USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 13
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On the 28th of December, 1865, Judge Van Zile was united in marriage at Rochester, Ohio, to Miss Eliza A. Jones, a daughter of Alexander Jones, a na- tive of the state of New York and of Julia (Starr)
HON. PHILIP TAYLOR VAN ZILE
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Jones, whose people were originally from Connecticut, although Mrs. Van Zile was born in Erie county, Ohio. To Judge and Mrs. Van Zile were born the following named: Hortense E .; Ralph W., who graduated from the Orchard Lake Military School and died at the age of nineteen years; Mabel, who passed away in in- fancy, January 17, 1880; and Donald, a graduate from the literary department of the University of Michigan and the Detroit College of Law, a well known repre- sentative of the legal profession in Detroit. He mar- ried Harriet Goodyear and they have two children, Philip Taylor and John Goodyear. The family circle was broken by the hand of death on the 26th of Oc- tober, 1917, when Judge Van Zile was called to his final rest. Mrs. Van Zile completed her education at Oberlin College. She has been quite active in club circles, has served as president of the Ladies Literary Club of Charlotte, Michigan, and is a member of the Twentieth Century Club of Detroit. She resides at 650 West Forest avenue.
Judge Van Zile was widely known in Masonic cir- cles, belonging to Charlotte Lodge, No. 120, F. & A. M., of which he was a past master, a charter member of Charlotte Chapter, No. 82, R. A. M., a charter member of Charlotte Commandery, Knights Templar, of which he was commander, later a member of Damascus Com- mandery of Detroit, of which he was commander, and he was grand commander of the Knights Templar of Michigan in 1900. He likewise belonged to the Knights of Pythias of Detroit and his religious faith was that of the Congregational church, holding membership in the First Congregational church, and he was a deacon of the church at the time of his death. In politics he was a stanch republican and was at one time chair- man of the republican state central committee, mem- ber of the Detroit, Fellowcraft and Yacht Clubs. He exercised marked influence over political interests and over public thought and action in various other connections, his ability placing him in a point of lead- ership in connection with many matters of general concern as well as in the profession of law.
Of the many expressions of appreciation of Judge Van Zile which have appeared in the press of the city in which he lived and the state, the following is worthy of notice because it was written by one of the most discriminating of editors and one who has been on the other side of the political fence from the Judge, and is therefore appreciative of him as a man:
"A giant in stature, the late Judge Philip T. Van Zile, who is buried at his old home in Charlotte, Mich- igan, today, looked the judicial part. But with all his dignity of bearing there was an admixture of merriment, a love of the quizzical. Twenty-two years ago he was a candidate for a high state office-either the governorship or a place on the supreme bench- and in beginning a toast before the Michigan Press Association on 'Michigan, My Michigan,' he observed wistfully, 'I wish it were.' The tributes attending
his last home-going journey today, extolling fittingly his long public and professional diligence, disclose the fact that is often withheld until a man is through with the world, that it was Judge Van Zile's Michigan after all. And now he has gone to slumber in its bosom."
ARTHUR A. FRANK, who is identified with the textile manufacturing interests of Detroit, being in connection with a business that has been in existence for a half century, was born in Oakland county, Michi- gan, and pursued his education in the public schools of the state and in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he pursued a special course in com- mercial law. After leaving college he joined his father, Isadore Frank, in the Detroit-Alaska Knitting Mills, and eventually became secretary-treasurer of the company. Upon the death of Isadore Frank, which occurred during the past year, Arthur A. Frank was elected president. This company has been in existence for fifty years, and the business was acquired from the previous owners by the Franks. They manufacture woolen and worsted hosiery, mittens and heavy socks for lumbermen, and their trade extends from coast to coast through the northern part of the country. They maintain a high standard in the excellence of their product and by reason thereof their business has constantly increased and developed until it has become an important productive concern of this city.
In 1908 Mr. Frank was united in marriage to Miss Lucille Hirschfeld of St. Louis, and their three chil- dren are: Jean, aged eleven years; Ruth, aged six; and Arthur A., Jr., who is a lad of five.
Mr. Frank is a Mason of high degree, having be- come identified with Ashlar Lodge, No. 91, F. & A. M .; Michigan Sovereign Consistory, S. C. R. S .; and Moslem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He belongs to the Detroit Yacht Club, to the Redford Country Club, to the Phoenix Club and the Kiwanis Club, and he is also identified with the Board of Commerce of Detroit. His religious faith is indicated in his connection with Temple Beth El. He resides in Highland Park, and is greatly interested in all that pertains to civic bet- terment and civic progress.
WILLIAM FREDERICK MOELLER, filling a four years' term as one of the three county auditors of Wayne county, was born in Pomerania, Germany, Jan- uary 14, 1868. His father, John Moeller, was also a native of the same place, born June 1, 1839. There he married Sophia Freiheit and in 1881 they came to the United States with their son, William F., mak- ing their way across the country to Detroit, where the latter continued his education that had been begun in the schools of his native country. He completed a high school course in Detroit in 1885 and after putting aside his textbooks learned the painter's trade. Later he began taking contracts for painting work and was active in the business until 1903, when the public duties to which he was called
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demanded his entire time aud attention and he has since been an active factor in connection with the official life of Detroit.
Mr. Moeller has been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was elected alderman of Detroit in 1897 from the fourteenth ward and that he made a most creditable and excellent record in that position is indicated in the fact that he was four times reelected, serving for five terms of two years each. During this period he also served for six years, from 1899 until 1905, as jury commissioner of Wayne county. In 1908 he was elected to the office of treasurer of Wayne county and on the expiration of his first term was reelected, filling that position for two terms. In 1913 he was made a candidate of his party for the office of county auditor for a four years' term and in 1917 was re- elected to the position for the term expiring in 1921. His public service has ever been characterized by promptness and fidelity in the discharge of his duties and a thorough understanding of the obligations de- volving upon him.
On the 1st of January, 1896, in Detroit, Mr. Moeller was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Nickel, who passed away May 4, 1901, leaving two children: Louis. E. and Ella. On the 17th of July, 1903, Mr. Moeller was again married, his second union being with Minnie Provey, by whom he has two children: William F., Jr., and George. The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church. A resident of Detroit for thirty-nine years, Mr. Moeller is thoroughly identified with the interests of the city and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil.
OTTO W. KLETT, one of the owners of the large furniture establishment of Klett & Cain, at No. 552 Michigan avenue in Detroit, is a native son of this state, his birth having occurred in Southfield town- ship, Oakland county, July 20, 1881, his parents being John and Frederica (Waack) Klett, both of whom were horn in Germany, but came to America in early life, settling first in Detroit, and afterward removing to Oakland county, where the father later engaged in various lines of business. Finally he concentrated his efforts and attention upon the cultivation of the soil and became a most successful farmer. He died in Oakland county, in 1905. Mrs. Klett survived him until June 15, 1920. In that county they reared their family of twelve children, nine of whom survive, namely: Anna, the wife of John Hart of Detroit; August of Detroit; William G., who is engaged in the furniture trade in Detroit; Albert, a business man of Detroit; Bertha, the wife of Simon W. Cain, member of the firm of Klett & Cain; Fred C. of Detroit; Charles of Oakland county; Otto W., of this review; and Dorothy, the wife of Arthur W. Wood of Detroit.
Otto W. Klett attended the public schools of his native county, and afterward worked with his father
on the home farm until his nineteenth year. He then left the parental roof and came to Detroit, where he secured a position with the People's Outfitting Com- pany, as a salesman in the store. He continued to occupy that position for seven and a half years, at the end of which time he resigned to enter business on his own account, forming a partnership with Simon W. Cain, his brother-in-law, in 1906. This business developed and prospered under their careful guidance, and they now have one of the fine furniture houses and home outfitting establishments in the city, eater- ing to the best class of trade. They have twenty-eight employes and they utilize four floors of the building at 552 Michigan avenue. The business is steadily in- creasing and the enterprise and integrity of their busi- ness methods constitute the secret of their success.
On the 5th of January, 1911, Mr. Klett was mar- ried to Miss Bethel Louise Flory, and they have one child, Louise Bethel, born in Detroit May 14, 1916. Mr. Klett belongs to the Detroit Board of Commerce, and is interested in all the plans and efforts of that organization for the city's progress and upbuilding. He also has membership with the Detroit Automobile Club, which indicates something of the nature of his recreation and diversion. He is, however, preemi- nently a business man and one whose success is due to his thoroughness and progressiveness.
EDMUND M. SLOMAN. The name of Sloman has long been a prominent one in legal circles of Detroit and Edmund M. Sloman is ably sustaining the tradi- tions of the family in this respect, ranking with the leading attorneys of the city. He is a native of Detroit and was born August 12, 1882, a son of Adolph and Lottie (Teichner) Sloman, who reared a family of six children. He attended the graded and high schools of the city, after which he entered the Uni- versity of Michigan, from the law department of which he was graduated in 1904. He at once took up the work of his profession, being associated with his father in the general practice of law from the fall of that year until December, 1915, when Mr. Sloman, Sr., retired. Edmund M. Sloman specializes in real estate, corporation and income tax law, in which he is regarded as an authority. He is noted among lawyers for the care and pains with which he handles his mat- ters. While well grounded in the principles of com- mou law when admitted to the bar, he has continued throughout the whole of his professional life a diligent student of those elementary principles that constitute the basis of all legal science.
In June, 1912, Mr. Sloman was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Cecile Spring of New York, and they have become the parents of four children: Robert A., who was born in October, 1913; William C., born in December, 1914; Elaine Spring, born in January, 1916; and Janet Ruth, born in February, 1920.
At local elections Mr. Sloman casts his ballot in favor of the man whom he deems best qualified for
OTTO W. KLETT
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office, regardless of party ties, but where national issues are at stake he supports the candidates of the republican party. He is an active member of the Board of Commerce and the Detroit Credit Men's Association and is an honorary life member of the Detroit Association of Stationary Engineers. He was the founder of the Lawyers Club, of which he has served for several terms as president and secretary; and he is also connected with the Redford Golf Club, the Masonic Country Club, the Detroit Automobile Club and the Grille Club. His time and attention are chiefly given to his law practice and his marked ability is not only attested by his professional col- leagues but by the character of his practice.
EDWARD ARTHUR SCHILLING of the firm of Van Leyen, Schilling, Keough & Reynolds, architects and engineers, was born at Auburn, New York, No- vember 7, 1872, and is a son of Joseph and Louise (Bush) Schilling, the latter a native of Utica, New York, while the former was born at Watertown, New York. His grandparents were natives of Alsace-Lor- raine.
Mr. Schilling, following the removal of his parents to this state, received his education in the public school of Auburn, New York, and the high school of Ishpeming, Michigan. He resided at Ishpeming until 1892, when he came to Detroit, and secured a position as a student draftsman. Following this Mr. Schilling took special courses in higher mathematics and de- sign, continuing his position in Detroit offices, which led up to his being placed in charge of the office of Edward C. Van Leyen. Five years later he en- gaged in practice in his own name.
In 1900 he became actively associated in a partner- ship relation with Mr. Van Leyen, a connection which has since been maintained. The admission of two other partners to the firm has led to the adoption of the present title of Van Leyen, Schilling, Keough & Rey- nolds.
Some of the buildings which Mr. Schilling is jointly credited with are the Belle Isle Casino; Elks' Club building; City Hall, Flint; Recreation building; Belle Isle Park; the majority of the bridges on Belle Isle; St. Matthews church, Flint, Michigan; the Peters Cartridge plant, Cincinnati; miscellaneous park build- ings and public comfort stations; many of Detroit's finest residences and apartments, and upwards of two hundred and twenty school buildings throughout Michi- gan, Ontario and Ohio.
In addition to his business as an architect, Mr. Schilling is a director of the H. J. Hunt Show Case Company, the Michigan Society of Architects, and of the Michigan Architect & Engineer. He is also a vice president of the City Plan Commission, on which body he serves as chairman of the zoning committee. He was president of the Michigan Society of Architects during the years 1918 aud 1919, also former local sec- retary of the Architectural League of America.
Vol. IV-8
Mr. Schilling is married and has two sons, Bernard and Donald, age fourteen and eleven, respectively. His wife is Annette Bunbury Schilling of Detroit and formerly of Jackson, Michigan.
Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus and National Union, and is a member of various prominent clubs of Detroit and the state, and the Detroit Board of Commerce. His recreation is found mostly in fishing, hunting and motoring.
In addition to his Detroit Cass avenue office, his firm has opened permanent offices in the Genesee County Bank building at Flint, Michigan.
THOMAS E. TOWER, vice president of the Sullivan Packing Company, one of the large meat packing interests of Michigan, was born in Milford, this state, December 9, 1869, and is a representative of the third generation of the family in this state. His father, Frederick E. Tower, was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and for many years engaged in the iron foundry business at Milford, there remaining to the time of his death in 1907. Following the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in defense of the Union with a Michigan company and served throughout the period of hostilities, becoming a corporal. He married Isabell Shepard, who was born in the state of New York and who survives him, making her home in Detroit.
Thomas E. Tower, having attended the graded and high schools of Milford, came to Detroit in 1888 and secured a situation on the Detroit Tribune under James H. Stone in the advertising department. His identification with the packing business began with R. S. Webb on Locust and Grand River avenue in 1893. He was a trusted employe of Mr. Webb for fifteen years, on the expiration of which period he resigned to become sales manager with the Sullivan Packing Company in 1909. From this position he has gradually advanced through various promotions and having ac- quired an interest in the business he is now one of the stockholders of the Sullivan Packing Company and was elected vice president and manager of the pork department. This is one of the important commercial concerns of the city, handling a tremendous amount of live stock, the weekly slaughter averaging about five thousand hogs, four hundred head of cattle, one thou- sand sheep and lambs and six hundred calves, the business requiring the employment of more than three hundred people. In addition to the domestic sales the firm does a large amount of exporting.
On the 1st of May, 1899, Mr. Tower was married to Miss Elizabeth Watterworth and they have two children: Ruth, who was born in Detroit in 1902 and was graduated from the Northwestern high school in 1920; and Bessie, born in 1907, now attending school. Mr. Tower is a member of Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., and is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Starting out with no special advan- tages, he has steadily worked his way upward and the Sullivan Packing Company is today one of the fore-
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most concerns of the kind in Michigan, with a business that covers a wide territory and is a source of grati- fying profit to its stockholders.
EDWARD LEWIS ACKERMAN. The life story of Edward Lewis Ackerman is a simple one in its pro- cesses but far-reaching in its result. There have been no esoteric phases in his career, but along the lines of persistently and intelligently directed efforts he has achieved his notable success. From a moderate start he has worked his way upward to the presidency of a big corporation, for he is now the chief execu- tive of the Joseph N. Smith Company, dealers in automobile hardware.
Michigan claims Mr. Ackerman as a native son, his birth having occurred in Davis, Macomb county, October 2, 1869, his parents being Joseph Warren and Sarah A. (Hoover) Ackerman. He was descended from the early Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam of a seventeenth or eighteenth century but at an early period in the settlement of Michigan the family home was established in this state, and Edward L. Ackerman began his education in the district schools of his native county, while later he enjoyed the benefit of a business college training at Chatham, Ontario. In 1889 he secured the position of bookkeeper for Joseph N. Smith of Detroit and occupied that office for three years. In 1892 he was advanced to the position of chief clerk with the Detroit Copper & Brass Rolling Mills, spending the succeeding years in that con- nection and in 1899 and 1900 engaged in the grocery business on his own account. In 1901 he accepted a position as bookkeeper with the firm of Swift & Com- pany of Chicago and St. Louis, after which he came to Detroit and for about two years was assistant to the superintendent with the Detroit Copper & Brass Rolling Mills. In 1902 he again became connected with the firm of Joseph N. Smith & Company as vice president, treasurer and manager. His developing powers and broadening experience through the inter- vening years had splendidly qualified him for the executive duties which he now assumed and after serving as vice president from 1902 to 1913 he was elected to the presidency and for eight years has served in this position and has acted as general man- ager. He is a man of marked business ability, his every act being characterized by thoroughness and the mastery of every detail as well as every principle connected with the concern of which he is the head.
In Detroit on the 31st of August, 1892, Mr. Acker- man was united in marriage to Miss Marie E. Brown, and they have become the parents of two sons and two daughters: Edna Grace, Edward Clarence, Mar- garet Florence and Robert Joseph. Mr. Ackerman is a progressive republican in his political views, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian, church. He is a member of the Board of Commerce of Detroit and of the United States Chamber of Commerce, and he finds his recreation and diversion in motoring and
fishing. He is a man in all that the term implies, big and broad-minded on all questions of publie con- cern, as well as of business quality, alert and enter- prising in his civic connections, and just as ready to improve an opportunity for the general good as to advance his individual fortunes. He resides at No. 1167 Longfellow avenue.
E. T. DANIELS, who for the past ten years has been a resident of Detroit, where he is manager for the Master Primer Company, of which firm he is also secretary-treasurer, is a native of New Jersey, born at Repanpo, February 21, 1886.
Mr. Daniels was educated in the high school at Chester, Pennsylvania, and some time later began his active business career in a bank, in which line he continued for eight years, having in this period acquired a thorough knowledge of banking and com- mercial affairs. In 1910 Mr. Daniels moved to Detroit with the Holcroft Company, a firm of contracting engineers, with whom he remained for three years. His next move was to join the Master Carburetor Corporation as secretary. The Master Primer Com- pany is a subsidiary company of the Master Car- buretor Company and Mr. Daniels has complete charge, his duties covering the work of office and factory, and to his efforts and managerial skill much of the success of the Detroit end of the business is due.
The Master Primer is a mechanical device used in connection with automobiles, the company making a specialty of its manufacture. It is described as an electrically heated vaporizer, operating as an aux- iliary carburetors, and it is claimed that it will start a motor in the coldest weather in less than seven seconds, being operated by a button on the dash. Mr. Daniels' skill in giving demonstrations of the device has helped in large degree to popularize it.
JUDGE WILLIAM F. CONNOLLY, former judge of the recorder's court of Detroit and now engaged in the private practice of law as senior partner in the firm of Connolly & Henderson, was born February 25, 1876, in the City of the Straits, his parents being Peter and Ellen (McGonnell) Connolly, who were of Irish birth but came to the United States in child- hood. The father was born in Queens county, Ireland, in 1852, while the mother was a native of County Monaghan. Both were brought by their respective parents to Detroit in 1860, where Mr. Connolly passed away February 23, 1899, and Mrs. Connolly on August 31, 1915. For many years Mr. Connolly had been employed by the Michigan Central Railroad Company at Detroit.
Judge Connolly, following his early studies in St. Vincent's parochial school, attended the University of Detroit, then known as Detroit College, and won his Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the class of 1893. Two years later his Alma Mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. He qualified for the
JUDGE WILLIAM F. CONNOLLY
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practice of law as a student in the Detroit College of Law and is numbered among its alumni of 1896. Though possessing a diploma granting him the Bach- elor of Laws degree, he had to wait until attaining his majority in 1897 before being admitted to the bar to conform to the laws of the state. Immediately afterward he entered upon general practice and be- came a partner in the firm of Devine & Connolly. The partnership was maintained until the Judge was elected to preside over the recorder's court of Detroit, in which position he proved a most capable and consci- entious official, remaining upon the bench until 1915. In the latter year he became recorder, occupying the position for three years, and since 1918 he has engaged in the private practice of law, being now senior partner in the firm of Connolly & Henderson, regarded as one of the strong combinations of the Detroit bar.
On November 4, 1905, in Detroit, was celebrated the marriage of Judge Connolly and Miss Mary A. Cam- eron, whose parents were Lewis and Jane Cameron. Judge and Mrs. Connolly now have three children: William Francis, Jack, and Walter. The Judge's appreciation for the social amenities of life is indi- cated in his connection with the Harmonie Society, the Detroit Athletic Club and also with several fra- ternal organizations, including the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of America. He likewise belongs to the Detroit Board of Com- merce and he has membership in the Alumni Associa- tion of Detroit College and belongs to the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Judi- ciary Society. He is also the representative in Mich- igan of the United States alien property custodian. In politics he has ever manifested a deep interest, his opinions carrying weight in the councils of the democratic party of the state and nation, and since 1916 he has been national committeeman from Mich- igan.
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