Search Constraints
« Previous |
1 - 20 of 54
|
Next »
Search Results
- Notes:
- Joined father's cigar manufacturing company in 1905; they created Dutch Masters brand cigar. Sold out to national company in 1919, but started his own firm in 1921 and prospered making Van Dam cigars. Admirer of FDR, active in Deomcratic politics, he was advocate for public ownership of city bus system. Sold cigar company in 1945 and retired to Florida 5 years later.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Born in Grand Rapids. City employee for 20 years before elected mayor. Head of building inspection department when elected mayor. Resigned full time job to take part time position as mayor. Resigned after 14 months after being involved in several political controversies. Later became chief building inspector in Kentwood.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Born in Poland. Came to US in 1915 (approx.). Family name changed from Dyszkiewicz to Davis in 1924 when father became naturalized citizen. Catholic. Appointed mayor when George Welsh resigned. Lost to Goebel in 1950. Elected mayor in 1958. Elected to four terms. Resigned in 1964 to run as Democrat for State Representative. Elected four times. Selected as Speaker Pro Tem. Grocery store manager, shoe store and flower shop owner.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Democrat. Doctor, who at the time of his term, having suspended medical practice temporarily, was in charge of the D & M Railroad. Later resumed practice, served as a surgeon in the Civil War. Lived in former H. R. Williams house and co-donor of Crescent Park to the city.
- Date Created:
- 1859-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Democrat. Beat Captain Belknap by nine votes. Wealthy bachelor who told of youthful pre-Civil War western adventures. With money from Wisconsin lumber baron father he invested lavishly in banking, timber, industry and trade. Published "Grand Rapids Democrat" in early 1890s, but depression ruined them. Left town heavily in debt, died broke in New York.
- Date Created:
- 1888-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Republican. Wealthy flour mill owner. Later operated private bank, then merged it into the first local national bank, an ancestor of Old Kent. Built Sweet's Hotel, invested in railroads, bred prize cattle, active in lumber and furniture manufacture. His home, built in 1860, is now the Women's City Club.
- Date Created:
- 1860-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Democrat. Originally a farmer near Sparta, involvement in township affairs led to election as county treasurer in 1886, succeeding his brother. Elected Grand Rapids city treasurer 1897-99 and caught embezzling $13,500 but was covered by bondsmen and escaped prosecution. Had manufacturing interests on West Side and was president of 5th National Bank.
- Date Created:
- 1895-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Now serving his third term, Mayor George Heartwell took office on January 1, 2004. During his tenure, City government has implemented a variety of environmental measures, including purchase of renewable resource energy, use of alternative fuels in city vehicles, continued attention to water quality in the Grand River, and widespread implementation of energy conservation measures. In January 2007 the United Nations recognized Grand Rapids as a “Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.”
Grand Rapids is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable cities in America. In 2010 the US Chamber of Commerce gave Grand Rapids the “Nation’s Most Sustainable City” award, and in 2012 Mayor Heartwell was given the first place Climate Protection Award by the US Conference of Mayors.
With twenty-two colleges or universities in the metropolitan area, Grand Rapids is known as a knowledge center. Human medicine, medical education, and health research is the most rapidly growing economic cluster. Even during times of severe economic downturn, Grand Rapids has shown remarkable economic resiliency.
George Heartwell is married to Susan who directs the Student Advancement Foundation. George and Susan are proud parents of three adult children and six extraordinary grandchildren.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Democrat. Entrepreneurial lumberman, and wooden ware and furniture manufacturer. He was feisty, vigorous, and strong-minded. Later involved in Greenback Party, elected to Congress in 1884 on Fusion Greenback-Democrat ticket. Developed North Park area and ran a street railway to the West Michigan State Fair grounds, which he had donated.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Originally Whig, he was elected on a "Free Democrat" ticket and became Republican during his first term. A self-made hardware merchant who came to Grand Rapids as a boy of 17 and eventually founded the Foster-Stevens Company, he was noted as kind-hearted and fair. Later elected to U.S. Congress, died in office.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Democrat. Nephew of pioneer Lucius Lyon, had business career as grocer. Later headed Board of Public Works during 1860s when city hall and many other municipal developments were constructed. managed street railway enterprises, served as first president of Western Michigan Agricultural Society.
- Date Created:
- 1877-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Republican. Came to Grand Rapids in 1853 as partner of father-in-law W. B. Ledyard in manufacturing fanning mills and milk safes, then in banking. Later was County Superintendent of the Poor, known for benevolence. His daughter married J. B. Pantlind.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Republican. Coming to Grand Rapids as a boy of 8, he grew up to be a young Civil War captain, wagon manufacturer, assistant fire chief, and held other civic offices before becoming mayor. Was defeated for mayor in 1888 but elected to Congress that fall. In old age was noted for a charming series of reminiscences, collected in Yesterdays of Grand Rapids book.
- Date Created:
- 1884-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Partner in the law firm of Warner Norcross and Judd where he practiced law for over thirty years. Specialized in health law, and condemnation and probate litigation. Active in and presided over the Grand Rapids PTA Council, Heritage Hill Association, Grand Rapids/Kent County Sesquicentennial Committee, Grand Rapids Historical Commission, Goodwill Industries, local chapter American Cancer Society. Served as president of the Michigan Society of Hospital Attorneys and the Historical Society of Michigan. Elected to four terms in 1991, 1994, and 1999.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Started with James Bayne Printing Company in 1900 as apprentice engraver and became its president in 1937. Board of Education member first elected 1924 as Progressive to reduce "political influence." Drafted as reform mayoral candidate by Better Government League backed by business, and defeated Karel. Offended organized labor, bucked New Deal. Defeated after "reform" zeal faded.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Whig. Assoicated with Daniel Ball in steamboats running on Grand River from early 1840s. Also bought Ball's interest in local plaster mill, among other business activities. Built stone house at Bostwick and Crescent shown in Sarah Nelson painting.
- Date Created:
- 1850-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Democrat. A young pharmacist when he arrived in 1868. Afterward became bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery firm and rose to become partner in 1883. As city treasurer in 1891 was discovered to have embezzled $16,000 but escaped prosecution. As mayor was implicated in notorious water scandal but trial ended in hung jury. Lost as "reform" candidate against George Ellis in 1914.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Republican. First 2-year incumbent under revised charter. Came to Grand Rapids in 1872 and began career in real estate office. Organized Grand Rapids Furniture Company in 1876, owning half-interest until 1893. Became partner in Stow & Davis in 1895, serving as company treasurer. Moved to Colorado in 1907.
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Greenback-Democrat. Came from Milwaukee in 1871. Went into wholesale paper and oil business. Was elected state senator in 1884 and resigned when elected mayor. Involved in long court fight over his veto, sustained by the Supreme Court, of Common Council action adopting the arc tower system of street lights.
- Date Created:
- 1885-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection
- Notes:
- Democrat. Came to Grand Rapids as a young cabinet-maker in 1847, became early furniture manufacturer and lumberman. Later was builder of West Side Power canal, Power's Opera House, established first hydro-electric plant, was foundry owner, gypsum entrepreneur, etc., active into the 20th century.
- Date Created:
- 1857-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Collection:
- Mayors of Grand Rapids digital collection