Michigan Trails through Chippewa County
John Q. Look, cashier of the “Soo” Savings Bank, is a competent officer of a popular financial institution of Sault Ste. Made. He has the honor of being a native of Michigan. for his birth occurred in
Lapeer county on the 22d of December, 1847, upon his father’s farm. He is the youngest of a family of four children, whose pa0rents were John and Charlotte (Hopkins) Look. Emigrating westward from New York, the father located in Lapeer county, where he secured land and opened up a farm, continuing its cultivation until his retirement from active business life. He spent his last days in Lowell, Michigan.
The gentleman whose name introducea this review received good school privileges, his early training, obtained in public schools of this State, being supplemented by study in Nashua, New Hampshire. He was reared upon the old homestead and aided in the labors of the farm from the age of thirteen to eighteen, becoming familiar with all the duties that devolve upon the agriculturist. He has carried on farming with crude implements and ox teams, and with the latest improved machinery. The early years of his life probably furnished just the physical training that was needed, but at the age of eighteen Mr. Look resolved no longer to follow the plow and went to Lowell, where
he secured a position in the drug store of Eaton & Hine, remaining there for twenty years. On the expiration of that extended period began his banking experience.
In the meantime Mr. Look was married. On the 6th of September, 1873, in Romulus, New York, he led to the marriage altar Miss Amanda Elaine, a daughter of James Elaine, who has been to him a faithful companion and helpmeet. They have one child, Edward S., who was edocated in Lowell and in the Grand Rapids Business College. and is now engaged in clerking in a shoe house in Grand Rapids.
Mr. Look first became connected with the banking business with the Lowell National Bsnk, serving in the capacity of book keeper in that institution for a year and a half. He then accepted a position with the firm of Charles J. Church & Son, of Lowell, Michigan, with whom he remained until coming to Sault de Ste. Marie. On the 1st of March, 1892, he became cashier of the “Soo” Savings Bank, which began business in November, 1886. It was organized under the laws of the State by William Chandler, George Kemp, Judge Joseph Steers, Otto Fowls and K. H. Mead, with a capital stock of $23,000. Its present officers are: George Kemp, president; Thomas C. Anthony, vice president; John Q. Look, cashier; and Edgar Stanley, assistant cashier. The bank stock is $50,000, its surplus is $10,000, and it has paid three semi-annual five per cent dividends in the last three years. The success of this institution within the last three years is largely due to Mr. Look, its efficient and popular cashier, who is a capable manager and an untiring worker.
In his political views Mr. Look is a Republican, and while living in Lowell served for eight years as village Recorder. Socially
he is a Knight-Templar Mason, and is Eminant Commander of Soo Commandery. He was also Master of Lowell Lodge for eight years. From, the rank of Deacon he passed through all the offices in the Grand Lodge until 1891, when he was elected Grand Master. He is a prominent and honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and embodies those principles of benevolence and charity on which the ancient order is founded. He has a wide circle of friends in this locality, and his friendship is prized most by those who know him best.
From the "Memorial Record of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan 1895"
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