Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Kingsley, Arthur J. 1915
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 17, 2011, 7:25 pm

The Belding Banner, Wednesday, November 10, 1915

The following clipping from the morning Oregonian sent to the Banner through 
the courtesy of Palmer Fales of Portland, Oregon, notes the untimely death of 
Arthur J. Kingsley, a former employee of the Pere Marquette railroad in this 
city and a brother of the late Luella K. Webster.  He was also agent for the 
company in Ionia and married Miss Daisy M. Anderson of Greenville.

A. J. Kingsley, president of the Manufacturers’ and Land Products Show—the 
success of which has been due largely to his genius and his efforts—died at 
his home, 580 East Fifteenth street, yesterday morning, after a brief illness 
from a complication of diseases.

While Mr. Kingsley had not been in good health for several months his 
physicians believe that his death was hastened by, if not due directly to, his 
untiring efforts on behalf of the show.  He worked with ceaseless energy in 
organizing the staff to handle the exposition and in interesting exhibitors 
throughout the state in its advantages.

Mr. Kingsley was president of the Oregon Chair company, one of Portland’s most 
important manufacturing enterprises, and was director of the Chamber of 
Commerce, in which he took an active interest.  He was prominent in all 
movements to promote the civic welfare of the community and prior to the 
formation of the present Chamber of Commerce was president of the Oregon 
Manufacturer’s Association, which was merged with the new Chamber last 
spring.  He was a hard worker in the campaign to organize the new Chamber and 
at the conclusion of the campaign was elected chairman of the industries and 
manufacturers’ bureau.

On account of his unselfish devotion to the Oregon manufacturing industry and 
his firm belief in the future progress of the state, Mr. Kingsley was a 
natural selection as president of the show which opened last week.  Since the 
work in connection with that enterprise started he has given almost his entire 
time to its affairs.  So that the exposition might be conducted at a minimum 
of cost he performed personally much of the work that otherwise might have 
been done by subordinates.

But the strain began to tell upon him, and, as early as a week ago, his 
friends urged him to take a rest.  He declared his desire of wishing to see 
the show carried to a successful conclusion.  On Monday, however, he was 
stricken with a severe attack of illness and taken to his bed.  He never 
rallied from his first attack, but sank gradually until about 3:30 yesterday 
morning when the end came.

Mr. Kingsley was born in Michigan February 25, 1873.  As a young man he was in 
the employ of the Pere Marquette railroad, later entering the employ of the 
Grand Ledge Chair company, with which institution he was connected for eight 
years.  Leaving Michigan in the summer of 1906, he came to Portland and 
organized the Oregon Chair company.  For a time the pioneering of a new line 
of endeavor so far away from the centers where buyers were used to trading met 
with great prejudice.  Later success of he business, of which Mr. Kingsley was 
president and manager from its organization, stands as a monument to his 
energy and ability.

Forced to create its own market and compete with big eastern manufactures, the 
concern that Mr. Kingsley founded has won recognition in the industrial world, 
and now is one of the leading enterprises of its kind in the west.  Its 
products go as far north as Alaska, as far south as the Mexican line and as 
far east as Omaha.

Mr. Kingsley several years ago married Miss Daisy M. Anderson, who with one 
daughter, Frances, survive him.


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