USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 84
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115
ARTHUR ELLIS FIXEL, member of the Detroit bar since 1906, was born in Saginaw, Michigan, Feb- ruary 22, 1885, a son of Adolphus and Bertha (Klein) Fixel. At the usual age he became a pupil in the public schools of his native city, which he attended from 1890 until 1898 and then became a student in the high school of Saginaw, where he pursned his studies for two years. He next entered the Detroit Central high school and was graduated therefrom in 1902. His desire to become a member of the bar culminated in his matrienlation in the law department of the University of Michigan, where he studied from 1902 until 1905 and was then graduated with the LL. B. degree.
Immediately afterward Mr. Fixel entered upon the active practice of his profession in Detroit and has been a member of the bar of this city for fifteen years. For three years he was associated with Bernard B. Selling. Since 1908 he has given his attention to general practice and his ability bas constituted the foundation of his success. He has gained his ad- vancement as the result of the thorough preparation of his cases, his logieal reasoning, his careful analysis
FRANCIS J. MARTIN
727
CITY OF DETROIT
and his accurate application of legal principles to the points at issue. These salient characteristics of his professional career have enabled him to win many favorable verdicts and his clientage has constantly increased.
Mr. Fixel is a member of the United States Naval Reserve forces, which he joined during the World war, on the 18th of September, 1918, and was on active duty from that date until the close of the war, being transferred to inactive duty on the 21st of December.
Mr. Fixel gives his political allegiance to the re- publican party. He largely finds his recreation in golf and motoring. He belongs to various clubs and social organizations and along strictly professional lines his connection is with the Detroit Bar Associa- tion and the Lawyers' Club. He is likewise con- nected with the Phoenix Club and with the American Legion.
HUMPHREY HIDY MeKILLIP of Detroit, comes of a family which is distinctively American in both its direct and collateral lines. In fact the MeKillips belong to one of the oldest American families and are of Scotch descent. The great-grandfather of him whose name introduces this review removed from Rockingham county, Virginia, to Ohio, in 1798, and took up his abode in the latter state, which, however, at that time was yet a part of the Northwestern Ter- ritory. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Since that period the family has been associated with the development and growth of the middle west.
Humphrey H. MeKillip, born on a farm in Point township, in Fayette county, Ohio, a son of Tally and Martha (Hidy) McKillip, was educated in the public schools of his native state and came to Detroit in 1897, since which time he has made his home in this city. He was first engaged in railroading in the employ of the Wabash Company and afterward be- came associated with the old Detroit Southern, with which he remained until 1902, when he turned his attention to the coal business. He afterward organ- ized the International Coal Company, which was formed in 1902 and of which he was sole proprietor for a number of years. In 1919, however, the business was incorporated with Mr. MeKillip as the president, and he has remained the chief executive officer. This company engages in the wholesale coal trade only and has branch offices in Canada, conducting a large busi- ness across the border, where the interests are main- tained under the name of the Martin Coal Company of London, Ontario, the Martin-Lyons Fuel Company of London and the Essex Coal Company of Windsor, all of these being incorporations of which he is the executive head and has been since their inception. The business has been steadily developed along healthful and constructive lines and the enterprise and determi- nation of Mr. McKillip have taken tangible form in the corporation as it exists today.
On the 30th of April, 1912, Mr. MeKillip was mar-
ried to Miss Matilda Monfils and they have become parents of two children: Humphrey H., Jr., born De- cember 18, 1913; and Martha Rose. Mr. MeKillip and his wife are well known in Detroit, where their ster- ling qualities of heart and mind have gained for them many friends. Mr. MeKillip belongs to the Fel- loweraft Club and is identified with the Board of Commerce. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and at all times he is conversant with the vital questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire office, his position being that of a successful business man who concentrates his labors and his energies upon the development of his trade and cultivates no hobbies nor outside interests. Mr. MeKillip resides at 351 Lakewood boulevard.
MAURICE DREIFUSS, a member of the Detroit bar, where he has engaged in practice for more than a decade, was born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1887. In the acquirement of his education he was graduated from the high school at Danville, Pennsylvania, and later matriculated in the Detroit College of Law as a member of the class of 1909. On the completion of his course he was admitted to the bar and has since followed his profession. Prior to his graduation, however, he had been associated with Bernard B. Selling and had had considerable practical experience in the business world before he completed his studies. He opened an office on his own account in 1910. He specializes in commercial law, bankrupety, real estate and corporation work and has been very successful in his profession, being now accorded a large clientage. He has been connected with much important litigation heard in the courts of the district and he is proverbial for the care and thoroughness with which he prepares his cases and the clearness with which he presents his cause be- fore the courts.
In 1912 Mr. Dreifuss was married to Miss Bertha Grabowsky and they have become parents of two sons, Maurice, Jr., and Richard A. Mr. Dreifuss is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He belongs to Detroit Blue Lodge, No. 2, to Shadukiam Grotto and to Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Detroit Masonic Country Club, the Caravan Automobile Club, Redford Country Club, and of B'nai B'rith, of which he is a past president. He has also been very active in patriotic work, and was especially so during the World war. He was connected with all of the drives promoted during the war and was captain of his team on the last Victory Loan drive. He also served on the questionnaire board in Highland Park and gave up several days each week to the work throughout the period of hostilities with Germany. His name was among the first one hundred per cent men in the first draft. He was also active for some time in the Union Charities and for a time was attorney of the Jewish Charities. What- ever he does is for the honor of his profession or the
728
CITY OF DETROIT
interests and welfare of his country and his sterling worth is widely acknowledged by all who know aught of his career.
HON. TIMOTHY E. TARSNEY, who at one time. was numbered among Michigan's representatives in congress, where he served for six years, and who spent the last fourteen years of his life as a promi- nent and distinguished member of the Detroit bar, was born on the 4th of February, 1849, in Hudson, Michigan. His parents were Timothy and Mary (Mur- ray) Tarsney, who had a family of seven children. Both parents were born in Ireland and after coming to the new world the father devoted his life to me- chanical pursuits.
Timothy E. Tarsney obtained a public and high school education at Hudson. In young manhood he became an engineer on boats and was thus employed for several years, but a laudable ambition prompted his to make preparation for a professional career and he took up the study of law during his spare time while working on the boats. Later he entered the law department of the University of Michigan from which he was graduated. Following his admission to the bar he at once opened a law office in Saginaw, Michigan, where be entered upon the active work of the profession. Although advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited him. He soon won recognition as an able lawyer and one who found ready solution for intricate and involved legal problems. Accordingly his practice steadily grew and while residing in Saginaw he served for one term as city attorney. He was also nominated for con- gress in his district and as the democratic candidate defeated Hon. Roswell G. Horr. Reelection continued him in the national halls of legislature for a period of six years, during which time he left the impress of his individuality and ability in considerable measure upon the legislative enactments of congress, for he studied thoroughly and closely all the vital questions which came up for settlement and lent his aid and support to any measure or movement that he believed would prove of benefit to the nation.
Mr. Tarsney removed to Detroit in 1895 and de- voted his remaining days to law practice in this city. His strong mentality and intellectual energy, manifest in his comprehensive knowledge of law, gave him rank among the able members of the bar of this city and he long enjoyed a large and represent- ative clientage.
In 1871 Mr. Tarsney was united in marriage to Miss Catherine O'Brien a daughter of Martin O'Brien of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Tarsney became parents of eight children, three of whom died young, the surviving members being: Isabell, who is the wife of David Stott, one of the prominent flour manufacturers of Detroit; Charlotte M., a newspaper writer, who was formerly identified with the Detroit Free Press and is now
associated with the New York Times; William E., a well known member of the Detroit bar; Timothy B., who is successfully engaged in merchandising in De- troit; and Monica W., who is a graduate of the med- ical department of the University of Michigan at Aun Arbor and who spent seven years with the Mayo Brothers in the practice of the profession, while at the present time she is specializing in administering the anesthetic to the patients in Harper Hospital of Detroit.
Mr. Tarsney was a devout member of the Holy Rosary Catholic church of Detroit and he also be- longed to the Knights of Columbus. His highly devel- oped powers placed him in a position far in advance of the great rank and file of his fellowmen and as lawyer and lawmaker he left the impress of his in- dividuality upon the history of the state and of the country, while Detroit ranked him as one of her leading lawyers through the last fourteen years of his life.
BERNHARD STROH, JR., president and treasurer of the Stroh Casting Company, was born in Detroit, November 22, 1883, a son of Bernhard and Eliza- beth (Salzman) Stroh. The father passed away in 1916, but the mother survives and yet makes her home in Detroit.
After attending the public schools Bernhard Stroh matriculated in the Detroit University school and afterward became a student in the University of Mich- igan. For two years after his college days were over he was connected with the Detroit Trust Company. He then turned his attention to the manufacture of overalls in Walkerville, Ontario, where he successfully conducted business for five years and then sold to the firm of Peabody Brothers. It was at that time that he became connected with the Stroh Casting Com- pany as the associate of his brother Edwin. He was vice president of the company during his father's connection therewith, or until 1916, when upon his father's death he succeeded to the presidency. The name of Stroh has long figured prominently in con- nection with business activity in Detroit and the brothers have made of their present enterprise one of the important productive industries of the city. The business has had an almost phenomenal growth, its trade increasing with rapidity each year. In 1914 its sales amounted to one hundred thousand dollars and by 1920 had nearly reached the sum of three mil- lions. The plans of the brothers are always carefully formulated and well defined and are then executed with promptness and dispatch. They early learned that the secret of success is to be found in the ac- complishment of maximum result at the minimum expenditure of time, labor and material. To this they have added the highest standards in the way of manufacture and thorough reliability in all trade re- lations, and thus the business has reached extensive proportions.
BERNHARD STROH, JE.
731
CITY OF DETROIT
On the 22d of November, 1917, Mr. Stroh was mar- ried to Miss Alice Josephine Kratzet and they now have a daughter and a son: Joan, born November 21, 1918; and Bernhard, (IV), born September 12, 1920.
Mr. Stroh belongs to the Board of Commerce of De- troit and is keenly interested in all the projects and measures put forth by that organization for the benefit of the city. He likewise has membership in the Detroit Club, University Club, Detroit Athletic Club, Country Club, Grosse Pointe Riding & Hunt Club, the Players Club, the Detroit Automobile Club and the Fine Arts Society. His interests and activities are broad and varied, marking him as a man of well balanced char- acter, while the business ability of himself and brother is manifest in the extensive establishment which they have built up.
ANDREW J. WENZELL, a civil engineer practicing his profession in Detroit, his native city, was born January 9, 1857, of the marriage of Andrew and Caro- lina (Beck) Wenzell. The father was born in Ger- many, while the mother's birth occurred in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania. In early youth Andrew Wenzell came to America with his parents, who settled first in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and afterward came to Detroit. Here Andrew Wenzell first became connected with the tanning business, establishing the first tan- nery in this section of the country. He later sold his interests of that character and opened a hard- ware store where the Majestic building now stands on Michigan and Woodward avenues, today the leading commercial center of Detroit. He remained active in business there to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1873. In her girlhood his wife came to Detroit and they were married in this city. She survived her husband for two decades, passing away in 1893. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Andrew J., Frank P., and W. W., all of Detroit.
Andrew J. Wenzell attended the public and high schools of Detroit and next entered the University of Michigan, where he pursued a course in civil engi- neering, being graduated in 1878. For five years thereafter he was engaged in river and harbor work along the lakes and following that period he took up railroad work as a civil engineer, being employed in his professional capacity from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. He always maintained his resi- dence in Detroit, although his duties called him to various sections of the country. Upon his return to Detroit he became the resident engineer in connec- tion with the Belle Isle bridge in 1889. He was also in the employ of the Michigan Central and of other roads as chief civil engineer and from 1910 until 1915 he was with the Commonwealth Power Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since 1915 he has main- tained an office in Detroit, where he is engaged in general engineering work. Mr. Wenzell was at one
time superintendent of the construction of the Union Trust building, the first large building in Detroit. His professional activities have been of a most impor- tant character, ranking him among the leading rep- resentatives of civil engineering in this section of the country. He is also the secretary and treasurer of the National Economy Manufacturing Company and at all times has kept in touch with professional thought and progress through his connection with the Michigan Society of Civil Engineers, the Detroit Sur- veyors Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
On the 20th of June, 1883, Mr. Wenzell was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Maude Hagedon, daughter of Captain Perry Hagedon, who was commander of va- rious vessels on the Great Lakes. They now have a family of three children. The eldest, Lieutenant Colo- nel A. Perry Wenzell, born in Detroit in 1886, pur- sued a high school education. He was with the Six- teenth Engineers during the World war on overseas service, being with Company F in France for two years. He was on the battle front in the Argonne and in the Meuse offensive and also at Arras. He won military honors and was discharged in 1919. He is now connected with his father in engineering work; Gertrude, the second member of the family, is the wife of Roy Draper of Clinton, Michigan. She was born at Harbor Beach, Michigan, in 1890 and educated in the Detroit public and high schools. To Mr. and Mrs. Draper have been born three children: James, Richard and David; Richard Warren Wenzell, the third member of the Wenzell family, was born at Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1895, attended the Detroit high school and the University of Michigan and was with the Seventh Engineers in France, being in the service for two years from April, 1917. He was slightly wounded in action. Since leaving the army he has been with his father in engineering work and the sons are adding to the laurels which are associated with the father's name in a professional connection.
JOHN ALEXANDER MATHESON, who through- out his business career has been connected with the lumber trade, in which he has won prominence and success, and who is now identified with a number of important corporate interests of Detroit, has made his home in this city since 1888. He was born in Ontario, Canada, November 5, 1863, and is a son of Alexander Matheson, who was born in Scotland. There he spent the period of his boyhood and youth and . after reaching man's estate wedded Wilhelmina Hen- derson, also a native of the land of hills and heather. They crossed the Atlantic to Canada in 1849, becom- ing residents of Ontario, and both have passed away.
John A. Matheson, reared and educated in his native country, early became identified with the lumber busi- ness, which he has followed in Canada and the United States throughout the intervening period. He dates his residence in Detroit from 1888. He has handled
732
CITY OF DETROIT
important lumber interests in this section, and ex- tending his activities to various corporations has become a director of the Andrew C. Sisman Construc- tion Company of Detroit, the vice president of the River Front Realty Company and a director of the Detroit Elevated Railway Company. In all business affairs he displays keen insight and sound judgment, possesses initiative in a marked degree and has been a dynamic force in commercial and financial circles of his adopted city.
In June, 1888, Mr. Matheson was united in mar- riage to Miss Martha B. White of Ontario, Canada, a daughter of David B. White, who served with a New York regiment in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Matheson have become the parents of two daughters and a son: Marguerite Norton, the eldest, is the widow of Harold H. Pound, who was a captain in the per- sonnel department of the United States army and was killed in Germany on the Ist of February, 1919; Gladys Evelyn is the wife of Roy H. Torbet of Detroit, and they have one son, John M .; Kenneth White Ma- theson, born January 2, 1895, enlisted for service in the World war, May 8, 1917. He was graduated from the Illinois Ground School of Aviation on the 8th of September and went overseas on the Ist of October. He was then in an aviation training school in France until the 1st of August, 1918, and was on the front from that date until the signing of the armistice on the 11th of November. He had a single seat "Spad" fighting aeroplane, doing combat work, and he was discharged on the 21st of February, 1919, having been connected with the aviation branch of the American army for almost two years.
At home through this period the father was taking an equally helpful part in supporting American in- terests. He was a member of the patriotic fund com- mittee, served on all the Loan drives and became a member of the American Protective League, doing active work along all these lines. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party. He belongs to the Red Run Golf Club, which indicates something of the nature of his recreation, and he is a member and trustee of the First Baptist church and treas- urer of the Detroit Baptist Union.
EDWARD N. EISENBERG, secretary and treas- urer of the Kimball-Eisenberg Company, manufac- turers of plumbers' supplies in Detroit, was born at Norristown, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1879, and is a son of Dr. Philip Yeager and Harriet (Dawes) Eisen- berg. The father is a native of Fairview Village, Pennsylvania, and of German parents, while the mother was born in Virginia and was of English parentage, her father having been a native of England. Dr. Philip Y. Eisenberg became a well known physician and surgeon who was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and also studied in various European colleges. He was at one time attending physician at the Bellevue hospital of New York city and was for
many years secretary of the board of pension exam- iners of the United States. He is still active in his profession at Norristown, Pennsylvania, but his wife passed away at Norristown in May, 1916, at the age of seventy-one years. They had a family of two children, the brother of Edward N. Eisenberg being Dr. J. Lawrence Eisenberg, a leading physician and surgeon of Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he is widely known as a specialist ou children's diseases.
Edward N. Eisenberg attended the public and high schools of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and continued his education in the Franklin Institute of Architecture of Philadelphia and Lafayette College, from which he was graduated on the completion of a general scien- tifie course as a member of the class of 1901. While attending college he was greatly interested in athletics and played on Lafayette's first eleven for two years and was captain of the second eleven during three years. Following his graduation Mr. Eisenberg coached the Allegheny College Football Team at Mead- ville, Pennsylvania. After his graduation he became an employe of Haynes, Jones & Cardbury, manufac- turers of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but later severed his connection with this firm to become assistant manager for the Standard Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh at its Detroit branch. Later he was pro- moted to the position of manager at Detroit and so continued until 1908, when he resigned and organized the Kimball-Eisenberg Company, manufacturers and wholesalers of bathroom supplies. The business has grown with rapidity from a small concern and in March, 1917, it became necessary to acquire more commodious accommodations. Accordingly a site was secured and their present building was erected at 219 E. Jefferson. It is known as the Kimball-Eisen- berg building and is a handsome structure, the entire five stories being devoted to the manufacture and sale of plumbing, bathroom and kitchen supplies. They also have a large warehouse on Woodbridge street, where they have excellent rail facilities. Mr. Kim- ball is the president of the company, with Mr. Eisen- berg as the secretary and treasurer. Throughout his business career he has manifested a most progressive spirit and has ever been ready to take a forward step when the way was open. His sound judgment has enabled him to discriminate quickly between the essential and the non-essential in all business affairs and his enterprise has produced splendid results.
On the 25th of October, 1905, Mr. Eisenberg was married to Miss Anna Francombe of Detroit, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Francombe. They have one son, Edward League Dawes, born in Detroit, November 14, 1908, and now a student in the Detroit University school. Mr. Eisenberg belongs to the University Club and also to the Detroit Boat Club and Oakland Hills Country Club. His activity, however, has largely centered upon his business and through individual effort he has reached a creditable place as a representative of the industrial and commercial
EDWARD N. EISENBERG .
735
CITY OF DETROIT
life of Detroit. Starting out empty-handed, he has advanced step by step and his progress has found visible expression in the large interests which he now controls.
SAMUEL E. THOMAS. There is no better known patent attorney in Detroit and the middle west than Samuel E. Thomas, who is recognized as an authority on patent law and has been prominently identified with securing patents as the representative of many clients, extending from New York to California. Mr. Thomas is a native of the state of New York, his birth having occurred in Canandaigua, Ontario county, July 1, 1865. He is a son of John and Mary (Davis) Thomas, both of whom were natives of England and came to America in the early '60s. During the period of hostilities between the north and the south the father was associated with Governor Myron H. Clark of New York in war activities. He was a graduate of an English college of law and became a distin- gnished attorney. He practiced for a time in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and afterwards removed to Detroit, where in later years he lived retired, spending his last days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. Both he and his wife passed away in Detroit, the demise of Mrs. Thomas occurring February 16, 1892, and that of Mr. Thomas, November 3, 1902. In their family were but two children, John B. and Samuel E.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.