PHELPS, Oliver; born at Canadaigua, N.Y., Dec. 12, 1859; son of Oliver and Sara Humes (Porter) Phelps, daughter of Gov. George B. porter; Ph.B., Yale University, 1881; married at Dubuque, IA., Dec. 15, 1881, Sarah Porter Shissler. Read law for two years; came to Detroit, 1882, and was connected with the Michigan Car Co., until it was consolidated with the American Car and Foundry Co., in 1898; was general manager of The Loraine Foundry CO., Ohio, 1898-1903; general Western sales agent M.A. Hanna & Co., since 1903. Republican. Clubs: Detroit, Yondotega, Detroit Boat. Office: 149 Jefferson Av. Residence: 134 McDougall Av.

PHELPS, Ralph, Jr., lawyer; born, Detroit, Nov. 14, 1859; son of Ralph and Jane (Mackenzie) Phelps; educated in public and high schools of Detroit and University of Michigan, graduating, degree of B.L., 1879. Has been engaged in practice in Detroit since Mar. 25, 1879. Member American Bar Association, Michigan State Bar Association; vice president American Injector Co.; director Home Savings Bank. Member Michigan National Guard for fifteen years, and of Governor Winan’s military staff, title of assistant inspector general. Ex-police commissioner and ex-county treasurer; at present public library commissioner. Democrat. Protestant. Mason (32^o), Knight Templar. Club: Detroit. Office: 17-18 Butler Bldg. Residence; 225 Trumbull Av.

PICKELL, Charles Warren, insurance; born, Hopewell Township, Ontario Co., N.Y., Sept. 25, 1856; son of William and Mary Elizabeth (Litchfield) Pickell; educated in district schools; Grass Lake High School, Jackson Co., Mich., to 1874; State Normal School, Ypsilanti, graduating, classical course, 1879; married, Flint, Mich., Aug. 23, 1881, Lola May Paris. Taught school for ten years after leaving college, and was superintendent public schools of Middleville, Bronson, Elk Rapids and Ludington, also conducted state teachers’ institutes; began in life insurance business for the Penn Mutual at Grand Rapids, Mich., 1888; has been manager Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. for Michigan since 1891. Honorary life member Canadian Life Underwriters’ Association (unanimously elected). Republican., Baptist, Member Masonic order, Blue Lodge (Corinthian), Chapter (Monroe), Commandery (Damascus). Clubs: Detroit, Rushmere, Detroit Golf. Recreations: Fishing, hunting and golf. Office: 921 Chamber of Commerce. Residence: 60 Virginia Av.

PIERSON, F. Benjamin; born, Flat Rock, Mich., Apr. 13, 1863; son of Joseph A. and Susan R. Pierson; high school education; married at St. Paul, Minn., June 27, 1889, Marie E. Pears. Engaged for thirteen years in wholesale drug, paint and oil business, at St. Paul, Minn.; has been local manager at Detroit for the National Lead Co. since 1899. President Sheet Steel Stamping Co. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Mason (32^o), Knight Templar, Shriner. Clubs: Detroit, Detroit Curling, Detroit Paint, Oil and Varnish. Recreations: Hunting and driving. Office: Cor. Wayne and Woodbridge Sts. Residence: 112 Atkinson Av.

PIERSON, Harry L.; born, Detroit, Apr. 21, 1865; son of Smith P. and Emma (Belding) Pierson; educated in public schools of Detroit; married at Detroit, Oct. 18, 1893, Carolyn Davison. Began business career in employ of Armstrong & Graham, and acted as traveling representative of the firm in territory comprising Michigan, Ohio and Northern Indiana, 1883-90; organized, with Willis Hough, in 1890, the firm of Pierson & Hough, manufacturers and wholesale dealers in saddlery and harness. One of the organizers and member of the Detroit Board of Commerce (acted as secretary and member of the first executive committee); corresponding secretary Y.M.C.A. Republican. Episcopalian. Clubs: Detroit, Detroit Boat, North Channel. Recreations: Fishing, hunting and boating. Office: 99-105 Jefferson Av., Detroit. Residence: Birmingham, Mich.

PIKE, John Benjamin; born, Raleigh, Ont., Can., June 13, 1843; son of Sampson and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Pike; educated in public schools of Country Kent., Ont.; married at Chatham, Ont., 1885, Miss Josie Forester. Bean business career at Chatham, Ont., as manager Pike & Richardson Cooperage Co., continuing for fifteen years; was president of Chatham Dredging Co. for five years; manager for Barney, Pike & Co., dredgers, James River, Pa., for three years; manager British Columbia Draining and Dyking Co., Vancouver, B.C., 1891-93; returned East and located at Windsor, Ont.; bought one-third interest in the Detroit Dredging Co., 1894, and became manager; has been president and manager of the company since 1906. Conservative in politics. Presbyterian. member Masonic order, A.O.U.W. Recreations: North Anderson Shooting Club, Essex, Ont. Office: 305 Moffat Blk., Detroit. Residence: 10 Victoria Av., Windsor, Ont.

PIKE, William R.; born, Ionia, Mich., Oct. 22, 1868; son of William B. and Lucy (Findlater) Pike; educated in public schools of London, Ont., Can.; married at Greenville, Mich., 1905, Helen Neilsen. Began active career in wholesale hat business at London, Ont., later continuing in same business at Toronto, Ont.; came to Detroit, 1890, and traveled for Henry A. Newland & Co. until 1899, when he assisted in organizing the firm of G.H. Gates & Co., of which he is a partner. Independent Republican. Presbyterian. Member Oriental Lodge No. 240, A.F. & A.M., Loyal Guard. Recreation: Trout fishing. Office: 190-192 Jefferson Av. Residence: 94 Lincoln Av.

PINGREE, Frank C., shoe manufacturer; born, Denmark, Me.; son of Jasper and Adeline (Bryant) Pingree; educated in public school of Denmark, Me.; married. Began active career in 1867 at Hopkinton, Mass., learning the trade of shoe manufacturing; came to Detroit, in April, 1868, and employ of Pingree & Smith, shoe manufacturers, as foreman and superintendent; in 1884 became a member of the firm, continuing in active management of the manufacturing department; in 1902 firm was incorporated as The Pingree Co., and he became president and general manager. Member Board of Commerce; member executive committee National Boot and Shoe Manufacturers’ Association; member board of trustee First Congregational Church for past twenty years. Republican. Clubs: Detroit, Old Country. Office: 102 Jefferson Av. Residence: 58 Eliot St.

PINGREE, Hazen Stuart, Jr., shoe manufacturer; born, Detroit, May 20, 1877; son of Hazen S. and Frances (Gilbert) Pingree; educated at Detroit grammar and high schools, and University of Michigan. Has been engaged since beginning of his active career in manufacture of men’s, women’s and children’s shoes, established by his father, 1866, and is vice president Pingree Co. Episcopalian. Member Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, University of Michigan. Clubs: Detroit, Detroit Athletic, University, Old, Detroit Yacht, Detroit Boat, Harmonie Society. Recreations: Outdoor sports. Office: 102-104 Jefferson Av. Residence: 1020 Woodward Av.

PIPP, Edwin G., managing editor Detroit News and the Sunday News-Tribune; born, Brighton, Mich., Nov. 17, 1864; son of Henry W. and Bertha (Buek) Pipp; educated in Brighton High School; married at Pierson, Mich., Oct. 15, 1884, Grace Gaylord (now deceased); again, Detroit, Sept 26, 1907, Bess Bratton. Began active career at 16 in wholesale hardware business, operating in Detroit, Buffalo and Bay City, Mich., until 27; editor of country weekly in Kansas, 1891-1902; removed to Detroit, 1902, and entered employ of The News as reporter; became city editor, Sept., 1904, and has been managing editor the Evening News Association, publishers of the Detroit News and the Sunday News-Tribune, since June, 1905. Republican. Office: Detroit News. Residence: 674 14th Av.

PLAYFORD, George J., wholesale provisions; born, London, Eng., July 2, 1856; son of Esau J. and Ellen (Camfield) Playford; came to America, 1867; educated in public schools of Detroit; unmarried Began in provision business, 1887, with Webb Brothers, later incorporated as Parker, Webb & Co., pork packers, provision dealers and lard refiners, of which has been vice president since its incorporation in 1890. Also president Crescent Machine Co. Independent in politics. Episcopalian in religious belief. Mason, Knight Templar, Shriner. Club: Detroit Curling. Recreation: Curling. Office: 62-66 Grand river Av. Residence: 723 Gd. River Av.

POLK, Ralph Lane; born, Bellefontaine, O., Sept. 12, 1849; son of Rev. David Polk; educated in common schools and at Pennington (N. J. ) Seminary; married, Sept. 17, 1877, Amelia Hopkins. Began active career on farm; then clerk in grocery store at Trenton, N.J., later taking charge of ice business for Patrick O’Neil of same city; enlisted as musician in Co. G, 40th New York Volunteers at 15 years of age, and remained in service seven months; mustered out at Hall’s Hill, Va., Aug., 1865. Came to Detroit after the war and organized firm of R.L. Polk & Co., publishers of state gazetteers and city directories. President Association of American Directory publishers. Republican. Presbyterian. member Masonic order, Royal Arcanum, G.A.R., National Union. Clubs: Fellowcraft, Detroit Fishing and Hunting Association. Recreations: Hunting and fishing. Office: 68 Griswold St. Residence: 91 High.

POND, Ashley, lawyer; born, Wilmington, N.Y., Nov. 23, 1827; son of Jared and Statira (Barlett) Pond;; came with parents to Michigan, 1832, and settled on a farm in Branch Co.; educated in district school, Wesleyan Seminary (now Albion College) and University of Michigan, graduating, 1854; married Miss Harriet L. Pearl. Studied law in office of E.C. & C.I. Walker, Detroit, and was admitted to the bar, 1856; formed partnership with Jedediah Emmons, and later with John S. Newberry and Henry B. Brown, the latter now one of the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Practice has been confined almost exclusively to railway business. Office: 703 Union Trust Bldg. Residence: 546 Woodward Av.

POST, Hoyt, lawyer; born, Tinmouth, Vt., Apr. 8, 1837; son of Edmund Russell and Almira Mariah (Collins) Post; educated in public schools of Rochester, N.Y., Dayton, O., and Detroit; academy Birmingham, Mich.; University of Michigan, degree of A.B., 1861, Law Department, same university, LL.B., 1863. Married at Detroit, Feb. 7, 1867, Helen Deborah Hudson. Came to Detroit with his parents, 1849; began practice of law in Detroit, 1863; member law firm of Wilkinson, Post & Oxtoby, successor to the firm of Wilkinson & Post, founded, Jan. 1, 1867. Reporter Supreme Court, 1872-78; member Michigan Fish Commission for six years. President St. Clair Edison Co., Grosse Pointe Water Works, Peninsular Electric Light Co., East Side Electric Co.; vice president Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Co., Detroit Steel Cooperage Co.; director and member executive committee Michigan Fire and Marine Insurance Co.; director Michigan Savings Bank , Plymouth United Savings Bank, Edison Illuminating Co., Washtenaw Light and Power Co., The Huetteman & Cramer Co., Standard Tie Co., Detroit Graphite Co., Telfer Coffee Co.; member Board of Commerce. Republican. member Alpha Delta Phi (University of Michigan). Clubs: Wayne, University, Old Club, North Channel, Prismatic, Acanthus. Recreation: Fishing with flies. Office; 6-7 McGraw Bldg. Residence: 342 Cadillac Av.