USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 71
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John H. Holmes is therefore the only survivor of the family. He attended the Capitol school and afterward became a pupil in Mrs. Riggs private school and also attended Mrs. Snow's school, Bishop's school and Professor Patterson's Select School for Boys. After he had completed his education he secured a position with D. R. Wagner, with whom he remained as a clerk for a year in a store at Columbia and Woodward. He then entered the hardware store of Samuel Browning and his duties kept him from early morning until late at night and brought him a wage of but six dollars per week. After four years he was raised to nine dollars per week. Feeling that this sum was inadequate, he left his position and went to work for Jacob Wellz Brothers at a salary of twelve dollars. He continued with that house for ten years and was afterward associated with the hard-
JOHN H. HOLMES
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ware establishment of T. B. Rayl, there continuing for five years. He next entered into business asso- ciation with the George Sexauer Sheet Metal Com- pany and continued in that establishment for five years. On the expiration of this period he decided to look after his own interests and began the de- velopment of his property, erecting the present splendid building known as the Holmes apartments, from which he derives a most substantial annual income. The first floor of the building is devoted to business pur- poses, being occupied by stores, while the floors above are apartments. The building was begun on the 10th of March, 1902, and all rented before completion, which was in October, 1902, and Mr. Holmes has since con- centrated his efforts and attention upon the manage- ment and control of the property, from which he derives a substantial annual income.
On the 25th of December, 1902, Mr. Holmes was married to Miss Alice Thomas, daughter of James G. Thomas, representing a very prominent family of this city. They have one child, Albert John, who was born in Detroit, January 29, 1904, and is now a student in Howe's Military school.
Mr. Holmes has long given his political allegiance to the republican party and is a loyal advocate of its principles. Since 1879 he has been a Master Mason and since 1885 has been identified with Olive Branch Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all of the chairs. He belongs to the Masonic Country Club and in his life he has always exemplified the teachings and purposes of the craft, ever recognizing the brother- hood of man and the obligations thereby imposed. He is well known for his charity, contributing to every good cause, and his aid and influence have always been on the side of progress and improvement in relation to municipal interests and affairs.
WALTER LETT HACKETT, M. D. Dr. Walter Lett Hackett, physician and surgeon of Detroit, was born in Huron county, Ontario, March 20, 1881, a son of James and Esther (Reid) Hackett, both of whom were born in North Ireland but came to Can- ada in the early '50s. The father was one of the pioneer farmers of Huron county, Ontario, and passed away on the old homestead there in 1916, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. The mother is still living at the age of seventy-five years. To them were born six children: William, who is a physician and surgeon of Detroit; David, residing in Huron county, Ontario; Joseph, of Detroit; James, of Huron county, Ontario; Mary, the wife of William Lane, of Huron county; and Walter L.
The last named obtained a public school education in his native county and on completing a high school course took up teaching in that county, continuing in educational work for three years. Later he entered McGill University at Montreal, where he spent two years and afterward became a student in the medical department of Toronto University, winning his M. D.
degree upon graduation with the class of 1910. He pursued a year's study in the Detroit College of Medicine, graduating in 1911, and entered upon active practice in Detroit. He has since successfully followed his chosen calling and has further qualified for im- portant duties of this character by postgraduate work iu London, England, in 1914, specializing in the study of obstetrics and gynecology. He is visiting physician to the Woman's Hospital of Detroit in addition to caring for a large private practice, the duties of which he discharges most promptly and conscientiously. He belongs to the Wayne County Medical Society, the Michigan State Medical Association and the Ameri- can Medical Association. He received the F. A. C. S. degree in October, 1921.
On the 28th of September, 1910, Dr. Hackett was married to Miss Agnes Welch of Bruce county, On- tario, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Welch. They have become parents of two children: Esther, born in Detroit in 1912; and Ruth, born in 1916. Dr. and Mrs. Hackett are well known in this city, occupying an enviable social position, while his professional acquirements have gained him prominence as a physi- cian and surgeon of Detroit. Dr. Hackett's residence is at No. 633 Virginia Park.
HOWELL LLEWELLYN BEGLE, M. D. Dr. How- ell Llewellyn Begle, member of the medical profession of Detroit, now specializing in the treatment of dis- eases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, was born in Saginaw, Michigan, February 12, 1877, his parents being Charles A. and Sarah Griffith Begle. His father was born in Otisville, Michigan, while the mother's birth occurred in the state of New York. She came to Michigan in early girlhood, and here was reared, and gave her hand in marriage to Charles A. Begle, who was a well known lumberman. He passed away in Detroit in 1915, at the age of seventy years, while his widow survived until February 8, 1920, and was seventy-six years of age at the time of her demise. In their family were three children: Ned G., who is living in New York city; Grace G., of Detroit; and Howell L., of this review, who was the second in order of birth.
In early life Dr. Begle attended the public schools of Detroit and later became a student in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, which he attended in 1895 and 1896. He then re- turned to Michigan, and matriculated in the State University at Ann Arbor, where he won the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900. At that date he took up eudcational work, teaching for a year in the high school at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, after which he re- sumed his studies, and was graduated with the M. D. degree from the State University in 1905. He en- tered upon the practice of his profession in Calumet, Michigan, and was connected with the Tamarack Mining Hospital. He promoted his medical knowledge by going abroad, and spending some time in study
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in the various medical centers of Europe, in 1907, and again in 1911 and 1912. He then located in De- troit, devoting his attention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He belongs to the Wayne County, Michigan State and American Medical Associations, and also belongs to the Detroit Ophthalmology and Otology Societies.
On the 27th of June, 1907, Dr. Begle was married to Miss Isabel Parnall of Jackson, Michigan, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Parnall of Calumet, Michigan. Her father is deceased, while her mother is living in Jackson. Dr. and Mrs. Begle have be- come parents of five children: David P., born in De- troit in 1909; Howell E., born in 1911; Sarah G., born in January, 1915; Mary P., born in August, 1917; and Robert G., born in September, 1921. Dr. and Mrs. Begle are members of the Ingleside Club, and Mrs. Begle was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority at Ann Arbor, having been graduated from the State University in 1905. Both are members of North Woodward Congregational church, while Dr. Begle is president of the Detroit Congregational Union. In polities he is a republican and is deeply interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual, political and social welfare of the community, and at all times his aid is given to those forces which make for moral uplift and progress. Dr. Begle is attending physician to the Children's Free Hospital, to the Woman's Hospital and Infants' Home, and to the Michigan Mutual Liability Company Hospital. He is a member of the Phi Delta Theta and the Nu Sigma Nu fra- ternities of the University of Michigan, and many of his strongest friendships date back to his college days, although during the period of his residence in Detroit he has won an extensive circle of friends who esteem him highly, not only by reason of his professional ability, but also owing to his sterling personal worth. Dr. Begle's residence is at No. 1513 Longfellow avenue.
GOMER MANSFIELD THOMAS, treasurer of the Thomas Mortgage Company, a Kansas corporation, and also manager of their Detroit office, was born in Emporia, Kansas, March 19, 1873, and is of the same family as Luther D. Thomas, in connection with whose sketch on another page of this work extended mention is made of the parents. Gomer M. Thomas attended the public and high schools of his native city and afterwards continued his education in the Kansas State University, from which he was graduated in 1897, with the Bachelor of Arts degree. After leav- ing the university he became connected with the Kansas City Journal in the advertising department, and throughout the succeeding twenty years he de- voted his attention to newspaper work, spending about nine-tenths of that time with the Journal, while for two years he was connected with the Kansas City World as assistant business manager. Following his return to the Journal he assumed the position of man- ager of the city cirenlation department of that paper.
He resigned his position in the latter part of 1916 to take charge of the Detroit office of the Thomas Mortgage Company, having been a stockholder in the company since its organization. This company is today composed of four brothers, Luther D., Howard B., Gomer M. and Richard W. Their business has become one of extensive proportions and covers a ramifying territory, for they are now operating suc- cessfully in Emporia, Kansas, in Dallas, Texas, and in Detroit, Michigan. The business which was started in a modest way has grown to vast proportions, through the able management and wise business methods of the brothers. The establishment of the business here was left to G. M. Thomas, and removing to Detroit he secured a room on the 2nd floor of the Penobscot building. This was in 1916-a critical period in our national life, for no one could quite foretell the outcome of conditions that existed in Europe, nor whether America would be drawn into the World war. Mr. Thomas, however, persevered in his attempt, although at various times friends ap- proached him and urged him to give up the struggle. He is made of different mold, however, and continued against all advice. His perseverance, determination and energy have triumphed over obstacles, difficulties and unfavorable conditions, and the little office of one room has been enlarged to take in the entire front part of the fifth floor of the Penobscot building. The busi- ness has assumed immense proportions and today the Thomas Mortgage Company is without doubt one of the largest and most reliable concerns of its kind in the city. The Thomas Mortgage Company, through its three offices, acts as financial correspondent of companies whose combined assets are more than two billion dollars. The success of the Detroit branch of the business is attributable in notable measure to the efforts of G. M. Thomas, who has always been in charge here, and his labors have brought splendid returns. He was also elected vice president of the Detroit Life Insurance Company, which is likewise a growing concern.
On the 9th of October, 1899, Mr. Thomas was mar- ried to Miss Emma Barber of Lawrence, Kansas, a daughter of O. P. Barber, a retail druggist of that place and one of the representative citizens of Law- renee. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have become parents of three children: Dorothy, who was born in Lawrence, December 10, 1903, and is now a freshman at the University of Michigan; Gomer Mansfield, born in Kansas City, Missouri, October 31, 1905, and now attending the high school; and Oliver B., who was born in Kansas City, January 14, 1915, and is a pupil in the graded schools of Detroit.
Mr. Thomas is well known in college circles as presi- dent of the Beta Theta Pi Alumni Association. In elnb eireles his name is well known, for he belongs to the Fellowcraft Athletic, the Detroit Auto and the Detroit Golf Clubs. He is a Mason and he belongs to the national council of the National Economic
GOMER M. THOMAS
LUTHER D. THOMAS
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League of Boston, of which William Howard Taft and other prominent men are members. His interest in community affairs is shown in his connection with the Detroit Board of Commerce. Mr. Thomas early man- ifested the elemental strength of his character by pro- viding for a college course and since starting out in life he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. Ability and energy have carried him steadily to the front. His persistent purpose and initiative have enabled him to carve out paths when the avenue of opportunity has sometimes seemed blocked. On the whole his course has been one of steady progression and he occupies an enviable position in the business circles of Detroit as treasurer of the Thomas Mortgage Company.
LUTHER D. THOMAS, president of the Thomas Mortgage Company and one of the well known repre- sentatives of the mortgage investment business in De- troit, was born in Emporia, Kansas, November 5, 1884, a son of Richard D. and Ann (Jones) Thomas. The parents were both born in Wales. The father came to the United States with his parents, who settled in New York state. In 1857 Richard D. Thomas went to the then far west, locating in Kansas, and at Emporia he established himself in business, becoming one of the most highly respected and substantial residents of that city. He was well known in connection with the insurance, banking and investment business in that section of Kansas. His death occurred at Emporia in January, 1920. His widow resides in Emporia.
Luther D. Thomas was reared in Emporia, attended the public schools and later was for two years a student at Emporia College, after which he entered the University of Kansas at Lawrence as a member of the class of 1909, continuing until in his senior year, when he left to engage in business. In 1908 he organized the Thomas Mortgage Company of Emporia, Kansas, a Kansas corporation of which his father, Richard D. Thomas, was president, with Luther D. Thomas as vice president. The business of the com- pany began to grow from its inception and rapidly became one of the strongest and most ably managed financial concerns in that section of the west. It originally specialized in loans on Kansas and Texas farm lands, but subsequently with the growth of the business, loans were made in other sections of the coun- try, as was the case when a branch of the business was established in Detroit in 1916 and loans made on property in this city. Impaired health obliged Rich- ard D. Thomas to retire from the presidency and he was succeeded by his son, Luther D., while the other officials of the company are also sons, Howard B. Thomas of Emporia, Kansas, acting as vice president, Gomer M. Thomas as treasurer and Richard W. Thomas of Emporia, Kansas, as secretary. Ever since he or- ganized the Thomas Mortgage Company, Luther D. Thomas has been foremost in shaping its policy and has most carefully directed the interests of the concern.
He has acquainted himself with every detail of the business and occupies an enviable place in financial circles. The Thomas Mortgage Company, through its three offices, is financial correspondent of companies whose combined assets are more than two billions of dollars. He is likewise the president of the Home Realty & Investment Company of Emporia, Kansas, which has offices in various large cities of the country.
On the 20th of September, 1911, Mr. Thomas was married in Emporia, Kansas, to Miss Gladys Riggs of that city, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Riggs, representing one of the prominent families of the Sunflower state. S. B. Riggs, the paternal grand- father of Mrs. Thomas, was one of the pioneer baukers of Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have two children: Clora Elaine, born September 13, 1912, in Emporia, Kansas; and Luther D., Jr., born March 20, 1915, in the same city.
Mr. Thomas belongs to the Masonic fraternity, hav- ing attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and the Knights Templar degree of the York Rite. He is likewise a member of the Mystic Shrine and belongs to the Detroit Rotary Club, the Detroit Golf Club and the Emporia Country Club. While a student at the University of Kansas he became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He is fond of all out- door sports, including hunting and fishing, as well as golf.
HARRY E. ANDREWS, for years connected with the public and commercial life of Detroit, and a veteran of the Spanish-American war, is a native of Detroit, born in August, 1874. He was educated in the publie schools of the city.
Mr. Andrews started his career as a clerk in the city police department, and while engaged in this line the Spanish-American war afforded him an opportunity for military service, of which he availed himself and enlisted in the Thirty-first Infantry. At the close of the war Mr. Andrews returned to Detroit and re- sumed his clerical duties in the police department. Some time later he resigned and entered the United States customs office at Detroit.
In 1907 Mr. Andrews became connected with com- mercial life, being associated with the Boyer-Camp- bell Company, and he is now treasurer of that com- pany. In 1915 he became treasurer of the Brown- McLaren Company, at the same time holding the treasureship of the former company, in these respon- sible positions rendering excellent service to each company.
Following the entry of America into the World war Mr. Andrews was appointed second lieutenant in the Michigan state troops. He was later promoted to captain, and still later to major, with which rank he retired.
In 1899 Mr. Andrews was united in marriage to Maud Pickford, and they are the parents of three children: June, Virginia, and Bruce P. Andrews. Mr.
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Andrews is a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and of the Board of Commerce, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest, as he does in all matters intended to advance the welfare of the community in a social or commercial way.
WILBERT WILGUS REECE. Throughout practic- ally his entire life Wilbert Wilgus Reece has been engaged in the real estate business, has been active in the development of numerous tracts and has always handled high-class property. He is now president and sales manager of the firm of Will St. John & Company, with offices at 200 Griswold avenue. His birth oc- curred near Delphos, Ohio, November 18, 1879, his parents being Frank and Sarah (Freeman) Reece, whose family numbered eight children, namely: Clark, Harry, Clayton, Ellis, Cora, Lola, Karry and Wilbert. The father was the owner of a farm near Delphos, which he had taken up as a homestead after the Civil war. He resided thereon and gave his attention to the further development and improvement of the property until his death, which occurred in 1917.
Wilbert Wilgus Reece was reared on his father's farm and worked in the fields until he was twenty- one years of age, when he entered the employ of a man by the name of Snyder, who conducted an im- plement store at Montpelier, Indiana. There he ob- tained his first experience as a salesman. Mr. Reece greatly surprised his employer one day by making a sale-his first-of a buggy. He had taken a cus- tomer upstairs to show him the stock, and his em- ployer missing him thought he was neglecting his work and was about to censure him for idleness, when Mr. Reece handed him the money covering the sale. He was employed at Montpelier and at Dunkirk, In- diana, for abont a year and a half. He next engaged in the livery business in Decatur, Indiana, being pro- prietor of the establishment for six months. After disposing of his interests in the livery barn he sold magazines throughout Ohio, Illinois and the southern part of Michigan.
It was on the 2d of November, 1904, that Mr. Reece arrived in Detroit, where he became a salesman for the Gerard Stormfeltz-Loveley Company, and after eight months, having clearly demonstrated his ability along the lines of salesmanship, he was promoted to the position of superintendent of salesmen and acted in that capacity for three years. In 1907 he left De- troit and went to Oklahoma City, where he entered into partnership with M. P. A. Compton in the real estate business. After a year and a half, however, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Recce entered into connection with the S. J. Carpenter Company, in which he had a third interest as a partner of Messrs. Ray and Carpenter. In 1910 he was called back to Detroit by reason of the death of his youngest sister and at that time he became associated with Will St. John in the real estate business, organizing the firm of Will St. John & Company. In 1911 they
began selling Indian village property and in 1912 they incorporated their business with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. They employed a force of eighty salesmen, which was one of the largest real estate sales forces in the city at that time. They have since handled various important subdivi- sions, including Habbercorn's Grosse Pointe Park sub- division, Harvard Homes subdivision, Harvard Road subdivision, Grix Home Park out Woodward, Frank Grix, McQuade Heights, Dexter Boulevard and Green- field Gardens. At the present time they are selling Green Acres on Woodward, having opened up this sub- division in October, 1919. Their home sites have a frontage of from thirty-five to fifty feet and the prices range from one thousand to thirty-five hundred dol- lars, with all modern city improvements. They develop all their properties and the company has proven a big factor in Detroit's notable real estate activity in the past few years. At the time of the incorpora- tion of the business Mr. Reece was made president and sales manager and as such has directed the ac- tivities of the enterprise, which has constituted an important element in real estate activities of the city.
In 1917 Mr. Reece was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth McIntosh, a native of Michigan. He was reared in the faith of the United Brethren church, of which his parents were devoted members. Mrs. Reece is an Episcopalian, which church Mr. Reece attends. His political allegiance is given the repub- lican party, but he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and his energies upon his business affairs, which have been most wisely and carefully directed and are bringing to him sub- stantial prosperity.
JAMES THOMAS WHITEHEAD, iron manufacturer and founder, has been in business since 1889, and is today at the head of the Whitehead & Kales Com- pany, Incorporated, employing more than one thou- sand people in the fabricating of steel for buildings and bridges with an annual output of thirty thou- sand tons.
He was born September 28, 1864, in Wyandotte, Michigan, his parents being James and Mary Anna (McEvoy) Whitehead. The father was born in Edin- burgh, Scotland, while the mother's birthplace was Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in the late '50s they came to Michigan, locating first in Detroit, and in 1860 the family moved to Wyandotte, which had as prom- ising a future as Detroit at that time. After the death of the senior Whitehead, in 1873, the family moved to Detroit. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living.
James T. Whitehead of this review, attended the public schools of Wyandotte and Detroit, and started out in the business world in 1879, when a youth of fifteen years, with the Detroit Branch of Rathbone Sard & Company of Albany, New York, stove manu- facturers. Ile remained with this firm ten years, fill-
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ing various positions, gaining experience and knowl- edge of the business, which fitted him for starting in business on his own account. In 1889 he acquired the sheet metal works established by John B. Dyar, who at the time was organizing the Michigan Radiator Company, now a part of the American Radiator Com- pany. The business of this small shop, employing about thirty men, developed with Detroit, until now it ranks well up to the top with larger shops of the country, in amount of structural tonnage turned out. In 1899 a partnership was formed with William R. Kales, a graduate engineer of the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology, the style of firm being White- head & Kales. The company then branched out into the bridge and structural steel work, moving its plant from the corner of Randolph and Franklin streets to its present location, Beecher avenue and the Michigan Central Railroad. The company was incorporated in 1905 under the name of Whitehead & Kales Iron Works. In 1916 the company acquired the bridge shops of the Detroit Bridge & Steel Works, with fif- teen acres of ground located on South Dearborn ave- nue and the Michigan Central Railroad, River Rouge, Michigan, to take care of its growing business. The officers of the company, aside from Mr. Whitehead as president, are: William R. Kales, vice president and engineer; Thomas C. Whitehead, vice president; James T. Warner, treasurer; Seth E. Roberts, secretary. Mr. Whitehead is also vice president of the Kales Stamp- ing Company, vice president of the Michigan Copper & Brass Rolling Mills Company, vice president of the Bank of Detroit, president of the Highland Park State Bank and a director of the Security Trust Company of Detroit. In 1909, with Henry Ford, James Couzens and John H. Johnson he organized the Highland Park State Bank of Highland Park, Michigan, with a paid in capital of forty thousand dollars. This bank now has a capital of one million dollars and a surplus of over nine hundred thousand dollars, and holds a prominent place among Detroit's financial institutions. He served as a director of the Board of Commerce, and was one of the organizers of the present organi- zation. His business interests are thus of the most extensive and important character, placing him among the leading men of the industrial and financial circles of the city.
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