THE BOOK OF DETROITERS A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of Detroit Edited by Albert Nelson Marquis Chicago A. N. Marquis & Company 1908 Pages 469 - 472 Copyright, 1908 by Albert Nelson Marquis |
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Special Thanks to Edie Dees for transcribing these pages.
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| Page 469 WEADOCK, Thomas A. E., lawyer; born, Ireland, Jan. I, 1850; son of Lewis and Mary (Cullen) Weadock; came to America with parents, 1850; educated in district school in Ohio and St. Mary's Union School; married, 1874, Mary E. Tarsney, who died, 1889; again, in 1893, Nannie E. Curtiss. Studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practice at Bay City, Mich., 1874; has practiced in Detroit since 1895. Vice president Drake Law Book Co.; director Commercial Bank, Bay City. Served two years in Michigan Militia and was honorably discharged; prosecuting attorney two years; mayor Bay City, 1883-85; representative in Congress, Bay City, four years, 1891-95. Democrat; delegate-at-large Democratic National Convention, 1896. Member American Bar Association, Michigan State Bar Association, Detroit Bar Association. Roman Catholic. Club: Detroit. Recreations: Horseback riding and collection of books, especially those relating to Napoleon Bonaparte and Andrew Jackson. Office: Hammond Bldg. Residence: 53 Woodward Terrace. WEBB, George Herbert, railway official; born, Dubuque, Ia., Mar. 5, 1860; son of George and Emma (Alder) Webb; graduate Pennsylvania Military College, degree of C. E., 1880; widower. Began active career as rodman Baltimore & Ohio Rd.; then tested steel for the Brooklyn Bridge and later acted as level and transit man for Pittsburgh Southern Ry. and Pittsburgh Western Rd.; was city engineer, Johnstown, Pa., I883; engineer Johnson Steel Rail Co., 1884-85; assistant engineer C., B. & Q. R. R., 1885-88; located and built portions of Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Rd., in Washington Territory, 1888; constructed government railways in Chili, South America, 1889-91; was division engineer Central Railway of Peru (formerly Aroya R. R.), and built a division of the road through the Cordilleras de los Andes at an altitude of 15,657 feet above the sea level (this road has fifty-seven tunnels in seventy miles). Returned to United States, 1893, and was in private practice until 1897, when he became chief engineer Cincinnati, Georgetown & Portsmouth Rd., continuing until 1899; was roadmaster Big Four, and Chicago & Alton railways, 1899-01; engineer in charge construction Baring Cross shops, Iron Mountain Rd., Arkansas, 1901-02; since Jan., 1903, has been with Michigan Central R. R. consecutively on Ostcmo diversion, division engineer Middle division, assistant chief engineer in charge of surveys, construction and maintenance of way, and since Jan. 16, 1905, chief engineer Michigan Central R. R. Member American Society of Civil Engineers, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association, National Geographers' Society, Detroit Engineering Society. Republican. Episcopalian. Clubs: Transportation (Detroit and Buffalo) ; Detroit Golf. Recreations: Golf, fishing. Office: 21 Mich. Cent. Depot. Residence: 430 Cass Av.
Page 470 WEBB, Raymond Simpson; born in Gloucestershire, England, Feb. 5, 1846; son of James and Susanna (Simpson) Webb; educated in England; came to Detroit, 1871; married at Detroit, 1875, Mrs. Ann Sowersby Stringer. Began active career in meat business and started in his own name, 1873; built plant on location he now occupies, in 1876. Office and residence: 269-285 Grand River Av. WEBSTER, Arthur, lawyer; born, Montrose, Ia., Apr. 15, 1871; son of George and Cornelia M. (Allen) Webster; educated in public schools; Law Department, University of Michigan, degree of LL. B., 1892; unmarried. Has practiced in Detroit since the beginning of his professional career; served as assistant corporation counsel for five years and assistant prosecuting attorney for three years; member of firm of Chamberlain, May, Denby & Webster. Member Detroit Bar Association, Sigma Chi. Clubs: Detroit Boat, Detroit Racquet and Curling. Recreations: Rowing, baseball and tennis. Office: 416-417 Moffat Bldg. Residence: 363 Cass Av. WEBSTER, Clyde I., lawyer; born, Eaton Rapids, Mich., Aug. 10, 1877; son of Hiram P. (a prominent Michigan lumberman) and Sarah J. (Pickerd) Webster; graduate Eaton Rapids High School, 1895; attended University of Michigan six years, graduating from Literary Department, degree of Ph. B., 1899 and from Law Department, degree of LL. B., June, 1901; married at Eaton Rapids, Sept. 4, 1901, Edith May Hughes. Began practice in Detroit, June, 1901, in office of which the present firm is Dickinson, Stevenson, Cullen, Warren & Butzel, continuing until November, 1904, when he became member of firm of Choate &'Webster, which firm still continues' doing a general law businesscommercial, corporation, insurance and probate law. Republican. Member Corinthian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., King Cyrus Chapter, Detroit Commandery No. i, Knights Templar; K. 0. T. M. of the World Modern Woodmen of America, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (college fraternity). Office: 911 Majestic Bldg. Residence: 143 Sidney Av.
WEIDNER, Paul; born, Breslau, Prussia, Germany, Aug. I2, I848; son of Johannes Weidner; educated in Germany; came to America, 1866; married at New York City, 1875, Miss Sophia Bostel. Came to Detroit from New York City, I877, and entered business as importer and dealer in hops, etc.; admitted his two sons, Paul, Jr., and William, to partnership, Jan1, 1907, under firm name of Paul Weidner & Sons, which still continues; also vice president Michigan Sulphite Fibre Co. Democrat; nominated for city treasurer on Democratic ticket, 1892. Member' B. P. 0. E., associate member Detroit Post No. 384, G. A. R., Harmonie Society. Recreation: Farming. Office: 350-352 Gratiot Av. Residence: 71 E. Forest Av. WEIL, Charles L., consulting engineer; born in Massachusetts; educated in high school, Harvard College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating, degree of M. E., 1888; married at Bethlehem, Pa., 1893, Ella Bass. Began active career in employ of Johnstown (Pa.) Steel Co., 1888; was with firm of Worthington & Blake, pump manufacturers, Cambridge, Mass., and Brooklyn, N. Y., 1889-92; instructor Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., and consulting engineer, 1892-94; professor mechanical engineering State College, Lansing, Mich., 1894 I902; director mechanical department, same college, and acting as consulting engineer at Detroit, 1902-07. Member American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Michigan Engineering Society, Detroit Engineering Society. Club: University. Office: 616 Union Trust Bldg. Residence: 146 Alexandrine Av., W. Page 471 WEIL, Iterbert, cigar manufacturer; born, New York City, Jan. 31, 1881; son of Isadore and Clara (Rosenberger) Weil; educated in Detroit public and high schools; married at Detroit, 1904, Miss Daisy Roemer; became connected with the San Telmo Cigar Manufacturing Co. as cashier, 1905, and has been treasurer since Jan. 1, 1907. Secretary Detroit Machine and Manufacturing Co. Republican. Jewish faith. Recreations: Outdoor sports. Office: 540-550 Forest Av., E. Residence: 256 W. Hancock Av.
WELCH, John M., real estate; born, Algonac, Mich., Oct. 23, 1867; son of John L. and Bridget E. (Bagley) Welch; educated in public schools of Minnesota, 1877-80; schools of Algonac and Marine City, Mich., 1880-86; Detroit Business University, 1886; married at Detroit, Sept. 16, 1890, Lizzie V. Kean. Began active career as clerk for P. A. Billings, Detroit, 1887; was admitted to partnership in firm, 1888, and the firm became P. A. Billings & Co., which continued until 1893; then associated With brother, Thomas H. Welch, in real estate business under title of Welch Bros. Republican. Catholic. Member Knights of Columbus, Knights of Equity. Recreation: Gardening. Office: Hammond Bldg. Residence: 53 Virginia Av. WELCH, Thomas H., real estate; born on a farm in St. Clair Co., Mich., Sept. 10, 1860; son of John L. and Bridget E. (Bagley) Welch; educated in public schools of Michigan; married at Detroit, Apr. 16, 1895, Marion Craig. Began in real estate business in 1889, was joined by his brother, 1893, firm of Welch Bros. Republican as to politics. Vice president Detroit Real Estate Board; member of Board of Commerce. Recreations: Outdoor sports. Office: Hammond Bldg. Residence: 231 E. Warren Av. WELLS, Benjamin Arthur; born, Detroit, Jan. 2, 1867; son of job and Mary (Lees) Wells; educated in public schools and Spencerian College; married at Detroit Sept. 14, 1893, Nettie J. Turver. Was in law office of Corliss & Andrus for two years and Detroit Electrical Works nine months as stenographer; became identified with insurance business, Sept. 28, 1886, in office of L. F. Margah until 1892, when he became partner in the business; has been manager of the firm, Margah & Wells, since 1901. Member Detroit Fire Underwriters' Association. Republican. Episcopalian. Member Masonic order, Knights, Templar. Recreations: Outdoor diversions. Office: 902-904 Majestic Bldg. Residence: 272 Avery Av.
Page 472 WELT, Louis; born, Bavaria, Germany, July 7, 1854; son of Jacob and Eva (May) Welt; educated in Germany; came to U. S., 1872; married at Monroe, Mich., 1879, Matilda Meyerfield. Engaged in dry goods business in Indiana for more than twenty years; came to Detroit, 1894, and established in wholesale paper business; now senior member of Welt & Sons Paper Co. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Republican. Hebrew. Member Masonic order. Club: Phoenix. Office: 37-39 Larned St., W. Residence: 70 Hancock Av., E. WENDELL, John Henry, for twenty years a prominent grain commission merchant of Detroit and an early president of the Detroit Board of Trade; was born at Fort Plain, N. Y., July 10, 1842; son of John I. and Nancy (Diefendorf) Wendell; educated in local public schools and at Fort Edwards Seminary, N. Y. Became a practical pharmacist under the tuition of his brother at Amsterdam, N. Y. Enlisted, Aug. 15, 1862, in the 115th N.Y. Volunteers, and served as a noncommissioned medical staff officer until the close of the Civil War; mustered out, July 11, 1865; has been a member of the Detroit Post, G. A. R., since its organization. Coming to Detroit in 1865, he soon after became manager of the Virginia Tobacco Co.; in 1869 he engaged in the grain commission business as junior partner of the firm of A. G. Hibbard & Co.; in 1872 he purchased the interest of his partner and organized the firm of John H. Wendell & Co., continuing the business until 1889; in 1890 he organized the Woven Wire Machinery Co., Chicago, of which he was president; in 1892 he became interested in the manufacture of laundry machinery and organized and was president of the Mercantile Laundry Co. of Chicago; in 1896 he purchased important laundry interests in Detroit, which were subsequently reorganized as the Colonial Laundry Co., of which he has been owner and president since reorganization. He is vice president of the American Concrete Steel Co., and director in the Colonial Quicksilver Mining Co. of Arizona. In 1872 he was appointed by the Governor of Michigan state delegate to convention of the National Board of Trade, Atlanta, Ga. Chosen president of the Detroit Board of Trade in 1880, he was re-elected in 1881 in recognition of valuable services. Member of the Detroit Board of Commerce. In the early 70's he was invited by the Citizens' Republican Committee to accept the nomination of mayor of Detroit, but declined owing to pressure of a rapidly growing business. Fond of outdoor sports, he took an active part in reorganizing the Detroit Boat Club, which, under his presidency, built a new club house and markedly increased and strengthened its social standing. He was one of the founders of the Detroit Club. Mr. Wendell married at Amsterdam, N. Y., in 1874, Miss Ella Howe Visscher. He and his family are members of the Woodward Av. Baptist Congregation of Detroit. Office: 176 Congress St., E. Residence: 159 Fort St., W.
Page 473 WERNEKEN, Frank Stevens; born, Jersey City, N. J., Nov. 1850; son of Francis J. and Mary A. (Brennan) Werneken; educa in public schools of Detroit and at Goldsmith Business University; married at Chicago, 1873, Miss Helen R. Scott. Came to Detrtoit, 18 began under his uncle, John Brennan, 1869, in same shop with which has since been connected; succeeded in charge of the business, Up the death of uncle, 1890, as president John Brennan & Co., found 1847, incorporated, 1882, manufacturers of steam boilers. Also director American Exchange National Bank. Former member Michigan Naval Reserves (paymaster until 1898). Member Detroit Board of Commer Republican. Mason. Clubs: Detroit, Detroit Boat, Country, Old Cl Racquet and Curling, Automobile. Recreations: All outdoor sports. Office: 24th and 25th Sts. and M. C. R. R. Residence: 69 Palmer WEST, Frank; born, Indianapolis, Oct. 9, 1859; son of George and Susan Virginia (Streitcher) West; educated in public schools Indianapolis. Began active career in service of the Canada Southe Ry., at Indianapolis; came to Detroit, 1886, and assisted in organizing firm of Baird & West, merchandise brokers. Member Detroit Board Commerce. Republican. Episcopalian. Clubs: Commercial, Dctro Country, Detroit Boat, North Channel. Recreations: Golf, boating and other outdoor sports. Office: 149 Jefferson Av. Residence: 855 Cass WEST, George M.; born, Indianapolis, Ind., Apr. 7, 1869; son of George H. and Susan (Streitcher) West; educated high school a Sewell's Military Academy, Indianapolis; unmarried. Has been a resident of Detroit since 1891, when he entered the brokerage business continuing for fifteen years in his own name; has been manager A. Brown & Co., bankers and brokers, of New York, since January, 1907. Clubs: Detroit, Country, Detroit Boat, Fellowcraft, Automobile, Detroit Golf. Recreations: Outdoor sports. Office: 213-214 Majestic Bld Residence: 855 Cass Av. |
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