USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 77
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FLOYD EUGENE BOWEN, president and treasurer of the Bowen-Hassett Company, merchandise brokers of Detroit, was born in Liverpool, New York, Jan- uary 10, 1854, his parents being George W. and Ma- rietta (Vroman) Bowen, who were also natives of Liverpool, and on leaving New York in 1865, became residents of Michigan, settling at Grass Lake, where the father engaged in manufacturing. He has de- parted this life, as has also the mother, who passed away in January, 1921.
Floyd E. Bowen pursued his education in the public schools of Fayetteville, New York, and of Grass Lake, Michigan, to the year 1871, and afterwards spent a year as a student in the State University of Michigan, and also attended the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College of Detroit. When a young man of twenty- four years he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where from 1878 to 1882 he was employed as bookkeeper by the firm of Max Meyer & Brother. He next became book- keeper for the Pacific Express Company in the audi- tor's office and served in that capacity from 1882 until 1884. In the latter year he went on the road as a traveling salesman, representing wholesale houses of Omaha and St. Joseph, Missouri, until 1887. His identification with the merchandise brokerage business dates from the latter year, in which he started out in that line in Omaha. In 1890 he removed to Detroit and has since conducted a merchandise brokerage busi- ness in this city. From 1890 until 1895 he was sales
J. LEE GILLESPIE
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manager of the merchandise brokerage house, and in 1895 he established the firm of Floyd E. Bowen & Company, merchandise brokers, continuing the bnsi- ness successfully under that name until 1916, when the Bowen-Hassett Company was incorporated, of which he has since been the president. This is today one of the most successful grocery brokerage houses in the state. The business has reached substantial proportions, the prosperity of the house resting upon the close application, sound judgment and progressive methods of Mr. Bowen, whose business experience has always been along mercantile lines.
On the 25th of December, 1886, Mr. Bowen was mar- ried to Miss Julia M. Browning of Lincoln, Nebraska, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Woodville W. Browning of that city. They have become parents of two sons: Francis Browning, born in Detroit March 26, 1906, and now attending the North high school; and Edward Woodville, born in Detroit, October 1, 1911.
Mr. Bowen is a Master Mason and a worthy fol- lower of the teachings of the craft. He also belongs to the Detroit Automobile Club and to the Detroit Board of Commerce, and is interested in all that has to do with the progress and upbuilding of the city. His cooperation can be counted upon to further any measure for the general good, and at all times he is regarded as a public-spirited citizen. His residence is at No. 1534 Edison avenue.
J. ALFRED GROW. One of the most alert, ener- getic and successful insurance men in the state of Michigan is J. Alfred Grow, who since December, 1914, has been manager of insurance for the firm of Homer Warren & Company of Detroit. He is a native of this city and a representative of a family that has long been established in America. His parents were Julius A. and Mary (Hobart) Grow, the former a son of Philip Grow, who was a native of Michigan. The father was also born in this state and for many years engaged in the insurance business in Detroit, occupying a prominent position in commercial circles of the city.
J. Alfred Grow, who represents the third generation of the family in the state, attended the graded schools and the Central high school of Detroit and following his graduation in 1908 entered the Detroit College of Law. Before finishing his high school education he had engaged in the insurance business and has con- tinued in this work, the Michigan Fire & Marine In- surance Company being his first representation. He was established in business in the Dime Savings Bank building for several years and successfully conducted his interests until December, 1914, when he became manager of insurance for the firm of Homer Warren & Company, which position he has since held. His long connection with insurance interests has made him thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business and his capable management of this department has secured for the company a substantial increase in the volume of business transacted.
On the 18th of August, 1909, Mr. Grow was united in marriage to Miss Bessie M. Noyes and they have become the parents of three sons: Robert, Richard, and J. Alfred, Jr. Mr. Grow is a member of the Delta Theta Phi, a college fraternity, and he also is connected with the Detroit Athletic Club and the Bloomfield Hills Country Club. He ranks with the leading insurance men in the state and his present success is largely attributable to the fact that he has never dissipated his energies over a broad field but has concentrated his attention upon the line of activity which he first took up as a young man, thereby ac- quiring a comprehensive knowledge of the subject. Opportunity has ever been to him a call to action and he ranks with the progressive and successful busi- ness men of the city where his life has been passed.
HARRY CLEVELAND RYAN, general manager and secretary of the Detroit Furnace & Stove Repair Com- pany at the time of his death on the 19th of Feb- ruary, 1921, had made for himself an enviable posi- tion in the business circles of Detroit. He started out to provide for his own support when a youth in his teens and from that time steadily worked his way upward, reaching a most creditable position in the commercial circles of the city. He was a native son of Detroit, his birth having occurred on the 9th of August, 1885, his parents being John F. and Mar- garet (Fitzgibbons) Ryan, in whose family there were three children, a sister, Mrs. James Dwyer living in Detroit, while the brother, John F. Ryan, resides in New York. The father has passed away, but the mother survives and still makes her home in this city. The father was a well known railroad man.
Harry C. Ryan spent his life in Detroit. He pur- sued his education in the schools of this city, com- pleting his studies by a course in the University of Detroit, and thus well qualifying for life's practical and responsible duties. At the age of sixteen years he initiated his business career by entering the em- ploy of the Peninsular Stove Company and his faith- fulness and capability are indicated in the fact that he remained with that concern for about thirteen years. He had worked his way steadily upward until he had become advertising manager for the con- cern and seven years prior to his demise he engaged in business on his own account, by becoming general manager and secretary of the Detroit Furnace & Stove Repair Company. Under his guidance the business steadily developed until it became one of extensive and gratifying proportions and today stands as a monument to his enterprise, keen sagacity and sound business judgment.
On the 19th of October, 1909, Mr. Ryan was united in marriage to Miss Mary V. Thompson, a daughter of the Hon. William B. Thompson, a very prominent and influential citizen of Detroit, who at one time served as mayor. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan became the parents of three interesting daughters: Rosemary Virginia; Helen
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Margaret; and Nancy, all of whom, with the mother, survive the husband and father. Death came to Mr. Ryan suddenly after an illness of but two days and his demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had won many friends in the city in which his life had been passed. He was a devout member of the Catholic church and also belonged to the Knights of Columbus. His funeral services were conducted in the Jesuit church of St. Peter and St. Paul, of which he was a member. In his political views Mr. Ryan was a stanch democrat and never withheld his support from any project or measure that he believed would benefit the city, promote its growth and advance its civic standards.
HERBERT STANLEY KARR, M. D., one of De- troit's best known physicians and surgeons, was born at Cass City, Michigan, on the 4th of August, 1882, his parents being Luther and Sarah (Treadgold) Karr, natives of Canada, who came to Michigan in early life. The father was reared on a homestead in the timber district of this state and later turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, to which he devoted his active business life. At the present time he is living retired at Highland Park, Michi- gan, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. Mr. and Mrs. Luther Karr are the parents of three children: Mrs. Ethel Baetz, who is a resi- dent of Newberry, Michigan; Mrs. Nina Reynolds living at El Paso, Texas; and Herbert S., of this review.
The last named attended the public and high schools of his native city until 1901 and then went west to Saco, Montana, where he worked on a ranch during college vacation periods for two years. On the ex- piration of that period he returned to Michigan and entered the Detroit College of Medicine, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. as a member of the class of 1908. Following the comple- tion of his course he went to Houghton, Michigan, in the copper country, where he was appointed assistant surgeon for the Winona Mining Company, continuing as the company doctor for a period of two years. He then resigned his position and through the succeeding four years was successfully engaged in practice at Akron, Michigan. In 1914 he came to Detroit, spent two years in the surgical department of Harper hos- pital and in 1916 began the private practice of medi- cine and surgery in this city, in which connection he has since gained a well earned reputation and merited distinction. He was appointed a member of the city board of health but resigned on account of the heavy demands of his praetice. However, he acts as exam- ining physician for the Western Electric Company of Chicago, is associate surgeon of the Children's Free hospital here and is serving as assistant gynecol- ogist and obstetrician on the staff of Harper hospital of Detroit. As a member of the Wayne County Medi- cal Society, the Michigan State Medical Society and
the American Medical Association he keeps in close touch with the advanced thought of the profession.
On the 11th of June, 1908, in Detroit, Dr. Karr was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary L. John, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. John. They have become parents of two children: Raymond Eugene, who was born at Winona, Michigan, June 7, 1909, and is now attending school in Detroit; and Lucille, whose birth occurred November 14, 1917, in Detroit.
In his political views Dr. Karr is a stanch repub- lican, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His life in every relation has been actuated by lofty principles and he has become widely recognized as one of Detroit's leading medical practitioners as well as most highly esteemed citizens. His office is at No. 312 MeKerchey building.
DONALD THOMSON, whose untimely death oc- curred on December 23, 1916, had attained an enviable position in business circles of Detroit, where for sev- eral years he was successfully engaged as a realtor. Previous to this he had achieved prominence as a railway official and at the time of his death was president of the village of Highland Park. Mr. Thom- son was a native of Argyleshire, in the highlands of Scotland, born on the 27th of March, 1869. His par- ents were Stewart and Margaret (McQuilkan) Thom- son, who had a family of five sons and three daughters. Stewart Thomson was a farmer and stock raiser and died in Scotland when Donald was a small child. In 1882 the widowed mother and her family of children emigrated to Canada and purchased a farm at Ridge- town, Kent county, Ontario.
Donald Thomson was reared to the hard work of the farm and received his early education in the public schools. He was graduated from the Ridgetown Col- legiate Institute and the Chatham Normal school and for several years taught school in Chatham, Ontario. In 1892 he came to Detroit to attend the Detroit Business University, graduating in stenography in the fall of that year. He at once entered the employ of the Wagner Palace Car Company at Detroit and rose through the ranks until he became cashier, in which capacity he was serving when that company was absorbed by the Pullman Company in 1899. He was then appointed assistant district superintendent of the Pullman Company at Detroit and served as such until 1907, when he was transferred to Chicago in the same capacity. Previously, and during his service with the Pullman Company, Mr. Thomson had de- voted his spare time to engineering studies and re- ceived a diploma as mining engineer in 1907. In June of that year he left the service of the Pullman Com- pany to accept the position of superintendent of the Joliet quarry of the Michigan Central Railroad Com- pany, which position he held until June, 1909, when he was transferred to Detroit as chief clerk to the chief engineer of the Michigan Central Railroad Com-
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pany and a few months later he was appointed gen- eral superintendent of quarries for that company, serv- ing until 1914, when he resigned to enter the real estate business on his own account, in which he con- tinued until his death. He organized the Greater De- troit Realty Company, of which he became president, and was also interested in other land companies and business enterprises.
Mr. Thomson was married on the 8th of February, 1892, to Miss Katherine Ferguson, a daughter of Dun- can Ferguson of Aldborough Plains, Ontario. They became parents of one daughter, Lillian M., who was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1914 and became associated with her father in his real estate business. For a period she was vice president of the Greater Detroit Realty Company but resigned that office to engage in real estate business independ- ently and now maintains a real estate office in High- land Park, although she is still a director in the Greater Detroit Realty Company. She resides with her mother at 78 Elmhurst avenue, Highland Park, which has been the family home since 1909. Mr. Thomson was a member of the Highland Park Lodge, F. & A. M., and his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, being a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian church, to which his family belongs. His political endorsement was given to the democratic party. In March, 1913, he was elected president of the village of Highland Park for a one-year term. He was reelected in 1914 and again in 1916 for two-year terms. During his term of office Highland Park advanced ma- terially in a commercial way. The water works sys- tem was built and put into operation, the sewer sys- tem was planned and constructed and the construction department was organized for the purpose of the mu- nicipality performing a large part of public construc- tion work, which resulted in an immense saving to the taxpayers of Highland Park. Mr. Thomson's ad- ministration of his office gave general satisfaction to his constituents and his death brought to the lips of more than one local resident the words: "Highland Park has lost a good official and a good man." High and honorable principles guided his life in every re- lation and made his death the occasion of deep regret to a large circle of friends, who knew him as a man of many sterling qualities and one worthy the high respect and confidence always tendered him.
FRED A. SCHNEIDER. At 616 Woodward avenue is established the finely equipped haberdashery of Boosey & Schneider, and the firm, of which Fred A. Schneider is the junior member, controls a substantial and representative trade, the success of the business being based upon effective service and the correct methods that invariably engender popular confidence and support.
Fred A. Schneider is a native of Wayne county, Michigan, as he was born in Springwells, on the 15th of March, 1889, and it is a matter of satisfaction to
him that in his native county and its fine state metrop- olis he has found opportunity for successful business enterprise. His early education was obtained mainly in the parochial schools of Detroit and the Western high school of this city, besides which he was grad- uated in a local business college. For two years there- after he was associated with his father in the brick business, and during the ensuing eight years he was a popular salesman in the store of Charles P. Noble, engaged in the men's furnishing goods business in Detroit. Upon severing this connection Mr. Schneider became junior member of the firm of Boosey & Schnei- der, and their personal popularity has added materially to the unequivocal success of their business. The haberdashery of this progressive firm is one of the most attractive establishments of its kind in Detroit, with the most select lines of men's furnishing goods, including hats and caps, and with a general service that makes appeal to the best trade. The partner- ship was formed March 15, 1914, and there has been a consecutive expansion in the scope of the enterprise.
Mr. Schneider is independent in politics, is a com- municant of the Catholic church, and is a member of the Dix Avenue Improvement Association and the Birch Hill Country Club. His wife, whose maiden name was Muriel V. Lindsay, was born and reared in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Mr. Schneider is a son of Joseph N. and Susan (Roulo) Schneider. The father maintains his home in Detroit. The mother has passed away. The father was in earlier years a successful farmer in Greenfield township, Wayne county, and after leaving the farm he was for some time engaged in the feed and grain business. He then turned his attention to the brick business, with which he continued his active associa- tion until 1916, when he sold out. Since that time he has lived virtually retired, and he is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Wayne county, even as he is a representative of a sterling pioneer family of Michigan.
CLARENCE W. TREADWELL, engaged in the real estate business, is numbered among those who have crossed the Canadian border to enjoy the business opportunities offered in this rapidly growing city. He was born in Aylmer, Ontario, April 20, 1892, and is a son of Arthur and Elberta (Barr) Treadwell, who have always lived in Ontario, making their home in Aylmer, where the father is engaged in the live stock industry.
Clarence W. Treadwell, their only child, spent his youth as a public school pupil in his native town and as a student in the Aylmer Collegiate Institute, after which he entered upon a clerkship in the old Traders Bank at Aylmer, there continuing for two years and eight months. He afterward held a clerical position in the Imperial Bank at Edmonton, Alberta, and there remained until 1913, when he came to Detroit and se- cured a position in the real estate office of Perry Mor-
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tenson Company in the Dime Bank building. Subse- quently he was with the R. H. Taylor Real Estate Company for three years and in 1916 opened an office on his own account to handle property. He has done much to develop suburban property and has put upon the market a number of subdivisions, including such well known sections of the city as West End Manor, Ford Manor, Ford Manor, No. 1, Ford City Heights, Misner West Park, West Park, No. 1, Eureka Manor and Eureka Highlands, of all of which he has been sell- ing agent, and St. John's Boulevard subdivision and St. John's Boulevard, No. 1, which he owns individu- ally. Through the development of these properties he has done much to further the growth and improve- ment of the city.
On the 1st of January, 1914, Mr. Treadwell was mar- ried to Miss Evelyn Clarke of Aylmer, Ontario, and they have three children: Clarke W., who was born in Detroit in December, 1914; Marjorie, born in 1916; and Donald H., born in March, 1918. Mr. Treadwell is a thirty-second degree Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine and he also belongs to the Masonic Country Club. He has never regretted his determination to become a factor in the business circles of Detroit, for along the line of steady progression he has advanced and is now conducting a representative real estate busi- ness. Mr. Treadwell resides at 5411 Lawton avenue.
ALFRED RICE, who has become widely known in business circles in Michigan through his identification with the development of the market for investment securities, is now acting as sales manager for the First National Company of Detroit, in which connec- tion he is doing most effective work, his services proving very valuable to the corporation which he represents. He was born in Woodstock, April 5, 1869, in the province of Ontario, Canada, a son of John and Mary (Lund) Rice, both of whom were of English descent. His literary education was acquired in the schools of Toronto, after which he entered the University of Michigan, where he pursued a law course, being graduated with the class of 1896, at which time the degree of LL. B. was conferred upon him. In the same year he was admitted to practice in all of the courts of Michigan and for a short time followed his profession. In 1908 he entered the in- vestment business in connection with the First & Old National Bank of Detroit, becoming salesman for the First National Company, which is the invest- ment corporation of the bank, and subsequently he became the Michigan representative for large banking institutions of Chicago, acting as state manager for Halsey-Stuart & Company, investment bankers, from 1915 until 1920. On the 15th of December of the latter year he was made sales manager for the First Na- tional Company, which engages in municipal and cor- porate financing. He has devoted the greater part of his active business life to financial interests and few men are better informed concerning the value of in- vestments in various lines. He is thoroughly fa-
miliar with every branch of the business and is pro- moting the success of the company by systematic and progressive work, which has resulted in a large in- crease in the volume of sales. He displays marked efficiency in management, together with initiative, and his enterprise is fruitful of gratifying results.
Mr. Rice was united in marriage to Miss Bertha C. Marker of Wayne, Michigan, and they have become the parents of four children: Margaret, John Fred- erick, Robert Alfred and Jean. In his political views Mr. Rice is a republican and for three years he has served as president of the board of education of Wayne, Michigan, being a strong advocate of the cause of education. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church, and fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belong- ing to Oriental Lodge, F. & A. M., while through his connection with the Birch Hill and Washtenaw Coun- try Clubs he obtains needed rest and recreation from the arduous cares of business. His business career has been marked by steady progress, resulting from close application and the complete mastery of the duties of each position which he has held. His prom- inently marked characteristics are those which make for personal popularity, while in business circles 'he manifests the forcefulness, keen discrimination and ready understanding of involved interests which make him one of the chief factors in the promotion of the financial interests of Detroit.
WILLIAM WARD DUCKETT is the secretary and treasurer and active head of the firm of John V. Sheehan & Company, booksellers and stationers, also handling toys and art goods. They have the most com- plete establishment and transact the largest business of this kind in the state of Michigan and in fact theirs is one of the best known stores of this char- acter in the entire country. Back of the success of the enterprise is the diligent determination and definite purpose of Mr. Duckett and his associate officers, Mr. Duckett being recognized as one of the most progres- sive merchants of the city. A native of Michigan, he was born in Republic, April 8, 1888, and is a son of Dr. Alfred and Eddie (Miller) Duckett. He has two brothers, Alfred Clayton and John Hardin Duckett. The family removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1895. The father, however, passed away in the year 1892. Mrs. Duckett afterward became the wife of John V. Sheehan.
William Ward Duckett, whose name introduces this review, attended the parochial schools of Ann Arbor and afterward became a student in Notre Dame Uni- versity of Indiana. When his education was completed he went to northern Idaho, where he remained for five years with the Federal Mining & Smelting Com- pany, which he represented in a clerical capacity. He was constantly brought into contact with dominant figures in the business world and acquired broad and valuable experience through this association. He after-
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