William L. Peiter

William L. Peiter, one of the successful leaders in the automobile industry in Grand Rapids, is president and manager of the Peiter Auto Company, Inc., at 233 Washington street, Grand Rapids. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, on January 23, 1880. He received his preliminary education in the schools of his native city, and was graduated from the Toledo high school and the Manual Training school. He entered upon his business career in 1899 as a traveling salesman, first with a coffee and spice house of Toledo and later entered an electric supply company. In 1906 he embarked in the automobile business, and his own business progress has kept pace with the rapid development of that important industry. He has lived in Grand Rapids since his location here in 1913, in which year he organized the Overland Automobile Company, in Grand Rapids. This business had reached sufficient proportions by 1917 to require the erection of a building 120x200 feet in dimensions upon a 200x300 foot plat of ground owned by the Washington Building Company of which Mr. Peiter is president and majority stockholder. In 1921 the business had progressed to a stage that warranted its incorporation as the Peiter Auto Company. Mr. Peiter is very active in civic and fraternal circles. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner, a member of the Rotary and Peninsular Clubs, and Association of Commerce. He balances his business activities with an active participation in the recreational facilities of the Masonic and Spring Lake Country Clubs, and at Spring Lake maintains a summer home where he spends a suitable portion of his time. He and his wife are members of Grace Episcopal Church. Mr. Peiter was joined in wedlock on August 4, 1906, with Isabel Hunker, of Toledo, Ohio.