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

1238

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

awaited a good opportunity to get into commercial life. The work which
started him on his career to success was selling farm implements, and to
individual buyers over a large section of country he sold threshing machines, buggies, wagons, plows and practically every kind of tool, im —
plement and machinery used on farms. Finally, as a result of a trade,
Mr. Taylor found himself owner of a farm in Waterloo township of Jackson county. He did not give his personal supervision to this land, and
in 1884 succeeded in trading it for the City Mills of Jackson. Thus, in
a roundabout way, this valuable property came into his hands, and has
proved the basis for all his subsequent business career. In thirty years
he has made the mills quite an institution in Jackson and has given a
splendid reputation to their product.
Since coming to Jackson Mr. Taylor has made many friends, and he
enjoys a secure position in the regard of the entire community. He was
one of the organizers of the Central State Bank of Jackson and has been
one of its board of directors ever since. Fraternally he is a Chapter and
Council Mason, a member of the Order of Elks, and the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. He has never married. His accomplishments as a
business man well measure his conduct and character as a citizen and
man, and his fellow citizens admire him for his honest dealings, his
sobriety, his uprightness and close attention to business.
HERMAN MARTIN BATTS. Though little more than thirty years of
age, Herman Martin Batts has already won a secure position in the building trades of Detroit, and as senior member of the firm of Batts & Van
Houw, carpenters and general contractors, is at the head of an already
successful business and one whose scope and reputation are constantly expanding.
Of the substantial Holland stock that has been so important a factor
in the development of Michigan, Herman Batts was born in the city of
Grand Rapids, Michigan, on August I, 1883, a son of Martin and Petronella (Visser) Batts. Both parents were natives of the Netherlands, and
came when single with their respective parents to the United States in
the same year, I88I, all locating in Grand Rapids. It was in Grand Rapids that the father and mother were married and still live there, the
father being a retail grocery merchant. Both are members of the Christian Reformed church.
It was in Grand Rapids that Herman M. Batts grew up, acquired an
education through the common schools and in a business college, and in
I9oo, at the age of seventeen, found an apprentice place with a well
known carpenter of Grand Rapids and in two or three years had developed much expertness in his trade and was one of the most responsible
workmen in the employ of that contractor. He continued with one man
seven years, working as a journeyman in Grand Rapids until I906, then
spent one year in Los Angeles, California, and after one year as an independent contractor in Grand Rapids came to Detroit in I9IO. In that
city he formed his partnership with Mr. Van Houw, and for the past
four years they have transacted a large business as general and carpenter
contractors. From the start they have never had a reverse, and the successful manner in which they handle their business is a matter of comment among their business associates. Among various buildings put up
by them are several large apartment houses in different parts of the city,
some thirty residences, stores and other structures, and their record of
building during I912 aggregated twenty-three buildings.
Mr. Batts is a member of the Builders and Traders Exchange of
Detroit, the Master Carpenters Association, and, like his parents, affiliates
with the Christian Reformed church. On May 4, I9II, occurred his mar