History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

1244

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

contractor in the laying of sidewalks. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
The Detroit public schools gave James F. Hartness his early training,
and he was hardly more than a boy when he began earning his way and
preparing for a permanent career. His first work was clerk in a hotel.
Next he became an employe in his father's office, and subsequently
learned the cabinet maker's trade. That was a valuable experience and
furnished him means of a living for a time, but subsequently he began
an apprenticeship at the brick mason's trade under John Sigman. As
a journeyman brick mason Mr. Hartness worked on many contracts
and in different parts of Detroit and vicinity until 1909. Since then his
name has been in the directory of general mason contractors. His first
business was in association with Joseph Blenman, under the firm name
of Hartness & Blenman. Three years later that partnership was dissolved, and since then Mr. Hartness has contracted under his own name.
There are many examples of his work that might be cited, but it will
suffice to call attention to the branch house of the American State Bank
at the corner of Holcomb and Kercheval streets, also the addition to
the main banking building of the same institution at Hilger and Jefferson avenue; the residence of Charles B. Tuttle at the corner of East
Grand boulevard and Waterloo street; the Edwin Denby terraces; the
Fournier stores on Woodward avenue and Buena Vista street in Highland Park; the Valpy residence, besides many others. In I9II Mr.
Hartness completed his own handsome residence at the corner of Fisher
avenue and Waterloo street.
Mr. Hartness is one of the popular members of the Detroit Builders
and Traders Exchange and the Master Masons Association, and his
interest in music and general fraternal matters is indicated by his membership in the Mendelssohn Society and the City of the Straits Lodge of
the Masonic order. Mr. Hartness married Lottie F. Riester, who was
born in Detroit, daughter of John and Freda (Carber) Riester of Detroit.
LEWIS F. SECORD. BENJAMIN ORR. The senior member of the firm
of Secord & Orr, builders of gasoline engines, at Jackson, Michigan,
Lewis F. Secord was born on a farm in Ingham county, Michigan, April
5, i88I, a son of William E. and Celia (Chorchan) Secord, who are now
residing in Lansing, Michigan. On his father's side of the house he is of
French ancestry, and on his mother's side is of Irish descent, his maternal
grandparents having emigrated from Ireland to the United States. Having obtained a practical education in the public schools, Lewis F. Secord
learned the machinist's trade in Lansing. In 1906 he located in Jackson,
and a few years later engaged in the manufacture of gasoline engines with
his present partner, Benjamin Orr.
Benjamin Orr was born in Jackson, Michigan, June 17, 1882, a son
of William Robert and Elizabeth (Cox) Orr, neither of whom are now
living, and is of English ancestry on both the paternal and maternal sides.
He, too, learned the trade of a machinist when young, serving an apprenticeship in his native city. He subsequently followed his trade for a few
years, gaining knowledge and experience, and developing his native inventive talent.
In I909 the firm of Secord & Orr was formed for the purpose of
manufacturing gasoline engines, its plant at first being located on Water
street. Its business increasing with surprising rapidity, more commodious
quarters were needed, and in I913 this firm erected, at Nos. 115-121
Hamburg street, a handsome building, 60 feet by 100 feet, at a cost of