Death took one of Grand Rapids respected an substantial citizens Tuesday evening, when Charles S. Hazeltine, merchant, banker, manufacturer and diplomat, died at the family residence, 221 John street. He was 68 years old.

Although a victim of Bright’s disease, Dr. Hazeltine had not apparently been in a critical condition and the final collapse came suddenly, the death being a distinct shock to a wide circle of acquaintances.

Funeral arrangements are to be announced as soon as the children, who are widely scattered, are heard from:

At the time of his death, Mr. Hazeltine was head of the Hazeltine and Perkins Drug company, president of the Elliott Machine company, director of the Grand Rapids National City bank and connected with a number of other enterprises.

Under the administration of President Grover Cleveland, Mr. Hazeltine was United States consul in Milan. It was the only political office that he ever held, but he filled the consulate with credit.

Mr. Hazel was born in Jamestown, NY on 1 October 1844. He was married to Miss Anna Fox in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1875. Four children, all surviving, were born to the union.

He was educated in the east, having been graduated from a New York medical school. He did not practice medicine, but had been generally known as Dr. Hazeltine.

Dr. Hazeltine came to this city a short time after his marriage, where he entered into a partnership with Charles N. Shephard. The partnership put into operation the first wholesale drug house established in Western Michigan.

The Grand Rapids Gas company now occupies the building at Ottawa avenue and Pearl street which was the home of the drug house. Mr. Shephard retired from the company in 1883. The company had been incorporated as Shephard, Hazeltine & co., but when Shephard left the firm was reorganized and became the firm of the present name, Hazeltine & Perkins.

For years Dr. Hazeltine was the president of the Grand Rapids National City bank. He was a member of the first board of directors of that institution. His retirement as president of the bank came in 1901 when Dudley Waters succeeded to that post. He afterward became vice president and continued permanently on the board of directors and the executive board.