USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I > Part 61
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Wesley W. Hyde was born in McComb County, Michigan, in 1853. With a common school education received at Rockford, where
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he also studied law, he came to Grand Rapids in 1875 and entered the county clerk's office. He was appointed county clerk in 1876, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He took an active interest in public affairs, serving as assistant United States attorney from 1880 to 1885. He was a member of the State board of law examiners for fourteen years. For five years he was a member of the commission on uni- form legislation for Michigan. He was in ill health for several years prior to his death, which occurred Dec. 18, 1917.
Robert M. Montgomery was born in Eaton Rapids, Mich., May 12, 1849. Until eighteen years of age he attended the public schools of his native town, although he had begun teaching during the win- ter terms, at the early age of sixteen and continued until twenty-one. He began the study of law in the office of F. J. Russell when nineteen years of age and remained with him until he attained his majority. He was admitted to the bar in July, 1870, and immediately entered upon the practice of law in Pentwater, where he remained until 1877. He then removed to Grand Rapids and resided there until the law required his residence in Lansing as a justice of the Supreme Court. While a resident of Pentwater he was prosecuting attorney of Oceana County for two terms. After his removal to Grand Rapids he was appointed assistant United States district attorney, a position which he held until September, 1881. In the April election of that year he was chosen judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and was after- ward re-elected for a second term. In 1888 he resigned the judicial office and resumed private practice in Grand Rapids as a member of the firm of Montgomery & Bundy. He continued as a member of that firm until his assumption of the duties of judge of the Supreme Court, to which he was elected in the Spring of 1891. He was re- elected in 1901, and occupied the position until April, 1910, when he resigned to accept the appointment as presiding judge of the Federal Court of Customs Appeals, at Washington, D. C. He still occupies that position.
Leonard A. Ward was born in Ada township, Kent County, May 13, 1854. He was educated in the common and village schools of Kent County and taught country schools for a few terms, during which time he read law. He also studied in the office of Judge Par- rish and was admitted in 1878. Almost immediately he commenced practice for himself. Early in 1884 he formed a partnership with his brother, Charles E. Ward, under the firm name of Ward & Ward, and this association continued until the death of Leonard A. Ward, Sept. 8, 1892.
Charles Chandler was born at Clinton, Mich., April 16, 1838. He worked on the farm, attending the common schools until eighteen years of age, and in the fall of 1859 entered the sophomore class at the University of Michigan, in which he graduated, in 1862, with the degree of A. B., and subsequently received from the same institution the degree of A. M. After teaching one year he was appointed su- perintendent of the union schools at Grand Haven, Mich., where he taught two years. In 1865 he resigned this position to accept a simi- lar one at Hastings, where he remained one year and then became principal of the grammar schools at Grand Rapids in 1866. He held this position until 1877, when he resigned to take up the study of law
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at Ann Arbor University, in which he graduated with the degree of LL. B., in 1879. He then entered the law office of J. C. Fitzgerald, at Grand Rapids, where he remained until 1893, when he opened an office and started in business for himself. Mr. Chandler's death oc- curred very suddenly Jan. 9, 1905, while questioning a witness in the probate court, his relatives being unable to reach his side before he had expired.
McGeorge Bundy was born at Oxford, N. Y., in 1855, and his early schooling was obtained in the public schools of that place. After finishing his high school education he entered Amherst College, in which he was graduated, in 1876. Then followed a period of study in his father's office. Upon the completion of his studies with his father McGeorge was admitted to practice at Albany, in 1878. He was readmitted to practice at Saratoga, in 1879. He next entered the ser- vice of the Federal government, going to Havre, France, as a member of the diplomatic corps. He spent one year in France and then re- signed to enter the practice of law in his own country. He came directly from his French post to Grand Rapids, arriving in this city and opening a low office with Clark H. Gleason as partner, in 1881. This partnership continued until 1888, when it was dissolved, and he followed his profession without a partner until the following year, when he formed a partnership with Judge R. M. Montgomery, when the latter retired from the local circuit bench. This firm lasted until Judge Montgomery assumed the Supreme bench, Jan. 1, 1892. Im- mediately Mr. Bundy entered a partnership with Philip H. Travis, and later Benjamin P. Merrick was taken into the firm, which con- tinued under the name of Bundy, Travis & Merrick until Mr. Bundy's death, Nov. 7, 1911.
Maurice M. Houseman was born in Grand Rapids, Nov. 17, 1859, and had resided here almost continuously to the time of his death, June 23, 1903. He was educated in the public schools of this city and was graduated in the high school with the class of 1877. He took the literary and law course at the University of Michigan, graduating with the class of 1881. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession here, which profession he followed to the time of his final illness, though being identified with other business enterprises. As soon as he was admitted he was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney. He was at different times a member of the law firms of Burlingame & Houseman and Rutherford & Houseman. He moved to Chicago, in March, 1896, and practiced there for a number of years, returning to this city in the Spring of 1902.
Arthur R. Rood was born in Lapeer county, Michigan, Sept. 27, 1858. He worked on a farm and attended district school until thir- teen years old, when he entered the Lapeer High School, in which he was graduated in 1876. The same year he entered the literary department of the Michigan university and was graduated in 1881. In his college course he spent one year in teaching. The year after graduation he was superintendent of schools at Saline, and at the same time studied law. He was admitted to the bar in the Fall of 1882 and immediately entered the law department of the university, in which he was graduated the next year. He located in Grand Rapids and for something more than a year acted as clerk in various
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law offices and then commenced business for himself. He practiced alone until 1893, when he formed a partnership with Will E. Ryan, which continued until 1897, when Mr. Ryan was succeeded by A. C. Hindman. In the Spring of 1898 Mr. Rood was nominated for mayor, but was defeated. In 1902 he was again nominated and conditions were such that his election was assured, but the day he was nominated he was taken ill and three days before election he died.
Niram A. Fletcher was born at Oakland, Brant county, Ontario, Feb. 13, 1850. In 1868 and 1869 he taught school near Hamilton, Ontario. He came to Grand Rapids, in 1870, and in 1871 he began the study of law with Taggart & Simonds. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 and continued in the practice until his death, Aug. 15, 1899, at that time being the head of the firm of Fletcher & Wanty. He was elected to the legislature, in 1882, but was not a candidate for re-election, and this was the only political office he ever sought. For twenty years he held a prominent place in legal, banking, and social circles in the city of Grand Rapids.
Charles M. Wilson was born in Ionia, Oct. 10, 1858, and came to Grand Rapids in 1883, following his graduation in the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan. A life-long Democrat, he was honored twice by his party as its nominee for a place on the Michi- gan Supreme Court bench. In April, 1917, he led his ticket by sev- eral thousand votes, running far ahead of his opponent in his home city, but losing out in the State. For two years he served as a mem- ber of the Board of State Bar Examiners, under an appointment by former Governor Ferris. Mr. Wilson died, June 20, 1917.
Nathan P. Allen was born in New York State, but removed with his parents to Macomb county, Michigan, when a child. At the age of eighteen he tired of the life on the farm with his parents and came to Grand Rapids, working in one of its pioneer saw-mills. Later he removed to Fenton, where he took up the carpenter's trade, becoming a skilled artisan, and later started a store. But some time afterward he returned to Grand Rapids and as a contractor built some of the city's first big buildings. Having studied law, in 1873 he abandoned his trade and was admitted to the bar. Soon after taking up the practice of his profession he entered the law firm of Gray, Kutts & Hyde. Mr. Kutts was later elected prosecuting attorney on the Green- back ticket, and Mr. Allen and George W. Thompson were appointed assistants and did the brunt of the work. Mr. Allen practiced for some time in Chicago and there laid the foundation of his reputation as a criminal lawyer. He died, Aug. 19, 1914.
William H. Haggerty was born in Clay Banks, Oceana county, Michigan, March 19, 1854. He worked on the farm and attended and taught country schools until he reached his majority, when he entered and worked his way through Hillsdale College, in which he was grad- uated in 1881. He then taught school in academies in New York and in the high schools of Oceana county until 1885, during which time he read law. In 1885 he entered the law department of the State university and was graduated in 1886, when he at once located in Grand Rapids, where he lived and practiced law until his death, March 30, 1904. In 1888 he formed a partnership with Dwight Goss, which continued until 1892. In 1891 he was elected judge of the police
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court to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Judge Holmes, and at the close of his term he was re-elected. In 1896 he resumed private practice; but in 1900 he was again elected judge of the police court and held the office at the time of his death.
Allen C. Adsit was born in Rutland, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1837. He was brought up on the farm and secured his early education in the district school. He later attended Fairfield Seminary, at Fairfield, N. Y., and the Jefferson County Institute at Watertown, N. Y. He studied law at Watertown during the years 1857 to 1859 and com- menced practicing the profession in Adams, N. Y., in 1860. In 1861, when the war for the Union came on, he enlisted as a private in the Forty-fourth New York infantry. He served in the Army of the Potomac and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. At the close of the war he came to Michigan and settled in Spring Lake, Ottawa county. In the time of his residence there he served as super- visor of the village and was elected and served as a representative in the State legislature for the term 1871-72. In 1874 he was elected prosecuting attorney for Ottawa county and held that office until 1877, when he moved to Grand Rapids. In 1886 he was appointed assistant United States attorney for the Western District of Michi- gan and held that position until 1890. In 1887 he was a candidate for circuit judge on the Democratic ticket. For the unexpired term of Marsden C. Burch, Mr. Adsit was elected to the bench of the Seventeenth judicial circuit, in 1890. His record on the bench was approved and in 1893 he was re-elected for a term of six years. He retired from the bench, Jan. 1, 1900, and then continued in the prac- tice until his death, Jan. 3, 1912.
Hiram N. Averill was born at Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1844. He came to Allegan, Mich., in 1852, read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. He came to Grand Rapids in 1888, and practiced here until about 1911.
John H. Tatem was born in Rhode Island, in 1833. He was educated in the common schools of that State and later entered the law department of the University of Michigan, in which he graduated in 1864. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Adrian, Mich., where he lived for the next seven years. He then moved to Greenville, Mich., where he 'lived for the next seventeen years, at the same time practicing in the Grand Rapids courts, and finally he moved here in 1888, residing here until his death, Jan. 6, 1910.
Albert Crane was born in Penn Yan, N. Y., in 1841. He came to Michigan and graduated in the high school at Ypsilanti, in 1860; studied law there for a time and entered Ann Arbor university, from which he was admitted to the bar, in 1869. He commenced practice at Ypsilanti, in 1882 went to Detroit, and in 1888 came to Grand Rapids, where he remained in practice until about 1911, when he re- moved to Los Angeles, Cal.
Will E. Ryan was born in Adams, Mass., Nov. 18, 1867. He graduated in the University of Michigan, in 1889, and then practiced law in Allegan, Mich., until April, 1890, when he came to Grand Rapids, and he practiced here until about 1913.
James D. Malcolm was born, Dec. 20, 1866, in Cascade township, Kent county, Michigan. He studied law and was admitted to the
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bar in November, 1890, and was assistant prosecuting attorney from 1890 to 1892. He practiced in Grand Rapids until about 1907.
Andrew W. Johnston was born in Scotland, Feb. 6, 1849. He attended high school at Edinburgh and Edinburgh university. He was admitted to the bar in Grand Rapids and practiced here until his death, which occurred Dec. 12, 1913.
James J. Danhof was born, Feb. 17, 1858, at Grand Haven, Mich. He graduated in the Michigan university, in 1893, was admitted, and came to Grand Rapids the same year. He practiced here until about 1912.
Howard A. Thornton was born on a farm near Lawton, Mich., Nov. 9, 1872. He moved to Otsego when a boy and there received his early schooling. He went from Otsego to the University of Mich- igan, where he was graduated in 1891. Leaving Ann Arbor, he en- tered the law offices of Judge Sherwood, at Kalamazoo, where he remained until admitted to the bar, at the age of twenty-one years. Almost immediately thereafter he moved to Grand Rapids and main- tained his residence here until his death, which occurred March 12, 1914. He was first associated with M. L. Dunham, then with Judge William J. Stuart, later with Wesley W. Hyde, then with Roger I. Wykes, and during the last year of his life he practiced independently. At different times his office associates had been Wesley W. Hyde, J. Edward Earle, Raymond W. Starr, and Glenwood C. Fuller.
James R. Wylie was born on a farm near Martin, Allegan county, in 1849. He remained in that locality until twenty-six years of age, when, after a try in the mercantile world, he entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan. He was graduated, in 1878, in the class with Judge George P. Wanty. He came to Grand Rapids then and began the practice of his profession in the firm of Williams & Wylie. In 1882 he went to Petoskey and entered the banking busi- ness with his brother-in-law, William L. Curtis, but returned to Grand Rapids, in 1893, and entered the legal firm of Clapperton & Wylie. In 1898 he left the legal field and became cashier of the National City Bank, and he remained interested in the banking business until his death, June 30, 1915.
George P. Wanty was born, March 12, 1856, at Ann Arbor, Mich., and his primary and academic education was received in the common and high schools of that city. At an early age he sought employment and was engaged first as clerk in a bank, of which Judge Cooley was a director, at Ann Arbor, and later he was bookkeeper for an iron manufacturing company at Bay City. At length his savings enabled him to take up the desired course of study, and he was grad- uated, in 1878, in the law department of the University of Michigan, entering at once upon the practice at Grand Rapids. He was first associated in the practice with Col. Thaddeus Foote, and then with Fred A. Maynard, and in 1883 a partnership was formed with Niram A. Fletcher, which continued until Mr. Wanty's appointment to the bench. He declined all political offices, but in 1900 he accepted the appointment of United States Judge of the Western District of Michi- gan and occupied this position until his death, July 9, 1906.
J. Byron Judkins was born at Coldwater, Ohio, and received his early education in the schools of Celina, Ohio, and in Liber College,
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Indiana. He began his study of law with the firm of Nottingham & Murdock, in Big Rapids, and was admitted to the bar in 1874. He was appointed circuit judge of the Nineteenth judicial district to fill a vacancy, in March, 1880, and was elected without opposition to fill the unexpired term, in November of the same year. In all he served fourteen years as judge. He came to Grand Rapids, in January, 1894, when he joined the law firm of McGarry, Mcknight & Judkins. A year later he joined the firm of Sweet, Perkins & Judkins, and in 1907 became a partner in the firm of Perkins & Judkins. This partnership continued until 1900, when Mr. Perkins became circuit judge, and Mr. Judkins continued the practice of his profession alone from that time until his death, April 23, 1915.
Orley C. Granger was born in Webster, N. Y., April 17, 1874, He came to Michigan and studied law in the offices of Turner & Car- roll, at Grand Rapids, and was admitted, April 17, 1895. He was elected justice of the peace, April 4, 1904, for four years, and soon after the close of his term removed to New York City.
Clyde J. Holmes was born at Marshall, Mich., Sept. 14, 1872. He came to Grand Rapids, in 1876, was educated in the common schools and at Albion College; studied law and was admitted, June 13, 1895. In 1898 and 1899 he was connected with the law department of the Railroad commissioner at Lansing. He then practiced his pro- fession in Grand Rapids until about 1914, when he removed to Jackson.
Glenn W. Holmes was born in Marshall, Mich., Nov. 29, 1869, and came to Grand Rapids, in 1874. After being graduated in the Grand Rapids High School, in 1887, he attended the University of Michigan and was admitted to the bar, in 1895. For a number of years he was connected with the Grand Rapids postoffice as registry clerk and finally superintendent of mails. In 1906 he left the post- office and began the practice of law, associating himself with his father, Frank G., and brother, Clyde Holmes. He died, May 10, 1913.
Walter W. Drew was born in Williston, Mich., Sept. 13, 1873. He was educated in the schools of Grand Rapids and the University of Michigan, graduating in the literary department of that institution, in 1894, and in the law department in 1896. He then practiced in Grand Rapids until about 1909, when he removed to New York City.
Ernest L. Bullen was born in Aurelius township, Ingham county, Michigan, March 10, 1868. He was reared on a farm, attended the Mason High School and the Agricultural College at Lansing, and was graduated in the law department of the Michigan university, in 1896. He was admitted to the bar in 1895, and commenced practice in Grand Rapids, in 1906, remaining so engaged here until about 1907.
Henry M. Wallace was born at Hartland, Livingston county, Michigan. He graduated in the University of Michigan, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1896, and practiced in Grand Rapids until about 1907.
Sylvester W. Barker was born at Syracuse, N. Y., Dec. 24, 1870. He graduated in the law department of the University of Michigan, in 1893, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Grand Rapids from 1897 until about 1907, when he removed to Seattle, Wash.
Norris J. Brown was born in Granby, Oswego county, New York, April 21, 1852. He came to Michigan with his parents, in 1855. He
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attended the common schools and graduated in the Portland High School, in 1871, when he commenced teaching school and studied law in the meantime. He was admitted to the bar in 1873, at Ionia, and commenced practice. In 1888 he was elected to the State legislature, and in 1890 removed to Muskegon, where he was city attorney for one year. In January, 1897, he came to Grand Rapids and practiced here until about 1906.
Alfred H. Hunt was born in Grand Rapids, in 1870. He gradu- ated at the Michigan university, in 1896, and was admitted to the bar. After spending two years in Detroit he came to Grand Rapids, served for a time as Referee in Bankruptcy, and practiced his profession until his death, April 30, 1911.
Jesse F. Orton was born, Feb. 23, 1870, on a farm in Niagara county, New York. He was educated in the common schools and the high school in Coldwater, Mich., and graduated in the literary depart- ment of the University of Michigan, in 1893. He took a post-graduate course at Cornell College, in 1894-5, and graduated in the law depart- ment of the Michigan university, in 1897, teaching school in the meantime. He then went to Detroit and practiced law four years, and in 1901 he came to Grand Rapids and practiced here until about 1908.
Leonorr L. Park was born in Jamestown, Ottawa county, Michi- gan, in 1880. He attended public schools and the Detroit College of Law, and was admitted, June 15, 1903. He began practice in Grand Rapids and remained here until about 1909.
Frank M. Ayer was born in Cadillac, Mich., Jan. 13, 1879. He graduated in the literary department of the University of Michigan, in 1901, and in the law department in 1903. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Grand Rapids, where he remained until about 1911.
To go further in the enumeration of the members of the bar would be to trench upon the domain of the present, and discuss the characters of men still upon the stage of public life, which hardly comes within the province of this chapter. The bar has grown rapidly in numbers, and it is not too much to say that Grand Rapids has always been noted for the ability of its lawyers. It is said of an old Pennsylvania lawyer that he was once examining a candidate for admission to the bar, and asked him the stock question, "What is a court?" "A court," said the applicant, pompously, "is a place where justice is judiciously administered." "Not always," said the examining lawyer, shaking his head, "not always." The answer given in Blackstone is "a place where justice is judicially administered." The difference between judicially and judiciously is a marked one; and yet it may safely be said of the Kent county courts that, from the first, they have been places where justice is both judicially and judiciously administered.
Prior to 1878 there was no organized association of the bar in Grand Rapids. There had been occasional gatherings at bar suppers, where the attorneys had met at different times for social intercourse, and also from time to time they met to pay their tribute of respect to deceased associates. But early in the year mentioned above a plan of definite and permanent organization was proposed, and in that year several meetings were held to perfect it. The original purpose of the
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organization was to establish and maintain the honor and dignity of the profession, to increase its usefulness in promoting the due adminis- tration of justice, and to cultivate social intercourse among its mem- bers, this declaration being found in the constitution adopted. The association also contemplated organizing a law library. The associa- tion became known as the Kent County Bar Association. Its first permanent /officers were chosen, the president being D. Darwin Hughes. This association continued in existence for some time, but gradually the interest seemed to wane and meetings became irregular and finally ceased entirely.
The present Grand Rapids Bar Association was organized in Jan- uary, 1902, with 106 incorporators. Its first permanent officers were Thomas J. O'Brien, president; Loyal E. Knappen, vice-president ; Henry T. Heald, treasurer ; Hugh E. Wilson, secretary.
A Law Library Association which was formed by the members of the bar has been in existence a number of years, and it has gath- ered a large and well selected library, containing most of the English and American Reports, both Federal and State, and many other valu- able legal works.
CHAPTER XXXIX. BANKING AND FINANCE
UNSTABLE CHARACTER OF CURRENCY-WILD CAT BANKS-CITY BANK OF BREST - PERIOD OF SANE BANKING - HISTORY OF PRESENT BANKING INSTITUTIONS-CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIAITION.
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