BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 415-425

     JAMES MARKEY is the proprietor of Markey's Livery, located on Washtenaw Street, East. He is also Chief of the Fire Department in the city, and in this capacity is one of the most efficient officials in public service. He was born in Bunker Hill, Ingham County, August 31, 1849, and is a son of Patrick and Ann (Cavender) Markey. The former was one of the first settlers in the township above mentioned, here marrying his wife in Loudon, in 1834, coming to this county four years previous to that auspicious event, during which time he lived alone on his farm.

     On first coming to the State, and locating on his land, Patrick Markey found it wild and uncultivated, he however, devoted himself to the improvement (417) of the farm homestead, and made the place his residence until 1865 when he sold it and purchased another place three miles east of the old home. There he lived until 1871, at which time he removed to Blackman Township, Jackson County, where he and his wife still live. Mr. Markey was a public-spirited man, whose interests were always with those who desired the furtherance of improvements in the township. He served several times as Supervisor of his township, and was also Assessor and Tax Collector.

     Mr. Markey was one of the pioneers in the State who knew the lack of conveniences that are now at hand. The first sack of meal that he procured after coming to this State, he carried on his back from Detroit to his home, a distance of seventy-five miles. The next year, however, a mill was located at Dexter, twenty-six miles distant, where he could have corn ground. His mail, also was procured at Dexter, and was gone for only once a month, letters being luxuries in that day that had to be paid for at a high price, the postage being at that time twenty-five cents per letter. Mr. Markey, Sr., was born in Ireland, and came to the United States when he had reached the age of twenty-one years. Our subject's maternal grandfather was one of the earliest settlers of Washtenaw. He was James Cavender.

     Our James Markey, grew to manhood on the old farm, acquiring strength and vigor with the routine of outdoor life that was necessary for the maintenance of the fine order in which his father kept his place; he there also acquired a good education. Coming to Lansing in 1866, the young man engaged at once in the livery business and has devoted himself to this line most of the time since 1877. All his interests and connections are closely allied with this city. Here he married his wife, who was before marriage. Miss Lizzie Ottovine of Grand Rapids. Their marriage was celebrated November 7, 1877. The lady is a daughter of Julius Ottovine, one of the early settlers of Grand Rapids.

     The original of our sketch was appointed chief of the Lansing Fire Department in May, 1890, and in May, 1891 he received the compliment of a re-appointment. He has been closely identified with the Fire Department for a number of years, belonging to the Hook and Ladder Truck Company for ten years before his appointment as Chief of Fire Department. He has never been actively interested in politics, and is not an office seeker. He casts his vote with the Democratic party, and is a good representative and upholder of that political body. Mr. Markey has a very pleasant home on the corner of Washtenaw and Grand Avenue, which is one of the most delightful locations in the city. Personally he is a genial and whole-souled man, hail fellow well met, with his equals. He is much liked by all who have any dealings with him. Socially he is a member of the Hibernian Society, and is also a Knight of the Maccabees.

     Mr. Markey's livery stable is one of the best in the city; he keeps a number of good horses and comfortable carriages, having constantly on hand at least sixteen horses. His business location is one of the best, most central and convenient in the city. He has also in connection with his stable, a large feed trade, every farmer from a distance of twenty miles around knowing "Jimmy" as he is called among his familiars.

     WILLIAM PETERS. The pleasant and benevolent gentleman who forms the subject of our sketch, although of foreign birth has proved himself a patriotic son of the country of his adoption, as he was among the most earnest and zealous to spring to her defense in the dark hours of the Civil War, enlisting under one of the first calls sent out by President Lincoln. In his character and intent he illustrates finely the grand material of which our country has been made up, as he left his native country to find in this land of liberty a broader field for his energies and a better opportunity to serve his generation.

     Mr. Peters, who is now carrying on the double avocation of farmer and blacksmith, resides on section 16, Hamburg Township, Livingston County, and is the son of Nightingale Peters who was second gamekeeper for Lord Cowper of Hertfordshire, (418) England, being born there about the year 1800 and entering the service of Lord Cowper at the age of twenty-one. This member of the British nobility was a relative in direct line of the poet Cowper, and Mr. Peters speaks of both him and Lady Cowper with great respect and veneration. Especially is this the case in regard to this lady, who was devoted to the people of her estate and looked out for their interests with great kindness and faithfulness.

     After spending twenty-one years in the service of Lord Cowper, Nightingale Peters entered the service of Sir Abel Smith as first gamekeeper, and remained with him until called hence by death in 1862. About the year 1821 he married Martha Graves, who was born in England in 1801 and died about the year 1868. They had nine children, our subject, who was born in May, 1835, being the fifth in age and the only one who ever came to America. One of his brothers went to Australia and has not been heard from since 1873, but the rest of the family have remained in their native home.

     Our subject attended a school which was supported by Lady Cowper until he reached the age of twelve years and then worked for four years on the Cowper estate, after which he spent two years in a factory in Wales. In 1853 he came to New York and spent several years there, learning his trade and spending some three years as a sailor. In 1861 he left the city and bought a place in Canastota, N.Y. In 1863 he married Rosilla, daughter of Nathan Baker, who was born in 1843 and is the only daughter in a family of four children, all of whom are living.

     In 1866 this young couple migrated to Michigan, settling in Pettysville, Livingston County, where Mr. Peters bought a shop and somewhat later purchased eighty acres on section 16, Hamburg Township and there built him a beautiful home. Three daughters and one son have blest this union--Lilly, who received a good education and is now the wife of Charles Burrows; William A. who resides in Owosso; Winnifred, who is a teacher by profession and Rola who is at home. The mother of these children is a conscientious and active member of the Congregational Church. Besides their own children this excellent couple had under their care in their home for about three years two orphan nephews, who are the only relatives our subject has in this country.

     The experience through which Mr. Peters passed during the War of the Rebellion has attached him deeply to the party which supported the administration during that trying season and he is a worker in its ranks. He has been Justice of the Peace besides serving three terms as Township Clerk, yet he is no politician or wire-puller in the accepted sense of those words, and has refused other offices when they have been proffered him. He is identified with the Howell Post, No. 120, G. A. R.

     In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Twelfth New York Infantry and was attached to the Army of the Potomac, passing through the Peninsular campaign and being active in the first battle of Bull Run. He received a sunstroke previous to the second battle of Bull Run and was in the hospital wagon at the time of that engagement. Through his two years of service he was never captured nor severely wounded. He is a fine specimen of the sturdy, honest Englishman, who has developed along the lines of our free and broad national influence into a true-hearted American citizen.

     H. W. RIKERD. Of all the good fellows in Lansing, Ingham County, none are more liked or popular than he of whom we write. As Secretary and Treasurer of the Capital Lumber Company, our subject finds his time and attention occupied to the fullest extent with his business cares. He was born in Birmingham, Oakland County, Mich., February 15,1861. His father was D. W. Rikerd, a native of New York, having been born in Rheinbeck, Dutchess County, where he was raised and educated. Thence he came to Oakland County, this State, about 1832-33, and located in Troy where he first engaged in farming, then removed to near Birmingham, where he was most actively engaged in business. Here he was a pioneer settler and like other settlers began at the bottom of the ladder. He secured a tract of land (419) in the midst of which he built a log house and cleared his land as he could, planting and reaping until he had the whole tract under the finest state of cultivation.

     There Mr. Rikerd, Sr., secured and partially improved several farms and in 1864 he came to Lansing Township where he purchased between four hundred and five hundred acres of land. He resided on this farm for two years and then came to the city of Lansing where he has ever since lived. He now resides on the corner of Franklin Street and Capitol Avenue. Our subject's mother was before her marriage a Miss Harriet E. Case, born in Birmingham, this State, She was a daughter of Lyman Case, a native of New York, who settled in Birmingham at an early day and there died.

     Our subject was reared and educated in this city. He remained at home and while there was engaged in the pursuit of his studies at school until seventeen years of age. In 1878 he began life for himself as a clerk in Broas' clothing store and there he remained for five years, at the end of which time he laid off for one year. In 1885 he was appointed Deputy Revenue Collector for the Sixth Division of the First District by John B. Malony, of Detroit. Our subject took his position July 1, of that year, and was the first Democrat Deputy Revenue Collector ever appointed in Michigan. He served until June 30, 1889. The division that he was given charge of embraced Jackson, Calhoun, Ingham, Genesee, Clinton, Shiawassee and Gratiot Counties.

     In 1889 Mr. Rikerd became connected with the lumber company with which he is now. He was one of the organizers of this company which took form and became an accepted fact in February, 1889. At that time he was elected Secretary and Treasurer and has since held that position. The company have two yards, one of which is at North Lansing, called the Michigan Avenue Yards. They also have a planing mill at North Lansing and manufacture sash, doors, blinds and contractors' supplies.

     The original of this sketch is Master of Capitol Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., in the city of Lansing. In his political views he is, of course, a Democrat, as would be understood from the fact that he was appointed to his official position under that party. He has been a member of the County Democratic Committee and is also a member of the City Committee, having been sent to several State and county conventions. The lumber company with which he is now connected and which owes its being in no small respect to him, is one of the most important in Central Michigan and does a great amount of business.

     JACOB STAHL One never realizes the truth of the saying that all is not gold that glitters as much as when standing before the enticing window of a hardware store glittering with its bright pans and pails and numerous cooking utensils and for all one knows perfectly well that the resemblance to the precious metal is specious, there is seldom a housewife that is not fascinated. One of the most noticeable hardware establishments in the city of Lansing, attractive in its arrangement and having the largest stock in this portion of the county, is owned and conducted by the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch.

     The building in which Mr. Stahl's store is located has a thirty-four-foot frontage and is one hundred and forty-six feet deep. He occupies the first floor of the building and the basement and carries a very heavy stock of the goods of which he makes a specialty. Mr. Stahl has been in the business here since 1881 and is now generally recognized as among the most prominent men of the city. The building which he occupies he erected in 1887. It is a fine structure, having a front of pressed brick and is attractive in style of architecture and while not overladen with superfluous ornamentation, it is graceful and modern. The trimmings are of Lake Superior stone, which gives an air of solidity and permanency to the building. The windows are great squares of plate glass through which the stock is displayed to the greatest advantage. The interior is elegantly finished in hardwood, (420) with an admirable polish that is made by four-coat work. The establishment is said by traveling hardware men to be the finest in its finish and the way in which it is kept up of any establishment that they have ever seen, and so scrupulously nice is it kept in every detail that one seeing it for the first time would suppose that it was just finished. Everything is thoroughly dusted every day.

     The second floor of Mr. Stahl's building is devoted to office room which in point of care corresponds to the rest of the building. The third floor comprises a very good hall which is rented to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks as a place of rendezvous. The original of our sketch, besides this business of which we have spoken, is also interested in the City National Bank and, is a Director in the People's Savings Bank of West Bay City. Mr. Stahl is also the owner of another handsome building which was erected in 1890 and is now occupied by Marble, French & Co. It is 66x90 feet in dimensions and three stories high. He owns besides considerable real-estate and seven dwellings in the city, also a store at Amherst, Ohio, where he was interested for some time before locating in Lansing. Mr. Stahl gives his entire attention to his legitimate business, which is that of hardware. He was, previous to coming to this city and while yet in Ohio, Alderman for six years in Amherst and was an active member upon numerous county committees.

     Socially Mr. Stahl is connected with the best lodges of the place. He is a member of the Elks and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs both to the Lodge and Encampment of the Knights, of Pythias, also the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is besides a member of the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Stahl is a believer in Christianity in its purest and simplest form. He worships with the Congregational denomination and is a member of that church.

     Our subject was born in Germany, August 23, 1845. He came to the United States in 1865 and located at Cleveland, Ohio. While still in the Fatherland he had learned the trade of a machinist and on locating in Cleveland he was employed in a machine shop and foundry. After remaining there one and a half years he was made foreman and had the supervision over one hundred and fifty men. He remained with that company until 1871, when on account of ill health he left the business and started in the hardware business at Amherst, Ohio. Six years later be sold out his interest there and made a visit to the Fatherland. The pleasure with which he once again drew near his boyhood's home can be imagined. The following year, 1878, he went to Paris and had the pleasure of attending the exposition. His trip to Paris was made with his family and they extended it so that it embraced a most interesting tour through other parts of Europe.

     On coming to Lansing, January 26, 1881, Mr. Stahl immediately began to look about to see what opening there was for him in this city, he purchased two stocks of hardware and soon after established himself in trade as above related. Since that time he has been most successful. His affairs are carried on under the most business-like principles. On February 13, 1868, Mr. Stahl was united in marriage to Miss Kate Hessert, at that time of Cleveland, Ohio, but like himself of German birth and parentage. She was born in Germany in 1845, coming to this country in 1852, and locating in the city in which her marriage took place. This, union has been blest by the birth of two children--Louis and Frank. One of the sons is in the store and proves to be an efficient assistant in the conduct of his father's business.

     HON. JAMES B. PORTER, who is ex-Secretary of State, and a prominent man residing in Lansing, was born in Marcellus, N.Y., September 7, 1824. He is a son of the Rev. Seth J. Porter, who was a native of Williamston, Mass., and educated at Auburn, N.Y., devoting himself to the department of theology. He prepared himself for the Presbyterian ministry and soon after being admitted to the Presbytery was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia M. Haines of Skaneateles.

     (421) Our subject's father's first charge was at New Lisbon, N.Y., and his last charge before coming to Michigan was at Janesville, N.Y. His advent in this State was made in the fall of 1833, at which time he located at Kalamazoo. In 1834 he died, leaving a widow and three children, our subject being the second in order of birth, E. H. Porter of this city being his brother and Mrs. Julia A. Haydenburk, of Olivet, Mich., being his sister. His mother lived until May 14, 1889, her decease taking place in Lansing, she being, at the time eighty-five years of age.

     After the death of his father, James B. went to Otsego, subsequently finishing his education at Allegan Seminary, after which he was engaged in the dry-goods trade at Otsego, being one of the firm of House & Porter, the firm name afterward being Porter & Eaton. In 1850 he was elected Register of Deeds and County Clerk of Allegan County, which position he held continuously for ten years. In 1860 our subject was elected Secretary of State on the Republican ticket and held the office though the entire war period, going out of office in January, 1867. He removed his family to Olivet in 1864, being Secretary and Treasurer for two years of Olivet College. In 1866 he moved to Lansing, and after going out of office he engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in which he has been ever since, the firm being originally that of Jones & Porter. The former, Mr. Jones, is one of the oldest men in the city, and has witnessed a great change in the city of Lansing and in the value of its real estate. Our subject has not interested himself to any extent in politics since he filled the office of Secretary of State.

     Mr. Porter was united in marriage August 17, 1845, to Eunice J. House, of Otsego, Mich. By this union he has become the father of two children, both sons. Edgar S. is residing in Lansing and the younger, William H., is a resident of this city. Mrs. Porter was born in Clyde, N.Y., and is a daughter of E. H. House, who came to Michigan in 1837, and located in Otsego. He there died in 1853, having been one of the earliest pioneers in that part of the county. Being Secretary of State during the war period, a great deal of extra work was entailed upon Mr. Porter. The issuing of commissions was his work, and as there were several thousands and large correspondence with the general Government, his time and attention were fully occupied.

     ALBERT CLARK. The United States of America as a nation, has done more than any other people during the present century to foster and encourage that spirit of inventive genius with which her sons seem to be imbued; more especially in connection with manufacturers and inventions that tend to reduce both manual and animal labor. This tendency has brought our nation to the front as one of the greatest manufacturing people in the world and we could hardly have hit upon a happier illustration of this fact than in the improvements which have been brought about by the firm of Clark Co., of Lansing, Ingham County, whose senior member is represented by the name at the head of this paragraph.

     The carriage works of the firm just mentioned are under the direction of the following gentlemen: Albert Clark, E. H. Davis and A. A. Nichols, while Frank G. Clark is assistant and mechanical superintendent and J. J. Frost is manager of sales. Mr. Clark came to Lansing in 1863, walking thither because he had no money to ride, and he at once secured work with Sprang & Ostrander. As he had previously learned the trade of carriage-making he remained with them as a journeyman for three years, when he bought out Mr. Ostrander's interest and the firm continued under the name of Sprang & Clark. doing business where the large factory of Clark Co. now stands, at the corner of Grand and Washtenaw Streets. Mr. Sprang finally sold out to L. Frank Clark and Warren Gunnison, a brother-in-law of our subject, and the firm then took the name of A. Clark & Co. Those gentlemen afterward sold their interest to Dart & Davis, the old hardware firm, and in 1881 Mr. Nichols came into the business, since which time the members of the firm are as we have given them above.

     (422) This flourishing business has grown from a little repair shop, which it was in 1866, to a business of $200,000 per annum, with an investment of $125,000. The main shop, which was built after the fire of 1886, contains the workshops and machine room and is a building, 80x80 feet with five floors, wherein are made the various portions of wood and iron work necessary in the manufacture of the many kinds of vehicles which are made by this firm. Here about thirty-five men are employed. We next come to the smith's room, 140x170 feet, entirely equipped with the latest improved machinery, steam hammers, etc., and where thirty-five men are also employed. In the gear room which is 350x70 feet are painted and stacked all the gearings for every kind of buggy and carriage made by the firm, employing thirty men in this department. In the body and varnishing room are twenty-five men hard at work on buggy bodies ready for finishing and from thence we turn to the trimming room, 140x70 feet with a stock room adjoining. Fifteen men are employed in this department and fine work is turned out. In the shipping room, 150x50 feet, from fifteen to twenty men are busily engaged in crating and packing the finished orders and disbursing them by rail and road to all parts of the United States. The show room and repositories embrace five floors of 80 x80 feet each, where are constantly on exhibition from three hundred to four hundred vehicles of every description, both of natural and painted wood, which at once stamp the work of Clark & Co. as second to none, and a credit to the beautiful city of Lansing.

     The senior member of the firm first saw the light July 26, 1840, his native home being in Ingham Township, this county. He is the son of Elias S. Clark, now of Dansville, who is elsewhere sketched in this volume. Our subject grew up on the farm and learned his trade at Dansville, working at different places before coming to Lansing. He was married October 14, 1865, to Miss Nellie Gunnison, of DeWitt, Clinton County. This lady is a daughter of Elihu Gunnison, who was an old settler and a wealthy farmer in that county. To this couple were born two children--Frank G., who has been graduated from the Agricultural College, taking the degree of B. S. in 1890, and who now is with his father as assistant superintendent of the works and, Eva Mae, who was a promising young lady of twenty years of age when her parents were called upon to part with her, she dying March 30, 1890. She was just completing her education, being a graduate of the High school here and having almost completed a course at Mt. Holyoke Seminary at Kalamazoo, Mich., she being quite accomplished in both painting and music. The Clark family is prominently identified with the Universalist Church and Mr. Clark is a member of the Masonic order, although not active in its work. He takes an intelligent interest in public movements but is not in politics, as he prefers to devote his time and thought to his duties.

     JOHN THOMPSON. To be descended from honorable and able progenitors has long been considered a source of honest pride.
Yet this feeling has not been cultivated in this country as it is among the people of older nations, where the heritage of rank reinforces the heritage of character in the popular estimation. Still among our best families we find a disposition to remember the acts of our forefathers and to encourage the recital of their deeds; and in remembering their worth we are incited to emulate their lives.

     He of whom we write was born in Preble, Cortland County, N.Y., June 22,1819. He came of a long line of worthy New Jersey ancestor as the Thompson family has been a noted one in many respects. The great-grandfather, Archibald Thompson was born in Scotland, and when coming to this country landed at Amboy N.J. This emigration was in 1716 and he was accompanied by two brothers. His wife, to whom he was united in 1741, was of Holland stock, and among their numerous family was a son who distinguished himself as Capt. John Thompson in the Revolutionary War. He was also a seafaring man, and owned (423) and operated the first packet which ran between New Brunswick and New York. The father of this son was a prominent and influential man and enjoyed a wide acquaintance in his day. Capt. John Thompson had some experiences which were quite noteworthy, as he was taken prisoner by the British and held by them until the close of the war.

     Hon. Philip K. Thompson, the father of our subject, was a native of New Jersey and was born in 1778 in New Brunswick. In his youth the family removed to Scoharie County, N.Y., where they lived in the town of Fonda, and there the young man remained until he reached his majority. He was then married to Miss Eunice Gaylord, and soon after this happy event he removed to Preble, Cortland County, where he engaged in farming.

     From 1828 to 1846 the father of our subject farmed in Livingston County, N.Y., and afterward removed to Medina County, Ohio, where he was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature. One fact which is worthy of note in respect to this recognition of his abilities is that he was the first Abolitionist who was ever elected from that county. He served in this capacity in1848-49. He held various local offices and was universally esteemed as a man of intelligence whose influence was broad and strong and was ever exercised for the good of the community. He was a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church for more than half a century and his religious convictions were deep and abiding. After his retirement from active life He removed to Oberlin, Ohio, where he found a congenial atmosphere, religious, intellectual and political and there he spent the remainder of his days, dying April 1, 1859, at the age of seventy-two years. He was twice married and had seven children by his first marriage and three by his second.

     On arriving at majority the subject of this sketch earned his first money laboring on the farm for $12 per month. After that he took an academical course at Nunda Academy, Nunda, N.Y., and earned his way by working on the farm and teaching.

     When this young man began life for himself his capital consisted of a New York two shilling coin with a hole in it. This coin which was worth about twenty-five cents may well be considered a lucky shilling, for accompanying it was the good luck that is sure to go with earnest industry and clear grit. Young Thompson had ever had a desire to become a physician and at one time began reading medicine but for lack of means was unable to secure a professional education.

     Coming to Michigan in 1844 Mr. Thompson undertook teaching in the district school of Lima Township, Washtenaw County, receiving for his professional services $14 a month. He prospected for some time before determining upon his permanent home, going West and North as far as Minnesota, and South as far as Mississippi, where for four years he engaged in teaching.

     In the fall of 1851 the young man returned to Michigan and in February, 1853 he purchased the property where he now resides on section 1, Green Oak Township, a tract of two hundred and thirty acres. Here he devoted himself soul and body to farming, determined to make a success of his life and to produce a paradise out of this wilderness.

     Mr. Thompson was married October 9, 1851, to Miss Annie E. Glover, of Ontario County, N.Y., and to their home came six little ones, all of whom have grown to maturity, and all but one have, taken their places in the world and are doing such work as fairly entitles their parents to indulge a pardonable feeling of pride in the careers of their offspring. Philip G. is it graduate in the Michigan State Normal School and is now a successful farmer in Dakota. Sarah C., who graduated at Oberlin College has now passed from earth, leaving an irreparable void in the family circle. Mary G. studied at Oberlin and subsequently graduated at the State Normal School, after which she took a medical course at the University at Ann Arbor and is now practicing her profession it Boulder, Col. Gaylord G., graduated at the State Agricultural College and is now a prosperous attorney at West Superior, Wis. John pursued his scientific studies at Oberlin and later took a course in pharmacy at Ann Arbor and is now filling a responsible position in a drug store at Adrian. Eunice graduated at the Ann Arbor High School and is still at home with her parents.

      The father of this interesting family has always (424) been of a studious disposition and his influence supplemented by the scholastic atmosphere in which they grew up at Oberlin gave to each of them an ambition to gain a thorough and comprehensive education, and it may indeed be said that they were scholars in the best sense of the word before leaving home. Nothing seemed a sacrifice to these worthy parents if it could conduce to securing a thorough education for their children.

     Having been reared a Whig, Mr. Thompson soon went into the Republican party, but he never aspired to office. He was also earnest in his advocacy of the cause of temperance, and by church connection was a Congregationalist, until that society was abandoned in his neighborhood. He has three hundred and twelve acres of good land, upon which he has a fine flock of sheep, and is successful in its culture. He is an upright man and a good citizen, who began life on the bottom round of the ladder, and by his industrious and persevering energy has attained to the possession of a handsome property.

    JOHN A. RECK. Scholarly men and those who follow a retired life often look with astonishment at the busy, rushing and enterprising life of those business men who are known among their mates as "hustlers." Their activities are so vigorous and unabated and their push and perseverance so undaunted that the wonder is that they do not wear out during their early years and that so many of them retain their vigor till they have had time to achieve the success for which they are working. But it is becoming a conviction among many thinkers that while activity breaks down, it also builds up even more rapidly, and that to live most fully one may need to live most energetically.

     The gentleman of whom we write is a prominent druggist of North Lansing, and the junior partner in the firm of Hedges & Reck, besides having charge of the North Lansing branch of the Lansing Postoffice. He was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, February 24,1855. His father, Stephen Reck, was a native of Andelfingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, where his grandfather was also a native and the town's Treasurer for twenty-five years or more, besides being an extensive land-owner. The father of our subject was in his father's employ until he came to America, in 1854, when he located in St. Thomas and learned the trade of a marble and stone-cutter. There he remained in this business until June, 1860, when he came to Michigan with his family and established himself as a marble cutter in Ann Arbor. Thirteen years later he removed to Adrian and in 1878 came to Lansing where he now resides, having reached the age of sixty-two years. He and his son are both devout members of the Roman Catholic Church.

      The mother of our subject was Josephine Mahlenbrei. She is a native of the same town as her husband and son, and is now about fifty-seven years of age. Her children, six in number, are equally divided between sons and daughters, and John is the eldest of the number. This boy was five years of age when he came to Michigan and well remembers the trip. He took his education in the public schools of this State, and when he had reached the age of sixteen entered the employ of C. A. Leiter & Co., pharmacists. After serving with them for three years and learning the practical details of the business, he determined to perfect himself in this line of work, and therefore in 1874, entered the Pharmaceutical Department of the University of Michigan, and worked his way through, spending his days in work and his nights in study. He remained there till just before the date of his graduation, in 1875, when he took a position in Toledo, Ohio. He did not remain there long, neither did he at Adrian and St. Louis, Mich., whither he went afterward, and it was not until be came to Lansing, October 27, 1875, that he made a permanent settlement.

     For four and a half years the young man served F. I. Moore & Co., as clerk in the store in North Lansing, where he is now proprietor. He then bought them out and in June, 1879, took a half interest in the store with a fine stock of general drugs and medicine, stationery and fancy goods. In September, 1885, George P. Sanford, who was (425) then Postmaster of Lansing, appointed him to take charge of the North Lansing office, which is a branch of the general city office, and in this capacity he has remained from that day to this.

     The most eventful step taken by this gentleman has been his marriage which occurred in Lansing in April, 1882, when he took to wife Miss Emma A. Gates, who was born, reared and educated in Brantford, Canada. He thus established a happy home which is the busy man's haven of rest when he would retire from the toils and perplexities of the outer world. To this home have come two children--Walter S. and Florence M. He is an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he also serves as Trustee and is relied upon for counsel and help in all church work. He is Secretary of the Lansing Branch, No. 18, of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. In 1878 he was upon the Democratic ticket as candidate for City Clerk of Lansing, but as the city was then thoroughly Republican he did not receive the election. He is active upon city and ward committees and is Chairman of the Fourth Ward Committee of the Democratic party, and has repeatedly been made delegate to county and State conventions.