USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 95
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On the 17th of October, 1893, Mr. Robison was mar- ried to Miss Maude Palmer of Detroit. He is a mem- ber of the Lawyers Club and of the Wayne County Bar Association. Reliability has marked his career and his course reflects credit upon the history of the state.
W. H. SPEAKER, president of the Speaker-Hines Printing Company, was born in Lima, Ohio, Sep- tember 3, 1854, his parents being Levi and Mary Ellen Speaker. His youthful days were spent on the farm and his boyhood experiences were those of the farm bred lad who attends the district schools when not occupied with the work of the fields. Following the death of the father the mother removed with her family to Lima, Ohio, and in 1869, when a youth of fifteen years, W. H. Speaker became identified with the printing business, beginning work at the trade in a humble capacity in connection with the Lima Gazette. He thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of the business, remaining with the Ga- zette until 1873, when he removed to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and accepted a position on the Daily Gazette of that city, there continuing for eleven months. He next went to Manistee, Michigan, where he worked on the Times from 1874 until 1876. In the latter year he became a resident of Chicago and for eight years was associated with the Chicago Type Foundry. Removing to Jamestown, North Dakota, he was there part proprietor of the Daily Capital and continued to make his home in that city until 1884.
It was in the latter year that Mr. Speaker arrived in Detroit and on the 1st of February he established the Speaker Printing Company at 120 Griswold street, where the Hammond building now stands. His busi- ness, small at first, consisted of the printing of letter-
heads and cards. In 1886 he removed his plant to the Butterfield building on Larned street, where he remained for six years and then went to 33-35 Larned street, where he continued for ten years. The busi- ness was then conducted for six years at Nos. 71-73 Shelby street and a decade ago he came to his present location, In 1907 the business was reorganized under the name of the Speaker-Hines Printing Company, Edward N. Hines joining the firm, of which Mr. Speaker is the president, with Louis H. Mueller as vice president and Mr. Hines as secretary and treas- urer. The firm conducts one of the largest printing establishments in the city and is engaged in the print- ing of fine catalogs, publications and stationery, their business covering the entire middle west.
On the 8th of July, 1884, Mr. Speaker was married to Miss Katherine Edington of Manistee, Michigan, and they maintain their Detroit home at No. 336 Westminster street and also have a beautiful country home at Elizabeth Lake in Oakland county, Michigan.
Mr. Speaker and his wife are members of the Methodist church and his political endorsement is given to the republican party. Along business lines he has connection with the National Typothetae Asso- ciation and also with the Detroit branch of that or- ganization. Fraternally he is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias and in club circles he is well known through his membership with the Ingleside Club, the Detroit Automobile Club and the Ohio Society of Detroit. His career has been marked by an orderly progression, each step he has made being a forward one. His success is attributable in no small degree to the fact that he has never dissipated his energies over a wide field but has concentrated his efforts upon the single line in which he embarked as a young tradesman. Thoroughly acquainting himself with every part of the printing business and mastering every artistic phase of the work, he has developed an enterprise of extensive and gratifying proportions, being accounted today one of the foremost representatives of printing interests in Michigan.
ARTHUR L. EDWARDS. Representing the more successful of the younger business men of Detroit is Arthur L. Edwards, the president of the Owen Tire Company. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, January 8, 1888, his parents being George D. and Viora (Pier- son) Edwards, the former a native of Syracuse, New York, and the latter of Indianapolis, Indiana. They became residents of Chicago in early life and in 1893 took up their abode in Detroit. The father, who was a carriage maker, here engaged in business as a manufacturer of carriages and buggies to the time of his death in 1916, winning well merited success in that connection. The mother survives and makes her home with her son, Arthur, in Detroit. Her three other children-George D., Clinton M. and Mrs. Mina Viora Smith-also reside in this city.
Arthur L. Edwards, who was but five years of age
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when the family home was established in Detroit, ac- quired his education in the public and high schools here but put aside his textbooks when a youth of fifteen to become identified with his father's carriage manufacturing concern. He learned the business in all of its various departments and continued active therein in association with his father until the latter's death in 1916, when he assumed charge and conducted the business in the interests of the estate until his en- listment in the United States army in September, 1918. He was assigned to duty on the Mexican bor- der, serving with the Motor Transport Division until April 14, 1919. He received a commission as first lieutenant and when honorably discharged was acting as commanding officer of the S. P. U., No. 502. On his return to Detroit he organized the Owen Tire Company for the distribution of Owen tires through- out Michigan and a portion of Ohio, with a branch establishment at Toledo. The concern was incorpo- rated with the following officers: Arthur L. Edwards, president; W. C. Owen, vice president; Ralph Sparling, secretary; and N. H. Smith, treasurer. Mr. Edwards and his associates are men of enterprise, energy and sound judgment who are developing their interests along substantial lines and have already met with gratifying results.
In his political views Mr. Edwards is independent, while his religious faith is indicated by his member- ship in the First Congregational church. Fraternally he is identfied with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scot- tish Rite, belonging to Detroit Commandery, K. T., Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine and Michigan Sovereign Consistory. He is likewise a member of the Detroit Athletic Club, the Detroit Boat Club and the Auto Country Club and is well known and popular in the social circles of the city.
FREDERICK WILLIAM MORTON, certified public accountant and one of the leading men in that pro- fession in Detroit, was born in Almont, Michigan, April 16, 1871, a son of William and Katherine (Mc- Arthur) Morton, the former a pioneer settler of Michigan, who continued to reside in this state until his demise, which occurred in 1885. The son at- tended the public schools of his native town, later pursuing a business course, and following his father's death he became a bookkeeper for the firm of Moll & Stock, at that time located at No. 99 Woodward ave- uue, Detroit, there remaining until 1893, when he accepted a similar position with the wholesale fur house of Walter Buhl & Company, with which he was identified for a year. He then became bookkeeper for the Johnston Optical Company, continuing with that firm until 1905, when he joined the Bookkeeper Publishing Company as an instructor in their corre- spondence course in accountancy, also acting as asso- ciate editor of the Business Man's Magazine. The course of accounting conducted by the International
Accountants' Society has been a great medium in this country in furthering the progress of accountancy and this school has graduated more students than any sim- ilar school in the United States.
In 1915 Mr. Morton became a certified public ac- countant, having successfully passed the Michigan examination, and he at once engaged in practice, open- ing an office in the Majestic building and establishing the Morton Audit Company. He has become a recog- nized expert in this profession, acting not only as accountant and income tax expert but also as busi- ness adviser, into which field accountancy is gradually extending. In 1910, in association with R. J. Bennett, another certified public accountant, he engaged in the publication of C. P. A. Questions, Helps and Guides to students of accountancy, and he has been very active in the world of accountancy, maintaining at all times the highest standards in connection with the work of his progession. In business affairs he manifests forcefulness, keen discrimination and a ready understanding of involved interests and has had charge of the accounts of many of the leading firms in the city and state, his ability winning for him an extensive patronage. He has proven most capable in the management of his interests, giving his personal supervision to every detail of the work, so that his services have always been most satisfactory to patrons.
In Detroit, on the 22d of August, 1895, Mr. Mortou was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hibbler, a former resident of Almont, Michigan, and they have one son: Oliver H., whose birth occurred on the 17th of October, 1896, and who is now associated in business with his father, having successfully passed the C. P. - A. examination in 1920.
Mr. Morton is an active and earnest member of the Detroit Board of Commerce, whose plans and projects for the npbuilding and development of the city he heartily supports, and he is also connected with sev- eral other civic bodies, being a most public-spirited and loyal citizen whose influence is ever on the side of advancement and improvement. Along professional lines he is identified with the American Institute of Accountants and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons, belonging to all of the various bodies, in- cluding the Supreme Council thirty-third degree, and his daily life is guided by the beneficent teachings of the order.
Thoroughness and accuracy have characterized all of his work and in business circles he has become recognized as a man to be trusted. Industry has been the key which has unlocked for him the portals of success and Detroit numbers him among her most valned citizens.
MARTIN J. DOYLE. The versatility and progres- siveness of Martin J. Doyle have found expression out- side of the confines of his profession, for he has be- come a prominent and successful representative of
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the real estate business in the state metropolis, where his operations are confined largely to the handling of properties owned by himself. He maintains his office headquarters at 1026 Penobscot building, and in connection with his important real estate business he is maintaining an insurance department, as rep- resentative of the Equitable Fire and Marine In- surance Company, the Northwestern National Insur- ance Company, the Travelers Insurance Company and still others. To Mr. Doyle is due the development of the Hampton Manor subdivision at Royal Oak and several other tracts, and his progressive activities have contributed much to the general civic and ma- terial advancement of Detroit.
Martin J. Doyle was born at Vienna, Monroe county, Michigan, December 1, 1880, and is a son of Martin and Marie (Donahue) Doyle, of whose seven children five are living. The boyhood days of Mr. Doyle were passed on the home farm and in addition to receiving the advantages of the public schools at Clio, Gene- see county, near which place the family home had been established, he continued his studies in the Ferris Institute at Big Rapids. In preparation for the pro- fession of his choice he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, in which he was grad- uated as a member of the class of 1911. Prior to entering the law school Mr. Doyle had proved a suc- cessful teacher in the rural schools, and from 1901 to 1909 he was associated with his brother in the hardware business at Clio, their enterprise including also the handling of farm implements and machinery. In 1909 he entered the law department of the uni- versity and in July, 1911, about one month after his graduation he came to Detroit and engaged in the real estate business, in which his success has been such that he has not found it expedient to con- fine his activities to the profession for which he fitted himself. His technical knowledge has proved of much value to him in his constantly expanding real estate operations. His reputation for reliability in all transactions and for fidelity to the interests of those with whom he has dealings, constitutes a val- uable asset in his business, the while he has a circle of friends that is coextensive with that of his ac- quaintances. He is a member of the Aviation Coun- try Club, is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, and he and his wife are communicants of the Church of the Sacred Heart.
On the 30th of March, 1910, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Doyle to Dora L. Bodine of Vienna, Genesee county, Michigan, and their pleasant home in Detroit, at 130 Massachusetts avenue, is known for its generous hospitality and good cheer.
JOSEPH J. HENZE is a progressive and enterpris- ing representative of industrial interests in De- troit as the vice president and secretary of the firm of A. Backus, Jr. & Sons, manufacturers of woven baskets. He was born November 26, 1886, in the city
which is yet his home, his parents being F. August and Pauline (Schelle) Henze, both of whom are natives of Europe but emigrated to the United States in early life. The father successfully followed contracting in Detroit and vicinity for many years and both he and his wife are still residents of this city, where they are widely and favorably known.
Joseph J. Henze, the fifth in order of birth in a fam- ily of eight children, obtained his education in the pub- lie and high schools of Detroit and also pursued a course of study in St. Joseph's Commercial School. On leaving the latter institution he became an employe of the firm of A. Backus, Jr. & Sons, basket manufac- turers, and in that connection worked his way steadily upward until he had acquired an interest in the busi- ness, since which time he has held the position of vice president and secretary. This concern is one of the largest of its kind in America, its plant oc- cupving nearly a block of city property on Lafayette boulevard, running through to Fort street, West. In its active control Mr. Henze has displayed sound judgment and marked enterprise, leading to the con- tinued development and success of the business, so that he has become recognized as one of the substan- tial representatives of manufacturing interests in the city.
On the 22d of September, 1915, in Detroit, Mr. Henze was united in marriage to Miss Laura Monning, by whom he has two children: Lawrence, whose birth occurred in 1916; and Joseph, whose natal year was 1919. Both were born in Detroit. The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church, while fraternally Mr. Henze is identified with the Knights of Columbus. In politics, however, he main- tains an independent attitude, supporting men and measures rather than party. He is an active and interested member of the Detroit Board of Commerce and in the city in which his life has been spent he enjoys an enviable reputation as a public-spirited citizen, successful business man and faithful friend.
WILLIAM H. S. SPRUNK, president of the Sprunk Engraving Company, was born in Detroit, February 6, 1874, a son of Godfrey and Melvina Sprunk, who in 1861 became residents of Detroit, where they re- sided until called to their final rest.
William H. S. Sprunk completed his public school education as a high school pupil and in 1894 began work in engraving houses of New York city, where he continued for a decade, returning to Detroit how- ever, in 1904. For a year and a half thereafter he was in charge of the engraving department of the Peninsular Engraving Company, for his thorough training and wide experience in the east had well qualified him for important duties of this character. In September, 1905, the Sprunk Engraving Company was organized and quarters secured at No. 72 State street. The business gradually grew and in February, 1917, the plant was removed to the Marquette build-
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ing, where it is now housed. An average of about sixteen people is employed and all kinds of photo engraving work is done, the patronage covering a wide field. Mr. Sprunk has always been the president of the company, with Richard G. Sprunk as the sec- retary and Edward H. Sprunk as treasurer. The busi- ness was incorporated, March 17, 1917, and has won a substantial place among the leading engraving houses of Michigan, Extending his efforts into other fields Mr. Sprunk is now the vice president of the Detroit Tractor & Engineering Company and is likewise treas- urer of the Moore Truck Manufacturing Company. He is also connected with real estate interests in Detroit, being president of the High View Land Company, which was organized in 1916 and was created for the disposal of high-grade subdivision lots in the Dear- born district.
On the 28th of March, 1903, Mr. Sprunk was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Lawson of New York city, and they have two children, Viola Melvina and Harold Clifford. The family is well known socially, their circle of friends being almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Sprunk belongs to the Business Men's Club and is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Mac- cabees, the Odd Fellows and the Masons and enjoying in large measure the warm regard of his brethren of these societies.
HAZEN S. PINGREE. The power of crystalizing high ideals into practical results has been given to few in so marked a degree as to the late Hazen S. Pingree of Detroit, who gave exalted service as gov- ernor of the state and as mayor of his home city, the while he gained for himself high vantage ground in the business world. Measured by its beneficence, its rectitude, its productiveness, its insistent altruism and its material success, the life of Governor Pingree, as he continued to be known long after his retirement from office, counted for much. His nature was moulded on a generous scale, and his character was the positive expression of a strong, noble and loyal individuality. Never self-centered, he gave of his best in the aiding of others and in the furtherance of those things which conserve the general welfare, both material and social. His was a great mind and a great heart, and there is naught of inconsistency in thus attributing to him the elements of greatness in both personality and achieve- ment.
Hazen S. Pingree came of the stanchest of Puritan stock and in his own life were manifest the sturdy traits of those valiant souls who laid the foundations for a great and noble nation. He was born on a farm in Denmark township, Oxford county, Maine, on the 30th of August, 1840, and he early gained fel- lowship with arduous toil and endeavor, the while his educational advantages were most limited, owing to the exigencies of time and place. In him was thus begotten an enduring appreciation of the dignity
and value of honest labor, aud it is not strange, per- haps, that in the days of his prosperity and influence he never lost this quickening sense of sympathy for and appreciation of the common people-the world's great army of productive workers.
Moses Pingree, founder of the American line of the family, came from England to the Massachusetts col- ony in 1640, just twenty years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, and he settled at Ipswich, that colony, with the history of which lo- cality the name continued to be closely identified for nearly one hundred and fifty years. In 1780 repre- sentatives of the name were concerned in the settle- ment of the colonies of Rowley and Georgetown, in Essex county, Massachusetts, and from that section went the founders of the family in the wilds of the old Pine Tree state.
After gaining a most rudimentary education in the common schools of his native county Hazen S. Pingree initiated his independent career when a lad of but fourteen years, manifesting even at that time the self-reliance, determination and ambition which were to mark so significantly his course throughout life. At the age noted he proceeded to the town of Saco, Maine, where he secured employment in a cotton factory. Two years later he went to Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where he learned the trade of cutter in a shoe factory. There he remained several years and gained an intimate knowledge of the branch of industry in which he was destined eventually to achieve such distinctive prominence and commercial success.
Early in the year 1862 Hazen S. Pingree enlisted as a private in a company formed in the little village of Hopkinton, which filled its quota of forty-seven volunteers, and proceeded to Virginia, where Mr. Pingree was assigned to membership in Company F, First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, which was at that time serving in the defense of the national capital. The First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery was ordered to the front during Pope's Virginia campaign and took an active part in the battle of Bull Run. It then returned to duty in the defense of Washington, in which connection it assumed a position at Arling- ton Heights, Virginia, where it remained until May 15, 1864, when it was again ordered to the front and assigned to duty as infantry in the Second Brigade of Tyler's division of the Second Army Corps. With this command it participated in the fights at Fred- ericksburg Road, Harris' Farm and Spottsylvania Court House. In the memorable battle at the point last mentioned the regiment opened the engagement, during which it lost in killed and wounded many of its men. It was then assigned to the Second Corps, Third Division of the Army of the Potomac, with which it took part in the battle of North Anna, on the 24th and 25th of May, 1864. While on special duty on the latter day of this fight Private Pingree and some of his comrades were captured by a detach-
HAZEN S. PINGREE
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ment from Mosby's command, and Mr. Pingree was thereafter held at various southern prisons, including the notorious Andersonville, where he remained six months. He was finally taken to the stockade at Millen, Georgia, at the time of Sherman's march to the sea, and from this prison he was returned to the Union lines under parole. He thus gained his liberty by clever subterfuge and in November, 1864, bis ex- change was effected, whereupon he rejoined his regi- ment, which was then in front of Petersburg. From that time forward his command was engaged in almost ceaseless fighting by day and marching by night, and it was present at the surrender of General Lee, after which it took part in the Grand Review of the vic- torious troops in the city of Washington. The regi- ment made an admirable record and was complimented in special orders entered by Generals Mott and Pierce, "for gallantry in the last grand charge on Petersburg, in which it held a leading position and was greatly depleted in numbers." It is a matter of official record that of all the regiments in the Union service there were only fourteen whose total loss in battle exceeded that of the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. The regiment was mustered out on the 15th of August, 1865.
Young Pingree returned to his home after the close of his service in the ranks of the "Boys in Blue," and shortly afterward decided to seek a new field of business activity in the west. Coming to Detroit, he secured employment as a salesman in the boot and shoe establishment of H. P. Baldwin & Company, the head of which, the late Henry P. Baldwin, one of Michigan's loved and distinguished citizens, was elected governor of the state a few years later. The ambition of Mr. Pingree was not long satisfied with this employment, and he soon began independent operations in the buying of produce, which was shipped to the east. In this line of enterprise he became associated with Charles H. Smith. The firm of Pingree & Smith was thus formed in the year 1866, in which year there was laid, in a modest way, the secure foundation of the great shoe manufacturing industry with which the names of these two honored citizens were so long and conspicuously identified. The busi- ness was conducted under the original firm name for many years and in the operations of the present Pingree Company, one of the largest shoe manufactur- ing concerns in the country, the name of the late governor, one of its founders, is retained. In institut- ing their new venture Pingree & Smith purchased a small quantity of inferior machinery from H. P. Bald- win & Company, who had found it unprofitable to continue the manufacturing department of their busi- ness, and the entire capital of the new firm did not exceed fifteen hundred dollars. At the start the corps of employes numbered only eight persons, but with the forceful and progressive policies brought to bear by the two young men, both determined in pur- pose and possessed of much initiative, the business
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