USA > Michigan > Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1909-1910 > Part 72
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L. WHITNEY WATKINS,
Senator from the tenth district, comprising the counties of Hillsdale and Jackson, was born in the township of Norvell, Jackson county, Michigan, August 6, 1873. He was born and has always lived on the well known "Fairview Farm" which he now conducts, in company with his father, L. D. Watkins, the veteran farmer and stock- feeder of Michigan. Mr. Watkins' schooling was in the rural district school and later at the State Agricultural College, from which he graduated in 1893. His uncle Freeman C. Watkins, was a member of the first constitutional convention of Michigan. He has always been identified with progressive agriculture. He was appointed a member of the state board of agriculture by Governor Pingree in 1899, has served twice as president of the state association of farmers' clubs, twice as president of the Michigan improved livestock breeders' association, is a director of the West Michigan Fair and vice president of the Michigan State Fair. He is also a member of nearly every scientific organiza- tion of the state. Mr. Watkins is a Republican, and was elected to the senate Novem- ber 3, 1908, by a vote of 10,883 to 8,305 for Norris H. Branch.
JAMES E. WETER,
Senator from the eleventh district, comprising the counties of Macomb and St. Clair, was born at Palmyra, Lenawee county, Michigan, April 9, 1857, and was educated in the district schools and Adrian College. Mr. Weter is a wholesale dealer in eggs, and is also president of the Macomb County Savings Bank, of Richmond. He lived at the home of his birth until 1885 when he went to Richmond and began the wholesale egg business under the firm name of Weter, Fanning & Company, which business has con- tinued up to the present time. He has been president of the Macomb County Savings Bank since its organization in 1894. April 9, 1886, he was married to Miss Emma Whitmarsh, of Lenawee Junction, Lenawee county, Michigan, and has three daughters, Blanche, Grace and Mildred. He is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. O. T. M. Mr. Weter was president of the village of Richmond from 1892 to 1898. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate November 3, 1908, by a vote of 11,367 to 7,411 for John C. Lehr, 527 for Julius F. H. Harrison and 267 for Daniel W. Lamont.
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FRED C. WETMORE,
Senator from the twenty-seventh district, comprising the counties of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee and Wexford, was born at Rock Island, Illinois, November 23, 1867. His early life was spent in Illinois, Michigan and New
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York. He came to Ann Arbor in 1881 and entered the high school; removed to Plymouth in 1882 and graduated from the high school in 1885; resided at Jonesville from 1886 to 1888; entered the law department of the University of Michigan in October, 1888, receiving the degree of LL. B. in 1890 and the degree of LL. M. in 1891. He began the practice of law at Cadillac, September, 1891, and still continues in active practice. Mr. Wetmore is an active member of several fraternal orders, having served five years as Grand Master Workman of the A. O. U. W. and is now an officer of the Grand Lodge K. of P. He is a Republican; was appointed city attorney of Cadillac in 1896, serving five years, and again in that capacity from 1904 to 1906; elected prosecuting attorney of Wexford county three successive terms, 1900-1906; was elected to the senate of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 13,382 to 2 for Frank C. Selby and 1 for Joe Ashby.
CHARLES E. WHITE,
Senator from the seventh district, comprising the counties of Berrien and Cass, was born in Howard township, Cass county, Michigan, March 15, 1873, and received his education in the county schools and Niles high school, from which he graduated in June, 1894. He later attended the University of Michigan, graduating from the law department in 1897. In September, 1897, he was admitted to the bar and has since practiced his profession at Niles, Michigan. In 1898 he was elected a justice of the peace, served four years as chairman of the Republican city committee of Niles, Michigan, and is at present chairman of the Republican county committee of Berrien county. He is a member of the K. of P., F. & A. M., K. T. and Mystic Shrine. He was elected to the senate November 3, 1908, by a vote of 10,506 to 6,971 for John S. Beers, 384 for John W. Taylor and 377 for Lloyd East.
JOSEPH HERBERT WHITNEY,
Senator from the twenty-second district, comprising the county of Saginaw, was born at Newburg, Penobscot county, Maine, April 13, 1858. He removed with his parents to Saginaw county, Michigan, in 1868, and settled on a farm. He attended the district schools and the high schools of Saginaw; began teaching district school at the age of seventeen years, followed this occupation thirteen winters and worked on a farm during the summer. months. In 1886 he engaged in the hardware business at Merrill, his present occupation. Mr. Whitney is married and has five children. He has always taken an interest in the educational and business interests of the village, has been a member of the board of education eighteen years, president of the village several terms and township clerk. Mr. Whitney is president of the State Bank of Merrill, director of the Bank of Hemlock and vice president of the St. Louis Sugar Co. He is a Repub- lican; has been a member of the county committee twenty years; represented the third district of Saginaw county in the house of 1895-6; was elected to the senate of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908 by a vote of 8,526 to 8,050 for Wellington R. Burt, 218 for Chandler W. Stephenson and 548 for Albert Eynon.
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MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.
M. LIVY AGENS,
Representative from Mason county, was born in Orange, New Jersey, June 17, 1855, of Scotch and Irish descent. He received his education in the public schools, coming to Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1864. He was married to Eva Holmes, December 25, 1876. Mr. Agens has been engaged in farming and fruit growing since 1874 on his farm in Mason county. He has always been a Republican, and has held various offices of trust in his township. He is president of the State Grange Fire Insurance Co., and was recently elected president of the Grange Cyclone Insurance Co. He represented his district in the legislatures of 1905-6, 1907-8 and was again elected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,475 to 1,307 for Arthur M. Johnson. Mr. Agens, after several weeks sickness, died at his temporary home in Lansing, March 30, 1909.
CHARLES W. AUSTIN,
Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Salem township, Washtenaw county, Michigan, October 16, 1869, of American parentage. He was educated in the district schools, and was engaged in farming until 1901. He was united in marriage to Phebe E. Van Atta, October 31, 1904. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and I .O. O. F. Mr. Austin has always been a Republican and a conservative worker for the party, and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a plu- rality of 19.377.
HERBERT F. BAKER,
Representative from Cheboygan county, was born on a farm in Dover township, Lenawee county, Michigan, January 13, 1862. His ancestors were among the Quakers of the Puritan regime in the early history of Massachusetts. He spent his early years on his father's farm, received his education in the public schools and Adrian College, and taught school at the age of nineteen. He removed to Cheboygan county in 1889, where he engaged in teaching, and later in farming and proprietor of a country store. He was married to Miss Martha Roberts in 1891 and has one child. Has held the offices of township clerk, justice of the peace and supervisor. Is a member of the executive com- mittee of the Michigan State Grange, State Consul for the Modern Woodmen and a member of the Cheboygan Lodge of Elks. Mr. Baker is a Republican, was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,187 to 1,319 for Frank N. Klinginsmith.
WILLIAM L. BALDWIN,
Representative from the first district of Lenawee county, is a son of the late Harvey I. Baldwin, and was born in Cambridge township, Lenawee county, February 28, 1855. While he was yet an infant in arms his mother died, and shortly after her death his father and grandparents, with whom he lived, removed to a farm in Palmyra township, where he has since resided. His early education was acquired in the district schools of his township. He now owns one of the best farms in Lenawee county. For years he has been connected with the Lenawee county agricultural society and is now a mem- ber of its executive committee. Mr. Baldwin is married and has four children, two sons and two daughters. He is a Republican, and was elected to the legislature Novem- ber 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,917 to 2,558 for John C. Iffland, 202 for William S. Kimball and 19 scattering.
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WILLIAM HAZEN BALL,
Representative from the second district of Berrien county, was born at Boylston, Worcester county, Massachusetts, August 24, 1858, of American parentage. When two years of age he removed with his parents to Michigan, locating first at Dowagiac, at which place they resided two years. They then removed to Niles, where they resided two years thence moving to Coloma where they have since resided. Mr. Ball received his education in the public schools of Berrien county, supplemented by a business course at the Northern Indiana Normal College. He has been identified for the past thirty years with the business interests of Coloma, and is at present engaged in the banking, and lumber and coal business. He has always been a Republican and has served his township as clerk and supervisor. Mr. Ball was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,128 to 2,380 for Fred C. Franz.
ALONZO P. BEEMAN,
Representative from Cass county, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1841, of American parents. Received his education in the district schools of Pennsylvania. He came to Michigan in March, 1856, worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1862 enlisted in the 19th Michigan infantry, remaining until the close of the war. He re- turned to Cass county and purchased the farm on which he now resides. He married in 1862 and has five children. Is a member of W. J. May Post, G. A. R. and has been commander and quartermaster. He has held the offices of supervisor, fourteen years, chairman of the board of supervisors and county treasurer, two terms. Has always been a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,842 to 2,727 for Abner M. Moon, 143 for Myron D. Mack, and 109 for Herman L. Chapman.
WILLIAM J. BIERD,
Representative from the second district of Bay county, was born at Carrollton, Saginaw county, Michigan, September 25, 1872, of Irish and American parentage. He received his early education in the public schools of Saginaw county, and was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1893. In the fall of 1893 he located with his father on a farm in Williams township, Bay county, and has since followed that occupation. Mr. Bierd is unmarried. He is a Republican, has held the offices of township clerk, treasurer and supervisor of Williams township. He was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,169 to 1,446 for John H. Sharpe and 67 for Daniel Rodgers.
CHARLES O. BOUSSUM,
Representative from St. Joseph county, was born at Union City, Michigan, April 26, 1870, of American descent. Received his education in the common schools, supplemented by a course in several high schools. He is married and has one daughter. Mr. Boussum has been a resident of Michigan all his life. After finishing his school work, he engaged in farming for a few years, later accepting a position as foreman with the Lamb Knit Goods Co., Colon, which place he creditably filled for a continuous period of thirteen years, during which time he served Colon township as treasurer two terms; afterwards chosen justice of the peace and in the fall of 1904 was elected treasurer of St. Joseph county and reelected in 1906. He has also held the office of president of Centerville village and did efficient work during the campaign of 1908 as chairman of the Republican county committee. He was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,502 to 2,867 for Orrin C. Shane.
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THOMAS H. BROWN,
Representative from the second district of Wayne county, was born in Greenfield town- ship, Wayne county, Michigan, January 30, 1860, of English descent. He acquired his education in the district schools of Wayne county. Mr. Brown has always resided in Wayne county and has given his attention to farming. He was married to Louise Granzow in 1887 and they have one daughter. He is a Republican, has been super- visor of Greenfield township for the past ten years, was a member of the constitutional convention of 1907-8 from the first district of Wayne county, and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,539 to 1,423 for Frank E. Whipple and 110 for Gerrit Smits.
ERNEST J. BRYANT,
Representative from the second district of Lenawee county, was born in Michigan, May 2, 1873, of English parentage. He received his education in the Fayette Normal College and the Fayette Business University of Fayette, Ohio. Mr. Bryant has always been a farmer. He is married and resides on his farm in Lenawee county. He is a Republican, was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and was reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,387 to 2,418 for Henry H. Howes, 200 for Darwin H. Warren and 4 for William Kimball.
NOAH WHITTIER BURDICK,
Representative from Antrim county, was born at Dexter, Penobscot Co., Maine, September 6, 1855, of English and Welsh descent. Remaining at home and attending school until the fall of 1870, he entered a harness shop as an apprentice. In 1875 he opened a harness shop at Monson, Maine, remaining there about three years when he came to Millbrook, Mecosta county, and established a harness shop. In 1881 he removed to Traverse City and in 1883 to Mancelona, continuing in the harness business for about three years at the latter place when he disposed of this business to give his sole attention to official and private interests. Was married in 1881 to Lillie M. Bartlett and has one daughter. Mr. Burdick has been active in public affairs and has held the offices of village clerk and assessor, school inspector, township treasurer, justice of the peace, member of board of education and supervisor. Has held the office of Grand Chief Templar of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars of Michigan and was granted a life certificate of membership by the Grand Lodge. He has always been a Republican; represented the Antrim district in the legislature of 1899-1900; was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 from Antrim county, and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,019 to 618 for Alexander O. Campbell.
FRED J. BURNHAM,
Representative from the third district of Wayne county, was born in Wayne county, January 28, 1867, of English and German descent. He acquired his education in the common schools of Huron township. Mr. Burnham is married and has lived on a farm all his life. In the year 1882, he was elected supervisor and served four successive terms. He has always been an active Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,214 to 964 for George P. Coan and 180 for Clark T. Woodward.
WILLIAM R. BURNS,
Representative from the Schoolcraft district, comprising the counties of Alger, Luce, Mackinac and Schoolcraft, was born in Athens, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 15, 1872. Received his education in the Athens high school. He was united in marriage in 1902 to Elizabeth J. Lobb, of Negaunee, Michigan. Mr. Burns has served two terms as president of the village of Munising and has resided in Michigan for the past nine years. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,625 to 1,733 for Allan Stewart.
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COLIN PERCY CAMPBELL,
Representative from the third district of Kent county, was born in Walker township, Kent county, Michigan, July 3, 1877, of Scotch and American parentage. He received his early education in the district schools, attended Albion College and is a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan. Mr. Campbell has been em- ployed on the editorial staff of the Lawyer's Cooperative Pub. Co., of Rochester, N. Y., having been directly engaged in the preparation of the second edition of Abbott's Trial Brief Civil-Jury Issues. In April, 1900, he severed his connection with the Rochester firm to prepare a digest of the New York Court of Appeals Reports which he completed in July, 1901, and in the following September opened a law office in Grand Rapids and is now in active practice but resides in Walker township. Was one of the original publishers of the Michigan Serial Digest, later sole owner, finally sold his interest in the publication but was retained as editor. He is at the present time law editor for several technical trade magazines. He is a Republican, was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, without opposition, receiving all of the 2,690 votes cast. Mr. Campbell received the unanimous vote for speaker of the house of 1909-10.
CLIFTON J. CHAMBERS,
Representative from Gratiot county, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, September 23, 1864, of American parentage. He came to Michigan with his parents in 1878 and settled in New Haven township, Gratiot county. He obtained his education in the district schools of Ohio and at the Valparaiso, Indiana, Normal School and Business College. For a number of years he taught school during the winter season and was engaged in contracting and building during the summer months. Later he purchased a farm on which he lived until four years ago, when he moved to Ithaca. Mr. Chambers was married to Emma A. McWilliams in 1890 and has two children, a son and a daughter. He has held the offices of township treasurer, supervisor for seven consecutive years, and was elected county clerk in 1902 and reelected in 1904. He is a Republican, was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,135 to 2,486 for Vincent P. Cash.
DAVID G. CHANDLER,
Representative from Grand Traverse county, was born at Flushing, Genesee county, March 3, 1847. He received his education in the district schools of Lenawee and Monroe counties. Mr. Chandler is married and has always lived in Michigan. He removed to Grand Traverse county in 1864, his attention having been given to lumbering and farming. He is a Republican, has held the offices of sheriff, supervisor and member of the board of education, and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,896 to 1,273 for Daniel H. McMullen.
JOHN CLARKEN,
Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born at Ann Arbor, Wash- tenaw county, Michigan, in 1871, of Irish descent. He received his education in the public and parochial schools of Ann Arbor. He is single and has always resided in Michigan. At the beginning of the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in the United States navy with the Michigan State Naval Brigade and was assigned to the U. S. Steamer Yosemite, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Clarken is a molder by trade and is prominent in labor movements, having been identified as business agent of the Molder's Union, general organizer and vice president of the Brass Molder's Interna- tional Union, also of the Metal Polishers' District Council. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a plurality of 19,094.
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SHERIDAN J. COLBY,
Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Woodhull town- ship, Shiawassee county, Michigan, December 2, 1864. He worked on a farm until of age, attending school winters. In the year 1888, he removed to Detroit, canvassed about one year, worked as street car conductor about six years, attending the evening sessions of the Detroit College of Law. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1894, and since November of that year has been in the active practice of law. He is an advocate of the nomination of candidates for public office by a direct vote of the people and introduced the first bill in the Michigan legislature providing for the direct nomi- nation of state, county and district officers. He is a Republican and represented his district in the legislatures of 1899-1900, 1901-2, 1903-4, 1907-8, and was again elected November 3, 1908, by a plurality of 20,288.
ALMON WARD COPLEY,
Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Cass county, Mich- igan, in 1867, of English descent. He received his education in the high school of Decatur, Michigan, and attended the University of Michigan, graduating from the law department. Mr. Copley is married, and has been a resident of Michigan all his life. Since 1892, he has been in active practice of the law, with offices at present in the Moffat building, Detroit. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a plurality of 19,857.
LOUIS C. CRAMTON,
Representative from Lapeer county, was born in Hadley township, Lapeer county, December 2, 1875, of American descent. He was educated in the Lapeer high school, took a partial course in the literary department of the U. of M., and is a graduate of the U. of M. law school of 1899. Mr. Cramton is married. He has been law clerk of the state' senate three times, was deputy commissioner of railroads from February 1, 1907, to the establishment of the commission; secretary of the Michigan railroad commission from September 30, 1907, to December 31, 1908; three years president of the Zachariah Chandler Club of Lapeer county, and two years chairman of the Repub- lican county committee. He is a member of various fraternal orders, including the I. O. O. F., and is chairman of the judiciary committee in Michigan of the grand lodge of that order. He was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,251 to 1,854 for John W. Sculley and 275 for George J. Deverell.
GEORGE JOHNSON CUMMINS,
Representative from the Clare district, was born November 4, 1853, at Vienna, Warren county, New Jersey, and came with his parents in 1863 to Clarkston, Oakland county, Michigan, where the family resided, returning to Ann Arbor in 1871. He attended the Clarkston and Ann Arbor public schools and was graduated in 1875 from the law department of the University of Michigan. In 1876 he went to Farwell, Michigan, and in 1885 he removed to Harrison, his present home. Since 1876 he has practiced his profession in Clare county. He is a Republican and was twice elected mayor of the city of Harrison, and has also held the office of prosecuting attorney of Clare county for four terms. Mr. Cummins was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,855 to 1,271 for Charles W. Perry.
GILBERT A. CURRIE,
Representative from Midland county, was born on a farm in Midland township, Midland county, Michigan, September 19, 1882, of Scotch parents. His father came to Midland county in 1859 and was one of the earliest settlers of the county, Mr. Currie received
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his education in the common schools of the township, Midland high schools and was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1905. Since graduation he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Midland, but continues to reside in Midland township .. Mr. Currie is married. When twenty-three years of age, he was elected supervisor of his township and is now serving his third successive term; was elected April, 1908, chairman of the board of super- visors. He is a Republican, and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 1,845 to 1,111 for John G. Reifenberg.
DARWIN Z. CURTISS,
Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Huron county, Ohio, October 5, 1861, of French-Spanish descent. He lived on a farm until fifteen years of age, and acquired his education in the high school of Plymouth, Ohio, sup- plemented by a one year's course at Oberlin College. He taught school at the age of sixteen and two years later entered the railway and telegraph service continuing that work for ten years. In 1882 Mr. Curtiss began newspaper work on the Minneapolis Tribune and in 1885 founded the Daily Journal at Saginaw, and has also published daily papers in Battle Creek and Marquette. In 1901 he became resident manager of the American Press Association in Detroit, resigning this position in 1906, and later being employed by the Hearst Syndicate until 1908. He was married in 1886. Mr. Curtiss is a Republican, and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a plurality of 19,166.
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