Hon. Hiram E. Staples
Hon. Hiram
E. Staples, to whose enterprise and executive business ability the present
prosperity of Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich. is mainly due, is not only
the head of one of the largest lumber-mills of the State, but is also associated
with other interests of magnitude and is justly entitled to the appellation
of a lumber king. Mr. Staples was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., June 1,
1836, and was the son of Henry and Mary (Connor) Staples, the parents of
six children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth. One
brother and one sister only survive. Joshua, who enlisted in the Fifth
Wisconsin Infantry at the breaking-out of the Civil War, died in a hospital
in Washington, D. C. One after another three sisters have passed away.
Jennie is a resident of Whitehall. The father, a native of the Empire State,
was born in or near Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1811, the paternal grandparents
making Poughkeepsie their lifetime home. Grandfather Joshua Staples was
the son of Noah Staples, an Englishman by birth, but a very early resident
of America and a patriotic soldier of the Revolutionary War. The Stapleses,
originally settling in New York, were small farmers, men of moderate tastes
and means, but were possessed of strength of character, energy and resolution,
which, bequeathed to our subject, formed his main capital in life during
his early manhood.
The mother, Mary (Connor) Staples,
was the daughter of Thomas Connor, a native of the United States, but of
direct English descent. His wife, the maternal grandmother of our subject,
was the sister of William M. Dayton, candidate for Vice-President on the
ticket with Fremont. Thomas Connor combined the dual occupations of farmer
and contractor, and was a successful and highly respected man. In 1848,
the Staples family emigrated from New York to Ravenna, Ohio, and in 1851
came to Michigan, locating in Hillsdale, and in 1857 came to Whitehall,
then White Lake. Here the father followed farming on a small scale. Both
parents are yet living, the father aged eighty-two, and the mother also
at an advanced age. The honorable Mr. Staples, in common with other farmer
lads, assisted upon the homestead in boyhood and attended the district
school. He had entered upon his collegiate course in Albion (Mich.) College
when the Civil War broke out, and, promptly answering to the call of the
Government for "three hundred thousand more," left his books and in the
summer of 1861 enlisted as a private in the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry, he
and his brother Joshua both offering their service in behalf of national
existence. Joshua, as before stated, died in the hospital, and our subject
also fell a victim to exposures and privations, and was likewise conveyed
to the to the army hospital, from which he was finally sent to his home,
being discharged from the army for disability.
As soon as he had somewhat
recuperated, Mr. Staples engaged in the handling of timber lands and lumber.
His available means were small, but with his characteristic energy he soon
began to accumulate a capital and was ere long enabled to enlarge the scope
of his enterprise. In 1868, he had prospered to such an extent that in
company with his brother-inlaw, Lyman Covell, he bought the present site
of the now extensive mills, which then limited in size, have become the
largest manufactories of lumber in the world. Aside from these mills our
subject has invested in numerous paying enterprises, owning a line of boats,
and also being for many years the President of the Log and Boom Company,
which does an immense business, one of the largest in the State. Mr. Staples
assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Whitehall and
was its Vice-President until that financial institution was merged into
the State Savings Bank of Whitehall and was its Vice-President and a heavy
stockholder. Our subject is also engaged extensively in the manufacture
of shingles and is likewise a partner in a large mercantile house. He is
a very busy man, and without seeking political honors has had them thrust
upon him. For two terms he served ably as Supervisor, was for many years
President of the Council, and in 1884 and 1885 was a member of the State
Legislature and, associated with important committees, served with rare
efficiency and to the great satisfaction of his constituents.
In 1864 were united in marriage
Hiram E. Staples and Miss Rebecca Covell, a sister of his business partner
and Mark B. and Charles E. Covell, prominent lumbermen of Muskegon County.
Four children blessed the union, two of whom died in infancy. The eldest
son, Dudley E., a graduate of Orchard Lake Military School, is now connected
with his father in business. H. Earl, a recent graduate from the Whitehall
High School, is a young man of promise and unusual ability. Mr. and Mrs.
Staples are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which
our subject is a liberal supporter. Prominently connected with the Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, Mr. Staples assisted in the organization of the
lodge at Montague, and also aided to establish the lodge at Whitehall.
He was the first member of each lodge, and has held that position in the
Whitehall lodge for the past seven years. He has taken the thiry-second
degree of Masonry and is also a member of the shrine. Politically, he is
and has been a lifetime Republican and is a descendant of an old-line and
loyal Whig family. Essentially the architect of his own fortune, the Hon.
Hiram E. Staples will leave as a most valuable inheritance to his sons
the untarnished record of a life successful from every point of view, his
daily walk being dominated by the sterling integrity and steadfastness
of purpose which have overcome obstacles and have won him a position of
honor and influence among the leading men of Michigan.
Savias E. Brown
Savias E. Brown, a prosperous contractor and builder
of Muskegon, Mich., has materially aided in the improvement of his home
city by the erection of numerous handsome structures, private residences
and public buildings, all within the corporate limits of the town. Our
subject is a native of Vermont and was born in Lamoille County, September
21, 1843. His father, Samuel H. Brown, also a native of the Green Mountain
State and a man of fine ability and upright character, remained throughout
his lifetime a resident of New England, and after a life of busy usefulness
passed away in in New Hampshire in the year 1892. The paternal grandfather,
Joel Brown, a brave soldier of the War of 1812, was a native of Massachusetts,
the Browns having settled upon the rock-bound coast of our country in a
very early day, and throughout these past changing years of more than a
century have as citizens been distinguished by earnest effort and patriotic
motives. Their remote ancestry were of Scottish birth, possessing the virtues
of the country noted for its industrious thrift. The mother, Fanny (Eales)
Brown, a native of Massachusetts. was, like her husband, a descendant of
an old New England family.
Our subject spent the days of his childhood in his
birthplace and enjoyed excellent educational advantages in the common schools
of Vermont. At the age of eighteen years he decided to try his fortunes
in the braoder fields of the West, and in 1861, making a prospecting tour,
visited a number of prominent places, finally coming to Michigan, and in
1863 locating permanently in Muskegon. Here three years later, in 1866,
Mr. Brown, by trade a carpenter and builder, began contracting, and meeting
from the first with the most gratifying success has continued uninterruptedly
in that business ever since. Our subject built many of the county buildings
and erected the Muskegon Water Works plant at Lake Harbor, and in 1890
sunk the wells which supplied the city with water. He also built the Electric
Light plant, and in all his work for private parties or corporations has
given universal satisfaction by the prompt and faithful fulfillment of
his obligations and the excellence of material and workmanship he has invariably
furnished. Mr. Brown has likewise been especially successful in laying
cement walks, which are of the best quality and superior durability.
In 1868 Savias E. Brown and Miss Mary L. Bourdon, of Muskegon,
were united in marriage. The estimable wife of our subject was a native
of New York State and was reared and educated amid the scenes of her early
childhood. The attractive home, No. 44 Houston Avenue, is brightened by
the presence of three sons and three daughters. Fanny Mabel is the eldest-born,
then follow in the order of their birth, Phoebe Ann, Clarence E., Clinton
E., William E. and Loraine. Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their intelligent family
occupy high positions in the social world of Muskegon and enjoy the esteem
of a wide circle of friends. Our subject is fraternally a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and while not a politician is a Democrat,
deeply interested in both local and national issues, and is numbered among
the substantial citizens, ever ready to assist in matters of mutual welfare.
Charles L. King
In noting the business interests
of a city or town, it is particularly gratifying to be able to point to
the success of such a house as that of C. L. King & Co., for the reason
that their success may be used as a fair gauge of the average of prosperity
in the community. With the inventions, improvements and other accessories
discovered, a degree of excellence closely akin to perfection in the manufacture
of fruit packages, wood plates, veneers, etc., has been attained in the
last ten or twelve years. Charles L. King, who has been engaged in manufacturing
the above-mentioned articles in Holland since 1891, is a gentleman possessed
of excellent business capacity and good judgement.
He was born in Winona,
Minn., February 22, 1856, and his father, L. R. King, was a native of the
Keystone State, where he grew to manhood. At an early date he came Westward
and settled in Winona, Minn., where he was elected to the office of Sheriff,
being the first one in the county. Later he removed to Rochester, Minn.,
and he there embarked in the agricultural implement business and followed
this until his death, in 1868. He married Miss Rebecca Shepard and to them
were born seven children, two besides our subject now living. Both parents
were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and active workers
in the same. The father, who was a successful business man, accumulated
a large property, and gave liberally to the support of all worthy enterprises.
The youthful days of
our subject were passed in Winona, Minn., and he was educated in the schools
of that city and those of Rochester. After the death of his father our
subject continued to live in Rochester for three years, when he joined
a surveying expedition to Yellowstone Park and experienced many thrilling
adventures during this trip. Returning home, he went to New York City and
there followed the cigar business for about six months, after which he
went to Chicago, where he learned the business he is now following, and
which he has made such a decided success. Two years later he took charge
of a factory at Decatur, Mich., and operated it two and a-half years, when
the factory was moved to Muskegon and he took charge of it there. The factory
mentioned was Wood Package and Basket Company, and our subject managed
it for several years.
From there Mr. King
went to Montague, Mich., where he branched out in business for himself.
The present company was organized in August, 1881, and the Hanchett Paper
Company, of Chicago, is controlled by the firm of C. L. King & Co.
Mr. King selected his wife in the person of Miss Mary Johnson, a daughter
of William Johnson, and their union was solemnized in the year 1882. Politically,
Mr. King is a strong Republican and has taken an active part in the work
of his party. While residing at Montague he was a member of the Council
and was prominent in all matters of moment. The large factory of C. L.
King & Co. was erected in 1891 and they now have five large buildings.
The main building is a fine structure, made of Zeeland brick, and is 78x223
feet. Their capital is about $150,000 and they do an annual business of
$250,000. About two hundred hands are employed. This firm also has a Chicago
office, situated at Nos. 11 and 13 La Salle Street. Mr. King has been at
the head of this business since it first started and is familiar with its
every detail. Socially he is a Knight Templar of the Masonic fraternity,
also of the Mystic Shrine, and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. He is active in his support of all worthy measures, is public
spirited, and pushing, and a credit to any community. Whole-souled and
genial, his friends are legion.
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