The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-20
HANCOCK
LEADING CITIZEN OF RIPLEY
IS TAKEN AWAY BY DEATH
will S. Cleayes, President Of Ma
chine Company and Captain
OF Industry Dead
SKETCH OF HIS BUSY CAREER

I'm the death OF Win S. Cleaves of
Ripley early last evening, the commun-
ity loses one of its leading citizens and
the entire county one of its most prom
inent and public spirited men. Rip
lev especially will feel his loss deeply
as he had for years been its leading
spirit and most influential resident, be-
ing looked up To with respect and es-
TEEN by all, and enjoying the friend
ship of his fellow citizens and those I'm
his employ.
Mr.. Cleaves, had not been feeling
well for the past five or six weeks and
from time to time had been confined To
his bed for short intervals. Two weeks
ago he appeared to have recovered
considcrablyland was able to be at his
Office but on Saturday last he was
stricken with apoplexy, since which
time he never regained consciousness,
until he passed away at 6:15 o'clock
last evening.
w. s. Cleaves was president of the
Portage Lake Foundry and Machine
company and the Hodge Iron Works,
for many years, and had large interests
i'm local mining enterprises as well as
number i'm the west. He was a mem
Der Of the Hancock lodge of Elks and
other local societies, and was one Of
the most popular and genial, whole
souled men that could be found any
where so that his death caused ex-
pressions of sorrow.
Mr.. Cleaves was born at Lowell,
Mass. March 10. 1851. and came TO
tie copper country i'm 1860 year later
than his father. the late S. T.. Cleaves,
located here. He was married in 1876
TO Miss l.. a. Ormsby, a daughter OF
Horace Ormsby of Fort Henry, New
York, who. with one daughter, Miss
Lillian a. Cleaves, survives him.
The Portage Lake Foundry and Ma
chine company, of which Mr.. Cleaves
was president at the time of his death,
was first established in 1859 by COM
pany of eastern capitalists from whom
IL passed into the possession of f. j.
Masten. who conducted it i'm n small
way for some time. He was succeeded
I'm 1864 by Sheldon, WarZer a. Cleaves.
the latter being s. T.. Cleaves, father
Of the late decedent. 1t continued un-
der this name until 1877, during which
period the plant was materially en-
larged It next passed into the hands
of the Sheldon estate and was man.
aged by the late G. ID. Sheldon. In the
spring Of 1884 it was purchased by 3
+. Cleaves e. Son. who operated tho
plant under the title until 1895, when
It became the Portage Lake Foundry
and Machinery company, meanwhile
being doubled in capacity and brought
approximately to its present condition
In 1896 the Portage Lake Foundry and
Machine company was incorporated
with w. s. Cleaves as manager. The
latter at the time of his death was
president of the company and the oth-
er officers are vice president, l.. "A
Cleaves: secretary. George "A. Royce;
and treasurer, L. NJ. Cleaves. Besides
the industry mentioned Mr.. Cleaves
controlled the Hodge Iron Works, also
located at Ripley. which was pur'
chased about three years ago, and hal
since been operated in connection will
the other plant. manufacturing mining
machinery and doing a general line o
foundry and machine work. employ
ing about one hundred and fifty men
Funeral Sunday Afternoon.
The funeral will be held on Sunda!