USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 90
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branches on the American side of the border, known as the Canada Southern Railway lines. He filled that position for several years and then retired from active railroad work, but retained an interest in the Canada Southern. When death called him he was president and general manager of the Eureka Iron and Steel Works and also president of the Star line of steamers.
The life of William K. Muir was ever actuated by a true Christian spirit and for years he was a devoted and faithful member of the Jefferson Avenue Pres- byterian church of Detroit. He displayed a broad humanitarian spirit at all times and was constantly performing some good service for his fellowmen. For years he was president of St. Andrews Society and for a number of years prior to his demise he served on the poor commission of Detroit and promoted a plan to furnish lodgings to wandering members of society. It was at the Woodbridge Street Station that the tramps were fed, compelled to take a bath and their clothing steamed and dried. The other mem- bers of the board finally opposed Mr. Muir's charitable and sanitary scheme on the ground that it tended to 'increase the number of paupers who came to the city and upon the abandonment of the plan Mr. Muir re- signed his position. He manifested the keenest in- terest in the welfare and progress of Detroit at all times and cooperated heartily in every measure or movement that was of public benefit. It was one of his civic ambitions to see the river bridged at Detroit and he submitted a plan for a low winter bridge across the river at this point. He held to the high- est ideals of public service and private conduct. The salient traits of his Scotch ancestry, developed on the virile soil of the new world, made him a most forceful figure in railroad circles and gained for him the honor and respect of all who knew aught of his career, for business to him represented but one phase of existence. He ever fully recognized his duties and obligations to his fellowmen and his love for and belief in humanity was constantly manifest in untir- ing effort to uplift the individual and advance the betterment of the city in which he made his home. His health becoming impaired, he made a trip to Japan but was not improved thereby and on the 23d of June, 1892, he passed away, survived by his widow, Mrs. Christina Muir, five daughters and an only son, W. Howie Muir.
The son, educated in the Michigan Military Academy and the University of Michigan, was grad- uated from the latter with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Mechanical Engineer in 1888. The same year he started out upon an active business career as an employe of the Eureka Iron and Steel Works and in 1892 he became one of the organizers of the Jenks & Muir Manufacturing Company, for the manufacture of iron and brass bedsteads. He has since been the vice president and treasurer of this concern, which has steadily developed in extent and
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importance until it is today one of the largest manu- facturing interests of Detroit outside of the auto- mobile industry. It has been necessary to enlarge the plant from time to time and the foundry is equipped with the latest improved machinery for work of this character. As an executive officer Mr. Muir displays marked initiative and enterprise, finding ready solution for intricate and involved business problems and readily discriminating at all times be- tween the essential and the non-essential in business affairs.
Mr. Muir was united in marriage in Detroit to Miss Marion Lewis and they have three children: Elizabeth, who is the wife of J. H. Potter of Detroit; Marjorie, the wife of G. Worden Hunter of Detroit; and William, who is attending the Hotchkiss School.
Mr. and Mrs. Muir attend the Presbyterian church and both are prominent in the social circles of the city, while their home is the scene of many most at- tractive social functions. Mr. Muir is a Mason and also belongs to the Delta Kappa Epsilon and to the Detroit Board of Commerce. He likewise has member- ship in the Detroit, Yondotega, Country, Racquet, Curl- ing, Detroit Athletic, Detroit Boat and Players' Clubs. He is keenly interested in all that pertains to the wel- fare and progress of his native city, and while he deserves recognition as one of Detroit's captains of industry, he is equally well known in relation to its civic advancement and equally popular in club and social circles.
GUY STEVENS GREENE, president and general manager of the Hannan Real Estate Exchange, in which connection he controls the largest enterprise of its kind in the state, is one of Detroit's most prom- inent realtors.
Mr. Greene is a native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and was born May 7, 1885. His parents, Clay and Jennie (Stevens) Greene, were also born in this state and now reside at Ypsilanti, in which city the father for many years was successfully engaged in business.
Guy S. Greene was reared in Ypsilanti until the age of ten, when his parents removed to Ann Arbor, and after attending the schools of that city he en- tered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1908, with the degree of Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. He then came to Detroit and for a time was connected with the mechanical department of the Ford Motor Company. Later he went to Bahia, Brazil, where for six months he engaged in hydro-electrical construction work. On returning to the United States, he devoted his atten- tion to construction on power plants at Toledo, Ohio, where he remained until 1911, when he again came to Detroit, entering the employ of the Hannan Real Estate Company in a minor capacity. He devoted his energies to acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business and was gradually advanced to positions of greater importance and responsibility until he was
made president and general manager in 1918 and has since served in these capacities.
The Hannan Real Estate Exchange is the outgrowth of a business established by William W. Hannan in 1883 and for nearly forty years has occupied a fore- most position among Detroit real estate firms. Some of the most important real estate transfers in the history of the city have been conducted by this firm, which has built up probably the largest and most exclusive clientele of any company in Detroit, opera- ting in general real estate, insurance and loans. As the executive of this company, Mr. Greene has taken a prominent place among Detroit's men of big busi- ness. Among his other business relations, he is a director of the First Mortgage Bond Company, also Detroit Land Contract Company, and is interested in many other real estate enterprises.
At Toledo, Ohio, on the 11th of January, 1915, Mr. Greene was united in marriage to Miss Helen Arnsman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Arnsman, prom- inent residents of that city. To this union has been born a daughter, Sally, whose birth occurred in De- troit in 1918. Mr. Greene is a valued member of the Detroit Board of Commerce and the Detroit Real Estate Board and also belongs to the Detroit, Detroit Athletic, Players and Oakland Hills Country Clubs and the Chi Psi fraternity. He belongs to that class of representative Americans who, while promoting individual interests, also contribute in large measure to public progress, and through his business activities he is contributing to the growth and development of the city with which he has allied his interests. Mr. Greene's city residence is at 1497 West Boston boule- vard.
ROBERT C. DUGUID is well known in business circles of Detroit as the treasurer and manager of the Standard Composition Company and in the con- duct of his interests displays marked executive ability, sound judgment and enterprise. His ancestors were Covenanters in Scotland and when he was less than a year old his parents, James and Elizabeth (Watson) Duguid, left the land of hills and heather and emi- grated to the United States, taking up their residence in the vicinity of Sylvania, Ohio. He pursued his education in the public schools of that section of the state and when he was eleven years of age his father passed away, since which time he has depended upon his own exertions for a livelihood. In the old sewing machine works at Toledo, Ohio, he learned the trade of a tool-maker, which he continued to follow in that city until 1889, when he went to Oil City, Pennsyl- vania, where he became identified with newspaper interests. While thus engaged he learned to operate a typesetting machine and at the end of a year re- turned to Toledo, where he secured a position with the Toledo Commercial, on which paper he was em- ployed at the time the printers struck against type machines and threw them out. He then went to
GUY S. GREENE
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Evansville, Indiana, and secured work on the News- Journal, remaining in that city until 1893, when he came to Detroit. Here he became a machinist on the old News-Tribune, working on that paper for two years. He then secured employment with the Free Press and was connected with the publication of that paper for a period of fourteen years. His next posi- tion was with the United States Daily, which failed at the end of four months, after which he had charge of the work of overhauling the plant and machines of the Standard Composition Company. He subse- quently purchased the business, in association with others, and has since been treasurer and manager of the company, which does composition work for all of the printers in Detroit, in which connection an ex- tensive enterprise has been developed. Mr. Duguid has an expert knowledge of the printer's trade and the work turned out by the company is first class in every particular. His time and attention are concen- trated upon the development of the interests of which he has charge and success in substantial measure has rewarded his efforts.
In 1888 Mr. Duguid was united in marriage to Miss Lottie Belle Dane of Adrian, Michigan, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Grace Eliza- beth. He is a stanch republican in his political views and in religious faith is a Presbyterian. He is a member of the Detroit Yacht Club and fraternally is identified with the Masons, belonging to Palestine Lodge, F. & A. M. He is a self-made man, deserv- ing all the praise which the term implies, for from the age of eleven years he has been dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood. He has steadily worked his way upward, placing his dependence upon the sub- stantial qualities of industry, perseverance and in- tegrity, and he now ranks with the successful busi- ness men and progressive citizens of Detroit, where for twenty-eight years he has made his home.
HON. WILLIAM COTTER MAYBURY was known as the best loved mayor of Detroit and a most prom- inent attorney. He was here born November 20, 1848. He attended the public schools of Detroit and was graduated from the old Capitol high school with the class of 1866. Later he attended the University of Michigan and completed a four years' literary and law course, being graduated in 1870. The following year he began the practice of law in Detroit and in 1876 was elected city attorney, which position he held for four years. In 1880 he received the degree of Master of Arts from the University of Michigan and was elected professor of jurisprudence in the Michi- gan College of Medicine, 1881-82. In 1883 he was elected to congress from the first district of Michi- gan and served until 1888. While a member of the national legislative body he was able to do many things for his home city. He drew up a bill which secured the right to build the Belle Isle bridge, while a member of the ways and means committee and
worked untiringly for the measure. He was gratified ultimately in seeing this become a law, while the bridge was eventually thrown open to the city. Dur- ing his stay in Washington the site of the present Federal building was purchased and work was begun upon the structure.
In 1888 Mr. Maybury returned to Detroit and again associated himself with the old firm, of which he had been a member since 1882, that of Conely, May- bury & Lucking. In 1897 he became a member of the firm of Maybury, Lucking, Emmons & Helfman, and while occupying a prominent position in business cir- eles he continued to exert a widely felt influence over public thought and action. In 1897 he was chosen to succeed Hazen S. Pingree as mayor of Detroit, filling out the unexpired term of Mr. Pingree, who had been elected governor of the state. Mr. Maybury served the city as mayor until 1905 and his administration was of a thoroughly practical and progressive charac- ter. About the same time he was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France in recognition of his distinguished services in promoting a spirit of good fellowship between the two countries.
On his sixtieth birthday Mr. Maybury was the re- cipient of a beautiful solid silver loving cup, pre- sented to him at a party given in his honor by the leading business and professional men of the city. It was a delightful occasion and one of the most splendid social functions which has been witnessed in the city for years. The cup bears the inscription: "The Citizens of Detroit present this cup to William Cotter Maybury on his sixtieth anniversary in grateful recognition of distinguished service to his fellowmen and because we love him."
His death on the 21st of November, 1908, east a pall over the entire community, many bodies drafting resolutions in his honor, among them the common council of the city of Detroit, the Detroit sinking fund commission, of which Mr. Maybury had long been a member, the judges of the Wayne county circuit court, the directors of the Detroit Board of Com- merce, the Detroit Bar Association, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, who were holding their convention in Detroit at the time, and others. But feebly expressive of the great love which was held for him by all classes of people, are the reso- lutions drawn up by the common council of the city of Detroit, which say in part: "In no capacity in which he ever served the people was there a flaw upon his public record. But beyond and more than all else he was 'the noblest work of God,' and that his work was well done is attested by everyone. A large part of his life was spent in public service and he per- formed the duties of every position he occupied credit- ably to himself, serviceably to his city and county and most acceptably to his constituents, as was evident by his steady advancement. He was a most effective and accomplished speaker. His eloquence was the eloquence of truth. No man who ever heard him, re-
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gardless of what subject was under discussion, ever doubted the absolute sincerity of his every utterance, compelling attention and controlling thought when he lived and moved among us-study him from whatever angle we may, the deeper reading only brings out in fuller relief greater beauties and better traits. He possessed all the strong and rugged qualities of a manly man. He had all the grace and gentleness of a tender woman, was chivalrous, polished, and courtly. His charity was unostentatious, but as boundless as the universe and went out to all classes and condi- tions of mankind. For such as him there is no ever- lasting farewell, but a hopeful Good Night."
Mr. Maybury was a prominent figure in the Masonic fraternity, in which he passed every grade in both the York and Scottish Rite bodies, including the thirty-third degree. In 1898 he served as commander in chief of Michigan Sovereign Consistory. He was also senior warden of St. Peter's Episcopal church. Mr. Maybury never married.
WILLIAM HENRY KITTLE is well known in business circles of Detroit as the general manager and vice president of the Hartwick Lumber Company, with which he has been continuously identified through the past nine years. His birth occurred at Mancelona, Michigan, on the 13th of September, 1887, his parents being William H. and Sarah (Baker) Kittle, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. They came to Michigan, however, in early life and have remained residents of this state. Throughout the past thirty years the father has filled the office of sheriff of Antrim county, in which connection he has made a most creditable and commendable record as a custodian of the peace.
William Henry Kittle, an only child, attended the public and high schools of his native town and sub- sequently pursued a business course at Anderson, In- diana. After completing his studies he obtained a position with the Stiles Brothers Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, continuing in that employ until 1912, when he resigned. In that year he came to Detroit and here became connected with the Hartwick Lumber Company as manager of the Jefferson Avenue yards. So ably did he discharge his duties in that capacity that he was made assistant secretary and treasurer of the company in 1916, while a few years later he became vice president, and at present is also general manager, in which official positions he con- tinues, his efforts contributing in no inconsiderable degree to the growth and success of the business. He is also a director and the vice president of the Benetol Construction Company of Detroit and is a member and director of the Michigan Lumber Dealers Association.
On the 12th of August, 1909, at Grand Rapids, Mich- igan, Mr. Kittle was united in marriage to Miss Edna Rowe, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rowe, prominent residents of Ludington, Michigan. To Mr.
and Mrs. Kittle has been born one child, Karen, whose birth occurred in Detroit, March 4, 1918.
In the exercise of his right of franchise Mr. Kittle casts an independent ballot, regarding the capability of a candidate as of greater importance than his political affiliation. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Palestine Lodge, F. & A. M .; Detroit Commandery, No. 1, K. T .; Michigan Sovereign Consistory; and Moslem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. That he has due appreciation for the social amenities of life is further indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Fellowcraft Athletic, Brooklands Golf, Exchange, Detroit Boat and Detroit Auto Clubs. His life has ever been characterized by high and honorable principles and his record is worthy of more than pass- ing note, by reason of the fact that his success has been attained entirely through his own efforts.
SIDNEY TROWBRIDGE MILLER is an eminent representative of the legal profession. He has prac- ticed continuously in Detroit since 1887. Notwith- standing the fact that he is widely known as a suc- cessful practitioner, he has become perhaps even more widely known as the director of the Red Cross for Michigan and chairman of the state Red Cross com- mittee; all through the period of the great war he devoted almost his entire time and attention to this work.
Detroit claims him as a native son. He was born here on the 4th of January, 1864, his parents being Sidney D. and Katherine (Trowbridge) Miller. After mastering the branches of learning taught in the pub- lie schools of Detroit, he became a student in Brown Academy, where he pursued his preparatory course, and in 1881 he matriculated in Trinity College at Hartford, Connecticut, where he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the class of 1885. Three years later his Alma Mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree and in 1919 he was made one of the board of trustees. After leaving Trinity, Mr. Miller entered upon the study of law under the direction of his father, a distinguished mem- ber of the bar who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, and later became a law student at Harvard Uni- versity, where he remained for one year. In 1887 he was admitted to practice in the courts of his native state, upon examination before the supreme court, and later was admitted to practice in the federal courts. Through the intervening period his advancement has been continuous until his eminent position is conceded by all. It is said that no man is more careful to conform his practice to the highest ethical standards of the profession, and he enjoys the warmest regard of his professional brethren who share with him in membership in the Detroit and Michigan State Bar Associations, the American Bar Association and the International Law Association. He was president of the Detroit Bar Association for three terms and vice president, for Michigan, of the American Bar Asso-
WILLIAM H. KITTLE
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ciation. During his incumbency of the office of presi- dent of the local association Mr. Miller set in motion and carried to a successful conclusion the establish- ment of a large law library for the association, which it now owns. When possession of the library was turned over to the association, it consisted of ap- proximately twenty-one thousand volumes of up-to-date textbooks and law reports. The association began to grow at a very rapid rate from that time on. The membership was then about three hundred and it is now approaching one thousand. The growth in mem- bership has been due to a variety of causes but the impetus in the right direction was furnished through the installation of the library. The members were so grateful to Mr. Miller that they tendered him a ban- quet on the 3d of February, 1917, in appreciation of his efforts and in commemoration of the event. It was very largely attended and is a memorable event in the annals of the association. Mr. Miller is identi- fied with some of the prominent business interests of Detroit, being a director and general counsel of the Detroit Savings Bank, the Wyandotte Savings Bank, the Detroit Trust Company, the United States Radiator Corporation and other corporations, as well as being counsel in this state for many insurance companies whose headquarters are elsewhere. He is also the president of the Detroit College of Medicine.
On the 20th of November, 1889, in Hartford, Con- necticut, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Lucy T. Robinson, a daughter of Hon. Henry C. Robinson, and they have a son and a daughter; Sidney Trowbridge and Elizabeth Trumbull. Both were overseas during the World war, the son in the artillery service, and the daughter in Y. W. C. A. work. The parents are communicants of Christ Protestant Episcopal church, in which Mr. Miller has served as a vestryman, while in various departments of the church work he has taken most active and helpful interest.
Mr. Miller is a member of the Detroit Club, the Country CInb, the Yondotega Club, the University Club, the Racquet Club and the Detroit Boat Club and also has membership in the Delta Psi fraternity. He has manifested keen interest in activities and projects having to do with the welfare and upbuilding of Detroit, has served on the board of commissioners of the Detroit public library, bas been a member of the city gas commission and a member of the Detroit Board of Commerce. His military record covers service as ensign with the Michigan Naval Reserves. He is identified with the Society of Colonial Wars and the Sons of the American Revolution, indicating the long connection of his ancestry with this country. Mr. Miller has long been active in the Detroit Chap- ter of the Red Cross, of which he has been the presi- dent, and this is indicative of his latest public service -a service that has brought him into wide prominence not only in Michigan but throughout the country. When the great World war was inaugurated in August, 1914, he was serving as chairman of the Detroit
Chapter, which position he had previously filled for a number of years. The chapter at that time had only a few hundred members and was in existence primarily to meet emergencies or disasters. Under Mr. Miller's direction the chapter immediately became active in collecting and forwarding money and mate- rial for the relief of suffering in Europe. At the time the United States entered the war in April, 1917, Mr. Miller rendered very valuable assistance in the formation of the state committee authorized and ap- pointed by Hon. Albert E. Sleeper, governor of Michi- gan, who by virtue of his office was ex-officio head of the Red Cross in this state. Mr. Miller served on this committee, also on the executive committee and was able, by his knowledge of Red Cross affairs and by his wide acquaintance throughout the state, to accomplish some very valuable results in the way of preliminary organization of the state for the great work which was to follow along these lines. In May, 1917, Mr. Miller served as chairman of the speakers' bureau for Michigan for the first Red Cross war fund campaign for one hundred million dollars. Michi- gan's quota of three million dollars was largely over- subscribed and a great measure of credit is due Mr. Miller for the splendid personnel which he recruited and for the thorough manner in which the state was covered by able speakers. In August, 1917, Mr. Miller succeeded Frederick W. Stevens as chairman of the state Red Cross committee and also became Red Cross director for Michigan, this appointment coming direct from the Red Cross war council. Every county in the state was organized as a Red Cross chapter and Mr. Miller had full charge over all chapter activities. This necessitated the establishment of numerous de- partments to coincide with the national plan of or- ganization. To secure the personnel to head this department and set all the machinery in motion in carrying out the numerous details involved in Red Cross work was a very great task and was performed in a manner which enabled Michigan to make as fine a showing in comparison to its wealth and population as any state in the Union. The magnitude and gen- eral ramifications of Red Cross work necessarily threw a great burden upon the shoulders of the director, who was obliged to give practically his entire time to the task. Mr. Miller's wide acquaintance throughout the state, his unfailing tact and courtesy, and his thor- ough mastery of Red Cross details were largely re- sponsible for the large sums of money raised in this state and the large volume of work accomplished. Numerous conferences were held throughout the state, many trips were made to visit chapters, and frequent conferences were also necessary with the central divi- sion offices at Chicago, and occasionally headquarters at Washington. Michigan had the distinction of be- ing set up as one of the few units operating largely within itself. Most other states were operated from division headquarters. The form of organization in Michigan paralleled that of the division office and the
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