USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 20
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HENRY M. LOOK
Henry M. Look, a prominent attorney of the county and noted throughout the state for his eloquence, was a native of Michigan and of what was once Oakland county, but is now Lapeer county, his birth occurring on October 27. 1837. in Hadley. He began the study of the law in the office of his brother in Kentucky, and completed his studies
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with Messrs. Baldwin & Draper, and also attended a course of lectures in the law department of the University of Michigan, in 1859. He was admitted to practice in the United States courts in July, 1867. Previous to that event, however, he followed the practice of his profession and that of teaching in the south for a time. He was a member of the legislature of Michigan in 1865-66, prosecuting attorney for Oakland county in 1871-72, city attorney for Pontiac for several years and a member of the board of education of the city from 1864-67, inclusive. Mr. Look had a wide reputation also as a writer. He was a partner of Judge Baldwin for a time.
MARK S. BREWER
Hon. Mark S. Brewer of Pontiac, was admitted to the bar of Oak- land county on March 10, 1864. He was born in the township of Addi- son, that county, on the 22d day of October, 1837, and until he was twenty years of age remained at home, assisting in the labors of the farm, and attending the district school during the winter season at a log schoolhouse, situated on his father's farm. The country was new, his parents were not liberally endowed with this world's goods, and it was with difficulty that the lad got suitable clothing in which to attend school. His mother often took her own shoes from her feet and gave them to her boy to wear to school, when the weather became too severe for him to go without shoes. In 1857 his health became somewhat im- paired from overwork and he was compelled to leave the farm and seek other employment. In the winter of 1858 he commenced teaching in a district school and followed that vocation for the three succeeding winters, during the remainder of the seasons of 1859 and 1860 attend- ing the school at Romeo and Oxford Academy. In the spring of 1861 he entered the law office of Hon. W. L. Weber. of East Saginaw, where he pursued the study of the law until the fall of that year. By that time the slender means he had saved from the preceding winter became exhausted and he again taught school the succeeding winter. In the spring of 1862 he resumed his studies in the office of Governor Wisner in Pontiac, to which place he came on foot with a scanty wardrobe, and but $60 in money, the latter representing his savings from his winter's salary. His stock in trade was "pluck." He pursued his legal studies during the spring, summer and fall of 1862. taught school again in the following winter, and in the spring of 1863 recommenced his legal studies, this time with Hon. M. E. Crofoot, Governor Wisner having in the meantime given his life to his country. Upon his admission to the bar he formed a partnership with Judge Crofoot which was continued until January 1, 1876, when it was mutually dissolved and Mr. Brewer continued in practice alone. He was circuit court commissioner for Oakland county from 1867 to 1871, two full terms; city attorney for Pontiac from 1866-67. inclusive. In 1872 he was elected state senator from Oakland county and served as such during the years of 1873 and 1874. In 1876 he was nominated by the Republican party of the sixth congressional district of Michigan as their candidate for representative in congress, and was elected to that and the succeeding congress (45th
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and 40th, from 1877 to 1880, inclusive), representing the same district also in the 50th and sist. congress from 1887 to 1890. lle has also filled the office of United States consul at Berlin, Germany. Mr. Brewer had always been an ardent politician, acting with the Republi- can party from the time he attained his majority, and after the campaign of 1864 had been prominent in the canvass of each succeeding election. He was a member of the Republican state central committee and chair- man of the committee for Oakland county from 1870 until -. Mr. Brewer was a popular and effective stump speaker, as well as when before a jury, and was highly esteemed, not only by his particular political friends, but by his acquaintances of opposite faith generally, all of whom bore willing testimony to his worth as a citizen and a man. His death occurred March 18, 1901.
LIVING MEMBERS OF THE BAR
At the present writing ( August, 1912), there are fifty living members of the Oakland county bar in good standing, the oldest of whom (in point of admission to practice ) being ex-Judge Thomas L. Patterson, of Holly.
The list follows: Thomas L. Patterson, Holly, 1863; Joseph E. . Sawyer, Pontiac, 1869; George W. Smith, Pontiac, 1874: Robert J. Lounsbury, Pontiac, 1875; Aaron Perry, Pontiac, 1876; Arthur R. Tripp, Pontiac, 1876; Samuel W. Smith, Pontiac, 1878; Daniel L. Davis, Pon- tiac, 1879: Homer H. Colvin, Pontiac, 1879; Elmer R. Webster. Pon- tiac, 1880; George O. Kinsman, Oxford, 1882; Elmer E. Blakeslee, Pontiac, 1883; l'eter B. Bromley, Pontiac, 1884: James H. Lynch, Pon- tiac, 1886; John H. Patterson, Pontiac, 1887; Frank L. Covert, Pontiac. 1890: Fred Wieland, Orion, 1890; John B. Mathews, Pontiac, 1890; Daniel R. Currey, Rochester, 1890; George Hlogle, Pontiac, 1892; Frank E. Jenkins, Oxford, 1894; Kleber P. Rockwell, Pontiac, 1895: Andrew L. Moore, Pontiac, 1895; Henry M. Zimmerman, Pontiac, 1895: John A. Neal. Orion, 1895: Samuel J. Patterson, Pontiac. 1898; George W. Caswell, Birmingham, 1898; Elmer E. Ilymers, Pontiac, 1899: Judson A. Fredenburgh, Pontiac, 1899: J. Arthur Tillson, Pontiac, 1899: John E. Brondige, Pontiac. 1900: William F. North, Pontiac, 1900: Ross Stockwell, Pontiac, 1901 ; Carl H. Pelton, Pontiac, 1902; Clinton Mc- Gee, Pontiac, 1903; D. F. Noble, Milford, - : Sylvester Pheney. Holly, 1903: Charles Matthews, Pontiac, 1903: Earl A. Lovejoy, Mil- ford, 1905; Clement E. Miner, Holly, 1905: Frank L. Doty, Pontiac. 1907; Charles P. Webster, Pontiac, 1908: Clare J. LeRoy, Royal Oak. -; Harry H. Snowdon, Pontiac, 1900; George A. Dondero, Royal Oak, 1910; E. B. Howarth, Jr., Rochester. 1910; Glenn C. Gillespie, Pontiac, 1910; C. C. Tillson, Pontiac, 1910: Relph F. Keeling. Pontiac, 1910.
THOMAS L. PATTERSON
Thomas 1. Patterson, a prominent citizen of Oakland county, an esteemed resident of Holly since he was ten years of age, and a worthy representative of an old pioneer family, was born at Clarkston, Monroe
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county, New York, in 1836. He is a son of James and Eliza ( Patten ) Patterson, both of whom were born in the Peach Bottom valley of the Susquehanna river, York county, of Revolutionary parentage, and the father of this sketch was a veteran of the War of 1812. He moved from York county, Pennsylvania, to Canandaigua. New York, early in life, later locating in Monroe county, New York. In 1839 he became one of the great number of New Yorkers who moved to Michigan, and he made a home in IIolly township, Oakland county, to which he brought his family in 1845, Nine children were born to them, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are now deceased except the subject of this sketch.
Judge Patterson was about ten years old when he came with his father and other members of the family to llolly, and he immediately began attendance at the district school of the town. He recalls today' his first teacher there,-one David A. Eliot, the school being known as the Patterson district school. He attended Clarkson Academy and the Collegiate Institute at Bridgeport, New York, a full term, the school being now in the state normal class. Soon after his graduation he returned from New York to Michigan, and then continued the study of law. In 1863 he was admitted to the bar at Pontiac, and has the dis- tinction of being the oldest member of the Oakland county bar. In addition to his law practice, Judge Patterson served for seventeen years as supervisor from Holly township, and for nine years was chairman of the board of supervisors. In 1884 he was elected judge of the pro- bate court, which position he filled with honor and credit for a period of sixteen years. In 1866 the law firm of Patterson & Patterson came into life, and was composed of Judge Patterson and his nephew, James K. Patterson, the latter serving as prosecuting attorney of Oakland county from 1874 to 1879. The name of the firm is still retained, how- ever, and the offices of the firm are maintained at Pontiac, John H. Patterson, his son, and Samuel J. Patterson, his grand-nephew, are now the active members of the firm. It was during Judge Patterson's term as supervisor of Holly township that so large a contingent was sent to swell the Union ranks, that township as such having the record for furnishing the largest number of any township in the county.
In 1856 Judge Patterson married Eunice A. Hadley, a member of one of the oldest families in the county. She was born in Rose town- ship, Oakland county, in 1840, and died at Holly on August 5, 1902. She was the daughter of John and Eunice Hadley. Four children were born of this union, three sons and a daughter: John H., Stuard D., and William F., who resides on the home farm adjacent to Holly village. Marion E. died in October, 1896, in her twentieth year.
In 1904, on June 30th, Mr. Patterson again united in marriage to Miss Alice I. Allen, daughter of Ira and Emily Eliot Allen of Holly, both her father and mother being among the very first actual settlers in Holly township. Mrs. Patterson's father was a son of Jonathan T. Allen, long a resident of Holly, having located several sub-divisions of land on section 35 in Holly in 1835. On one sub-division of eighty acres, the father of Mrs. Patterson lived continuously since 1835, until
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the decease of Mr. Allen, and in which home Mrs. Patterson was born and reared.
In his fraternal relations, Judge Patterson is a Mason of high de- gree, being a member of the Commandery, Knights Templar. His church relations are represented by his attendance at the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the most loyal and public-spirited citi- zens of Holly, and has ever been identified with affairs of local improve- ment, and throughout his career his activities have been of an order that have wielded a strong influence for good in the community.
HON. JOSEPH EDWARD SAWYER
Hon. Joseph Edward Sawyer, a member of the legal profession, is the most prominent real-estate dealer of Oakland county and is keenly alive to the value of enterprises calculated to further the. development of the city of Pontiac. He was born in Piermont, Grafton county, New Hampshire, January 1, 1847, and is the seventh child and only son of Hon. Joseph and Mary ( Dole) Sawyer. lle is a lineal descendant of Thomas Sawyer, a native Englishman, born there in about 1816, who died at Lancaster, Massachusetts. 'Ilis ancestors for generations past have lived to attain advanced ages, notable among them being Rev. John Sawyer, of Bangor, Maine, who reached the age of one hundred and three years and five days ; at the time of his death, on October 14. 1858, he was reputed to be the oldest minister in the United States.
The father of the subject, who was Hon. Joseph Sawyer, was born in Grafton county, New Hampshire, and for years was identified with the agricultural operations of that district. He was a man of consider- able prominence, and served a number of terms as the representative of his district in the state legislature, as well as filling other public offices with honor and ability. Ile was in the seventy-third year of his life when he passed away on July 4, 1858. Ilis wife was Mary ( Dole) Plastridge, a daughter of Captain Moses Dole, who soon after his mar- riage to Lucy Poor, of Charlestown, New Hampshire, moved to Canaan, New Hampshire, locating there in 1802. There he bought the tavern and farm of one Dudley Gilman, and hung out a sign bearing the painted inscription "Mr. Dole's Inn, 1802," which sign swung there for more than a quarter century. He was a member of the "New Hampshire Rangers" during the Revolutionary war, and during his lifetime was elected to various offices of trust, the duties of all of which he dis- charged with characteristic fidelity. He was a courteous gentleman and Mrs. Dole was distinguished by her innate refinement and intelligence. She died in October, 1826, and Captain Dole lived for two years there- after, his death occurring in 1828. He was buried with Masonic honors by Mount Moriah lodge. They had two children,-Joseph, who died in 1817, at the age of sixteen years, and Mary, born October 28, 1803. Mary Dole was married to Dr. Charles Plastridge, who died October 16, 1824, at the age of twenty-nine years. In 1829 she married Hon. Joseph Sawyer. She was a member of the Congregational church from 1816 until her death, and was a popular and much beloved woman, ever possessing a host of friends and warm admirers. She died on
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February 1, 1885, in her eighty-second year, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. F. Kimball, at Pontiac, Michigan. All her children were present at her bedside when she passed away, namely: Mrs. C. F. Kimball. Mrs. John Calloway, Mrs. Evan Hughes, Miss Lizzie Sawyer, Mrs. James Newby and Joseph E. Sawyer.
In the public schools of Piermont and the academy at Bradford, Vermont, Joseph E. Sawyer received his early education. When he was sixteen years of age he went to Michigan City, Indiana, and then to Cambridge City. Ile studied in private schools and in the academy at Dublin, Indiana, then entering the literary department of the Uni- versity of Michigan. He was a member of the class of 1869, but left the university before graduation. He went from his studies to Bosco- bel, Wisconsin, where he entered the law offices of Hon. George Hazel- ton. In 1867 he formed a co-partnership with Benjamin Shearer under the firm name of Shearer and Sawyer, for the practice of law, being then twenty years of age.' They continued in practice for a year, when Mr. Sawyer removed to Pontiac and entered the law office of llon. M. E. Crofoot. He was admitted to the Oakland county bar on September 29, 1869, and thereafter continued in active practice. He was elected circuit court commissioner for Oakland county in 1872 and in 1875 was appointed United States commissioner for the eastern district of Michigan. In 1878 he became associated with J. D. and F. D. Standish of Detroit, under the name of Sawyer, Standish & Company, with office in Detroit, proprietors of the Tappan, McKilop & Company Commercial Agency, Mr. Sawyer being manager of the legal department. In 1891 he with others united in organizing the Pontiac Land & Improvement Company of which he was secretary and general manager, Hon. J. D. Norton being president. This corporation is entitled to much credit for the prosperity which the city of Pontiac has enjoyed since its or- ganization. Mr. Sawyer lent himself to the work with such energy that he was compelled to practically abandon his other interests, and since the organization of the Pontiac Land & Improvement Company, he has platted and sold ten additions to the city, the latest being the Ferry addition, to handle which he organized the Pontiac Investment & Promotive Company, of which he was secretary and manager. Mr. Sawyer was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Eastern Michigan Asylum by Governor Alger in 1885, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Hon. W. M. McConnell, was reappointed by Governor Luce and again by Governor Rich, serving fourteen years consecutively, during which time he was present at every meeting of the joint board of trustees of Michigan, every monthly and special meeting of his own board save one, every meeting of the executive committee and all meet- ings of other committees of which he was a member. He is a Republi- can in politics and was a delegate to the national Republican conven- tion in 1884, which nominated James G. Blaine, and has been chairman of the Republican county committee. He is a man of great energy and ambition, making a success of every venture with which he is connected.
On October 17, 1877, Mr. Sawyer was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie V. Satterlee, born in Bloomfield township, Oakland county, on July 31, 1856. a daughter of George H. and Jane ( Flower) Satterlee.
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She was three years of age when she came with her parents to Central Mine, Keweenaw county, Michigan, in which place she remained until the death of her father in 1875, when, with her mother and sisters she came to Pontiac. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have five children, as follows : Lizzie Belle. born August 8, 1878, the wife of A. R. Stockwell of Pon- tiac; Mary Lucile, born April 12, 1880; Kate Eleanor, born November 18. 1884: Joseph Satterlee. July 25. 1800 and Thomas Dole, January 27. 1901.
The Sawyer family is one which has long been prominent in Masonry. Col. Edward Sawyer, uncle of the subject, joined the fraternity at the age of twenty-one years and was the second okfest Mason in the United States when he died on February 2, 1885. aged ninety-seven years. Joseph E. Sawyer was initiated May 27, 1870, in Pontiac lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M., of which he afterwards was master. He was exalted in Oakland Chapter, R. A. M., January 29, 1875, of which he became high priest. On June 28, 1875, he became a member of Pontiac council No. 3. R. & S. M., of which he was elected thrice illustrious master ; on March 7. 1876, was knighted in Pontiac Commandery No. 2. Knights Templar: on March 6, 1877, he was elected prelate: in 1885 he was elected captain-general and eminent commander in 1885. Ile is also past chancellor of Pontiac lodge No. 10. Knights of Pythias, and has served as district deputy grand chancellor and chairman of the committee on foreign correspondence. The foreign correspondence reports of Michigan for 1890 and 1891, written by Mr. Sawyer, received much favorable notice from the reviewers of other grand domains, of which the following from the able pen of IIon. M. L. Stevens, who had writ- ten the report for Maine for many years and was universally acknowl- edged to be the ablest writer of such reviews in the United States, is a fair sample. In reviewing the Journal of Michigan for 1891, he says : "The Correspondence Report ( 100 pp.) is without exception the very best. from any jurisdiction, which we have ever read. Brother Sawyer has reached, almost at a bound, a degree of excellence as a reporter which we have striven vainly for almost a score of years to attain. As furnishing an accurate and thoroughly interesting bird's-eye-view of what is going on throughout the order, he has no peer. The nearest approach to his excellence was made by the lamented Dayton of Con- necticut, in 1884."
In the military branch of the Knights of Pythias, Mr. Sawyer has held the rank of colonel since 1892 and served upon the staff of the major general in the biennial encampments at Kansas City, Cleveland. Washington, Indianapolis and Detroit. IJe is a venerable sheik of Mecca Temple No. 56, D. O. K. K. and has filled that position since the institution of the temple on May 5. 1896, with the exception of one year, when that office was held by Rev. Edward Collins of Detroit.
Mr. Sawyer is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church and was for many years a vestryman of Zion church of Pontiac. He was a lay reader under Bishop Harris and held services at various places in Oakland county, and at Clintonville established a flourishing mission in 1887.
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HION. GEORGE W. SMITHI
Hon. George W. Smith, judge of the sixth judicial district since 1896, and one of the more prominent citizens of Pontiac, was born at Warsaw, New York, on March 27. 1850, and is now in the prime of life.
When he was five years of age Judge Smith accompanied his par- ents from their eastern home in Michigan, and he was reared in Com- merce, Oakland county. He is the son of Orson H. and Jeannette ( Armstrong) Smith. Finishing the public schools, Judge Smith carried on his law studies in the University of Michigan, and was admitted to the bar in 1874, beginning the practice of law in Pontiac on May 1, 1876. In 1877 and 1878 he served as circuit court commissioner of Oak- Jand county, and in 1879 and 1880 he was city attorney of Pontiac. In November, 1888, he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of Oakland county and served six years in that position, discharging the duties of the office with all fidelity and fixity of purpose, displaying a splendid ability meanwhile. On January 1. 1896, Judge Smith entered upon his first term as judge of the Sixth judicial circuit. and in the years that have passed with him as the incumbent of the office, he has made a splendid record upon the bench. He is recognized as a learned. fearless and impartial jurist, and no hint of suspicion has ever been cast upon his integrity.
ROBERT J. LOUNSBURY
Robert J. Lounsbury, mayor and a well known attorney of Pontiac and the representative of large real estate interests here and in the east, was born in Putnam county, New York, where his father, a prominent farmer of that district, died in 1881.
Mr. Lounsbury was prepared for college at Andover, Massachusetts, and was a student at Dartmouth, afterwards graduating from the Columbia Law School of New York City in 1875. Immediately there- after he came to Pontiac in the interests of certain eastern capitalists who were operating in Michigan, Illinois and adjoining states, and he has had their interests in charge since that time. During the first few vears he was able to devote a considerable time to general practice on his own responsibility, but for the most part the demands on his time by his eastern clients has precluded the possibility of making progress as a private practitioner. In recent years he acted as receiver for the P. O. & N. Railway, and he made a record for efficiency that was com- mended by both factions of the defunct road.
In IQUI Mr. Lounsbury was elected mayor of Pontiac under the commission form of government, which provides for three commissioners only, of which the mayor is one, and he has made a distinct success of his administration as chief executive of the city, his term being marked by a straightforward business administration of the affairs of the city. He is a thoroughgoing Pontiacker, has the best interests of the city at heart at all times, and is held in high esteem throughout the city and county.
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In 1880 Mr. Lounsbury married a daughter of Col. S. E. Beach, well known in Oakland county. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lounsbury,-a son and a daughter, the latter still surviving.
AARON PERRY
Aaron Perry. B.S., LL.B., whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is one of the best known and most successful lawyers of Oakland county, Michigan, where he has spent nearly his entire life. He was frequently called upon to fill positions of public trust at an earlier day. but has devoted his later years to the practice of his profession and study. He is the senior member of the firm of Perry & Lynch, with offices in Pontiac, where he has resided many years.
Mr. Perry was born on a farm in Oakland county, Michigan, November 11, 1848. and is the youngest of a family of eight children born to Abram and Sophia (Andrews) Perry. His father was born in Warren county, New Jersey, and died when our subject was fifteen years of age. He had come to Oakland county in 1836 and lived here until his death at the age of fifty-four years. The mother, Sophia ( Andrews ) Perry, was born in Genesee county, New York, and she died when Aaron Perry was but two years old.
From his father's estate Aaron Perry received $700, which, with a sum borrowed, paid his way through school. He received a prepara- tory education in the Clarkston Union School of Oakland county, then entered the University of Michigan and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1870. He was a member of the Literary Adelphi and was one of the speakers at the second sophomore exhibition. In the fall of 1870 he entered into politics and lacked one vote of securing the Demo- cratic nomination for the office of state representative. He taught dur- ing the following school year at the Ortonville Academy, and during the school year of 1871-2 was superintendent of the Ovid Union School in Clinton county. In the famous Greeley campaign of 1872 he was elected a member of the state legislature, and with five others formed the minority in that body. At the close of the session in the spring of 1873 he went to Muskegon, Michigan, and took charge of the United States Harbor improvements under his former classmate, C. M. Wells. In the fall of the year he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, and in March, 1874. attended a special session of the legis- lature called for the purpose of considering and submitting a new state constitution to the people for their approval at the next election. The session continued about forty days, during which time he roomed with Col. C. B. Grant, the speaker of the lower house and afterward one of the supreme court justices of the state. It is a matter of some pride to Mr. Perry that because of his recognized ability for rushing busi- ness through, he was called upon to preside during that session more than was any other member, excepting two, and that during his term of office he was able to do some good work in the interests of the uni- versity. During the next summer he was for a time in the service of the United States government as a harbor inspector on the west coast of Michigan, and traveled some in Illinois, Wisconsin and the Northern
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