USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 24
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The public school system of Ypsilanti, Michigan, afforded Clarence E. Botsford his educational oppor- tunities, for he passed through consecutive grades there to the high school, in which he pursued his studies until he entered a normal school. He after- ward attended the Cleary Business College and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1901. Prior to this time, however, his education had been inter- rupted by his enlistment for service in the army during the Spanish-American war. He joined the Thirty-first Michigan Regiment as a non-commissioned officer and was in Cuba for three months. On his return he resumed his studies and following the com- pletion of his education came to Detroit. In this city he filled clerical positions with the Michigan
THOMAS H. WELCH
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Wire Cloth Company until, having steadily worked his way upward, he was elected to the office of sec- retary. The business is a growing one and today furnishes employment to one hundred and fifty people.
On the 3d of June, 1914, Mr. Botsford was married to Miss Edith Wesley, of Detroit, daughter of Walter Wesley. Their children are two in number: June Mary, born in Detroit, June 9, 1916; and Alice Loraine, born October 26, 1918.
Mr. Botsford is a republican, giving stalwart sup- port to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to the Spanish War Veterans and he has membership with the Detroit Board of Commerce, the Detroit Credit Men's Asso- ciation, the Brooklands Golf & Country Club and the Detroit Athletic Club. He is also a member of Ashlar Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the nature of the rules which govern his conduct is further indicated in his connection with the Methodist Episcopal church. His life has been an active and useful one, ever gov- erned by high and honorable principles, and his ster- ling worth is acknowledged by all with whom he has come into contact.
EDWARD DORCY DEVINE, for a quarter of a century a member of the Detroit bar, was born December 15, 1872, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Edward and Anna (Dorcy) Devine. His father was a native of Ireland, but during his childhood was brought to the United States by his parents, who established their home in Brattleboro, Vermont. There Edward Devine remained to the age of fourteen years, when he became a resident of Detroit. After arriving at years of maturity he wedded Anna Dorey, a native of the state of New York. He occupied for many years the position of foreman in the Pullman Car Works of this city, where he passed away in 1884.
Edward Dorey Devine was but twelve years of age at the time of his father's demise. He had been a pupil in the public schools from the time he had reached his sixth year, and later he entered the Detroit College, now the University of Detroit, in which he pursued his more classical course, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1893. Later he won the Master of Arts degree from that institution. Entering the law department of the Detroit College of Law, he also secured his LL.B. degree in 1895. The same year he was admitted to practice in the courts of Michigan and at once entered upon the active work of his profession. He was first associated with Judge Connolly, so continuing until the election of his partner to the bench of the recorders court. For a time Mr. Devine continued in practice alone and then entered into partnership with Emil W. Snyder under the firm style of Devine & Snyder, which continued until 1916, since which time Mr. Devine has been alone. In a profession where ad- vancement depends entirely upon individual merit and
ability he has made steady progress, displaying a high order of talent in the analyzation of his cases and in finding solutions for intricate legal problems.
On the 15th of April, 1900, Mr. Devine was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Rochford of Detroit, and they have become the parents of six children: Edward Temple, who was born May 22, 1901, and died in 1902; Alan Rochford, born October 30, 1903; Warren Downe, born September 12, 1905; Josephine Dorothy, born July 3, 1907; and Katherine, who was born in June, 1914, and died in 1916; and Edward D. Devine, Jr., born March 15, 1917.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Devine is also connected with the Knights of Columbus. In politics he is a republican but has never been an office seeker, serving only as deputy county clerk of Wayne county from 1899 until 1905. He belongs to the Detroit Board of Commerce, also to the Detroit Bar Asso- ciation and to the Lawyers Club. His interest in the educational system of the city is indicated in the fact that in July, 1918, he was appointed a member of the Detroit school board to fill a vacancy and was regularly elected as a member of the board on the 5th of April, 1919, so that he is now an incumbent in the office.
CLARENCE G. HILL, attorney at law, was born at Unionville, Michigan, September 15th, 1881, the son of Henry Clay and Florence (Althouse) Hill, who were both natives of Batavia, New York, and in early life, with their parents, located in Genesee county, Michigan. They were educated and married in this state, and for a number of years were farmers in Tuscola county, Michigan, later moving to Ithaca, Michigan, where Mr. Hill continued in business until the time of his death in 1909. Mrs. Hill died at Ithaca, Michigan, in 1907. Six children were born of this union, only two of whom are living: Mrs. Elizabeth Patterson of Syracuse, New York; and Clarence G. Hill.
In his boyhood days Clarence G. Hill attended the public and high schools of Ithaca, Michigan. He was a student at Kalamazoo College for one year, later attending the law department at the University of Michigan, from which he graduated with the LL. B. degree on June 22nd, 1905, being admitted to the Michigan bar on June 20th, 1905, and on June 2Ist of the same year was admitted to practice in the federal courts. After practicing law for one year with Mr. Tuttle at Ithaca, Michigan, he returned to the University of Michigan for a special course in the literary department. While at the University of Michigan he took a prominent part in the organ- ization of the Acacia fraternity, being one of the original incorporators and also its first national sec- retary. Following this year's work he located in Detroit in the fall of 1907, and engaged in the general practice of law.
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On the 30th day of June, 1909, Mr. Hill was married in Detroit to Mrs. Minnie Giles, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank MeIntyre of West Edmeston, New York.
Mr. Hill is the legal member of the State Board of Publie Accountancy, is a member of the Detroit Bar Association, Michigan State Bar Association, Detroit Lawyers' Club, Detroit Lodge of Elks, No. 34, Masonic Orders-City of the Straits, Ionie Chapter, Damascus Commandery, K. T., Michigan Sovereign Consistory, Moslem Temple and Shadukiam Grotto.
BURT EDDY TAYLOR. It was not without con- siderable experience in the real estate field that Burt Eddy Taylor came to Detroit and this previous experience enabled him readily to grasp the situation, recognize the existing conditions and improve his op- portunities. Detroit was growing by leaps and bounds. Her industrial stride was resulting in an accession of thousands of new residents each week. Mr. Taylor knew that the lack of homebuilding could be the only handicap to Detroit's further progress and he recog- nized that the man who met the demands of the city for housing had before him the most splendid chances for the attainment of success. Therefore he directed his efforts to the development of subdivisions and is perhaps without an equal in the extent of his realty operations in Michigan.
Mr. Taylor was born near Sandusky, in Erie county, Ohio, January 13, 1877, and is a son of T. B. and Mary (Eddy) Taylor, who were also natives of Erie county. The mother's death occurred in San Fran- cisco, California, while she was there visiting in 1914. The father has for many years been one of the most highly respected citizens and prominent bankers of Erie county, where for more than a quarter of a cen- tury be occupied the presidency of the Citizens Bank & Trust Company of Sandusky. His ancestors were among the earliest of the settlers of the Western Reserve.
In his boyhood days B. E. Taylor was a pupil in the public and high schools of Sandusky and after- ward graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in the class of 1899. He then started out in business life, soon becoming vice president of the American Crayon Company, which is now one of the large pro- ductive industries of Sandusky. He continued in that capacity and as managing director of the board for some time but gradually turned his attention to the real estate business. He is still identified with the company and serving as a member of its board of directors. In 1908 Mr. Taylor became interested in big real estate operations in Cleveland, Sandusky, Huron and Akron, Ohio, and other places. His sub- sequent study of the real estate situation led to his attention being riveted upon Detroit and its possi- bilities for the conduct of extensive operations in the real estate field. He saw that the marvelous growth of the automobile industry and of other business in- terests of Detroit was creating a great demand for
homes. He turned to what was then a much run-down section near the outskirts of Detroit, on Grand River avenue. Others had looked to that field but had failed to make it attractive to purchasers. Mr. Tay- lor's methods, however, were far different from those of his predecessors. He undertook the work of de- veloping this district through the expenditure of vast sums for improvements which the home buyer of the present requires as an inducement for purchase. Be- fore he placed a lot upon the market for sale he laid off the streets in a most modern manner, put in sewers, built a complete independent water system, built side- walks and provided lighting. He also constructed beautiful boulevards and added to their attractive- ness by the planting of shrubbery, trees and flowers. Within a very brief period building operations were begun and within an incredibly short space of time Mr. Taylor has disposed of more than ten thousand lots in the various subdivisions which he has opened up along Grand river, more building being done here than in any other similar section of the city. Mr. Taylor has developed and improved building lots in the Grand River Avenue district which total one-third of all present vacant improved building lots in the city of Detroit under fifteen hundred dollars in value. He is ever on the lookout for more desirable property and is now undertaking the development of hundreds of acres, where he is employing the same progressive methods that have made his other Grand River Ave- nue properties so desirable. He is the pioneer in the development of suburban property with city improve- ments and he has revolutionized the method of hand- ling subdivision real estate. He bas developed the northwestern section of Detroit as perhaps no other real estate operator could possibly have done, yet at the outset business men discouraged him from under- taking this, feeling that the attempt would meet with failure. His labors, however, have resulted in trans- forming acreage into a beautiful residential section and he is today one of the most successful operators in the handling of suburban real estate in Detroit. The offices of B. E. Taylor are located at 501 to 508 Ford building, from which point he directs the efforts of his agents and maps out his plans for the further development and improvement of subdivisions that are solving Detroit's housing problem.
On the 23d of January, 1902, Mr. Taylor was mar- ried at Morgantown, West Virginia, to Miss Bellever- non Jones, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Jones. Mrs. Taylor comes from one of the leading families of Morgantown, where her father was a prominent win- dow-glass manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have a son and a daughter: Burt Eddy, Jr .; and Jane.
The religious faith of Mr. Taylor is manifest in his connection with the Central Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving on the official board. He is keenly interested in all those forces and activi- ties which tend to uplift the individual, to advance community welfare and uphold the standards of hu-
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manity. He was president of the Detroit branch of the Michigan Children's Home Society up to the time of its merger with the Children's Aid Society, of which latter organization he is a director. He is also a director of the Detroit Patriotic Fund. Appre- ciative of the social amenities of life, Mr. Taylor's club memberships include the Detroit, Detroit Athletic, Detroit Country, Lochmoor Country and Oakland Hills Country Clubs. Mr. Taylor's residence-The Cedars- is one of the attractive homes of Grosse Pointe Farms.
BERNARD A. HORGER, a real estate dealer of Detroit, was born in Dearborn, Michigan, April 9, 1880, a son of Anthony and Mary A. (Eake) Horger, who were also natives of this state, the father's birth having occurred in Dearborn, while the mother's birth occurred in Greenfield, Michigan. The father devoted his life to farming near Dearborn and passed away in that town in 1917, but the mother is still living. In their family were ten children, one of whom has passed away, the others heing: Fred G., who is living in Dearborn; John J. of Detroit; Mrs. Frank Esper of Dearborn; Mrs. Joseph Esper of Detroit; Mrs. Joseph Thiesen of Dearborn; Mrs. John Mahoney of Detroit; Mrs. Edward Connelly, Mrs. Maurice Connelly and Bernard A., all of Detroit.
The last named attended the public and high schools of Dearborn and also the parochial school, and after- ward entered the Detroit Business College, from which he was graduated on the completion of a commercial course in 1904. He then started out to provide for his own support and became an employe of the Detroit Lumber Company, occupying a clerical position with that corporation for several years. He resigned to accept a position with the Michigan Malleable Com- pany and later was connected with the Summerfield & Hecht Furniture Company of Detroit. He occupied these various positions until 1913 when he determined to engage in business on his own account, and turned his attention to real estate, specializing in West Detroit acreage and factory sites. He has met with gratifying success since starting out independently and is today recognized as one of the reliable and repre- sentative real estate men of the city. He is now the president of the Frederick-Horger Realty Com- pany.
On the 27th of July, 1906, Mr. Horger was married to Miss Helen K. Rowan of Detroit, and they have become parents of three children: Dorothy, who was horn in 1909 at Springwells, Michigan, and is now attending school at Highland Park; Irene, who was born at Springwells in 1911; and Donald, who was born in Ecorse, Michigan, in 1916.
Mr. Horger is a member of the Roman Catholic church and is a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus. His entire life has been passed in this state, and the rapid development of Detroit has fur- nished him an excellent field for activity in real
estate lines. He has made a close study of the kind of property which he handles and is thoroughly well versed concerning factory sites and acreage property that is on the market. Alert and energetic he is ready to meet any emergency which may arise and the careful conduct of his business affairs has brought to him a substantial and gratifying result.
FREDERICK B. GRAY was formerly president of the Gray Furniture Company, manufacturers of and wholesale and retail dealers in high grade furniture and upholstering, in which connection had been de- veloped one of the leading concerns of the kind in Detroit. The attractiveness of this city as a place of residence and its opportunities for business prog- ress are indicated in the fact that many of the native sons have remained within its horders and have gained a position of leadership in business circles. Such is the record of Frederick B. Gray, who was here born on the 23d of March, 1866, his parents being Alfred A. and Fanny M. (Cook) Gray, whose family numbered three children, the others being: Mrs. C. L. Williams and Mrs. E. G. Mather, both of Detroit. The father was a well known merchant of the city, having been one of the founders of the Gray Furni- ture Company.
In the public schools of Detroit Frederick B. Gray acquired his education and in 1886 became a clerk at the stamp window in the Detroit post office, where he remained for nearly two years. In 1888 he entered the employ of the furniture firm of Gray & Baffy, of which his father was the senior partner. This business had been established under that name in 1880. Fred- erick B. Gray continued with the firm until 1891, when he severed his connection with the business to organize the Michigan Upholstering Company for the manufacture of upholstered furniture. The plant was first located on West Larned street, where it remained for a year, but the business demanded larger quarters and a removal was made to the northwest corner of First and Congress streets and was there located until 1907. Outgrowing that site, they built a much larger factory at Nos. 334-40 Lafayette boulevard. Fred- erick B. Gray was connected with this business until 1915, when he disposed of his interest and retired. He then hecame connected with the Gray Furniture Company, of which his father had been president from its inception, the company being successors to the old firm of Gray & Baffy. Soon after the death of Alfred A. Gray in 1915, Frederick B. Gray became president of the corporation and so continued until March 1920, when the business was disposed of. In that connection he was active in the control of an extensive business enterprise, featuring as one of the important commercial concerns of the city. Mr. Gray also has other large interests and maintains his office in the Penobscot building.
Prominent in Masonic circles, Mr. Gray is well known as a member of Palestine Lodge, No. 1, F. & A.
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M., of which he is a past master. He is also a past high priest of King Cyrus Chapter, R. A. M., and of both bodies he is now treasurer, having succeeded his father in these offices, Alfred A. Gray having served as treasurer for many years. Fred B. Gray is also a member of Monroe Council, R. & S. M .; Detroit Commandery, No. 1, K. T .; and Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He has membership in the Detroit Automobile Club, the Grosse Ile Country Club and Melbourne Country Club of Mel- bourne, Florida. In his political views he is a repub- lican but has never allowed machine rule to dominate his opinion. On the contrary he maintains an inde- pendent attitude, following the course which his judgment dictates and supporting those principles which he deems of valne in good government. He has always been a member of the Episcopal church and one of its generous supporters. He is fond of athletics and outdoor life, especially golfing, which has been to him a most beneficial as well as pleasur- able form of recreation. He has a large circle of friends through both business and social connections and has ever stood for the highest ideals in business and private life. He has for many years spent his winters in Florida.
WILLIAM THEODORE DUST, one of Detroit's well known citizens, business men and former public officials, has been a resident of this city for nearly sixty-five years. Mr. Dust was born in Wolde, Meck- lenburg-Schwerin, Germany, July 25, 1853, a son of Frederick C. and Johanna (Mass) Dust and was but four years of age when his parents came to America in 1857 and established the family home in Detroit.
The son, therefore, pursned his education in the public schools of this city and was but thirteen years old when he made his initial step in the business world as office boy in the employ of the Calvert Litho- graphing Company. This was in 1866 and for twenty years he remained in the employ of that company, having been advanced from one position to another until finally he was made foreman of the press rooms, in which capacity he remained a number of years. In 1886 Mr. Dust severed his relations with that com- pany and the following year he became identified with the hardware trade and his connection with the sale of hardware continued for about six years, after which he took up the mannfacture of stove, furnace and heater repairs in 1893, also did a jobbing busi- ness in that connection. He likewise became a jobber for mica stove pastes and cements and conducted business as sole proprietor of the William T. Dust Company. In addition to these interests he became president of the Mariposa Mining Company of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, and interested in numerous other business enterprises. Later he was called to office and upon retiring from the position of commissioner of parks and boulevards on the 1st of July, 1919, he immediately organized the Citizens Building & Realty
Company, of which he has since been the president. In this undertaking he is associated with Byron G. Oades and Henry G. Moesta, with offices in the Peter Smith building, Detroit.
Mr. Dust belongs to the Detroit Board of Commerce and is keenly interested in all that pertains to the city's welfare and progress. Since becoming a voter he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party and for many years prominent in its councils and an efficient worker for its success. He was a candidate for mayor of Detroit at the primaries in 1908. He has figured prominently in connection with public in- terests and municipal affairs in Detroit, having served as a member of the city council in 1884 and 1885 and as city clerk from 1886 until 1888. In 1890 Mayor Pingree appointed him a member of the board of city assessors and he continued to fill that position for six years. He was also member and president of the board of estimates of Detroit for two years and from Mayor Maybury received appointment to the board of city assessors and served in that capacity for a year and a half. Governor Bliss made him a member of the state tax commission, with which he continued from 1900 until 1904, and in 1906 he was elected a member of the state legislature. While sitting in the house of representatives he gave thoughtful and ear- nest consideration to all vital questions coming up for settlement and supported much important legis- lative work. In 1913 he was made president of the Detroit board of charter commissioners and continued to fill that position until the first of June, 1913. On June 1, 1913, Mayor Oscar Marx appointed him as a commissioner of public parks and boulevards and for six years Mr. Dust ably filled the position. As a result of his long connection with tax matters and his close study of these affairs Mr. Dust is considered an expert on tax laws. He has been closely and prominently connected with municipal interests and his course has at all times been marked by the utmost devotion to the general welfare, his labors having brought about tangible results for good in many lines of municipal advancement and progress.
Fraternally Mr. Dust is a Mason, belonging to Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Elks. Among his club connections he is a member of the Exchange Club and the Detroit Motor Boat Club.
In 1875 Mr. Dust was married in Detroit to Miss Mary W. Weible and to them have been born three children: Lotta; William R .; and Olive. Lotta, now Mrs. Charles A. Martz, is the mother of three children, namely: Katheryn L., who married Ralph G. Forsyth, and has a daughter, Ann G .; Charles W .; and Gene- vieve D., the wife of Clarence D. Blessed and the mother of a daughter, Sally L .; William R. Dust, who died in December, 1919, left two children, Nora and Olive; Olive, the second danghter of William T. Dust, married A. F. Marks and has two children, Mary Beth and Robert W.
Mr. Dust has been successful and no small part
WILLIAM T. DUST
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of his success is due to his fortunate selection of a wife whose helpful cooperation and counsel through nearly a half century of married life have been many times reflected. A remarkably well-preserved man, both mentally and physically, Mr. Dust personally di- rects his various business affairs and shows not the least diminution of interest in the pastimes and rec- reations of middle age. In fact, there is no more enthusiastic bowler in the city than Mr. Dust. He has witnessed much of the growth of Detroit and since attaining his majority has been closely asso- ciated with those projects which have made for public improvement along material, political and civic lines. His public ideals are high and he has utilized the most practical methods in bringing about their adop- tion. He has known personally the prominent men of Detroit for nearly fifty years and today there are few men whose acquaintanceship in the city is wider. Mr. Dust's residence in Birmingham is one of the pleas- ant homes of that attractive suburb.
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