USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 51
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high personal standing, enjoying the good will, con- fidence and esteem of all with whom he is brought into contact.
FRANK VARNER MCCOLLISTER, connected with the O'Neil Detective Agency at Detroit, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, but when he was four years of age his parents removed to Cleveland, Ohio, and he was educated in the public schools of that city. He later took up secret service work and has been engaged in that line since, except when in military service both before and during the World war.
In 1912 he joined the Coast Artillery as a member of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Company, Coast Artillery Corps, situated at Newport, Rhode Island. In 1912, 1918 and 1914 his company was stationed at Fort Terry and at Fort Wright, where he had extended training in target practice. Soon after the United States entered the World war he enlisted on the 7th of June, 1917, and went to Columbus, Ohio, where he remained for forty days, after which he was assigned to Company B, Forty-sixth Infantry. Fourteen days later he was made a sergeant in this company, which was composed of old soldiers. The company was soon split up, some going into the Eighteenth Replacement Battalion and some to Camp Sherman. Sergeant Mc- Collister went to that camp and on the 5th of Novem- ber, 1917, was transferred to Camp Taylor, where he remained until April 18, 1918, and was then trans- ferred to Camp Gordon at Atlanta, Georgia. In May he was sent to the camp at Fort Sheridan, and on September 15th he entered the Central Officers' Training Camp, at Camp Gordon. There he qualified for a commission and was honorably discharged on Thanksgiving day of 1918. He made a splendid rec- ord as a soldier and stood high with his commanding officers in all camps. After receiving his discharge he reentered secret service work with the O'Neil De- tective Agency in Detroit and is thus engaged at the present time.
JAMES W. FLYNN, who for many years was one of the prominent grain commission merchants of De- troit, occupying this position when Detroit was second only to Chicago as a grain trade center of the middle west, passed away on the 15th of October, 1919, at the venerable age of eighty-five years. Thus a life of great usefulness was ended. His record was as the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noon- tide of activity, its evening of completed and success- ful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night. Mr. Flynn was born in the town of Greece, New York, October 26, 1834, and was one of a family of seven children born to Allen J. and Catherine (Maguire) Flynn. The father, a native of Ireland, became a well known sea captain. The mother was also born on the Emerald isle.
Spending his youthful days in the Empire state James W. Flynn attended the public schools there and
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started out in the business world in Rochester, New York, in connection with mercantile lines. He there remained until 1867, when he came to Detroit and here established himself as a grain merchant, continuing in the business without interruption until 1890. He was for many years a most prominent operator on the Detroit Board of Trade and was also an honorary member of the Chicago Board of Trade. There was no one more familiar with grain trade conditions and the extent of his business placed him as a leader in this field.
On the 7th of June, 1866, Mr. Flynn was married to Miss Jane E. Walker, a daughter of Erastus Walker, representative of a prominent Connecticut family. They were the parents of the following named: Jennie E., who became the wife of Joseph J. Crowley, a leading business man of Detroit, member of the firm of Crowley Brothers, Inc., and Crowley, Milner & Com- pany; Mary, Louise, the wife of William W. Cooney, well known in Jackson, Michigan; and Monica V., who died November 8, 1920, and was the wife of Burnett F. Stephenson, a prominent business man of Detroit.
Mr. Flynn was a member of the Catholic church. Mrs. Flynn resides at No. 14 Richton avenue, where she is spending her declining years in ease and comfort, and in addition to her own home owns several fine residences in the immediate vicinity, also an excellent business block containing eight stores at Woodward and Richton avenues.
Mr. Flynn was for a number of years prominent in democratic polities, particularly during the adminis- trations of President Cleveland. He was closely asso- ciated with Don M. Dickinson, who was in the confi- dence of President Cleveland to an unusual degree and was the undisputed leader of Michigan democ- racy. Mr. Flynn never sought public office for himself, but his voice was influential in the distribution of federal patronage in Michigan while Mr. Cleveland occupied the White House. Moreover, Mr. Flynn was deeply interested in all community affairs and stood for many interests of civic worth. At one time he served as treasurer of the democratic state committee and belonged to the commission that was sent from Michigan to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He had a very wide acquaintance during the days of his prominent connection with business and political affairs in this state and was one of the well known and honored residents of Detroit for an extended period.
REV. MATTHEW MEATHE, the organizer of St. Leo's parish and from the beginning pastor of the church, was born in Detroit on the 22d of July, 1858, and is a son of Richard and Delia (Casey) Meathe. The former was a native of Ireland and a baker by trade. Both parents are now deceased.
In the acquirement of his education Matthew Meathe attended Assumption College in Sandwich, Ontario, and also St. Mary's Theological Seminary
at Baltimore, where he won the Bachelor of Arts de- gree. He was ordained to the priesthood on the 19th of June, 1884, by Bishop Borgess and his first ap- pointment was that of assistant pastor at Trinity church in Detroit, which position he occupied for four years. The growth of the city led to the organiza- tion of a new parish in 1889. This work was under- taken by Father Meathe, who formed what is now St. Leo's parish and who has continuously been pas- tor since that date. The church was organized with only seventy-five families and services were held in a store on Grand River avenue. Afterward a com- bination school and church was built at Warren and Fifteenth streets and in 1907 the present church edifice, with a seating capacity of eleven hundred, was erected through the efforts of Father Meathe. The parish now numbers about sixteen hundred families. A large parochial school is condneted in connection therewith in charge of the Sisters of Charity and has an at- tendance of about twelve hundred pupils. In Sep- tember, 1919, land on Fourteenth avenue, between Hancock and Warren avenues, was purchased and a new high school will be erected there.
Under the guidance of Father Meathe the work of the church has steadily progressed in St. Leo's parish. The secret of his popularity is his gracious and democratic bearing. He is extremely affable and is one of the best loved pastors of the Detroit diocese, numbering his friends among people of all faiths and creeds.
ELWOOD CROUL, president of the Riverside Cart- age & Storage Company of Detroit and one of the city's leading young business men, was here born July 10, 1885, a son of William R. and Eloise (Hunt) Croul, whose family numbered three children: John E., now of Los Angeles, California; Rowena, the wife of Don M. Dickinson, Jr .; and Elwood.
The last named attended the public schools of Detroit and also the Westminster preparatory school at Simsbury, Connecticut, after which he spent three years as a student in the University of Michigan. For a year thereafter he was on a ranch at Great Falls, Montana, and gained wide experience in life on the western plains. Upon returning to Detroit he entered into active connection with the Riverside Cartage & Storage Company, which had been organized by his father in 1883 as the Riverside Cartage Company at No. 55 Woodbridge street, the father being president of the concern. The business has occupied three or four locations, the increase in patronage necessitating removals, and at the present time the three main warehouses of the company are at 33 Cass avenue. There are two others on Michigan avenue and one on Grand River avenue. The Riverside Cartage & Storage Company has over three hundred thousand square feet of floor space and this is constantly being increased in order to keep abreast of the demands of the trade. The death of William R. Croul occurred on the 5th of
REV. MATTHEW MEATHE
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October, 1909, after which Elwood Croul became his successor in the presidency. The business is prac- tically a family concern. The Riverside Cartage & Storage Company has the largest and finest equipment of this character in the state. It handles all general storage exclusive of cold storage products and also handles material for wholesalers and jobbers in transit. Its patronage has steadily grown until the business is now one of extensive proportions, while the capable management of the president and his associate officers has made the enterprise one of gratifying prosperity.
In 1910 Elwood Croul was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hoffman, a native of Detroit, and a daugh- ter of Jules G. and Marie (Dubois) Hoffman. Mr. and Mrs. Croul are parents of three children: William J., born February 23, 1911; Frank H., born August 15, 1915; and Elwood, born July 23, 1917. Mr. Croul is a member of the University Club, the Country Club, and the Yondotega Club, and is thus widely known in the club circles of the city. He is also identified with several lesser organizations and is a well known mem- ber of the Board of Commerce. In politics he is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. He is serving as one of the direc- tors of the University Club and is also a director of the Detroit Fire & Marine Insurance Company. In a word, he is one of the progressive business men of the city and belongs to one of the old and prominent fam- ilies, occupying an enviable position in social circles, his pleasing personality and attractive qualities mak- ing for popularity wherever he is known.
CHARLES C. KELLOGG, superintendent of mails at Detroit, was born in Plymouth, Michigan, December 25, 1858. In an early day in the development of this state his parents, Jason W. and Elizabeth (Carr) Kellogg, came to Michigan, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Vermont. The father was an ordained minister of the Methodist church and in the late '50s he occupied a pulpit in Detroit.
Charles C. Kellogg is the only survivor in a family of four children. He attended the public schools of this city, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and eventually he became a student in the literary department of the University of Michigan, which he left in his senior year-1883-returning to Detroit, where he became deputy county clerk of Wayne county. He filled this position for twelve years and in 1895 was appointed assistant postmaster of Detroit, making a most creditable record in that con- nection. In 1913 he was appointed superintendent of mails and is now acting in that capacity.
On the 8th of July, 1885, Mr. Kellogg was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Miller of Detroit, who passed away April 30, 1918. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Miller, prominent residents of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg had one child, Annabel, now the wife of Don Van Winkle. She was born in Detroit,
was educated in the high school and is living with her husband at Howell, Michigan. They have four chil- dren: William P., Elizabeth, Charles K. and Annabel Van Winkle.
That the interests in the life of Charles C. Kellogg are broad and varied is indicated by his connection with many organizations. He is a veteran member of the Detroit Light Guard, is a member of the Detroit Board of Commerce, has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry and is a mem- ber of Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine.
ARCHIBALD F. BUNTING, president of the Detroit Bonding & Mortgage Guarantee Company, has played an active and important part in the development, growth and progress of some of the leading enterprises of Detroit, and thus his life is today of more than passing interest, illustrating as it does the possibility for the attainment of success through individual effort. He was born in Albion, Illinois, May 17, 1871, a son of Wright and Sarah (Booth) Bunting, the latter a native of England, whence she came to America in early life. The father was born on a farm in Illinois and in 1861, when but eighteen years of age, he enlisted as a private in the Thirty-eighth Illinois Regiment for service in the Civil war. He was wounded and taken prisoner, was incarcerated in Libby prison for sixty days, and was then exchanged and again entered service. He was commissioned a first lieutenant of the One Hundred Fifty-second Illinois Regiment and served with honor and distinction throughout the war. At its close he returned to his home in Illinois and in the early '80s he removed to the territory of South Dakota, and from there again came to Michigan in 1887. Here he located on farm lands just outside of the city of Frankfort and con- tinued the cultivation of his farm for many years, during which period he also held township offices and was a member of the Frankfort board of education. In the later years of his life, after disposing of his farm, he removed to Whittier, California, and there became prominent in public affairs, serving for years as judge of the recorder's court at Whittier, where he passed away in 1908. His widow afterwards returned to Michigan and is now living in Frederick, that state, where she became the wife of Edward MeCracken. By her first marriage she had seven children, six of whom are living: Archibald F .; Mrs. Ella Reed of Whittier; Mrs. Edith Griggs of that place; Mrs. Ethel Scott, whose husband is city treasurer of Binghamton, New York, while Mrs. Scott is a leading political worker of that city; Harry, living in Winter, Cali- fornia; and Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor of Bay City, Michi- gan.
Archibald F. Bunting obtained his early education in the country schools, continuing his studies to the eighth grade and then entering the Congregational College at Benzonia, Michigan, in which he pursued a three years' course. He afterwards taught school at
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Thompsonville and at Empire, Michigan, being the teacher in the first school opened at Thompsonville, while later he was principal of the schools at that place and at Empire. Subsequently he entered the University of Michigan as a law student and was graduated with the LL. B. degree in 1894. He began practice at Empire and successfully followed his pro- fession there. He was also elected president of the school board at Empire, serving in that capacity for seven years, while for four years he filled the office of county prosecuting attorney. He made an excellent record by the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharged his duties, and he afterwards served as a member of the state legislature for two terms, being elected in 1905 and 1907. While a member of the general assembly he gave thoughtful and earnest con- sideration to the many vital questions which came up for settlement, and he was also the author of several laws which found their way to the statute books of the state.
In December, 1907, he removed his family to Detroit, where he soon became a prominent figure in business circles. He organized the Michigan Bonding & Surety Company and handled the cases for that corporation. While acting as attorney for that company he has in his professional capacity visited every circuit of the state, a distinction attained by no other attorney of Michigan. In July, 1920, Mr. Bunting organized the Detroit Bonding & Mortgage Guarantee Company, capitalized for a million dollars and with a surplus of equal amount, some of the best known and most prominent men of the state being officers and directors of the company. The officers are: Hon. Archibald F. Bunting, president; Louis W. Schimmel, first vice president; Hon. John Q. Ross, second vice president; E. E. Englehart, secretary, and Hon. Walter J. Hayes, treasurer, while Walter W. Tait is organization direc- tor. The other directors are: Hon. Frank H. Watson, Hon. Burt D. Cady, Walter J. Hayes, Seward L. Mer- riam, Hal A. Smith, Hon. A. E. Wood, Paul H. King and William C. Cook. Mr. Bunting also financed and promoted the Leatherlike Company, one of Detroit's leading manufacturing industries, located at Oakman street and the Grand Belt Railroad. Of this he is a heavy stockholder. Business, however, constitutes hut one phase of Mr. Bunting's activities. He is a recog- nized leader in political circles and was elected an alternate to the national republican convention which nominated William Mckinley for the presidency and Theodore Roosevelt for the vice presidency. He was at one time a candidate for nomination for congress from the first district of Michigan, and was defeated hy but eighteen hundred votes in the district which normally gives a strong democratic majority. He was likewise at one time a candidate for circuit judge and he has had not a little to do with promoting the growth and shaping the policy of his party in Mich- igan.
On the 21st of July, 1895, Mr. Bunting was married
to Miss May E. Pettingill, of Benzie county, this state, a daughter of Harrison Pettingill, who for thirty-two years was postmaster at Oviatt. They have become parents of six children: Harold, who was born in Em- pire, Michigan, March 17, 1898, is now engaged in bus- iness along mechanical lines in Detroit; Beatrice, born in Empire, February 23, 1899, is now pursuing a literary course in the University of Michigan as a member of the class of 1921; Roy, born in Empire in 1900, enlisted in the navy at the age of eighteen years, and was at the Great Lakes Training station in Chicago. He married Miss Helen Bridges of Detroit, and is now in business with the D. M. Smith Sales Company of Detroit; Elden, born in Empire in 1902, was for a time in the regular service of the United States army and is now attend- ing school; Logan, born in Empire in 1905, is also in school; Irving, born in Detroit in 1909, is a high school pupil and is making a particularly fine grade in Latin. Mr. Bunting belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose, to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He owns a fine summer home at Algonac, Michigan, and greatly enjoys water sports and motor boating, to which he turns for recreation. Throughout his business career he has been characterized by forcefulness and resourcefulness, and his well defined plans and his initiative have brought him to an enviable place in the business and financial circles of Detroit.
CHARLES R. MURPHY, owner of the Charles R. Murphy Company and president of the Wayne County Bond & Mortgage Company and also of the North American Mortgage Corporation, all of Detroit, is a dominant figure in financial circles. He has gained a well deserved reputation as a result of his progressive- ness, his well formulated plans and his determination and energy, which have enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in his path.
Mr. Murphy was born in New York city, July 14, 1881, his parents being John A. and Mary (Rush) Murphy, whose family numbered five children. In his boyhood days Charles R. Murphy was a pupil in the public schools of New York and later he entered the law office of Phelps & Phelps, under whose direc- tion he read law for two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1901, under the chancery court act and engaged in the practice of criminal law, taking up the practice of the elder Mr. Phelps, who had passed away. For six years Mr. Murphy devoted his attention to the work of the legal profession, but at the end of that time became interested in the banking business in New York, where he continued for another year and a half. In 1909 he came to Detroit and established the Charles R. Murphy Company, then located at 161 Griswold street. In 1919 he was elected to the presi- dency of the Wayne County Bond & Mortgage Com- pany and also of the North American Mortgage Corporation, both Detroit concerns. In the three com- panies with which he is connected he has been most
CHARLES R. MURPHY
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active in developing the business and has gained a large clientele. He handles municipal bonds, railroad securities and other bonds and stocks of recognized merit and he likewise deals in mortgages and makes loans. He also purchases land contracts and in these ways has become most active in financial circles. He likewise owns the new Ferndale Theatre at Ferndale, Michigan, which was completed on the 5th of March, 1921.
In 1918 Mr. Murphy was married to Elizabeth Novak of Metz, Michigan. Politically Mr. Murphy is a repub- lican, giving stanch support to the party. He be- longs to the Detroit Real Estate Board, also to the Board of Commerce and to the Detroit Auto Club. He occupies a beautiful residence at No. 2445 Long- fellow avenue and is widely and prominently known in his adopted city.
JARED WARNER FINNEY, member of the Detroit bar, who practices only in the United States courts and who is well known in business circles as executor of the estate of Seymour Finney, was born March 15, 1841, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Seymour and Mary A. (Seger) Finney, whose family numbered six children. It was in the year 1834 that the father removed from the state of New York to Detroit, retaining his residence here until his death, which occurred in 1899.
The son, Jared W. Finney, was educated in the public and high schools of this city and in Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1865 with the Master of Arts degree. He won his LL.B. degree upon graduation from the Albany (N. Y.) Law School with the class of 1866. Four years later he began practice in Detroit as a member of the firm of Finney & Brewster and has been alone in practice since 1897, giving his attention only to such cases as come before the federal courts. He filled the position of assistant United States attorney from 1872 until 1880 and in the latter year became United States attorney, occupy- ing the office until 1884. He became United States commissioner in 1908 under appointment of the United States district court at the request of the department of justice and has occupied that position continuously since said appointment. He is also executor of the estate of his father, Seymour Finney, and is a business man of ability as well as a most capable and successful lawyer, displaying sound judgment and indefatigable enterprise in the conduct of the interests which have come under his control.
On the 15th of April, 1875, Mr. Finney was married to Miss Mabel Richards of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and they have become the parents of a daughter and two sons, Mary Alice, Harold Richards and Seymour. Mr. Finney is of the Presbyterian faith. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attrac- tion for him. He belongs to the Detroit Bar Associa- tion, to the Michigan State Bar Association and to the
Brown Chapter of the Chi Psi fraternity. He is also a member of the Detroit Athletic Club. He is the oldest living graduate of the Detroit high school and each year at the graduation ball leads the grand march with the youngest girl graduate. He has long been a prominent figure in the social as well as the business life of the city and no man is more highly esteemed in Detroit than Jared W. Finney.
FENTON E. LUDTKE. For seven years Fenton E. Ludtke has been identified with the Detroit bar and although one of its younger representatives he has already attained a position iu legal circles that many an older practitioner might well envy. He is a native of Michigan, his birth having occurred at Romeo, March 26, 1889, and his parents were William F. and Wilma (Lorenz) Ludtke. He acquired his early educa- tion in the schools of Romeo and then entered the University of Michigan, which he attended for a year, after which he became a student in the Detroit Col- lege of Law, from which he was graduated in 1914 with the LL. B. degree. In June of that year he was admitted to the state bar and coming to Detroit he has since followed his profession in this city, being now accorded a large clientage. He has always practiced independently and has made steady advancement, as he has proven his ability to cope with the intricate problems of the law and to arrive at clear deductions from the facts at hand. His mind is naturally ana- lytical and logical in its trend and in his presentation of a case he is always fortified by a comprehensive understanding of the legal principles applicable thereto.
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