GRAND RAPIDS MAGNATE DIES
Joseph H. Brewer Widely Known As Banker and Utilities Owner
Grand Rapids. Mich.. Feb. 9 (AP) - Joseph H. Brewer, who rose from humble beginninps to positions of wide prominence as a public utilities magnate and investment banker, died tonight in Butterworth hospital. He was 67 years old. In failing health for several months, Brewer was taken to hospital in critical condition Monday. Death was due to a heart ailment. The son of pioneer settlers Kent county, Brewer climbed with Alger-like swiftness to wealth and domination of a number of business interests. Beginning as a newsboy, he progressed quickly through stepping-stone the public utilities filed in 1905, when he acquired the controlling interest in the Holland Gas Co. Seven years later at the ape of 37, he founded the American Public Utilities Company, one of the largest and most powerful of the period. He was reported to have received $3,250,000 for his holdings when he sold the business to the Insulls in 1924. On withdrawal from the utilities field, Brewer turned to banking. He acquired stock in several Grand Rapids banks and merged two principal institutions here in 1926. As the outgrowth of a hobby, cattle breeding, he and Dudley E. Waters, a partner, took over management of the old Grand Rapids Dairy company, which later they sold to the Detroit Creamery company. Until his last illness forced retirement, Brewer was active in the management of the Michigan National Bank and trust company, serving as chairman of the board. He had organized the institution on merger of the National Bank of Grand Rapids and the Michigan Trust Company. Brewer also had large holdings in two principal hotels here, the Pantlind and the Morton. Blythefield, Brewer's farm estate a few miles from Grand Rapids, was one of the agricultural showplaces of Western Michigan. He was the founder of Blythefield Country Club. Noted for his philanthropies, Brewer had a special Interest in Olivet College, of which his son, Joseph Hillyer Brewer, is president. Besides his son, Brewer is survived by his widow, the former Augusta Hillyer. Funeral services will be announced later.
Published in THE ESCANABA DAILY PRESS, Escanaba, Michigan, Wed., February 10, 1943, Page 2
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
Joseph H. Brewer Widely Known As Banker and Utilities Owner
Grand Rapids. Mich.. Feb. 9 (AP) - Joseph H. Brewer, who rose from humble beginninps to positions of wide prominence as a public utilities magnate and investment banker, died tonight in Butterworth hospital. He was 67 years old. In failing health for several months, Brewer was taken to hospital in critical condition Monday. Death was due to a heart ailment. The son of pioneer settlers Kent county, Brewer climbed with Alger-like swiftness to wealth and domination of a number of business interests. Beginning as a newsboy, he progressed quickly through stepping-stone the public utilities filed in 1905, when he acquired the controlling interest in the Holland Gas Co. Seven years later at the ape of 37, he founded the American Public Utilities Company, one of the largest and most powerful of the period. He was reported to have received $3,250,000 for his holdings when he sold the business to the Insulls in 1924. On withdrawal from the utilities field, Brewer turned to banking. He acquired stock in several Grand Rapids banks and merged two principal institutions here in 1926. As the outgrowth of a hobby, cattle breeding, he and Dudley E. Waters, a partner, took over management of the old Grand Rapids Dairy company, which later they sold to the Detroit Creamery company. Until his last illness forced retirement, Brewer was active in the management of the Michigan National Bank and trust company, serving as chairman of the board. He had organized the institution on merger of the National Bank of Grand Rapids and the Michigan Trust Company. Brewer also had large holdings in two principal hotels here, the Pantlind and the Morton. Blythefield, Brewer's farm estate a few miles from Grand Rapids, was one of the agricultural showplaces of Western Michigan. He was the founder of Blythefield Country Club. Noted for his philanthropies, Brewer had a special Interest in Olivet College, of which his son, Joseph Hillyer Brewer, is president. Besides his son, Brewer is survived by his widow, the former Augusta Hillyer. Funeral services will be announced later.
Published in THE ESCANABA DAILY PRESS, Escanaba, Michigan, Wed., February 10, 1943, Page 2
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
GRAND RAPIDS MAGNATE DIES
Joseph H. Brewer Widely Known As Banker and Utilities Owner
Grand Rapids. Mich.. Feb. 9 (AP) - Joseph H. Brewer, who rose from humble beginninps to positions of wide prominence as a public utilities magnate and investment banker, died tonight in Butterworth hospital. He was 67 years old. In failing health for several months, Brewer was taken to hospital in critical condition Monday. Death was due to a heart ailment. The son of pioneer settlers Kent county, Brewer climbed with Alger-like swiftness to wealth and domination of a number of business interests. Beginning as a newsboy, he progressed quickly through stepping-stone the public utilities filed in 1905, when he acquired the controlling interest in the Holland Gas Co. Seven years later at the ape of 37, he founded the American Public Utilities Company, one of the largest and most powerful of the period. He was reported to have received $3,250,000 for his holdings when he sold the business to the Insulls in 1924. On withdrawal from the utilities field, Brewer turned to banking. He acquired stock in several Grand Rapids banks and merged two principal institutions here in 1926. As the outgrowth of a hobby, cattle breeding, he and Dudley E. Waters, a partner, took over management of the old Grand Rapids Dairy company, which later they sold to the Detroit Creamery company. Until his last illness forced retirement, Brewer was active in the management of the Michigan National Bank and trust company, serving as chairman of the board. He had organized the institution on merger of the National Bank of Grand Rapids and the Michigan Trust Company. Brewer also had large holdings in two principal hotels here, the Pantlind and the Morton. Blythefield, Brewer's farm estate a few miles from Grand Rapids, was one of the agricultural showplaces of Western Michigan. He was the founder of Blythefield Country Club. Noted for his philanthropies, Brewer had a special Interest in Olivet College, of which his son, Joseph Hillyer Brewer, is president. Besides his son, Brewer is survived by his widow, the former Augusta Hillyer. Funeral services will be announced later.
Published in THE ESCANABA DAILY PRESS, Escanaba, Michigan, Wed., February 10, 1943, Page 2
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
Joseph H. Brewer Widely Known As Banker and Utilities Owner
Grand Rapids. Mich.. Feb. 9 (AP) - Joseph H. Brewer, who rose from humble beginninps to positions of wide prominence as a public utilities magnate and investment banker, died tonight in Butterworth hospital. He was 67 years old. In failing health for several months, Brewer was taken to hospital in critical condition Monday. Death was due to a heart ailment. The son of pioneer settlers Kent county, Brewer climbed with Alger-like swiftness to wealth and domination of a number of business interests. Beginning as a newsboy, he progressed quickly through stepping-stone the public utilities filed in 1905, when he acquired the controlling interest in the Holland Gas Co. Seven years later at the ape of 37, he founded the American Public Utilities Company, one of the largest and most powerful of the period. He was reported to have received $3,250,000 for his holdings when he sold the business to the Insulls in 1924. On withdrawal from the utilities field, Brewer turned to banking. He acquired stock in several Grand Rapids banks and merged two principal institutions here in 1926. As the outgrowth of a hobby, cattle breeding, he and Dudley E. Waters, a partner, took over management of the old Grand Rapids Dairy company, which later they sold to the Detroit Creamery company. Until his last illness forced retirement, Brewer was active in the management of the Michigan National Bank and trust company, serving as chairman of the board. He had organized the institution on merger of the National Bank of Grand Rapids and the Michigan Trust Company. Brewer also had large holdings in two principal hotels here, the Pantlind and the Morton. Blythefield, Brewer's farm estate a few miles from Grand Rapids, was one of the agricultural showplaces of Western Michigan. He was the founder of Blythefield Country Club. Noted for his philanthropies, Brewer had a special Interest in Olivet College, of which his son, Joseph Hillyer Brewer, is president. Besides his son, Brewer is survived by his widow, the former Augusta Hillyer. Funeral services will be announced later.
Published in THE ESCANABA DAILY PRESS, Escanaba, Michigan, Wed., February 10, 1943, Page 2
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
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