USA > Michigan > Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1915-1916 > Part 76
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JUSTICE KUHN.
[Term expires December 31, 1917.]
Franz C. Kuhn was born at Detroit, Michigan, February 8, 1872, of German parents. He was educated in the public schools of Mt. Clemens. In 1893 he graduated from the literary department of the University of Michigan and in 1894 from the law department. From 1894 to 1896 he served as circuit court commissioner of Macomb county; served three terms as prosecuting attorney; elected probate judge in 1904; reelected 1908, resigned June 6, 1910, and was appointed attorney general by Governor Warner. He was nominated for the office of attorney general at the Republican state convention held at Detroit, October 6, 1910, and elected November 8, 1910. He was appointed to the supreme bench by Governor Osborn on September 6, 1912, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles A. Blair. At the Republican state convention held at Detroit on September 24, 1912, he was nominated for the office of justice of the supreme court to fill out the unexpired term and was elected November 5, 1912, by a vote of 183,305 to 154,474 for George L. Yaple, 5,337 for Garry Dohm, 175,346 for Edwin H. Lyon, 344 for George Yaple, 220 for Willard J. Turner, 125 for Milan F. Martin and 1 for C. A. Keiser.
JUSTICE STONE.
[Term expires December 31, 1917.]
John W. Stone was born at Wadsworth, Medina county, Ohio, July 18, 1838, of American parentage. He is a widower, Mrs Stone having died in January, 1902. He was educated in the public schools and academy at Spencer, Ohio. In April, 1856, he came to Michigan and settled in Allegan county. He was elected county clerk of Allegan county in 1860 and reelected in 1862. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1862, and in 1864 was elected prosecuting attorney of Allegan county and twice re- elected. In April, 1873, he was elected circuit judge of the twentieth judicial circuit, comprising the counties of Allegan and Ottawa. In November, 1874, he resigned the office and removed to Grand Rapids and resumed the practice of law. In 1876 he was elected a member of Congress to represent the fifth congressional district, composed of Kent, Allegan, Ottawa, Muskegon and Ionia counties, and was reelected in 1878. In 1882 he was appointed United States Attorney for the western district of Michi- gan. He removed to Houghton in May, 1887, and practiced law there until April, 1890, when he was elected circuit judge of the twenty-fifth judicial circuit, composed of Marquette, Delta, Menominee, Dickinson and Iron counties. He held this office until December 31, 1909. Mr. Stone was elected justice of the supreme court April 5, 1909, for the term beginning January 1, 1910, by a plurality of 134,341.
JUSTICE OSTRANDER.
[Term expires December 31, 1919.]
Russell Cowles Ostrander was born at Ypsilanti, Michigan, September 1, 1851, and removed with his parents to Lansing in April, 1858, where he has since resided. He was educated in the ward and high schools of Lansing, and received a practical and thorough commercial education. He entered the law department of the University of Michigan in 1874, receiving his degree in 1876, in which year he was admitted to the bar. In 1876 and again in 1878 was elected circuit court commissioner, and in 1880 prosecuting attorney of Ingham county. Was city attorney of Lansing in 1895-6, and mayor of the city in 1896-7. From its organization in 1895 to December 31, 1904, he was a member of the state board of law examiners. Mr. Ostrander was nominated by the Republicans in convention at Saginaw, September 8, 1904, for justice of the supreme court, and was elected November 8, 1904, for the term of seven years and re- elected April 4, 1911, by a plurality of 132,317. Justice Ostrander was chief justice during the year 1911.
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JUSTICE BIRD.
[Term expires December 31, 1919.]
John E. Bird was born at Clayton, Lenawee county, Michigan, December 19, 1862. He was educated in the high school and at Adrian College. He was admitted to the bar November, 1888, He was prosecuting attorney of Lenawee county from 1895 to 1899; was elected to the office of attorney general for the terms of 1905-6 and 1907-8 and reelected November 3, 1908. He was appointed by Governor Warner June 6, 1910, justice of the supreme court to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice Mont- gomery, and was elected November 8, 1910, to fill out the unexpired term. At the election held April 3, 1911, he was elected for the full term by a plurality of 131,286.
JUSTICE MOORE.
[Term expires December 31, 1921.]
Joseph B. Moore, A. M., LL. D., was born at Commerce, Oakland county, Michigan, November 3, 1845. His early education was acquired in the common schools, supple- mented by parts of three years at Hillsdale College, and one year in the law department of the Michigan University. In June, 1879, Hillsdale College conferred upon him the degree of A. M. and in June, 1903, the degree of LL. D. At the outbreak of the Civil War an elder brother enlisted. The two boys who were left at home also desired to go to the front; the family could spare but one of them, so, on one December morning in 1864, they drew cuts for the privilege of serving their country. The lucky number fell to Joseph B., who went at once to Detroit, where he enlisted. He was in the bar- racks but ten days when, to his great disappointment, the surgeon in charge refused to accept him and sent him home. He was nineteen years old when he made this at- tempt. The next day after the surgeon's edict his brother went to Detroit, where he enlisted and served faithfully until the close of the war. Mr. Moore removed to Lapeer in 1868 and engaged in the practice of the legal profession. He was elected mayor of Lapeer, prosecuting attorney of Lapeer county for two terms, and was a promi- nent member of the state senate in 1879. He served as judge of the sixth judicial circuit for eight years. Justice Moore is much interested in the subject of interna- tional arbitration, and for several years has been a member of the executive commit- tee of the Lake Mohonk Conference. He was elected justice of the supreme court on the Republican ticket for the term of ten years, in the spring of 1895 and reelected April 3, 1905, for the term of eight years. At the Republican state convention held at Lansing, February 11, 1913, Justice Moore was nominated to succeed himself and was elected April 7, 1913, by a plurality of 28,039. Justice Moore was chief justice during the years 1904, 1905 and 1912.
JUSTICE STEERE.
[Term expires December 31, 1921.]
Joseph Hall Steere was born at Addison, Lenawee county, May 19, 1852. He was educated at the Raisin Valley Seminary, Adrian high school and University of Michigan, graduating from the latter institution in the classical course, with the degree of A. B. Subsequently studied law for two years in the office of Geddes and Miller, of Adrian, and was admitted to the bar upon examination. He taught school for some time before engaging in the practice of law. He served as circuit judge of the eleventh judicial district for a number of years. Mr. Steere was appointed to the supreme bench August 30, 1911, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Frank A. Hooker, and at the general election held on November 5, 1912, he was elected to fill the unexpired term. At the election held on April 7, 1913, he was elected for the full term by a plurality of 29,424.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ยท
STATE OFFICERS.
GOVERNOR.
WOODBRIDGE NATHAN FERRIS,
Of Big Rapids, Michigan, was born in a log cabin January 6, 1853, four miles from Spencer, Tioga county, New York. For ten years he attended a country school. At the age of fourteen he entered the Spencer Union Academy. In his sixteenth year he entered Candor Union Academy. The following year he taught school at Fairfield, near Candor, New York, receiving $28.00 per month and "boarding round." He then entered Owego Free Academy, Owego, New York, boarding himself and working his way through school. He taught his second term of school at Fairfield and then entered the Oswego Normal and Training School. Here he came under the influence of Dr. E. A. Sheldon and Professor E. A. Strong. It was at the Oswego Normal and Training School that he met Helen Frances Gillespie, now Mrs. Ferris. In October, 1873, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan. He took the medical course with the idea of gaining knowledge that would aid him as a teacher. In 1874 he became principal of the Free Academy at Spencer, New York. On December 23 of that year he was married to Helen Frances Gillespie. In 1875 he organized the Freeport Business College and Academy at Freeport, Illinois. At the suggestion of Dr. Tooke, of Dixon, Illinois, Mr. Ferris was induced to give up his work at Freeport and enter Rock River University as principal of the Normal Department. In 1877 he organized in Dixon, Illinois, a business college and academy. In 1879 he was elected Superintendent of Schools at Pittsfield, Illinois, and here he remained five years. In the fall of 1884 Mr. and Mrs. Ferris and son, Carleton, went to Big Rapids where he organized the Ferris Industrial School. They opened their school in two small rooms in a business block and enrolled fifteen students the first day. Later the school was moved to the Northern National Bank Block and a year later the third floor of the Roof Block was added as well as a portion of the second floor of the bank building. The school grew rapidly and in 1893 the main building of the Ferris Institute was built. It was incorporated in 1894 with a capital stock of $50,000. At present, the school has sixteen well organized departments with a total enrollment for the year of over two thousand students. Mr. Ferris was a candidate for Congress in the eleventh district in 1892. In 1904 he was a candidate for governor on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Ferris has lectured in nearly every city and village of Michigan and extensively in other states. He has been a great reader all his life and is a man of tremendous energy and strong convictions. In the Ferris Institute character is first, scholarship second. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferris: Carleton G., in 1876, Clifford, June 30, 1881, and who died September 28, 1881, and Phelps Fitch, born April 16, 1889. Mrs. Ferris taught in the Ferris Institute until 1901. Her work and in- fluence have been of great value to the institution and have made possible whatever success Mr. Ferris has attained. Mr. Ferris was the Democratic choice for governor at the primary election August 27, 1912, and was elected November 5, 1912. He was reelected November 3, 1914, by a vote of 212,063 to 176,254 for Chase S. Osborn, 36,747 for Henry R. Pattengill, 11,056 for James Hoogerhyde, 3,830 for Charles N. Eayrs, 497 for Herman Richter and one for W. M. Harris.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. LUREN D. DICKINSON,
Of Charlotte, Michigan, was born in Niagara county, New York, April 15, 1859, of English and Irish descent. His parents removed to Eaton county, Michigan, in 1860, where he has since lived, receiving his education in the district schools and the Charlotte
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high school. He taught school during the winter for nineteen years and was at one time principal of the Potterville high school. He was married in 1888 to Zora D. Cooley and has one adopted daughter. Mr. Dickinson has been interested in farming, fruit- growing and stockraising for many years. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Charlotte, trustee of the Eaton M. E. Church and a member of the order of K. of P. He is a Republican, has been a member of the county committee for twenty- four years, was chairman of the representative committee four years, assessor of school district eleven years, town clerk, superintendent of schools under old system, supervisor several terms, and representative in the legislatures of 1897-8, 1905-6 and 1907-8. He was also a member of the senate of 1909-10. He was the nominee of the Republican party for lieutenant governor at the primary election August 25, 1914, and was elected November 3, 1914, by a vote of 215,288 to 158,173 for Emmet L. Beach, 37,344 for James N. McBride, 8,272 for Edward A. Kosten, 4,676 for Harry C. Doane and 21 scattering.
SECRETARY OF STATE. COLEMAN C. VAUGHAN,
Of St. Johns, was born at Machias, New York, August 1, 1857, of American parentage. He was educated in the district school and at Ten Broeck Academy. He learned the printer's trade on the Lapeer Clarion, worked two years in the Detroit Free Press com- posing room and later purchased the Clarion. In 1889 he purchased the Clinton Re- publican, which publication he has since published. Mr. Vaughan is married. He is interested in the timber and lumber business in the south and west, and in the bank- ing, building and loan and other business. He served two terms as president of St. Johns and was state senator in 1903 and 1911. Mr. Vaughan served four years as a member of the Republican state central committee, was a delegate to the Republican national convention that nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president, and has served upon three state boards by appointment of Governors Rich, Pingree and Warner. He was elected secretary of state November 3, 1914, by a vote of 221,688 to 146,601 for William L. McManus, Jr., 37,902 for Howard H. Batdorf, 11,393 for Hamilton S. McMaster, 4,793 for William T. Nash, 1 for John J. Corliss and 1 for Logan M. Cunning- ham.
STATE TREASURER. JOHN W. HAARER,
Of Ann Arbor, was born at Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 21, 1876, and acquired his education in the public schools of that place. He was engaged in the insurance business for a number of years and later was appointed deputy state treasurer. He is now vice president and cashier of the City National Bank of Lansing. From 1901 to 1903 he was president of the council of Ann Arbor. As a member of the Michigan National Guard he has served as battalion adjutant, captain, major, assistant inspector general and is now retired as major. He is a Mason, member of Ann Arbor Commandery and Moslem Shrine, also an Elk, and a member of the British Numismatic Society and Royal Societies Club of London, England. He was married January 6, 1903, to Klara A. Bissinger, and they have a son, nine years of age. Mr. Haarer was elected state treasurer in 1912, and reelected November 3, 1914, by a vote of 223,517 to 144,934 for John H. Robson, 36,127 for Frank J. Temple, 11,274 for Daniel L. Powell, Jr., 4,660 for John F. Eesley and 1,747 for Frank L. Temple.
AUDITOR GENERAL. ORAMEL B. FULLER,
Of Ford River, Delta county, was born at Jersey City, N. J., January 22, 1858, coming to Michigan in 1869. He received his education in the public schools of Lansing and Muskegon, to which latter city he removed in 1874. He engaged in the lumber business which he has followed until the present time as lumber inspector and commission dealer. He removed to Ford River, Delta county, his present home, in 1884. Mr. Fuller was
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married to Miss Jennie L. Van Zalingen, of Muskegon, in 1887. He is a Mason, member of Escanaba Commandery, Ahmed Temple of the Shrine at Marquette, DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Grand Rapids, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. He represented the Delta district, composed of the counties of Alger, Delta and Schoolcraft, in the house in 1893, 1895 and 1897; was speaker pro tem. of the house in 1897. He represented the thirtieth senatorial district, composed of the counties of Chippewa, Delta, Luce, Mackinac, Menominee and Schoolcraft, in the senate in 1901, 1903 and 1907 and was president pro tem. of the senate in 1903. He was super- visor of Ford River township for ten years, but resigned when he was elected auditor general in 1908 and is at present prominently connected with many business enterprises of Escanaba. He has always been a Republican. At the Republican state convention held in Detroit on September 29, 1908, he was placed in nomination for auditor general and was elected for the term of 1909-10. At the Republican convention held at Detroit, October 6, 1910, he was renominated without opposition. At the Republican conven- tion held at Detroit September 24, 1912, he was again nominated. At the Republican convention held at Kalamazoo, September 30, 1914, Mr. Fuller was nominated for a fourth term and at the election held on November 3, 1914, he was elected by a vote of 224,122 to 144,537 for John J. Campbell, 36,918 for George H. Myhan, 11,342 for Ernest C. Moore and 4,605 for Charles Healy.
ATTORNEY GENERAL. GRANT FELLOWS,
Of Hudson, Lenawee county, was born in Hudson township, Lenawee county, Mich- igan, April 13, 1865, of English parentage. He was educated in the district schools and the Hudson high school. Mr. Fellows has been engaged in the practice of law since December 11, 1886, and since 1890 has been a member of the law firm of Fellows and Chandler. From 1911 until his election to the office of attorney general he was a member of the board of law examiners. He has always been actively identified with the Republican party. He was elected to the office of attorney general in 1912, and reelected November 3, 1914, by a vote of 226,238 to 141,832 for Verne C. Amberson, 37,326 for Charles P. O'Neil, 11,344 for James H. McFarlan and 4,713 for Winent H. D. Fox.
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER. FRANK FOSTER ROGERS,
Of Lansing, was born in Raisin township, Lenawee county, Michigan, August 30, 1858, acquiring his early education in the rural schools of Lenawee county. He later attended the Raisin valley seminary and in the fall of 1879 entered the Michigan Agricultural Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1883, receiving the degree of C. E. After graduation, Mr. Rogers located at Marlette, Sanilac county, where he followed the profession of surveying and civil engineering until 1890, when he removed to Port Huron and con- tinued the same work. He was married at Marlette to Ada E. Lee, daughter of the late Rev. S. P. Lee. He resided at Marlette until 1905, when he removed to Lansing, having been appointed deputy state highway commissioner when the department was first organized July 1, 1905. He served as city engineer of Port Huron for four terms,-from 1891 to 1899. He served as deputy state highway commissioner under Commissioners Horatio S. Earle and Townsend A. Ely, succeeding the latter to the present office, having been elected April 7, 1913, by a vote of 177,936 to 132,540 for George G. Winans, 97,136 for Horatio S. Earle, 20,065 for Ezra E. Highlen, 9,964 for Orson Hopkins and 11 scattering.
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SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
FRED LOCKWOOD KEELER,
Of Mt. Pleasant, was born July 4, 1872, on a farm in Sharon township, six miles from Grass Lake, Washtenaw county. He attended a district school, and later the Grass Lake high school, from which he graduated in 1889. He entered the University of Michigan in the fall of 1889, graduating from there in 1893. In 1894 he did graduate work, also doing assistant work in the University of Michigan. He has since taken three summer terms of work in the University of Chicago. Mr. Keeler was married in 1894 to Miss Bertina Bliss, of Ann Arbor, and has two children. In the fall of 1894 he was appointed principal of the high school at Houghton, which position he held for one year. In the summer of 1895 he was placed at the head of the department of science at the Central Michigan Normal School at Mt. Pleasant and continued in that work for thirteen years. He was appointed deputy superintendent of public instruction by Superintendent L. L. Wright in 1908 and continued to hold that office until Novem- ber 15, 1913, at which time Governor Ferris appointed him superintendent of public instruction to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Luther L. Wright. Mr. Keeler has devoted his life to educational work. He is a Mason and a member of the DeWitt Clinton Consistory. He has been a life long Republican and active in the interests of his party. At the convention held at Grand Rapids, February 12, 1915, he was unanimously nominated for superintendent of public instruction and was elected April 5, 1915, by a vote of 261,285 to 116,853 for Frank A. Jensen, 27,057 for Gerrit Masselink, 14,529 for William E. Witt, 10,943 for Geo. H. Hanly and 114 scattering.
MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THOMAS WILLIAM NADAL,
[Term expires June 30, 1917.]
Of Olivet, was born on a farm near Milroy, Indiana, of English and French parentage. He spent his boyhood on the farm, attended the district school, and later the township high school in the village of Milroy. . At the age of sixteen he entered De Pauw Uni- versity and worked his way entirely through college, graduating in 1898. At the age of seventeen he taught school near Milroy. In college he was a member of the University Debating Team and represented Indiana in the Inter State Oratorical Contest of 1898. On graduating he was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa society. He spent three years in Harvard from which institution he received the degrees of A. M. and Ph. D. He has spent considerable time in travel and study abroad. Since 1898 he has been professor of English and Oratory in Olivet College and has been dean of the college since 1905. Mr. Nadal was married June 2, 1909, to Kathryne Wyckoff, of Laingsburg, Michigan. He was appointed by Governor Osborn, February 2, 1911, a member of the state board of education to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of William A. Cotton. He was nominated at the Republican convention held at Saginaw on March 3, 1911, and was elected April 3, 1911, by a vote of 255,723 to 123,816 for James A. King, 13,881 for Wesley C. Richards, 17,125 for Nelly Knott and 201 scattering.
FRANK CODY, [Term expires June 30, 1919.]
Of Detroit, was born in Belleville, Wayne county, Michigan, December 31, 1870. He received his elementary education in the public schools of the county: After graduating from high school he taught in the schools of his native village for three years. He then entered the State Normal College at Ypsilanti, and in 1891 was appointed superintendent of the Delray schools, holding that position until Delray was annexed to Detroit in 1907, when he was appointed to the principalship of the Detroit McMillan high school. In 1914 he was made assistant superintendent of the Detroit public schools. He served for a number of years as treasurer of the Detroit teachers' association and president
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of the Detroit Schoolmen's. Club. In 1893, he organized the night school for Detroit newsboys and was its principal for five years. Later he was elected president of the Detroit Newsboys' Association. In 1895, he was elected a member of the Wayne county board of school examiners, holding the office until 1907. He is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Mason and also a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. Mr. Cody is married and has two children. At the Republican state convention held at Lansing, February 11, 1913, he was nominated for member of the state board of educa- tion and was elected April 7, 1913, by a vote of 180,936 to 92,631 for Samuel J. Gier, 133,230 for Emanuel Wilhelm, 20,533 for Milan F. Martin, 9,792 for Richard Quayle and 158 scattering.
FREDERICK ALBERT JEFFERS, [Term expires June 30, 1921.]
Of Painesdale, was born in Farmington, Ohio, July 24, 1869. He was taken, when an infant, to Connecticut, where he was left an orphan at five years of age. He came to Jackson county, Michigan, in 1875, where, in the township of Napoleon, he received his elementary education. Taught district school on the edge of Jackson and Washtenaw counties; attended Michigan State Normal College at Ypsilanti, from which he graduated in 1891 and from which he later received the degree of master of pedagogics. After graduation he went to Atlantic Mine as superintendent of the Adams township schools, which position he has held for twenty-four years, living for the past six years at Painesdale where the new township high school is located. He has been a school examiner of Houghton county for twenty years; instructor in the summer schools of the Northern State Normal School for more than ten years, teaching history, civics, public school administration and other subjects. He has also done institute work, besides filling most of the offices of the upper peninsula educational association, including that of president. Mr. Jeffers is married. At the Republican state convention held at Grand Rapids, February 12, 1915, he was nominated for member of the state board of education and elected April 5, 1915, by a vote of 262,092 to 116,370 for Paul Van Deinse, 26,360 for William S. Leavenworth, 14,443 for Joseph M. Carrier, 10,932 for Charles A. Salyer and 441 scattering.
MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. JOHN W. BEAUMONT,
[Term expires December 31, 1917.]
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