William F. Harrah
November 12, 1871-April 16, 1959
The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, April 17, 1959, page 1, col. 7-8
W.F. Harrah Dies
at the Age of 87
William F. Harrah, 87, co-founder and honorary chairman of the board of National-Standard Co., died at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at his Berrien Crest home on Hance Road west of Niles. He had been in failing health several months.
A native of Brookfield, Mo., Mr. Harrah came to Niles in 1905 and two years later founded a company which later was consolidated with another firm as National-Standard Co. He has served the company as president, chairman and honorary Chairman since 19 . . .[illegible]. . .with numerous industries in the Midwest and financial institutions in the Niles area.
Friends may call after 5 p.m. Saturday at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home. Calling hours also will be observed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday at the First Presbyterian Church.
Services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Monday at the church by the Rev. John Maclachlan, pastor. Interment will be in the mausoleum at Silverbrook Cemetery.
Mr. Harrah is survived by his widow, the former Marie Even; a son, Clayton C. “Duke” Harrah of Niles and two grandchildren.
W.F. Harrah was born Nov. 12, 1871 at Brookfield, Mo., the son of the Rev. Charles C. and Sarah Ann Harrah. He was married to Marie E. Even Feb. 19, 1894 in Peoria, Ill.
After moving to Niles he served six years on the City Council and during World War I was appointed to the Michigan State War Board by Gen. Albert Springer. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, 32rd Degree Mason, Shriner and member of the Niles Rotary Club, Orchard Hills Country club and the Union League Club of Chicago.
Mr. Harrah received his education in Galva and Peoria, Ill., high schools, Brown's Business College in Peoria and at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, where he was a student two years.
In the summer of 1890 he began his business career as an office boy for Rouse Hazard & Co., a bicycle manufacturer in Peoria. After leaving Grinnell College in 1892, he returned the firm for one year and then became treasurer of the A.C. Mount brook Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, for two years. He rejoined Rouse Hazard in Peoria as manager of the offices and foreign department and in 1897 became vice president of the Harrah & Stewart Marufacturing Co., at Des Moines, manufacturers of woodenware and bicycle supplies.
Mr. Harrah moved to Niles in 1905 and was one of the organizers of the National Wire Cloth Co., manufacturers of fly screen. He was secretary of this company until 1911 when with was consolidated with five other companies as American Wire Fabrics Co. He was director of the new organization and served as the Niles Division manager and vice president until 1922 when the business was sold to new York financial interests.
In the meantime, Mr. Harrah extended his business enterprises as founder and treasurer of the National Cable & Manufacturing Co. at Niles in 1907. This company subsequently purchased the jack and railroad track tool department of the Cook Standard Tool Co., of Kalamazoo and the two firms where re-organized as the National-Standard Co.
Mr. Harrah served National-Standard as president from 1913 to 1934 when he became chairman of the board. He was chairman from 1934 to 1942 when he was made honorary chairman.
National-Standard today has plants at Niles, Akron, Ohio; Los Angeles; Clifton, N.J.; Worcester, Mass.; Dixon, Ill.; Jersey City, N.J.; Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and (Continues on Page 2) near Birmingham, England. The company manufactures wire for Automobile tires and other industrial use, spring steel, perforated metal and wire screen.
During his most active years, Mr. Harrah served as president of the Dry-Kold Refrigerator Co. of Niles; president of the Campbell Transmission Co. of Buchanan; president of the State Bank of Niles; chairman of the finance committee for construction of the Four Flags hotel, a trustee of Grinnell College, director of the Niles Finance Co., chairman of the Board of the National Discount Corp. of South Bend and director of the National Assn. of Manufacturers.