Isaac J. Quick Portrait and Biographical Record, Pgs. 563, 564 ISAAC J. QUICK. Among the worthy residents of Ottawa County, Mich., it isbut just to say that Mr. Quick occupies a conspicuous and honorable place, forhe has always been honest, industrious and enterprising, and as a result has metwith more than ordinary success. He is now engaged in merchandising inAllendale, is the efficient Postmaster of that place, and the credit of aconsiderable share of the enterprise which helps to make Allendale a thrivingbusiness point is due to this gentleman. He was born in Canada July 11, 1850,and is the eldest of four children born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Welch) Quick,natives of England. The parents went to Canada in 1831, and moved from thatcountry to this in 1851. While residing in Canada Mr. Quick was engaged infarming, and when first coming to the United States he located in Detroit,Mich., where he remained for one year. From there he moved to Kalamazoo and was engaged in teaming in that city,running the second dray ever put to work in that place. Kalamazoo, Mich., was atthat time a small village of not more than one thousand inhabitants, and at thetime of the election of President Buchanan the city had but five or six brickstores. In that city Mr. Quick passed his last days, his death occurring in1861. Although he came to America a very poor man, with a wife and one child, heaccumulated considerable property by his industry and good management, andpassed his last days in peace and plenty. The three children following oursubject are as follows: Hattie, wife of John Wolbrink, of Allendale Township;Jennie, wife of George Goble, of Grand Rapids; and Eliza, wife of JosephCopernall, of Kalamazoo. The mother of these children died in 1875. She was amember of the Church of England. Isaac J. Quick received a common education in the schools of Kalamazoo, butdid not attend after reaching his eleventh year. After the death of the father,the responsibility of taking care of himself fell upon his shoulders, and hismother found a pleasant and comfortable home with him until her death. He sawthat his sisters were educated, and even at that early age showed excellentjudgment and business acumen. When eleven years of age he commenced working in abutcher shop, but only continued there for one year, when he was taken withwhite swelling in his leg, and being lame, could not do butcher’s work. Hethen learned the barber’s trade, and for seven years worked at this. Findingthat he had to be on his feet too much while following this trade, he beganlearning book-keeping. At the age of nineteen years he had his leg amputatedabove the knee, and as soon afterward as he was able he was employed by theKalamazoo Brewing Company as book-keeper, a position he filled for five yearswith credit to himself and the satisfaction of his employers. On the 6th of December, 1875, he came to Allendale, and at onceengaged in merchandising in a small way, his capital being only $15 in readycash. He continued to do business here, and a few years later received somemoney from the estate, by which he was enabled to enlarge his business. His cashsales for 1892 were $13,000. Since coming to Allendale he has made enough moneyto erect a handsome residence, also a good store building, etc. In 1893, incompany with a number of men, he erected the largest creamery in the county, ofwhich Mr. Quick is the Secretary. The capital stock is $5,000. In 1876 he wasappointed Postmaster, and this position he still fills. In the same year he waselected Township Clerk, and has been re-elected every year since with theexception of one. He has been Notary Public for sixteen years, and was one ofthe promoters of the gravel road from this place to Grand Rapids, of which he isone of the stockholders. Mr. Quick was first married November 23, 1876, to Miss Mary Slater, a nativeof New York. She died in 1878, leaving no children. In 1881 Mr. Quick wasmarried to Miss Lucinda Pixley, a native of Allendale, and a daughter ofEbenezer and Ann (White) Pixley, natives of America and England, respectively.Mr. and Mrs. Quick are the parents of two children, Ebenezer and Irving. BothMr. and Mrs. Quick hold membership in the Congregational Church, of which theformer is Trustee, and both are active workers in the same. Mr. Quick is amember of Coopersville Lodge No. 376, I. O. O. F., and Sir Knight in AllendaleTent No. 818. Politically, he is a leading Republican.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & OttawaCounties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 29 January 2003
URL: Biographies