Hello all, I was very lucky to come across the following on the web. However, I have been unable to find out when William died. I would dearly love a copy or transcription of his obituary. I would guess that as well-known as he was somewhere there must be a write up of his death...His second wife was younger sister to my great-great-grandfather. Here's what was written about him in 1908: THE BOOK OF DETROITERS A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of Detroit Edited by Albert Nelson Marquis Chicago A. N. Marquis & Company 1908 Copyright, 1908 by Albert Nelson Marquis JEWELL, William Franklin, president Detroit Business University; born, Oneida Co., NY, Mar. 7, 1837; son of Isaac and Sophrona (Knight) Jewell, and direct descendant of Thomas Jewell, of England, who received a grant of land at North Wallaston, Mass., 1639, and great-grandson through his mother of Gen. George Marsden, of the Colonial army; worked on farm, attended district school, and at 18 entered Wheaton College, Ill., taught school in winter for seven years and worked on farm in summer; took a course in Bryant & Stratton Business College, Chicago, 1864; married, 1st, at Elkhorn, Wis., 1860, Miss Elizabeth Ogden (deceased); 2d, Detroit, Sept. 3, 1874, Miss Margaret Brownlee. Began business career as bookkeeper for a lumbering firm at Green Bay, Wis., 1864, but soon accepted an offer to return to Chicago as teacher in the college which he had attended; having thoroughly mastered the counting house system as exemplified in actual business, he was selected by the proprietors of the college to introduce the system into their college at Detroit. Came to Detroit, 1865, associated in business interest with Bryant, Stratton & Goldsmith, in the Goldsmith College and was given entire charge of the course of study and the school room, becoming identified with the institution as teacher of commercial courses and bookkeeping; bought out the college, 1882, (founded, 1850), and later merged it with the Spencerian College under the title of the Detroit Business University, of which he has since been president and treasurer. Director Citizens' Savings Bank (chairman examining committee of stockholders for many years). Member Business Educator's Association of America, Detroit Board of Commerce. Independent in politics. Universalist (trustee of the Church of Our Father). Mason. Club: Bankers'. Recreation: Outdoor life at summer home and on farm, near Ann Arbor. Office: Detroit Business University. Residence: 59 Medbury Av. Detroit; summer, Point Du Chene, St. Clair River, Mich. Pages 250 - 253 Thanks for your time Sarah