Salathiel R. Fletcher Page 612 - Salathiel R. Fletcher, one of the prominent real estate dealers of Grand Rapids where he maintains offices in the Michigan Trust building, was born in Thetford township, Genesee county, Michigan, August 24, 1867, the son of John and Elizabeth (Arbis) Fletcher, both of whom were born in St. Thomas, Canada, in 1848. John Fletcher was married in Canada and came to the United States in 1868, settling on a farm thirteen miles northeast of Flint, Michigan. All his life he engaged either in farming or railroad work. In politics he supported the Republican party principles and later joined the movement whose members were known as Greenbackers. His death occurred in 1916, his widow living until 1919, when she also passed away. Salathiel R. Fletcher was one of four children born to his parents. He attended the grade and high schools of Flint, Michigan, and completed his high school education in Detroit. He had intended to take up the study of law after his graduation from high school, but at the urging of his brother-in-law, he assumed the management of a store owned by his relative in the northern part of the state, located ten miles northwest of West Branch. He remained there for ten years, part of the time acting as assistant postmaster in the small town where he was located. In 1894 he returned to Detroit where he made his home for another ten years, after which he engaged in the wholesale groceries specialties business which he gave up to enter the electrical and gas fixtures field. During seven years of his residence in Detroit he was traveling over a territory composed of seven states. He gave up the electrical and gas fixture business to come to Grand Rapids. At the time, he had no clearly defined ideas as to what business he would follow but soon chose the real estate business and the success which he has attained in this venture has proved the accuracy of his selection. The strength of his personality won him many influential friends who acquainted him with the status of real estate values in Grand Rapids at that time, and with this invaluable aid, he has made his business a success almost from its inception. He is known by all with whom he has had business dealings as a man of unimpeachable integrity and an excellent business man and substantial citizen of the city. Sub-division work and the promotion of home ownership in the desirable sections of the city have constituted his principal works in real estate. On December 24, 1891 he married Anna Thompson, and to Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher were born five children as follows: Phoebe, who is the wife of Russell Cole; Francis; Luna who is deceased; Harold and Winifred. Mr. Fletcher is a member of the Highland Golf Club of which he was one of the organizers and one of the first board of directors.

Transcriber: Nancy Myers
Created: 30 December 2002