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

957

Charles Kamman was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, on
the 7th of March, 1841, and is a son of Henry and Mary Kamman, who
immigrated to America when he was a lad of nine years and established
their home in Buffalo, New York, where two elder sons had previously
located. The parents passed the closing years of their lives at Buffalo
and the father devoted the major part of his active career to the vocation
of a wholesale butcher. He whose name introduces this review gained
his rudimentary education in his native land and after the family immigration to America he continued his studies in the schools of Buffalo
until he was fourteen years of age, when he assumed practical responsibilities by entering upon an apprenticeship at the butcher's trade, to
which he continued to devote his attention in Buffalo until 1859, when
he came to Detroit and became associated with his brother Frederick in
the establishing of a retail meat market on Grand River avenue west.
Later he formed a partnership with Phineas Massmore and engaged in
the same line of enterprise, at both wholesale and retail, with headquarters on Grand River avenue. This alliance continued four years and
Mr. Kamman then initiated his individual and independent operations
as a wholesale dealer, at the King stock-yards, on Elizabeth street. A
few years later he purchased a tract of land on Bagley avenue and there
established a general beef-packing industry, the operations of which he
conducted with marked progressiveness and good judgment, with the
result that the enterprise rapidly expanded in scope and importance and
eventually became one of the large packing industries of the city,-a
precedence that is still retained. For more than thirty years Mr. Kamman gave his undivided attention to this extensive business, through
the medium of which he gained a substantial competency, and the business has continuously been conducted under the title of the Kamman
Meat Company. In 1905 Mr. Kamman retired from active business and
was succeeded by his son, Frank B. Kamman, who is now the sole owner
of the business and general manager of its general operations.
Steadfast and upright in all the relations of life, Mr. Kamman applied himself with all of diligence and energy and through very virtue
of his well directed industry gained prestige as one of the representative
business men of the Michigan metropolis. Impregnable integrity has
characterized his course and his word in the business world has been as
good as any bond that was ever signed. Though never desirous of entering the arena of practical politics, Mr. Kamman is a staunch supporter
of the cause of the Democratic party, and he has been signally loyal to
all civic duties and responsibilities. His religious faith is that of the
Roman Catholic church, of which his wife likewise was a devout member.
In the city of Detroit, on the 26th of February, 1864, was performed
the marriage ceremony that united the life destinies of Mr. Kamman and
Miss Anna Butler, who was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, on
the 27th of November, 1843, and who was summoned to the life eternal
on the 1st of December, 1902. Her parents were natives of Ireland and
upon their immigration to America established their home in Quebec.
They passed the closing years of their lives in Quebec. Since the death
of his loved and devoted wife, who was a true companion and helpmeet,
Mr. Kamman has lived in the home of his son Frank B., at 381 Maybury
avenue, where he receives the utmost filial solicitude. In conclusion of
this review is entered a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and
Mrs. Kamman.
Charles, the first born, died at the age of twenty-seven years. Mary
is the wife of Charles T. Hayden, of Detroit, and they have two sons,
William K. and Preston H. William K. Hayden married Miss Blanche
Best and they have one son, William Kamman Hayden, Jr. Louise mar