The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV, Part 111

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: 1024

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 111

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LEO K. HENNES. One of the most substantial insurance agencies of Detroit is that which is con- ducted by Leo K. Hennes, who deals in all kinds of insurance except life, his various activities bringing him an enviable position in the business life of De- troit. Ile was born Jannary 19, 1873, in this city and is a son of Louis and Catherine (Huber) Hennes. The mother was born in a residence that stood on the site of the present city court building-now in the heart of the city-and resided in the same block for seventy-one years, her life being spent within a hundred feet of where she first saw the light of day, her death there occurring in 1908. Louis Hennes, Sr., was born in Germany and came to America in the early '50s, settling in Detroit, while later he became actively interested in general merchandising in the copper country of Michigan, conducting a very suc- cessful business to the time of his death, which oc- eurred in 1901, when he was seventy years of age. While he was the owner, his sons practically managed and conducted the business. In the family were eleven children, four of whom died in infancy, and a sister, Laura, passed away in 1913. Those living are: Rob- ert, now a resident of Lake Linden, Michigan, where he is conducting the mercantile business that was established by his father; Adolph, who is also inter- ested in the business at Lake Linden; Theodore;

Edwin; Bertha, who is now Mrs. F. A. Schulte; and Leo K. The last four named are residents of Detroit.

The last named, the eighth in order of birth in the family, was a pupil in St. Mary's parochial school in Detroit and afterward attended Detroit University, in which he completed his literary course, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1892. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan, in which he continued until 1893, when overwork at his studies greatly impaired his health and he was com- pelled to put aside his textbooks. For three years thereafter he was occupied with the attempt to regain his normal strength and improve his physical condi- tion. He then turned his attention to the insurance business although he had had no previous experience along that line. He believed, however, that it offered an excellent field and he entered into partnership with Richard G. Lambrecht. The partners concentrated their efforts and attention upon the development of the business, which was successfully conducted for several years, at the end of which time Mr. Hennes purchased the interest of his partner and has since conducted the business alone, gaining a large elientage aud dealing in all kinds of insurance except life. His ability and enterprise are demonstrated in the success which has attended his efforts and he is a prominent figure in insurance eireles, being now the treasurer of the Interstate Fire Insurance Company of Michigan and also the secretary of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents, to which position he has several times been elected. He was also at one time treasurer of the Michigan Federation of Insurance Agents.

On the 14th of June, 1899, Mr. Hennes was mar- ried to Miss Rose M. Lieblein, a daughter of John and Catherine Leiblein, and they have three children: William R., born in Detroit in 1900, who has entered a novitiate; Leona M., born in Detroit in 1902; and Frank E., who was born in 1904, and is attending high school.

The religions faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Hennes is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Canopus Club. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon his busi- ness affairs and his indefatigable industry, his close study of the questions at hand and his determined purpose have led to steady advancement in his chosen field of endeavor.

FRANK P. GMELIN. While Detroit has become the recognized center of automobile manufacturing in all the world, no unimportant chapter of its history is that which concerns the retailing of ears in the city and in this connection Frank P. Gmelin has built up an ex- tensive business. He was born in Preston, Ontario, August 28, 1878, a son of J. H. and Bessie (Toye) Gmelin, the former a native of Preston, Ontario, while the latter was born in England. The family removed to Michigan

LEO K. HENNES

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in 1887 and in the public schools of Bay City, Frank P. Gmelin continued his education. In early life he began learning the machinist's trade, serving his apprenticeship in Bay City, and was first connected with the manu- facture of marine gas engines before starting in as auto repair mechanic in 1902, continuing in Bay City until 1911. For seven years he was associated with M. A. Young, one of the pioneer retail motor car men of Detroit. On the 15th of March, 1917, he established business in- dependently and is now distributing the Mitchell and Briscoe cars, in which connection he has built up an extensive trade, his business being one of large and gratifying proportions.

On the 8th of October, 1903, Mr. Gmelin was united in marriage to Miss Lena Parreant of Bay City, and they have two children: Arthur, who is seventeen years of age; and Bessie, aged fifteen. Politically Mr. Gmelin is a republican but has never been an aspirant for office. He is a well known member of the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association and is widely known in Masonic circles, belonging to Palestine Lodge, A. F. & A. M., while in Michigan Sovereign Consistory he has attained the thirty-second degree and has also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In an analyzation of his career it is evident that close application and indefatigable energy have been the basic elements of his constantly developing success, which has brought him to a creditable position among the progressive merchants of the city.

CARL BROEHM, a native son of Detroit whose record reflects credit and honor upon his city, is now serving as secretary and treasurer of the Le Roy Broehm Foundry Company and although recently established, the business is increasing rapidly under the judicious manage- ment of the men at its head. Mr. Broehm was born May 8, 1886, and is a son of Carl and Mary Broehm, the former born in Monroe, Michigan, while the latter is of European birth. In early life the mother came to the United States, becoming a resident of Monroe, Michigan, where her marriage to Mr. Broehm occurred. Subse- quently they came to Detroit and here the father engaged in the baking business. Through industry, thrift and good business ability he built up a large trade and is now living retired in this city, while the mother also survives. In their family were six children: Clara, who is assistant principal of one of the public schools of De- troit; Mrs. Martha Rudduck, Albert, Carl, Mrs. Mayme Collard and Edgar, all of whom are residents of this city.

After completing his grammar school course Carl Broehm entered the Eastern high school of Detroit, from which he was graduated when seventeen years of age. He then started out in the business world, securing a position with one of the large automobile factories of the city, where he learned the mechanic's trade. He next found employment in the foundry of Leland-Faulker Brothers and later became a machinist in the plant of the Michigan Lubricator Company, remaining with that firm for several years. On the 1st of August, 1920, the Le Roy

Broehm Foundry Company was organized and since its inception the enterprise has enjoyed a rapid growth and with the passing years it will undoubtedly become one of the large productive industries of the city. They are brass manufacturers and cater largely to the automobile trade, the excellent quality of their work and their prompt- ness and reliability in the execution of orders winning for them a good share of public patronage. They furnish employment to from fifteen to thirty persons and the officers of the company are as follows: W. Le Roy, president; F. Le Roy, vice president; and Carl Broehm, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Broehm is an experienced machinist and his energy, close application and business acumen have been determining factors in the development of the undertaking.

In this city, on the 18th of September, 1907, Mr. Broehm was united in marriage to Miss Olga Harms, and to this union has been born a daughter, Marian, whose birth occurred in 1908 and who is now attending the Eastern high school. Mr. Broehm gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge. He is an energetic, capable and thoroughly dependable young business man whose progressiveness is a valuable asset to Detroit. The welfare and development of his city are to him matters of deep interest and the sterling worth of his character is indicated in the fact that he enjoys the unqualified respect and esteem of those amorg whom his life has been passed.

WILLIAM M. PERRETT, who, throughout his active business life in the United States, has been con- nected in a prominent way with the rubber industry, is at present the manager of the Republic Rubber Company, with headquarters in Detroit. He is a native of England, born in London in 1862, and was educated in that city.

At the age of twenty-four, in 1886, Mr. Perrett emi- grated to the United States and a short time later he became identified with the rubber business in New York city, where he remained thus engaged for six years. He then moved to Chicago with the American Dunlop Tire Company, handling the pneumatic tire, which was the first tire of that kind on the market, and which at that time was having a tremendous boom. Two years later he became associated with the Diamond Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and continued with that firm for eight years, by this time having fully assimilated a general knowledge of the rubber industry in all its aspects.

It was in 1907 that Mr. Perrett joined the Republic Rubber Company, of which he is manager. Although his headquarters are in Detroit, the territory which he supervises embraces Michigan, Ohio, and all of Canada, the scope of the company's trade having been ever on the up-grade since Mr. Perrett took over the duties of manage- ment. He has been a resident of Detroit since 1898.

In 1897 Mr. Perrett was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Lee Barker, and they are the parents of two children: Montague and Beatrice. The Perrett family

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came originally from the little isle of Jersey-one of the Channel islands-lying near the French coast.

Mr. Perrett is one of the most prominent Masons in the United States. He is past grand master of the Michigan Masons and past potentate of Moslem Temple, having held each position for two years, and is a thirty-second degree Mason. He is a member of the Fellowcraft Club, the Detroit Motor Club, and the U & I Rotary Club, of which latter he is president. Mr. Perrett is a supporter of the republican party. An able business man, he is full of civic pride, taking a prominent part in the civic affairs of Detroit. When America entered the war he threw himself energetically into all patriotic work being carried on in and about Detroit.

GEORGE G. BOGUE. In the year 1876 George G. Bogue arrived in Detroit, where he was destined to become a prominent figure in connection with the hardware trade of the city. He brought with him to the starting point of his business career here certain knowledge and training gained from experience in a hardware store of Paw Paw, Michigan, and prior to this time he had lived at Albion, Michigan. He came to this state from New England, his birth having occurred at Pittsford, Vermont, February 26, 1854, his parents being Samuel B. and Cordelia (Gar- field) Bogue, the former a prosperous farmer. In the acquirement of his education George G. Bogue attended the North Bloomfield Institute in New York and the Clinton Liberal Institute at Clinton, New York. Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west with the many business advantages here offered Mr. Bogue came to Michigan in early manhood and secured a clerkship in the store of P. Gardner at Albion, where he was employed for thirteen years. He next became identified with the firm of Free & Martin at Paw Paw, Michigan, in 1874, and in 1876 he removed to Detroit, where he was connected with the firm of Buhl Du Charme & Company from 1876 until 1879. In that year he entered the employ of the firm of Du Charme, Fletcher & Company, remaining with that firm and its successor, Fletcher, Jenks & Company, and was a silent partner with the latter firm until the business was sold in 1898. The follow- ing year he became associated with Standart Brothers, Limited, wholesale hardware dealers, and was elected vice chairman of the company in January, 1902, and continued as the second executive officer until his death, which occurred November 29, 1910. His long experience in merchandising, his progressiveness and his enterprise placed him in a prominent position in commercial circles in Detroit as one of the officials of a large wholesale hardware house, the firm occupying an extensive six-story building on Woodbridge and Front streets. The business was established in 1863 and it was upon its incorporation in 1902 that Mr. Bogue was elected the second executive officer.

Mr. Bogue was twice married. At Paw Paw, Mich- igan, on the 14th of October, 1880, he wedded Clara

A. Martin, who departed this life May 18, 1903. About two and a half years later or on the 15th of Sep- tember, 1905, Mr. Bogue was married to Mrs. Martha (Harris) Bogue.

Mr. Bogue was a loyal follower of the republican party and belonged to the Republican Club of Detroit. He also held membership in the Fellowcraft Club, the Rushmere Club, the Recreation Club, the Fishing Club, and various other social organizations. He attended the Universalist Church of Our Father, of which he was a trustee, and his family are of the Christian Science faith. Mrs. Bogue is a member of the Twentieth Century Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She lives in an attractive home at No. 3961 Cass avenue, surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, for the success which Mr. Bogue achieved enabled him to leave his family in very pleasant financial circum- stances. His life record indicated what can be ac- complished by individual effort intelligently directed, for he started out in the business world in a humble clerkship and rose to a position as directing head of one of the large commercial enterprises of dynamic Detroit.

WILLIAM H. ADAMS is a consulting engineer who, forming a partnership with Robert J. Cummins in 1909, has since maintained an office in Detroit. Mr. Adams was born on a farm near Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, January 11, 1879, his parents being Henry T. and M. A. (Pardee) Adams. In 1884 the parents removed to a farm near Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and there he attended the elementary schools and also the high school of Lock Haven. In 1904 the family went to New Jersey, settling near Newark, and from 1897 until 1902 he taught in public schools of Essex county, New Jersey, first having charge of an ungraded country school; later he became principal of the village school at Cedar Grove, near Montelair. He entered the College of Engineering of Ohio Northern University in July, 1902, and was there graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer in January, 1905.

After four years of experience as an engineering assis- tant, first in Portland Cement manufacture, later in water filtration and subsequently in reinforced concrete design in Ohio and Michigan, Mr. Adams formed a partnership with Robert J. Cummins in 1909 and they opened offices in Detroit as consulting engineers. Two years later a branch office was established in Houston, Texas, and much of the important work of the firm has been done in the southwest.

Mr Adams entered actively upon war work and in August, 1918, received a commission as captain of the Quartermaster Corps of the United States army, being assigned to the staff of the chief of the construction division at Washington, D. C. He was afterward de- tailed as section engineer of Section E of the Building Branch, which had charge of the construction work for the air service and miscellaneous work in and near Wash-

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ington, Philadelphia, Norfolk, New York and Boston. He was also member of an army commission to close up shipbuilding contracts at Savannah, Georgia. He repre- sented Construction Division at the reconstruction con- gress held in Atlantic City in December, 1918, called by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. He was also engineer member of the army commission detailed to investigate the damage sustained by public buildings of Porto Rico.

Being discharged from military service in April, 1919, Mr. Adams then resumed practice as a consulting engineer in Detroit. His partnership relation was terminated by agreement with his former associate, Robert J. Cummins, who took the southern branch of the firm's business.

While in Washington, Mr. Adams was appointed by the Detroit Board of Commerce to represent the city of Detroit at the session of the National Rivers and Harbors Congress held early in 1919. Upon returning to this city he was appointed chairman of the newly constituted inland waterways committee of the Board of Commerce. The work of this committee in 1919 consisted of studying the port of Detroit and its possibilities. They made an extended study of other inland ports and harbors and Mr. Adams wrote many articles on railroad rates, trans- portation and port development for various technical magazines He was appointed by Governor Sleeper to represent Michigan at the National Rivers and Harbors Congress in December, 1919, and later was elected a director of that body for 1920. In August, 1919, he repre- sented Detroit at the Council of States on the opening of the St. Lawrence, held in Duluth. His marked profes- sional ability has caused his cooperation to be again and again sought in many inportant public connections. He had charge of the work of securing data on imports and exports of Detroit and tributary territory and the prepara- tion of Detroit's case before the International Joint Com- mission, which held a hearing in the fall of 1920 on the commercial aspects of the proposed improvement of the St. Lawrence as affecting Detroit. Mr. Adams also had charge of plans and arrangements for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Tidewater Congress, held in Detroit at the invitation of the Board of Commerce, from the 22d to the 24th of July, 1920, inclusive. More than seventeen hundred delegates registered at this convention, representing thirty-five states. The addresses were by men of national prominence and the results of the con- vention have been far-reaching. Mr. Adams holds a commission in the Officers' Reserve Corps, United States army, with the rank of captain, Q. M. R. C.

From a total of more than eight hundred commissions is taken the following list of more important works on which the engineering has been under charge of Mr. Adams. The list includes the Tuller Hotel of Detroit, the Masonic Temple of Grand Rapids, the office building of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank, the Broadway Market building of Detroit, the Highland Park high schools and grade schools, warehouses, department stores, apartment houses, railroad terminals and hydro electric development work. Special mention should be made of the harbor and Vol. IV-61

terminal work of the Magnolia Warehouse Company at Harrisburg, Texas, on the Houston ship canal, aggregating nearly five hundred thousand square feet of floor space; also cotton warehouses of the Anderson-Clayton interests at Houston, Texas, with a building one hundred and twenty-five by twenty-five hundred feet, and equipped with automatic transfer for handling baled cotton in and out of the warehouse. Port terminal work for the Southern Pacific Railroad at Galveston, Texas, including a warehouse and a wharf, one hundred by one thousand feet, is also worthy of note.

In 1906 Mr. Adams was married to Miss Florence A. Gossard of Tinney, Ohio, and they have become parents of six children: Helen Canfield, Robert Pardee, William Gossard, Richard Wentworth, Alice Dart and Eleanor Howe. The family residence is in Highland Park, Detroit. Mr. Adams is a member of the Detroit Board of Commerce, the Detroit Exchange Club, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Detroit Engineering Society. He is actively interested in the Methodist Episcopal church. His political opinions are in accord with the principals of the republican party, but while his interests and activities are varied, his attention has been most largely concentrated upon his professional interests and public duties in which engineering projects and problems are involved. He is now closely concerned with many of the movements which are looking to the develop- ment of natural resources of the country in the matter of harbors and waterways, and his labors along these lines are proving of immeasurable benefit.

ARTHUR P. HICKS, a practicing attorney of Detroit, member of the law firm of Walters & Hicks, was born at Rome, Lenawee county, Michigan, September 3, 1876, and is a son of Roswell H. and Sarah A. (Smith) Hicks. His father was a native of New York, while the mother's birth occurred in England. The former was brought to Michigan by his parents in 1836, when but two years of age, and the old homestead where the family located is still in possession of Arthur P. Hicks of this review. The father always followed the occupation of farming, living a quiet and uneventful but most useful life.

Arthur P. Hicks pursued his early education in the district schools near his father's farm and also attended school at Springport, Michigan, in 1894. He next entered Adrian 'College, in which he was a student from 1895 until 1898, and in 1901 he gained the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. He then remained as a law student in the State University until the LL B. degree was conferred upon him in 1903. The same year he was admitted to the bar and has since en- gaged in the practice of law. During his college days he taught for one year in the district schools.

Opening a law office in Hudson, Michigan, Mr. Hicks there engaged in practice for two years and in 1906 became assistant attorney general of the state, occupying the office until 19II. He was also city attorney of Hudson for one year. With his removal to Detroit in 1911 he entered into partnership with Henry C. Walters, one of

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the distinguished attorneys of the city, and they have since specialized in insurance law, having a very extensive and important practice of this character. Mr. Hicks belongs to the Detroit, Michigan State and American Bar Associations and is now chairman of the executive committee of the state association.

On the 12th of October, 1896, Mr. Hicks was married to Miss Octa N. Curtis, of Rome, Michigan. He is a Baptist in religious faith and his political allegiance is always given to the republican party. He is prominently known in fraternal and club circles, belonging to Lansing Lodge, F. & A. M .; Highland Park Chapter, R. A. M .; Lansing Council, R. & S. M .; Michigan Sovereign Con- sistory, S. P. R. S .; and the Mystic Shrine. He is a mem- ber of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and of the Diomedian Club, which is the alumni association of that fraternity. He belongs to the Lawyers Club, the Brooklands Golf and Country Club, the Detroit Automobile Club and the Wilderness Club and is also identified with the Detroit Board of Commerce. He is interested in all that has to do with public progress and improvement and his co- operation has been a resultant factor in the promotion of various interests for the public good.

PETER HARBINE ZACHARIAS. After many years devoted to the coal trade in Detroit Peter H. Zacharias retired from business and his remaining days were spent in the enjoyment of well earned rest. Death called him, however, November 4, 1919, at his home, 170 Virginia Park, when he was in his seventy- second year. He was a native son of Michigan, his birth having occurred at Erie, Monroe county, on the 6th of May, 1847, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Zacharias, who had seven sons, three of whom were soldiers of the Civil war. Two daughters of this family are still living: Mrs. W. P. Corbett and Mrs. Lucy A. Mason, both residents of Detroit.

The youthful days of Peter Harbine Zacharias were spent under the parental roof in Monroe county and there he pursued a public school education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. In 1877 he went to California, where he remained for several years and theu returned to the middle west, locating in Toledo, Ohio, there conducting a whole- sale and retail coal business. While thus engaged he became interested in coal mines in southern Ohio and his business brought him frequently to Detroit, so that he came to recognize the better field of opera- tions afforded in this city. This determined him to return to Michigan and he established his residence in Detroit, where he resided until called to his final rest. In the early period of his connection with the city he purchased many unimproved lots and afterward sold the property at the corner of Twentieth and Michigan avenues to the Michigan Central Railroad and the railroad company disposed of it to the firm of Parker & Webb. He was for tweny years identified with the coal trade in Detroit, developing the business. to extensive proportions, having the largest coal yards in the city equipped with modern appliances. He was

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The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV, Part 111

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: 1024

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: 1024