USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 98
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ton, Corrigan & Boyle, which is now operating under the style of Fenton, Davis & Boyle. Mr. Davis being elected to the vice presidency, in which capacity he is now serving. His long connection with financial interests has given him a thorough understanding of the banking business and his initiative spirit, elose application and sound business judgment are proving potent elements in the continued growth and success of the firm.
In 1904 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Alice Tripp of Michigan, and they have become the parents of three children: Dan Arnold, Francis C. and William L., Jr. In his political views Mr. Davis is a republican and in religious faith he is a Congre- gationalist. He is a Mason of high standing, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Grand Rapids Consistory and also belonging to the Allegan blue lodge and chapter, Detroit Commandery and the Shrine at Grand Rapids, and his life is guided by the ben- eficent teachings of the order. He also is identified with the Detroit Bond Men's Club and socially is prominent as a member of the Ingleside, Aviation Country and Detroit Athletic Clubs. He is a cultured gentleman who studies broadly and thinks deeply. Upon all vital questions he is well informed and he keeps abreast with the best thinking men of the age concerning the political, sociological and economic questions of the day. In the management of his busi- ness affairs he has been energetic, reliable and capable and in the discharge of his duties as a citizen he has at all times been actuated by a regard for the public welfare. His ideals of life are high and he utilizes every opportunity that enables him to climb to their level.
JOHN P. HEHL, one of the leading real estate men of Detroit, familiar with every phase of the business and with the various properties on the market, was born in Fowler, Michigan, May 21, 1878, and is a sơn of Adam and Margaret M. (Seibel) Hehl, the former of European birth, while the latter was born in Mich- igan. The father came to America as a young man and took up the work of cabinet-making, in which he developed a high degree of efficiency. He also be- came a wood worker in other lines and later established a wagon and carriage manufacturing plant, when much of that kind of work was done by hand. He was regarded as one of the finest workmen in his line. Some time afterward he established a general store in Miriam, Michigan, and conducted a successful busi- ness there for a decade, or until the time of his death, which occurred in 1894. His wife passed away at Miriam in 1892. In their family were six children: Mamie, Louis, William, George, Margaret and Johu P. of this review, who was the second in order of birth.
In his boyhood days John P. Hehl attended the schools of Miriam, Michigan, and afterward had the benefit of a course in a business college at Ionia,
Michigan. Later he attended the Detroit Business University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1901. In the meantime he had been employed by the Hannan Real Estate Exchange and thus gained his initial experience in the business world. With that company he started as an office boy and through the succeeding sixteen years was promoted in the various departments until he reached the position of general manager. In 1914 he organized the John P. Hehl Real Estate Company, of which he is the sole owner, and through the intervening period he has developed and built up a large general real estate, insurance and loan business. Step by step he has advanced, making steady and substantial progress, and he is now the president of the American Realty Corporation and of the Security Realty Company and is the secretary of the Lyndhurst Realty Company, of the Glencoe Realty Company, the Elmhurst Realty Company, the West Norwood Realty Company and the Brentwood Realty Company, all of which are closely allied with the John P. Hehl Real Estate Company. His operations in real estate cireles have been exten- sive and of an important character and he is an hon- ored and prominent member of the Detroit Real Estate Board. In 1918 Mr. Hehl purchased a tract of farm land, comprising one hundred and ninety-six acres, near Ortonville, Michigan, the development and im- provement of which may be called his hobby. The exceptionally fine natural location of this farm, which commands a superb view of the surrounding country, renders its name "Hillcrest" very appropriate. Dur- ing the comparatively short time Mr. Hehl has owned among them being the erection of a barn, thirty-six by ninety-two feet, with all the modern equipment of an up-to-date structure of this character. At the head of his herd of thoroughbred Holstein cattle is Peledora De Kol, king of Pontiacs, pronounced by competent judges as the finest animal of his breed in the state. Mr. Hehl's fondness for outdoor life and recreation has no doubt greatly influenced him in the development made and planned for Hillcrest. He is a member of the Red Run Golf Club, also of the Old Colony Yacht Club and is a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, a fact indicative of his membership in the Catholic church. In politics he is a democrat. He has worked his way steadily upward from a humble position in the business world, being today one of Detroit's prominent self-made men and representa- tive citizens.
On the 20th of June, 1906, Mr. Hehl was married to Miss Susan Ransom of Detroit, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Ransom. They have one child, Ilene, born in Detroit, June 17, 1908.
LESLIE C. SMITH, conducting an extensive busi- ness under the name of the Thomas Smith Press, of which he is proprietor, was born at Detroit, February 3, 1881, and is a son of Thomas and Colinette (Math-
JOHN P. HEHL
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ewson) Smith. The father's birth occurred in Middle- borough, England, and his last days were spent in Detroit, where he passed away October 28, 1919, at the age of seventy-eight years. He crossed the At- lantic to Canada when but six years of age in com- pany with his parents and lived in Sandwich, Ontario, where his father worked at the mason's trade. Thomas Smith there attended school for a time and afterward went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he studied in the State University for two years. He established business in Detroit as a wagon-maker at the corner of Twelfth and Fort streets and also did newspaper work in the advertising department of the old Tribune. Thirty years ago he founded the printing business now conducted under the name of the Thomas Smith Press, which has been operated successfully ever since, being now in the hands of his son, Leslie C. Thomas Smith was a republican in his political views and was a lifelong member of the Episcopal church, the teachings of which he consistently followed. His wife was born and reared in the state of New York and by their marriage they became the parents of three children: Coliuette M .; Maude De Grassi, now de- ceased; and Leslie C.
The last named acquired his education in the public and high schools of Detroit and received his early business training in his father's printing establish- ment, which he entered at the age of nineteen years, thoroughly acquainting himself with every phase and branch of the business. Fifteen years ago he was admitted to a partnership and is now the owner and proprietor of the business, which is an extensive and important one. He has a very modern plant of moderate size, equipped with three cylinder presses, and he makes a specialty of doing high-class printing for other printers.
On the 2d of November, 1908, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Ella Belle Sinclair of Detroit, and they have become parents of two sons: Wendell S. and Leslie C., Jr. Mr. Smith is connected with the Detroit Athletic Club and the Detroit Boat Club and he is also a member of the Board of Commerce, being greatly interested in the efforts of that organization for the benefit and upbuilding of the city and the solution of civic problems. Mr. Smith has never sought to figure prominently in public connections outside of business, concentrating his efforts and at- tention upon his printing interests, his labors reaching a high standard of perfection in this connection.
THEODORE W. RESCH, well known in real estate circles and more recently through his connection with manufacturing interests in Detroit, is a native of Massillon, Ohio, and a son of Benjamin and Mary (Bach) Resch. The father was born in Ohio and had back of him six generations of American ances- tors. His wife was also born in Ohio and came from an old Pennsylvania German family.
After attending the public schools Theodore W.
Resch continued his education in the Baptist College at Kalamazoo, Michigan, and then traveled for a a number of years. He took up his abode in Detroit in 1910 and for three years was in the employ of George Epstean. In 1913 he organized the firm of Resch & Bowen and has since engaged in the real estate business, dealing in improved properties as broker and in high-class vacant properties. The bulk of the business of the firm of Resch & Bowen is in handling its own realty and it is possessor of much excellent property, improved and unimproved, through- out the city. In connection with two others Mr. Resch has recently organized the Utilities Chemical Com- pany for the manufacture of useful products, one of which is Jazzitt, which has already become well known as a great cleaning preparation and is finding a very ready sale on the market.
In 1893 Mr. Resch was united in marriage to Miss Ella B. Buchannan, a representative of an old family of Scotch lineage. They have one daughter, Maurine Resch. Mr. Resch holds membership in the Board of Commerce and the Fellowcraft Club.
SAMUEL HIRAM CROWL has been identified with the Detroit bar since 1904 although he has engaged in practice continuously since 1890. He now devotes his attention to general law practice and displays ability in handling all kinds of cases. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred in the city of Cleveland, March 3, 1865, his parents being S. H. and Harriet (Crabb) Crowl. The father was a wholesale lumber dealer, conducting an extensive business in Cleveland.
After mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools of his native city, Samuel H. Crowl of this review attended the Western Reserve Uni- versity and won the Bachelor of Arts degree. Deter- mining upon the practice of law as a life work, he then became a student in the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1890. Returning to Cleveland, he specialized in practice as a marine attorney and de- veloped marked efficiency in that field. He also served as attorney for the city of Cleveland for a period of four years. In 1904 he removed to Detroit, where he opened an office and has since continued in practice and he has ever commanded the respect and enjoyed the friendship of his colleagues and con- temporaries in the profession, for his strong mental- ity and intellectual energy have made him their equal on the mental plane. He has always been a close student of law and prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care. He is a member of the De- troit Bar Association and also has membership with the bar association of his native city.
Mr. Crow] was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Hutzelman of Detroit, and they have an extensive circle of friends in this city. Mr. Crowl has member- ship with the Sons of the American Revolution, a fact indicative of his ancestral connection with the
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war for independence. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias. The substantial traits of his character are attested by all with whom he has come into contact and his entire record has been a credit to the bar, for he holds to the highest standards and ethics of the profession.
ANSON LINDSLEY PARKER. High purposes and good deeds are closely associated with the memory of Anson Lindsley Parker, a man whose capability was manifest in the successful conduct of his business affairs and none the less in his work for his fellowmen. He was ever endeavoring to inculcate higher standards of living among the young and to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate, while the universality of his friendships indicated the breadth and warmth of his nature. Through the course of a most active and useful life he was identified with mer- cantile and manufacturing enterprises in Detroit and with various public utilities, while in the three years that preceded his demise he was an active factor in real estate operations in the city as the head of the A. L. Parker Company. His birth occurred on the 21st of May, 1866, at Lima, New York, his parents being Joseph and Hermione (Field) Parker. After attending public and commercial schools be became a student in the Y. M. C. A. College at Springfield, Massachusetts, and his initial business training was received in a dry goods and clothing establishment. He was engaged in merchandising at Naples and at Buffalo, New York, prior to 1886, in which year he came to Detroit and was here active in mercantile circles until 1890. In that year he became general secretary of the Detroit Y. M. C. A., a position which he filled for a decade. He afterward became a pro- motor and builder of electric railways and lighting plants, was connected with the American District Telegraph and other semi-public utilities. In 1905 he entered manufacturing circles and in later years concentrated his attention more and more largely upon real estate and investments, having in 1917 or- ganized the A. L. Parker Company for the conduct of a business of this character. His interests along this line developed rapidly and success in substantial measure attended his efforts.
On the 2d of July, 1891, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Mary Clarke Lincoln of Naples, New York, and their children were two in number, Marian L. and Lincoln F. Mr. Parker was a member of the Detroit Board of Commerce and of the Detroit Athletic Club, also the Ingleside Club, the Exchange Club, the Real Estate Exchange, the Detroit Golf Club and the De- troit Automobile Club. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church and throughout his life he was actively and helpfully interested in the Young Men's Christian Association. He served as vice chair- man of its state executive committee and during the World war he spent a year and a half in the Y service as the general secretary at Camp Custer, Michigan.
He ever embraced each opportunity to be of real benefit and service to his fellowmen, aiding at all times in upholding the highest standards for physical, mental and moral development, and those who are familiar with his career bear testimony to the fact that his activities were far-reaching and resultant. When Mr. Parker passed on, James Schermerhorn wrote of him as follows: "There is pathetic irony in the cutting off of such a stirring and resolute spirit as A. L. Parker by the new and baffling malady known as sleeping sickness. For if ever there was an alert and virile personality, diligent especially in the Mas- ter's business, it was A. L. Parker. From general secretary-ship of the Detroit Y. M. C. A., he entered the business field but continued to give unstintedly of his time to the state executive committee and to participate in councils of the national hody. Through- out the war he captained most capably the Y activities at Camp Custer. Methodism was a passion with this tireless man. He had a part in the nation-wide drive that recently raised the more than one hundred million fund for this militant denomination. The Parker Bible class of Central Methodist Episcopal church remains a flourishing reminder of his consecrated organizing genius. If consciousness had been granted him to the last, instead of the continuance of the strange stupor which marks the ailment from which he died, one may be sure that something like the Earl of Shaftsbury's dying words would have been on his lips: 'Too bad to leave the world with so much good undone.' " Mr. Parker passed away on the 11th of January, 1921.
WELLINGTON QUELOS HUNT, engaged in the real estate and insurance business, was born in Detroit, August 31, 1860, a son of George Wellington and Louise (Quelos) Hunt. The father was born in De- troit in 1832 and passed away in 1881. The mother's birth occurred in Buffalo, New York, and they were married in Illinois. The great-grandfather of Welling- ton Q. Hunt was Colonel Thomas Hunt, who had charge of troops for the federal government to take over part of the Louisiana Purchase, and his son, William B. Hunt, the grandfather of our subject, was a magistrate. George W. Hunt, the father, was for many years a well known and prominent attorney and real estate dealer of Detroit, where the mother still makes her home. In their family were six children, of whom but two are living: Wellington Q .; and Charles Wendell of Berkeley, California.
W. Q. Hunt attended the public schools and when his textbooks were put aside joined his father in the real estate business, having graduated from the Detroit high school in 1879. It was in 1881 that he became an active factor in the insurance and real estate business, in which he has continued, and as the years have passed he has enjoyed a large clientage and has kept in touch with the trend of modern pro- gress as affecting his business interests. The recent rapid growth of Detroit, caused by its almost phenom-
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enal industrial activity, has brought to him splendid opportunities as a real estate dealer and he has con- trolled a business of gratifying proportions.
Mr. Hunt is an enthusiastic and expert marksman and each year when the game season is on he takes trips into the wilds, where he exercises his skill in this direction. He has likewise trained his children in the expert use of firearms and they are also noted for their marksmanship. They have a fine collection of firearms. The nature of his interests outside of business is further indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Detroit Club and of the Detroit Boat Club. His political allegiance is given to the demo- eratie party.
On the 21st of November, 1888, Mr. Hunt was married to Miss Mabel T. Lond of Detroit, a daughter of Major and Mrs. John S. Loud, her father being a United States army officer. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have been born three children: Harriet Mabel, who was born in Detroit, is now the wife of Graham H. Lindley and they have one child, Madeline Howard; Wellington Loud, born in Detroit, who was prevented from army service in the World war because of poor health following a major operation performed at the commencement of the war, afterward became con- nected with the Morris Plan Industrial Bank of De- troit; John Leggett, who was also born in Detroit, became connected with the air service during the war, becoming a lieutenant and so serving at Call Field, Wichita Falls, Texas. He became widely known among the army aviators, acting as chief of dual in- struction, instructor of stunts and chief of hangars. He was finally ordered to Europe and while sta- tioned at Garden City, Long Island, waiting for trans- portation abroad, the armistice was signed. He and his elder brother, Wellington L., have constructed practically alone an airplane of exceptional flying qualities.
HENRY P. BORGMAN. A notable percentage of the native sons of Detroit have remained within its borders, finding here opportunities and business con- ditions that equal if not surpass those afforded in other cities of the country. Henry P. Borgman is one of the native born residents of Detroit who along the lines of an orderly progression have reached a place of prominence in business circles, being now the vice president of the People's State Bank, while with various other business interests he is associated. He was born March 13, 1865, his parents being Charles H. and Pauline (Purlier) Borgman. The father was of European birth but came to America in his boy- hood and for many years engaged in mercantile pur- suits in Detroit, while the later period of his life was passed in New Orleans, Louisiana. His wife, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, also departed this life in the Crescent City.
Henry P. Borgman was the sixth in order of birth in a family of ten children. He attended the publie
schools of his native city from 1871 until 1874 and then became a pupil in the German-American Seminary, in which he continued his studies for six years. In 1880 and 1881 he was a student at Goldsmith's Busi- ness College and thus qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. After leaving school he engaged for a short time in the liquor business and later be- came bookkeeper for the firm of Robinson Brothers, wholesale liquor dealers, with whom he remained for three years. He next spent three months at the car- penter's trade and for one year was engaged in the insurance business with his father. On the expiration of a year he became connected with the State Savings Bank, with which he has been identified for thirty- five years, his connection dating from June 9, 1885. He acted as cashier of the savings department and also of the same department when the State Savings Bank was merged into the Peoples State Bank. Grad- ually working his way upward, he is now vice presi- dent and has the mortgage department under his super- vision. His interests have constantly broadened in scope and he is now a director of the Grosse Ile Bridge Company, of the Peoples Realty Company of Detroit, the St. Clair Heights Syndicate, the Baker Land Company, the Hamtramck State Bank, the First Commercial & Savings Bank of Wyandotte, Michigan, and the Michigan Fire & Marine Insurance Company.
On the 20th of November, 1889, Mr. Borgman was married to Miss Anna Kremer of Detroit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Kremer. They have become the parents of five children: Harold H., born in Detroit in 1891, was educated in the public schools and in the Detroit College, also the Michigan Agricultural College. He married Miss Josephine Sillington of Detroit. He was a captain of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Field Artillery, Thirty-second (Red Arrow) Division, serving in France for sixteen months, and is now a member of the Michigan National Guard; Mason W., born in Detroit in 1896 and educated in parochial schools and in the Detroit high school, saw service as sergeant of Battery E, One Hundred and Nineteenth Field Artillery, during the World war, spending sixteen months on active duty in France; Paul G., born in Detroit in 1897, pursued his educa- tion in parochial schools, in the Detroit high school and the Michigan Agricultural College. He, too, was with the United States army, being in the officers training school at Camp Macomb; Helen K., born in Detroit in 1903, graduated in 1921 from the Sacred Heart Convent, Kenwood, N. Y. John F., born in Detroit in 1906, is also in school.
The patriotie service of the sons found an example in the record of the father, who was for six years a member of the Michigan National Guard. His polit- ical allegiance is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire office. He was the president of the House of Correction board for nine months and is a member of the Detroit
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real estate board. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church and is identified with various clubs and social organizations, including the Detroit Athletic, Detroit Golf, Bankers and Harmonie Clubs. Mr. Borgman is a self-made man. He started out to provide for his own support when a youth of sixteen years and has been dependent upon his own efforts since that time. Graduallly he has worked his way upward, reaching an enviable position in business and financial circles, the extent and importance of his connections gaining him place among the representative and pros- perous residents of the city. Here he has always made his home and he has a wide acquaintance among De- troit's best people.
MURRAY W. SALES. Prominent among the ener- getie and successful business men of Detroit is Murray W. Sales, president of the firm of Murray W. Sales & Company, handling sanitary plumbing fixtures, plumbers', steam and gas fitters' supplies, engineers' supplies and tools and other goods of that character. The development of the business has come through close application and intelligently directed energy. From the beginning Mr. Sales has closely studied every phase of the trade, and enterprise and dili- gence have constantly obliterated all the obstacles which continually arise in the conduct of every busi- ness interest. There have been no unusual nor spec- tacular phases in his career, but he has used wisely and well the talents with which nature endowed him and has embraced his opportunities until his success has placed him among the most prosperous of De- troit's residents. He is a native son of the city in which he makes his home, his birth having here oc- curred November 21, 1865, his parents being William and Agnes (Adams) Sales. He was educated in the public schools of Detroit and started upon his busi- ness career as an employe of Allan, Sheldon & Com- pany, wholesale dry goods merchants, with whom he remained for nine years, or until the firm passed out of existence. Mr. Sales then removed to Chicago to accept the position of local manager for the Detroit Copper & Brass Rolling Mills and for three years con- tinued in that city. In 1901, however, he returned to Detroit and organized the Sales & Broad Company, of which he became the president and treasurer. This business, however, had previously been established in 1893 at 24 East Atwater street under the name of Sales Brothers, his associate in the undertaking being Charles Sales, who passed away about eight years ago. The business was carried on under that firm name for six years, at the end of which time Charles Sales retired and the firm then became the Sales & Broad Company, which was incorporated twenty years ago. Following the death of Fred A. Broad within a few years the company became Murray W. Sales & Company and continues under this name. On leaving the first location on Atwater street a removal was made to 86 Jefferson avenue and fifteen years ago
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