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

Copyright, 1908 by Albert Nelson Marquis

Pages 485 - 488

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Special Thanks to Edie Dees for transcribing these pages.

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Page 485

WILLETTE, Frank Joseph; born, Detroit, Aug. 2, 1864; son of Dennis J. and Margaret (McKenna) Willette; educated in parochial schools and at Detroit College; married at Detroit, June, 1893, Eva M. Martz. Since 1888 has been engaged in real estate and fire insurance business. Democrat. Roman Catholic. Clubs: Detroit, Underwriters'. Office: 62 Home Bank Bldg. Residence: 1127 Jefferson Av.

WILLIAMS, Charles David, P. E. bishop of Michigan; born, Bellevue, O., July 30, 1860; son of David and Eliza (Dickson) Williams; educated at Kenyon College and Berkeley Theological Seminary, degrees of A. B., A. M., D. D., L. H. D. (Kenyon), LL. D., Hobart College; married, Cincinnati, Sept. 29, 1886 Lucy Victoria Benedict. Rector Church of the Resurrection, Fern Bank, O., and Church of the Atonement, Riverside, O., 1884-89; rector of Paul's Church, Steubenville, O., i889-93; dean of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, O., 1893-1906; bishop of Michigan since Nov. 16, 1905. Member Sons of American Revolution, Detroit Board of Commerce. Clubs: Detroit; City (New York). Address: 608 Woodward Av.

WILLIAMS, Henry Phillips; born, Detroit, Sept. 10, 1882 son of William H. and Sarah (Phillips) Williams; educated in public schools of Detroit. Has been identified since the beginning of his active career with the Williams Bros. Co., preservers; was department manager for the company for one year and has been vice president since 1907. Republican. Club: Detroit Boat. Office: Humboldt and Grand River Avs. Residence: 307 Commonwealth Av.

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WILLIAMS, J. Eugene, railway official; born, Westville, Ind., Sept. 19, 1856; son of David and Martha Williams; educated in Westville (Ind.) High School; married at La Porte, Ind., I879, Emma Hawkins (now deceased) ; again, Manteno, Ill., 1902, Miss Nellie Peters. Entered railway service in employ of the Chicago & West Michigan Rd., at La Porte, Ind., 1882, continuing until 1886; was chief clerk freight department Chicago & West Michigan Ry. and Detroit, Grand Rapids & Western Ry., and later with Pere Marquette R.R. until 1902; has been chief of tariff bureau of Pere Marquette R.R. since 1902, and of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Ry. since I905. Mason (32'), Knight Templar, Shriner. Office: 3rd Av. and Fort, W. Residence: 885 3rd Av.

Page 486

WILLIAMS, Morris Lewis, banker; born, Anglesea, Wales; May 9, 1841; son of William and Emma (Prytherch) Williams; educated, Llanddeusant, Llangristiolus Anglesea, Birmingham, Eng.; came to America, 1865; married at Detroit, May 7, 1867, Kate Chambers Williams. Entered banking business at Liverpool, Eng., Oct. 20, 1855, and has ever since been identified with it. President Commercial National Bank; director Security Trust Co., Michigan Savings Bank; secretary and treasurer Detroit Twist Drill Co. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Mason, Knight Templar (Detroit Commandery). Club: Detroit. Recreation: Fishing. Office: Commercial National Bank. Residence: 792 Cass Av.

WILLIAMS, Nathan Gallup, president Detroit Twist Drill Co.; born, Detroit, Dec. 9, 1861; son of Nathan Gallup and Helen Clarissa (Dunham) Williams; educated in public schools of Detroit up to 1878; under tutelage of Thomas Pitkin, 1878-80; Yale University, 1880-84, gradating, degree of A. B., 1884; married, Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 14, 1891, Mary Belle Brewster. Began active career as secretary and treasurer of Williams Malt Co., 1885, continuing until 1890, when the firm went out of business; then secretary and manager Gamewell Auxiliary Fire Alarm Detroit, to 1892; was manager Graham Twist Drill and Chuck Co., 1893-94; secretary, treasurer and general manager Detroit Twist Drill Co. to Jan., I905, president and general manager since Jan., 1905, manufacturer of twist drills, chucks and reamers and special tools. Also president Osage Mining Co. Republican. Episcopalian. Member D. K. E. and Wolf's Head (college societies); president Yale Alumni Association of Michigan; member Sons of American Revolution. Clubs: Yondotega, Detroit Boat, Detroit Athletic, Country; Yale Club (New York). Office: Fort t., W., cor. 14th. Residence: Witherell Apts.

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WILLIAMS, Richard P., wholesale druggist; born, Anglesea, ales, July 23, 1846; son of William and Emma (Prytherch) Williams; educated in parish school, Anglesea, grammar school, Liverpool, and preparatory school, Birmingham, Eng.; came to America, 1868; married at Detroit, Dec. 7, 1882, Olive Farrand. Has been continuously identified with wholesale druggist business, at Detroit, since May 16, 1868, and is resident of Farrand, Williams & Clark (organized in 1890, incorporated, 1902). Also director Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Co. Republican. resbyterian (trustee First Presbyterian Church). Club: Country. Receation: Golf. Office: 11-I7 Larned St., E. Residence: 457 Woodward Avenue.

WILLIAMS, Walter H., secretary, treasurer and general manager of The Williams Bros. Co. picklers and preservers; born, Detroit, Sept. 1875; son of Henry and Elizabeth (Silk) Williams; educated in public and high schools of Detroit and at Michigan Agricultural College, Lansing. Since 1894 has been identified with Williams Bros. Co.; became vice president in 1900, and since death of his father in Feb., 07, has been secretary and treasurer of the company. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Unitarian. Clubs: Detroit, Golf, Detroit Boat. Recreations: Automobiling and outdoor sports. Office: Humboldt and Grand River Avs. Residence: 15 Garfield Av.

WILLIAMS, William C.; born, Anglesey, North Wales; son of William and Dorothy (Lewis) Williams; educated in private schools and in public schools of Detroit and Waukesha, Wis.; married at Niles, Mich., Maria L. Murray. Began active career in drug store of Jacob S. Farrand, 1853, and became associated as partner in the business, the title of the firm becoming Farrand, Sheley & Co., and later Farrand, WilIiams & Co.; Mr. Farrand disposed of his interests and the firm became Williams, Sheley & Brooks, about 1892; consolidated various interests and incorporated under present title of Williams-Davis-Brooks & Hinchman Sons, known as the Michigan Drug Co. One of the organizers and director Commercial National Bank; one of the organizers and trustee Detroit College of Medicine. Republican. Episcopalian. Member Michigan State Pharmaceutical Association. Clubs: Country Club of Detroit and Grosse Pointe Farms. Recreation: Golf. Office: 26 Congress St., Residence: 550 Jefferson Av.

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WILLIAMS, William H., president The Williams Bros. Co.; born, London, Ont., Feb. 1, 1849; son of Henry and Letitia (Coombs) Williams; educated in common schools of London; married at Detroit, 1888, Sarah E. Phillips. Began active career in grocery business in Detroit, 1865, continuing for about a year; then located as a market gardener on site now occupied by the business he founded, with his brother, Henry Williams, and began pickling and preserving in a smafl way; has been president of The Williams Bros. Co. since its incorporation in 1900, manufacturers of Waldorf and Wilco Brand food products, pickles, vinegar, mustard, catsup, preserves and other fine table condiments. (Plant of the company now covers five acres and gives employment to 600 persons; branch factories and salting works at twenty-five different points in Michigan.) Independent in politics; Unitarian in religious belief. Member Maccabees, Royal Arcanum. Club: Detroit Golf. Recreation: Golf. Office: Humboldt and Grand River Avs. Residence: 307 Commonwealth Av.

WILLS, David Hyne Fair; born, Edinburgh, Scotland, Aug. 11, 1867; son of Peter and Wilhelmina (Hyne Fair) Wills; educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh; married at Detroit, Jan. 7, 1896, Florence V. Bigsby. Came to America, 1887, and located in Detroit; was connected with dry goods business for a short time in Detroit, having previously had experience in that line in Scotland, five years in all; became identified with millinery, 1891, and upon organization in 1898 of the Mitchell, Moody, Garton Co., became connected with the company, of which he is now vice president. Presbyterian. Member Palestine Lodge, A.F. & A. M., and King Cyrus Chapter, R. A. M. Club: Commercial. Recreation: Baseball. Office: 158-160 Jefferson Av. Residence: 190 Longfellow Av.

Page 488

WILSON, Charles R., president The C. R. Wilson Body Co.; born near Coburg, Ont., Can.; son of William and Esther (Coot) Wilson; educated in public schools of Canada; married, 2nd., Jackson, Mich., Amelia Welling. Entered manufacturing business at Detroit, 1870. Republican. Congregationalist. Office: Milwaukee junction, Mich. Residence: 65 Frederick Av.

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WILSON, Harold, physician; born, Cleveland, Aug. I, 1860; son of Thomas P. and Marian (Beckwith) Wilson; educated in public schools of Cleveland and Cincinnati; University of Cincinnati; University of Michigan, graduating, B. S., 1882, Medical Department same university, degree of M. D., i886. Married at Bloomington, Ill., Sept. 21, 1890, Alice A. Graves. Was chemist to Harrison Reduction Works, Leadville, Colo., 1882-83; began practice of medicine in Ann Arbor, Mich., 1886; has practiced in Detroit since 1888. Attending surgeon, eye, ear, nose and throat, Grace Hospital, and attending oculist and aurist, Protestant Orphan Asylum. Republican. Unitarian. Member Michigan Homeopathic Medical Society (ex-president), Homeopathic O. O. and L. Society, etc. Member Psi Upsilon. Office: 32 W. Adams Av. Residence: 48 W. Ferry Av.

WILSON, Hugh T., mine operator; born, Barclay, Pa., Feb. 20, 1869; son of Thomas and Janett (Glendenning) Wilson; educated in Common schools of Arnot and Covington, Pa.; married at Piedmont, W. Va., Dec. 4, 1895, Mamie L. Little. Began as a boy in mines of Pennsylvania and advanced to position of manager of company stores; became an independent operator, 1896; removed from Portsmouth, O., to Detroit, 1903. Member firm of Little & Wilson, wholesale and retail coal, Portsmouth, since igoo. Also president H. T. Wilson Coal Co.; general manager Draper Coal and Coke Co., E. R. Johnson Co., Inc.; western manager Red jacket Consolidated Coal and Coke Co., Ind. Presbyterian. Member Masonic order. Club: Fellowcraft. Recreation: Reading. Office: 1124 Majestic Bldg. Residence: Addison Apts.

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WILSON, John M., vice president Detroit Lead Pipe and Sheet Lead Works; born, Glasgow, Scotland, Feb. 21, 1859; son of John and Margaret (Storie) Wilson; educated in public schools of Almont, Mich.; married at Almont, Sept. 21, 1881, Mary Elizabeth Goodrich. Came to America in boyhood with parents, who located in Michigan; began active career as bookkeeper, at Almont, 1871; located in Detroit, 1881; became connected with Detroit Lead Pipe and Sheet Lead Works in i883. Office: 61 2nd St. Residence: 329 Field Av.

WILSON, Thomas L.; born, Detroit, Mar. 1, 1868; son of William and Mary (Ledbeater) Wilson; educated in Detroit public schools and Detroit Business University; married at Detroit, July I2, 1892, Eda Mae Scott. Entered service of Hammond, Standish & Co., as cashier at the plant, 1889, and has been manager of the retail department of the company since 1903. Also president Robertson & Wilson Scale and Supply Co. Republican. Presbyterian. Member 1. 0. 0. F., National Union. Recreation: Boating. Office: 20 Cadillac Sq. Residence: 1298 Wabash Avenue.

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