USA > Michigan > Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1901-1902 > Part 57
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ARTHUR L. HOLMES,
Senator from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 17, 1862. He was educated in the public schools and early engaged in the business of lumbering, which he has successfully conducted for twenty-five years. Mr. Holmes is married and a staunch republican. He was elected to the legislature of 1895-6 and elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 9,300 to 8,823 for William J. Lee, democratic candidate, and 178 for Herman Dryer, prohi- bition candidate, 125 for Otis B. Waters and 218 for Thomas E. Ouellette.
JAMES W. HUMPHREY,
Senator from the eighth district, composed of the counties of Allegan and Van Buren, was born in Powell, Delaware county, Ohio, August 19, 1846. He passed his childhood and youth on his father's farm, attending school and preparing for the university. He enlisted in the 26th Ohio infantry, saw active service in Ten- nessee and Georgia, was severely wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, June 18, 1864, but recovered sufficiently to rejoin his regiment in November, to take part in the Hood campaign, which ended in the battle of Nashville and the destruction of Hood's army. At the close of the war he accompanied his regiment as part of "Sheridan's Army of Observation" in Texas. Returning home he began his studies in the Ohio Wesleyan University. He came to Michigan in 1869, and was married to Miss Beulah A. Sooy, of Dorr, October 13 of that year, since which time he has been engaged almost exclusively in educational work-six years in the village school of Dorr, ten in Wayland, one as superintendent of Holland city schools, and one as teacher of pedagogy in Hope College. He had charge of the schools of Ottawa county one year, and was serving his sixth year as school commissioner of Allegan county (the last term elected without opposition) when he resigned to become a candidate for the state senate. For eight years he con- ducted the summer normal classes at Hope College, and in 1894 this college con- ferred upon him the degree of M. A. He has written two books for the teacher's -
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desk-"Review Diagrams," and "Manual of Reading,"-both of which have met with favor, "Review Diagrams" passing through its fourth edition. He is much interested in Sunday school and church work. For six years he was president of the Allegan county Sunday school association. Is a member and an ordained minister of the church of Christ (Disciples). While he has never devoted his time exclusively to ministerial labor, he has served several churches acceptably. In politics he is a republican ; was elected to the senate of 1899-1900, and re-elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 10,389 to 6,674 for Alexander Hamilton, dem- ocratic candidate, and 1 scattering.
WILLIAM D. KELLY,
Senator from the twenty-third district, comprising the counties of Muskegon and Ottawa, was born of Irish parents, November 26, 1865, in Ferrysburg, Ottawa county, Michigan. His education was acquired in the public schools of Grand Haven and Muskegon, moving to the latter place in 1879. From 1881 to 1885 he was engaged as book-keeper for a large mercantile establishment in the city of Muskegon; purchasing an interest at the latter date in the planing mill and box factory of that place, in which business he continued until 1889, when he sold out and engaged in the wholesale lumber business. He remained in this occupation a short time, purchased timber lands, and has since given his attention to real estate and insurance business. He was a prime mover in the organization of the chamber of commerce of Muskegon, which was established in 1892, and was made secretary, which position he held for several years. He is married to Zepha E. Wheeler, daughter of Joseph E. Wheeler, a veteran of the late war. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Kelly served his constitutents faithfully in the legisla- latures of 1895-6, 1897-8, and 1899-1900, being a candidate for speaker of the house in 1897-8, and in November, 1900, was elected to the state senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 10,288 to 6,274 for Herbert Taft Root, democratic candidate.
WILLIAM H. LOCKERBY,
Senator from the sixth district, comprising the counties of St. Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale, was born in West Vienna, Oneida county, New York, February 24, 1859. He came to Michigan with his parents in 1869, locating on a farm in Branch county. He attended district school winters and worked on the farm summers until eighteen years of age, when he entered the law office of Hon. Milo D. Camp- bell, at Quincy, where he studied law until 1884, when he was admitted to the bar and has since practiced law in Quincy. Mr. Lockerby is married and has held various township offices. In 1895 he was appointed by Gov. Rich a member of the railroad and street crossing board, and held the office of secretary four years; was circuit court commissioner and member of the board of school examiners for Branch county. He is an active member in the Masonic and Grange societies and has always been a strong republican, being elected to the senate in 1901-1902 by a vote of 12,212 to 10,109 for B. E. Kies, democratic candidate, and 437 for Charles R. Evans, prohibition; scattering 1.
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HUGO CHARLES LOSSER,
Senator from the tenth district, comprising the counties of Jackson and Washte- naw, was born in Detroit, Michigan, October 20, 1858, where he acquired his edu- cation in the German American Seminary and Mayhew Business College. He moved to Jackson in 1876 and clerked in various stores until 1885, when he en- tered the restaurant business, which he conducted until 1892, since which time he has been identified with the hardware business. Mr. Loeser was married in 1885 and has held various offices in the city, having been alderman four years, supervisor, fire commissioner and police commissioner. He has always been an active republican and was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 11,641 to 11,289 for Chas. A. Ward, democratic candidate, and 569 for Charles R. Perrine, prohibition candidate.
ROBERT B. LOOMIS,
Senator from the sixteenth district, comprising the city of Grand Rapids (except- ing the tenth and eleventh wards), was born at Newcastle, Lincoln county, Maine, September 25, 1832. His parents moved to Boston in 1838, and the subject of this sketch grew up in the public schools of that city. Mr. Loomis subsequently re- moved to Washington, D. C., and was engaged in mercantile business in that city from 1862 to 1866, when he removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and engaged in the boot and shoe business. In 1881 he established the firm of R. B. Loomis & Co., fire insurance, and has continued in that business to the present time. Mr. Loomis has served his city and county in several important positions. He was elected supervisor from the second ward of the city of Grand Rapids in 1877, and served in that office until 1896; was chairman of the county board two terms; was several times a member of the state board of equalization from Kent, and was chairman of the building committee having the erection of the county court house in charge. In 1896 Mr. Loomis was elected to the state senate, and served on the committees on cities and villages, normal schools, insane asylums at Kalamazoo and Traverse City, public buildings, and religious and benevolent societies. Politically he is a republican, and was elected to the senate of 1899- 1900, and as a recognition of his ability and worth, was re-elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 9,074 to 8,587 for Arthur S. White, democratic candidate, and 312 for Samuel T. Kinsey, prohibition candidate. Upon the convening of the senate of 1901-1902 Mr. Loomis was chosen speaker pro tem., a position which he held during the session of 1899-1900.
DANIEL P. MCMULLEN,
Senator from the twenty-ninth district, comprising Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Otsego, Montmorency and Alpena counties, was born in Kent county, Can- ada, September 8, 1852, was educated in the common schools of that county, and entered a printing office at the age of fourteen years. Two years later he came to Michigan, where he continued in the printing and publishing business, start- ing the Wenona (now West Bay City) Herald, and conducting it successfully for several years, and subsequently engaging in job printing at Bay City. In 1880 he purchased the Alpena Reporter and conducted it for two years. In 1882 he settled at Cheboygan, first connecting himself with the Democrat, but a year later he accepted a position with the Tribune and has since been connected with
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that paper. Senator McMullen has always been an active republican, and highly popular in his community. He was elected mayor of Cheboygan, and re-elected in 1892. In April, 1898, he was nominated for the third time, and elected over his democratic competitor by 252 votes-the largest majority ever given any candi- date in the city. Mr. McMullen it past grand chancellor of Michigan, K. P., has filled all the prominent positions in the fraternal orders of A. O. U. W. and Woodmen of the World, and is an active member of the Maccabees and National Union. He was elected to the senate of 1899-1900, and re-elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 9,457 to 5,560 for Orrin O. Black, democratic candidate, and 1 for Edward Cameron.
GEORGE W. MOORE,
Senator from the eleventh district, comprising the county of St. Clair, was born in St. Clair township April 12, 1859, and received his education in the district school of his neighborhood. At the age of seventeen he left his native place, and secured work in a saw mill at Muskegon, but subsequently engaged in log- ging, and builtand operated a steam logging road in Missaukee county. Returning to St. Clair county, Mr. Moore organized the St. Clair County Savings Bank of Port Huron in 1890, of which he is now cashier. He has been chairman of the St. Clair county republican committee since 1896; was a member of the board of supervisors, and chairman of the board. Mr. Moore was elected to the senate of 1899-1900, and re-elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 6,752 to 4,662 for Henry Rankin, democratic candidate, and 580 for Lewis O'Dett, prohibition.
JAMES O. MURFIN, .
Senator from the second district, comprising the first, second, third, fifth and seventh wards of the city of Detroit, was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, January 7, 1875, where his education was obtained in the public schools, supplemented by a course in the literary and law department of the University of Michigan. Grad- uating from there he located in Detroit, where he has since been a successful law practitioner. Mr. Murfin is not married. He is a strong republican and was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 8,562 to 7,598 for Anthony Muer, democratic candidate; 59 for Edward H. Munck; 71 for Marshall H. Petit; 73 for John Hayes.
GEORGE E. NICHOLS,
Senator from the eighteenth district, comprising the counties of Ionia and Mont- calm, was born in Oneida township, Eaton county, Michigan, August 8, 1861. He received his education in the common and Grand Ledge high school. At the age of eighteen he began the study of law, and has been in active practice of his chosen profession for eighteen years. Mr. Nichols is married, and has twice held the position of chairman of the republican county committee. In politics a strong republican, he was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 9,858 to 6,897 for Robert Baerd, democratic candidate.
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JEROME W. NIMS,
Senator from the twelfth district, comprising the counties of Macomb and Oak- land, was born in Huntington, Vermont, September 28, 1839. He came to Michi- gan with his parents in 1854. His education was acquired in the common schools and Romeo high school. After teaching for a while he began the occupation of farming, which business he has successfully conducted for forty years. Mr. Nims is single and has always been a strong republican, holding various township offices, being supervisor of his township, which office he has held twenty-seven years. He also represented the county of Macomb on the state board of equali- zation in 1896, and was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 10,134 to 8,904 for Harvey J. Taylor, democratic candidate.
AMBROSE E. PALMER,
Senator from the twenty-seventh district, comprising the counties of Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford, was born in Pleasantville, Westchester county, New York, August 5, 1849. His early edu- cation was received in the rural schools of that county, graduating later from Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He entered college at Mid- dleton, Connecticut, but owing to lack of means was unable to complete the course, and came to Michigan in 1869, taking charge of a lumber plant at Torch Lake until 1875 when he engaged in the mercantile business at Kalkaska until 1885, since which time he has successfully conducted the dairy farm where he now resides. Mr. Palmer is married and has held the offices of supervisor and county road commissioner. He is a republican and was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 14,706 to 5,463 for Lewis C. Merritt, democratic candidate, and 460 for Edward J. McMullen, prohibition candidate.
WILLIAM S. PIERSON,
Senator from the thirteenth district, comprising the counties of Livingston and Genesee, was born in Genesee county, November 29, 1872. His early education was acquired in the country and city schools, supplemented by a course at the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1896 from the law depart- ment. He practiced his profession until he enlisted in the Spanish-American war, in the 33d Michigan Volunteers, after which he returned to Flint and re- sumed his practice. Mr. Pierson is single and has always been a strong repub- lican, having been elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote or 8,772 to 7,289 for Homer A. Day, democratic candidate, and 491 for Joseph P. Eames, prohibition candidate.
JOHN ROBSON,
Senator from the fourteenth district, comprising the counties of Ingham and Shiawassee, was born in Canada, August 25, 1833. He came to Michigan with his parents in 1837 and located in Farmington, where he studied in the district schools until seventeen years of age, when he entered mercantile life as clerk in a general store. He settled in Lansing in 1854 and continued the mercantile business, which he has successfully conducted to the present time. Mr. Robson is married and has always been an active working republican. He has held the
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offices of alderman and mayor of the city of Lansing, and was elected to the sen- ate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 10,129 to 8,846 for Frank L. Dodge, democratic candi- date, and 630 for Joshua C. Curtis, prohibition candidate.
ANTHONY B. SCHUMAKER,
Senator from the fifteenth district, comprising the counties of Eaton and Barry, was born in Hambach, Prussia, June 1, 1847, where his early education was ob- tained. In 1854 he emigrated with his parents to America, locating in Coldwater, Michigan, where he attended school and later went to school in Elmira, New York. At seventeen he entered the drug and grocery business in Coldwater, where he remained eight years, when he went to Grand Ledge and formed the drug and grocery business of Schumaker and Tinkham, later assuming entire control of the business, which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. Schu- maker is single and in politics is a strong republican. He has held the position of alderman and city treasurer. He is one of the incorporators of the Grand Ledge Sewer Pipe Company and the Grand Ledge Canning Company, in both of which he is president. He was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 7,983 to 6,941 for Daniel Strange, democratic candidate, and 367 for Edward H. Har- bridge, prohibition candidate.
ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
Senator from the twentieth district, comprising the counties of Huron and San- ilac, was born in Bradford, Vermont, December 31, 1862, and acquired his educa- tion in the Bradfield Academy. He came to Michigan in 1884, locating at Lexing- ton where he has since been engaged in mercantile pursuits. He is largely interested in real estate and is partner in a prosperous bank at Marlette and also one at Ubly, Huron county, in both of which he is general manager. Mr. Sleeper is unmarried and in politics a republican, enjoying the unique political distinction this year that never was accorded to another man in his district. He was endorsed by both county conventions and the delegates being instructed to vote for him he was nominated by acclamation and elected to the senate of 1901- 1902 by a vote of 7,796 to 4,402 for Edwin C. Leipprandt, democratic candidate.
CHARLES SMITH,
Senator from the thirty-second district, composed of the counties of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon, was born in the township of Livonia, Wayne county, Michigan, December 24, 1839, and remained on the farm until 1857; attended the union school at Ypsilanti until 1862, with the exception of three months' service as a private in Company HI, First Regiment, Infantry. In 1863 he located in Houghton county, where he has since made his home. For the past twenty-two years he has been in the employ of copper smelting compa- nies, and at present is clerk of the smelting department of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. He is vice president of the First National Bank of Lake Lin- den and a director of the Northern Michigan Building and Loan Association of Hancock. In politics he is a republican and has served as superviser of his town- ship for nine consecutive terms. Mr. Smith represented his district in the lower house of the legislature during the terms of 1895-6 and 1897-8 and was elected to the senate of 1899-1900 and re-elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 12,028 to 4,193 for Patrick H. O'Brien, democratic candidate.
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GAD SMITH,
Senator from the thirty-first district, comprising the counties of Alger, Dickin- son, Iron and Marquette, was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, December 26, 1845, where his education was acquired in the public schools. He enlisted as private in Co. G, 19th Connecticut volunteer infantry, early in 1862 and served until the close of the year 1865, when he was mustered out as captain of Co. D, 2d Connec- ticut heavy artillery, and returned to Connecticut and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1866 he was elected to the legislature of Connecticut. In June, 1873, he located at Negaunee, Michigan, engaging with the Iron Cliffs Company as ac- countant. He removed to Marquette in 1876, and has held the office of county clerk, register of deeds; and deputy collector of customs, district of Superior, and was admitted to the bar of Marquette county in 1881. Mr. Smith is married and has always been a strong republican. He was elected to the senate of 1901- 1902 by a vote of 10,587 to 2,687 for William McGinty, democratic candidate, and 257 for Frank D. Verran, prohibition candidate.
FREDERICK F. SOVEREIGN,
Senator from the seventh district, comprising the counties of Berrien and Cass, was born in Bristol, Elkhart county, Indiana, August 27, 1846. He removed to Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1862, and entered Valparaiso Male and Female College, where he remained until 1864, when he enlisted as private in Co. C, 131st Indiana, and was discharged as orderly sergeant of Co. B, 151st Indiana, September 20, 1865. He re-entered Valparaiso college, from which he graduated in 1866, and began the study of medicine in Rush Medical College of Chicago, Illinois, graduating from that institution in February, 1869. He came to Michi- gan in 1874, where he has successfully practiced his profession in Three Oaks, and held various township offices, being school director eighteen years and school in- spector of Three Oaks township for twenty years. In politics a strong republican, he was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 9,754 to 7,926 for Thomas G. Rix, democratic candidate.
AUGUSTUS W. WEEKS,
Senator from the seventeenth district, comprising the tenth and eleventh wards of the city of Grand Rapids, was born in Keene, Ionia county, Michigan, May 27, 1850. His early education was acquired in the district schools and Grand Rapids high school, supplemented by one year at the Michigan Agricultural College. At the age of nineteen he began mercantile life as clerk in a dry goods store, later becoming a partner. He continued in the business ten years, and selling his interest he went into the dry goods business for himself, which he has since suc- cessfully conducted. Mr. Weeks is married and has held various township offi- ces. He represented his constituents of Kent county in the legislature of 1893- 1895 and was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 8,535 to 5,505 for Jacob Molesta, democratic candidate, and 459 for Valentine Geib, prohibition candidate.
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FRANK L. WESTOVER,
Senator from the twenty-fourth district, comprising the counties of Bay, Midland and Arenac, was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, December 17, 1853. Coming to Michigan in 1866, his education was acquired in the public schools of Bay county. He is a republican, and held the office of county clerk during the years of 1894-1896; studied law and practiced six years. He is at present editor of Bay City Tribune, and was elected to the senate of 1901-1902 by a vote of 8,869 to 7,674 for George B. Stanford, democratic candidate, and 359 for Louis R. Russell, prohibition candidate.
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.
C. SPENCER ADAMS,
Representative from Van Buren county, was born in Joliet, Illinois, February 25, 1851. He removed to Lawton, Michigan, at the age of five years and received his education in the common school at that place. He has held the various village offices of president, trustee, recorder, assessor and treasurer. Mr. Adams is married, and has been a successful hardware merchant for twenty years. He is an enthusiastic devotee of fraternalism, being a member of the Maccabees, Mod- ern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias and for years an active worker in the Masonic fraternity from the blue lodge to the mystic shriners. He is a strong republican, and was elected to the legislature of 1901-1902 by a vote of 4,759 to 3,381 for Edwin A. Chase, democratic candidate, and 146 for Franklin P. Russell, prohibition candidate.
ROBERT ALWARD,
Representative from the second district of Ottawa county, was born in Norfolk county, Province of Ontario, November 12, 1844. His parents were of Pennsyl- vania Dutch descent. After the death of his mother the family became separated and young Robert found a home with a farmer in Canada, where he lived until nineteen years of age; during which time he acquired a common school education. Came to Michigan in the fall of 1863, and worked in the mills and lumber woods for four years. On April 14, 1867, he was married to Miss Alvevra Barton of New York state. Their family consists of five boys and four girls. He settled on a farm which he still owns and occupies in the township of George- town. In politics he is a republican; was township treasurer four years; super- visor seven years; vice president and chairman of the board of directors of the Kent, Allegan and Ottawa Counties Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company; represented his county before the board of equalization; was a candidate to the house of 1892-1893, but was defeated by the democratic landslide; was elected to the house for the terms of 1897-1898 and 1899-1900, and re-elected to the house of 1901-1902 by a vote of 2,521 to 1,549 for Cornelius Struik, democratic candidate.
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JAMES W. AMES,
Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 12, 1864. At the age of eleven he was apprenticed to learn the cooper's trade which he completed when seventeen years old. He entered the literary department of Straight University in his native city, after which he entered the medical department of Howard University, Washington, D. C., from both of which colleges he graduated, coming to Michigan in June, 1894, since which time he has been in the active practice of medicine. Dr. Ames is married and is a strong republican, having been elected to the legislature of 1901-1902, on the general legislative ticket, by a vote of 28,285 to 25,901 for Charles Dupont, highest democratic candidate.
SILAS L. BALLENTINE,
Representative from the first district of St. Clair county, was born in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, November 3, 1845. His education was acquired in the common schools. He came to Michigan in 1850, and after spending three years on a farm he entered the dry goods business as clerk in a store in Port Huron. He contin- ued in the business until 1867, when, in company with his brother, he formed the dry goods firm of S. L. & D. Ballentine. He is married, and has been a member of the board of education for nearly twenty-five years; was also one of the found- ers of the Commercial Bank, and a promoter of the narrow gauge railroad into the Thumb of Michigan. He is interested in the Port Huron City Electric Rail- way and other commercial interests in cityand county. Mr. Ballentine is a strong republican, and was elected to the legislature of 1901-1902 by a vote of 2,225 to 1,289 for Henry F. Marx, democratic candidate, and 991 for William J. Duff, inde- pendent republican.
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