born Aug. 20, 1881, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Eng.
died Aug. 5, 1959, Detroit, Mich., U.S.
British-born U.S. writer.
His family immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10 years old. He became an office boy for the Detroit Free Press and later a reporter and writer of daily sentimental rhymes. These became so popular that they were syndicated throughout the country. His first book, A Heap o' Livin' (1916), became a best-seller and was followed by similar collections of optimistic verse on such subjects as home, mother, and the virtue of hard work.