USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. II > Part 18
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The early education of John Atkinson was mostly obtained at home, under the direction of his father and mother, both of whom were liberally educated, and had taught school in Ireland. He commenced the study of law when he was less than sixteen, in the office of William T. Mitchell and Harvey McAlpine, of Port Huron. He took care of the office and did all the copying required in an ex-
tensive business, receiving a salary running chrough the years of his minority, of from $60 to $100 per year. Through the kindness of the firm he was allowed to be absent for two terms of six months each, which he spent at the law school at Ann Arbor, where he graduated in 1862. The day he became of age he was admitted to practise in the Supreme Court, sitting in Detroit, and immediately began business in partnership with William T. Mitchell, with whom he had previously studied.
He, however, had hardly entered upon the duties of his profession before the War for the Union began to assume the magnitude of a great conflict, and to engage the attention of every well-wisher of his country. On July 25, 1862, Mr. Atkinson was com- missioned Second Lieutenant, and in the following ten days he organized Company C, of the Twenty- second Michigan Infantry, of which company he was elected Captain. This company left for the front September 4, 1862, under the command of ยท ex-Governor Moses Wisner, became a part of the brigade of General Judah, and was placed on the heights of Covington for the defense of Cincinnati, then threatened by General Kirby Smith, of the rebel army. At the end of a month it was sent upon an expedition against General John Morgan, passing through Williamstown, Cynthiana, Mount Sterling, and Paris, reaching Lexington, Kentucky, about the last of October. It was then assigned to the brigade of General Green Clay Smith, and to the division of General Q. A. Gilmour. Up to this period several skirmishes had taken place, but no pitched battles. While with General Gilmour, the regiment took part in the battle of Danville, and in the campaign which followed, including the slight engagements at Lancaster and Crabb Orchard. In the early part of 1863, the Twenty-second regi- ment was sent to Nashville, and joined the Army of the Cumberland, serving in the division of General James E. Morgan. At the time of the advance upon Chattanooga, Captain Atkinson was assigned to staff duty on the staff of General R. S. Granger, which position he held at the time of the
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battle of Chickamauga and therefore did not take part in that engagement. Immediately after this battle he rejoined his regiment at Chattanooga, as Captain of Company C, and was in command at the siege of that place. The first important battle participated in by his regiment occurred during the efforts made to open up communication with Gen- eral Hooker's army, approaching from Alabama. The Twenty-second regiment had charge of the pon- toon bridge where General Sherman and his army crossed the Tennessee river, but was in the reserve during the battles of Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. After the latter battle it was assigned to the reserve brigade, and attached to General Thomas' headquarters, and with him participated in all the fighting from Chattanooga to Atlanta. In front of Atlanta Captain Atkinson was pro- moted to be Major of the Twenty-second regiment, and assigned to recruiting service in Michigan. He came to Detroit, and late in the summer of 1864 was placed in command of the camp at Pontiac, with instructions to organize the Thirtieth regiment Michigan Volunteers. During the following thirty days he organized seven companies, four of which were assigned to the Fourth Michigan Volunteers, then being reorganized at Adrian, and the remain- ing companies to the Third Michigan, being re- organized at Grand Rapids. Major Atkinson was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the latter regiment on October 13, 1864, the rank to date from July 29, 1864. He accompanied the Third regiment to the Army of the Cumberland, stationed at Nashville, and participated in the engagements with Hood's army, on its way to Nashville, at Decatur, Alabama. His regiment formed a part of the force defending Murfreesboro against General Forrest's cavalry, during the battles of Franklin and Nashville. After the battle, the Third regiment moved with the Army of the Cumberland to Chattanooga, and into East Tennessee as far as Jonesboro, and was at the lat- ter place at the time of the surrender of General Lee's and General Johnston's armies. From there the Third returned to Nashville, and was immedi- ately sent to New Orleans, to take part in the campaign against General Kirby Smith. It remained at New Orleans until August, 1865, when it was sent to Indianola, Texas. From there it was ordered to San Antonio, Texas, where it remained until mustered out of service in the spring of 1866. Colonel Atkinson participated in all these marches and maneuvers, and while at Austin, Texas, served on the staff of General Custer as Judge Advocate. He was mustered out of the service February 24, 1866, and his military career then ended, except as he served as Captain of the Detroit National Guards in 1872.
Shortly before leaving the service, on February
I, 1866, while at San Antonio, Colonel Atkinson married Lida Lyons, a native of Texas, daughter of Dr. James H. Lyons, a surgeon in the Southern army, and at one time Mayor of San Antonio.
He now returned to Port Huron and renewed his law practice in partnership with John S. Crellen and his brother, O'Brien J. Atkinson. Mr. Crellen died soon after, and Cyrus Miles took his place as part- ner, but the partnership was soon dissolved, and Colonel Atkinson entered into partnership with Anson E. Chadwick, under the firm name of Chad- wick & Atkinson. They continued together until 1870, when Colonel Atkinson came to Detroit. Here for one year he practiced alone, after which he formed a partnership with General L. S. Trow- bridge, which continued until 1873, when Colonel Atkinson became editor and manager of the Daily Union, a Democratic journal, of which he had become the principal owner. He proved himself to be a fearless and able journalist, but the venture was not a financial success, and at the end of three months the publication was discontinued, leaving Colonel Atkinson deeply in debt, and although he could have legally avoided liquidating certain obli- gations, his sense of honor would not permit such a course, and he eventually discharged every dollar of the indebtedness. Returning to the practice of law he became a partner with John G. Hawley, under the firm name of Atkinson & Hawley. In 1875 James J. Atkinson, his brother, was admitted to the firm, and in 1876, having been elected Prosecuting Attorney, Mr. Hawley retired from the firm. J. T. Kenna was next associated with the firm as partner, remaining until 1881, when he retired, and William F. Atkinson was admitted, and the next year Colonel Atkinson retired. In 1883 he formed a partnership with Judge Isaac Marsden, who had just resigned his position as one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Michigan ; this last partnership continued until March 1, 1887, when Colonel Atkin- son retired from the firm and gave up office practice. At present, while still active in the profession, he confines himself entirely to the trial of important cases.
He takes an active interest in politics, and acted with the Democratic party until 1881, although he frequently protested against and sometimes actively opposed its candidates.
He was appointed Collector of Customs at Port Huron by Andrew Johnson in 1866, served until March 4, 1867, and was rejected by the Senate on purely political grounds. He was nominated for Attorney-General in 1870, and for State Senator in 1872, but declined both nominations. He was, however, left upon the ticket, and defeated with his party. He was elected a member of the Board of Estimates, and served one term, during which he
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opposed the abolition of the Central Market and advocated the purchase of Belle Isle.
In 1881 Mr. Atkinson assisted the Republicans in their municipal campaign, and helped to elect William G. Thompson Mayor over William Brodie. In 1882 he supported the Republican State and local ticket, and in 1883 received the unanimous vote of the delegates of Wayne County in the Republican Convention for Justice of the Supreme Court, but declined to be a candidate.
In 1884 he was nominated for Congress in Wayne County on the Republican ticket, but his opponents used the fact that he was a Roman Cath- olic very successfully against him, and he was de- feated by a large majority. In 1887, Wayne County, after a spirited contest, gave him fifty-nine out of her sixty-nine votes in the Republican Convention for Justice of the Supreme Court. He received nearly three hundred votes in all, but was defeated by Judge James V. Campbell.
In his profession Mr. Atkinson has never fol- lowed any specialty. He has been engaged in many important land cases, has gone through sev- eral great will contests, and has been particularly prominent in defending libel cases. He defended the News in its great case with Hugh Peoples, in which it was successful, and in its equally great case with Dr. Maclean, in which it was beaten. He has defended Luther Beecher in many cases brought by ex-Mayor Wheaton, and has always succeeded in preventing a recovery.
One of Mr. Atkinson's most important cases was the defense of Mr. Babcock, of St. Johns, for accus- ing a Congregational minister of not believing the Bible to be the work of God. Under his cross- examination, the plaintiff made such admissions that the jury found the charge sustained. In the practice of his profession, as in his political life, Mr. Atkinson has provoked some strong antago- nisms. Like most men of warm temperament, he is sometimes unnecessarily severe, using words which he afterwards deeply regrets. Other characteristics, however, coupled with his really superior abilities, make him a desirable friend, and among his associ- ates he is deemed a most agreeable companion.
For the land of his ancestors he cherishes the most tender feelings of sympathy, and as a member of the American Land League has taken a warm and active interest in the struggles made by the conserva- tive leaders of Ireland, to mitigate, if possible, by peaceful measures, the horrors of English misrule. During the summer of 1886 he made an extended tour through Ireland, not alone for recreation, but more especially to become, by personal investigation, familiar with the conditions of the people. He returned increasingly convinced of the injustice with which Ireland has been treated by the English
Government, and can well afford to entertain an opinion, the truth of which is conceded even by Gladstone.
Since his residence in Detroit, Mr. Atkinson has been a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He has had ten children, seven of whom are living.
LEVI BISHOP was born at Russell, Hampton County, Massachusetts, October 15, 1815. His father, Levi Bishop, and his mother, Roxana (Phelps) Bishop, were both descendants of early puritan settlers of New England. His father was an independent farmer and gave his son the usual advantages afforded by the schools of that period and locality. When hardly twenty years old the speculative fever of 1835 drew him to the west, and on June Ist of that year he arrived in Michigan. After prospecting here and there he located perma- nently in Detroit in 1837, and two years later began the study of law in the office of A. S. Porter, subse- quently studying in the office of Judge Daniel Goodwin. Within three years, in 1842, after passing a highly creditable examination, he was admitted to the bar. He became almost immediately prominent in his profession ; was made a Master of Chancery by the Governor on March 3, 1846, and appointed to a similar office in connection with the United States Courts on June 19, 1851. He early became zealously interested in the cause of public education and served as a member of the Board of Education continuously for ten years, from 1849 to 1859, and from 1852, for a period of seven consecutive years, was the President of the Board, holding the office for nearly twice the length of time that any pre- decessor or successor enjoyed the honor. No one in all the years labored more effectually and intelli- gently than he to promote the welfare of the schools. The memory of his labors is appropriately commemorated in the school building which bears his name.
His time was always gratuitously given in pub- lic affairs and he rendered services without fee or reward that in later years have cost the city many thousands of dollars. He was compelled under the system then prevailing, to assume heavy responsi - bilities and disburse large amounts of money, and every trust, either public or private, was faithfully and honestly administered. His connection with educational affairs was fitly closed with his election as Regent of the State University. He held the position from 1858 to 1864, and was influential in various ways in promoting the welfare of the insti- tution.
In 1855 he was president of the Young Men's Society, then in the zenith of its usefulness and strength. From 1876, up to the time of his death, a period of six years, he held the position of City
Jai Billich
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Historiographer, and did much to awaken interest in historic research. He was chiefly instrumental in the organization of the Wayne County Pioneers Society in 1871, and served as its president for ten years. He may also be properly styled the founder of the State Pioneer Society, as his efforts, more than those of any other person, secured its establish- ment. He presented many valuable papers and documents to both societies and his presence was much sought at local gatherings of pioneer citizens.
Through his literary productions he achieved more than local fame. His most elaborate work, an epic poem in twenty-eight cantos, descriptive of Indian life and character in the sixteenth and seven- teenth centuries, is entitled, "Teuschsa Grondie." It was published in an octavo of about 600 pages and at least three editions were issued. He also wrote many other poems and prose articles on a variety of historic subjects, besides translating several French plays, and was especially well versed in French lit- crature and conversed with ease in that language.
His abilities were recognized outside of his own circle, and he was honored with a membership in the Royal Historical Society of Great Britain, and in 1876 was appointed a delegate to the Interna- tional Congress of Americanists, at Luxembourg. In 1861 he went abroad and traveled entensively on the continent, and his letters home, published in the Advertiser, showed that he possessed rare powers of observation and description.
It should not be forgotten, however, that his connection with the law preceded and kept pace with his special literary pursuits. As a lawyer he evinced great natural ability. He was a diligent student, a comprehensive thinker, always loyal to his clients, fond of debate, and almost invincible before a jury with language that was forcible and elegant. He possessed an indomitable will, with a deter- mined and courageous spirit, that overcame any obstacle. He was high-spirited, ardently inter- ested and absorbed in whatever he undertook, but always genial and accommodating, and a strong and devoted friend. Politically he was a Democrat, and during 1863 and 1864 served as chairman of the State Central Committee. His religious con- victions were strong and clear, and he was a regu- lar attendant upon the services at St. Paul's Prot- estant Episcopal Church.
He married Janet M. Millard, daughter of Col- onel Ambrose Millard, of Tioga, Pennsylvania. He died on December 23, 1881, at the residence on Jefferson Avenue, where the family had lived for many years.
JAMES VALENTINE CAMPBELL, for near- ly a generation a judge of the Supreme Court of Michigan, was born in Buffalo, New York, on Feb-
ruary 25, 1823. As his name shows, he is of Scotch descent, and there are family traditions of an ancestor who, under an arrangement with the crown, brought many Scotch emigrants to this country. These colonists settled in eastern New York, a region in which to this day the Campbell clan is conspicuous. The judge's father, Henry M. Campbell, married Lois Bushnell. She was born and brought up in Vermont and belonged to a family whose name was familiar in New England from the days of the Mayflower. Its most famous representative is, perhaps, the celebrated Congrega- tional divine, Horace Bushnell, who was a first cousin of the judge.
Henry M. Campbell removed to western New York before the War of 1812. During that war the family suffered considerable loss, and in 1826 they moved to Detroit. Mr. Campbell had been a county judge in New York and a like judicial posi- tion was conferred on him in Michigan. He sent his two sons, Henry and James V., to St. Paul's College, at Flushing, L. I., an Episcopal institution of high rank, and presided over by the late Dr. Muhlenberg.
James V., the younger of the two, graduated in 1841, returned home and studied law with the firm of Douglass & Walker. In 1844 he was admitted to practice and became one of the firm. The senior partner, Samuel T. Douglass, afterwards one of the judges of the Supreme Court, married Elizabeth Campbell, the judge's sister. Henry N. Walker, the other partner, became Attorney-General. Both were early reporters of Michigan decisions and there is reason to believe that much of the work on Walker's Chancery Reports was done by the junior member of the firm. About this time the Univer- sity of Michigan was reorganized and Mr. Camp- bell became the Secretary of the Board of Regents and continued to serve for a number of years.
When the Law Department was established in 1858 he was appointed to the Marshall professor- ship and held it for twenty-five years, and in 1866 the first honorary degree of Doctor of Laws that the University conferred, was bestowed upon him. He was always efficient in all efforts for the ad- vancement of education and letters. In 1848 he was elected as a member of the Board of Education of Detroit, and served also from 1854 to 1858, and one of the schools for many years has very fitly been designated by his name.
He was long a member and served as President of the Young Men's Society of Detroit in 1848. This organization, though now defunct, was a power in its early days and established a large and valuable library. In 1880, when the Public Library was put under the control of a commission, Judge Camp- bell was made president of that body and still con- tinues to hold the position.
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In 1858 the Supreme Court of the State was first organized as an independent body, and although less than 35 years old, Mr. Campbell was chosen one of the four judges, and has since been four times re-elected and is now in his fifth term, hav- ing served continuously for thirty years. His opinions begin in the fifth volume of the reports and are to be found in more than sixty of the regular series. When Judges Christiancy, Cooley, and Graves were his associates the court ranked among the first of the final tribunals of the several states. It has been considered doubtful if it was surpassed by even the National Supreme Court. Judge Campbell's most conspicuous characteristics, while on the bench, have been his conscientious adher- ence to the common law, his familiarity with the English decisions, and his jealous protection of the rights of local self-government.
The language of his decisions, as is apt to be the case with those who are familiar with classical and foreign tongues, is extremely simple. He is a ready, rapid and fluent public speaker, even when he has had little chance for preparation. He is as ready in literary composition. and his brethren of the bench have often marveled at the rapidity with which he wrote. He is frequently called upon for addresses on public occasions, and a number of these have been issued in pamphlet form. He has also contributed to various periodicals.
His only extended work is a handsome octavo entitled, "Outlines of the Political History of Michigan." It was produced in the course of a few months in 1875-6, and in compliance with an official request, that he should write an account of the State for the Centennial year. Although pre- pared in a short time it is the most complete and comprehensive history of Michigan ever issued and contains much rare and valuable material not found elsewhere. In addition to his public literary work he has also often amused himself and entertained his children at the Christmas season by describing in verse, that is sometimes suggestive of Scott and sometimes of Macauley, the dress, customs, and traditions of the early inhabitants of Michigan. Several of the historical poems, through his courtesy were reproduced in the original edition of Farmer's History of Detroit and Michigan.
Since his judicial life began he has of course held no so-called political office, but in December, 1886, by appointment of Governor Alger, he represented the State at the meeting held in Philadelphia to arrange for celebrating the Centennial of the Na- tional Constitution.
He has always been ready to identify himself with, and aid every benevolent, patriotic, religious, and literary endeavor. He has been a vestryman of St. Paul's for many years and whenever neces-
sary for the good of the church has taken an active and conspicuous part in its management. Indeed, his relations to St. Paul's recall the interest that Chief Justice Jay used to show in old Trinity, and like Chief Justice Jay, his efforts and example have been in opposition to inroads of mere ritualism. He has been for thirty years the secretary of the Standing Committee of the Diocese.
Both nature and education have combined to make Judge Campbell one of the notable citizens of Detroit. He is wonderfully gifted with the art of pleasing and profiting those who are privileged with his acquaintance. His manner is so agreeable, his spirit so friendly, and his ability to instruct so varied, that one easily respects and admires him, and he is apparently always at leisure to do a favor or furnish information, and those who come in contact with him would be cold blooded indeed if they did not learn to love him for his courtesy and kind- ness.
He was married November 8, 1849, to Cornelia, a daughter of Chauncey Hotchkiss, the descendant of an old Connecticut family. She was born at Oneida Castle, New York, August 17, 1823 and died at Detroit, May 2, 1888 They have had six children, five sons and a daughter who took her mother's name. Two of the sons, Henry M. and Charles H., are lawyers, practicing in Detroit ; James V. is a banker, Douglas H. is a devoted naturalist, who has made a specialty of botanical studies which he has followed in Germany ; Edward D. is a mining engineer and metallurgist.
Judge Campbell died March 26, 1890.
DON M. DICKINSON was born at Port On- tario, Oswego County, New York, January 17, 1846. His father and mother were both of long lines of sturdy American descent. One of his ancestors was with General Wolfe when that brave officer fell on the Heights of Abraham, and another withstood the rigors of Valley Forge with Washington.
His father was Colonel Asa C. Dickinson, a man of sterling ability, capacity and character, who came to Michigan in 1848, and was a resident of the city of Detroit for nearly forty years. His mother was a daughter of the Rev. Jesseriah Holmes, a latter- day Puritan clergyman of Pomfret, Conn., widely known and esteemed for his learning and devout piety.
The younger Dickinson came to Detroit with his parents in 1852, when he was six years old, and has ever since made the city his home. His earlier education was acquired in the public schools. He proved a bright, studious, persevering, successful scholar. After passing through the public schools of Detroit he studied under a private tutor and prepared for the University of Michigan. He
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graduated from the Michigan University Law School in the class of 1867, but was unable to spare the necessary time to finish the classical course at the same institution.
In his young manhood he had for a time to en- gage in manual labor to acquire the means for his education, and it is the testimony of those cognizant of the fact that he worked with characteristic zeal and energy.
As soon as he became of age he began the prac- tice of the law in Detroit. Soon afterward, June 15, 1869, he was married at Grand Rapids to Miss Frances Platt, daughter of Dr. Alonzo Platt, and granddaughter of the late Dr. Phillip Brigham.
Extraordinary capacity for and thoroughness in work, with a courage never shaken, fine knowledge of the law and alertness of mind, added to thorough integrity and fidelity to trust, were the qualities with which Mr. Dickinson engaged in the practice of his profession at the age of 21. He early showed re- markable aptitude in the conduct of cases and for business management, which, combined with clear- headedness and great energy, soon brought him prominently into public notice. He rose very rap- idly in his profession and soon became a leading practitioner in the courts. Before he was twenty-five, he was one of the prominent, and before he was thirty, one of the most prominent members of the Michigan bar.
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