Monroe Lee Diver—The farming implement business of late years has become one of the leading industries of the United States and also one of the most profitable. To prosecute it successfully requires ability of no mean order, and in every city and town of any considerable size are found men of energy and good judgment devoting their time to this important line of commercial activity. A leading representative of the business in Grand Rapids is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. The paternal ancestors of Monroe L. Diver were Virginians and his mother’s people lived for a great many years in New York. Lyman Diver, father of Monroe L., married in the latter state Miss Electa Baker and reared children of whom the following are still living: Monroe L., Edward M., an employee of the M. C. R. R. at Kalamazoo, and Jerome, car inspector for the same road, with headquarters in the above city.

For a number of years Lyman Diver carried on farming and the stock brokerage business in New York, but left that state in 1861, immigrating to Michigan and locating in the city of Marshall, where he passed the remaining years of his life. He was a successful man in a financial sense, possessed excellent judgment in all matters pertaining to his business, and enjoyed the reputation of being a high minded Christian gentleman wherever it was his fortune to live. In politics he was a representative democrat of the old school, and in religion a consistent member of the Christian church.

Monroe L. Diver was born in the Empire state on the 1^st day of June, 1849. Blessed with a good father and mother, he was early imbued with those high moral principles which in subsequent years make good citizenship, and the wise counsel he received while still under the parental roof served well as a foundation for the strong and vigorous character which he has since exhibited.

After obtaining an elementary training in the common schools of Marshall and Albion, Mich., he entered the agricultural college at Lansing, where he pursued his studies for two years, completing in that time the present scientific course. On quitting the college, Mr. Diver began business for himself as agent for the sale of agricultural implements and threshing machines, and after spending some time in this trade and in handling general produce and live stock, the latter in partnership with his father, continuing the same with a fair measure of success for three years. He then engaged in the same business at Allegan upon his own responsibility and was doing well until he met with a severe loss by fire, after which for some years he was employed in railroad construction with the C. O., W. M. and Michigan and Big Rapids companies, also with the Cold Water, Marshall & Mackinaw, the last named line not being completed.

Severing his connection with railroading, Mr. Diver again turned his attention to agricultural implements, accepting a position as traveling salesman for the McCormick and Walter A. Wood companies, which he represented for two seasons in Michigan, traveling during that time quite extensively throughout the state. He then became state agent for the Empire company, with headquarters at Pewamo, and after handling their goods for one and a half years at that place removed in 1886 to Grand Rapids, where he has since carried on an extensive trade in various kinds of implements and machinery pertaining to agriculture. During the ten years following his location in the city, Mr. Diver visited the principal agricultural regions of the state looking after the local agents of the articles he handled, but in 1896 opened a general office at No. 41 South Division street, the increased volume of business necessitating his remaining at a central point. In 1890 he removed his office and warerooms to their present location, No. 40 South Division street, where may be found a large and complete stock of the various articles which he so successfully handles. The extent of the business done by Mr. Diver may be indicated by the following companies which he represents, to-wit: Racine Wagon & Carriage Co.; David Bradley Manufacturing Co.; Seiberling & Miller Harvesting Co.; Princess Plow Co.; F. C. Austin Manufacturing Co.; Bell City Thresher Co., I. Mullekin &Son Whip Co.; Commercial Oil Co.; Luthy & Co., binding twine; Sterling Washing Machine Co.; Iwan Bros., post hole diggers; American Buncher Co.; A. B. Farquhar & Co., threshing and mill machinery; Akron Cultivator Co. for northern Michigan, and the Advance Thresher Co. for northern Michigan. The business done in the several lines enumerated is extensive and lucrative, and Mr. Diver’s warerooms are among the largest and best stocked in this section of the state. He has met with gratifying success, being in possession of a liberal income and a comfortable competence, already accumulated by his own well directed energy and sound business judgment.

Mr. Diver is a married man and the father of seven children. His wife’s maiden name was Marion Elmira Robberds, a native of New York, and his children are as follows: Anna Leora; Frederick Lee, deceased; Grace, wife of Dr. D. E. Welch, of Grand Rapids; Roy, deceased; Daisy Addie, stenographer and bookkeeper in her father’s office; Dora M. and Julia Marguerite. Mrs. Diver and children are members of the Park Avenue Congregational church, while Mr. Diver subscribes to the liberal creed of Universalism. He is a democrat in politics.