The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV, Part 58

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 58

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FRED BRADLEY THOMPSON is secretary and treasurer of the Thompson Auto Company, which has the distinction of being the oldest distributors of mo- tor trucks and passenger cars in Detroit in years of continuous connection with the business. The com- pany has been handling the Federal truck since it was placed on the market and in this connection has built up a business of extensive and gratifying pro- portions. He was born in Detroit, August 9, 1872, and is a son of George F. and Rose (Reaume) Thomp- son, the former a native of Detroit, while the latter was born in Grosse lle, Michigan.

Fred Bradley Thompson attended private school and afterward became a student in the Detroit College, from which he was graduated in 1890. He next started to learn the electrical business with the Fisher Electrical Company, through the instrumentality of Dr. E. L. Shirley, who had been the Thompson family physician for years and manifested an interest in young Thomp- son's advancement. After a brief period in this busi- ness, however, the young man decided that owing to a lack of inventive genius and not being of a me- chanical turn of mind, his capabilities ought to find a broader field in other lines. Being naturally in- dustrious and with plenty of energy and ambition, he was not long out of employment and accepted a position with the old American Eagle Tobacco Com- pany under his uncle, Henry Thompson. In this work Fred B. Thompson soon became regarded as a valua- ble employe and was advanced in responsibility from time to time, remaining with the Eagle Tobacco Com- pany until he resigned to accept a road position with the Globe Tobacco Company, with which his father had been connected for years. Young Thompson trav- eled the state of Ohio for that company for about three years, when he severed his connection to accept a similar position with the Snider Preserve Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, wherein another uncle, John D. Thompson, was largely interested. For four years Fred B. Thompson remained with this company. From Detroit he removed to Boston, Massachusetts, and aft- erward to New York city, where he entered the brokerage business, which he conducted as senior part-

ner in the Thompson-Nattrass Company, which still controls one of the successful brokerage houses of Boston and New York, and of this he is the vice president. In the meantime he was one of the found- ers of the Royal Cheese Company, of which he sub- sequently acquired the controlling interest, and for several years he was the managing head of that business, which was really the predecessor of the Fred B. Thompson Company of Detroit, manufacturers of jar cheese, peanut butter, sugar wafers and other table delicacies. After conducting a successful manu- facturing business of this character Mr. Thompson disposed of it in 1910 and turned his attention to the automobile trade.

Fred B. Thompson became one of the founders of the Thompson Auto Company, which is one of the leading automobile distributing companies of Detroit. The business was established by his brother, John H. Thompson, mentioned elsewhere in this work, whose partnership relations were purchased by Fred B. Thompson. The brothers organized the Thompson Auto Company, of which Fred B. Thompson of this review has always been the secretary and treasurer. The business has been developed to extensive pro- portions. For a decade the firm handled only the Federal motor trucks and at the end of that time added the sale of passenger cars represented by the Max- well Chalmers line. The Thompsons are the oldest truck dealers in Detroit, having handled the Federal trucks since their first distribution in the city, and today there are more than fifteen hundred in use in and about Detroit which have been purchased through them. Interviewed as to his business policy, Fred B. Thompson said: "During that time one thought has been uppermost in my mind. That thought is to give such service that every truck sold would return one hundred cents on the dollar. Accidents that neces- sitate the quick replacement of parts are unavoidable in the varied work required of a truck. Yet every owner of a truck has a right to expect that his truek shall not remain idle for a day or a week while such parts are being ordered from the factory. I have attempted to keep such a stock on hand that quiek replacement will result in any case of ordinary emergency. For the individual owner of a truck whose means of livelihood depends on the earnings of that truck, the earnings lost in a few days or a week during which the truck is laid up for repairs and replacement of parts may knock the profit of two weeks out of his work. I think this policy is well founded because sixty-eight per cent of our orders are repeat orders." By reason of his close following of reliable and progressive business methods Fred B. Thompson has become an active factor in the development of an extensive motor business and suc- cess in large measure is now his.

On the 22d of December, 1898, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Irma Carr of Cleveland, Ohio, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Carr of that city.

FRED B. THOMPSON

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In religious faith Mr. Thompson is a Catholic and he is a third degree member of the Knights of Co- lumbus. He belongs to the alumni association of the University of Detroit, of which he is a member of the board, and he also has membership with the De- troit Ahtletie Club, the Board of Commerce and Grosse Ile Country Club. He is keenly interested in civic affairs to the extent of giving hearty endorse- ment and cooperation to all movements for the gen- eral good, yet preeminently is a business man, and thus his undivided attention to business has been a salient force in the attainment of his present gratify- ing success.

J. LAWSON MILLER, architect, whose handiwork is evident in about three hundred of the substantial structures of Detroit, was born at Lake Orion, Mich- igan, in 1878, his parents being Seymon B. and Han- nah L. (Woodley) Miller. His father, who was a miller by trade, was born at Lake Orion, and died in the house in which his birth occurred. The grand- father, Nicholas B. Miller, went to Lake Orion when that country was a virgin forest; in fact, he was one of the earliest pioneers of his section of the state, and there he carried on blacksmithing and did cabinet work. The family has ever since been represented in Michigan.

J. Lawson Miller attended the public schools and on leaving the high school he obtained a position in the office of Baxter & Hill, with whom he remained for a year and a half. He was afterward with S. C. Falkinburg for a year, and then spent six months in the employ of Joseph E. Mills. He was next with the firm of Roger & McFarlane for three months and thus his connection with all of these firms of architects brought him wide experience and intimate knowledge of the business. Later he returned to his home town, where he continued for six months, and then again came to Detroit, after which he was made head drafts- man in the office of S. C. Falkinburg, remaining in that capacity for eight years. On the expiration of that period he became a partner of Mr. Falkinburg on the 24th of October, 1904, and this relation was main- tained until the death of Mr. Falkinburg on the 3d of July, 1905. Their offices were at that time located in the Hammond building, but Mr. Miller has since moved to the present address in the Goebel building, where he has carried on his business alone. He occu- pies an enviable professional position and has been the architect of about three hundred buildings in De- troit, in addition to which he has done some notable outside work. He has erected apartment houses, ter- races and flats which have figured prominently in his work, and which combine utility and beauty with every modern convenience. He has erected a seven store and twenty-one apartment building on Michigan, a thirty-three apartment building on Charlotte and a fine terrace on Woodward avenue. He was the archi- tect of a large apartment house in Salt Lake City,

built on the site of the schoolhouse of Brigham Young, and also a notable residence in Bay City, Michigan. He enjoys a high reputation for fairness and honorable dealings with his patrons, and is widely known as a remarkably original and artistic architect, his work being unique in many respects, and at all times pleas- ing to the eye. Since the age of sixteen years he has been a practical student of architecture and he is acquainted with the best that the ages have con- tributed in the line of building.

In 1904 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Nellie Gooney of Detroit. He is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Palestine Lodge, F. & A. M .; Michigan Sovereign Consistory, in which he has at- tained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite; and Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a charter member of the Michigan Society of Architects. Aside from this he has few activities outside of busi- ness, for his profession makes constant demand upon his time and energies, and he utilizes every possible opportunity to advance his efficiency and promote his skill in his chosen field of labor.

WISTAR W. GATES. Real estate and insurance interests of Detroit find a prominent and successsful representative in Wistar W. Gates, who since 1910 has been identified with commercial interests of this eity and is now conducting a business of extensive proportions. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he was left an orphan during his boyhood and from an early age has been dependent upon his own exertions for a livelihood, his present prosperity being the direct outcome of his persistency of purpose and undaunted energy. Mr. Gates is a native of the south. He was born near Richmond, Virginia, April 12, 1882, a son of Charles James and Minnie Lane (Robertson) Gates. In the paternal line the original progenitor of the family in America emi- grated to this country from Buckinghamshire, England, in 1779 and on the distaff side the family is also of English origin, having been established in the United States since the Revolutionary war.

Mr. Gates' parents died when he was quite young and he was reared in the family of his maternal uncle, the Rev. Walter Robertson, a Presbyterian minister and a brother of General Robertson of Civil war fame. He attended the public schools near Warren- ton, 'Virginia, and a high school in that city and while he received a fair amount of education he has never had any boyhood, being obliged to start out for himself in the world at an unusually early age. He was a newsboy at Newport News when its popu- lation numbered sixteen thousand people and at the age of seventeen became stockman in a furniture store, while subsequently he was advanced to the position of salesman, continuing with that firm until twenty years of age. He then went to Washington, D. C., and there entered the employ of a furniture house. His close application and efficient service soon won him pro-

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motion aud he was made buyer of rugs and draperies for the company, with whom he remained until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he entered busi- ness cireles on his own account, forming the firm of Gates & Rich, dealers in furniture and carpets. Ile was active in that connection for six years, at the end of which period he closed up the business and in 1910 came to Detroit, where he became identified with the firm of Owen & Company, in whose employ he re- mained for a year. He then established a real estate, loan, building and insurance business, which he has since condueted, handling everything in the real estate line except subdivisions. He has maintained his offices in the Detroit Savings Bank building since 1912 and has been very successful in the conduct of his inter- ests, building up a business of extensive proportions. He has negotiated many important realty transfers in this city and also has large real estate interests in Florida, in which state he also spends his winters. He is a most capable business man of firm purpose and marked strength of character who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

Mr. Gates was united in marriage to Miss Eva Stuart of West Virginia, and they have become the parents of a son, Stuart Wistar. He is an active and earnest member of the Detroit Real Estate Board and the Detroit Board of Commerce and he is also iden- tified with the Old Colony Club, Oakland Hills Coun- try Club, and the Detroit Automobile Club. He has led a busy, active and useful life, employing every opportunity to advance, and the years have chronicled his growing success, while at all times his activities have balanced up with the principles of truth and honor. A progressive spirit and firm determination have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and ob- stacles in his path and his record is a most com- mendable one, showing what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do.

WILLIAM A. SELLS. Many of the sons of Can- ada have crossed the border into Detroit to find here the superior business conditions brought about through livelier competition and advancement more. quickly secured. The business record of William A. Sells is one that spells progress and from a humble position he has worked his way steadily upward until he is now the president of the A. J. Dupuis Company of Detroit. He was born in Norfolk county, Ontario, Canada, September 4, 1877, and obtained his early education in the public schools there. He was a young man of seventeen years when he took up his abode in Detroit, after which he was employed for some time by the Detroit Construction Company and during that period worked on the construction of the railroad between Detroit and Flint, Michigan. In 1901 he joined the A. J. Dupuis Company, dock builders, in the capacity of bookkeeper. In 1917 he was elected to the presidency of the corporation. This company has been accorded many important contracts. It has put

in the foundations of the Pontchartrain hotel, the new Buhl buildings, the Solvay plant, the Morgan & Wright plant, the Union Trust building and the Chamber of Commerce, together with various other edifices of the city. In addition it has built many docks on the Detroit side of the river from Grosse Pointe to Tren- ton. Its contracts have been of a most important character, including work of large extent and im- portanee.

Mr. Sells was united in marriage in 1912 to Miss Margaret Fraser and they have become the parents of three children, all born iu Detroit: Bruce, born May 12, 1914; William A., Jr., born October 30, 1915; and Jean. In his fraternal connections Mr. Sells is a Mason, his name being on the membership rolls of Ashlar Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Damascus Com- mandery, No. 42, K. T. He is also a representative of the Detroit Athletic Club, the Oakland Hills Country Club and the Board of Commerce. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has supported the republican party and is a firm believer in its principles, but has never sought nor desired politieal preferment. On the contrary he has con- centrated his efforts and attention upon his business affairs.

F. CALDWELL WALKER. Occupying a central position among the younger generation of business men in Detroit is F. Caldwell Walker, the president of the Fibre Package Company, manufacturers of large paper and corrugated shipping eases and boxes. He is of the third generation of the family to make notable contribution to the upbuilding of the business of this eity. His grandfather, Hiram Walker, coming to De- troit when it was but a small town, was for many years an important factor in the growth and develop- ment of this city and was the founder and promoter of the town of Walkerville across the river. F. Cald- well Walker's father, J. Harrington Walker, con- tinued the business interests established by the father and became in his turn a leading factor in Detroit's commercial development. Both are mentioned at length on another page of this work.

In the acquirement of his education F. Caldwell Walker attended the schools of Detroit and after- ward became a pupil in prominent educational insti- tutions elsewhere, including St. Paul's school at Con- cord, New Hampshire. When his textbooks were put aside he became identified with the automobile busi- ness as a retail agent for the Baker electric and the Mercier automobiles in Detroit. In connection with others he purchased the business of the Detroit Cor- rugated Board & Box Company, and organized the Fibre Packing Company, manufacturers of corrugated paper shipping cases and boxes. This business has been developed to large proportions and is now one of the important productive industries of the city. One hundred people are employed in a modern manu- facturing plant located at No. 1601 Clay avenue in

WILLIAM A. SELLS

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Detroit. Mr. Walker is the president and one of the directors of this company and in its management and control is displaying the same sterling business qual- ities which have made the name of Walker a forceful one in commercial, industrial and financial circles in Detroit through three generations.

On the 21st of May, 1913, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Marjorie Ball, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Ball, and they have become parents of a son, William Harrington, who was born in Detroit, May 7, 1914, and is now attending the Liggett school for boys.

Mr. Walker was in the air service during the World war, in the ground and production division, with the commission of second lieutenant. He is a member of the Detroit Club, the Detroit Athletic Club, the De- troit Country Club and the Old Club and is well known in the social life of the city, attractive personal qual- ities establishing his position as a foremost figure in club life as well as in business circles. Mr. Walker resides at 2163 Seminole.

MICHAEL A. MOYNIHAN, secretary, treasurer and one of the directors of the Gemmer Manufacturing Company of Detroit, is a native of Ireland but was brought to America by his parents when three years of age, the family home being established in Detroit in 1881. They made their way direct to this city and here Mr. Moynihan has since resided. He was educated in parochial schools and in Detroit College, now the University of Detroit, pursuing a classical course, which he completed with the class of 1900.

Mr. Moynihan then started out upon his business career and from 1900 until 1901 was with the Great Northern Railway Company, after which he spent six years in connection with E. A. Skae in the coal busi- ness. In 1907 he became one of the organizers of the Gemmer Manufacturing Company, of which he was first made assistant secretary and treasurer, while since 1913 he has occupied his present position as secretary and treasurer and member of the board of directors. This company was one hundred per cent American and patriotic in the World war. Their design of steering gears was adopted by the government and they also assisted in designing and producing the Class B Truck unit for the war depart- ment. Moreover, all of the men who left their shops to enter the service were taken back into their old positions when they returned. The business of the company is steadily growing and as one of the officials Mr. Moynihan is contributing in no small measure to the desirable results that are being attained. Aside from his connection with the Gemmer Manufacturing Company he is a director of the Society for Savings.

On the 29th of June, 1910, Mr. Moynihan was mar- ried to Miss Helen C. Bresnahan and they have become parents of four children: Thomas Phillip, William Edward, Richard Michael and Vincent Francis. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic

church and Mr. Moynihan is active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He is also connected with the Knights of Columbus as a fourth degree member and he belongs to the Automobile Country Club, the De- troit Auto Club, the Detroit Association of Credit Men and the Board of Commerce. His progressive spirit, his determination and his energy are manifest in va- rious connections, with the result that he reaches his objective, and his forcefulness and resourcefulness in business are constantly manifest in the success of the company which he represents.

VICTOR RAPHAEL HEFTLER. Many and varied are the industries which have come into existence or have been developed through the establishment and promotion of the automobile industry, which has largely made Detroit the fourth city of the Union. Prominent among the great productive concerns is that conducted uuder the name of the Zenith Car- buretor Company, of which Victor Raphael Heftler is the president, treasurer and manager. Carefully formulated plans, promptly executed and guided at all times by sound judgment, have constituted the foundation upon which the success of this undertaking has been built and the outstanding figure in connection with the continued growth of the business is Mr. Heftler. A native of Paris, France, he was born No- vember 4, 1877, and is a son of Maurice and Clotilda (Lafuge) Heftler. The father was a manufacturer of leather products and engaged in the tanning busi- ness. He is still living in Paris, but his wife passed away in that city. In their family were two chil- dren, one son being Emile, who was with the French forces at the outbreak of the war and was among the first to make the supreme sacrifice.

The early education of Victor R. Heftler was ob- tained in the public schools of Paris and later in the Ecole Polytechnic Institute of his native city. He thus received scientific training and with a liberal education to serve as the basis upon which to build success he came to America in 1902 and here inaugu- rated what has since become a most successful business career. He first entered the employ of the Winton Motor Car Company of Cleveland, Ohio, and remained there from July to December, 1902, in the mechanical department. He then resigned and became connected with the General Electric Company of Canada, with which he remained from January, 1903, to August of that same year. He entered the employ of the Cana- dian Pacific Railway and was connected with the arrangement of the new "Angus" shops in Montreal and later with the bridge inspection department. He continued in the employ of that company from August, 1903, to November, 1907, when he returned to France, and on again taking up his abode in Paris he estab- lished himself in the automobile business and suc- cessfully continued therein until 1911. Again, how- ever, he heard and heeded the call of the west and once more came to the new world, settling this time

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in Detroit, where he became identified with the busi- ness that is now carried on under the name of the Zenith Carburetor Company. As president and gen- eral manager of this corporation he is extensively engaged in the manufacture of carburetors, putting out one of the best and most popular carburetors on the market. The plant is one of the largest in the coun- try devoted to manufacturing of this character and something of the scope of the business is indicated in the fact that five hundred and fifty people are now employed. The business has been carefully system- atized, so that there is a minimum expenditure of time, labor and material, and most progressive methods have been instituted in the development and care of the trade.

On the 17th of May, 1905, Mr. Heftler was married to Miss Almanda De Laplante of Peterboro, Ontario, daughter of Noah and Arthemise De Laplante. The three children of this marriage are: Benoitt, who was born in Toronto, Ontario, in October, 1906, and is now a pupil in the Central high school of Detroit; Paul-Emile, born in Paris in March, 1908, and now attending the Central high school of Detroit; and Pierre, who was born in Paris in June, 1910, and is a pupil at Barbour Hall, Kalamazoo.

Mr. Heftler has membership in the Detroit Athletic Club and the Red Run Golf Club, which indicates much of the nature of his diversion and recreation. Along scientific lines he is connected with the Canadian In- stitute of Civil Engineers and with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Antomotive Engineers. Back of his steady advance in the business world there is found laudable ambi- tion, a progressive spirit and broad scientific knowl- edge, as well as practical experience. His residence is at No. 476 West Palmer.

WILLIAM E. RONEY, engaged in the real estate business, largely handling Grosse Pointe property, is a native of Detroit, his birth having occurred August 30, 1868. His parents were John and Agnes (Roche) Roney, the former a native of Detroit, while the latter was born in Dublin, Ireland. In his youthful days William E. Roney pursued his education in the schools of Detroit, and starting out in the business world, became connected with fire insurance circles. Later, however, his attention was attracted to the real estate field, in which he has since operated, and through the passing years he has made steady progress as one of the prominent representatives of the real estate business in this city. He deals mostly in Grosse Pointe property and is the owner of exten- sive real estate holdings there. Through this avenue he has contributed much to the development and im- provement of the place, aiding in the work of making it one of the most beautiful and attractive of De- troit's suburbs. He lives in Grosse Pointe Shores and is one of the trustees of this village, a position which he has occupied since the village was incorporated in

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The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV, Part 58

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