USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 25
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Mr. Reiss was born in Austria, February 6, 1882, a son of Joseph Reiss. He attended the schools of his native country and from his school days until the time of his emigration to New York in 1907 he worked for over forty different concerns, engaged in auto body building, thoroughly studying their methods and gaining valuable knowledge and experi- ence. Mr. Reiss built the first body that was placed on the famous Renault chassis. He has been con- nected with the manufacturers, making bodies for the world famous Fiat, Mercedes and Oppel cars. His experience in auto body structure has not been con- fined to European cars, for he has been associated with such companies as the Packard Motor Company, Rothschild's body plant, the Fisher Body Corporation and others of equal prominence. Upon coming to the new world he entered into a nine months' contract with the Rothschild interests. In 1908 he came to Detroit, where he entered the employ of the Packard
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Motor Car Company and later he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was associated with a large con- cern for a year. On the expiration of that period he returned to Detroit and was associated with the Fisher Body Corporation for a year. Subsequently he was with Severs & Erdmann Company as a draftsman and he also represented the Detroit Body Company in the same capacity. In 1914 he established his pres- ent business, which he organized in a partnership relation with F. Ball. The business was incorporated iu the fall of 1914, with a capital stock of three thou- sand dollars, Mr. Reiss becoming president and gen- eral manager. In 1920 their interests were reincorpo- rated and the capital stock increased to fifty thousand dollars, an increase which is indicative somewhat ot the rapid and substantial growth of their enterprise. They made their bodies on the contract basis for such concerns as the Packard, the Stearns, the Roamer, the Hudson and other important automobile companies. Mr. Reiss, however, specializes on individual jobs, de- signing and building any character of a body that 'suits his client's fancy. Most of his work is of the closed hody type. The factory has sixteen thousand square feet of floor space and employment is fur- nished to forty men, all of whom are experts. Ev- erything is hand work and is done under the personal supervision of Mr. Reiss, whose thorough training and capability make him splendidly qualified for super- vision of this character. He is recognized by the heads of the automobile industry as one of the master workmen.
Mr. Reiss belongs to the Board of Commerce, and is identified with several manufacturing societies. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the oppor- tunities which he sought and in their utilization he has made steady progress, advancing step by step to the goal of success.
LEO J. REILLY, a representative of Detroit's man- ifold industrial interests, has been the president and manager of the Regal Rubber Stamp Company since its organization in 1918 and has become widely rec- ognized as an expert in his line. His birth occurred at Fort Wayne, Indiana his parents being Daniel J. and Mary A. (Ward) Reilly, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His education was acquired in the parochial schools of his native city and of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and after his textbooks were put aside he embarked in the printing business at Fort Wayne. The year 1918 witnessed his arrival in Detroit and in the month of April he organized the Regal Rubber Stamp Com- pany, which was incorporated in the following June and of which he has since been the president and manager. He is a bright, ambitious, progressive young business man, whose continued success is assured, for the manufacturing concern of which he is at the head
has already won a well deserved reputation for pro- ducing the best output of its kind in Detroit.
In 1914 Mr. Reilly was united in marriage to Miss Lizette Ryan of Lansing, Michigan. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, in which he has attained the fourth degree, and he also belongs to the Kiwanis Club. He has become widely and favorably known in the city of his adoption, having won the warm regard and friendship of those with whom he has been brought into contact through busi- ness and social relations.
JAMES P. MORAN has become a well known figure in the commercial circles of Detroit as a dealer in coal and coke, having built up an extensive trade in this connection. He was born January 11, 1879, in Detroit, his parents being Patrick and Eliza (Heffer- man) Moran. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, he attended St. Vincent's parochial school and also continued his education in the De- troit Business University. Since 1895 he has been connected with the coal and coke trade in this city. He was in the employ of several firms thus engaged until June, 1904, when he carried out his determination of engaging in business on his own account and or- ganized the firm of J. P. Moran & Company. Through the intervening period of sixteen years he has eu- joyed a constantly increasing patronage until his busi- ness as a dealer in coal and coke has become very extensive and profitable.
On the 9th of June, 1907, Mr. Moran was married in Detroit to Miss Jacqueline De Clark and their children are: Jacqueline, Josephine, Jane Agnes and June. Mr. Moran has always lived in the city which is his home and his enterprise and activity in busi- ness and his social qualities have made for him promi- nenee and popularity among those who know him.
JOSEPH N. BOURG, vice president of the Park Chemical Company, was born in Detroit, April 22, 1885, a son of Jacob and Mary (Hinzmann) Bourg. The parents were natives of Luxemburg and Germany, respectively, and about 1849 came to the new world, settling in Detroit. The father engaged in farming in Wayne county for many years and died August 25, 1921, in his ninety-third year. His wife passed away in Detroit, in May, 1917, at the age of Seventy- six years. Their family numbered four children: Joseph N., Jacob A., Lucy and Mrs. Robert Navarre, all of Detroit.
Joseph N. Bourg mastered the branches of learn- ing taught in the graded and high schools of this city and continued his education in the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1909, with the Bachelor of Science degree. His school days over, he became an employe of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Omaha, entering the chemical department, from which he afterward resigned to become connected with the Buick Motor Company of
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Flint, Michigan. His next position was with the Brown, Lipe, Chapin Company at Syracuse, New York, and subsequent to that time he returned to Detroit in February, 1915, and became connected with the Park Chemical Company at 3467 Lovett avenue, manufac- turers of case hardening materials, heat treating sup- plies and chemicals. He has had charge of the chem- ical department of the business since that time and has become financially interested in the company, of which he is now the vice president. For a number of years he has thus been connected with chemical interests and the development of his powers, his knowledge and his skill have led to his steady progress in the field in which he has undertaken his life work.
On the 10th of June, 1911, occurred the marriage of Joseph N. Bourg and Louise Franklin of Detroit, a daughter of Edward and Emily (Williams) Frank- lin. Their two children are: Donald J., born No- vember 12, 1912; and Jean L., born February 6, 1917.
Mr. Bourg is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Masonic Country Club. The nature of his in- terests, outside of business, is further indicated in the fact that he belongs to the Detroit Athletic Club and to the Rotary Club, while his endorsement of political measures for public benefit is made as a supporter of the republican party. Mr. Bourg resides at No. 1144 Lawrence avenue.
JOHN KAMINSKI, attorney at law of Detroit, was born in West Prussia, August 14, 1870, a son of Con- stantine and Pauline (Lewandowski) Kaminski, who are also natives of West Prussia and came to America in 1884, settling in Detroit. During the six months following his arrival the father worked on the farm of Henry Ford's father and can relate many inter- esting tales about the now renowned automobile man- ufacturer and his inclination toward and activity along mechanical lines. After leaving the Ford farm Mr. Kaminski followed the trade of carpentering for a time and then established a grocery store, which he conducted successfully until he retired from business a few years ago. He and his wife lived together over fifty-one years, the wife passing away February 11, 1921, in her seventy-fourth year. They were very active for people of their years, and the father was a well preserved man.
John Kaminski, the only child, began his educa- tion in the schools of his native country and after- ward attended a private school in Detroit. On laying aside his textbooks he became an operator in a wood-working machine factory in Detroit but did not find that occupation congenial and began assist- ing his father in the grocery store. In 1898 he suc- cessfully passed the examination for the postal service and took up the work of a mail carrier, continuing faithfully in the government employ until 1912. While thus engaged he attended the Detroit College of Law and also the Young Men's Christiau Association, pur- suing a private law course and being graduated from
the Detroit College of Law with the class of 1912. Through the intervening period he has built up a large practice and now has a clientele of notable character and proportions.
On the 30th of January, 1894, Mr. Kaminski was married to Miss Josephine Ciganek of Detroit, daugh- ter of Albert Ciganek. They were the fourth family of people from West Prussia to locate in Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Kaminski have become parents of four children: Eleanor, born in 1897; Anna, born in 1898; Rose, born in 1900; and Edmond, born July 2, 1902, in Detroit. All have been public school students and the three eldest have completed the high school course, while Edmond is a student at Detroit University, a member of the class of 1922. The family are of the Roman Catholic faith and Mr. Kaminski belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He also has membership with the Loyal Order of Moose and with the Woodmen of the World. He belongs to the Detroit Board of Commerce and thus manifests his deep interest in the welfare and progress of the city, and he is also a member of the Detroit Lawyers Club and of the Michigan Bar Association, enjoying the high regard of his professional colleagues and contemporaries.
Mr. Kaminski in February, 1921, was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Hamtramck, of which he is a director. He was one of the organizers of the Polish Daily Record, which has become the leading Polish daily paper of Detroit. He resides at 884 East Grand boulevard.
CHARLES YALE SMITH, one of the well known men in insurance circles in Detroit, was born at Algonac, Michigan, March 21, 1862, a son of Thomas Samuel and Rowena (Hopkins) Smith. In the ma- ternal line he is a descendant of the family of Elihu Yale, the founder of the Yale University, and the genealogical records have been traced back to 1636.
Charles Y. Smith attended the district schools and the public schools of Alpena, Michigan. He began work when but twelve years of age and continued on the farm until he had attained his majority. He then secured employment in a general store at Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he engaged in clerking until 1887. He was afterward statistics clerk in the accounting department of the Michigan Central Railroad at De- troit from 1887 until 1901, when he turned his atten- tion to the insurance business, being thus engaged in Detroit until 1905, after which he spent a year in Cleveland and Baltimore. In 1906 he returned to Detroit and on the 1st of October, 1909, resumed business in connection with insurance. He has since given his attention to the conduct of a general in- surance agency and has gained a large clientage that has made his activities fruitfully resultant.
On the 2d of December, 1901, Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Eugenia Wilson of Detroit. He and his wife are communicants of the Episcopal church and he is a prominent Mason, belonging to Damascus
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Commandery of the Knights Templar, to Michigan Sovereign Consistory of the Scottish Rite and to Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise has membership with the Northwestern Business Men's Association, the Detroit Board of Commerce and the Detroit Builders' & Traders' Exchange-organizations which have much to do with shaping the business de- velopment and the progress and prosperity of the city. He finds recreation in fishing and in music. He is also a leading member of the Canopus Club, of which he is now serving as secretary. These things, how- ever, are made subservient to his business interests and it has been by reason of comprehensive study of every phase of insurance, close application and in- defatigable energy that he has reached the point on the highroad to success where he is now found.
F. J. FARTHING, D. D. S. Dr. F. J. Farthing is a representative of the dental profession in De- troit and while prominently known as a general prac- titioner he has also been devoting considerable time to bridge work and is recognized as an authority upon this branch of the profession, his work being of the very highest order. In the years which have passed he has developed a practice of extensive pro- portions and he enjoys the high esteem and confidence of his colleagues and contemporaries and at the same time has the warm regard and goodwill of the general public.
Dr. Farthing was born in Flushing, Michigan, Oe- tober 27, 1881, and is a son of John and Katherine (Budd) Farthing, in whose family there was also a daughter, Mayulia. The father was engaged in the shoe business for many years and is still living, but the mother passed away in 1895. The son was a pupil in the public schools of his native city and afterward attended the State Normal school for a year. He next entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1908 on the completion of a course in dentistry, winning the D. D. S. degree. After completing his course Dr. Farthing entered upon the general practice of dentistry in Boyne City, Michigan, where he remained for eight years and during that period built up a very substantial and gratifying prac- tice, but thinking to find a still wider field of labor in a larger city he came to Detroit on the 30th of May, 1917, and has since been a representative of the profession in this city. Here he has made steady advancement and his work in operative surgery is of superior order. While he engages in general prae- tice he is now devoting much of his time to bridge work and is a man of recognized ability and promi- nence in this field.
Tr. Farthing is well known in Masonie eireles, having taken the degrees of the lodge and also of Boyne City Chapter, R. A. M. His political endorse- ment is given to the republican party and at all times he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Along strictly professional lines his
membership is with the First District Dental Society of Michigan, with the State Dental Society and the National Dental Association. As the years have passed he has acquired considerable real estate and there are many substantial evidences of his growing snecess, which has come in recognition of his personal ability and merit.
STANTON CLARKE has long been identified with the Detroit bar and his ability is indicated by the large and distinctively representative clientage ac- corded him. He was born in Mayville, Michigan, Sep- tember 5, 1868, a son of William A. and Elizabeth (Hughes) Clarke, natives of the province of Ontario, Canada. The father was born at Cobourg and the mother's birth occurred at Newmarket, in which city their marriage occurred. Subsequently they crossed the border into the United States, becoming residents of Mayville, Michigan, where they still make their home. The father was formerly engaged in merchan- dising but is now living retired.
Stanton Clarke attended the public schools of May- ville and the high school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, after which he entered the literary department of the State University, from which he was graduated in 1890 with the Ph. B. degree. He attended the De- troit College of Law and on the 13th of December, 1892, was admitted to the Michigan bar. He has since practiced his profession in this city and has been accorded a good clientele, for he has displayed marked ability in the conduct of intricate cases. He is careful in analysis, elear in his reasoning, logical in his de- ductions, and has ever conformed his practice to the highest ethics of the profession.
Mr. Clarke has been married twice. In December, 1894, he wedded Miss Cora MeDuff of this city, who has passed away. For his second wife he chose Eliza- beth Blair Taliaferro, whom he married on the 16th of March, 1921. She is a daughter of Thomas W. and Margaret (MeKaye) Taliaferro of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Mr. Clarke is a valued member of the Detroit Bar Association and he also belongs to the University of Michigan Club, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons, his membership being with Union Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M. For recreation he turns to out- door sports and is an enthusiastic devotee to golf, being a familiar figure on the links of the Detroit Golf and Bloomfield Hills Country Clubs, of which he is a member. His professional career has been one of continnous progress as a result of his close application and persistent effort and he has won the confidence and respect of his fellow practitioners and the general publie as well.
RICHARD TANNER CUDMORE, one of the vice presidents of The Peoples State Bank, was born in Walkerville, Ontario, Canada, May 9, 1874, a son of Richard and Emma C. (Higgins) Cudmore. The father
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engaged in merchandising at Walkerville for some time and afterward continued the business at Chat- ham, Ontario. He was born in Ireland and has passed away, as has also the mother, who was born in Can- ada, of Irish descent.
Richard T. Cndmore was quite young when the family home was established in Chatham and later his parents removed to Essex, where he acquired his education in the public schools. He began his busi- ness career as a clerk in the grocery store of Charles Mahler, with whom he continued for a year and a half, and in 1890 he entered banking circles in Detroit as messenger boy with the old State Savings Bank and has since then acquainted himself with every phase and feature of the business. He has steadily worked his way upward and in 1908 was made assistant cashier, while in 1916 he was ap- pointed cashier. He continued to fill the latter posi- tion until January, 1920, when he was chosen one of the vice presidents of The Peoples State Bank and is now occupying that position of executive control. He is also the assistant treasurer of the Detroit United Railway.
On the 30th of September, 1908, Mr. Cudmore was married to Miss Ernestine L. Sterling of Detroit. He belongs to the Ingleside Club, the Rambouillet Coun- try Club, and the Detroit Boat Club and is connected with various interests and activities which have for their object the benefit and welfare of the city and the uplift of man. He belongs to the Board of Com- merce, to The Redeemer Presbyterian church, to the Young Men's Christian Association, of the state execu- tive committee of which he is the treasurer, and he is also treasurer of the Arnold Home and president of the Laymen's Evangelistic Union of Detroit. Hu- manitarianism constitutes a strong feature of his make-up and wherever possible he extends a helping hand and labors for the amelioration of hard condi- tions of life for the unfortunate.
WM. HENRY GALLAGHER, member of the Detroit bar and an active practitioner since 1906, has found in the careful preparation of his cases and in his conscientious conformity to the highest standards of the profession the key to success in the practice of law. He was born at Alabaster, Iosco county, Michigan, on the 28th of October, 1884, and is a son of William H. and Clementine (De Brabander) Gallagher. The father was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and in childhood came to the United States with a relative, being reared in Newark, New Jersey. In early manhood he removed westward to Detroit, Michigan, and there married Clementine De Brabander, who was born in Detroit. He died in the year 1887, while his wife survived until 1913.
Wm. Henry Gallagher was educated in St. Aloy- sius parochial school and in Detroit College, from which he was graduated with the highest honors of his class in 1903, and winning the Bachelor of Arts
degree, receiving the degree of Master of Arts in 1905, from the same institution. In preparation for a professional career he entered the Detroit College of Law, in which he completed his course by gradua- tion with the class of 1906, at which time the LL. B. degree was conferred upon him. He immediately en- tered upon the active work of his profession in De- troit and has here practiced since.
Mr. Gallagher is a member of the Catholic church and also has membership with the Knights of Colum- bus, Knights of Equity and the Young Men's Order. He is the founder of the latter organization and was the president of the Wayne County Federation of Catholic Societies in 1907 and 1908, and vice president of the Detroit Diocesan Union of the Holy Name Society in 1920. He belongs to the Delta Theta Phi, a college fraternity, also to the Detroit Yacht Club and the Board of Commerce.
ROWLAND M. CONNOR, practicing law in Detroit, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, December 19, 1871, his parents being Rowland and Mary Emma (Hilton) Connor. In the maternal line he comes of Puritan ancestry early established on New England soil, the first of the name arriving in America in 1628. The paternal line shows strains of both Irish and German.
In attendance at the public schools of Boston and of Florence, Massachusetts, Rowland M. Connor ac- quainted himself with the elementary branches of learning and after the removal of the family to Mich- igan he attended the public and high schools of Sag- inaw. For a year he was a student in the University of Michigan as a member of the class of 1893. His desire to devote his time and energies to a professional career led him to take up the study of law in the office of Wisner & Draper, attorneys of Saginaw, and after thorough preliminary reading he was admitted to the bar on the 21st of December, 1892. He then began practice in Saginaw, where he remained until April, 1893, when he removed to Detroit and through the intervening period of twenty-seven years he has continued a representative of the bar of this city. He was first in the office of Otto Kirchner and in August, 1893, entered the office of John D. Conely. In January, 1908, he became associated with Flavius L. Brooke and later began practice alone. His progress has been consistent and consecutive. His powers have steadily developed through his close study and appli- cation and it is well known that he prepares his cases with great precision and care. For seven years he served as attorney for the village of Highland Park and he has long been accorded a large practice that has connected him with much important litigation heard in the courts of the district.
On the 8th of October, 1902, Mr. Connor was mar- ried to Miss Grace Gibson of Detroit, and their chil- dren are Addison D. and Winthrop H. Mr Connor is a member of the Unitarian church and his life is also
WM. HENRY GALLAGHER
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actuated by the beneficent teachings of Masonry, for he has attained the Knights Templar degree of the York Rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scot- tish Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He is like- wise a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he belongs to the Detroit Golf Club and to the Detroit Athletic Association. He is also a member of the Bar Association of Detroit. His catholicity of spirit and his considerate judgment of others have established him high in public regard. When leisure permits he indulges in hunting, fishing aud golf but his profession is his first interest and his devotion to his clients has become proverbial.
DWIGHT CARVER REXFORD, who passed away March 29, 1920, was one of Detroit's oldest attor- neys, having been a representative of the legal pro- fession in this city since his admission to the bar on the 4th of April, 1874. He was born at Ypsilanti, Michigan, April 3, 1850, his parents being Francis K. and Harriet N. (Long) Rexford. After completing his public school education as a high school pupil in Ypsilanti he entered the University of Michigan and therein pursued his collegiate work, winning the Bach- elor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1872. He then entered the law department of the same university and won his LL. B. degree in 1874. He secured admission to the bar on the 4th of April of that year and opened an office in Detroit, where he practiced continuously to the time of his demise, his clientage being extensive and of an important character. For many years he was a law partner of Levi L. Barbour. He likewise became identified with the Wolverine Portland Cement Company of Cold- water, Michigan, as a director.
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