USA > Michigan > Bench and bar of Michigan : a volume of history and biography > Part 29
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FRANK P. SULLIVAN, Sault Ste. Marie. Mr. Sullivan was born March 7, 1864, at Peterboro, Madison county, New York. His father, Jeremiah Sullivan, was of Irish nationality, and emigrated to America in 1828. He settled in New York State, where he still lives on a farm. His mother, Mary Sullivan, was also a native of Ireland, and came to this country in 1836. She was the mother of three children, all boys. His older brother, Andrew J., is a merchant at Great Falls, Montana, and his younger brother, Jeremiah Jr., is a farmer in New York. Frank P. Sulli- van spent his early life under the parental roof. He was a bright scholar in the district school, and at the age of seventeen he was able to take a country school and engage in teaching. He taught for four years, and for the last year of that time he was employed in Michigan. In the mean- time he attended Evans Academy at Peterboro, and prepared himself for the State Normal at Albany, which he entered in the spring of 1881 for a three years' course. Ile located in Saginaw, Michigan, in October, 1885, and became a student of the law in the office of John Hurst, a practising attorney of that city. After spending a year in reading under instruction he taught school a year for the sake of recouping his finances, and studied evenings. He finished his preparation for admission to the Bar
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with Markey & Hall, at West Branch, where he was admitted to practice . August 31, 1887. Mr. Sullivan went to the upper country in March of the following year and established himself at the "Soo." He still occupies the same office in which he first opened business in that city. John Hurst, of Saginaw, joined him, and the two became associated in a partnership which continued for several years and was finally dissolved upon the return of Mr. Hurst to Saginaw. Mr. Sullivan makes no specialty of any branch of practice, but does a general business, with conceded ability for criminal cases. He has achieved much success in that branch of professional labor. He has carried many cases to the Supreme Court, and acquitted himself well before that body. He has never been a candidate for any county office, but has served as chairman of the county and city Democratic com- mittees. He became city attorney in 1891 and acted in that capacity for two years, and was subsequently re-elected. He was nominated in the fall of 1892 by the Democrats of his district for member of the Legisla- ture, and was elected by a handsome majority. He was the only Demo- crat in either House from the Upper Peninsula. He took an active part in legislative deliberations and was one of the leaders of the minority on the floor of the House. He was on the corporation, judiciary and municipal committees. He introduced a bill making Labor Day a legal holiday, which became a law. He presented another bill revising the Constitution, which was defeated. He earnestly opposed all legislation looking to the repeal of the Miner Law, and secured the passage of an enactment of capi- tal punishment by the Lower House, which was defeated in the Senate. He served one term and declined a renomination. He resigned the office of city attorney in 1896, preferring to devote himself entirely to his own professional business. He was married June 17, 1890, to Miss Minnie H. Hall, of Saginaw. They have one child, Lucile Margaret, born in 1895. Mr. Sullivan excels as an advocate, and has remarkable power over a jury for so young a man. Hle stands well with the Court and Bar and is a popu- lar, genial gentleman.
MARTIN CROCKER, Mt. Clemens. Martin Crocker is the son of Judge Thomas Martin Crocker, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. The place of his nativity was Macomb county, and the date of his birth February 7, 1858. Before he reached a school age his father's family settled in Mt. Clemens; consequently his education was begun in the common schools of that district. After taking the entire course of the union schools he at once took up the study of law with the firm of Crocker & Hutchins.(father and brother-in-law), which he kept up with them until 1879 when he entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan. He continued his studies and attended lectures there for one year. In August 1880 he passed examination before the Circuit Court and was
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. admitted to the Bar at the age of twenty-two, a period in life which far too many young men appear to think should be devoted to sowing a bountiful crop of wild oats. Martin Crocker immediately began the prac- tice of his chosen profession. He loved his calling, and, being of a zeal- ous temperament, warm hearted and frank in his intercourse with his fellow men, he rapidly grew into their good graces. He was for four years a member of the city council, from 1881 to 1885; three years city attorney, and a member of the House of Representatives for the years 1887 and 1888. During the term of Charles A. Ward, he was special deputy collector of customs for the Port Huron district and from February 1888 to May 1889, discharged the duties of collector during the absence of his superior officer. He was elected by the voters of his district to represent them in the State Senate for the term of 1891 and 1892. Though young in years and in parliamentary practice his reputation as a skillful lawyer and hard working man had preceded him to the State capital and he was placed on several very important committees, among which were those of the judiciary, railroad and redistricting and political committees, being chairman of the latter two. He took a leading part in that unusually exciting and stormy session; he had charge of the bill which passed both houses and became a law, providing for the election of presidential electors by Congressional Districts. This law was contested in every State and Federal Court and finally declared constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States, but was repealed by the Republican Legislature which followed. He was also chairman of the committee on contested seats and the work on the celebrated " Friedlande" contest devolved largely on him. Whether or not the decision met the approval of both contestants it was at least conceded by all that the work of the committee was well and faithfully done. Being an orator of more than usual power and an ardent Democrat, he has been a conspicuous figure in every campaign in the State since 1880. He has a large practice and has been employed in many important cases in the county of late years. His practice also extends to the State Supreme Court and the United States Circuit and District Courts. Among the cases he has tried in the higher courts which may be regarded as test cases, we mention: Owen vs. Yale, pending question of dower in estate of divorced husband when alimony had been allowed: State Supreme Court, April term, 1889. Granby vs. Michigan Central railroad: State Supreme Court, March term 1895-fixing liability of the road for damages resulting to stock when the company was not at fault in reference to such stock getting on the track or right of way. Mr. Crocker formed a partnership with his father in 1889 when the latter assumed the duties of the collector of the district. In 1,893 he took Mr. Seth Wells Knight into business with him as junior partner. The last to be mentioned, but not the least important step of life taken by Mr. Crocker, was his marriage August 29, 1889, to Miss Emily Sabin, of Memphis, Michigan, daughter of Carleton Sabin, one of the carly settlers of the
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county and original owner of the village site and in his life time a leading merchant of the town. Their pleasant home is made brighter by one child, Sabin Crocker. Though not a member of the society, Mr. Crocker attends the Protestant Episcopal Church with his family. He belongs to the order of F. & A. M., Lodge No. 6, of Mt. Clemens.
SETH WELLS KNIGHT, Mt. Clemens. The subject of this sketch was born at Utica, Macomb county, Michigan, July 17, 1863. His father, Dr. Phillip A. Knight, is one of the prominent physicians of the county. His mother is Clara Ewell Knight, a descendant, on her father's side, of the family of Ewells who emigrated to this country from Scotland and settled in Massachusetts prior to the war of independence. On her mother's side, she is a descendant of the Curtis family of Massachusetts. The Knights are descendants of a Scotch family of the same name who came to this county in 1626 as members of the colony that founded Salem, Massachusetts. Dr. Knight came to Michigan in 1844 and settled in Macomb county. He attended the University of Michigan and graduated from its Medical Department in 1854, and has been engaged in the active practice of his profession ever since. Seth Wells Knight, our subject, had the same advantages of early education as other boys who resided in the large towns of the country. He graduated from the high school of Utica, his native town, in 1884 and the next year entered the Literary Depart- ment of the University of Michigan as a member of the class of 1889. In 1890, he was graduated from the Law Department of the same institution with the degree of I.L. B. and the same year was admitted to the Bar at Ann Arbor. Before leaving the high school, Mr. Knight had selected the law for his profession and his training had been with that vocation in view. Hle settled in Mt. Clemens and entered the law office Crocker & Crocker. When Judge Crocker, the head of the firm, retired to accept the position of collector of customs for the Huron District, Mr. Knight formed a partner- ship with Martin Crocker, under the firm name of Crocker & Knight, as at present. The firm has a wide and valuable practice, extending to all the State and Federal courts. The firm of Crocker & Crocker, to whose business they succeeded, was one of the oldest and best known in that section of the State and they inherited a very large clientage, which is not likely to grow less in their skillful hands. Politically Mr. Knight is a strong Democrat and takes an active interest in party politics. He is a member of the Democratic County Committee, of which his father was for many years chairman. He is an engaging talker, active and energetic in his work and does not shirk the laborious part of the calling. He is a bachelor; has one brother practising medicine with his father at Utica; another who is a prominent coffee planter of Central America.
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SEWARD L. MERRIAM, Port Huron. Mr. Merriam was born in Romeo, Macomb County, Michigan, March 18, 1862. His preparation for his life work began in the public schools of the village. Fortunately for him they were good, and when he graduated from the high school in 1880 at the age of eighteen he had a much better education than many a man at the beginning of his career who afterwards reaches the highest round on the ladder of fame. During the winter of 1880 and 'St he taught school and with the proceeds of his labor he took a two years' course in the Literary Department at the State University at Ann Arbor. Returning to his home he taught in the Romeo school for one year, study- ing law in the meantime with D. N. Lowell; was admitted to the Bar at Mt. Clemens in January, 1886. He came to Port Huron the following February and entered upon the active practice of his profession. Ilc remained alone for two years when he formed a partnership with H. W. Stevens, who had just retired from the Bench of the Circuit Court to engage in active work at the Bar. This partnership continued unbroken until 1894 and was eminently successful. In 1888 he was elected prose- cuting attorney of St. Clair county, holding the office for one term. In 1893 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for mayor of Port Huron and was elected by the largest majority ever given a nominee of that party for the office in the history of the town. He resigned in 1894 on account of failing health and went to Colorado to try the effects of the rarer atmos- phere of that high altitude. He returned to Port Huron in the fall of the same year and took up the thread of his business where he dropped it in the spring. He has a general practice in the county, State and Federal courts. One feature to which he has given special attention is that of per- sonal injury and negligence cases. He is a strong advocate and among the finest speakers of St. Clair county Bar, and there are many able men repre- sented there. He was married in July, 1888, to Miss Mattie Anderson of Port Huron and they have one child, De Witt HI., aged seven years.
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FRANK WHIPPLE, Port Huron. The subject of this sketch is a native of Vermont, born at Grafton, March 7, 1838. His early education, like that of other country boys, was obtained in the public school of his district. His only departure from the ordinary routine was that his father was his first school master. The family removed to Saratoga Springs in February, 1847, where he continued in the public and select schools, after- wards taking a two term course at Ft. Edwards (N. Y.) Institute. His carly manhood days were passed uneventfully. His father seeing oppor- tunities for bettering his condition in the growing west, determined to emigrate and, in 1856, came to Michigan, locating first at Hillsdale, where he entered a drug store as clerk. His ambition was to enter the law
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profession, but as he had to earn his own means to complete his educa- tion, he was compelled to await his time. In two years he had saved enough of his carnings to start him on the way to his goal. Before he had fully entered upon his studies the dark cloud of war swept over the country, and with a love for the flag that is a marked characteristic of all of New England's patriotic sons, he forgot his own ambition and aspirations to respond to his country's appeal for help. He enlisted as a private in Company C, First U. S. Sharpshooters, and immediately went to the front. He was joined to the army of the Potomac, and was an actor in some of the bloodiest battles the world has ever seen. He parti- cipated in the second Bull Run fight, Antietam, Malvern Hill and McClel- lan's seven days' battle, the appalling battles of the Wilderness and in the numerous other hard contests that have immortalized that army. He served for three years and four months, holding the commissary sergeant until he was promoted second lieutenant Company B, Ist Michigan Sharpshooters, and was discharged as first lieutenant of that company. Coming to St. Clair he entered the employment of Wheaton & Carleton, and by them was engaged to write a set of abstracts of St. Clair county. This was a tedious work, but he completed it. In October, 1866, he removed to Port Huron and, entering the office of A. E. Chadwick, began the study of law and in May, 1871, was admitted to the Bar. He formed a partnership with Mr. Potter, under the firm name of Whipple & Potter, which continued until 1880. Since that time he has been alone. He is and always has been held in very high esteem by his neighbors. He was special deputy collector of customs for the Huron District from 1883 to 1885. Ile was married October 27, 1869, to Miss Azzie J. Riddle, of Beloit, Wisconsin, and they have four children. Benjamin R. is the oldest, aged twenty-five; Frank B., aged twenty-three; Gail, aged twenty; and Mary 11., aged seventeen. He is a member of Charter Lodge No. 18, Knights of Pythias, and of William Sanborn Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, and served as judge-advocate of the department of Michigan in 1891. In politics he is a pronounced Republican, and one of the pillars in the councils of the party and an active worker in every campaign.
FRANK TURNER WOLCOTT, Port Huron. Mr. Wolcott was born in Perry, Wyoming county, New York, January 1, 1861. He was a son of Orson M. Wolcott and Emily Thompson. His father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and served for four years in a New York regiment during the great rebellion. Both father and mother were of New England ancestry, both families having associations with the colonial history of Maine. He attended Perry Academy, and received a certificate of scholarship from the Board of Regents of the State of New York in June, 1880. At the time he finished at Perry Academy, it was
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his intention to enter Cornell University and prepare himself for the ministry, in harmony with his father's wish. But about this time he spent one summer vacation with an uncle who was a lawyer in the city of Buffalo. While there he obtained such an insight into the study and practice of law, that he determined to make it his life work. Being a young man of energy and ambition he was not long in finding an opportunity of making such preparation for it as the times demanded. He entered the office of Stevens & Thomas, attorneys at Port Huron. In the two years that he spent with them he was quite thoroughly initiated into the art and science of law. He was admitted to the Bar July 11, 1882, and immediately opened an office in that city, and began business for himself. After the expiration of some time his professional services were retained by Atkinson & Vance, and in 1886 they took him into a partnership under the firm name of Atkinson, Vance & Wolcott. This pleasant and profitable association was broken off by the election of Mr. Vance as Circuit Judge. The firm then became Atkinson & Wolcott, and still continues under that name. Mr. Wolcott has succeeded in building up a very large general business, but makes no specialty in any particular line of practice. He was Circuit Court Com- missioner for four years, and has served two terms as city attorney. Ile takes a lively interest in the political affairs of the State, serves as chair- man of the Republican Committee for the Seventh Congressional District, and is secretary of the county committee. He was elected Judge of Probate in 1896. Judge Wolcott is considered one of the rising young lawyers of the eastern part of the State.
ANDREW J. SAWYER, Ann Arbor. Mr. Sawyer was born near Ithaca, Tompkins county, New York, in 1834. His paternal grandfather was the Rev. John Sawyer, of New York City and latterly of Western New York, a Baptist clergyman who lost his sight at the age of thirty years and afterwards won great reputation as the "blind preacher." Mr. Sawyer Traces his lineage to Sir Thomas Sawyer who was once Attorney General of England. The subject of this sketch was thrown upon his own resources at the age of fourteen years and has won his way to an enviable success by his own efforts. He began teaching when only seventeen years of age. He graduated from Starkey Seminary, Eddytown, New York, at the age of twenty-two, and was classed among the leading educators of the commu- nity. He came to Michigan in 1857 and taught school until 1860, his last labors in that field being in the capacity of principal of the union school at Mason. While teaching he read law with Hon. Il. L. Henderson, of Mason, and later with Hon. O. M. Barnes, now of Lansing, and was admitted to the Bar in 1860. Forming a co-partnership with J. T. Honey, he opened a law office in Chelsea in the winter of 1860-61. This part- pership was terminated in the spring of 1861 by the removal of Mr. Honey to Dexter. Mr. Sawyer continued to practise in Chelsea until 1873 when
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he removed to Ann Arbor and formed a partnership in the practice of the law with the late Judge Lawrence. After a year's partnership the Judge retired from practice because of the infirmities of advancing age. Mr. Sawyer continued the business of the firm in his individual name. In 1879 he formed a partnership with Jerome C. Knowlton under the firm name of Sawyer & Knowlton. This partnership continued for eleven years and was only dissolved upon Mr. Knowlton's being appointed Professor in the Law Department of the University of Michigan, since which time Mr. Sawyer has continued in the practice of his profession and has been iden- tified in all the important litigation arising in his district, having achieved a success as a trial lawyer reached but by few. In the case of North vs. Johnson, reported in the 59 Michigan, in speaking of the efforts of Mr. Sawyer, the Court said: "And it is a satisfaction for us to know that she has been fortunate enough in the end to secure the aid of counsel whose ability and integrity have not failed her, and, knowing their client's rights, will faithfully see that they are not imperiled but enforced and pro- tected." Mr. Sawyer's greatests effort at the Bar was in the closing argu- ment of the Hand murder trial. So clear and forcible was his description of the manner in which the crime had been committed that the daughter of the deceased who had been in attendance during the entire trial fainted and was unable afterwards to appear in court. Mr. Sawyer has always taken an active part in politics. Hle cast his first vote for John C. Fre- mont and has always continued a member of the Republican party. Ile was a member of the Republican Committee from 1862 to 1874 and chair- man of that committee from 1874 to 1880. He was elected a member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1876 and again in 1878 and his legislative career was brilliantly successful, being recognized as leader of both Houses. He was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a mem-
ber of several other important committees. lle made the nominating speech for Hon. Thomas W. Ferry for United States Senator in 1877, and rendered a similar service for Hon. Zachariah Chandler in 1879. He intro- duced the first measure which resulted in the establishment of the girls' reformatory at Adrian and was the author of many other important bills which grew into law. Ile was again nominated and elected member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1896, which met January 6th, 1897. Mr. Sawyer boasts that more students have been prepared for the profession in his office than in any other office in the State. He still commands the largest practice in his part of the State, is endowed by nature with a shrewd business sense, has availed himself of profitable invest- ments and is master of a very comfortable fortune .. He married Miss Lucy A. Skinner, of Corning, New York, after a romantic courtship of ten years. They are the parents of five sons, three of whom are now living. They dwell in a beautiful home in one of the most delightful quarters in the "Athens of the West," and are intimately associated with the Methodist Episcopal church.
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GEORGE HOGLE, Pontiac. Oakland is one of Michigan's very best counties and the largest in the Southern Peninsula except Presque Isle. Its twenty-five townships form a perfect square and fifty-two odd thousand people dwell within its borders. Eligibly situated, with a landscape whose surpassing beauty is set off with clear lakes and water courses, flourishing villages and well kept farms; surrounded by an agricultural belt whose remarkable fertility is matched by the richness of its own soil, it abounds in the elements and advantages which contribute to the morality and pros- perity of a rich and busy people of American antecedents and proclivities. Pontiac, the county seat, is one of the most progressive cities of the Wolverine State. It has never had a boom; it has never stood still; it has never retrograded. Its growth has been substantial and uninterrupted. In the county of Oakland and township of Novi, George Hogle first saw the light September 17, 1861. His ancestors were of the sturdy stock that settled New York. His parents came to Michigan in 1833. His early education was obtained in a district school. At the age of sixteen he left home to earn a livelihood, working for several years as a farm hand, living economically and spending his spare hours in study. In 1880 he entered the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, where he remained three years pur- suing the Latin and German course of study. He was known there as an industrious and thorough student, was well liked by his fellows and always possessed the confidence and esteem of his teachers. After his study at the Normal he taught six terms of district school in a manner satisfactory to the patrons. One important qualification not always possessed by the teacher was paramount in him, viz., heart power, without which teaching in its highest and best sense is impossible; it is the influence of character. In 1887 Mr. Hogle was married to Miss Madge, daughter of Charles M. Wright, of Novi. Four children have come to make happy the home of the Hogles. He was elected township clerk of Novi in 1885-7-8 and 1893-4. In. 1891 he was elected justice of the peace, an office which he now holds. In 1890 he began the study of law under the direction of William C. Sprague, of Detroit, and was admitted to the Bar of the State in 1892. Mr. Hogle is undeniably a student in no unmeaning sense of the term. He studies the law continuously. When not engaged in outside business he is found at his office with his books, making preparation so as to be ready for any call that may be made upon him for counsel or the management of a case. He was a candidate for Circuit Court Commis- sioner, wanting only eighty-five votes of election ; was renominated without opposition in 1894 and elected by a majority of eleven hundred. . He was re-elected in November, 1896. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and cannot be said to have inherited his politics, as his worthy father is a Democrat. Ile is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Hogle is a young man of excellent character, stands well in his profession, is level-headed, industrious and full of promise. He is modest in his aspirations but keeps
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