USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 63
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CECIL R. EVANS. In the important field of ad- vertising and specialized sales promotion a place of distinctive priority and influence has been gained by Cecil R. Evans, who has a reputation as one of the leading exponents of this line of business enterprise in the Michigan metropolis, where he is president of the Evans-Ayers Company, the offices of which are established in the Kerr building and the business of which is of broad and representative order.
Mr. Evans was born in Mecosta county, Michigan, on the 30th of March, 1887, and is a son of Royal G. and Clara Jane (VanVleck) Evans, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Michigan. Royal G. Evans was reared and educated in the old Empire state and was twenty years of age when he came to Michigan and identified himself with lumbering operations in the great timber district of the state. He was prominently concerned with this industry when the same was at its zenith as one of the most important lines of productive enterprise in Michigan, and he is still successfully engaged in the lumber trade, both he and his wife being honored residents of Cheboygan, this state. Of their four children, Cecil R., of this sketch was the second in order of birth; Albert De Valous Evans is a resident of Seattle, Washington; Ronald K. maintains his home at Anderson, Indiana; and Margaret A. is the wife of Archibald E. Blakeslee, of Grand Rapids.
Cecil R. Evans was a child when the family home was established in the city of Cheboygan, and after having completed the curriculum of the public schools of that place he entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1911, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Almost immediately after his graduation Mr. Evans came to Detroit and became associated with the ad- vertising business of the Carl M. Green Company, with which he held a responsible position during the ensuing three years. Thereafter he held a similar position with the Fuller & Smith Advertising Agency of Cleveland, Ohio, in connection with the Detroit branch of this concern. Upon resigning his position with this agency, Mr. Evans associated himself with
The Service Corporation, a representative direct-by- mail advertising concern of Troy, New York. He re- mained thus engaged for two years, working in the Detroit office of that concern. He then joined the organization of the William N. Albee Company, in the advertising and sales promotion service, with head- quarters in Detroit. He became secretary and treas- urer of this company, a position which he held two and one-half years. On the 1st of January, 1920, he sold his interest in the William N. Albee Com- pany and organized the Evans-Ayers Company, which has gained a representative clientage and already controls a large and important business in the domain of specialized sales promotion. Mr. Evans is a mem- ber of the Detroit Board of Commerce, and holds membership in the Adcraft Club, the Detroit Athletic Club and the Oakland Hills Country Club.
February 7, 1912, recorded the marriage of Mr. Evans to Miss Edna H. Restrick, daughter of the late Charles W. Restrick, a leading lumber dealer of Detroit. Mrs. Evans was afforded the advantages of the Detroit public schools and also the Liggett School for Girls, one of the representative educational in- stitutions of this city, and she has been and is a pop- ular factor in the social activities of her home city. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have four children: Jane Chris- tine, born September 24, 1913; Charles Restrick, born January 15, 1915; Richard Cecil, born April 6, 1916; and James Philip, born February 14, 1920. Mr. Evans' residence, "Hawthorne Lodge," is located on Wing lake in the Bloomfield Hills section of Oakland county.
HENRY BURKHARDT, attorney at law, was born in Detroit, November 30, 1890. The family has been represented here for many years. His father, Julius Burkhardt, although a native of Germany, came to the United States in early life and took up his abode in Detroit, where he met and wedded Miss Mary Martz. Later he established a retail shoe business, which he conducted to the time of his death in 1905, when he was fifty-six years of age. His wife was born in Detroit and spent her life in this city, passing away in 1893, at the age of thirty-six years. By her mar- riage she became the mother of four children: Mrs. Clara Crockett and Mrs. Helen Day, both of Detroit; Mrs. Bertha Kleiu of Cleveland, Ohio; and Henry.
The last named, the youngest of the family, after at- tending the public schools continued his education in the Detroit University school and later entered the Detroit College of Law, in preparation for the pro- fession which he had determined to make his life work. He was graduated therefrom with the LL. B. degree in 1914 and entered upon the practice of law immediately after his admission to the bar in that year. He has since made for himself a creditable name and place among the younger lawyers of De- troit and his practice is now steadily growing in vol- ume and importance, his advancement being due to
CECIL R. EVANS
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individual capability and merit, for he chose as a life work a calling in which wealth and influence are never determining factors in the attainment of success.
On the 28th of June, 1916, Mr. Burkhardt was married to Miss Eleanor Krug, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Krug, and they have become parents of one son, Henry, Jr., born in Detroit, April 13, 1918. The parents are members of the English Luth- eran church, and they are well known socially, having many warm friends in the city. Mr. Burkhardt is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to Corinth- ian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., while in Michigan Sovereign Consistory he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and in Moslem Temple he has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Detroit Yacht Club and to the Delta Theta Phi, a law fraternity. He is likewise a member of the Lawyers' Club of De- troit and of the Detroit Bar Association. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he does not seek nor desire political preferment, his attention being fully given to his professional interests and duties.
C. C. MILLER, vice president of the Vulcan Motor Axle Corporation, was born in Canton, Ohio, March 13, 1886, and is of the third generation of that family in America. His grandfather, John Miller, was a native of Germany, and came to this country in his youth. He served with the cavalry in the Union army in the Civil war and died of wounds received in battle. The grandparents of C. C. Miller on the maternal side came from the north of Ireland. The parents of C. C. Miller are Charles W. and Ellen Gertrude (Me- Kay) Miller. His father was a harness maker, and when only thirteen years of age the son made two sets of harness and saddles by hand, cutting the pattern and doing all of the work without assistance. He attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he went to work for Ludwig Wolfe, jeweler, but after a year joined the Berger Manu- facturing Company, the largest sheet metal workers in the United States. He began with that company as blue print boy, and advanced to the architectural drafting department, where he profited by a large and lengthy technical experience. He was with the Berger corporation from 1901 until 1906, and on the 10th of June of the latter year he joined the Timken Roller Bearing Axle Company as detail draftsman. He worked through nearly every department with that concern, and when they came to Detroit, he, too, removed to this city, where he arrived on the 8th of August, 1909. He remained with the Timken people until February 14, 1920, when he resigned to join the Vulcan Motor Axle Corporation, of which he is now vice president and sales engineer. He has been engaged in the manufacturing business for twenty
years, a record which is scarcely equalled by any other man of his age in Detroit.
In Detroit, in 1911, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Rose MeCabe of this city, and they have one son: John W., born June 12, 1919. Mr. Miller is strictly a business and home man, his one fraternal connection being with the Knights of Columbus, with which he has been affiliated since he was eighteen years of age, and of which he is a third degree member. He formerly took quite an active part in outdoor sports, and was well known as both a baseball and football player. He finds particular pleasure in fishing and motoring and is an advocate of all healthful outdoor sports and recreation. His business affairs, however, make steady demand upon his time and in this con- nection he is leading a strenuous life, his long ex- perience and highly developed skill making him a valuable factor in the snecessfnl conduct of this busi- ness in which he is now engaged.
FRANK P. TOMS was born in Pontiac, Michigan, December 21, 1862, while his parents, Joel Phelps and Harriet N. (Sprague) Toms, were natives of the state of New York, whence they came to Michigan in 1833, settling at Troy. The father was for several years register of deeds in Oakland county, and in 1863-64 was deputy collector of internal revenue. He retained his residence in Pontiac until 1866, when he removed to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the wholesale crockery and glassware business, remaining one of the prominent merchants of that city from 1866 until 1903, the year of his death. His wife also passed away in that city. They were parents of a son and two daughters who have de- parted this life. Edward H., who during the Civil war was a member of Company H, Twenty-first Mich- igan Volunteer Infantry, afterward engaged in busi- ness at La Crosse, Wisconsin, but his death resulted from injuries sustained during his military service with the Union army. Mrs. H. Amelia Powell, also deceased, was the wife of Captain Frank Powell, who commanded Company I, of the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry during the Civil war and in whose honor Powell Post, G. A. R., of Oxford, Michigan, was named. Another daughter, Ella, died in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1863.
Frank P. Toms, the only survivor of the family, attended the public and high schools of La Crosse, after which he engaged in business with his father, thus continuing to the time of the father's death. The son disposed of his interests in La Crosse and removed to Chicago. There he became purchasing agent for the United States war department and so served until 1906, when he resigned and came to Detroit. After a short time he here established him- self in the real estate business.
On the 6th of March, 1884, Mr. Toms was married to Miss Lark Looney, a daughter of Captain A. H. Looney, who was one of the early Mississippi river
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steamboat captains, sailing his vessels to various points in the south. Mr. and Mrs. Toms have one son, Robert M., born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, No- vember 14, 1886, and educated in the high school, the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the LL. B. degree in 1910. He is now chief assistant prosecuting attorney of Wayne county. He married Gladys Wetmore, a daughter of Andrew Wetmore, and they have one child, Elinor, who was born in Detroit in 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Toms are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day.
H. THOMAS THURBER is the president of the H. T. Thurber Company, one of the newly organized concerns connected with the automobile trade of De- troit. This company was formed expressly to market the new Barney Oldfield tires and although Mr. Thurber is one of the young business men of the city he is also recognized as one of the most alert and progressive. He saw service in the United States navy during the World war and since that time the present company was organized and established busi- ness. Mr. Thurber is well known in the city, being one of the native sons of Detroit, his birth having occurred January 13, 1890. His parents are H. T. and Elizabeth (Croul) Thurber, also natives of Detroit. The father was a prominent and highly respected member of the legal profession here for many years and under the administration of President Grover Cleveland, he served as secretary of state. He died in Detroit in 1908, having for a decade survived his wife, who passed away in 1898. In their family were five children: D. D .; Mrs. Edwin Denby; Mrs. James A. Cameron; H. T .; and Cleveland. All still make Detroit their home.
H. Thomas Thurber of this review, attended the public schools of Detroit, passing through various grades to the high school, while later he became a student in the Detroit University school and sub- sequently matriculated in Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, from which he was graduated in 1914 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. When his college days were over he returned to Detroit, and here engaged in the real estate business, which he conducted suc- cessfully until after America joined the allied army in the World war. He then closed out all of his busi- ness interests and enlisted in the service as a member of the navy. He was a member of the armed guard on the ships plying between this country and France, and continued in the service until compelled to receive his discharge in December, 1918. Following his return home Mr. Thurber organized the H. T. Thurber Com- pany in September, 1919, to engage in the distribution of the Oldfield tires. Of this company he became the president, with Edwin Denby as vice president and
Joseph J. Kennedy as secretary and treasurer. Mr. Thurber is the active head of the business. There were no less than one hundred and fifty-five applica- tions for the franchise for distributing the Oldfield tires in Detroit, and since the organization of the company their business has steadily increased, for theirs is a most marketable product, with offices at No. 4624 Woodward avenue. Mr. Thurber is also a director of the Detroit Leasing Company and was vice president of The Dickinson-Rondot Real Estate Company, thus retaining connection with his own line of business.
In his religious faith Mr. Thurber is a Presbyterian connected with the Jefferson Avenue church of that denomination. He belongs to the Alpha Delta Phi, a college fraternity, is also a member of the Uni- versity Club, and of the Detroit Racquet Club, the last named indicating something of the nature of his interests and recreation. He likewise holds member- ship with the Alpha Delta Phi of New York city. Wide awake, alert to every situation or any emergency that may arise in connection with business, his entire course has been marked by steady advancement, and at every point in his career he seems to have accom- plished the possibility for success at that point.
CHARLES H. BREDIN, president and general man- ager of the Chamberlain Metal Weather Strip Com- pany, is a native of Pennsylvania, horn in Butler, Butler county, November 3, 1866. He is a son of James and Matilda Elizabeth (Spear) Bredin.
His grandfather was Hon. John Bredin, one of the first law judges of a circuit consisting of Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, and Venango counties, in Pennsylvania.
His father, James Bredin, was a lawyer of dis- tinction and was chosen judge of the circuit that comprises Butler and Lawrence counties, which were part of the original circuit over which John Bredin presided. His father practiced law in Allegheny county, of which Pittsburgh is the county seat. His death occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania, where his widow still resides.
Charles H. Bredin was educated at St. Paul's school, Concord, New Hampshire, and afterwards studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar in Pittsburgh in 1889. He practiced law for two years and then removed to Piqua, Ohio, where he spent a year or two in the linseed oil business.
In 1897 Judge Bredin purchased outright the original patent for metal weather strips and formed a com- pany to manufacture and introduce the same. Charles H. Bredin was made treasurer and general manager of the company, which has developed and prospered and become one of Detroit's widely known industries. The factories for the manufacturing of these strips are in Detroit, Michigan, and Peru, Illinois. The general offices of the company are in Detroit and branches are maintained in different cities of the
H. THOMAS THURBER
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country. During the busy season the firm employs over two thousand men. Charles H. Bredin is also presi- dent of the Bredin Realty Company.
In 1893 Mr. Bradin was married to Margaret Grace Leonard of Piqua, Ohio, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Leonard. Mr. Leonard was a banker, linseed oil, and steel man.
Mr. and Mrs. Bredin have two children: Elizabeth Spear Bredin, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and educated in the Liggett school of Detroit, and Oaks- mere school, near New York city; and Lewis Leonard Bredin, born in Piqua, Ohio, educated at the Detroit University school, Detroit high school and graduated from Yale with the class of 1916. The latter spent a year in the Yale Battery when war threatened with Mexico, and during the World war he joined the Flying Corps, went to France, where he spent a year and a half, being actively engaged on the front lines and as an aerial gunnery instructor and returned to this country with a commission as captain in the flying service. He is now associated with his father in business.
Charles H. Bredin belongs to the Masonie fratern- ity, having a membership in Detroit Commandery, No. 1, K. T. and Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Detroit Athletic Club, Coun- try Club, Bloomfield Hills Country Club, and De- troit Tennis Club, also of the Board of Commerce.
JAMES K. LAIRD, treasurer of the David Stott Flour Mills, Inc., was born in Detroit and was educated in the public schools and the old Goldsmith Bryant and Stratton Business University. After leaving the business college he was bookkeeper for George A. Burch for three years and then for Jacob Beck & Sons for an additional three years. At that time his health failed and he spent two summers farming, but during the winters worked with David Stott in the milling business. In 1889 he settled permanently in Detroit and entered the employ of Mr. Stott as bookkeeper. Their business was quite small at first and was carried on in a little frame mill, but it grew steadily, and in 1914 the Stott Flour Mills, Inc., was incorporated with Mr. Laird as secretary and treas- urer. He continued to hold both positions until the summer of 1919, when he gave up the secretaryship. Mr. Laird has been connected with this business for thirty-one years, and was associated with David Stott for two years before that. He has seen the enterprise grow from the most modest of beginnings up to the position of one of the largest and strongest milling companies in Michigan, and has played a large and honorable part in helping along this great develop- ment.
On March 13, 1889, James K. Laird married Mar- garet Hendry of Redford, Michigan, and they have one son living, Raymond Hendry Laird. In 1918 he joined the tank corps for service in the World war and was located in southern camps. The armistice was sigued
before his corps could receive orders to go to Europe, and he was honorably discharged in January, 1919.
Mr. Laird's parents were James and Elizabeth (Sangster) Laird, both natives of Scotland. James Laird enlisted in the Union army and served two years in the Civil war. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and after leaving the field hospital was on his way home to convalesce when he was taken pris- oner and confined in Libby prison for six months. After the war he became a metal worker.
James K. Laird is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, The Maccabees, and the Central Presbyterian church. In politics he is a republican. He is a thorough business man, courteous and broad- minded, and his long and honorable business career in Detroit has made him one of the substantial and much respected citizens of this metropolitan city.
AUGUSTUS FITZGERALD, president of the More- head Manufacturing Company, is a native of Mich- igan and was born in Port Huron, June 14, 1868. He received his early education in the high school. In 1906 he became connected with the Morehead Mau- ufacturing Company. This company had been in- corporated in 1905 with David Stott as president, David E. Stott, vice president, and S. M. Thomas, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Fitzgerald joined the company as general manager. In 1908 he was made secretary and general manager, in 1915 was elected president, and has since been the head and directing force of the corporation.
This company specializes in the manufacture of appliances for steam drainage, and is a leader in its line. In fact, it is widely known as a specialist on steam drainage and its products are in demand all over the world.
Mr. Fitzgerald is associated with the business life of Detroit. In addition to being president of the Morehead Manufacturing Company, he is president of the Metropolitan Realty Company, director in the American Loan & Trust Company, and interested in several manufacturing concerns.
Mr. Fitzgerald was united in marriage on June 15, 1902, to Miss Henrietta Dempsey, and they have a family of three children: Neal E., Mary D., and Thomas J.
Mr. Fitzgerald is a member of the Fellowcraft Club, the Lochmoor Golf Club, the Knights of Equity and the Knights of Columbus.
DON McDONALD DICKINSON, JR., founder and head of the Dickinson Real Estate Exchange, was boru in Detroit, May 12, 1890, his parents being Hon. Don M. and Frances L. (Platt) Dickinson, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He attended the Barstow school of Detroit from 1897 until 1899 and in the latter year matriculated in the Detroit University school, in which he continued his studies until 1907. In the latter year he entered the Hotchkiss school
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at Lakeville, Connecticut, where he was a student for two years and at the same time studied under private instruction. He entered upon his business career in the purchasing department of the Michigan Copper & Brass Company of Detroit on the 1st of January, 1910, where he was soon promoted to the position of assistant purchasing agent. He made his initial step in the real estate field on the 1st of Sep- tember, 1911, when he entered the employ of the Hannan Real Estate Exchange. Here he advanced to the managership of the lot department. Recognizing the broad and fruitful field offered in that line of busi- ness he organized the Dickinson Real Estate Exchange in 1912, several of the former employes of the Hannan Exchange and the Stormfeltz-Loveley Company be- coming associated with him in this new enterprise. In 1918 the business was incorporated, Mr. Dickinson retaining the controlling interest.
On the 3d of January, 1914, Mr. Dickinson was married to Rowena Hunt Croul, daughter of William Rochester and Eloise P. (Hunt) Croul. They have a daughter, Eloise Hunt, born March 14, 1916, and a son, Don M., (III), who was born February 8, 1920. The religious faith of the family is that of the Epis- eopal church and in political belief Mr. Dickinson is a democrat. He belongs to the Real Estate Board and is a prominent representative of real estate activity in Detroit. He also has membership in the Detroit Athletic Club and his position is one of social prom- inence.
JOHN HOWARD THOMPSON. There is much that is stimulating and interesting in the life history of John Howard Thompson, who is the president of the Thompson Auto Company and the pioneer distributor for this section of the Curtiss airplane. In view of what he has accomplished within a comparatively few years it seems that he has achieved his present position almost by leaps and bounds, yet his course has been marked by a steady progression that indicates a ready mastery of every problem that has been pre- sented in his business life, with an equally ready recognition and utilization of opportunities that have come to him.
Mr. Thompson was born in Detroit, January 19, 1883, and is a son of George F. and Rose (Reaume) Thompson, the former a native of Detroit and a rep- resentative of one of the prominent pioneer families of the city. He became a leading figure in banking and financial circles and was also prominently con- nected with the Globe Tobacco Company of Detroit for thirty-five years. He passed away in this city in 1918. His wife, who was born in Grosse lle, Mich- igan, is still living in Detroit. In their family were ten children, namely: Fred B., who is secretary and treasurer of the Thompson Company; John H .; George S., of Detroit; Ernest S., vice president of the Thomp- son Company; Mrs. A. J. Kinnacuan of Detroit; Mrs. E. L. Smith, Mrs. W. R. Post, Jr., and Mrs. E. W.
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