Edward W. Tatum Page 521 - Edward W. Tatum succeeded to the ownership of an old-established bookbinding business in Grand Rapids, where he has successfully continued the enterprise, in the manufacturing of blank books, with the best of facilities also for all types of paper ruling, his well equipped establishment being at 29-31 Ottawa avenue, northwest. The business is conducted under the title of the Edward W. Tatum Book Binding Company. Mr. Tatum was born at Dyersburg, Dyer county, Tennessee, February 28, 1867, and is a son of the late Dr. Pinkney B. and Emma (Wood) Tatum, the former of whom was born at Summerville, that state in 1833, and the latter of whom was born at Roellen, Dyer county, Tennessee, in 1837. Dr. Tatum was long established in the practice of dentistry in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, where both he and his wife died, and he was a gallant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, he having taken part in many engagements and having been several times wounded. The youthful education of Edward W. Tatum was acquired in the city of Memphis, and there also he gained his initial business experience in the capacity of cash boy ion a dry goods store. His apprenticeship to the trade of bookbinder was served in Memphis, where for eight years he was employed in the bookbinding establishment of S. C. Toof & Company. For thirty years he was associated with a leading bookbinding concern in the city of Chicago, and he then left the great western metropolis and located on the farm that he purchased in Ottawa county, Michigan. He remained on this farm four years, and then in 1912, came to Grand Rapids and associated himself with T. P. Powell, a pioneer bookbinder and blank book manufacturer of the city. In 1915 Mr. Tatum purchased the plant and business and he has since conducted the enterprise with marked success, his trade having been extended into many places in western Michigan outside of Grand Rapids, and his local patronage being of distinctly representative order. He has membership in the various local organizations having to do with printing and bookbinding, and his political alignment is the Democratic party. In 1889 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Tatum to Miss Mary Ramsey daughter of the late Daniel Ramsey, of Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Ramsey was long in railroad service and was a well known railroad man of Memphis and Charleston. His wife likewise is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tatum have three children, Lucille, Edward D., and Elizabeth. Edward D., the only son, is now associated with his father’s business.

Transcriber:  Nancy Myers
Created: 8 November 2002