with the firm of Cooper & Son, whose store is located at the corner of Trumbull and Kirby avenues. He served in all for seven years as a grocery clerk, his initial salary being three dollars a week, which sum was gradually advanced until he received a weekly stipend of seven dollars, but of which amount, by strict econ- omy and the exercise of self-denial, he was able to save two hundred and fifty dollars in one year, thus indicating his strength of character and spirit of determination. With the capital acquired through his savings he entered business circles on his own account, opening a grocery store at No. 1463 Woodward avenue, but sold out in June, 1904, and engaged in clerking for the firm of Miller & Gray at a salary of twelve dol- lars per week, thus continuing for two years. He then became manager of the Piquette Grocery Company, receiving a salary of twenty dollars per week, and in May, 1908, he entered the field of real estate, which soon developed into the building business with which he has since been identified. He has erected and sold hundreds of homes in Detroit and has never taken one back as a result of default in payments. He employs skilled labor and uses the best of material and his well known reliability and pro- gressive methods have secured for him a large pat- ronage. In 1914 and 1915 he sold an average of a

DANIEL L. COLWELL

989

CITY OF DETROIT

home every week and he has done much to relieve the housing shortage in Detroit. He was the first man to open Clairmount, Hazelwood and Taylor avenues to improvements, securing gas and water for that section by the erection of thirty homes, and his activities have directly benefitted the city. He has erected many large apartment houses in varions sec- tions of the city, including one at the corner of Wilson and Hazelwood avenues; another at the corner of Seward and Hamilton streets, which is a combination store and apartment building, having ten stores on the ground floor with five apartments above and which also includes a large garage; and also an apartment building at the corner of Merrick avenne and Green- wood avenue. In 1917 he erected the D'Elce apart- ment building containing forty apartments, which he still owns, in addition to other apartments and honses, and he also erected a large sales emporium and garage for P. C. Me Arthur, on Grand River avenue at Brook- lyn. With firm faith in the future of Detroit, he has made extensive investments in realty here and his rental income is large. He is one of the largest real estate owners in the municipality. Moreover, he has never been classed with the profiteering landlords of the city, his rentals being twenty-five per cent below the average in Detroit. Actuated at all times by a laudable ambition and a spirit of determination, he has made steady progress in the business world. He possesses initiative, combined with marked execu- tive ability, and along the path of opportunity open to all he has reached the goal of notable success, his advancement being due to the fact that he has recognized and utilized advantages which others have passed heedlessly by. He has ever followed con- structive methods and his business dealings have at all times been characterized by strict honesty and integrity.

Mr. Colwell was united in marriage to Miss Ruby M. Parker and they have become the parents of two children: Laverne W., born December 28, 1902; and Elizabeth, aged seven years. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the North Woodward Methodist church, in the work of which he is much interested, and is now serving as a member of its official board. He is a man of broad humanitarian spirit who is ever ready and willing to extend a helping hand to the needy. He is a liberal and un- ostentatious contributor to many charitable projects and is a very active and helpful member of the De- troit City Rescue Mission, to which he contributes generously of his time and means. He is also an active member of the Detroit Real Estate Board and the Detroit Board of Commerce, whose projects for the welfare and upbuilding of his city he heartily endorses. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to City of the Straits Lodge, F. & A. M .; to King Cyrus Chapter, R. A. M .; and to Detroit Com- mandery, No. 1, K. T., exemplifying in his daily life the beneficent teachings of that organization. The

story of his life is the story of earnest endeavor, marked by an orderly progression that has brought him out of humble surroundings into a place of prominence among the leading business men of De- troit. Untiring in his activity for the public good and actuated in all that he does by a spirit of pro- gress, his labors have been far-reaching and bene- ficial in their effect, and he stands as a high type of American manhood and citizenship. His residence is at 800 Atkinson avenue, where he built in 1914.

HENRY KEMP, a well known figure in real estate circles in Detroit, was born in Hancock, Michigan, October 24, 1862, and is a son of George and Susan (Koppes) Kemp, who were natives of the Duchy of Luxemburg, and came to America at the ages of fifteen and twenty years, respectively. George Kemp first took up his abode in the state of New York and afterward removed to Wisconsin, while subsequently he became a resident of Calumet, Michigan, and there engaged in copper mining, residing in the copper dis- triet of the state from 1862 until his death in Sep- tember, 1910. His wife passed away in 1907. In their family were eleven children, those living being Dominick, now a resident of California; John, whose home is in the state of Michigan; Mrs. Lena Knivel of Detroit; Joseph of Calumet, Michigan; and Eliza- beth and George, also of Calumet.

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.

The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III, Part 113

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1022

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1022