USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 109
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In 1903 Mr. Skelton was married to Laura Webb, and he and his wife are interested in the social and cultural activities of the community in which they live. Mr. Skelton grew up in the northern wilds and acquired a love for outdoor sports and all forms of healthy exercise.
CHARLES ERNEST WISNER, a patent attorney of Detroit, was born in Clayton, Michigan, February 5, 1872, his parents being Daniel B. and Elizabeth E. (Ditmars) Wisner, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of New Jersey. In early life they became residents of Michigan and the father engaged in farming until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he put aside all business and per- sonal considerations and joined the Twenty-eighth Michigan Infantry as a private, doing active duty at the front in defense of the Union. His last days were spent in Clayton, Michigan, and his widow is still living. They had a family of four sons: Oscar B., now living in Toledo, Ohio; Fred L., a resident of Elkhart, Indiana; Charles E .; and William B., who has passed away.
Charles E. Wisner attended the public schools of Clayton and of Hudson, Michigan, and in 1894 came to Detroit to take up the work of a mechanical en- gineer. He continued an active representative of that line for fifteen years on his own account, opening an office in the Chamber of Commerce building in 1895. While thus engaged he took up the study of law, devoting his leisure to his reading and special- izing in law applicable to patents. He was admitted to practice by the patent office at Washington, D. C., in 1910 and has since specialized in this field. He belongs to the Michigan Patent Law Association and is also a director of the Lake Orion Assembly Resort Association.
On the 3d of August, 1893, Mr. Wisner was mar- ried to Miss Mary J. Emens of Prattville, Michigan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Emens. They have become the parents of four childen: Emens B., who was born in Detroit, March 14, 1895, was graduated from the Central high school, is a registered patent attorney and is now associated with his father in practice. On the 22d of June, 1918, he married Miss Ruth W. Wiley of Detroit and they have a son, Robert Emens Wisner, born February 17, 1920; Ruby M., the second of the family, was born in Detroit in 1897 and was graduated from Central high school of this city; Holen L., born in Detroit, October 5, 1899, is a Central high school graduate; and Ardis P., born in Detroit in 1902, is attending the Central high school. During the war the son enlisted March 16, 1918, and was assigned to the Two Hundred and Sixty- sixth Aero Squadron, Selfridge Field, being later trans- ferred to the Three Hundred and Eightieth Aero Squadron and still later to the Eight Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Acro Squadron, going overseas as a member of the latter. From a private he was pro- moted through the various ranks to sergeant, first class,
of the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Squadron, which rank he held at the time the armistice was signed. Later he held the same rank with the Four Hundred and Ninety-seventh Headquarters Air Serv- ice Squadron, from which he was honorably discharged May 2, 1919. Much of his work was of a character requiring the highest type of mechanical skill. As supervisor of trouble, the very difficult and important work of repairing aeroplanes of all foreign makes fell to him, frequently necessitating the designing and creation of new parts in the absence of the original ones and other intricate repairs that to one less skillful would have been an impossible task. He received honorable mention for his services. In 1916 he was registered as a patent attorney and is now again with his father in practice.
Mr. Wisner belongs to the Exchange Club and also to Corinthian Lodge, F. & A. M., of Detroit. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Brewster Congre- gational church, of which he was treasurer for a number of years, while at the present time he is a member of its board of trustees. His time and atten- tion, closely devoted to his profession, have brought him prominence in the field of patent law and he is a recognized authority upon questions relative thereto.
FRANK M. HECOX, president of the Motor Sales Company, distributors of rebuilt motor trucks, was born in Midland, Michigan, April 21, 1884, a son of George M. and Eliza (Bennett) Hecox, both of whom were natives of the state of New York, but came to Michigan in early life, settling in Midland, where the father engaged in the hardware business. He afterward removed with his family to Cadillac, Michigan, where he continued in the hardware trade, is still prominently connected with commercial pursuits there, and at the same time has figured prominently in public affairs of the town. His wife passed away in Cadillac in 1916.
Frank M. Hecox, who was the only child born to his parents, spent his boyhood as a pupil in the public schools of Midland, and afterward entered the Cadillac high school, while later he continued his education in the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing, there pursuing a mechanical course. After winning his diploma he took up mechanical and engineering work in Lansing, where he remained for a time, and then became a student in a business college, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of commercial methods When he had completed this course he again became connected with active business life, this time in connection with the lumber trade at Cadillac. For eight years he devoted his time and energies to the lumber business, and on the expiration of that period came to Detroit, securing a position in the mechan- ical department of the plant of the General Motors Company. There he served for a year and a half, and was then transferred to the Pontiac factory of the General Motors Company, where he remained for three and a half years, during which time he rose from a position
futur
CHARLES E. WISNER
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in the mechanical department to that of assistant sales manager and traffic manager. His successive promotions brought to him a comprehensive knowledge of the busi- ·ness in every particular and at length he resigned to come to Detroit, to take charge of the Towar Motor Company, which he represented as manager for one year. While thus engaged he bought an interest in the company, and was elected secretary and treasurer, con- tinuing to act in that official capacity for three years. Later he severed his connection with the company, sell- ing his interests in order to organize the Motor Sales Company, of which he has since been the president. This company buys and rebuilds motor trucks, and has been very successful. While starting the business on a modest scale, it has been gradually developed to large proportions, the watchwords of the concern being "honest values." This indicates the policy which the firm has instituted in the conduct of its business, which has been a basic element in its growing prosperity. Mr. Hecox is also a director of the Towar-Ayers Company of Detroit.
On the 27th of June, 1907, Mr. Hecox was married to Miss Irene Davis of Cadillac, Michigan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Davis, the former a well known druggist of that place. Two children have been born to Mr and Mrs. Hecox: Stuart, born in Cadillac in 1909, is now attending school in Detroit; and Charles B., who was born in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1914, and is also a pupil in the Detroit public schools.
Mr. Hecox is a member of the Fellowcraft Athletic Club, and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias, but his attention and interests are concentrated largely upon his business affairs, and by reason of his thoroughness, close application and indefatigable energy, he is making steady progress in the development of the trade which he is now carrying on under the name of the Motor Sales Company.
EDWIN C. BOLTON, member of the Detroit bar, was born June 17, 1869, at Detroit, Michigan, his parents being Robert and Marie (Forsyth) Bolton. The father was born in Pickering, Yorkshire, England, while the mother's birth occurred in Hull, England, and in early life they came to America. The ancestral line of the Bolton family has been traced back to William the Conqueror. Robert Bolton was a prominent contractor of Detroit for many years and in the later period of his life lived retired. He reached the notable age of ninety and passed away in Detroit in 1917, having for five years survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1912, when she was seventy years of age. The family also numbered two daughters: Ida M., who is now a teacher in the public schools of Detroit; and Mrs. Frank H. Townsend, a resident of this city.
Edwin C. Bolton, the only son, was a pupil in the high school of Detroit and after his school days were over he entered the office of Moore & Moore, well known attor- neys, under whose direction he read law, and in 1891 he successfully passed the required examination for admit- tance to the bar. He entered at once upon active prac-
tice and although advancement at the bar is proverbially slow he has steadily progressed and for a long period has been classed with the most able and successful lawyers practicing in the courts which convene in this city. For twenty years he has also been a member of the Detroit board of estimates and twice during that period has been its president, having been elected to that position in 1914 and again in 1916. He also served for some time as judge in the justice courts at Detroit.
On the 26th of November, 1895, Mr. Bolton was mar- ried to Miss Therese M. Rolshoven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Rolshoven, her father being a member of the firm of F. Rolshoven & Company, prominent jewelers of Detroit. To Mr. and Mrs Bolton has been born a son, Frederick R., whose birth occurred in Detroit, September 27, 1896, and who is a graduate of the Detroit Central high school. He pursued a two years' course in engineering in the University of Michigan and then entered the aviation section of the United States navy, becoming a pilot. He thus served on the aviation fields at Key West, Miami and Minneapolis and was discharged at Key West, Florida, in February, 1919. Upon his return from the service he enrolled in the Detroit College of Law and graduated in June, 1921, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in October of the same year, having satisfactorily passed the Michigan state bar examination, and is now associated with his father in active practice.
Fraternally Mr. Bolton is connected with the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks and also with the Loyal Order of Moose, while along professional lines his con- nection is with the Detroit and Michigan State Bar Associations. Entirely through his own efforts he has gained prominence and success and is now widely known as a leading attorney of the Detroit bar.
JOHN V. HARDING, handling engineers' supplies, metal specialties, bronze, etc., as manufacturers' agent in Detroit, was born in Port Jervis, New York, March 15, 1880, a son of Joseph and Eliza (Everson) Harding, who were also natives of the Empire state, where they spent their entire lives. The father was employed as a loco- motive engineer on the Erie Railroad for many years. He was also elected coroner of Orange county, New York, and filled the office for eighteen consecutive years. He is recognized as one of the prominent and well known residents of Port Jervis, where he still makes his home, but his wife passed away there in 1897, at the age of fifty-three. They were the parents of thirteen children, five of whom are still living: John V .; Harry, a resident of Detroit; Fred, living in Port Jervis, New York; Edward, also of Port Jervis; and Sadie I., who is a resident of Detroit.
The early education of John V. Harding was obtained in the public schools of his native city, where he con- tinued his studies until after he became a high school pupil. He later entered the employ of the Hartford Rubber Manufacturing Company of New York city, with which he continued until 1900, when he came to
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Detroit as superintendent of repair for the Diamond Rubber Company, thus taking charge of the Detroit branch. He continued with this business for five years and then established business on his own account, be- coming manufacturers' agent for several rubber com- panies. Later he added engineers' supplies, handling the products of the Consolidated Manufacturing Com- pany of Toledo and of the Metal Specialties Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, also of the Cleveland Waphite Com- pany, manufacturers of bronze products. The business is steadily growing and the enterprise and progressive spirit of Mr. Harding are manifest in the constant develop- ment of the trade.
On the 29th of July, 1902, Mr Harding was united in marriage to Miss Carrie E. Simons of Port Jervis, New York, and they have become parents of two sons: Leonard J., born in Detroit, in 1903 and now attending the Highland Park school; and Harry R., who was born in 1910 and is also a student in the same school. Mr. Hard- ing is a member of the Fellowcraft Athletic Club. He has made his home in Detroit for twenty-two years and has therefore witnessed remarkable changes in the in- dustrial and manufacturing status of the city. More- over, his own business career has been marked by steady advancement and progress, resulting from close applica- tion, thoroughness and the wise utilization of the oppor- tunities which have come to him.
WILL G. ESHLEMAN. While an attorney at law, Will G. Eshleman has devoted the greater part of his attention to life insurance business and has gained a prominent position in connection therewith in De- troit. He was born at Martickville, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1881, and is a son of David and Mary (Charles) Eshleman. The mother, a native of In- diana, became a resident of Pennsylvania when nine years of age and was there educated and married. The father was born in the Keystone state and pur- chased the old homestead of the family which had been in possession of the Eshlemans for one hundred and fifty years. Both Mr. and Mrs. David Eshleman remained residents of Pennsylvania, the father there passing away in 1898, while the mother still lives in that state. Mr. Eshleman devoted his life to the occupation of farming and in religious faith he was a Mennonite. His family numbered six children: H. Frank, a prominent attorney of Lancaster, Penn- sylvania; Martin, who is an educator by profession and resides in the Keystone state; Charles, also of Pennsylvania; Martha, the wife of Peter L. Lehman, a successful general merchant of Leman Place, Penn- sylvania; Anna, deceased; and Will G.
The last named attended the public schools of his native state and also the State Normal school of Pennsylvania. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for four years in the county in which his birth ocenrred. He afterward pursued a commercial course in the Franklin and Marshall College of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was
there graduated. In the meantime he read law in the office of his brother Frank but gave up the active work . of the profession to enter the insurance field, handling life insurance in Philadelphia for a period of ten years. On the expiration of that period he matriculated in the Detroit College of Law and com- pleted a law course by graduation with the class of 1916. He did not enter upon active practice even then but continued in the life insurance business, becoming state representative for the Missouri State Life Insurance Company. He also handles endowment insurance and annuities and the development of his business in this connection has made him a prominent figure in life insurance circles in Detroit.
On the 29th of September, 1906, Mr. Eshleman was married to Miss Mabel McCann of Philadelphia, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Amandus MeCann, residents of Philadelphia. One child has been born of this marriage: Sabina Mary, whose birth occurred in Phil- adelphia in 1907 and who is now attending school. She has already displayed notable talent in music and is being educated along that line.
Mr. Eshleman belongs to the Detroit Bar Associa- tion and the Michigan Bar Association. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and Knights of Pythias, and his political support is given to the republican party, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Canopus Club, and has become widely and favorably known in Detroit's social and business circles, enjoy- ing the high esteem of all with whom he has been brought into contact.
WALDSO TURNER, president of the Turner Engineer- ing Company and the Electrical Warehouse, Incorporated, is one of Detroit's energetic and representative young business men and manufacturers. He came to this city from the Lone Star state, his birth having occurred in Dallas, Texas, November 4, 1882. His father, E. P. Turner, was a native of lowa, but the mother, who bore the maiden name of Adella Kelsey, was also a native of Texas. In young manhood E. P. Turner went to Texas, where he took up his abode about 1860, and there he was connected with the Texas-Pacific Railroad for many years as an official and general passenger agent at Dallas. Both he and his wife are still residents of that city, and there they reared their family of two children: Waldso and E. P., both of whom are living in Detroit.
After pursuing a high school course in his native city Waldso Turner matriculated in the University of Virginia and next entered the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology at Boston, where he was graduated on the com- pletion of a course in electrical engineering in 1905. His student days over, he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and became connected with the Iron City Engineering Company. After a short time he won a responsible position with that corporation and in 1912 came to Detroit to establish a branch of the business in this city. He was appointed branch manager and developed a suc-
WILL G. ESHLEMAN
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cessful business here, continuing in charge for the com- pany until 1916, when he resigned to establish the Turner Engineering Company, which is a large and successful growing concern, with Mr. Turner as the president. He is also identified with several other prominent and profitable business ventures. The Turner Engineering Company is conducting business as construction engineers and whole- sale dealers in electrical supplies. The latter branch of their business is carried on under the name of the Electrical Warehouse, Incorporated, which was established in 1917 as a subsidiary of the Turner Engineering Company. The latter employs about two hundred people and the Electrical Warehouse has twenty-five employes. Of both companies Mr. Turner is the president.
On the 1st of June, 1914, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Helen Paine of Pittsburgh, a daughter of S. E. Paine of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They have two children: Helen Adel, born in Detroit, in 1915; and Rodman, born in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Turner occupy an enviable social position, having a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Turner belongs to the Detroit Athletic Club and his interest in municipal affairs and progress is indicated in his connection with the Detroit Board of Commerce. He likewise belongs to the Employers' Association and the Michigan Manu- facturers' Association, while in technical and scientific lines his membership is with the Detroit Engineering Society and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
NORBERT A. HOFFMAN, president of the Caspar Hoffman Real Estate Company, recognized as one of Detroit's most reliable real estate firms, was born in this city, April 29, 1892, a son of Caspar and Anna (Brinkman) Hoffman, who were also natives of Detroit, where they were reared and educated and later married. In young manhood the father established the Caspar Hoffman Real Estate Company, and continued to operate in that field of business activity to the time of his death, which occurred in Detroit in 1916, at the age of fifty-two years. His widow survives and is residing in this city. They had a family of six children: Mrs. Ida Diebold; J. Arthur; Norbert A .; and Mrs. Bernard F. Rieley, Cecelia and Leona, all of Detroit.
Norbert A. Hoffman, who was the third in order of birth, obtained his education in the public and high schools of Detroit, and then became identified with the Automo- bile business as an employe of the Packard Motor Com- pany, in the administration department. He there re- mained for three years, on the expiration of which period he became associated with his father in the real estate business. In 1915 the Caspar Hoffman Real Estate Company was incorporated, and the father, who was the founder of the business, became the president at that time and so continued until his demise, when Norbert A. Hoffman succeeded to the presidency. The company are home builders and also subdivide property, having handled the Woodward Grove, Onida Boulevard, Bur- leigh Park, Hilkern Park and Boulevard subdivisions. All of these have been placed upon the market by the Vol. IV-60
Hoffman company, and they conduct a general real estate business as well. Norbert A. Hoffman is thoroughly familiar with the real estate market and has been most alert and progressive in conducting his business affairs, his labors resulting in the transfer of much valuable property. He is also a director of the Hazelhurst Land Company, and is a member of the Detroit Real Estate Board.
On the 24th of April, 1917, Mr. Hoffman was married to Miss Louise Hafeli, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hafeli, who were natives of Detroit and representatives of one of the prominent families of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have two children: Virginia Ann, born in January, 1918; and Mary Louise, born in August, 1920.
Mr. Hoffman and his wife are connected with the Roman Catholic church and he is a third degree Knight of Columbus. His military record covers service with the Three Hundred and Twenty-eighth Field Artillery for nine months during the World war, and he was in action in France, participating in the defense of World democracy upon the western battle front. He received his discharge at Camp Custer, following the signing of the armistice, and with his return to America again took his place in the real estate circles of Detroit-a place that classes him with the representative men in this field of business.
STEPHEN ADELBERT GRIGGS. Various business enterprises of Detroit have profited by the sound judg- ment, initiative spirit and executive ability of Stephen Adelbert Griggs, who has wisely utilized his time and talents and has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has pointed out the way. He is serving as vice president of the Detroit Trailer Company and for- merly treasurer and manager of the Detroit Cold Storage Company, and his keen business insight and well for- mulated plans have resulted in the substantial growth of those undertakings, which have become important factors in the industrial development of the city. Mr. Griggs is a representative of one of the oldest families in the United States, the original American progenitor having emigrated to this country from England as early as 1632. He was born in Birmingham, Ohio, November 16, 1849, and was brought to Detroit by his parents, Stephen and Lucy (Swift) Griggs, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Ohio and is now in her ninety-second year living in Detroit. They were num- bered among the early pioneers of the City of the Straits, taking up their residence here in 1856.
In the public schools of his native city Stephen Adelbert Griggs acquired his education and on entering the business world he secured employment in a drug store. Subse- quently he became connected with the United States mail service, after which he returned to the drug business, and later ventured into business on his own account, engaging in the manufacture of pharmaceutical special- ties, in which he was very successful. He next became connected with a brewery in Walkerville, in the province of Ontario, Canada, of which he is still the owner, having
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conducted this enterprise successfully for a period of twenty-three years, under the style of the Walkerville Brewing Company. Being a man of resourceful business ability, he turned his attention to other lines and in 1914 purchased an interest in the Detroit Trailer Company, of which he remained the president until in 1921, when he sold a controlling interest and has since been vice president. The business was incorporated in 1913 and in the inter- vening period has enjoyed a steady growth, owing to the well formulated plans and capable management of its chief executive officer. Mr. Griggs was also treasurer and manager of the Detroit Cold Storage Company and is likewise interested in several other large enterprises of the city, which have benefited by his initiative spirit and superior business ability. His activities have always been of a constructive nature and his connection with any enterprise insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for his plans are well formulated and promptly executed and he carries forward to a successful termination what- ever he undertakes.
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