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]

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HISTORY OF DETROIT

The mother of the subject was Jane Inglis, born in Scotland and died in
1902 at the family home in Detroit. It was after the family had located
in Detroit that Doctor Cleland, Sr., studied dentistry, his professional
education being secured in the Philadelphia School of Dentistry, after
which he established a practice in this city which has with the passing
years assumed large proportions and brought him a reputation of no
little significance in his profession.
James Cleland, Jr., passed through the public schools of Detroit,
and was graduated from the Detroit high school in 1880. In 1884 he
was graduated from the Detroit College of Medicine, with the degree
of M. D., after which he took post graduate work at Columbia College,
in New York City, in the same year. He established himself in practice
in Detroit in 1885 in association with his paternal uncle, the late Henry
Cleland, M. D., with whom he continued for eleven years. At the end
of that time he began independent practice, in which he has since
continued.
In 1907 Doctor Cleland further fortified his already wide knowledge
of his profession by taking a thorough course in internal medicine at
Edinburgh, Scotland, in which subject he has specialized throughout
his career.
Doctor Cleland is a member of the Wayne County Medical Society,
the Michigan State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In 1911 he was chairman of the medicine section of the Wayne
County Society, and has been active in the work of all three fraternities
since he became connected with them. He is a member of the Board of
Commerce, and is also affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.
Doctor Cleland married Anna Seibert, of Detroit. Both are members
of St. John's Episcopal church, and popular factors in social circles
throughout the city.
THOMAs E. ROBINSON. On January 10, 1862, was born to John and
Mary Wheeler Robinson a son, Thomas E. Robinson. The parents had
come to Detroit from England two years before, and the other three
children of the family were born in their parents' native country. At
the time of Thomas' birth, the family were living on Orleans street.
The boy received his education in thle city attending the grade schools
and the old high school. At the complet]ion of his work in school, he was
employed with the Bradstreets, as an office assistant. Later he took up
the hardw(are )usiness and was soon l)pt at the head of M. A. McPherson's store. This gentleiman lhad a foun(Iry too, and as lie liked Mr.
Robinson's effective methods of handling business, he selected the young
man to be superintendent alnd to Imanage the office and the foundry.
As long as Mr. IMcPherson was in business, Air. Robinsson held this position. This was for about five years and at the end of that timle, he took
charge of the finances of the Amierican HIeater Comlllpany and was manager of that concern for four years.
When Mlr. Robinson left the Aiieri(can Ileater (ompall)1ny, he went
into business for himiself, first on Lymian place and then on Milwaukee
junction. Here he established and conducted the plant known as the
Northwestern Fou(ndry and Supply Co111pany, re(maiiliing in this business
until his (eathll ( JanuaIry 10, 1908, his forty-sixth birthdatly.
Tlie life cuit off in its lli(lst was onl of' singtlallr power an(ld illfluence.
To unusual Ibusine-ss ability, M1r. Itobinson a(ded tfle q11(lities of social
and political leadcershipi. HIe was 1a lRep)ublic.an of' great iifliuenice in his
pairty organizattion, bult lie \wouldn never consent to b)e cand(ida(te for any
office. I1 the Methodist chturch-tlte North Wood(lwarid congregationlie was a val(e11d comllnllitic(tt anld ill tile lodge( tcir le s of l)etroit, no
llman wasiS more w idely known.