The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III, Part 25

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 25

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U. GRANT RACE, since 1890 an active member of the bar of Detroit, was born at Milford, Michigan, October 12, 1864, his parents being Jehiel B. and Rhoda (Martin) Race. His education was acquired in the public schools and in the Michigan State Nor- mal School before entering upon preparation for the bar as a student in the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the LL.B. degree in 1890. Prior to becoming a law student he taught for two years in the Michigan School for the Blind at Lansing and was acting super- intendent of the school in 1887-88. Following his admission to the bar he began practice in Detroit and at one time was junior partner in the law firm of Barnes & Race. In 1905 he entered into partner- ship with Walter F. Haass, a relationship which has continued to the present time, except that Harry Allen is now a member of the firm under the name Race, Haass and Allen. As the years have passed he has made steady advancement in his chosen profession. Aside from his professional interests he is a member of the board of directors of the American Loan & Trust Company. He was attorney for the Home Sav- ings Bank and Wayne County and Home Savings Bank for twenty years, and is a director of the Wayne County & Home Savings Bank.

On the 30th of June, 1887, Mr. Race was married at Hamburg, Michigan, to Miss Jennie G. Lake and they have one daughter, Gladys L., wife of L. Irving Condit, M. D., of Detroit, who has one daughter, Mary- anna. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Race has served as an elder in the Highland Park church of that denom- ination. He belongs to the Detroit Bar Association and to the Detroit Board of Commerce, thus mani- festing his interest in the welfare and progress of the city and his support of many projects for the general good. His political indorsement is given to

the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have never had attraction for him, his atten- tion being concentrated upon his professional inter- ests. He displays the utmost devotiou to the interests of his clients yet never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law.

ALBERT BARTON. The development of the auto- mobile industry in Detroit has given an extremely broad field for the establishment and conduct of suc- cessful business enterprises directly and indirectly connected with the manufacture of all that has to do with the motor car trade. Recognizing the chance for successful activity of this character, Albert Barton is today engaged in the manufacture of automobile tops and is enjoying a constantly increasing business. Michigan numbers him among her native sons, for his birth occurred in Jackson on the 20th of August, 1879, his parents being Nathan and Laura (Lampkins) Barton, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. At an early day they came to Michigan, settling on a farm near Jackson, but at the outbreak of the Civil war the father put aside all business interests and personal considerations and joined a Michigan regiment for active duty at the front. He partici- pated in many important engagements in the south, was wounded in action and was invalided home, after which he lived a retired life. Both he and his wife have passed away.

Albert Barton attended the public schools of Jack- son, Michigan, and afterward engaged in various kinds of occupation from his twelfth year. He finally decided to learn a trade and chose that of carriage trimming. After having served an apprenticeship he worked at his trade for a time in Jackson before coming to Detroit in 1905. Here he secured the position of manager with the Stern Auto Top Com- pany and continued in that connection until lie de- cided to embark in business on his own account. It was in 1913 that he established the Barton Auto Top Company, which from a modest beginning has grown to large proportions. He is the president and general manager of the company and is now enjoying an extensive trade in the manufacture of automobile tops, in automobile painting, metal work and trim- mings. The business is now one of the best known and most reliable in its line in the city, furnishing employment to from thirty to fifty people, and was incorporated in 1913. It stands as a monument to the enterprise and progressiveness of Mr. Barton.

In November, 1901, Mr. Barton was married to Miss Ada L. Lawson of Pontiac, Michigan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Lawson. They have gained many friends in Detroit during the years of their residence here. Mr. Barton is a member of the Detroit Auto Club and is widely known in business circles. He has worked his way steadily upward since starting out to provide for his own support when a lad of twelve years. He has learned many valuable lessons

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in the school of experience and has gained success through close application, industry and thoroughly reliable methods. Mr. Barton resides at 570 Phila- delphia street, East.

RT. REV. MGR. M. J. P. DEMPSEY. Among the notable priests of the Detroit diocese who have risen to a position of marked success in their sacred pro- fession, by reason of their many years of arduous service, unfaltering loyalty and administrative ability, and also have won sigual rewards from the Vatican, is the Rt. Rev. Mgr. M. J. P. Dempsey, pastor of the cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul and vicar-general of the Detroit diocese of the Roman Catholic church.

Rt. Rev. Mgr. M. J. P. Dempsey was born at Madison, Wisconsin, March 1, 1853, the son af Dennis and Mary (Dempsey) Dempsey, both of whom were natives of Ireland. After attending the public schools he continned his education in the St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he engaged in theo- logical study for eight years. Supplementing this work he was a student at the University of Wisconsin from 1878 until 1880.

After completing his work at Milwaukee, on June 29, 1878, Father Dempsey was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Borgess of the Detroit diocese and his first appointment was a temporary one at Carleton, Michigan, where he served for six months. He after- ward acted for one year as assistant to Father Bolte at Ionia, Michigan, and for three years was pastor of the church in Ludington, Michigan, while later he spent three months at St. Clair and a year and a half at Battle Creek. He then removed to Detroit and was made chancellor of the diocese by Bishop Borgess, holding that position for ten years, at the end of which time he was forced to resign on account of ill health.

The site of the SS. Peter and Paul's cathedral, at the corner of Adelaide and John R streets, was prac- tically a wilderness at the time of its establishment in 1862. Waving fields of corn and stretches of marshy woodland surrounded the spot. The parish had been established as St. Patrick's and the first services were held in the small church building, the nucleus of the present cathedral, on March 17th of that year. Rev. J. A. Hennessey was the first pastor and re- mained until his death, October II, 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. Charles O. Reilly, who was in charge until 1891, when Bishop Foley assumed con- trol until another pastor was secured.

Having recuperated his strength at this time Father Dempsey appeared as the logical appointee for this parish, consequently was given the charge September 4, 1894, and has served from that time until the present, guiding with loving hand the growth of his church. His long service as pastor of this diocese is a record of distinct achievement, of material and spiritual growth. At regular intervals the church property has been enlarged and modernized to keep

pace with the increasing number of parishioners. People of all nationalities and classes have known the beneficent personality and holy influence of Father Dempsey, the same simplicity of the faith exists in his church as did three decades ago, when the parish was in its infancy. As a reward for his labors in the church, Father Dempsey was created a domestic prelate of the Pope's household upon October 8, 1919, the position carrying the title of Monsignor. The investiture occurred at the SS. Peter and Paul's cathe- dral and was in charge of Bishop M. J. Gallagher, Father Dempsey speaking his own mass, as is cus- tomary.

JOSEPH H. CLARK, member of the Detroit bar since 1895 but active in the practice of law since 1885, was born in Sandusky, Ohio, December 20, 1860, a son of Nelson and Sarah F. (Weller) Clark. He was a high school pupil in Castalia, Ohio, and con- tinued his education in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he qualified for the bar, pursuing his law course in that institution. He located for practice in Manistique, Michigan, in 1885, and there remained until January 1, 1891, when he removed to Muskegon, and became a member of the law firm of Jones & Clark. After four years' practice in that connection he removed to Detroit in 1895 and was one of the organizers of the law firm of Griffin, Clark & Russell, which three years later was succeeded by Clark, Durfee & Allor. The firm existed in that form until January 1, 1903, when Mr. Clark became senior partner of the firm of Clark, Jones & Bryant. At a later period Mr. Jones withdrew and was succeeded by Harry A. Lockwood, while at the present writing the firm is Clark, Emmons, Bryant, Klein and Brown. Their practice is of a most extensive and important character and the re- cognized ability of Joseph H. Clark has brought him to a position in the front rank of the members of the Detroit har. He belongs to the Michigan State and American Bar Associations, also to the Associa- tion Bar of the City of Detroit. He is likewise the president of the General Sales Company of Detroit and the General Spring & Wire Company, also of Detroit, thus figuring in commercial as well as pro- fessional circles.

At White Rock, Michigan, on the 3d of November, 1884, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Minnie MeMuldroch and they have become the parents of three children: Grace A., who is now the wife of W. J. Hanna; Nelson J., vice president and general man- ager of the General Sales Company and treasurer of the General Spring and Wire Company; and Clifford Leroy, secretary and general manager of the General Spring and Wire Company and secretary of the Gen- eral Sales Company.

Mr. Clark resides at Algonac, Michigan, and is a devotee of boating. He belongs to the Detroit Motor Boat Club, the Detroit Automobile Club and the De-

MGR. M. J. P. DEMPSEY

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troit Athletic Club. In fraternal circles he is widely known as a Mason of high rank, having taken the degrees of the York and Scottish Rites and become a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church and his political support is given to the repub- lican party.

REV. JOHN AUSTIN KESSLER, a well known representative of the Catholic ministry in Detroit, hav- ing been pastor of St. John's church since 1898, was born August 10, 1868, in the city which is now his home, his parents being Christopher and Anna Mary (Ashman) Kessler. He attended St. Joseph 's parochial school between the years 1874 and 1881 and then matriculated in the University of Detroit, a Jesuit college, from which he was graduated in 1887. He next entered St. Jerome's College at Berlin, Ontario, where he continued his studies for two years, and in 1889 became a student in St. Mary's University at Baltimore, Maryland, there pursuing a three years' course. The University of Detroit conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree in 1902. Ten years before he had been ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church, the date of his ordination being July 3, 1892. For three years thereafter he was secretary to the Rt. Rev. John S. Foley, D. D., bishop of the Detroit diocese, and in 1895 he was assigned to duty as assistant pastor of St. Vincent's church at Detroit, thus laboring for three years. In 1898 he was made pastor of St. Mary's church at Redford, Michigan, where he continued for four months and was then assigned to St. John's church in Detroit and through the intervening period of twenty-two years has continued his labors in this connection.

Rev. Mr. Kessler is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Benevo- lent Association and of the Knights of Columbus. He is well known in Detroit, where his labors have been so wisely directed that his energy and zeal have resulted notably in the upbuilding of his parish and the extension of the influence of the church.

FREDERICK J. WARD, a well known figure at the Detroit bar and also in insurance circles of the city, was born in Marcellus, New York, September 10, 1880, and is a son of John and Julia (Flaherty) Ward, who were natives of the Empire state and there spent their lives. The father was a woolen man- ufacturer, connected with a woolen mill in New York for many years, and still makes his home in Marcellus, but his wife there passed away. In their family were three children: Thomas H., living in Syracuse, New York; Florence L., also of Syracuse; and Fred- erick J., of this review.

Frederick J. Ward, the youngest in the family, attended the public schools of his native city, mas- tering the work of the grades and the high school,

while later he entered the Syracuse University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905. Before his graduation, which followed the completion of a comprehensive course in law, he passed the bar exam- ination and was engaged in practice in Syracuse from 1905 until 1911. He then removed to New York city, where he became a representative of an insurance com- pany but after a brief period spent in the eastern metropolis he became a resident of Detroit. Here he has continued in the practice of law, his attention, however, being largely confined to his legal work as representative of large insurance companies. At the present time he represents about thirty of the most important insurance companies of the country, and represents George A. Fuller Company, Lewis Hall Iron Works, and other large interests, in an agency which has become one of the most extensive and successful in the city. He does important legal work in connection with these various insurance interests and has specialized in this line throughout the period of his residence in Detroit. He belongs to the Detroit Bar Association and the Onondaga County Bar Asso- ciation of New York.

Mr. Ward belongs to the Catholic church and has membership with the Knights of Columbus. He be- longs also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Detroit Athletic Club, the Detroit Golf Club, the Oakland Hills Club and the Automobile Club of Detroit and is thus well known in the social circles of the city, while his personal characteristics make for popularity in all these different organizations.

ALEXANDER ST. CLAIR MeFEDRIES was born in the quaint old town of Ayr, Scotland-the home of Robert Burns-on the 16th of May, 1846, and was one of a family of five children, born to John and Anna McFedries. The mother passed away when her son Alexander was but a year old, so that he was reared by his maternal grandparents. He received his education in the public schools of Scotland.

It was in 1868, when a young man of about twenty- two years, that Mr. McFedries crossed the Atlantic to enjoy the opportunities offered in the new world, and established his home in Detroit, where he con- tinued to reside for fifty-two years, until called to his final rest. Here he entered the employ of D. M. Ferry & Company during the year 1868, and his capa- bility and fidelity won him promotion from time to time, until he was made manager of the Canadian branch of the business and occupied that position of responsibility until the day of his death, which oc- curred February 21, 1921.

On the 30th of October, 1872, Mr. McFedries was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. McDuff, a daugh- ter of Andrew McDuff, who was a member of the firm of McDuff and Mitchell, extensive and prominent builders of Detroit, having the distinction of erecting some of the finest structures in the city. To Mr. and Mrs. McFedries were born six children: Alexander

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St. C., Jr., born August 26, 1873, died February 19, 1875; George MeDuff, whose birth occurred April 30, 1875, and who is now residing in Chicago; Sherman Miller, born September 20, 1877, and now located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Perry C., born January 26, 1883, living in Detroit; and Alice St. C., born June 14, 1886, the wife of Wilbur H. Elliott, of the George H. Elliott sales service, of this city; and Adele, born February 25, 1888, who died July 17, 1888. Mrs. MeFedries still makes her home in Detroit, living at 1925 Chicago boulevard. Both Mr. and Mrs. Me- Fedries held membership in St. Andrew's Presbyterian church, in which Mr. McFedries filled the office of elder. He became one of the organizers and charter members of the church, at all times contributed gen- erously to its support and did everything in his power to promote its work and extend its influence. The sterling worth of his character was recognized by all who knew him. He guided his life by the strict principles of integrity and honor, and his entire career was fraught with good deeds that made him one of the valued residents of his adopted city.

J. HENRY SMITH. The business interests of J. Henry Smith are manifold and of an important char- acter, and such is his determined purpose and his keen business sagacity that he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

Mr. Smith was born in Detroit, November 19, 1868. After attending the public schools of his native city J. Henry Smith became a factor in the produce busi- ness of Detroit, which had been established by his father in 1859. There his initial training was received and in 1904 he succeeded to the ownership of the busi- ness, which continued to operate under the style of Peter. Smith & Sons. Upon acquiring this old estab- lished business he immediately made plans for the enlarging of it, and has displayed initiative, enter- prise and progressiveness which have been productive of valuable results.

In 1912 the business was incorporated under the style of Peter Smith & Sons Company, of which J. Henry Smith is the president. He has so long been associated in the public mind with the conduct of a high grade grocery that he seems an old acquaintance to thousands who might not know the man if they met him, for he is seldom in the limelight. Mr. Smith has the courage of his convictions, as he has shown in recent achievements.

The Peter Smith & Sons Company of Detroit own and operate the Smith building, which was constructed in 1912 on the southwest corner of Griswold and State streets. J. Henry Smith is also identified with va- rious other business concerns. Not only is he at the head of the Peter Smith & Sons Grocery Company, Detroit, but he is president of Peter Smith & Sons, Indianapolis, Indiana; president of the Detroit Lunch & Company, Inc .; and president of the Seymour Arms Fruit Lands Company. In the conduct of his affairs

he shows most careful direction of his interests, look- ing beyond the exigencies of the moment to the pos- sibilities and opportunities of the future. His powers as au organizer and his initiative spirit have enabled him to meet the changing conditions of the times and to combine unrelated and ofttimes seemingly diverse elements into an harmonious and united whole, and he always faces the situation with the assurance of one who knows what he is about and foresees the outcome as certainly as though it already had taken place.

He has shown unbounded confidence in the future of Detroit and has made many large long term leases in the heart of the business section; in fact he was one of the first to look upon leaseholds as the safest form of speculation in real estate.

In 1899 Mr. Smith made a sixty-year lease for his company, of the Burt property at 18-20-22 Gratiot ave- nue. This was sublet to the Liggett Company in 1912. In 1911 Mr. Smith leased the corner of Griswold and State street for ninety-nine years and in 1912 erected the eleven-story office and mercantile building on this site. In 1912 Mr. Smith and his associates leased the Bauilet (now Holden) building, corner of Grand River and Griswold streets for ninety-nine years and later sublet it to James S. Holden and associates. In the same year Mr. Smith purchased the Hotel Cadillac from Swart Brothers and secured a ninety-nine-year lease from Dr. R. Adlington Newman. A six hundred thousand dollar corporation was organized and Mr. Smith was made president of it. In 1919 the lease- hold and all interest in the hotel was sold by the corporation to the Book Realty Company. In 1919 a long term lease was made on the northeast corner of Shelby and State streets, adjoining the J. Henry Smith building on the west. This is known as the Miller building.

At Detroit, on the 30th of December, 1895, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Mary Adeline Calvert, and they have become parents of three chil- dren: Marion C., Grace C., and J. Henry, Jr., the latter born February 18, 1904, in Detroit.

Mr. Smith belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is also a Mystic Shriner. He like- wise has membership with the Detroit Club, the De- troit Athletic Club, the Detroit Board of Commerce, and the Old Colony Club. He has ever been keenly interested in the welfare and progress of his native city and his cooperation can always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. His civic ideals are high and he does everything in his power to secure their adoption.

FRANCIS A. HILTON, who since 1916 has built up a remunerative law practice in Detroit, was born in Ontario, Canada, August 28, 1859, and is a son of the Rev. John and Marcella (Fowlis) Hilton, the former also of Canadian birth, while the latter was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to the new

J. HENRY SMITH

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world in her girlhood days. The Rev. John Hilton was reared and educated in Ontario, Canada, where he spent his life. For many years he was identified with the ministry and served for some time as the rector of St. Ann's Episcopal church of Toronto, which he built and where he passed away. In the family of Rev. and Mrs. John Hilton were four sons: Ernest, who is now residing in Montana; Francis A .; John Hilton, living in California; and the Rev. Ronald Hilton, who is rector of Christ church at Seattle, Washington.

In his youthful days Francis A. Hilton was a pupil in Trinity College School and Upper Canada College, while later he took up the study of law and was grad- uated from Osgoode Hall with the class of 1882. He then entered upon the active practice of his pro- fession at Trenton, Ontario, from which place he re- moved to Cobourg, Ontario. In 1889 he went to Toronto, where he became a partner in the law firm of Mere- dith, Clarke, Bowes, Hilton & Swabey, remaining in that connection until 1903, when he was proffered a remunerative position with the North American Life Insurance Company as manager for western New York. In 1905 he was transferred to Detroit, Mich- igan, as state manager, and resigned in 1911 to ac- cept a position with the American Central Life In- surance Company as superintendent for Michigan and Ohio. In the meantime he became a naturalized American citizen and resigned his position as super- intendent with the insurance company to take up again the private practice of law, being admitted to the bar of this state in 1916, since which time he has practiced in Detroit, gaining a large and dis- tinctively representative clientage. He belongs to the Detroit, the Michigan State and the American Bar Associations and throughout his legal career has been most careful to conform his practice to the highest professional standards and ethics.

On the 29th of June, 1887, Mr. Hilton was married to Miss Isobel Grace Milligan of Toronto, Canada, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel W. J. Lane Milligan of the British army and his wife, Isobel (Morar) Milligan. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have become parents of seven children: Ronald Lane, born in Ontario, March 14, 1888, and resides in Detroit. He was in the aviation service of the British army in the World war; Captain D'Arcy F. Hilton was born in Ontario, Canada, October 17, 1889, and married Miss Gladys Woodruff of St. Catherines, Ontario, their home being now in Detroit. During the war with Germany he enlisted as an aviator in the British Royal Air Service and won distinction as a daring air pilot. He was cited many times for bravery and had many thrilling experiences. He was credited with destroy- ing twenty-five enemy planes in France and Belgium. He was decorated with the Military Cross by King George and also won the Air Force Cross for bravery. He received additional honors on the visit of the Prince of Wales to Windsor, in October, 1919; Stella

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The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III, Part 25

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