J. Boyd Pantlind
J. BOYD PANTLIND, one of the most popular hotel men in
the United States and former proprietor of the Morton and Pantlind Hotels, of
Grand Rapids, was born January 30, 1851, at Norwalk, Ohio. During the Civil war
his uncle, A. V. Pantlind, one of the famous hotel keepers of that day, took
charge of the Michigan Central Railroad eating houses at Marshall, Niles and
Jackson, Michigan. These eating houses, under the efficient management of the
senior Pantlind, became very popular, and J. Boyd, who was then hardly more than
a boy (fourteen years old), came to Michigan to assist his uncle. At this time
dining cars on railroads were unheard of, and the traveling public ate in hotels
and restaurants. Several years later A. V. Pantlind came to Grand Rapids, where
he and Farnham L. Lyon became the landlords of the Morton House. This hostelry
occupied the site of the old National Hotel, which was burned in 1872. When the
Morton House opened its doors, October 12, 1874, J. Boyd Pantlind acted as bell
boy, porter and clerk. In this manner he received an excellent training in the
art of hospitality and learned all details of the hotel business. In about 1891
J. Boyd Pantlind became sole proprietor of this hotel, through the death of his
uncle and through the purchase of Mr. Lyon’s interest in the enterprise. The
Morton House acquired an excellent reputation throughout the state because of
the excellent reputation throughout the state because of the excellence of its
food and service. It also became known as a lively social center, and many
prominent persons were guests and hosts to the friends there. Later Mr. Pantlind
assumed the management of the old Sweet Hotel, which he remodeled and renamed
the Pantlind. This hostelry also won an excellent patronage, and in 1915, after
he had agreed to manage the same, the new million-dollar Pantlind Hotel was
erected. He was also made president of the Pantlind Hotel Company, and held that
position at the time of his death. He also, for several years, operated the
Ottawa Beach Hotel, and greatly increased the patronage of that famous
institution. Mr. Pantlind was a man of wide interests and exceptional abilities.
He was a director in the Grand Rapids National Bank, the Grand Rapids Railway
and the Grand Rapids Gas and Light Company; also of the Michigan Trust Company
and the People’s Savings Bank. In recognition of his efforts in establishing
the Grand Rapids Furniture Market, which annually draws thousands of buyers from
all parts of the country, Mr. Pantlind was made a life member of the furniture
Manufacturers’ Association. He was also a director of the West Michigan State
Fair and president of the Michigan Hotel Keepers’ Association. He was a
charter member of the Grand Rapids Board of Trade and the Peninsular and Kent
Country Clubs. He was a member of the Masons, the DeWitt Clinton Consistory,
Saladin Temple and DeMolay Commandery, Knights Templar. Though he was a
consistent Republican, at no time did he take an active part in any political
campaign. He held but one public office, that of cemetery commissioner, and
resigned before the end of his term. He married, on April 14, 1880, Jessie
Louise Aldrich, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Moses V. Aldrich. Mr. Pantlind died at
his home on College avenue, S. E., December 25, 1922, leaving his widow, a
daughter, Mrs. Katherine Lockwood, and a son, Fred Z. Pantlind, who succeeded
him as manager of the Pantlind Hotel. Two sisters, Mrs. Edmund Dickey, of
Lancaster, Ohio, and Mrs. Fred Aldrich, of Grand Rapids, also survive. J. Boyd
Pantlind is mourned not only by his family but by his thousands of warm friends
in all parts of the United States and Canada. Few men have possessed a more
kindly and engaging personality than he. At the annual meeting of the Pantlind
Hotel Company the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: "The span
of human life, measured by years, has brought us again to the parting with one
of our best loved fellowmen who has passed to the protecting presence of Him
whose kingdom is everlasting, and whose dominion endureth forever. His span of
life, however, in the memory of his thousands of friends, will live on in this
community where he will ever be remembered ‘as one who loved his fellowmen’
and in this virtue his name ‘led all the rest." The memory of his deeds
of cheerfulness, kindness, helpfulness and encouragement will enshrine his name
in the hearts of all and will be a blessed heritage to his children and his
children’s children. He has left to his descendants the greatest gift that any
man can leave, an untarnished reputation and the memory of a life well lived.
We, the undersigned associated directors with J. Boyd Pantlind in his business,
extend to his bereaved widow and family our very sincere sympathy and
condolences in this day of their affliction, and beg to express to them our
appreciation of his many virtues and our very great sorrow in his death. Wm H.
Anderson, Robert Irwin, Claude, Hamilton, Dudley E. Waters, Albert Stickley,
Charles R. Sligh, Clay H. Hollister."