The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III, Part 99

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1022

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III > Part 99

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to the present location at No. 74 Jefferson avenue. Here the company handles sanitary plumbing fix- tures, plumbers', steam and gas fitters' supplies, en- gineers' supplies and tools, pipe, valves and fittings, hydrants, pumps and everything in that line. The business has reached extensive proportions, the trade covering a very large territory, the success of the undertaking placing Mr. Sales among the most pros- perous residents of Detroit.

In this city, in 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Sales and Miss Jessie June Carter. They be- came the parents of four children: Carter, Frances, Murray W. and Leonard A. In October, 1919, tragedy entered the household, for on the 23d of that month the son Leonard died from eating poisonous olives and two days later the daughter, Frances, passed away from the same cause. The latter was a most prominent young society woman of the city, very active in musical and social circles. While the dual blow seemed one from which it would be almost im- possible to recover, Mr. Sales rallied his forces to meet courageously the condition and, moreover, since that time has put forth untiring effort before congress and elsewhere in order to eliminate the possibility of the deadly botulismus germ invading canned products in the future. In his efforts he has been very suc- cessful, thus preventing similar sorrow to his own from coming to other households.

Mr. Sales holds membership in the First Presbyterian church and his political endorsement is given to the republican party. He is a member of the Detroit Board of Commerce and is prominently known in club circles of the city, belonging to the Detroit Athletic, Detroit, Yondotega, Country and Racquet and Curling Clubs and the Huron Shooting Club. He is a big man in every sense of the term. He views life from a broad standpoint and judges every question by the measurements of public opinion and public need. The subjective and objective forces in his life are well balanced and his career has been a recognition not only of business opportunities and advantages but also of his obligations to his fellowmen.

LOUIS J. LEPPER, secretary-treasurer of the De- troit Insurance Agency and one of the native sons of the city, was born November 27, 1884. His parents were James H. and H. Belle (Briggs) Lepper and his ancestry can be traced back to an early period in the colonization of the new world. In the attain- ment of his education Louis J. Lepper attended the high school of Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1903. He started out in the busi- ness world as a clerk in the wholesale dry goods house of Crowley Brothers of Detroit in June, 1903, and was there employed until August, 1905. At the latter date he became a salesman with Belding Broth- ers & Company of Chicago, with whom he continued until January, 1909, gaining broad and valuable bus- iness experience during that period. On the 1st of

LOUIS J. LEPPER

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January, 1909, he was made vice president of the Detroit Insurance Agency and so continued until Jan- uary 12, 1915, when he became secretary and treas- urer.

On the 9th of March, 1910, Mr. Lepper was married to Miss Agnes Foreman of Detroit. He is a member of the Episcopal church and is identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Palestine Lodge, Palestine Chapter, Detroit Commandery, No. 1, K. T., and Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs also to the Detroit Athletic Club, to the Bloomfield Hills Country Club, to the Detroit Curling Club and to the Detroit Golf Club. His interests have ever been of a character which have contributed to public progress and improvement for the individual or for the com- munity at large. He finds interest in music and in golf, but the major part of his attention is claimed by his business affairs, which have been constantly developed under his consistent industry and which have gained him a most creditable position in insur- ance circles of the city. Mr. Lepper resides at No. 17255 Hamilton boulevard.

G. LEWIS CARTER, attorney at law of Detroit, is a native of the city, his birth having here occurred January 15, 1874, his parents being George C. and Ellen (Wisdom) Carter. The father was a stone-cut- ter by trade and became a contractor, in which busi- ness he has continued throughout his active life.

Following the acquirement of a high school educa- tion, G. Lewis Carter attended the Detroit College of Law and in 1894, when but twenty years of age, completed his course, being admitted to the bar in 1895, for the laws of the state preclude admission to the bar before one has attained his majority. Through the intervening period he has been engaged in general practice. From 1892 until 1897 he was associated with Frank Lodge, a prominent attorney of the city, and since the latter date he has practiced independ- ently. He has been accorded a liberal clientage by reason of the ability and resourcefulness which he has displayed in the masterful handling of his cases and in his ready solution of the intricate and involved legal problems that have been presented to him.

Mr. Carter was united in marriage in December, 1913, to Miss Roxie A. Farlinger of Detroit, and they are well known in the social circles of the city. Mr. Carter is identified with the Sons of the American Revolution, which indicates that his ancestral history is one of long connection with America. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and he belongs also to the Lawyers Club and to the Detroit Bar Asso- ciation.

WILLARD OHLIGER, president and general man- ager of Frederick Stearns & Company, manufacturing pharmacists, was born in Wooster, Ohio, November 26, 1877, a son of Louis P. and Emma (MeClure) Ohliger. In the acquirement of his education he at-

tended the University of Wooster, also the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, receiving his degree of P. D. in 1900. Be- ginning his career as a chemist, he entered the seien- tifie department of Parke, Davis & Company of De- troit in 1900. In 1901 he became connected as ex- perimental chemist with the house of Frederick Stearns & Company and soon afterward was advanced to superintendent of the plant. Subsequently he be- came identified with the executive department of the corporation, becoming second vice president and later first vice president and general manager. In May, 1921, when Frederick Kimball Stearns resigned as president of Frederick Stearns & Company to fill the newly created office of chairman of its board of di- rectors, Mr. Ohliger was chosen president to succeed Mr. Stearns. It is quite interesting to note that in the sixty-five years' existence of this noted institu- tion the office of president has had only two incum- bents previous to Mr. Ohliger-Frederick Stearns, its founder, and his son, Frederick Kimball Stearns. Mr. Ohliger is also vice president of the Frederick Stearns & Company, of Canada, Limited, Windsor. In his pres- ent connection he is an executive of one of the most important enterprises of this kind in the United States, for Frederick Stearns & Company has built up an ex- tensive business that reaches not only to the confines of America but to many foreign lands as well. In fact wherever the drug trade is known the name of Stearns is a familiar one. Mr. Ohliger's comprehensive training as a chemist well qualified him for the work which he has undertaken, enabling him to render most val- uable service to the coporation in the supervising of its chemical and manufacturing interests.

On the 11th of June, 1902, Mr. Ohliger was united in marriage to Miss Agatha Greer Hard of Wooster, Ohio, a daughter of Colonel C. V. Hard. Politically he maintains a non-partisan attitude, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. He belongs to the Detroit Club, Country Club, Detroit Boat Club, Play- ers Club, Meadowbrook Country Club, the Board of Commerce, the Beta Theta Pi, a college fraternity, and his religious faith is indicated in his connection with the Episcopal church. During the World war he was chairman of the pharmaceutical section of the Council of National Defense and rendered very active and valuable aid in this connection. He is now the vice president of the American Drug Manufacturers Association, a national organization, and is one of the most prominent of the younger generation of man- ufacturers, ranking very high in his profession, in business circles and in the social life of Detroit.

WILLIAM HOGLE is the manager of the sales department of the Dodge Brothers Automobile Com- pany and keeps in close touch with every phase of the trade, so that he has been a potent factor in placing the car of the company upon the market. He is constantly studying out new methods to improve

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and develop the business along this line and his labors have been far-reaching and resultant. Mr. Hogle is a native of Decorah, Iowa, born September 28, 1881. His parents, John F. and Katie (Manville) Hogle, were natives of the state of New York and in early life became residents of Iowa, where the father en- gaged in the insurance business until his life's labors were ended in death. The mother is still living and yet makes her home in that state.

William Hogle, an only child, attended the public schools of Decorah, Iowa, and after leaving the high school entered the University of Michigan for the purpose of pursuing a course in mechanical engineer- ing. He was graduated in 1904 and after leaving the university became connected with a number of leading automobile concerns, thus acquiring compre- hensive and accurate knowledge of the business. He was associated with the engineering and mechanical departments and for the next seven or eight years he thus spent his time, being largely in the employ of the Republic Truck Company and the Dodge Brothers Automobile Company. He thoroughly understands the construction of the car in every particular because of his broad engineering training and experience and since 1914 he has been in the sales department of the Dodge Brothers Company. His developed efficiency in that field led to his promotion to the position of district manager in 1915 for the distribution of sales and he is today a well known figure in automobile circles. He is likewise connected with a number of other meritorious business concerns, including the Commercial Finance Corporation of Detroit, of which he is a director, and the Coastal Farms Association.

In Toledo, Ohio, on the 15th of October, 1904, Mr. Hogle was married to Miss Ethel Holton, a daughter of Dr. Charles H. Strong of Toledo. They have four children: Kenneth, who was born in Toledo in 1905; Eleanor, born in Toledo in 1907; Holton, born in De- troit in 1910; and Constance, born in Detroit in 1919. The three eldest children are attending school in De- troit. The religious faith of the family is indicated in their connection with St. Joseph's Episcopal church. Mr. Hogle maintains an independent course in politics, supporting men and measures rather than party. He belongs to the Detroit Athletic Club, the Oakland Hills Country Club, the Detroit Automobile Club and the East Michigan Pike Association. He has at- tractive qualities which make for popularity among those with whom he has come into contact through business or social relations. He has builded his suc- eess upon a substantial foundation and his progress has been assured from the beginning, for he is the possessor of qualities which are ever a valuable and indispensable asset in the business world.

WILLIAM A. SLOAN, engaged in the general in- surance business in connection with the Detroit In- surance Agency, was born in Syracuse, New York, May 20, 1882, his parents being John J. and Mary

(Crosby) Sloan. The family is of Irish lineage and was founded in America by the grandfather of Wil- liam A. Sloan. The father was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1850 and was there married, continuing a resi- dent of that city until his death.

William A. Sloan acquired his education in the public and parochial schools of Syracuse and in 1905 he entered the employ of the American Tobacco Com- pany, with which he was connected for eight years. In 1913 he removed westward to Detroit, where he became connected with general insurance interests as a member of the Detroit Insurance Agency. He has since concentrated his efforts and attention upon this line of business and with every department of in- surance he is thoroughly familiar, so that he is able to make a clear exposition of the various valuable points of insurance. He is also the secretary of the Johu Schloff Creamery Company of Detroit.

On the 24th of November, 1914, Mr. Sloan was married in Denver, Colorado, to Miss Beatrice Hansen, a daughter of Harold P. Hansen, formerly a prom- inent rancher of western Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Sloan have one child; Helen Elizabeth.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, and Mr. Sloan has membership in the Knights of Columbus. He belonged to the American Protective League and during the war period served on all the various bond and Red Cross drives. He is actuated by a progressive spirit in all that he under- takes and his advancement has been the direct result of laudable ambition and persistent energy.

CHARLES C. COREY, whose name is a familiar one in connection with the wholesale coal trade of the country, is vice president of the Coal Exchange and a member of the board of directors of the American Wholesale Coal Association. He has his offices in the Majestic building in Detroit and the extent and importance of his activities place him with the rep- resentative business men of the city. Michigan claims him as a native son, for his birth occurred at Chester- field, in Macomb county, October 1, 1879, his parents being Newell L. and Selena (Lee) Corey. The father, also a native of Michigan, was a farmer by occupation. The mother was born in England but was brought to America when but six months old by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee.

Charles C. Corey attended the public and high schools of New Haven, Michigan, and afterwards prepared for a commercial career by a course of study in the Detroit Business University, thus acquainting himself with basic business principles and methods. From 1900 until 1903 he served with the regular army in Cuba and the Philippines and was honorably discharged a little prior to the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, together with many others, through an act of congress reducing the size of the army. On the 13th of November, 1902, he returned to Michigan and' en- tered the employ of the Taylor-Lair Company as a

CHARLES C. COREY

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clerk, but remained with them for only a brief period, after which he accepted a position as traveling sales- man with the Hutchinson-Jones Coal Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, his territory being Michi- gan and Ontario. On the 1st of September, 1905, he became the Michigan representative of the Sunday Creek Coal Company and maintained that connection until July 5, 1913. From 1907 until December 15, 1912, he resided at New Haven, Michigan, where he operated a farm, specializing in the raising of fine Berkshire hogs and Holstein cattle. Upon disposing of his farm on the 15th of December, 1912, he invested the proceeds of his sale in the coal business and since July, 1913, has been operating in connection with the coal trade, carrying on his interests under the name of C. C. Corey, wholesale coal and coke dealer. He sells principally in Michigan and Ontario, the terri- tory over which he formerly traveled and in which he has a very wide and favorable acquaintance. He has always given his personal attention to the busi- ness and enjoys a most enviable reputation as a pro- gressive and reliable business man among all who have had dealings with him. He became one of the organ- izers of the Coal Exchange and is keenly interested in everything that promotes the coal trade or in any way affects the development and welfare of the busi- ness.

In 1903 Mr. Corey was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Allen, a native of Gaines, Michigan, and to them have been born the following children: Irene H., Evelyn N., Newell C., Carol May, Myra A. and Allen. The family resides at No. 239 Monterey avenue.

Mr. Corey is a member of the Board of Commerce and manifests a keen interest in all that has to do with matters of civic pride and progress. His political support is given to the republican party and he stanchly upholds its principles but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, his busi- ness affairs claiming his undivided time.

SIDNEY R. SMALL, actively engaged in the bond business in Detroit as a member of the firm of Harris, Small & Lawson, was born in Saginaw, Michi- gan, February 12, 1888, his parents being Dr. Sidney I. and Minerba (Ruggles) Small. The father has passed away, but the mother is living in Saginaw, as is the daughter of the family, Mrs. H. C. Landram.

As a public school pupil Sidney R. Small pursued his education through the high school course of his native city and was later graduated from the en. gineering department of the University of Michigan with the class of 1909, receiving the degree of Bache- lor of Science in Civil Engineering. Immediately fol- lowing his college course he came to Detroit and en- tered the employ of the Michigan State Telephone Company but after two months became identified with the bond business on the 26th of October, 1909. He . was for three and a half years with the Security Trust Company and for two years and a half was

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the Michigan representative of the firm of William A. Read & Company of New York city.

Following America's entrance into the World war Mr. Small joined the army and on the 1st of October, 1917, received a commission as first lieutenant in the Signal Corps, with which he served until February 15, 1919, when he was honorably discharged. In June, 1918, he had been promoted to the rank of captain in the aviation service and was stationed at Wash- ington, D. C. With his return to Detroit, Mr. Small, in company with Julian H. Harris, organized the firm of Harris, Small & Company and on the 1st of January, 1920, they were joined by Carroll H. Lawson, who was admitted as a third partner under the firm name of Harris, Small & Lawson. They are engaged in the buying and selling of investment bonds and under- write original loans but do not handle stocks. They have secured a large clientage; their patrons number- ing many prominent citizens of Detroit. Mr. Small is also a director in the Fibre Package Company and is a vice president and one of the directors of the Garden Court Realty Company. He manifests great thoroughness and enterprise in everything that he undertakes and his diligence and enterprise have been determining factors in the attainment of his present-day success.

On the 29th of January, 1916, Mr. Small was united in marriage to Miss Mary Margaret Walker, a daugh- ter of J. Harrington Walker, a prominent and in- fluential resident of Michigan, Mr. and Mrs. Small have two daughters; Margaret Ruggles and Elizabeth Walker, who are with their parents at No. 474 Iro- quois street. The religious faith of Mr. Small is that of the Methodist church and his political en- dorsement is given to the republican party. He is well known in club circles, is a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity and belongs to the Detroit Athletic, Detroit University, Country and Players Clubs and also the University of Michigan Club of Detroit. His interest in Detroit and her welfare is manifest in his connection with the Board of Commerce and in his endorsement of many plans and measures which look to the upbuilding and development of the city.

HOWARD HENRY COLBY, one of the younger representatives of the Detroit bar, was born in High- land Park, a suburb of this city, January 20, 1897, his parents being Frank H. and Catherine (Lies) Colby. The father is widely known as a breeder, trainer and driver of fine racing stock. The son was educated in the public and parochial schools of De- troit and in the University of Detroit high school. He afterward spent a year as a student in the Uni- versity of Michigan and then matriculated in the Law Department of the University of Detroit, in which he completed his course on the 18th of June, 1918. He has since concentrated his efforts and attention upon his law practice, which is steadily growing, and already he has won a creditable position

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for one of his years as a representative of the De- troit bar.

On the 5th of May, 1917, Mr. Colby was married to Miss Irene M. Carney of Bay City, Michigan, and they now have an interesting little daughter: Jean Shirley. Their religious faith is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Colby is identified with the Knights of Columbus. He is also a member of the Board of Commerce and is interested in all those forces and agencies which make for uplift and progress in the eity.

ARTHUR G. ZELLER, president and organizer of the Michigan State Auto School, has developed an enterprise of unusual character in the building up of this institution, which is now the largest automobile training school in the world, with an enrollment of more than fourteen hundred pupils from all parts not only of this country but of other lands as well. The school stands as a monument to the enterprise and well directed efforts of its founders and promoters. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "An institution is but the length- ened shadow of a man." Judged by this standard, there is something big in the nature of Arthur G. Zeller, who established and developed the school that meets every requirement for instruction in automo- bile driving, engineering, repairing, vulcanizing and in fact every phase of the automobile industry.

Arthur G. Zeller, a native son of Detroit, was born November 29, 1888. His parents, Henry A. and Kath- erine (Clinton) Zeller, were born on the other side of the Atlantic, but the father came to the new world when a youth of eighteen years and the mother crossed the Atlantic when a young lady of twenty. The former was for many years foreman with the Farrand Company of Detroit, continuing his residence in this city until his life's labors were ended in death in 1906. His widow survived only until 1917. Their family numbered three sons: Henry A., Herman A., and Arthur G., of this review.

After attending the public schools of Detroit, Arthur G. Zeller was a pupil in the Detroit Commercial College and later secured a clerical position with the Briscoe Motor Manufacturing Company. In that connection he rose from office boy to assistant bookkeeper and then resigned his position to engage in business on his own account. He established an auto garage which he suc- cessfully conducted until 1911, when he organized the Michigan State Auto School for the purpose of instruct- ing pupils in the various branches of automobile driv- ing, machine repairing and automobile construction. The school had a very modest beginning but has grown to be the largest and best managed in the world and is the only school which has the endorsement of all automobile manufacturers. Something of the rapidity of its development is indicated in the fact that there is now an enrollment of fourteen hundred students. Every phase of the work is taught and every branch has its separate department. The parent institution

has long since outgrown its original quarters and a large new school building is being erected which will cover many acres of ground and will have several sep- arate buildings, so that the school in form will resemble a large university, with administration buildings, dormitories and recreation buildings in addition to the various departments for automobile construction, tire repairing, brazing and welding and other lines of work, each separately housed. Recently there has been a new departure through the establishment of a tractor course and the school is now planning to add an aeroplane course. Mr. Zeller established this vast institution in 1911 with a capital of but one hundred and fifty dollars. All the details of the school have been worked out by him. The business was incorporated in 1912, with Arthur G. Zeller as president and general manager, H. A. Zeller as vice president and Edgar McCray as secretary.

On the 9th of November, 1917, Mr. Zeller was married to Miss Florence Wilson of Detroit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Wilson, representing a prom- inent family of Falmouth, Kentucky. The religious faith of the family is that of the Christian Science church. In Masonry he is a member of Oriental Lodge, F. & A. M. Mr. Zeller is identified with the Detroit Athletic Club, also with the Detroit Board of Com- merce. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, belongs to the Detroit Auto Club and to the Cross Country Riding Club. He is a young man of enterprise and vision, alert and energetic, whose well formulated plans are carried forward to successful completion. Throughout his career he has learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. Each forward step that he has made has brought him broader outlook and wider opportunities and by his constant study of the automobile industry he has recognized the possibilities for successful achievement in his chosen field of labor, which has gained him a position among the foremost instructors in the field of industrial training in the world.

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The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. III, Part 99

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1022

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1022