Businessman, Lumber Baron. Charles Wilson Kotcher of Detroit, Michigan had the distinction of being the largest individual operator in lumber retail in the United States of America. Mr. Kotcher was of German ancestry two generations removed and was born in Detroit on July 2, 1862. Charles received his education in the Detroit public schools and at the age of fifteen, he began his life work as general utility boy in a drug store in Detroit, from which business he retired nine years later after having risen to the position of manager of the store. In 1886 he entered the retail lumber trade, taking a business established in 1864 by Japes & Dietrich, who had been succeeded by Larkin & Wallich. Mr. Kotcher bought the Wallich interest and soon after acquired the entire business. At that time Detroit was a city of around 150,000 inhabitants, and Mr. Kotcher's lumber transactions amounted to $40,000 a year. The growth of Mr. Kotcher's business in Detroit had been steady from the time he took hold of it and he gradually increased its operations. By 1903 he handled a total output of 60,000,000 feet of lumber and operated a business which amounted to $1,240,000 a year.
At the foot of Adair Street, in Detroit, Mr. Kotcher had a lumber storage dock on which he piled and kept constant stock of 20,000,000 feet of lumber. The dock had a water frontage of 4,500 feet. From this storage yard, a large portion of his contracts was delivered direct. Within a mile of the business center of Detroit, on Gratiot Avenue, he had a retail yard which covered the space of three city blocks. The area was fenced in and covered with substantial warehouses and storage sheds, from which his stock and miscellaneous small items were delivered. At this location, he kept more than 7,000,000 feet of lumber. At the Gratiot Avenue plant, he had a well equipped planing mill, sash, door and blind factory.
Charles owned steam carriers as well as tow barges from which most of his lumber was received by water. Mr. Kotcher was a Mason and also President of the Detroit Retail Lumber Dealers' Association and a director of the Michigan Retail Lumber Dealers' Association.
Charles was fond of yachting and owned several yachts. His yachts were known to be among the most beautiful that sailed the Great Lakes. A man fond of travel, he arranged his business so that a part of each year could be spent for rest and recreation. He was a total abstainer from intoxicants and tobacco. Charles was known for his good nature and would greet a friend or stranger alike with a hearty grasp of the hand and a welcoming smile. The Charles Kotcher Residence in the Arden Park-East Boston Boulevard District, constructed in 1914 is still standing today.
Biography by Michael Hojnacki
Source: American lumbermen-The Personal History And Public And Business Achievements Of One Hundred Eminent Lumbermen Of The United States, Volume 1. 1905.
At the foot of Adair Street, in Detroit, Mr. Kotcher had a lumber storage dock on which he piled and kept constant stock of 20,000,000 feet of lumber. The dock had a water frontage of 4,500 feet. From this storage yard, a large portion of his contracts was delivered direct. Within a mile of the business center of Detroit, on Gratiot Avenue, he had a retail yard which covered the space of three city blocks. The area was fenced in and covered with substantial warehouses and storage sheds, from which his stock and miscellaneous small items were delivered. At this location, he kept more than 7,000,000 feet of lumber. At the Gratiot Avenue plant, he had a well equipped planing mill, sash, door and blind factory.
Charles owned steam carriers as well as tow barges from which most of his lumber was received by water. Mr. Kotcher was a Mason and also President of the Detroit Retail Lumber Dealers' Association and a director of the Michigan Retail Lumber Dealers' Association.
Charles was fond of yachting and owned several yachts. His yachts were known to be among the most beautiful that sailed the Great Lakes. A man fond of travel, he arranged his business so that a part of each year could be spent for rest and recreation. He was a total abstainer from intoxicants and tobacco. Charles was known for his good nature and would greet a friend or stranger alike with a hearty grasp of the hand and a welcoming smile. The Charles Kotcher Residence in the Arden Park-East Boston Boulevard District, constructed in 1914 is still standing today.
Biography by Michael Hojnacki
Source: American lumbermen-The Personal History And Public And Business Achievements Of One Hundred Eminent Lumbermen Of The United States, Volume 1. 1905.
Businessman, Lumber Baron. Charles Wilson Kotcher of Detroit, Michigan had the distinction of being the largest individual operator in lumber retail in the United States of America. Mr. Kotcher was of German ancestry two generations removed and was born in Detroit on July 2, 1862. Charles received his education in the Detroit public schools and at the age of fifteen, he began his life work as general utility boy in a drug store in Detroit, from which business he retired nine years later after having risen to the position of manager of the store. In 1886 he entered the retail lumber trade, taking a business established in 1864 by Japes & Dietrich, who had been succeeded by Larkin & Wallich. Mr. Kotcher bought the Wallich interest and soon after acquired the entire business. At that time Detroit was a city of around 150,000 inhabitants, and Mr. Kotcher's lumber transactions amounted to $40,000 a year. The growth of Mr. Kotcher's business in Detroit had been steady from the time he took hold of it and he gradually increased its operations. By 1903 he handled a total output of 60,000,000 feet of lumber and operated a business which amounted to $1,240,000 a year.
At the foot of Adair Street, in Detroit, Mr. Kotcher had a lumber storage dock on which he piled and kept constant stock of 20,000,000 feet of lumber. The dock had a water frontage of 4,500 feet. From this storage yard, a large portion of his contracts was delivered direct. Within a mile of the business center of Detroit, on Gratiot Avenue, he had a retail yard which covered the space of three city blocks. The area was fenced in and covered with substantial warehouses and storage sheds, from which his stock and miscellaneous small items were delivered. At this location, he kept more than 7,000,000 feet of lumber. At the Gratiot Avenue plant, he had a well equipped planing mill, sash, door and blind factory.
Charles owned steam carriers as well as tow barges from which most of his lumber was received by water. Mr. Kotcher was a Mason and also President of the Detroit Retail Lumber Dealers' Association and a director of the Michigan Retail Lumber Dealers' Association.
Charles was fond of yachting and owned several yachts. His yachts were known to be among the most beautiful that sailed the Great Lakes. A man fond of travel, he arranged his business so that a part of each year could be spent for rest and recreation. He was a total abstainer from intoxicants and tobacco. Charles was known for his good nature and would greet a friend or stranger alike with a hearty grasp of the hand and a welcoming smile. The Charles Kotcher Residence in the Arden Park-East Boston Boulevard District, constructed in 1914 is still standing today.
Biography by Michael Hojnacki
Source: American lumbermen-The Personal History And Public And Business Achievements Of One Hundred Eminent Lumbermen Of The United States, Volume 1. 1905.
At the foot of Adair Street, in Detroit, Mr. Kotcher had a lumber storage dock on which he piled and kept constant stock of 20,000,000 feet of lumber. The dock had a water frontage of 4,500 feet. From this storage yard, a large portion of his contracts was delivered direct. Within a mile of the business center of Detroit, on Gratiot Avenue, he had a retail yard which covered the space of three city blocks. The area was fenced in and covered with substantial warehouses and storage sheds, from which his stock and miscellaneous small items were delivered. At this location, he kept more than 7,000,000 feet of lumber. At the Gratiot Avenue plant, he had a well equipped planing mill, sash, door and blind factory.
Charles owned steam carriers as well as tow barges from which most of his lumber was received by water. Mr. Kotcher was a Mason and also President of the Detroit Retail Lumber Dealers' Association and a director of the Michigan Retail Lumber Dealers' Association.
Charles was fond of yachting and owned several yachts. His yachts were known to be among the most beautiful that sailed the Great Lakes. A man fond of travel, he arranged his business so that a part of each year could be spent for rest and recreation. He was a total abstainer from intoxicants and tobacco. Charles was known for his good nature and would greet a friend or stranger alike with a hearty grasp of the hand and a welcoming smile. The Charles Kotcher Residence in the Arden Park-East Boston Boulevard District, constructed in 1914 is still standing today.
Biography by Michael Hojnacki
Source: American lumbermen-The Personal History And Public And Business Achievements Of One Hundred Eminent Lumbermen Of The United States, Volume 1. 1905.
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