The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV, Part 93

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV > Part 93

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The last named attended the common schools of St. Paul, Minnesota, and after coming to Detroit he entered the railroad offices conducted by his father and an unele, Charles M. Dailey. He was later made secretary and treasurer of the company and continued to fill those offices until the road was sold to its present owners, the Detroit United Railways, since which time he had lived practically retired, devoting his attention to the supervision of his ex- tensive investments. In 1890 he erected the Dailey building at the corner of Michigan avenue and Park place, a large office building with the ground floor occupied by stores, and in addition to this property he had other valuable holdings in the city and state. His initiative spirit led him to become one of the organizers of the Marine Savings Bank of Detroit, of which he was made president, continuing to fill that office until the institution became the property of the Dime Sav- ings Bank. He had been most successful in all of his ventures, for he was a man of marked executive ability and keen insight, who was seldom in error in passing upon the value of any business opportunity, while his transactions were at all times characterized by strict honesty and integrity.

Mr. Dailey was the owner of a beautiful estate on the shore of Lockwood Lake, near Alpena, Michigan, upon which stands a most modern and attractive bungalow supplied with all necessary conveniences. Here he resided, while he had also built a comfortable cottage as a home for his caretaker and family. On his property is situated one of the finest lakes in Michigan, which is surrounded by high hills, so that the spot is a most beautiful one and an ideal place of residence. He was mueh interested in antiques and had devoted considerable attention to the sub- jeet, becoming well known in this connection. He was the possessor of a very valuable collection, which included old newspapers, rare pieces of furniture, clocks and Revolutionary documents, some of which are over two hundred years old and are still in an excellent state of preservation. Mr. Dailey was a republican in his political views and kept well in- formed concerning the questions and issues of the day but had never been an aspirant for public office. He was a popular member of the Wayne Club and fraternally was identified with the Masons, being a worthy exemplar of the craft. He was a man of broad views and generous nature, who was ever ready to extend a helping hand to those in need of assistance and he had made many liberal contributions to worthy charitable enterprises, performing his benefactions quietly and unostentatiously. It is to such men as Mr. Dailey was that any city must look for its growth -men who combine executive ability, keen sagacity and breadth of vision with publie spirit and a willing-

JOSEPH W. DAILEY

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ness to place the general welfare above individual aggrandizement. Mr. Dailey passed away at his estate on the shore of Lockwood Lake, November 22, 1921. His remains were interred in the family lot in Wood- mere cemetery.

JAMES E. ATKINSON. Construction interests of Detroit receive impetus from the activities of the Atkinson-Deacou-Elliott Company, of which James E. Atkinson is the president, in which connection he is bending his efforts to administrative direction and executive control. The fact that he has been chosen the head of this important company is in itself proof of his executive ability, business acumen and enter- prise, and through his wise management of its affairs he is contributing to the industrial expansion of the city. He was born at Albion, Michigan, July 1, 1880, a son of Edward S. and Catherine A. Atkinson, the former of Scotch-Irish lineage and the latter of Penn- sylvania Dutch descent. In the early days the father resided in the province of Ontario, Canada, driving a stagecoach between Windsor and Leamington.

James E. Atkinson acquired his education in De- troit, attending the Webster primary school and the Western high school, becoming president of the first graduating class of the high school and also president of its alumni association. Subsequently he pursued a course in the Detroit College of Law and his knowledge of legal principles has since been of great value to him in his businses career. On start- ing out in life independently he became identified with the Peninsular Stove Company of Detroit, serv- ing as paymaster of that corporation for a period of thirteen years. His next connection was with the firm of Glass, Cook & Atkinson, of which he served for nine years as vice president, and he is now acting as president of the Atkinson-Deacon-Elliott Company, extensively engaged in the building and sale of homes in this city, Mr. Atkinson being a large stockholder in the enterprise. They employ none but skilled labor and the thoroughness and reliability of their work have commended them to the confidence of the general public. Mr. Atkinson is proving energetic, farsighted and capable in the management of the extensive busi- ness of which he is the head and is constantly seek- ing to enlarge the company's field of work. He keeps in close touch with what is being done in all depart- ments and has succeeded in maintaining a high de- gree of efficiency in the operation of the business.

On the 17th of July, 1906, Mr. Atkinson was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle B. Ely of this city, a daughter of Mrs. Lovina Ely. He is prominent in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, serving as a member of the state board and also as chairman of the physical board. During the progress of the World war he spent one year at Camp Custer in connection with the work of the association and at the close of hostilities was camp general secretary at Camp Funston, Kansas. He is an active and helpful

member of the North Woodward Methodist Episcopal church and is a trustee of the Atkinson Avenue church of that denomination. He is also serving as a trustee of Albion College and his interest in the welfare and upbuilding of his city is indicated by his membership in the Detroit Board of Commerce and the Detroit Real Estate Board. He is likewise connected with the Ingleside, Detroit Athletic, Detroit Golf and Wana- maker Clubs and fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Highland Park Lodge, F. & A. M .; is president of John A. Gerow class of the Michigan Sovereign Consistory, and is also a member of Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. ITis care- fully formulated plans have resulted in the enlarge- ment and growth of one of Detroit's substantial com- mercial enterprises-a business that has been of direct value and benefit to the city as well as a source of individual income, and he is preeminently a busi- ness man whose record is written in terms of success.

THERESA DOLAND, who has reached an enviable position at the Detroit bar, was born in St. Louis, Michigan, on the 22d of February, 1882, her parents being Stephen and Margaret (Murray) Doland, who were natives of the province of Ontario, Canada. They became pioneer residents of Michigan and still make their home in St. Louis.

Miss Doland acquired her early education in the public schools of her native town, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, while later she became a student in the Michigan State Normal and was graduated with the class of 1901. She then took up the profession of teaching, which she followed in her home county, and afterward went to Montana, where she was a teacher for six years. She also taught in Oklahoma and in New Mexico and for two years was a teacher among the Indians of Texas. She supplemented her Normal School training with a business course in the St. Louis Commercial College and with this thorough experience and educational equipment she began the study of law in the Detroit College of Law, which conferred upon her the LL. B. degree in 1915, while in 1917 she received the honorary LL. M. degree from the University of Detroit.

While pursuing her law studies Miss Doland was employed in the office of Anderson, Wilcox & Lacy, well known attorneys of this city, thus supplementing her theoretical training by practical experience in the work of the profession. Following her graduation she entered upon active practice in Detroit on the 8th of June, 1915, and has since remained a member of the bar of this city, winning a place of distinction as a most capable representative of the profession. She is today one of the widely known women lawyers of the country and conducts the largest probate practice in the state of Michigan. The thoroughness of her work, her high regard for and strict observance of the ethics of the profession and her wide study have been the salient qualities which have won for her

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the enviable position which she now occupies as a rep- resentative of the Detroit bar.

Miss Doland is a member of the Detroit Bar Asso- ciation and the American Bar Association, also of the Woman's City Club of Detroit and the Detroit Busi- ness Woman's Club. She is likewise a member of the Woman's Suffrage League, but is an opponent of radi- cal methods in obtaining suffrage. Her political en- dorsement is given to the republican party. She be- longs to the National Women Lawyers Association, of which she is vice president from Michigan: She was the organizer of the Women Conductors Associa- tion, which case she argued before Judge Taft of the war labor board at Washington in January, 1919, her efforts being crowned with success. She also or- ganized the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan in August, 1919, an organization which has grown rapidly in membership. She is forceful and resource- ful in all that she undertakes and her colleagues and contemporaries in the profession acknowledge her ability.

RALPH THOMAS HOLLIS, resident partner of the firm of Haskins & Sells, well known certified public accountants of New York, was born in Lon- don, England, July 7, 1874, his parents being Henry and Elizabeth Ann (Park) Hollis, who were also natives of that country, where they spent their lives, the father carrying on business as a manu- facturing jeweler. He died in London in 1893 and his wife passed away in that city in 1890. They had a family of eight children: Mrs. Louisa Madgin, deceased; Henry Park; Charles Frederick; Mrs. Amy Elizabeth Shanks; Mrs. Lizzie Emily Thelwall, de- ceased; Mrs. Anne Edith Gibson; Frank Spencer Bate- man; and Ralph Thomas.

In early life Ralph. T. Hollis attended the schools of North London and his natural talent for mathe- matics soon asserted itself. When seventeen years of age he was articled to Barnes, Dunn & Boughton, chartered accountants, one of the oldest firms of its kind in the city of London, and subsequently took up work as a chartered accountant in London in 1896, following his profession in that city until 1905. He then came to the new world, settling in Detroit, where he was employed by others until 1908, when he began business on his own account and later organ- ized the firm of R. T. Hollis & Company. This con- nection was maintained until 1915, when the firm of Hollis, Tilton & Porte was formed. They were at the head of the public accounting profession in the city, having the largest clientele of any firm of the kind in this section of the country, a fact in- dicative of the high measure of efficiency not only of the various members of the firm but of all in their employ. On August 1, 1921, the professional account- ing practices of Hollis, Tilton & Porte were con- solidated with Haskins & Sells of New York and Mr. Hollis, like the other members of the firm, continues

as a resident partner of Haskins & Sells, with offices in the First National Bank building. Mr. Hollis is a member of the English Institute of Chartered Ac- countants of England and Wales and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.

On the 6th of September, 1900, in London, Eng- land, Mr. Hollis was married to Miss Daisy Alice Benson and they became the parents of four children: Eric Ralph Benson, who passed away in 1912; Kings- ley Gordon James, born in Windsor, Canada, Sep- tember 18, 1911; Henry Vincent Benson, born in Detroit, November 25, 1913; and Daisy Marjorie Ben- son, born in Detroit, July 3, 1916. Mr. Hollis is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has taken the degrees in Corinthian Chapter, F. & A. M. Mr. Hollis is also a member of the Board of Commerce and De- troit Credit Men's Association. His attention and energy have largely been concentrated upon his pro- fession, leaving him comparatively little leisure time for social or other activities. Nevertheless he has traveled extensively. Following a line for which nature evidently intended him, he has developed his skill and efficiency to a high point, enabling him to occupy a position of leadership in this field of labor.

ROSCOE B. HUSTON. As secretary-treasurer of the Recreation Company of Detroit, Roscoe B. Huston is connected with one of the most unique business en- terprises in the country, which has not only brought prosperity to its owners but has also been most beneficial to the people of the city, providing them with the means of obtaining wholesome recreation. He has long been connected with interests of this character, organizing various leagues which have been a source of much benefit to those who otherwise would not have obtained needed rest and relaxation from business cares, and he is one of the most active men in the city in recreation work.

Mr. Huston is a native of Illinois. He was born in Blandinsville, January 3, 1881, a son of Theodore and Anna (Burhans) Huston, the former of whom there successfully engaged in the raising of high grade stock, specializing in shorthorn cattle. The father was prominent in public affairs and in 1893 was appointed American consul at Juarez, Mexico, where his death occurred on the 19th of December, 1894, after which the mother returned to her home in Macomb, Illinois.

Roscoe B. Huston attended the graded and high schools of his native town and in 1898 he entered the State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, devot- ing his attention to the study of law and the clas- sics. He was graduated in 1902 and then devoted two years to additional study, completing his education in 1904, being thus exceptionally well equipped for life's practical duties and responsibilities. Coming to De- troit, he opened an office in the Buhl building and for five years devoted his attention to the general practice of law. In 1906 lie organized the firm of Huston

RALPH T. HOLLIS

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Brothers, consisting of the three brothers, Irvin, Corwin and Roscoe, which firm operated a billiard room on six tables at Ann Arbor in a rented build- ing. Roscoe B. Huston continued to live in Detroit. In 1909 he returned to Ann Arbor, where he was instrumental in securing the erection of a building at No. 307 South State street, in which he and his brother established business, their parlor containing twenty-one billiard tables and eight bowling alleys, and this they are still conducting. In 1915 the Recrea- tion Company was formed for the purpose of provid- ing clean, wholesome recreation for the people of Detroit. Mr. Huston was made secretary-treasurer of the company and the Recreation building was erected for the purpose of housing the business, this being the only structure in the world ever constructed for recrea- tion purposes exclusively. Previous to this time no one had ever entertained the idea of operating a business of this character on so extensive a scale and the company is now conducting the largest enterprise of this nature in the world. It has one hundred and forty-two billiard tables and eighty-eight bowling alleys and in connection there are soda fountains, lunch counters, cigar stores, barber shops and shower baths. That the enterprise has found favor with the general public is indicated in the fact that seven thou- sand people enter the building on a week day and twelve thousand on Saturdays, the average weekly at- tndance being one hundred and sixty thousand. The company conducts numerous tournaments and has one hundred different bowling leagues for men and thirty for ladies. Its organization stands in a class by itself and its interests have at all times been con- ducted in accordance with the highest business ethics, so that its standing is a most enviable one. Mr. Hus- ton's energetic spirit and executive ability have been an important factor in the development of the enterprise and his efforts have met with a gratifying measure of success.

On the 21st of November, 1905, Mr. Huston was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide Lloyd of Ken- tucky, and they have become the parents of a daugh- ter, Lloyd, who is now a senior at the Detroit Cen- tral high school. She is an extremely bright girl and her proficiency in her studies is indicated in the fact that she is a year younger than any other girl in her elass.

In his political views Mr. Huston is a strong democrat and he keeps well informed regarding the leading questions and issues of the day, having devoted considerable time to the study of political history. He is well known and popular in social circles of the city and is a member of the Fellow- craft, Bloomfield Open Hunt, University of Michigan, Detroit Riding & Hunt, Detroit Athletic, Washtenaw Country and Rotary Clubs, also the Board of Com- merce while his chief hobbies are motoring and card playing. He is a man of abounding energy and vitality, who attacks everything with a spirit of con-

tagious enthusiasm and whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion. He pos- sesses initiative, combined with marked executive power, and to him opportunity has spelled success. His life has ever been an upright and honorable one, commanding for him the high regard of all with whom he has been brought into contact.

F. G. SKINNER, secretary and treasurer of the Sterling & Skinner Manufacturing Company, became one of the organizers of this business in 1902. Through the intervening period of two decades the enterprise has steadily developed until it has long since been recognized as one of the successful manufacturing concerns of the city. Mr. Skinner is classed with the list of representative business men Canada has furnished to the American city across the border. His birth occurred iu Hamilton, Ontario, September 2, 1861, and while spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Dr. Ormond and Margaret (Mac- Intyre) Skinner, he acquired a high school education. In 1877 he became an employe of the Great Western Railway Company and afterward was connected with the firm of Charles Cameron & Company in his native city. He dates his residence in Detroit from 1885, at which time he secured a situation with the firm of Pingree & Smith. At a subsequent date he was with the firm of D. Armstrong & Company of Roch- ester, New York, but renewed his connection with the manufacture of brass goods by purchasing an inter- est in the business of the McRae & Roberts Company of Detroit in 1893. In 1902 he joined R. R. Sterling in organizing the Sterling & Skinner Manufacturing Company, of which he has since been the secretary and treasurer. This company began the manufacture of brass goods for steam, water and gas plants and engines and for automobiles. The business was estab- lished on East Grand boulevard, where the plant has always been maintained, and there are now on the payroll the names of one hundred and twenty-five em- ployes, while the product is shipped to all parts of the country. During the war period the company made parts for trucks and submarines, under priority orders. Aside from his connection with this business Mr. Skinner is the president of the Detroit Motor Casting Company and in that connection is develop- ing another productive industry of growing propor- tions. He was also at one time identified with the Cowles & Danziger Company.

It was at St. Thomas, Ontario, that the marriage of Mr. Skinner and Miss Jennie Nelson was cele- brated. Mrs. Skinner is a prominent member of the Women's City Club of Detroit and also of the Daugh- ters of the British Empire, being most widely and favorably known in women's club circles in the city.

Mr. Skinner is a Knights Templar Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Skinner is that of the Episcopal church and socially they are most highly regarded,

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having many warm friends throughout the city. Mr. Skinner belongs to the Detroit Board of Commerce and is interested in all of the plans of the organization for the city's upbuilding, the extension of its busi- ness connections and the stimulns that it is putting forth for the benefit of civic conditions. He, too, has attractive club connections, being identified with the Detroit, Detroit Golf and Bloomfield Hills Country Clubs.

LEWIS ALGER KOEPFGEN. Clean, upright busi- ness methods, good fellowship and all that goes toward the requirements of high-grade citizenship have foun l their expression in the life of Lewis Alger Koepfgen, a well known and successful real estate dealer of Detroit, whom Michigan claims as a native son. He was born at Cass City, July 15, 1887, and is a son of Fred and Samantha (Mudge) Koepfgen, the for- mer a native of the state of New York and the latter of Michigan. The father came with his parents to the middle west and was reared and educated in Port Hu- ron, becoming a prosperous farmer, while still later be was in charge of the St. Clair county poor farm for eighteen years, making this a model institution of its kind in the state. He afterward retired and spent his last years in Goodells, Michigan, where he died in February, 1921. The mother survives and re- sides in Goodells.

Lewis A. Koepfgen is the only child of his parents, and received his early education in the public schools of Goodells, following which he attended the Port Huron high school and was graduated in the class of 1906. At this time, a young man of nineteen, he started on a western trip and at Box Elder, Montana, taught school for a period, also riding the range as a cowboy. Returning to Michigan in the fall of 1907, he continued his education by entering the Michigan Agricultural College, while later he attended the Mich- igan State Normal College at Ypsilanti and Adrian College. In the latter city he was a teacher in the Adrian high school, and took his college work at the same time. He also followed the profession of teach- ing at Ypsilanti and Charlotte, Michigan. Continuing his work as an instructor, he spent one year as the head of the commercial department of the Northeast- ern high school in Detroit and then turned his atten- tion to the real estate business in a partnership con- nection with the firm of S. E. Bruce & Company. This was maintained until 1919, when Mr. Bruce retired and removed to Los Angeles, California, at which time Mr. Koepfgen took over the business on his own ac- count. He has been instrumental in placing on the market some valuable subdivisions on the Canadian side, including Gary, Victoria, Sunnyside and others, and he is today a well known figure in the real estate circles of Detroit. In addition to his activities of this character he has developed Justamere Holstein Farm of two hundred acres near Romeo, Michigan, convert- ing it into one of the finest dairy farms in the state

and owning there twenty-one head of the best blooded Holstein cattle in Michigan. He has a splendid dairy barn on the farm with milking machines, large silos and every modern convenience. There is also a fine residence upon the place and in every respect his property is a model dairy farm. Mr. Koepfgen has always taken an active part in its management and solely under his direction have the improvements been made which have created one of the finest farm prop- erties in the state. The development of this farm has been somewhat of a hobby as well as affording con- siderable recreation to Mr. Koepfgen.

There is another phase to Mr. Koepfgen's activities which has made him well known, for he is one of the best all around athletes in the country, being an expert boxer, wrestler and swimmer. He is known by pro- fessionals all over the country and only recently he had a course of training with Professor Stanislaus Zbyszko, professional champion wrestler of the world, aud his corps of trainers at his camp in the Maine woods.

On the 27th of December, 1911, Mr. Koepfgen was married to Miss Maybell Beyers of Gould City, Mich- igan, and they have two sons, both born in Detroit: Beyers Bruce, whose birth occurred April 2, 1917; and Jack Lewis, whose natal day was June 27, 1921.

Mr. Koepfgen votes with the republican party but has never been an office seeker. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is also a member of Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His interest in community affairs is manifest in his connection with the Detroit Board of Commerce, and in the Border Cities Chamber of Commerce, while in club circles he belongs to the Masonic Country and Detroit Yacht Clubs. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and his life has ever been guided by high and honorable principles. While not yet a man of middle age, he has achieved a success that usually represents a lifetime of business activity and has accomplished this in a manner to retain the respect, esteem and highest standing among his patrons and contemporaries. Mr. Koepfgen's city residence is at No. 12217 Cloverlawn boulevard.

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The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. IV, Part 93

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, ed; Stocking, William, 1840- joint ed; Miller, Gordon K., joint ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Detroit-Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1024