The Grand Rapids Engraving Company
Hawley N. Cargill, father of
Frank K. Cargill
George T. Cargill
Charles C. Cargill

The Grand Rapids Engraving Company, which was organized as a joint stock company under its present name March 21, 1891, was in fact established in 1882 by Frank K. Cargill, and is now officered as follows: Frank K. Cargill, president; George T. Cargill, vice-president; Charles C. Cargill, secretary, treasurer and general manager. Frank K. Cargill, president of The Grand Rapids Engraving company, and the eldest of the three Cargill brothers constituting the firm, was born here October 19, 1861, and is a son of Hawley Nathan and Frances (Kraal) Cargill.

Hawley Nathan Cargill, the father, was of Scotch descent and came from an old-settled family in America. He was born in Ontario county, state of New York, was left an orphan at the early age of thirteen years, from which time forward he was compelled to battle with the world as best he might. His parents immigrated to this state in 1831, and settled in Plymouth, Wayne county. His only brother, Henry, still living, is a coal merchant in New York. Hawley N. had but slight opportunities for attending school and his education was acquired chiefly through his business contact with the world, although he graduated from the pioneer Commercial college at Detroit about 1852. He was employed in various callings in Detroit, Mich., and Buffalo, N. Y., until 1854, when he came to Grand Rapids.

He was first employed by Miller & Grinnell in the old Masonic Hall building on Canal street, wholesale and retail grocers. Sometime later he took charge of the up-river steamboat warehouse, but in the second year the D. & M. R. R. being completed, the boats were taken below the city. The steamboat "Porter" was lunched over the old dam and down the canal by him under a contract with Daniel and Sidney Ball. He next had the superintendence of the McReynolds & Stewart plaster plant (formerly the John Ball & Courtney mill). Competition becoming strong, a combination was formed, the trade was divided, and one general office established, and Hovey & Charles H. Taylor were given control in 1859. During the hard times of 1860 and 1861, he was employed by C. C. Comstock, who had a large stock of lumber and a bankrupt factory on his hands; fortunately machine made furniture was being introduced. He and a Mr. Ham and his son, through the solicitation and management of Mr. Cargill, made the first shipment by water to Chicago, of twenty-four bureau-wash-stands, had them sold by action, which opened the jobbing trade, and revealed the possibilities in that direction. Finished black walnut and cherry was at the time offered for $6.00 per thousand, but no sale; the market advanced from that time. Mr. Cargill was next employed by Richard E. Butterworth, and from there was engaged by Leitelt Bros., where he had charge of office and finances for about nine years.

He was appointed member of the board of health in 1882, and was elected president the first year, and for eight years thereafter served as secretary. His connection with the board was during its pioneer days. The two important event of that time was the outbreak of smallpox, 1882, and the great flood of 1883. The placarding of houses was introduced, compulsory vaccination was enforced, an act for the inspection of animals as well as persons was passed, and provisions were made for purchasing the ground, and building the present Contagious Disease hospital.

Mr. Cargill is of an ingenious turn of mind, and invented a plan and machine for building tunnels under rivers, and secured a patent for the same in 1876, which was deemed to be most feasible by a committee formed for constructing a tunnel under the Detroit river at that time; he is a scholarly gentleman, and is held high esteem among men of elevated mechanical ability.

During his investigation of the problem of tunneling Detroit river, he became aware of the great value of Portland cements, and has assisted materially in its introduction generally; from that time he has been engaged in artificial stone building, and sidewalks, in the city.

Mr. H. N. Cargill married, in Grand Rapids, in 1856, Miss Frances E. H. Kraal, a native of Holland, who came to the United States when but ten years of age, in the vessel with the Lancasters, DuPreas, and others. Her father and grandfather were artists. She has her father’s portrait painted by himself. They have seven sons and one daughter living.

Frank K. Cargill attended the public schools of Grand Rapids, and when still in his teens began learning drawing and engraving with Fuller & Reed, who were proprietors of the only establishment of this kind in the city, and with this firm he remained six years, although the firm's style was changed several times in the meanwhile. In 1881, in company with William A. Reed, he engaged in the same business, but this partnership lasted one year only, when Mr. Cargill became sole proprietor. Three years later William Averill, became his partner, but this partnership was dissolved in 1891 by the death of Mr. Averill, and then the present firm came into existence.

Mr. F. K. Cargill married, at Englishville, Kent County, Miss Agnes Cargill, a distant relative and a daughter of David Cargill. This union has been blessed with one child, Yula Frances. Mr. Cargill, with his family, attend the church of Christ; fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Lakeside and the Highland Park Camping club. His residence is at No. 158 Cass avenue, Grand Rapids.

Charles C. Cargill was born in Grand Rapids, May 5, 1863, received his education in the public schools of Grand Rapids. His first introduction to a business career was as timekeeper and general storekeeper in a lumber camp for Fuller & Avery Lumber Co., on the head waters of the Muskegon river. He next went to the Menominee river, and at Marinette, Wis., where he was bookkeeper in the Boom company’s office for two years, and then became head bookkeeper for the Menominee River Lumber company; he afterwards was connected with the Quinnesse Logging company, and moved to Iron Mountain, where the company was building a railroad to do a general logging business. A year after entering its employ, he was given full charge as its superintendent. The company employed from 300 to 400 men, did a very extensive business, and with it he remained until 1894.

In the year last mentioned, Mr. Cargill came to the Valley City to take charge of the business department and general management of The Grand Rapids Engraving Co.

Mr. C. C. Cargill was joined in marriage, in Menominee, Mich., April 12, 1888, with Miss Ida May Hubbard, who was born in Georgetown, Ottawa county, Mich., September 26, 1863, and is a daughter of George and Martha (Lowing) Hubbard. Her father, George Hubbard deceased, was a hero of the Civil War, and was advanced for his gallantry and meritorious conduct from the ranks to a captaincy, and was likewise an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cargill have three children, viz: Martha Frances, Charles Roger and Richard Irving. The family attend Grace Episcopal church, and have their residence at No. 18 Hollister street. Mr. Cargill is a Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the Lakeside Club.

George Thomas Cargill, vice-president, of The Grand Rapids Engraving company, was born in this city November 12, 1864, the fifth child of the family. He attended the city schools until fourteen years of age, and was then employed in the manufacture of cigar boxes. For the next four years he was employed in the furniture factory, and then apprenticed himself to his brother, Frank, to learn the arts of drawing and wood engraving. In 1893 he was admitted to the company as a partner, and upon the organization of the company was elected to his present position of vice-president.

George T. Cargill married in Grand Rapids, November 12, 1888, Miss Georgiana Leffingwell, who was born in this city, and a daughter of Henry H. Leffingwell, a pioneer of Grand Rapids. Two children bless their home—Florence E. and Irma Marie. The family has its residence at No. 143 Fairbank street, attend the Second Congregational church, and fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias.

The Grand Rapids Engraving company does printing, wood engraving, etching on copper and zinc, and copper half tone process. The work comprizes plain work, fine engravings, show work, and the blue print process plate. Catalogues are furnished complete—engraved, printed and bound. Work is done for every state in the Union, from Maine to California, from Texas to the lakes, for Boston, New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and all the large cities, and this work is just as fine as any in the world. The work on the Century, Harper’s, Scribner’s or any other magazines, does not surpass it.