USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 30
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ALBERT FISHER. With Albert Fisher success has never meant merely the attainment of financial reward of labor; it has meant the capable accomplishment of his purpose and the attainment of his ideals in a business way. He has thus constantly striven for improvement and has made steady advancement until today he is at the head of an important enterprise of Detroit as the president of the Standard Motor Truck Company. He has become widely known in this connection and for thirty-five years has been recognized as a master craftsman in connection with the building and sale of carriages, wagons and motor trucks. In fact he is accounted one of the leaders in the automotive and commercial vehicle business, actuated at all times by a desire to build along better and more enduring lines.
Mr. Fisher was born in Peru, Huron county, Ohio, January 2, 1864, his parents being Andrew and Stefana (Rimille) Fisher. During his school days he assisted his father, who was a blacksmith, and when he had acquired a fair English education in the public schools of Norwalk, Ohio, he started out to learn the trade of carriage and wagon building when a youth of seventeen years. He served an apprenticeship iu a
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shop in Norwalk, Ohio, and then went to Chicago, where he became connected with the firm of C. P. Kimball & Company, coach builders. He afterward made his way to New England, where he was employed by many of the leading coach builders, including Clancy Thomas, at that time one of the most prom- inent representatives of the business in the country. Albert Fisher was naturally a fine mechanic and was ambitious to excel. While working in both Chicago and Boston he studied mechanical engineering and the skill he displayed in his drawings was frequently commented on by his instructors. After he came to Detroit Mr. Fisher taught mechanical drawing in what was known as the Brown Hall at Woodward and Milwaukee avenues.
The year 1885 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Fisher in Detroit. Here he entered the employ of the C. R. and J. C. Wilson Carriage Company and his ability won him promotion to the position of superintendent. In 1891, however, he engaged in business on his own account as a carriage and wagon builder, and when the automobile was introduced he was called upon to build bodies for a number of the leading concerns, as most of the executives of such business enterprises were essentially motive engineers and knew practi- cally nothing pertaining to the building of bodies. Mr. Fisher deserves great credit for the evolution made in automobile body manufacturing. He built the first touring car body for Henry Ford, also for the Cadillac, Dodge, Packard, Chalmers, Olds and G. M. C. interests and in fact for the majority of the leading automotive concerns, receiving a liberal pat- ronage from all of these. In 1908 Mr. Fisher incor- porated his business under the name of the Fisher Body Company, of which he became the first presi- dent and general manager. He subsequently sold out his interests in that business and has since devoted his time and energy to the building of motor trucks. In 1909 he was one of the organizers of the Universal Motor Truck Company, subsequently disposing of his interests in that company. In August, 1912, the Stand- ard Motor Truck Company really had its inception, but owing to a lack of harmony among the stockhold- ers and a failure to keep faith with Mr. Fisher, the other principals of the business sold out their interests to him and from that time he has personally owned and conducted the business. His long experience in build- ing carriages and wagons convinced him that a motor truck built entirely of Standard parts, properly de- signed and put together, was the coming vehicle. It was with this purpose in view that he builded his first Standard motor trucks and he has conformed to this feature of the business ever since. The methods and ideals that made him a master craftsman in the building or horse-drawn vehicles have characterized his work in the building of Standard trucks and those which he produces are singled out by reason of their reliability, efficiency and endurance. They embody every principle that is recognized and employed by Vol. III-17
the leading automotive concerns of the country. Mr. Fisher builds about seven hundred and fifty trucks a year and employs one hundred and fifty people in their construction. He utilizes all Standard units, such as Continental motor, Timken axles and bear- ings, Brown and Lipe transmissions, Spicer joints, Gemmer steering parts, Stromberg carburetors, etc. He has rightfully been referred to as "a man who has dedicated his life to building better highway trans- portation equipment."
Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ganwish of Norwalk, Ohio, the wedding being cele- brated July 29, 1889. They have become parents of six children: Alberta, Fred, Urban, Raymond, Helen and Edwin.
Mr. Fisher is a supporter of the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He is a mem- ber of the Lochmoor Golf Club, the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Wolverine Automobile Club, the Detroit Yacht Club and the Harmonie Society, of which he is a director and treasurer. He is also a director and one of the organizers of the Conti- nental Bank. He has a nature that could never be content with the second best and the thoroughness which he has manifested, the persistency of purpose and the high ideals which have characterized his work have brought him prominently to the front in connections that make him a most valued addition to the industrial circles of Detroit. Mr. Fisher resides at No. 460 East Grand boulevard.
ARTHUR ELLIOTT BURNS, president and treas- urer of the firm of A. E. Burns Company, shoe deal- ers, was born in Detroit, July 21, 1880, and is a son of Robert and Katherine (Elliott) Burns, the former a native of Scotland, while the latter was born in Ireland. Both came to America in early life and later the father engaged in the shoe business in Detroit, where he was well known as a progressive merchant for many years. He now makes his home in Lansing, Michigan, but his wife passed away in Detroit in 1909. In their family were four children, of whom one has passed away, while those living are: Mrs. Elizabeth Pulford; Mrs. Katherine Ward; and Arthur E. All are residents of Detroit.
The last named attended the public schools and Detroit University, after which he obtained a cleri- cal position with the R. H. Fife Shoe Company as store boy. Through the succeeding ten years he advanced steadily through various departments to the position of store manager, which position he filled until 1912, when he resigned and entered into a part- nership in the conduct of a small retail shoe store. In 1918 he organized the A. E. Burns Company, having purchased his partner's interest and he is now presi- dent and treasurer of the new organization. He has been largely instrumental in directing the policy in the business and has developed a most substantial
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trade, leading to the expansion of the store to tlie second floor of the Holden building, where the ladies and children's shoes are sold, while the men's shoes are sold on the ground floor. The company now main- tains a force of fifteen sales people.
In January, 1904, Mr. Burns was married to Miss Grace Randolph, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Randolph of Detroit and they have become parents of four children: Robert E., who was born September 21, 1906; Richard H., born November 16, 1910; Arthur E., born March 15, 1917; and a son, Arthur Clyde, who died in infancy. Mr. Burns belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also to the Detroit Board of Commerce. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of the city and lends his aid and support to many measures for the general good. While a career of a successful business man is less spectacular than that of the mili- tary hero or political leader it is none the less essential and none the less valuable, and in the conduct of his affairs Mr. Burns has gained a place among the thoroughly reliable and substantial merchants of Detroit.
WILLIAM H. HILL, one of Detroit's successful manufacturers and substantial citizens whose iden- tification with the city's business life extends through a period of more than thirty-six years, was born July 16, 1852, in Steuben county, New York. His father, Dr. John J. Hill, was a native of Vermont, while his mother, whose maiden name was Emeline Tracy, came from an old Massachusetts family. Dr. John J. Hill was graduated from one of the leading medical col- leges of the east and for many years successfully practiced his profession in New York state. The last two years of his life were passed in Coldwater, Mich- igan, where he died in September, 1872, while his widow survived until 1884, when she passed away at the old homestead in New York state. Of the seven children born to them, but two are living: William H. of this review, and Mrs. Charlotte E. Luxmore of Los Angeles, California.
The early life of William H. Hill was spent in the state of New York, and he attended school until his fifteenth year, when he started out to provide for his own support. Through his labors, he afterwards met his tuition in the Cayuga Lake Military Academy at Aurora, New York, where for three years he was a student, having completed the academic course by graduation as a member of the class of June, 1870. He then took up home study and read many valuable works. After his father's removal to Coldwater, Michigan, he entered into the dry goods business as a clerk in one of the prominent stores of Kalamazoo. Two years were spent in that position and he then went upon the road as a traveling salesman for a drug house of Pittsburgh and was thus engaged until 1880. During that period he devoted his evening hours to the study of pharmacy until he had perfected
himself for work of that character. In 1880, there- fore, he entered the drug business on his own account and also began the manufacture of a line of valuable proprietary remedies. He established business in Fair- port, near Rochester, New York, where he prospered until a fire utterly destroyed his store and manufac- turing plant in 1885.
It was in that year that Mr. Hill came to Detroit and started anew in business under the name of the W. H. Hill Company, manufacturing pharmacists. He has specialized in various proprietary preparations which are put out under his own name, among them being Hill's Cascara Bromide Quinine, one of the foremost preparations of its kind in the world. The business has grown to vast proportions, until today the Hill remedies are sold not only all over this country and Canada, but in various European countries. The busi- ness was incorporated in 1895, under the present name, and from the beginning Mr. Hill has been its presi- dent. This successful enterprise is a monument to bis ability, executive force and carefully formulated plans. He also became connected with other business enterprises, being a director and the vice president of the Detroit M. & S. Differential Company, president of the Ideal Metallic Furniture Company and is iden- tified with other important and prosperous industries.
On the 15th of March, 1882, Mr. Hill was married to Miss Alice Dwelle, at Grass Lake, Michigan. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Dwelle. In politics Mr. Hill's position is that of an independent repub- lican. He belongs to the Detroit Golf, Wayne, Rush- mere, Ingleside, Detroit Auto and Pine Lake Auto Country Clubs and he is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, of which he was first vice president for two years.
FLOYD T. MERRICK, for years connected with the commercial life of Detroit, was born in Hastings, Michigan, October 29, 1877, a son of William and Levancha (Handy) Merrick. William Merrick was a well known farmer in Michigan who died on November 10, 1919. Both he and his wife were natives of the state of New York, and the latter is still living.
Floyd T. Merrick was educated in the high school at Hastings, Michigan, and later entered a business college at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he received a thorough course in business principles. Sometime later he took a position as stenographer in Hastings, con- tinuing in that line for a short time. He then became connected with the office of C. M. Burton, where he remained until 1903, when he joined the Frederick F. Ingram Company, manufacturing chemists, and by industry and keen business grasp he moved upward until in 1910, he was appointed credit manager for the Ingram Company, which position he still occupies.
In 1910 Mr. Merrick was united in marriage to Miss Della Rogers and they have become the parents of four children: Roger, Mary Jeanne, John aud Ruth. Mr. Merrick is a member of Ashlar Lodge, F. & A. M.,
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in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest. He is a thoroughgoing and capable business man, who by his own efforts has raised himself to a position of responsibility in the commercial life of the city.
REV. JOSEPH C. PLAGENS, pastor of the Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic church in Detroit, was born in Posen, Poland, January 29, 1880, his parents being Andrew and Constance (Grygier) Plagens. When he was but four years of age his parents came with their family to America as Polish immigrants. They made their way to Detroit and settled in St. Casimir's parish on the west side, taking up their abode on Twenty-fourth street. Joseph C. Plagens afterward attended St. Casimir's parochial school in Detroit and in 1892 became a student in the Jesuit College, now the University of Detroit. He received his degree of Bachelor of Arts from the University of Detroit in 1899 and in 1901 his alma mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. For four years he was a student in St. Mary's Sem- inary in Baltimore, Maryland, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Theology (S. T. B.) and on the 5th of July, 1903, he was, ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Foley of the Detroit diocese.
Rev. Mr. Plagens then became assistant pastor of the Sacred Heart of Mary church, so continuing until September, 1906, when he was made pastor of St. Michael's church at Port Austin, Michigan, there remaining until December, 1911. At that date he was assigned to the pastorate of St. Florian's church at Detroit and so continued until May, 1919, when he was placed in charge of the Sacred Heart of Mary parislı, and officially installed as pastor November 22, 1919.
St. Florian's parish was established in the autumn of 1907 by Rev. Bernard Zmijewski, who was pastor until December 20, 1911, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Plagens. The school building was erected in 1908 and the church building at Florian avenue and Latham street has not yet been completed. The parish has about two thousand families.
GEORGE S. BAKER. Thorough reliability, close application and indefatigable energy have brought George S. Baker to a commanding position in financial circles of Detroit as president of the Detroit Savings Bank. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, he was born on the 3d of October, 1875, and is a son of Jacob and Ella A. (Bigelow) Baker, who were also natives of the Old Bay state. The father remained in Boston throughout his life and was a well known lawyer of that city. During the Civil war he joined the army, becoming a lieutenant in a Massachusetts regiment. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Baker has removed to Detroit, where she still makes her home. In their family were six children, three sons and three daughters: Theodore, now living in Detroit; Irving, a resident of Bay City, Michigan; Mrs. Blanche B.
Field, whose home is in North Platte, Nebraska; Mrs. Charles Stafford of Chicago; G. S., of this review; and Emily, living in Los Angeles, California.
George S. Baker attended the Boston Latin and English high school and started out upon his business career as messenger in the old Citizens Savings Bank of Detroit. His capability and fidelity were indicated in the fact that he remained with that institution for seventeen years and was occupying the position of auditor at the time he resigned. He then became treasurer of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, continuing in that position for six years, after which he returned to Detroit as assistant cashier of the Detroit Savings Bank. Later he was advanced to the position of cashier and subsequently was also elected vice president and filled the dual position until Jan- uary 1, 1920, when he was elected president of the institution. His long experience has made him thor- oughly familiar with every phase of the banking business and he is now giving his attention to con- structive effort, administrative direction and execu- tive control of one of the strong financial institutions of the city.
Mr. Baker was married on the 10th of June, 1908, in Detroit, to Miss Gertrude Dean, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Dean of this city. They have become the parents of one child, Virginia Dean Baker, born in Detroit May 9, 1910.
Mr. Baker belongs to the Country Club at Grosse Pointe, to the Detroit Boat Club and the Old Club, also to the Detroit Club, the Board of Commerce and the Credit Men's Association. His political support is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. In his chosen field of labor he has made consecutive progress and is now regarded as one of the forceful factors in the financial circles of Detroit.
FRANK DWIGHT EAMAN, who since 1904 has been engaged in the practice of law at Detroit and since 1908 a partner in the firm of Douglas, Eaman, Barbour & Rogers, was born on a farm in Livingston county, Michigan, November 15, 1877. His father was James Trask Eaman, whose birth occurred on the same farm in 1850, the grandfather, Benjamin Eaman, having settled there at a very early day. Benjamin Eaman, the grandfather, was born in New York and became one of the pioneers of Livingston county, where he conducted his farming interests until his death in 1861. He was a son of John Philip Eaman, who was also a resident of Michigan, arriving in this state soon after his son Benjamin. It was in 1841 that he was called from this life. Five generations of the family, including the children of Frank Dwight Eaman, have therefore been residents of Michigan. His father, James T. Eaman, born near Pinckney, in Livingston county, was educated in a high school of
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Ann Arbor and afterward attended the University of Michigan. Later he engaged in the retail produce business in Pinckney for a number of years and was a prominent figure in the organization and promotion of the Air Line railroad extending between Lenox and Jackson. In 1889 he removed to Detroit, where for twenty-two years he was engaged in the coal and lumber business, acting for ten years as secretary of the Michigan Independent Retail Coal Dealers' Association. In later years he conducted a real estate and insurance business. He was married in 1875 to Gertrude Robison, a sister of George F. Robison, who was at one time prosecutor for Wayne county. They became parents of two sons, Frank Dwight and Benjamin, but the latter passed away several years ago. The death of the father, James T. Eaman, oc- curred November 9, 1920. He was buried at Anderson, a Livingston county village which he helped to estab- lish. He was for many years a deacon in the First Baptist church, which later was merged into the Wood- ward Avenue Baptist church, and his life was ever guided by high and honorable principles. He left behind him the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. His widow survives and still makes her home in Detroit.
In the public schools of Ann Arbor and of Detroit, Frank Dwight Eaman pursued his early education and in 1900 was graduated from the University of Mich- igan with the degree of Bachelor of Letters. He spent another year in the law department of the State Uni- versity and on the expiration of that period went to Denver, where for six months he was a reporter ơn the Denver Post. He afterward devoted two years to work with a construction company in Arizona, building railroads, and returning northward, settled first at Cedar Falls, Iowa, where for one year he was professor of English in the Iowa State Normal School. In 1904 he returned to Detroit, was admitted to the bar and at once entered upon active practice in this city. While advancement in the profession is proverb- ially slow, he has nevertheless made continuous pro- gress and in 1908 became a member of the law firm of Bowen, Douglas, Whiting & Eaman, which through a change in the personnel of the firm became Douglas, Eaman, Barbour & Rogers in 1919. Their practice is large and important, connecting them with much of the leading litigation heard in the courts of the district.
On the 4th of December, 1907, in Chicago, Mr. Eaman was married to Miss Emma B. Paffendorf, a daughter of Christian and Mary Paffendorf, and they have become the parents of three children: Margaret Helen; Emily Ruth; and James Benjamin, horn in Detroit, February 22, 1913.
Mr. Eaman is a member of the Detroit and of the Detroit Athletic Clubs. His deep interest in the suc- cessful outcome of the war was practically manifest in the service which he rendered his country. On the 20th of August, 1918, he received notice of his
coming appointment as major in the Air Service, Aircraft Production. His commission was received September 14, 1918, and he was stationed at Vancouver Barracks, in Washington. On the date indicated he was made first assistant to General Disque of the United States Spruce Production Corporation. On the 1st of October, 1918, he was advanced to the position of assistant general manager of that corporation and on the 15th of October was made vice president and general manager, so serving until March 30, 1919, although his discharge papers bore date of March 7, 1919. In politics Mr. Eaman has always been a dem- ocrat and in 1907-8 he filled the office of assistant city prosecuting attorney of Detroit. His high stand- ing in professional circles is indicated in the fact that in 1916, 1917 and 1918 he was elected to the presidency of the Detroit Bar Association.
WILLIAM VAN MOORE, lawyer of Detroit, comes of an ancestry that has been distinctively American in its lineage and collateral branches through several generations and he is a representative of the third generation of the family in Michigan. When the United States was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain his ancestors came to New England. His grandfather in the paternal line, William Moore, was born near Peterboro, Hillsboro county, New Hampshire, April 9, 1787. He came of Scotch-Irish lineage, being a representative in the fifth generation of the descendants of one of the members of the Douglas clan of Scotland that was virtually exterminated in the massacre at Glencoe, Scotland, February 13, 1692. His widow fled with her children to Ireland, where the family was rep- resented until 1718, when a number of the name came to America, being among the first settlers of London- derry, New Hampshire. The youngest son of the American progenitor was John Moore, who married and became the father of seven children, the third being William, who was reared in New Hampshire and in December, 1763, married Jane Holmes. He afterward removed to Peterboro, Hillsboro county, and was there living when he enlisted for service in the Revolutionary war, participating in the battle of Bennington, July 19, 1777. To William and Jane (Holmes) Moore were born twelve children, the young- est being William Moore, who, as stated, was born near Peterboro, New Hampshire, and wedded Lucy Rice, a native of Massachusetts. Their son, William Austin Moore, was born on a farm near Clifton Springs, Ontario county, New York. His father had become a prosperous farmer of that county and was prom- inent as an office holder. He also served in the War of 1812 and was present at the burning of Buffalo by the British and participated in the engagement at Fort Erie, thus manifesting the same patriotic spirit which had actuated his ancestors.
In 1831 William Moore brought his family to Mich- igan, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of
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Washtenaw county. The following year he was made justice of the peace and so served until Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837. For twelve years thereafter he was continued in the office and was honored with other official preferment, being made a member of the first constitutional convention of the state and serving as a member of the first state senate, while in 1843 he represented Washtenaw county in the house of representatives. He thus aided in shaping the policy of the state during its formative period and left his impress for good upon the history of Michigan. He and his wife continued residents of Washtenaw county until called to their final rest.
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