USA > Michigan > Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1909-1910 > Part 73
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WILLIAM DAVIS,
Representative from Newaygo county, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, October 4, 1847, of Dutch and Irish parentage. He lived the life of a farmer's boy, attended district school winters and worked on his father's farm summers. He has been a resident of Michigan for twenty-six years and cleared up the farm where he resides and which he now owns. Mr. Davis is a Republican and has held the offices of school inspector, township clerk, five years, supervisor, twelve years, and has served two terms as county treasurer. He was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,495 to 1,213 for Joseph Gerber.
FREEMAN L. DECKER,
Representative from the Missaukee district, was born at Pinckney, Livingston county, Michigan, June 4, 1854. His education was obtained in the Pinckney public schools. While a resident of Livingston county, he served several terms as supervisor of his home township and also acted as deputy sheriff of the county. He removed to Missaukee county in 1881, and since that time has been a continuous resident of Lake City. Most of his time he has been engaged in farming, having improved a large amount of land, and also built a number of residences in the village of Lake City. He now resides upon, and personally conducts, one of the best farms in the county. He is a Republican, and has held the offices of village assessor, school assessor, justice of the peace and super- visor. Mr. Decker has held the office of supervisor for twenty-seven years, was chair- man of the board of supervisors for seventeen years, school assessor for twenty years, and president of the Missaukee county agricultural society for three years. He was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,510 to 1,100 for James A. McConnell.
CORNELIUS DEYOUNG;
Representative from Montcalm county, was born at Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 23, 1860. His education was acquired in the Grand Rapids public schools. In 1877 he removed with his parents to Crystal township. Was lumber inspector four years and in the general merchandise business three years in Fishville; removed in 1890 to Crystal, was town clerk for six years and township treasurer one year; member of the K. O. T. M., president of the Montcalm county K. O. T. M. association one year, and
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Great Second Master of the Guards of the Great Camp K. O. T. M. for two years. Mr. De Young is married. He has been a life long Republican, and was elected to the legis- lature of 1909-10, by a vote of 4,248 to 2,146 for George H. Lester.
WILLIAM M. DUNNING,
Representative from the first district of St. Clair county, was born in Canada, July 24, 1845, of Scotch and Irish parentage. He received his education in the common schools and has resided in Michigan since November, 1864. From 1864 to 1875, he was identified with the lumbering interests in eastern Michigan, and for the past thirty-two years has been engaged in farming and now resides on his farm in Burtchville township. He was married to Miss Ella Hollister, June 16, 1875. Mr. Dunning has always been a Re- publican, has held the offices of member of the board of review and township treasurer, was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,887 to 2,082 for Archibald C. Baker, 158 for M. Deal and 176 for William D. Adams.
FRANK H. DUSENBURY,
Representative from Isabella county, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, May 26, 1878, of American descent. He received his education in the Mt. Pleasant high school, the Saginaw common schools, and in June, 1902, he was graduated from the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan. In the same year he was elected prosecuting attorney of Isabella county and reelected in 1904. In 1906 Mr. Dusenbury was married to Edith E. Gorham, and during the past several years has been engaged in the practice of law at Mt. Pleasant. He is a Republican, and was elected to the legislature Novem- ber 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,726 to 2,213 for Michael Devereaux.
ADELBERT D. EDWARDS,
Representative from the third district of Houghton county, was born at Lincklaen, Chenango county, New York, June 15, 1856, of American parentage. He received his early education in the district schools and at the age of sixteen taught district school and worked on a farm during vacations. He also attended the Cincinnatus Academy, Cortland Normal School, N. Y., and the Michigan State Normal College and was grad- uated from the latter in 1882. After graduation he went to the copper country to teach but soon gave up teaching for bookkeeping and has been chief clerk with the Atlantic Mining Co., for over twenty years. Mr. Edwards has been identified with the public schools nearly a life-time and has held the offices of township clerk, treasurer, justice of the peace, supervisor, chairman of the board of supervisors and county commissioner of schools. He is a bachelor. Is a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,684 to 1,168 for William J. McKanna.
CHARLES ENGEL,
Representative from Sanilac county, was born at Gross Methling, Mecklenburg Schwerin. He attended school at Dargun, Germany, and night school at Detroit. At the age of twenty-one he emigrated to America, coming to Detroit, Michigan, on November 20, 1873. While in Detroit, he attended night schools during the years 1876-77, and in 1878 settled in Delaware township, Sanilac county, converting a wild piece of land into a nice farm. Mr. Engel held the office of township treasurer of Delaware town- ship in 1885 and 1886. In the year 1888 he was elected supervisor of said township and held this office for eleven successive years. In 1894 he was elected chairman of the board of supervisors of Sanilac county; was appointed U. S. census enumerator in 1900, and also acted in the same capacity at the last state census. Mr. Engel is a Repub- lican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,234 to 1,499 for Thomas G. McElhinney.
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EDWIN FARMER,
Representative from Livingston county, was born in Stockbridge township, Ingham county, May 28, 1862, of American parents. He received his education in the district schools, Michigan State Normal College and Devlin's Business College of Jackson. He is a farmer, lived in Ingham county until 1889 when he removed to Unadilla, Living- ston county, where he has since resided. He was married to Minnie L. Westfall in 1889 and has two children. He has held the office of township treasurer of Stockbridge township, Ingham county, two years, and supervisor of Unadilla township, Livingston county, four years and chairman of the board of supervisors, one year. He represented Livingston county before the state board of equalization in 1906. Mr. Farmer is a Democrat and was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,643 to 2,587 for Charles L. Johnston.
NATHANIEL L. FIELD,
Representative from the Chippewa district; was born of American parents in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, in 1868, and was educated in the public schools and academy. Afterwards taught school one year; worked in country store one year; was teller in Shelburne Falls National Bank four years; bookkeeper in First National Bank of Bridge- port, Alabama, three years; shipping clerk for Ara Cleshman Company, Auburn, Maine, one year, and has been in the general merchandise business at Rudyard for the past thirteen years. Mr. Field was married at Bridgeport, Alabama, and has three children. He has held the office of township treasurer two years, and has been supervisor five years. He was elected chairman of the county board of supervisors in 1908. Mr. Field is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,372 to 1,348 for H. Beecher Hitchcock.
CHARLES FLOWERS,
Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1845, of English and Dutch ancestors. His parents were Quakers. Mr. Flowers remained at home until about eighteen years of age, when he went to New York and secured a position as stenographer in the office of the Grand Trunk Railway, remaining there about one year. He then continued his education by attending the Collegiate Institute of Fort Edward, New York, where he remained two years. He was then employed by the government in North Carolina, in reporting military commissions during the reconstruction period. He went from there to New York and commenced the study of law; remained there but one year; came to Detroit in 1868, and established the practice of reporting in the courts. Mr. Flowers was appointed by Governor Baldwin as the first stenographer of the Wayne circuit court, which position he held for thirteen years. In 1869 he was employed to report the constitutional convention of Illinois; in 1872 to report the constitutional convention of Pennsylvania; and in 1873 to report the constitutional convention of Ohio, con- tinuing the study of law, while acting as stenographer, he was admitted to the bar in 1879, and in 1880 was elected circuit court commissioner, and reelected in 1882. In 1896 he was appointed corporation counsel of Detroit by Mayor Pingree, and held the office for four years; was also a member of the fire commission for four years, from 1895 to 1899. Mr. Flowers is a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1909-10, by a plurality of 19,444.
CHARLES FOLKS.
Representative from the second district of Jackson county, was born in Hanover town- ship, Jackson county, September 30, 1858, of English descent. He received his educa- tion in the district schools and Hanover high school. He taught school several winters, married in 1880 and moved on a farm in Pulaski township, Jackson county, where
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he has since resided. He owns a fine farm of 360 acres and gives his attention to general farming and stock raising. He has been secretary and treasurer for past eight years of the Citizens' Mutual Fire Insurance Co., of Pulaski. Mr. Folks is a Republican, was elected to the legislature of 1907-8, and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,012 to 2,512 for Oliver P. Richards.
PERLE L. FOUCH,
Representative from the first district of Allegan county, was born at Burnip's Corners, Allegan county, Michigan, March 30, 1875, of English descent. He attended the public schools, high school, the Michigan State Normal College, the Northern Indiana Law School at Valparaiso, receiving his education through his personal efforts. Mr. Fouch was reared on the farm but has followed the occupation of an attorney and has been in active practice of the law for the past eleven years. He is a Republican, has held the office of circuit court commissioner, was elected to the legislature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,928 to 1,345 for Albert L. Nichols and 87 for James Hartford.
LUDGER A. GELINAS,
Representative from the first district, Saginaw county, was born at Saginaw, July 31, 1867, of French descent. He acquired his education at the Hill school of Saginaw and North Division high school of Chicago. Mr. Gelinas was married in 1900 to Miss Julia Dieterich of Chicago, and they have two children. He is a contractor and with the exception of residence in Chicago from 1889 to 1900 he has lived in Michigan. He is a member of Keystone Lodge, F. & A. M., Lawn Chapter and Lincoln Park Com- mandery, Chicago, and Saginaw Temple of Shriners. He is a Republican, has held the office of alderman two terms, and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a plurality of 1,821.
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CHARLES I. GILES,
Representative from Muskegon county, was born at Coldwater, Michigan, December 20, 1864. He was educated in the Coldwater public schools. Mr. Giles was engaged in cigar making from 1879 to 1883, after which he located on a farm in Muskegon town- ship, and which he is at present conducting. He was supervisor of Muskegon township from 1895 to 1902, and resigned January 1, 1902, to accept the office of register of deeds of Muskegon county, which office he held for four years. He was defeated for a third term at the primaries, in a field of nine candidates. Mr. Giles was also chairman of the board of supervisors for two years. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,912 to 2,133 for Porter P. Misner.
MYLES F. GRAY,
Representative from the first district of Ingham county, was born at Parkhill, Ontario, April 25, 1869, of English descent. He received his education in the public and night schools of Parkhill. He spent his boyhood as a newsboy. At the age of sixteen he be- came editor of the Review at Richmond Hill, Ontario, and when twenty-two years of age purchased the Plymouth Mail at Plymouth, Michigan, which paper he published for eight years. He then purchased the Lansing Record but sold it within a year and has since conducted a job printing business. Mr. Gray was married to Myrtle M. Baker, of Wayne, in 1892 and they have two children. He has resided in Michigan for past twenty years. Mr. Gray is a Republican, was elected city clerk of Lansing in 1904 and reelected in 1905 and 1907 by increased majorities. He was elected to the legis- lature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,026 to 2,770 for Charles H. Chase and 266 for Lafayette Vandelinder.
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DAVID A. GREEN,
Representative from the first district of Oakland county, was born in the township of Bloomfield, Oakland county, November 2, 1862, his parents being among the early settlers of the county. He received his education in the public schools, supplemented by a course in a normal school, after which he spent two years in the western territories. He was married November 18, 1891, to Mary A. Hagerman, and they have two children. Mr. Green was appointed postmaster at Clarkston in 1891, under the Harrison adminis- tration, and served until 1896, when he resigned, and engaged in the produce business. He also served on the village council and was township treasurer two years. Mr. Green was also president of the Clarkston school board for several years. In 1903 he engaged in the mercantile business in the city of Pontiac, which he is still conducting. He is a Republican, and has been active for a number of years in the politics of the county. Mr. Green is a member of the following orders, B. P. O. E., O. E. S., F. & A. M., Royal Arch Masons, M. W. A., K. O. T. M., and A. I. U. He was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,058 to 2,035 for Elmer R. Webster and 164 for Charles S. Bartlett.
WILL ERWIN HALE,
Representative from Eaton county, was born at Eaton Rapids, Michigan, October 3, 1858. He acquired his education in the district schools, Eaton Rapids public school, and the State Agricultural College, graduating from the latter with the class of 1882. With the exception of four years residence in the city of Eaton Rapids, Mr. Hale has always lived on the farm where he now resides. He was married April 8, 1866, to Elida Brainerd, and has two sons. He has always been a Republican, having held the offices of township clerk five years, supervisor of Hamlin township eight years, supervisor of Eaton Rapids city one year, and chairman of the board of supervisors. He was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,390 to 3,197 for Isaiah Boatman.
MICHAEL HARRIS,
Representative from Menominee county, was born in Ireland, September 19, 1852. He received his education in the national school of that country. He came to the United States in the year 1866, settled in Hancock, Michigan, and engaged in mining for three years. He moved to Marquette in 1869 and was employed as lumber inspector. He was married in 1872 to Margret Barry and has two sons and four daughters. He moved to Spaulding, Menominee county, in 1876, purchased a farm and engaged in lumbering and general store business. He has held the offices of township clerk and justice of the peace of Spaulding township, and was elected supervisor of Harris town- ship in 1903 and reelected in 1904. Mr. Harris is an active Republican, and was elected to the legislatures of 1905-6, 1907-8 and again elected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,970 to 1,041 for John Doe.
JESSE MONROE HATCH,
Representative from the first district of Calhoun county, was born in Lee township, Calhoun county, Michigan, May 27, 1858, of Scotch and Irish descent. He received his education at the Marshall high school and the law department of the University of Michigan. He is married and has seven children, four boys and three girls. Two of the sons are now studying law at the U. of M. He is in moderate circumstances, has a lucrative law practice, and owns considerable real estate in Marshall and Battle Creek, Calhoun county. He also owns a half interest in the Calhoun County Abstract Company. Mr. Hatch is a Republican, and has held the office of circuit court commissioner two terms and prosecuting attorney two terms. He was elected to the legislature Novem- ber 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,165 to 2,876 for L. J. Wolcott, 153 for C. B. Packard and 118 for Lyman Jacobs.
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JAMES MATTHEW HAVILAND,
Representative from the second district of St. Clair county, was born at Hanover, Jackson county, Michigan, July 9, 1859, of English, Scotch and Irish descent. He was educated in the district schools of Canada and Michigan. His father, James M. Haviland, enlisted in company A, 20th Michigan infantry, in 1862. In the year 1865, Mr. Haviland emigrated with his parents to Townsend, Norfolk county, Ontario, residing in Ontario for nine years. In 1875, he removed with his parents to St. Clair county, Michigan. He was married April 4, 1877, to Maggie Kearn, of Greenwood, St. Clair county, and has two sons and two daughters. . He remained in Michigan until 1882 when he removed to Kansas, remaining there two years, after which he returned to Michigan, where he has since resided. Mr. Haviland has always been an active Republican, and has served two terms on the board of supervisors in the township of Columbus. He is now pro- prietor of Belle River Valley farm, which comprises 205 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. He is a member of Archie Campbell Camp No. 216 Michigan division Sons of Veterans. He was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,928 to 2,277 for Alfred J. Rochon, 132 for William Ross and 67 for James Blackie.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HECKERT,
Representative from Van Buren county, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1840, of American parentage. His education was acquired in the common schools, Canaan academy, and Vermillion institute-a Presbyterian College, all in Ohio. He enlisted April 20, 1861, in the 16th Ohio volunteer infantry, under the first call for troops; re- enlisted August, 1861, for three years, or during the war, in the same regiment; was promoted from private to first lieutenant, successively; served in West Virginia under General Rosecrans; in Kentucky and Tennessee under General Buell; in Mississippi under General Grant, and was present at the surrender of Vicksburg. He also served under General Sherman, and participated in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi. Served under Generals Canby and Banks, in the department of the Gulf to the end of enlistment. He was captured at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou and was held a prisoner of war five months, being exchanged from Libby prison. At the close of the war, he returned to college and was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, in 1869. In the same year he located in South Haven, Van Buren county, Michigan and began the practice of law, later was elected circuit court commissioner and prosecu- ting attorney, serving in these capacities six and one-half years. He also served eight years as probate judge. Mr. Heckert was a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1907-8. He has been in practice of law since 1869. His family now consists of one daughter, his wife having died November 14, 1908. Mr. Heckert has, since the for- mation of the Republican party, always been an active worker in its ranks. He is a 32d degree Mason and belongs to the DeWitt Clinton Consistory and Saladin Temple of Shriners, Grand Rapids. He was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,442 to 2,458 for George T. Waber, 126 for John W. Frantz and 1 for George L. Rich.
JAMES HENRY,
Representative from the second district of Calhoun county, was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1859, of Scotch and Irish descent. He received his educa- tion in the public schools of Pittsburg. Is married, has two sons, and has resided in Michigan for twenty-nine years. Mr. Henry is an active Republican, has held the offices of justice of the peace, member of the board of supervisors twelve years, and has been chairman of the board. He was elected city assessor of Battle Creek in 1900, 1903 and reelected in 1906. In 1900 he received the unanimous nomination for judge of probate but was defeated. In 1902 he platted the village of Urbandale which is now a beautiful and prosperous suburb of Battle Creek. He was elected to the legis- lature of 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,408 to 1,734 for Moses E. Kellogg, 263 for Lewis W. Bergderfer and 404 for H. P. Salting.
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JOHN HOEFT, JR.,
Representative from the Presque Isle district, comprising the counties of Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle, was born at Detroit, Michigan, Novem- ber 29, 1874, of German descent. He acquired his education in the public schools, high school, and business university of Detroit, Michigan. He was married in 1896 and has four children. Mr. Hoeft engaged in farming for a number of years and has held the following offices; township clerk, county treasurer, justice of the peace and township school inspector. He was also deputy register of deeds. Mr. Hoeft has been a resident of Michigan all his life and has been located in Presque Isle county since 1893. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 4,003 to 1,225 for James R. Snody.
VICTOR F. HUNTLEY,
Representative from the Wexford district, comprising the counties of Lake and Wexford, was born at Belmont, Franklin county, New York, June 6, 1854, of English descent. He was educated in the Grand Rapids and Big Rapids high schools and also attended Albion College for one year. He is married and has one son. Mr. Huntley located in Manton, in May, 1886, coming from Jennings, Michigan, where he had resided for three years. He received a medical education in Chicago and was a student in the office of W. A. Whippy, Goshen, Indiana. He was township clerk four years, village assessor seven years, and also served on the board of education. He is a member of the Michigan State Medical Society and the Tri-county Medical Society. He also served two terms as pension examiner on the Kalkaska board and was postmaster nine and one-half years, after October 1, 1897. Mr. Huntley is a 32d degree Mason, a Shriner, and is Past Master of Blue Lodge 347, Manton. His son is associated with him in his medical practice. Mr. Huntley is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, receiving 3,635 of a total of 3,637 votes.
PETER JENSEN,
Representative from Delta county, was born in North Germany, November 14, 1863, of Danish descent. He was educated in the common schools in Northern Germany, and came to America in the summer of 1881, locating at Escanaba, June 21, of that year. He found employment with the farmers of Bay de Noc township, Delta county, and resided there until March 1, 1893, when he moved to Escanaba and became a member of the firm of Hansen & Jensen, engaging in a general fish business, which firm is in business at the present time. Mr. Jensen has served four years on the city council and on various committees; has also held the office of township highway commissioner. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 3,270 to 1,101 for Victor Laporte and 1 for Otto Stegath.
CHARLES C. JOHNSON,
Representative from Mecosta county, was born at Plainwell, Allegan county, Michigan, October 3, 1864, of American parentage. He was educated in the common schools. Mr. Johnson was married in 1888. He moved to Mecosta in 1886 and in 1905-6 served as township clerk, and in 1907-8 was supervisor of his township. He has always been a resident of Michigan. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1908, by a vote of 2,507 to 1,445 for Charles W. Crimmins.
FREDERICK KAPPLER, JR.,
Representative from the second district of Houghton county, was born at Negaunee, Michigan, November 16, 1866, of German descent. He acquired his education in the public schools of Negaunee and Lake Linden. He was married to Miss Magdalena Steffes,
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