USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 32
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1920, when he became identified with the Michigan Lubricator Company Mr. Bleil is one of the well known men associated with the motor trade in Detroit and was one of the organizers of the Detroit Automo- bile Club, remaining a director of that organization from its inception in 1916 until his resignation in 1921. Always active in those movements that have had to do with the advancement of motor interests, his activities for more than a decade have been of distinct value to that industry.
On the 12th of June, 1906, Mr. Bleil was married to Miss Alma L. Lempke of Detroit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lempke. They have become parents of three children, two of whom died in infancy, the surviving son being G. Edward, Jr., who was born January 8, 1912, at Detroit.
Mr. Bleil has an interesting military chapter in his life history, for he was a member of the Michigan Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American war, having served as a non-commissioned officer in Cuba with the Thirty-third Regiment. He is now a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans, and he is also well known in Masonry, belonging to Detroit Com- mandery, No. 1, and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the Michigan Sovereign Consistory. He also belongs to Moslem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. His club connections include the Detroit Athletic Club.
ANTHONY MAIULLO, member of the Detroit bar, specializing in the practice of criminal law, in which he has been very successful, was born in Italy, May 1, 1886. His father, Joseph Maiullo, is likewise a native of that sunny land and there married Florence Vitello. He first came to Detroit in 1883 but re- turned to Italy in 1885. Later he came again to the new world and in 1887 was joined by his wife and son Anthony in Detroit. He was one of the first Italians of this city and was successfully engaged in the fruit and candy business until 1912.
Anthony Maiullo attended the public schools of Detroit and was graduated from the Eastern high school with the class of January, 1907. In June, 1908, he completed a course in the Detroit College of Law, winning the LL. B. degree. He was admitted to the bar in 1908 and has through the intervening period of twelve years been engaged in practice in this city. As the years have passed he has become recognized as a most capable and successful criminal lawyer.
On the 19th of June, 1907, in Detroit, Mr. Maiullo was married to Miss Minnie Evaline Tarquinio, a daughter of John Tarquinio. Their children are: Florence Madeline; Joseph Anthony, who was born August 13, 1912; Madeline Ermina; and Isabella Eva- line.
When Mr. Maiullo was married he was employed as an office boy at a salary of four dollars per week. He was actuated by laudable ambition, however, and has ever used his time and talents to the best advan-
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tage, working his way steadily upward. Eventually he concentrated his efforts and attention upon the study of law, was admitted to the bar and has since made a specialty of the practice of criminal law. He is sound in argument, elear in his reasoning and logical in his deductions, possesses oratorical gifts of high order and at the same time has comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence.
Mr. Maiullo and his family attend the Catholic church and he is a member of the Knights of Co- lumbus. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the National Union, the Lawyers' Club and the Detroit Bar Association. In politics he is a republican and in all publie crises he stands loyally for the best interests of the city and state. He served on all the bond drives except the Victory Loan drive, was a member of Local Draft Board, No. 6, and a director of the legal advisory board. He was also one of the Four-Minute men and thus took active part in informing the public con- cerning the issues of the day and in setting forth real conditions concerning those things which were made a matter of German propaganda. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and his life record should serve as an inspiring force in the lives of others.
HARRY ST. CLAIR SPILLMAN, president of the National Construction Company, whose skill as a mechanical and electrical engineer has brought him into professional prominence, was born in Medina, Ohio, June 8, 1881, and is a son of Mark and Carrie (Letterly) Spillman, who are now residents of Los Angeles, California. On the paternal side he is de- scended from Puritan ancestry and came of the same family as John Brown of abolitionist fame.
Harry S. Spillman was graduated from the high school at Painesville, Ohio, with the class of 1901 and continued his education in the Case School of Ap- plied Science at Cleveland, where he won the Bachelor of Science degree in 1905. He initiated his business experience as superintendent of construction with the Mentor Knitting Mills in 1905-06 and in the latter year he became superintendent of construction with George S. Rider & Company, of Cleveland, so serving until 1907, when he entered the employ of the power department of the Detroit United Railway Company as constructing engineer. IIe filled that position for three years and in 1910-11 was construction engineer for the Hudson Motor Car Company. In 1911 he en- tered into business relations with the Continental Motor Manufacturing Company as construction and plant engineer, so remaining until 1915. In the pre- vious year he had been elected to the presidency of the National Construction Company and has continued in that capacity. The character and nature of the work of this company is well exemplified by the Mus- kegon plant of the Continental Motors, consisting of twenty-three buildings to date, and eight other indus-
trial plants. Mr. Spillman is a state registered engineer, is also an advisory engineer of the Continental Company and is the president of the Michigan Materials Com- pany of Muskegon, which was organized in 1919. The Piston Ring plant at Muskegon and the plant of the Lakey Foundry & Machine Company at that place are examples of his work as construction engineer. Mr. Spillman has done considerable research work and furnished special technical writings to the Iron Age, Electrical World, Machinery, American Machinist and other technical papers.
On the 5th of August, 1908, Mr. Spillman was mar- ried to Miss Lanra Benson of Painesville, Ohio. They are members of the Episcopal church and Mr. Spill- man belongs to Palestine Lodge, F. & A. M. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he finds needed recreation in fishing and general outdoor sports. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Detroit Board of Commerce, the Detroit Builders Exchange, also of the Old Colony Club, the Century Club and Country Club of Muskegon and the Muskegon Board of Com- merce. His professional position is one of notable prominence and his example may well serve as a stim- ulus to others. Mr. Spillman's home is at 3470 Iro- quois avenue.
ALFRED KIRK HEBNER. Originality, initiative, unabating energy and industry that never flags are the salient features in the business career of Alfred K. Hebner, the president and general manager of the Bearings Service Company of Detroit. His life story is a most interesting one. He was born in Hulburton, New York, March 21, 1887, a son of Henry G. and Gertrude (Smith) Hebner, who are also natives of the Empire state and at a recent date became residents of Detroit. The father was connected with the oper- ation of a sandstone quarry when in New York but has retired from business.
Alfred K. Hebner, their only child, attended the public schools of Holley, New York, completing a high school course, and later he entered the Univer- sity of Michigan, from which he was graduated with with the degree of Mechanical Engineering in 1912. Thorough as was his course in the State University, he has been a close student of the profession in all of its practical phases since that time, and is constantly promoting his knowledge and efficiency by broad reading and investigation.
He became assistant engineer for the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company after his college days were over, remaining with that corporation for a period of four years, during which time he began the systematic development of the bearing service, which since has become a large factor in the automotive industry of the country.
The salient characteristics of Mr. Hebner in his position as general manager are given in a sketch of him that appeared in a trade journal which stated:
ALFRED K. HEBNER
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"He worked the service problem out along broad lines and yet with the nicety of detail he had revealed in his college note-books, and established for the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company nine service branches which, with the main service office in Detroit, formed an or- ganization so planned as to be capable of rapid ex- pansion. His plan was so good that when the Bear- ings Service Company was organized in July, 1916, to act as the service department not only of the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company but of the Timken Roller Bearing Company and the New Departure Manufac- turing Company as well, these three being the leading manufacturers of anti-friction units, he was made gen- eral manager, a director and a member of the execn- tive committee with the duty of establishing bearings service so widespread over the United States of Amer- ica that any motorist could replace a worn or disabled bearing inside of twenty-four hours.
"For his successful work in this accomplishment he was elected secretary of the company on August 3, 1917; and on July 21, 1920, he became the concern's president and general manager. The Bearings Service Company has thirty-three branches located throughout the United States and Canada, and in addition more than one thousand distributors situated at various points throughout the North American Continent.
"Service is not a very tangible, concrete thing. It is dependent upon personality-on willingness-on the cheerful intent to serve. It is expressed in many ways, and the Bearings Service Company, as directed by Mr. Hebner, has tried to express its service uniformly in every branch and distributor station by their ap- pearance and through the operation of each. This attempt has met with much success. Every branch and distributor station of the company presents the same neat outward appearance. Each branch, especially, is always 'dressed up'-always presenting the idea of aliveness, like a good salesman who keeps his personal appearance always the same, of good taste and neat- ness. But there is always a danger that the institution of uniformity may tend to kill the 'business' personality of executives and employes. Many things necessarily go so machine-like and so much according to set rules in the Bearings Service Company that the branch man- agers and their various forces are liable to become mere automatons. It has happened in other large organizations-it is an ever-present danger in any big business, the successful operation of which is depend- ent on the following of certain set rules. And that was just what Hebner has been trying to avoid ever since he became general manager of the Bearings Service Company.
"The set rules must remain and must be observed, yes; but they must not be allowed to smother the individuality of the branch and distributor station managers and their employes. If the general manager of the Bearings Service Company could prevent him- self from falling into the habit of regarding his branch managers as only cogs in the machine, but instead
keep their various differing personalities before him when dealing with them at long distance, he would be able, he thought, to develop a real service per- sonality which would be maintained to the farthest limits of the organization. How to do it? That was the problem. One day Mr. Hebner was looking over an advertising folder prepared for the Bearings Service Company. In it were the pictures of the va- rious branch managers. That was the idea Hebner was looking for. He had all the branch managers send in to him photographs which he had mounted, framed and placed in his office. In writing to the branch managers Mr. Hebner constantly refers to these pictures. He reads in each face the person- ality of the manager to whom he is writing or talking at long distance. He shapes the letter accordingly. Few of his letters to the branch managers on any topie are the same. He approaches them differently- praises some, jars others and through it all is the individual note-the personal approach that not only appeals to his reader, but inspires the cooperation he desires. It has helped the Bearings Service Company, mightily-this constant effort of Hebner's to keep the branch managers and their organizations sold on the Bearings Service Company and its policies. It has helped them give better service-the only kind of worth-while service-service with a large dash of in- dividuality in it. A. K. Hebner is a young man, younger than many of the executives in his organiza- tion. Sheer ability and painstaking effort have placed him in his position."
One of the attractive features in the business of which Mr. Hebner is the president is a most entertain- ing magazine which is called "Bearing On Us," and which gives interesting notes concerning all of the branch service stations and agencies and interesting features of the business, stimulating and encouraging those who are in any way connected with the trade. Mr. Hebner at all times keeps in close connection with the various branches, studying their problems and giving sound advice as to management and control.
On the 17th of January, 1920, Mr. Hebner was mar- ried to Miss Irene M. Harper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Harper.
Mr. Hebner is a member of the Detroit Athletic Club, of the Detroit Board of Commerce, of the Detroit Rotary Club, of the Society of Automotive Engineers, of Ashlar Lodge, No. 91, F. & A. M., Detroit, Michigan Sovereign Consistory and Moslem Temple of the Mys- tie Shrine, and he is a life member of the University of Michigan Union.
Thoroughly progressive in all that he undertakes, he is recognized as a dynamic force in connection with the business interests of the city which has gained the name of "Dynamic Detroit."
JOHN B. WHITLEY is a leading figure in real estate circles in Detroit and is one of the extensive operators in subdivision property, not only in Michi-
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gan but in the Canadian border cities. In the past four years he has sold some of the largest tracts of suburban property that have been placed on the market and many big deals in real estate have been engineered and promoted through his enterprise. Mr. Whitley is a native of Halifax, England, born on the 9th of June, 1880. His parents, George and Fannie (Brearley) Whitley, are also natives of England and still reside at Halifax, where for many years the father engaged in the confectioner's trade. Their fam- ily numbered five sons: John B., of this review; James C. and Frank S., who are residents of Halifax, Eng- land; George H., of Detroit; and Harry, who has passed away.
In early life John B. Whitley attended private schools and boarding schools of his native city and after completing his education he became connected with the shoe trade in Bradford, and afterward en- gaged in the business in Bradford on his own account. Later he became the representative of and had the agency for the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company of St. Louis, Missouri, handling all of the shoes for that firm in Great Britain. He continued in the business for twelve years and was also engaged in the rubber manufacturing business on his own account for a period of four years. Through the careful conduct of his business affairs he accumulated a substantial fortune and later operated a large roller skating rink in Paris, France, but eventually lost his earnings and in order to retrieve his fortunes left Europe on the 2d of July, 1914, and came to Niagara Falls, Canada, where he became a specialty salesman. After a year thus passed he came to Detroit in July, 1915, and secured a position as salesman with The H. A. Jones Company, real estate dealers. Five days after he entered their employ he was called into the office and made district superintendent of sales. Later he be- came sales manager for Dow-Gilbert Company, a well known real estate firm, with which he remained for only a few months, when he decided to engage in the real estate business on his own account. Since that time he has purchased, platted and subdivided twenty or more properties. One of these was called the Harry Lauder subdivision in honor of the famous Scotch comedian and singer. Mr. Lauder became an American
landowner through the purchase of a number of the lots of that subdivision and the matter was given much attention by the press. The subdivisions which Mr. Whitley has handled are adjacent to Detroit, Dearborn and Windsor and since June, 1919, Mr. Whitley has disposed of over two million dollars worth of property. He is now developing other large subdi- visions in Dearborn, Marysville and Windsor, which are rapidly being sold out. He employs a large force of experienced realty salesmen and within a mar- velously short time he has reached a position among the most prominent real estate dealers of Michigan and the border cities of Canada.
On the 25th of August, 1903, Mr. Whitley was mar-
ried to Miss Florence Seed of Halifax, England, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Seed. They have become parents of two children: Alec, who was born in Brad- ford, England, in 1906 and is now attending the Northwestern high school of Detroit; and Bernard, who was born in Bradford, England, in 1910 and is also a pupil in the Detroit schools.
Fraternally Mr. Whitley is connected with the Ma- sons and is a loyal exemplar of the craft. He is an active member of West Grand Boulevard Methodist Episcopal church, serving on the finance committee when the present edifice was erected. He is also a mem- ber of the choir. His is a notable career of progress. While not all days have been equally bright and at one time serious disaster came to him, he has never- theless triumphed over defeat and by persistent effort intelligently directed has reached a commanding place in real estate circles. His study of conditions, his ready adaptability, his initiative and determination have combined to make him an outstanding figure in real estate circles and his activities have ever been of a character that have contributed to the welfare and improvement of the city in which he has operated.
ALLEN L. McCORMICK. To identify a man ac- tively with any of the great automobile interests of Detroit is to establish at once his prominence in the business circles of the city, and in this connection Allen L. McCormick is well known, being the sec- retary, treasurer and general manager of the Paige Sales and Service Company. Philadelphia claims him as a native son, born June 30, 1883, his parents being Thomas Allen and Katherine (Murray) McCormick, both of whom were born on this side of the Atlantic. The removal of the family to New England made it possible for A. L. McCormick to continue his educa- tion in the Boston Latin school and he also attended private schools in that city.
Throughout his business career Mr. McCormick has been connected with the automobile industry in one phase or another. After two years spent in Detroit he went to Baltimore, Maryland, and was the first automobile salesman of that city. He afterward became branch manager for a Baltimore company, which he thus represented for two years, and later he was sales agent for the National Cash Register Com- pany for two years. He then established business on his own account in Louisville, Kentucky, handling the Hudson car. Eventually, however, he sold out there and became connected with the Hudson Company as district manager. After two years he organized the Southern Motors Company at Louisville, Ken- tucky, and was its vice president and general man- ager for three years. He then sold out and joined the Paige Company in 1914 and through the intervening period has been identfied therewith, being now sec- retary, treasurer and general manager of the Paige Sales and Service Company.
Mr. McCormick was married to Miss Elsa Scholtz
ALLEN L. McCORMICK
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and they have become parents of two children: Her- mine; and Allen L., Jr., born in Detroit September 10, 1917. Mr. McCormick belongs to the Board of Com- merce of Detroit and is well known in the club cir- cles of the city, having membership in the Detroit Athletic Club, the Detroit Auto Club, the Oakland Hills Country Club, the Detroit Symphony Society, the Kiwanis Club and also in Corinthian Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is a worthy follower of the teachings and purposes of the craft and is recognized as an unusually able business man, progressive, alert to every opportunity that arises in connection with the trade and ready to meet any situation or emergency with the consciousness that comes from a right con- ception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
HENRY L. DRESSER. Prominent among the sub- stantial stock brokers of Detroit is the firm of Gard- ner & Dresser, of which Henry L. Dresser is a member. He is seldom in error in matters of judgment when passing upon the value of any business opportunity and his keen insight into business situations has been an important factor in the attainment of his present success. He is a native of this city, born No- vember 26, 1883, his parents being Julius A. and Florence E. (Lane) Dresser. In their family were two children: Margaret E., now the wife of R. B. Leete, Jr .; and Henry L., of this review.
Mr. Dresser pursued his education in the public and high schools of Detroit and in 1903 entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of B. S. in C. E. His first work was in connection with the construction of the Detroit river tunnel for the Michigan Central Railroad, the project being under the supervision of the Detroit River Tunnel Company. For three and a half years he was thus engaged and then entered the employ of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad as an engineer, assisting in the construction of docks at Toledo, Ohio. He remained with that corporation for a year and in 1911 returned to Detroit, becoming iden- tified with the H. W. Noble Company, one of the oldest firms of stock brokers in the city. He at first worked in the capacity of salesman and later was promoted to the position of office manager, continuing with the firm until 1917, during which period he ac- quired a comprehensive knowledge of the business. He then became district manager for the Michigan Em- ployers Casualty Company, with whom he was asso- ciated until the latter part of 1917, when he enlisted for service in the World war, being assigned to the Officers' Training Camp at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He was commissioned second lieutenant and was at- tached to the forces at Camp Taylor, where he re- mained for eight months. He was then assigned to the Ninety-fifth Division, and from there assigned to a casual detachment for overseas duty, but on arriv- ing in New York city was assigned to the regular
army, being stationed at Governors Island. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on the 28th of February, 1919, and at once returned to Detroit, where he resumed his business activities. In April, 1919, the firm of Gardner & Dresser was formed and this association has been successfully continued. They handle all listed stocks and are members of the Dc- troit Stock Exchange. Although one of the more re- cently established enterprises of this character in the city, the firm has already established a good clientele, owing to its progressive methods and its striet in- tegrity in all business transactions. Mr. Dresser is a keen and intelligent business man with a rapid grasp of details and a thorough knowledge of the line of activity in which he is engaged and in the conduct of his affairs he is meeting with well deserved success.
On the 29th of April, 1920, Mr. Dresser was united in marriage to Miss Corinne Willard and they are popular in social circles of the city. He is an earnest and active member of the Board of Commerce and an associate member of the Detroit Real Estate Board, being deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and development of his city. He is also identified with the Veterans of the World War and Larned Post of the American Legion and is likewise a member of the Ingleside Club. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, belonging to Palestine Lodge, F. & A. M., and in his life he exemplifies the beneficent teachings of the order. With industry and determination as dominant qualities he has made steady progress in the business world and his many sterling traits of character have won for him an en- viable position in the regard of his fellow townsmen.
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