History of Detroit, a chronicle of its progress, its industries, its institutions, and the people of the fair City of the straits, / by Paul Leake ... [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF DETROIT

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Upon returning froim Washington, 1Mr. Maybury resumned his practice
of law ill the firml with whoml lie had been associated since 1882, that of
Coneley, Mlaybury and Lucking. In 1897 he l)ecalle a imember of the firlll
of Maybury, Lucking, Euninons and Helfilan. It was in the samle year
that imayoor Iazen S. Pingree became governor and Mr. Maybury was
ellosen to fill his unexpired term as mayor of Detroit. After this lie was
elected four successive times, serving until 1905. In 1900 lie was candidate for the governorship of Alicehigan, but was defeated by Aaron Bliss.
In the MIaisonic fraternity he (-enjoyed unusual distinction. At the
time of his death, on -Mlay 6, 1909, he was the most plrolminent Mason in
Michigan. tie hlad taken the thirty tllirdl degree and ha(dl eld almost
every office in the order. In 1897 lie was mnade Del)uty in Michigan,
which put hill at tile head of all the Scottisll Rite( Masons it, tlle state.
Like his father, 31r. Alaybury was an earnest worker in tle churech
and lheld the saelll office of senior warden in the same congregation where
his fathler htad served. lie was also a (lirector of St. Anldrew's Brotherhood. Ihis was a truly religious nature and he was a deep student of
theology. IIe never allowed anything not excee(lingly important to keep
himn away froli the chlurch services and lie was a regular visitor to the
hospitals all his life, making it his appointed task to find thle sick and
lonely. Few men have been possessed with such a fund of information
on every subject as was William Mayl)ury. His reading was not confined to matters pertaining solely to his legal work, but lhe was deeply
read in the sciences as well, being especially expert in botany. TIn 1901
he received the tribute of being made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor
of France.
On Mr. 'Maylbry's sixtieth birtd(llay tle representativ\ e business al(nd
lrofessiollal men of the town gave a party in his honor, whlich was the
most splendid function the city had witnessed for years. A solid silver
loving cup of beautiful design was presented to the guest of honor, inscribed with these -words: "The citizens of Detroit present this cup to
William Cotter Maybury on this sixtieth anniversary in grateful recognition of distinguished service to his fellow men and because we love
him." Such a tribute of affection and esteem has been paid to few men
of the community alnd it was gratifying to Mr. Maybury to know that he
had filled the measure of his three score years to the satisfaction of all
creeds and classes.
The death of this distinguished( citizen was justly regardted as the
sorrow of the whole city as well as of the nearest friends and relatives.
Action in his honor was taken by the many organizations of the mnunicipality, including the Council and Citizens, the Detroit Sinking Fund
Commission, of which Mr. Maybury was a member of long standing, the
judges of the Wayne County Circuit Court, directors of the Detroit
Board of Commerce, the Detroit Bar Association, and the Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, who were holding their convention in Detroit at the time. Such facts indicate the influence and
reputation of the man, which were both 'vide and well deserved, but no
words nor resolutions could adequately convey a real conception of thle
beauty and strength of his life and character. That is written in the
language which transcends all speech of tongue or pen, whose books are
in the hearts of men and whose words are "the little unremembered acts
of kindness and of love."
WALTER BUJiL,. In the civic and collllercial history of the city of
Detroit no family namne stands forth more brilliantly than that of Buhl.
It has for many years represented the highest type of business ability
and civic patriotism, and is associated in the )minds of thie peol)le with