Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1911-1912, Part 75

Author: Michigan. Dept. of State. cn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Lansing : [State of Michigan]
Number of Pages: 1060

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in the legislatures of 1901-2 and 1903-4, was elected to the senate of 1909-10 and re- elected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 6,357 to 3,778 for Vincent P. Cash.

LUCIUS 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. L. I) Watkins, his father, came from New Hampshire in 1834 and settled upon the land where the Watkins farm is located and the original tract has never passed from the family ownership. Mr. Watkins is married and now manages the farm, which is one of the largest in the state. He was appointed deputy state game and fish warden in 1896 by Hon. Chase S. Osborn and in 1899 was appointed by Governor Pingree a member of the state board of agriculture for a term of six years. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 7,831 to 5,628 for William B. Howlett, 345 for Delevan B. Reed and 201 for Byron S. Arger - singer.

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 159S. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate of 1909-10 and reelected November S. 1910, by a vote of 8,147 to 5,632 for John H. Sullivan, 292 for William O. Randall and 293 for Philip Pellerin.

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. 1501. 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 le profession at Niles, Michigan. In 1898 he was elected a justice of the peace, served four years as chairman of the Republican city committe of Niles, Michigan, and is at present chairman of the Republican county committee of Berrien county. From 1904 to 1908 he served as prosecuting attorney 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 of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 6,814 to 5,195 for Samuel C. Thom[ and 312 for H. S. McNorton.

MILAN D. WIGGINS,

Senator from the eighth district, comprising the counties of Allegan and Van Bund was born at Independence, Ohio, in 1846, of English parents. He was educated at Hiram and Oberlin colleges. His father died in 1850 and until 1565 he lived on a farm with his uncle. He taught school four years and was in the mercantile business until 1876. Mr. Wiggins is married and has been a resident of Michigan Twenty six Jean He represented the second district of Van Buren county in the state Iegulature of LAND and 1891 and held the office of supervisor for six years. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate November 8, 1910, by a vote of 6,026 to 2 527 for Benjamin F Granger and 1944 for H. B. Northrup.

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MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.

HARVEY S. AMERSON,

Representative from Antrim county, was born in Illinois, November 29, 1875, of Ger- man and English descent, and received his education in the Chicago public schools. For ten years he was traveling salesman for the John V. Farwell Company and later embarked in the mercantile business at Elk Rapids. He married Louise E. Dougherty, youngest daughter of Hon. A. K. Dougherty, and has two children, a boy and a girl. He has been treasurer of the Antrim County Republican Club since its organization, a member of the Antrim county executive committee six years and has always been active in promoting his section. He is a Shriner, Knight Templar, Odd Fellow and a member of the Elks. Mr. Amerson is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,022 to 1 for Cassius Mitchell and 1 for George Sharp.

NOBLE ASHLEY,

Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born at South Ferriby, Lincolnshire, England, September 30, 1863, and was educated in the English and Cana · dian grammar schools. At the age of nine years he emigrated with his father's family to Sarnia, Ontario, and began to learn the printer's trade on the Sarnia Observer. In 1880, his parents having both died, he located in the city of Detroit, and followed the occupation of printer. He was married in 1888 to Florence E. Kelley, of Glencoe, Ontario, and has three sons. He is a member of many fraternal orders and has held several important offices in the same. Mr. Ashley has always been a Republican and served in the legislature of 1903-4. He was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a plurality of 8,375.

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 of 1909-1910 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a plurality of 8,499.

PAUL J. AVERILL,

Representative from the first district of Kent county, was born at Berlin, Ottawa county, Michigan, March 20, 1857, of English parentage. He was educated in the Coopersville high school. He has always resided in Michigan, having been a resident of Grand Rapids since 1882. His early life was spent on a farm; later he became a traveling salesman, and for the past twenty years has been engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Averill is married. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 6,177 to 4,607 for Henry A. Eckert and 847 for George Roelofs.

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

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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. He is a Republican, was elected to the legislatures of 1907-8 and 1909-10, and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,434 to 1,022 for Henry J. A. Todd. Mr. Baker was elected speaker of the house of 1911-12.

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 has served cight terms as supervisor. He was elected to the legislature of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,006 to 1,597 for Leonard S. Mann, and 69 for Lorenzo S. Wilmoth.

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 of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,514 to 1,633 for Theodore N. Perry

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 morived 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 follower that occupation. Mr. Bierd is unmarried. He is a Republican and has held the offions of township clerk, treasurer and supervisor of Williams township. He was elected to the legislatures of 1907-8 and 1909-10, and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,260 to 787 for William P. Wise.

WILLIS F. BRICKER,

Representative from Ionia county, was born at Ada, Hardin county, Ohio, May 20. 1854, of Dutch and English descent. Ilis education was acquired in the district anhouls He came to Ionia county, Michigan, in 1867, locating in Boston township, For the past thirty years he has been engaged in the dry goods, bazaar and clothing busines and owns and operates two large farms near Belding Mr. Bricker has dealt extensively

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in Belding real estate, having built fourteen fine business buildings and over forty houses, all modern in every respect. He was elected alderman of Belding one term; mayor six times, and was representative in the state legislature of 1897-8. He is a Democrat and was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,797 to 2,778 for William J. Carbaugh and 775 for Ed. S. Townsend.

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, was elected to the legis- lature of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,003 to 1,302 for Frank Whipple and 81 for Albert J. Lauther.

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 of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,322 to 1,055 for Charles E. Downing and 78 for Charles H. Tandy.

ASHMON H. CATLIN,

Representative from the second district of Ingham county, was born at Hudson, Lena wee county, Michigan, April 19, 1869, of Irish and French ancestry. He received his educa- tion in the district and public schools of Wayland. In 1881 he removed with his parents to Le Roy township, Ingham county, where he has since resided. Mr. Catlin is married and has three sons. He was elected president of the Webberville State Bank at their annual meeting in 1909 and holds the position at the present time. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Gleaners. He has held the office of township treasurer two years, and was supervisor for nine consecutive years, receiving his largest plurality at the last election for that office. In 1909 he was chairman of the board of supervisors of Ingham county. He is a Democrat and was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,278 to 2,203 for Garry E. Sanders and 196 for Banker W. Cade.

FRANK CHAMBERLAIN,

Representative from the second district of Allegan county, was born in Branch county, Michigan, August 31, 1858, of English parentage. He was educated in the public schools and at the Valparaiso, Indiana, Normal. His parents died when he was five years of age and he afterwards resided with Dr. Daniel Wilson, a physician and farmer of Branch county, until the death of the latter in 1879. He attended school at Valparaiso in the fall of 1880 and the summer of 1881, being employed as a teacher in Allegan county in the winters of 1880-81. He went to Wayland in the fall of 1881 and has since resided there, with the exception of one year spent in Lake and Osceola counties. He was mar- ried in 1884 to Miss Ella J. Furber, of Leighton township, Allegan county, and they have two children, a son who resides in Gillette, Wyoming, and a daughter at home. Mr. Chamberlain settled on a farm in Wayland township in 1890 and resided there until 1906 when he located at Wayland. He was treasurer four years, supervisor six years and president of Wayland two years. He is a Republican and was elected to the legis- lature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,186 to 601 for Sherman Moored, 35 for John F. Eesley and 1 for William F. Tiefenthal.

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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 legislatures of 1907-8 and 1909-10, and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,614 to 1,727 for Dewitt C. Vought and 174 for James B. Gardner.

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 Lena wee 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 of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,242 to 389 for Charles A. Bugbee and 239 for William H. Henderson.

WALTER H. CLARK,

Representative from the second district of Ottawa county, was born in Robinson town- ship, Ottawa county, of English parents. He was educated in the public schools and West Michigan Business College. He was married June 28, 1895. Mr. Clark was super- visor six years and county treasurer of Ottawa county four years. He taught school two years and was engaged in the lumber business and in farming for several years He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,707 to 648 for John F. Wilde and 54 for Cliff Scott.

ALMON WARD COPLEY,

Representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Cass county, Mich- igan, in 1867, of English parents. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1892. He is married, and resides at Detroit where he is engaged in the practice of law. His grandfather, Alexander Copley, was one of the pioneers of Cass county and Representative Copley keeps the olif homestead as his farm with the original house built in 1845. His father, Hon Alexander B. Copley, was representative in the state legislature five terms. Mr. Copley is a director of the First State Bank of Decatur, Michigan, which bank is the successor of one founded by his father, A. B. Copley. He was a member of the Taft party to the Philippines in 1905. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1909-10 and reyberted November 8, 1910, by a plurality of 8,320.

GEORGE JOHNSON CUMMINS,

Representative from the Clare district, was born November 4, 1853, at Vienna, Warme 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 attenteel the Clarkston and Ann Arbor public schools and was graduated in 15;5 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 1576 he has practinil his profession in Clare county. He is a Republican and was twice clorient masur nl

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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 of 1909-10 and reelected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,957 to 995 for Arthur E. Dann.

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 his education in the common schools of the township and the Midland high school 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. Mr. Currie is married. When twenty-three years of age, he was elected supervisor of his township and served three successive terms, and was elected April, 1908, chairman of the board of supervisors. He is a Republican, and was elected to the legislature of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,165 to 949 for Henry Heisman and 1 for Ralph J. Hyde.

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 of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,328 to 633 for Edward Fagan, 127 for Herbert E. Nowlin, 100 for Charles A. Brott and 83 for Raymond Bentley.

FRED E. DUNN,

Representative from Sanilac county, was born in Port Huron township, St. Clair county, August 25, 1877. His early life was spent on his father's farm and he now owns a farm. He received his early education in the public schools and taught four years in the dis- trict schools. He graduated from Albion college in June, 1903, receiving the degree of A. B. He was married September 1, 1903, to Janet Hurd Strachan, and has one son. In the fall of 1903, he moved to Sanilac county and for the next six years served as superintendent of schools,-at Brown City for three years and Sandusky for three years. The following year he took post graduate work in the literary department of the uni- versity. Mr. Dunn was appointed to fill a vacancy in the board of school examiners in St. Clair county and was twice elected a member of said board by the supervisors of Sanilac county. He is a member of the Brown City lodge F. & A. M. and the O. E. S. After the university closed last June, he took up his residence at Croswell. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 3,417 to 1,462 for John Murphy.

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-

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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 of 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,104 to 1,700 for John Northon and 41 for Isaac N. Shepherd.

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. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislatures of 1907-8 and 1909-10 and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,025 to 970 for Daniel A. Holland and 135 for Joseph O. Bruneau.

WILLIAM S. EWING,

Representative from the first district of Marquette county, was born at Marquette. Michigan, July 13, 1869, of Irish and Scotch parentage. He was educated in the pub- lic schools. He has always resided in Michigan and has been for some time engaged in the farm implement business. He has held the office of township clerk, was supervisor seventeen years and justice of the peace eight years. Mr. Ewing is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 8, 1910, by a vote of 1,608 to 551 for Conrad Wellman and 139 for William Romback.

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 I. Westfall in 1869. 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 chairinan 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 legislatures of 1907-8 and 1909-10, and reelected November 8, 1910, by a vote of 2,430 to 2,341 for Frank R. Crandall and 102 for S. HI Hazzard.

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Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1911-1912, Part 75

Author: Michigan. Dept. of State. cn Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Lansing : [State of Michigan] Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Michigan. Dept. of State. cn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Lansing : [State of Michigan]
Number of Pages: 1060