USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 62
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"Mr. Rothschild was essentially a business man, and his strong character was moulded in the school of experience and broad association with business affairs. The concern of which he was the founder was one of the largest in the country and therefore one of Detroit's valued industries. He was a man of alert and powerful mentality, and his personality was one which gained and retained to him inviolable con- fidence and esteem. His local interests were not hedged in by his purely personal affairs, business or social, and he was ever ready to lend his aid and influence in the promotion of enterprises or undertak- ings projected for the general good of the community. He was conspicuously identified with the organization and upbuilding of the Detroit Board of Commerce, in which he was one of the original officers, and he gave no little time and energy to this body, which has done much in advancing the greater industrial Detroit. His political support was given to the re- publican party and he ever showed a deep interest in all that touched the well-being of the city in which
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is was his to gain so noteworthy a success through his own efforts. He had various capitalistic interests of importance in addition to those represented in his tobacco business. He was a stockholder in various corporations, including financial institutions and in the '70s he was concerned with the development of Mich- igan pine lands, having been prominently identified with the lumbering industry for a number of years. He was a strong man, a worthy citizen, and he filled a large and secure place in the business world."
On the 1st of April, 1860, Mr. Rothschild was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Leeser, and they became the parents of three children: Frederick, of San Fran- cisco, California; Louis, a well known citizen of De- troit who is engaged in the insurance business; and Harry S., living in New York. Mrs. Rothschild sur- vives her husband and resides at No. 414 East Warren avenue. The family circle was broken hy the death of the husband and father July 15, 1907, and his re- mains were interred in the family vault in Woodmere cemetery. The family are members of Beth El con- gregation. Politically Mr. Rothschild gave his sup- port to the republican party and in matters of citizen- ship he stood at all times for progress, reform and improvement. His worth as a man and citizen was widely acknowledged and through his business ac- tivities he contributed largely to Detroit's develop- ment and progress.
JESSE DRAKE has been an able and successful representative of the Detroit bar during the past decade and since November, 1918, has practiced in a partnership relation as junior member of the firm of Savery & Drake. He was born in Blissfield town- ship, Lenawee county, Michigan, March 12, 1881, his parents being Benjamin F. and Clara (Hebbert) Drake, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Ohio. After completing a high school course at Chesaning, Michigan, he entered the Detroit College of Law and following his graduation from that institution was admitted to the bar in 1910. He at once began prac- tice in the MeGraw building and followed his pro- fession independently until November, 1918, when he became a member of the firm of Savery & Drake, with officers in the Dime Bank building. Their practice is general, including all kinds of law work, with the exception of criminal cases. Mr. Drake is very popular with his clients and the public. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his pro- fession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing atten- tion to all the details of his cases, have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct. In 1903 Mr. Drake qualified as a teacher for the Philippine service and in that year left Michigan to take up his work in that connection. He was three years in that work and on his return to the United States he visited India, Egypt and va-
rious points of interest along the route, including those in Europe, thus completing a circuit of the globe.
On the 1st of July, 1911, Mr. Drake was united in marriage to Miss Retta Dales and they have become parents of four children: Francis, Paul, Jean and Christine.
In his political views Mr. Drake is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Detroit Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M., of which he is senior warden; Ionic Chapter, R. A. M .; Monroe Council, R. & S. M .; Michigan Sovereign Consistory; and Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a life member of the Detroit Masonic Coun- try Club and likewise belongs to the Detroit Lawyers Club and the Detroit Bar Association. He resides at No. 6533 Scotland avenue.
JOHN ALLAN GRIER was born in Davenport, Iowa, but his parents moved to Chicago when he was but six months old, and he received his early educa- tion in the public schools, completing his course at the Hyde Park high school. After his school days were over he took a position with Franklin MacVeagh & Company, wholesale grocers, where he remained eight years. He then moved to South Bend, Indiana, where he joined the South Bend Healy Box Company, which was the first firm to make wire bound boxes, and here he continued until 1908. Seeing a great future for the business he investigated several other localities and after a thorough examination, decided that Detroit had the best prospects, so in April, 1908, he organized the Detroit Wire Bound Box Company, of which he is secretary, treasurer and general manager. The company makes wire bound boxes for all kinds of products weighing up to six hundred pounds. The box is made from thin rotary cut lumber, bound with steel binding wires, making them light but strong, and while easy to open, they cannot be reclosed with- out leaving evidence. They protect the shipper and his customer from loss, and to make them doubly secure seals can be used on one or more of the wires that encircle the box. The trade of the Detroit Wire Bound Box Company covers the entire eastern part of the United States, but it gives particular attention to Michigan and northern Ohio. The business has grown from one machine, with a daily output of five hundred boxes, until the plant covers about thirty thousand square feet, with a capacity of seventy-five hundred complete boxes per day.
Mr. Grier is a thirty-second degree Mason; a member of Palestine Lodge, No. 357, F. & A. M .; Michigan Sovereign Consistory; and Moslem Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to the Board of Commerce and the Meadowbrook Country Club.
In 1908 Mr. Grier married Plowdon Stevens, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Dresden of Niles, Mich- igan, who formerly lived in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Grier have one daughter: Miss Dresden Grier. Mr.
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Grier's parents were John Allan and Mary Louise (Hager) Grier. Mr. Grier's father, John Allan Grier, was for many years general freight agent of the Mich- igan Central Railroad, with headquarters in Chicago and later was general manager of the West Shore Fast Freight Line until his death in 1891. Both of his grandfathers were Episcopal clergymen, as were many others of the family. The Rev. John Grier was rector of St. Thomas church, Bellville, Ontario, for forty years. Rev. E. W. Hager officiated in Westfield and Skaneateles, New York, and later was chaplain in the United States navy for a number of years. One of his aunts founded the Sisters of St. John the Divine at Toronto, an Episcopal convent, hospital, school and home for aged people and was its head until her death early in 1921, while another was at the head of the Bishop Strachen school, a school for girls, located at Toronto. Mr. Grier and his family are members of Grace Episcopal church, where he has been vestryman for a number of years and he has done much to help build that church from nothing to the fastest growing church in the diocese of Michigan.
Mr. Grier is essentially a business man and the Detroit Wire Bound Box Company is very successful under his able direction.
GUY LEARTUS CONNOR, M. D., neurologist; born Detroit, Michigan, October 10, 1874; son of Leartus (M. D.) and Anna Amelia (Dame) Connor. He re- ceived his A. B. from Williams College in 1897, and his M. D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1901. He has practiced in Detroit since 1901; he was form- erly assistant clinical professor of neurology, psychi- atry and preventive medicine in the Detroit College of Medicine and was also neurologist at St. Mary's hospital and the Children's Free hospital. He has been medical director of the board of education of Detroit since 1914, and is a member of the Michigan State Board of Registration in Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians; a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, the Ameri- can Academy of Medicine, the Michigan State Medical Society, the Wayne County Medical Society, the De- troit Academy of Medicine, the Detroit Society of Neurology and Psychiatry and of Zeta Psi. He is a republican and a Presbyterian. He belongs to the Detroit Athletic, Detroit Golf, Detroit Boat, and Meadowbrook Country Clubs. His home is at 2989 East Grand boulevard. Office: 503 Washington Areade, Detroit, Michigan.
On the 14th of November, 1901, Dr. Connor was united in marriage to Miss Daisy Wicks of Baltimore, Maryland.
GEORGE C. WETHERBEE. The name of George C. Wetherbee has become a synonym for enterprise and advancement in commercial circles in Detroit. Actuated by a most progressive spirit and dominated at all times by an inflexible integrity his record proves
that snecess and an honored name may be won simul- taneously. His business records have always been such as would bear the closest investigation and serutiny and at no time in his career has his course been strewn with the wreck of other men's failures.
Mr. Wetherbee comes to Michigan from New Eng- land, his birth having occurred in Worcester county, Massachusetts, July 27, 1840, his parents being Zopher and Sarah (Coolidge) Wetherbee, the former a native of Harvard and the latter of Charlestown, Massachu- setts. Later the father engaged in the hotel business at Harvard, conducting one of the high class tem- perance hostelries of that day. He and his wife spent their lives in the Old Bay state and when death called them they were there laid to rest.
George C. Wetherbee was one of a family of eight children. He attended the schools of his native town and after he had completed his studies he journeyed to Boston, where he secured a position and resided for a time, but later returned to Harvard where he worked on a farm until after the inauguration of the Civil war. Putting aside all business and personal con- sideration he joined the army in September, 1861, enlisting in a Massachusetts company. After serving as a private for nineteen months he was promoted to a first lieutenancy and in a short time became captain. At the close of the war, having served with valor and distinction, he was brevetted a major. He par- ticipated in many of the most stirring engagements of the conflict between the North and the Sonth. He was with the historic Burnside expedition, which em- braced the capture of Roanoke Island, Newberne, and Plymouth, as well as other fortified and strongly entrenched positions-engagements which had meh to do with the final surrender of the Confederate forces.
After the close of the war, Mayor Wetherbee re- moved to the middle west, settling in Detroit, where he established a grocery store on Woodward avenue at about the present location of the Bird Furnishing Goods establishment, today one of the most valuable sections of the city. There he continued his busi- ness for a year and a half and later he purchased an interest in the Garison & Newberry & Saxby Com- pany, becoming identified therewith on the 1st of January, 1867. With the business he has since been connected. Upon its incorporation the name of Saxby & Wetherbee was assumed but later Mr. Saxby with- drew and the business was reincorporated as George C. Wetherbee & Company, of which firm Mr. Wether- bee has been the president. This company does a wholesale business in woodenware and has one of the most extensive and important enterprises of this character in Detroit. Mr. Wetherbee is probably the oldest active wholesale merchant in this city. Mr. Wetherbee is also president of the Standard Saving & Loan Company of Detroit and the presi- dent of the Evergreen Cemetery Association.
In January, 1867, Mr. Wetherbee was nnited in marriage to Miss Mary E. Phelps of Harvard, Mich-
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igan, who passed away April 7, 1912, in Detroit. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Horace Phelps, and her father was prominent in the early days as a civil engineer. One of his successful achievements was the building of the first bridge across the Connecticut river at Springfield, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Wetherbee were born two children: Charles Phelps and Bertha. Charles Phelps, whose birth occurred in De- troit, after attending school iu this city continued his education in the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology and also at a famous technical school in France. He has the reputation of being the best naval con- structor in the United States today and is connected with the Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine. He mar- ried Miss Katherine Browne, and they have one son: George Browne Wetherbee, who is now a student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston and who for two years was a member of the United States navy; the daughter, Bertha, was born in De- troit and pursued her education in this city and at Wellesley College near Boston. She is now the wife of Charles Earnshaw. They have two children: Charles W. and Samuel Willard.
George C. Wetherbee has at all times been deeply interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of Detroit and his cooperation can always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. For several years he served as commissioner of parks and boulevards and did much to develop the fine park and boulevard system of the city. He was a member of the board of managers of the Michigan Soldier's Home for twelve years and is a member of Detroit Post, No. 384, G. A. R., also of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Loyal Legion. He is an honorary member of the Detroit Boat Club, belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and was one of the founders and is still a member of the New England Society of Michigan. He has at all times been actuated by a most progressive spirit and his upright life has won for him an honored name wherever he is known. He was president of the Boys Home for a number of years.
JAMES H. GARLICK is proprietor of a large and profitable jewelry business conducted on the install- ment plan, and an indication of his ability is found in the fact that he purchased this business after eight years' service which was begun in the humble posi- tion of office boy. Mr. Garlick was born in St. Wil- liams, Ontario, Canada, February 8, 1878, a son of John and Catherine (Carr) Garlick. The father is de- ceased but the mother is living and spends the winter months in Detroit with her son, James.
In the public and high schools of Port Rowan, Ontario, James H. Garlick pursued his education and also attended the St. Thomas Business College, thus qualifying for a commercial career. In 1894 he be- came connected with the jewelry trade by accepting employment with J. C. Hough, which business he
eventually purchased. Mr. Hough, in 1884, became the first jeweler in Detroit to sell watches and dia- monds on the installment plan, his business being then located at 101 Griswold street, where the Ford build- ing now stands. In 1900 he removed to Fort and Griswold streets, where the Dime Bank building is located, Mr. Garlick being at that time in Mr. Hough's employ. On the 4th of February, 1901, the business was purchased by Mr. Garlick after eight years' association therewith and a removal was made to No. 13I Griswold street, where he remained until 1910 and then removed to his present location. This busi- ness is one of the most successful of the installment plan jewelry houses of Detroit and Mr. Garlick stands extremely high in commercial circles. He belongs to all the jewelers' associations, both state and na- tional, and has held offices in the local and state organizations.
On the 24th of September, 1902, Mr. Garlick was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth M. Birdseye of Detroit, and they have become parents of four chil- dren: Kathleen, Marion, James H. and Richard E. The parents are communicants of St. Joseph's Epis- copal church and in his political views Mr. Garlick is a republican. He is a director of the Standard Savings and Loan Association. He stands very high in Masonic circles, being a member of Union Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M., and a past commander of Damascus Commandery, Knights Templar, Michigan Sovereign Consistory and also Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine, of which he is chief rabban. He is likewise a member of the Masonie Country Club, Ingleside Club and of the Detroit Automobile Club. He is extremely loyal to the teachings and purposes of Masonry and also has social qualities which have gained him high standing and warm friendships among the member- ship of that and other organizations with which he is identified.
ERNEST JOSEPH JANISSE is at the head of the firm of E. J. Janisse & Company, conducting a real estate, insurance and property management business, also handling leases, mortgages and loans, with offices in the Book building. Obstacles and difficulties are continually confronted in the business world, but all such Mr. Janisse has overcome by determination and effort and steadily he has progressed to a point where his success is now of a most substantial character. Mr. Janisse was born in Belle River, Ontario, August 20, 1886, a son of Daniel G. and Jane J. (Goyeau) Janisse, whose family numbered six children. His student days were spent in the public schools of Windsor and he initiated his business career by secur- ing employment in a retail drug store in that place, spending five years as a salesman in the drug house of J. C. Davignon. He was afterward with Parke Davis & Company of Detroit as a representative of the manufacturing department, his identification with that house covering three years. The succeeding two
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years were spent in charge of the retail drug depart- ment of the Nelson Baker Company. Thus step by step he was working his way upward and steady progression brought him at length to a point where he could engage in business for himself. In 1913 he entered the real estate field with the Hannan Real Estate Exchange and for three years he sold every kind of property for that firm. He then saw the ful- fillment of his hopes, for at that date he went into business for himself, opening an office in the Dime Bank building as a dealer in listed property. Later he began handling leases and conducting a real estate brokerage and insurance business. He has constantly developed his interests along these varions lines and his clientage is now large, while his business has become one of important character. He has been very successful and has a corps of salesmen who operate under his direct supervision. In addition to his other property he handles business sites and he has nego- tiated many important realty transfers. He is a mem- ber of the Detroit Real Estate Board and his close study of the real estate market has enabled him to speak with authority upon matters relative to prop- erty interests of the city.
On the 15th of September, 1915, Mr. Janisse was married to Miss Grace Hartgen of Detroit, and they reside at No. 4296 Seebaldt street, the hospitality of their home being greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Janisse belongs to the Detroit Automobile Club, also to the Auto Country Club. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party, where national questions and issues are involved, but at local elections he casts an independent ballot. He has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies and attention upon his private business affairs and along the line of steady progression he has reached the point where his success and the extent of his operations class him with the substantial real estate dealers of the city.
HENRY W. BURKHARDT, treasurer of E. B. Gallagher & Company, wholesale bakers and confec- tioners and dealers in hotel and restaurant supplies, was born in Hancock, Michigan, June 25, 1866, and is a son of Christian and Louise (Hintz) Burkhardt, both of whom were natives of Germany. On coming to the new world in early life they settled in Wis- consin, and afterward removed to Michigan. The father engaged in mining in the northern part of this state for some years but both he and his wife are deceased. Their family numbered four children, two of whom are living: William, residing at Mt. Clemens, Michigan; and Henry W.
In the schools of his native town Henry W. Burk- hardt pursued his education and in early life gave his attention to various lines of business. For a time he engaged in barbering at Red Jacket, Michigan, and afterward in the laundry business at Mt. Clem- ens. He was a machine helper with the Calumet
Mining Company in Calumet, Michigan, and partially learned the machinist trade, completing more than one- half of the usual term of apprenticeship. It was snbse- quent to the time he engaged in the laundry business in Mt. Clemens that he turned his attention to candy manufacturing in Marine City, Michigan, but sold out in 1904. Coming to Detroit he purchased an interest in the business of E. B. Gallagher & Company, wholesale bakers and confectioners and dealers in hotel and res- taurant supplies. He was the vice president of the com- pany following the time when he entered the business, but in late years has been treasurer. This business has grown to very substantial proportions, and now has branch houses in Toledo, Ohio, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The firm employs seventy-five people in the establishments and its business is one of the largest of its kind in this section of the country.
On the 16th of September, 1904, Mr. Burkhardt was married to Miss Addie Tubbs of Mt. Clemens, Mich- igan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Tubbs, well known in Mead, Michigan. Mr. Burkhardt has one child, Donald F., born of a former marriage, in Mt. Clemens, August 16, 1894. He was educated in the Detroit Eastern high school and during the World war was a member of the United States navy, and was overseas as gas engineer on one of the United States submarine chasers, patroling the coasts of England and Ireland. He received a commission as second engineer and at the present time is engaged in the brokerage business in Detroit, being a member of the firm of Somers & Burkhardt, on Shelby street.
The religious faith of Henry W. Burkhardt is that of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the Young Men's Christian Association of Detroit, also to the United Commercial Travelers. He is interested in all those things which make for the uplift of the in- dividual and the betterment of the community and his cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good.
GEORGE R. ROACH, one of the active and enter- prising young business men of Detroit, was born in this city and educated in the public schools. Im- mediately after leaving school he took up the paint- ing and decorating business with his father, James Roach, who had organized the James Roach Company in 1875. The business has since enjoyed continuous existence, covering more than forty-five years. After learning the trade thoroughly and becoming familiar with all departments of the business, George R. Roach was made general manager of the corporation, which position he filled until January 1, 1920, when he was elected to the presidency of the company. This old established house has long enjoyed the prestige of being the leader in its line in Detroit. They employ men of the most artistic skill in both painting and decorating and take all kinds of contracts, constantly keeping a force of most competent and skilled work- men, so that all contracts are carried through with-
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out delay and completed in the most artistic and pleasing style. They also take contracts for the fur- nishing of homes, in which their reputation is as high as it is in decorating. The father retired from the company at the beginning of the year 1920, but the business is still conducted under the old and popular name of the "James Roach Company, the Decorators."
Mr. Roach of this review is a member of the De- troit Athletic Club, also the Rotary Club and the Board of Commerce. He belongs to the Catholic church and to the Knights of Columbus, in which he has taken the third degree. In politics he is a re- publican but not an office secker, being strictly a business man, giving his personal attention to every contract of the firm.
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