FRANK COLE PINGREE Shoe manufacturer; born, Denmark, Me.; son of Jasper and Adeline (Bryant) Pingree; educated in public school of Denmark, Me.; married. Began active career in 1867 at Hopkinton, Mass., learning the trade of shoe manufacturing; came to Detroit, in April, 1868, and employ of Pingree & Smith, shoe manufacturers, as foreman and superintendent; in 1884 became a member of the firm, continuing in active management of the manufacturing department; in 1902 firm was incorporated as The Pingree Co., and he became president and general manager. Member Board of Commerce; member executive committee National Boot and Shoe Manufacturers Association; member board of trustee First Congregational Church for past twenty years. Republican. Clubs: Detroit, Old Country. Office: 102 Jefferson Av. Residence: 58 Eliot St. The Book of Detroiters by Albert Nelson Marquis 1908

FRANK COLE PINGREE The history of Detroit manufacturing and commercial development would be incomplete and unsatisfactory were there failure to make reference to Frank Cole Pingree, long identified with shoe manufacturing in this city. Moreover, his social position and his high character left their impress upon Detroit's annals, his position as a most public-spirited citizen being recognized by all who knew aught of his career. He came to Detroit in 1888 from one of tho hillside farms of New England, his birth having occurred near Denmark, Oxford county, Maine, on the 8th of September, 1848. His opportunity of acquiring an education was limited to the advantages offered by tho district schools of that period and while he was yet a young lad he went to Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where he began earning his living by serving an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, of which he gained thorough practical knowledge. While he was thus employed his brother, Hazen S. Pingree, afterward governor of the state, had come to Detroit and had established a shoe manufacturing business as senior partner of the firm of Pingree & Smith, which in tho course of years became the Pingree Shoe Company. When Frank C. Pingree had completed his apprenticeship his brother sent for him to come to Detroit, where he arrived in 1868 and at once was given employment by the line of Pingree & Smith, taking charge of the sole leather department in the factory. His capability was soon manifest and added responsibilities were given to him from time to time until he was made manager of other departments and eventually had practical supervision over the entire manufacturing interests of the firm. In 1883 C. H. Smith, the original junior partner, withdrew, although tho business was continued under the firm style of Pingree K. Smith until the death of the founder, Governor Pingree, on the 18th of June, 1901. With the retirement of Mr. Smith, Frank C. Pingree and John B. Iloworth were admitted to the partnership, so that Mr. Pingree of this review was associated in the ownership and executive control of the business from 1883 until his death more than a quarter of a century later. With the death of Governor Pingree Frank C. Pingree assumed the heaviest of the responsibilities in connection with the practical details of the business and in time he was joined by his eldest son, Everett W. Pingree, mentioned elsewhere in this work, and by Sherman L. Depew, who had married the only daughter of Governor Pingree. Frank C. Pingree entered into no other business relations save with the City Savings Bank, of which be became one of the organizers and of which he remained president until the bank failed in January, 1902. In this connection one of the local papers, at the time of his demise, said: "The complications following the bank failure first affected Mr. Pingree. At the time he suffered a nervous collapse, accompanied by a slight stroke of apoplexy, from which be never really recovered. His devotion to his work after this trouble caused his physical decline. His physicians advised him to give less time to his business and friends and to seek needed rest, but it worried him to be idle." He paid little heed to their request until finally realizing that he must drop his heavy cares for a time, he planned a trip to California for tho benefit of his health. However, his illness became so severe that It was impossible to carry out the plan and he passed away on the 2d of April, 1910. It was in 1875 that Frank C. Pingree was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Louise McKenna, (McKeon?) who survives him, as do their two sons, Everett W. and Roy E, , who are engaged in business under the name of the F. C. Pingree Sons Company. Mr. Pingree was a most consistent and faithful member of the First Congregational church and for many years was chairman of its board of trustees. lie also belonged to the Detroit Club and the Detroit Country Club and he likewise had membership in the Detroit Board of Commerce. He served for some time as chairman of the executive committee of tho National Boot & Shoe Manufacturers Association and he was most highly esteemed by his contemporaries and colleagues in trade circles as well as by those whom he met in tho social relations of life. When death culled him, Dr. Nehemiah Boynton of Brooklyn, New York, formerly of this city and an old lime friend, conducted the funeral services and the foremen of the Pingree Company were the active pallbearers. Mr. Pingree was n man who over enjoyed the highest esteem, trust and goodwill of those in his employ. They felt at his passing that they had indeed lost a friend and champion and one to whom they could always go with any grievance, knowing that full justice would be meted out to them. Mr. Pingree was a loyal supporter of the republican party and in every way a most public-spirited citizen, cooperating earnestly and heartily with every project for the public good. He commanded in unusual degree the confidence and esteem of all who knew him, fur he was a man of inflexible integrity of purpose and tolerant and kindly in every relation of life. Source: The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922; By Clarence Monroe Burton, William Stocking, Gordon K. Miller

FRANK COLE PINGREE Detroit, June 29, 1899.. A complete lock-out is in effect this afternoon at Pingree & Smith big shoe factory, which employs upward of 600 people. The only work in progress is that necessary to clean up the machines. The trouble was forced by a strike this noon of employes of the turning and welt departments. Three weeks ago the factory started new machines in the shoe=turning department, which are operated partly by boys, in place of men. The Shoemakers' Union decided that unless higher wages were paid in that department the hundred men employed in the turning and welt departments should quit today. The company announced that if these men went out the entire factory would be shut down. The employes also complain that, while the Pingree company and its employes have hitherto fixed the scale of wages for the year in May, this was not done this year. Last pay day the company notified all employes that it had discontinued the use of the union stamp. The company gave out a signed statement this afternoon to the effect that its agreements with employes cannot apply to work undertaken by new methods, which are yet in an experimental stage. It states that the benefits of the union stamp are found to be not commensurate with its inconveniences, but that the company expects to treat with its employes as formerly. Frank C. Pingree this afternoon said that reasonable time would be allowed to the strikers for consideration, but that, rather than suffer a long shut-down the firm would employ non=union men to fill the strikers places. The New York Times June 29, 1899

FRANK COLE PINGREE Detroit Mich. Feb. 27, 1903 - Frank C. Pingree, one of the Directors of the wrecked City Savings Bank, said today; "I shall either file a petition in bankruptcy or make an assignment as a result of the failure of the City Savings Bank and the losses I have incurred. I will be compelled to do this that all of my creditors may be equally protected and that the Board of Education, which has secured judgment of over $400,000 against the Directors of the bank, who were the bondsmen of Cashier Andrews, the Treasurer of the board, will not receive all I own. I will lose absolutely everything I have. All I will have left will be about $500 worth of furniture and household goods." Mr. Pingree will be the second Director of the bank driven to the wall by its failure. The New York Times February 28, 1903