Peter D. Mohrhardt Peter D. Mohrhardt Page 437 wholesale and retail meat dealer, 251 Michigan street, stands prominent among the self-made men of Grand Rapids. His success in this line illustrates the importance of the task of securing, preparing and furnishing the products of the daily bill-of-fare of the community. Mr. Mohrhardt was born on a farm in Newton township, Calhoun county, Michigan, on July 28, 1870. He attended the public schools of that rural community until seven years of age, when his parents moved to Fredonia township in the same county. There he completed his education, and engaged in farming until he reached the age of twenty-one years. Later he came to Grand Rapids and began what has developed into a very successful business career. Starting at the bottom of his trade, with not only ambition but a well-grounded agricultural foundation, Mr. Mohrhardt has built up a business which has now attained a volume of over $500,000 annually. He was first employed by John Walz, at Leonard and Turner streets, in the meat business, from October, 1891, to July, 1892, when he returned to Calhoun county and worked on the old homestead for a short period. He then entered into the wholesale butcher business in Fredonia township, Calhoun county. In the spring of 1893 he enlarged his activities by the purchase of a meat market at Burlington, Calhoun county, buying and selling of live stock and wholesale butchering. In October, 1894, Mr. Mohrhardt came to Grand Rapids and with his brother, William, engaged in the meat business. They remained together until 1899. Since the dissolution of the partnership with his brother, Peter D. Mohrhardt has been the sole proprietor of his business enterprises. He has progressed in his business to the extent that he now operates two stores, furnishing employment to thirty-six people. He is also a director in the Grand Rapids By-Products Company and president of the Grand Rapids Packing Company. He maintains fraternal connections with the Masonic order, B. P. O. Elks, and Moose lodges, and is also a member of the Masonic Country Club. On February 15th, 1899, he was married to Miss Louise A. Wiese, a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Mohrhardt are the parents of three children, Mildred and Ruth, twins, who are both graduates of Grand Rapids Central high school and who are now married. Mildred is the wife of Earl Miller and mother of one son, Daniel Davis, while Ruth is the wife of Vern Hawkins, and mother of a daughter, Virginia. The youngest member of the family, Frances, is a senior in the Grand Rapids Central high school. The family are active members of the Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran church.

Transcriber:  Gloria Paas
Created: 17 April 2003