Biography: Lavant Z. Caukin
In tracing the careers of men who have met with success in their undertakings in any community, it will be found that each one possesses in common certain qualities, among these being included ambition, perseverance and industry. To these, as in the case of Lavant Z. Caukin, vice-president of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, are added sound judgment, unswerving integrity and a thorough appreciation of responsibility that produce a man of force, usefulness and undoubted achievement. Mr. Caukin was born in Oakfield township, Kent county, Michigan, Oct. 23, 1860, a son of Volney W. and Frances (Marvin) Caukin, natives of New York, and a grandson of Thompson I. Caukin, who was county treasurer of Kent county in 1861 and a well-known agriculturist. Volney W. Caukin came to Michigan, March 30, 1844, and first located in Grattan township, where he took up land from the United States government. Later he removed to Oakfield township, in 1866 went to Sparta, where he resided until 1887, and in that year took up his residence in Antrim county, near Chestonia, where he lived about three years, and there his death occurred, in 1889, while his wife passed away in 1872 at Sparta. Mr. Caukin was one of the prominent citizens of his day and locality and served in the offices of county surveyor and supervisor, and was also sent to the State Legislature. There were eight children in the family, as follows: Lucy A., of Grand Rapids; Emma, deceased, who was the wife of S. P. Petersen; Belle A., who is the wife of Albert Kocher and resides near Shelby, Mich.; Benton A., a farmer of Antrim county; Ada F., of Grand Rapids; Marvin E., of Sparta; Lavant Z.; and Cornelius H., who is connected with the Fourth National Bank. Lavant Z. Caukin attended the public schools of Sparta and the University of Michigan, where he took both the literary and law courses and was graduated in the latter in 1891. At that time he began the practice of his profession at Grand Rapids, with Myron H. Walker, over the Fourth National Bank. After six months of practice he gave up the law for banking, entering the institution named as teller, and rapidly rose through industry and fidelity to auditor, assistant cashier and cashier, and finally to vice-president, the position which he now occupies. Mr. Caukin is a member of the Park Congregational church and is fraternally affiliated with Lodge No. 34, F. & A. M. He has taken a good citizen's part in the movements which have been founded for the betterment of Grand Rapids and its institutions, and is accounted one of the sound and substantial men of the community who have had its welfare at heart while advancing their own interests. Mr. Caukin was married June 30, 1892, to Miss Fannie Daniels, daughter of John Spencer and Mary A. (Hill) Daniels, and they have two children—Howard D. and Park H. The business of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids reaches back to the year 1868, when the bank of E. P. and S. L. Fuller was established with offices on old Canal street. The Fuller bank was succeeded, in 1876, by the Graff & Dennis Bank, and Jan. 20, 1879, the latter combined with Randall & Darragh's Bank and incorporated under the state law, taking the name Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, with a capital stock of $100,000. The officers were as follows: Leonard H. Randall, president; Harry H. Dennis, vice-president; James C. Darragh, cashier. The first board of directors of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank consisted of the following: Leonard H. Randall, William Sears, James Nelson, Amasa B. Watson, Thomas M. Peck, Henry H. Dennis and Edwin Bradford. On Jan. 23, 1880, the capital stock was increased to $200,000. On Jan. 17, 1882, the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank reorganized as a national bank, taking the name The Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and increasing the capital stock to $300,000. The first officers of the Fourth National Bank were: A. B. Watson, president; A. J. Bowne, vice-president, and I. M. Weston, cashier, while the first board of directors consisted of A. B. Watson, A. J. Bowne, William Sears, E. S. Pierce, James Blair, George W. Gay, D. A. Blodgett and I. M. Weston. On May 24, 1884, A. B. Watson resigned as president and A. J. Bowne was elected to that office. William H. Anderson was given supervision of the bank as managing director, Nov. 16, 1891, and Jan. 13, 1892, was appointed cashier. On the latter date D. A. Blodgett was elected president and S. F. Aspinwall, vice-president, but Mr. Aspinwall died April 3 of the same year, and on the following May 16, George W. Gay was elected vice-president to succeed him. D. A. Blodgett desiring to retire, March 21, 1898, William H. Anderson was elected to succeed him and still continues as the executive head of the institution. The death of George W. Gay, Sept. 13, 1899, caused a vacancy in the vice-presidency, and Nov. 20, 1899, John W. Blodgett was elected vice-president to succeed him, serving in that capacity until his resignation, Nov. 27, 1916, his election as a Class B director in the Federal Reserve Bank of the district including Grand Rapids, making necessary a severance of all official connection with a member bank. Lavant Z. Caukin was appointed cashier March 6, 1906, and J. C. Bishop, assistant cashier, and Jan. 9, 1917, Mr. Caukin was advanced to the vice-presidency and Mr. Bishop to the cashier-ship, Alva T. Edison being appointed assistant cashier. When the Fourth National was incorporated in 1882, it occupied quarters at the southwest corner of Lyon and old Canal streets. It moved across the street Oct. 25, 1884, into a building especially prepared for it on the site now occupied by the new Commercial Savings Bank building. In 1902 the present location, on Campau Square, was purchased, the building was extensively remodeled, and this has been the home of the Fourth National to the present time.
-Grand Rapids and Kent County, Vol. 2 - Michigan History and Account of Their Progress from First Settlement to the Present Time (1918)
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
In tracing the careers of men who have met with success in their undertakings in any community, it will be found that each one possesses in common certain qualities, among these being included ambition, perseverance and industry. To these, as in the case of Lavant Z. Caukin, vice-president of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, are added sound judgment, unswerving integrity and a thorough appreciation of responsibility that produce a man of force, usefulness and undoubted achievement. Mr. Caukin was born in Oakfield township, Kent county, Michigan, Oct. 23, 1860, a son of Volney W. and Frances (Marvin) Caukin, natives of New York, and a grandson of Thompson I. Caukin, who was county treasurer of Kent county in 1861 and a well-known agriculturist. Volney W. Caukin came to Michigan, March 30, 1844, and first located in Grattan township, where he took up land from the United States government. Later he removed to Oakfield township, in 1866 went to Sparta, where he resided until 1887, and in that year took up his residence in Antrim county, near Chestonia, where he lived about three years, and there his death occurred, in 1889, while his wife passed away in 1872 at Sparta. Mr. Caukin was one of the prominent citizens of his day and locality and served in the offices of county surveyor and supervisor, and was also sent to the State Legislature. There were eight children in the family, as follows: Lucy A., of Grand Rapids; Emma, deceased, who was the wife of S. P. Petersen; Belle A., who is the wife of Albert Kocher and resides near Shelby, Mich.; Benton A., a farmer of Antrim county; Ada F., of Grand Rapids; Marvin E., of Sparta; Lavant Z.; and Cornelius H., who is connected with the Fourth National Bank. Lavant Z. Caukin attended the public schools of Sparta and the University of Michigan, where he took both the literary and law courses and was graduated in the latter in 1891. At that time he began the practice of his profession at Grand Rapids, with Myron H. Walker, over the Fourth National Bank. After six months of practice he gave up the law for banking, entering the institution named as teller, and rapidly rose through industry and fidelity to auditor, assistant cashier and cashier, and finally to vice-president, the position which he now occupies. Mr. Caukin is a member of the Park Congregational church and is fraternally affiliated with Lodge No. 34, F. & A. M. He has taken a good citizen's part in the movements which have been founded for the betterment of Grand Rapids and its institutions, and is accounted one of the sound and substantial men of the community who have had its welfare at heart while advancing their own interests. Mr. Caukin was married June 30, 1892, to Miss Fannie Daniels, daughter of John Spencer and Mary A. (Hill) Daniels, and they have two children—Howard D. and Park H. The business of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids reaches back to the year 1868, when the bank of E. P. and S. L. Fuller was established with offices on old Canal street. The Fuller bank was succeeded, in 1876, by the Graff & Dennis Bank, and Jan. 20, 1879, the latter combined with Randall & Darragh's Bank and incorporated under the state law, taking the name Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, with a capital stock of $100,000. The officers were as follows: Leonard H. Randall, president; Harry H. Dennis, vice-president; James C. Darragh, cashier. The first board of directors of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank consisted of the following: Leonard H. Randall, William Sears, James Nelson, Amasa B. Watson, Thomas M. Peck, Henry H. Dennis and Edwin Bradford. On Jan. 23, 1880, the capital stock was increased to $200,000. On Jan. 17, 1882, the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank reorganized as a national bank, taking the name The Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and increasing the capital stock to $300,000. The first officers of the Fourth National Bank were: A. B. Watson, president; A. J. Bowne, vice-president, and I. M. Weston, cashier, while the first board of directors consisted of A. B. Watson, A. J. Bowne, William Sears, E. S. Pierce, James Blair, George W. Gay, D. A. Blodgett and I. M. Weston. On May 24, 1884, A. B. Watson resigned as president and A. J. Bowne was elected to that office. William H. Anderson was given supervision of the bank as managing director, Nov. 16, 1891, and Jan. 13, 1892, was appointed cashier. On the latter date D. A. Blodgett was elected president and S. F. Aspinwall, vice-president, but Mr. Aspinwall died April 3 of the same year, and on the following May 16, George W. Gay was elected vice-president to succeed him. D. A. Blodgett desiring to retire, March 21, 1898, William H. Anderson was elected to succeed him and still continues as the executive head of the institution. The death of George W. Gay, Sept. 13, 1899, caused a vacancy in the vice-presidency, and Nov. 20, 1899, John W. Blodgett was elected vice-president to succeed him, serving in that capacity until his resignation, Nov. 27, 1916, his election as a Class B director in the Federal Reserve Bank of the district including Grand Rapids, making necessary a severance of all official connection with a member bank. Lavant Z. Caukin was appointed cashier March 6, 1906, and J. C. Bishop, assistant cashier, and Jan. 9, 1917, Mr. Caukin was advanced to the vice-presidency and Mr. Bishop to the cashier-ship, Alva T. Edison being appointed assistant cashier. When the Fourth National was incorporated in 1882, it occupied quarters at the southwest corner of Lyon and old Canal streets. It moved across the street Oct. 25, 1884, into a building especially prepared for it on the site now occupied by the new Commercial Savings Bank building. In 1902 the present location, on Campau Square, was purchased, the building was extensively remodeled, and this has been the home of the Fourth National to the present time.
-Grand Rapids and Kent County, Vol. 2 - Michigan History and Account of Their Progress from First Settlement to the Present Time (1918)
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
Biography: Lavant Z. Caukin
In tracing the careers of men who have met with success in their undertakings in any community, it will be found that each one possesses in common certain qualities, among these being included ambition, perseverance and industry. To these, as in the case of Lavant Z. Caukin, vice-president of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, are added sound judgment, unswerving integrity and a thorough appreciation of responsibility that produce a man of force, usefulness and undoubted achievement. Mr. Caukin was born in Oakfield township, Kent county, Michigan, Oct. 23, 1860, a son of Volney W. and Frances (Marvin) Caukin, natives of New York, and a grandson of Thompson I. Caukin, who was county treasurer of Kent county in 1861 and a well-known agriculturist. Volney W. Caukin came to Michigan, March 30, 1844, and first located in Grattan township, where he took up land from the United States government. Later he removed to Oakfield township, in 1866 went to Sparta, where he resided until 1887, and in that year took up his residence in Antrim county, near Chestonia, where he lived about three years, and there his death occurred, in 1889, while his wife passed away in 1872 at Sparta. Mr. Caukin was one of the prominent citizens of his day and locality and served in the offices of county surveyor and supervisor, and was also sent to the State Legislature. There were eight children in the family, as follows: Lucy A., of Grand Rapids; Emma, deceased, who was the wife of S. P. Petersen; Belle A., who is the wife of Albert Kocher and resides near Shelby, Mich.; Benton A., a farmer of Antrim county; Ada F., of Grand Rapids; Marvin E., of Sparta; Lavant Z.; and Cornelius H., who is connected with the Fourth National Bank. Lavant Z. Caukin attended the public schools of Sparta and the University of Michigan, where he took both the literary and law courses and was graduated in the latter in 1891. At that time he began the practice of his profession at Grand Rapids, with Myron H. Walker, over the Fourth National Bank. After six months of practice he gave up the law for banking, entering the institution named as teller, and rapidly rose through industry and fidelity to auditor, assistant cashier and cashier, and finally to vice-president, the position which he now occupies. Mr. Caukin is a member of the Park Congregational church and is fraternally affiliated with Lodge No. 34, F. & A. M. He has taken a good citizen's part in the movements which have been founded for the betterment of Grand Rapids and its institutions, and is accounted one of the sound and substantial men of the community who have had its welfare at heart while advancing their own interests. Mr. Caukin was married June 30, 1892, to Miss Fannie Daniels, daughter of John Spencer and Mary A. (Hill) Daniels, and they have two children—Howard D. and Park H. The business of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids reaches back to the year 1868, when the bank of E. P. and S. L. Fuller was established with offices on old Canal street. The Fuller bank was succeeded, in 1876, by the Graff & Dennis Bank, and Jan. 20, 1879, the latter combined with Randall & Darragh's Bank and incorporated under the state law, taking the name Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, with a capital stock of $100,000. The officers were as follows: Leonard H. Randall, president; Harry H. Dennis, vice-president; James C. Darragh, cashier. The first board of directors of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank consisted of the following: Leonard H. Randall, William Sears, James Nelson, Amasa B. Watson, Thomas M. Peck, Henry H. Dennis and Edwin Bradford. On Jan. 23, 1880, the capital stock was increased to $200,000. On Jan. 17, 1882, the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank reorganized as a national bank, taking the name The Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and increasing the capital stock to $300,000. The first officers of the Fourth National Bank were: A. B. Watson, president; A. J. Bowne, vice-president, and I. M. Weston, cashier, while the first board of directors consisted of A. B. Watson, A. J. Bowne, William Sears, E. S. Pierce, James Blair, George W. Gay, D. A. Blodgett and I. M. Weston. On May 24, 1884, A. B. Watson resigned as president and A. J. Bowne was elected to that office. William H. Anderson was given supervision of the bank as managing director, Nov. 16, 1891, and Jan. 13, 1892, was appointed cashier. On the latter date D. A. Blodgett was elected president and S. F. Aspinwall, vice-president, but Mr. Aspinwall died April 3 of the same year, and on the following May 16, George W. Gay was elected vice-president to succeed him. D. A. Blodgett desiring to retire, March 21, 1898, William H. Anderson was elected to succeed him and still continues as the executive head of the institution. The death of George W. Gay, Sept. 13, 1899, caused a vacancy in the vice-presidency, and Nov. 20, 1899, John W. Blodgett was elected vice-president to succeed him, serving in that capacity until his resignation, Nov. 27, 1916, his election as a Class B director in the Federal Reserve Bank of the district including Grand Rapids, making necessary a severance of all official connection with a member bank. Lavant Z. Caukin was appointed cashier March 6, 1906, and J. C. Bishop, assistant cashier, and Jan. 9, 1917, Mr. Caukin was advanced to the vice-presidency and Mr. Bishop to the cashier-ship, Alva T. Edison being appointed assistant cashier. When the Fourth National was incorporated in 1882, it occupied quarters at the southwest corner of Lyon and old Canal streets. It moved across the street Oct. 25, 1884, into a building especially prepared for it on the site now occupied by the new Commercial Savings Bank building. In 1902 the present location, on Campau Square, was purchased, the building was extensively remodeled, and this has been the home of the Fourth National to the present time.
-Grand Rapids and Kent County, Vol. 2 - Michigan History and Account of Their Progress from First Settlement to the Present Time (1918)
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
In tracing the careers of men who have met with success in their undertakings in any community, it will be found that each one possesses in common certain qualities, among these being included ambition, perseverance and industry. To these, as in the case of Lavant Z. Caukin, vice-president of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, are added sound judgment, unswerving integrity and a thorough appreciation of responsibility that produce a man of force, usefulness and undoubted achievement. Mr. Caukin was born in Oakfield township, Kent county, Michigan, Oct. 23, 1860, a son of Volney W. and Frances (Marvin) Caukin, natives of New York, and a grandson of Thompson I. Caukin, who was county treasurer of Kent county in 1861 and a well-known agriculturist. Volney W. Caukin came to Michigan, March 30, 1844, and first located in Grattan township, where he took up land from the United States government. Later he removed to Oakfield township, in 1866 went to Sparta, where he resided until 1887, and in that year took up his residence in Antrim county, near Chestonia, where he lived about three years, and there his death occurred, in 1889, while his wife passed away in 1872 at Sparta. Mr. Caukin was one of the prominent citizens of his day and locality and served in the offices of county surveyor and supervisor, and was also sent to the State Legislature. There were eight children in the family, as follows: Lucy A., of Grand Rapids; Emma, deceased, who was the wife of S. P. Petersen; Belle A., who is the wife of Albert Kocher and resides near Shelby, Mich.; Benton A., a farmer of Antrim county; Ada F., of Grand Rapids; Marvin E., of Sparta; Lavant Z.; and Cornelius H., who is connected with the Fourth National Bank. Lavant Z. Caukin attended the public schools of Sparta and the University of Michigan, where he took both the literary and law courses and was graduated in the latter in 1891. At that time he began the practice of his profession at Grand Rapids, with Myron H. Walker, over the Fourth National Bank. After six months of practice he gave up the law for banking, entering the institution named as teller, and rapidly rose through industry and fidelity to auditor, assistant cashier and cashier, and finally to vice-president, the position which he now occupies. Mr. Caukin is a member of the Park Congregational church and is fraternally affiliated with Lodge No. 34, F. & A. M. He has taken a good citizen's part in the movements which have been founded for the betterment of Grand Rapids and its institutions, and is accounted one of the sound and substantial men of the community who have had its welfare at heart while advancing their own interests. Mr. Caukin was married June 30, 1892, to Miss Fannie Daniels, daughter of John Spencer and Mary A. (Hill) Daniels, and they have two children—Howard D. and Park H. The business of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids reaches back to the year 1868, when the bank of E. P. and S. L. Fuller was established with offices on old Canal street. The Fuller bank was succeeded, in 1876, by the Graff & Dennis Bank, and Jan. 20, 1879, the latter combined with Randall & Darragh's Bank and incorporated under the state law, taking the name Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, with a capital stock of $100,000. The officers were as follows: Leonard H. Randall, president; Harry H. Dennis, vice-president; James C. Darragh, cashier. The first board of directors of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank consisted of the following: Leonard H. Randall, William Sears, James Nelson, Amasa B. Watson, Thomas M. Peck, Henry H. Dennis and Edwin Bradford. On Jan. 23, 1880, the capital stock was increased to $200,000. On Jan. 17, 1882, the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank reorganized as a national bank, taking the name The Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and increasing the capital stock to $300,000. The first officers of the Fourth National Bank were: A. B. Watson, president; A. J. Bowne, vice-president, and I. M. Weston, cashier, while the first board of directors consisted of A. B. Watson, A. J. Bowne, William Sears, E. S. Pierce, James Blair, George W. Gay, D. A. Blodgett and I. M. Weston. On May 24, 1884, A. B. Watson resigned as president and A. J. Bowne was elected to that office. William H. Anderson was given supervision of the bank as managing director, Nov. 16, 1891, and Jan. 13, 1892, was appointed cashier. On the latter date D. A. Blodgett was elected president and S. F. Aspinwall, vice-president, but Mr. Aspinwall died April 3 of the same year, and on the following May 16, George W. Gay was elected vice-president to succeed him. D. A. Blodgett desiring to retire, March 21, 1898, William H. Anderson was elected to succeed him and still continues as the executive head of the institution. The death of George W. Gay, Sept. 13, 1899, caused a vacancy in the vice-presidency, and Nov. 20, 1899, John W. Blodgett was elected vice-president to succeed him, serving in that capacity until his resignation, Nov. 27, 1916, his election as a Class B director in the Federal Reserve Bank of the district including Grand Rapids, making necessary a severance of all official connection with a member bank. Lavant Z. Caukin was appointed cashier March 6, 1906, and J. C. Bishop, assistant cashier, and Jan. 9, 1917, Mr. Caukin was advanced to the vice-presidency and Mr. Bishop to the cashier-ship, Alva T. Edison being appointed assistant cashier. When the Fourth National was incorporated in 1882, it occupied quarters at the southwest corner of Lyon and old Canal streets. It moved across the street Oct. 25, 1884, into a building especially prepared for it on the site now occupied by the new Commercial Savings Bank building. In 1902 the present location, on Campau Square, was purchased, the building was extensively remodeled, and this has been the home of the Fourth National to the present time.
-Grand Rapids and Kent County, Vol. 2 - Michigan History and Account of Their Progress from First Settlement to the Present Time (1918)
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
Gravesite Details
MONUMENT reads CAUKIN on the West Face and ALLEN on the East Face.
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