Woodmere's Notable Lives

Hamilton Carhartt

CARHARTT, HAMILTON - Hamilton Carhartt founded the Carhartt Company, manufacturer of durable work clothes for over 125 years. He was born on August 27, 1855 in Macedon Lock, New York and grew up in southern Michigan. His initial success came from running a furnishing business, which inspired him to create his own products. After talking with a railroad engineer, Carhartt realized there was a need for tough, high quality work wear, so his first product was a heavy-duty bib overall made specifically for railroad workers.

Hamilton Carhartt died as the result of a car accident in Grosse Pointe in which his wife, Annette Welling Carhartt, was killed. He succumbed three days later on May 13, 1937.

Today, Carhartt, Inc. not only remains on the forefront of heavy and light duty work apparel but has become fashionable clothing, due in part to its quality and affordability. Carhartt is still based in metro-Detroit, an example of a family-owned business with strong local roots. 

James E. Scripps

SCRIPPS, JAMES E. - Originally working as a proofreader for the Chicago Tribune, James E. Scripps lived a life full of lay-offs and near ­bankruptcy that eventually lead him to begin publishing the Detroit News in 1873 and assist in the launch of the E.W. Scripps Company media conglomerate with his brother and sister.

James Vernor

VERNOR, JAMES- You can thank James Vernor for your favorite whiskey accomplice, Vernor's Ginger Ale.
How the formula was developed is still quite arguable, but it's been said to be "Aged 4 Years in Wood." Whether a batch was accidentally left in an oak keg while at war with the Union Army, or he thought of the idea while there, all we Detroiters know is that we're pretty proud of it.

David Whitney Jr.

WHITNEY JR., DAVID- Born into fortune in 1830, David Whitney, Jr. succeeded in the family lumber business. Whitney is known by many of us from the David Whitney Building, a historic Detroit office building named in his honor, and The Whitney restaurant, which previously served as Whitney's elegant home.


With holdings estimating at $15 million, David Whitney, Jr. was Detroit's wealthiest citizen at the time of his passing in 1900.

David D. Buick

BUICK, DAVID D. - Despite his fame for founding the Buick Manufacturing Company, Buick first launched his career by inventing a bathtub enameling process.



Proving himself as an inventor, he set up the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company to market engines for agricultural use, and eventually the Buick Manufacturing Company to market engines to other car companies and to sell cars of its own.

Eventually running out of money, Buick partnered with fellow car enthusiast Benjamin Briscoe, who loaned him the money to share a partnership of the Buick Motor Company, which we now recognize as part of General Motors.

John J. Bagley

BAGLEY, JOHN J.- Though he isn't a native Detroiter, John Judson Bagley not only served as a Michigan governor from 1873 to 1877, but also president of the Woodmere Cemetery from its inception until 1875.



Sadly while many of us these days only know his name by Detroit's own Bagley Street, this determined politician also served on the common council and police board, meanwhile also developing his own tobacco brand, May-Flower.

David A. Brown

BROWN, DAVID A. -Though he was one of Detroit's wealthiest people, David A. Brown acted as anything but. As co-founder of the Old Newsboys (with James Brady) and president of the Goodfellows, he provided a hope of "no kid without a Christmas."



Brown also served as president of the General Necessities Corporation and the Brownie drugstore chain.

Henry M. Leland

Leland, Henry M. - Finding much success in Michigan, Henry M. Leland spent most of his life working in a machine shop where he invented the electric barber hair clippers.

In his late 50's, he created the Cadillac automobile, which was later bought out by General Motors and later founded Lincoln Motor Company, which was purchased by the Ford Motor Company.

Private Eddie Slovak

SLOVAK, PRIVATE EDDIE - Still praised with honors for his service, Private Eddie Slovik was the only WWII U.S. soldier to be executed for desertion. Escaping the war twice in France, he eventually was caught and court-martialed for desertion under fire.



Though others were also caught for desertion, only Slovik was sentenced to death.

David Vartanian

VARTANIAN, DAVID - As a survivor of the Titanic, David Vartanian is well respected beyond his years for getting through such a tragedy. It was and still is up for debate on whether he was saved by someone, or managed to save himself - but regardless this brave survivor was able to live to the age of 76, passing away in 1966.