USA > Michigan > Michigan official directory and legislative manual for the years 1917-1918 > Part 81
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JAMES ALFRED MURTHA,
Of Detroit, senator from the second district of Wayne county, was born at Flatbush, Long Island, New York, September 3, 1870, and was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn, New York, and at Larchmere academy and Columbia University. Since 1891 he has been engaged in the practice of law. He is single and has resided in Mich- igan about fourteen years. He was a presidential elector for the third congressional district of New York on the Palmer and Buckner Gold Democrat ticket and was also a Democratic candidate for Congress from the above-named district. Mr. Murtha is a Democrat and was elected to the senate of 1911-12, 1913-14 and 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 5,577 to 4,248 for Daniel Wade.
HARVEY A. PENNEY,
Of Saginaw, senator from the twenty-second district, was born April 26, 1866, in the city of Saginaw in the house adjoining his present residence. He attended the public schools of Saginaw, and the University of Michigan, receiving his L. L. B. degree in 1889. In 1890 he took a post graduate course at the U. of M., and received the first diploma given to the first class in that course conferring the L. L. M. degree. On October 7, 1896, he was married to Sarah E. Procunier. He held the office of alderman for over six years, was a member of the board of assessment and review, and in 1912 was appointed local white slave officer for the city of Saginaw, which position he resigned in 1914. He is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. of P., B. P. O. E. and other fraternal societies and social clubs. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature Nov- ember 3, 1914, and elected to the senate November 7, 1916, by a vote of 10,028 to 7,986 for Frank McPhillips and 296 for P. McColough.
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EDGAR ALLAN PLANCK,
Of Union, Cass county, senator from the seventh district, comprising the counties of Berrien and Cass, was born at LaGrange, Indiana, September 27, 1868, of German- American parentage. He was educated in the public schools of Indiana and Michigan, and at Valparaiso University and the University of Illinois. In early life he taught school, studied medicine and graduated from the college of Physicians and Surgeons, of Chicago, in 1894. In that year he located at Union, Cass county, Michigan, for the practice of medicine where he has since practiced. He was married in 1892 to Grace E. Hartman and has two sons. Mr. Planck is a member of various fraternal and bene- ficiary orders, including the various branches of the Masonic fraternity, Knights of the Maccabees, Loyal Americans and the Order of Gleaners. He has always taken an interest in local politics. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate of 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 10,287 to 8,537 for Orren V. Hicks and 138 for Edward O. Foss.
ALTON T. ROBERTS,
Of Marquette, senator from the thirty-first district, comprising the counties of Alger, Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron and Marquette, was born in Stockton, Maine, March 9, 1880. He was educated in Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard College. He removed to Michigan eight years ago and has been engaged in the real estate and publishing business. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate of 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 13,325 to 6,211 for Edward C. Anthony and 856 for Hugo Koepeke.
GEORGE G. SCOTT,
Of Detroit, senator from the fifth district of Wayne county, was born at Detroit, Mich- igan, September 16, 1874, and is of Scotch descent. He is the son of Rev. John P. Scott, deceased, former pastor of the Second Avenue Presbyterian church of Detroit. He received his education in the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, grad- uating from the scientific and business departments and later graduating from the law department of the University of Michigan. He is a member of the bar of Ohio as well as of Michigan and is now engaged in the practice of law with offices at 713 Ford building, Detroit. He was married to Miss Hattie A., daughter of Otto and Johanna Krause, June 5, 1907, and has two sons,- Gifford S., age eight years, and Milton J., age four years. Mr. Scott is a Republican and represented the fourth district of Wayne county in the legislature of 1905-6 and the first district in 1907-8 and was elected to the senate of 1909-10, 1911-12, 1913-14 and 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 12,084 to 273 for John S. Wright and 1 for Ruby Schuerer.
CHARLES B. SCULLY,
Of Almont, senator from the twenty-first district, comprising the counties of Lapeer and Tuscola, was born on a farm in Almont township, Lapeer county, Michigan, June 17, 1878, of American parentage. He was educated in the Rider district school and the Almont high school, studying privately, with special training from M. A. C. He was married March 1, 1900, to Mabel M. Hallock, of Almont, and has one daughter and two sons. He has always been active in social and fraternal life, is a member of several Masonic bodies, the Gleaners, Grange and Farmers' clubs, and is president of the Mich- igan State Association of Farmers' Clubs. He is also prominent as a state lecturer on agricultural subjects. In 1911-12-13 he was vice-president of the American Leicester Sheep Breeders' Register Association. He is at present secretary of the Lapeer County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Association and vice-president and director of the Michigan Live Stock Insurance Company and affiliated with several other insurance companies. He was also the first to start the good roads movement in Lapeer county. Mr. Scully is a Republican and was elected to the senate November 7, 1916, by a vote of 8,191 to 3,943 for Stephen Slater.
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ELBERT V. SMITH,
Of Nashville, senator from the fifteenth district, comprising the counties of Barry, Clinton and Eaton, was born in Castleton township, Barry county, Michigan, October 26, 1864, of American parents. His early education was acquired in the district schools. He has always resided in Michigan where he has been engaged in farming, buying grain and in the insurance business. He served ten years as supervisor and was assessor six years. Mr. Smith is married. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate of 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 10,727 to 7,698 for John B. Marshall, 246 for Gottlieb Bessmer and 15 for Erastus F. Krebs.
WILLIAM WALLACE SMITH,
Of Traverse City, senator from the twenty-seventh district, comprising the counties of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee and Wexford, was born at Constantia, New York, August 22, 1849, and received his education in the common schools of Traverse City. He is married and has resided in Michigan fifty- six years. Mr. Smith served two years as mayor of Traverse City, twelve years as alderman, three years on the water commission and two years as a charter commissioner. He is at present engaged in the mercantile business. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate November 7, 1916, by a vote of 10,123 to 6,564 for William H. Umlor and 934 for Henry Lesher.
HUGH A. STEWART,
Of Flint, senator from the thirteenth district, comprising the counties of Genesee and Livingston, was born in Lapeer county, Michigan, August 4, 1882, of Scotch parentage. He was educated in the high school of Fostoria, Michigan, and graduated from the Detroit college of medicine in 1906. He practiced in North Branch, Lapeer county, one year and at Alba, Antrim county, one year, removing to Flint in the spring of 1909, where he has since practiced. He was married October 23, 1907, to Anna M. Vandecar, of North Branch, and has two children. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate November 7, 1916; by a vote of 12,593 to 10,853 for George E. Mckinley and 431 for Carlton A. Talbot.
BURRELL TRIPP,
Of Allegan, senator from the eighth district, comprising the counties of Allegan and Van Buren, was born at Bangor, Michigan, May 19, 1862, of Scotch and French Huguenot ancestry. He was educated in the Bangor high school from which he graduated in 1879. On June 9, 1883, he was married to Anna W. Jennings, of Lawrence, Michigan, and has three children,-Alice C., Grover Hilton and Harold Douglas, one dying in infancy. Mr. Tripp has, always resided in Michigan where he has been engaged in the mercantile business. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate of 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 9,622 to 6,351 for Frank D. Town, 380 for F. E. Miller and 1 for Chas. E. Cross.
CHARLES TUFTS,
Of. Ludington, senator from the twenty-sixth district, comprising the counties of Lake, Manistee, Mason, Newaygo and Oceana, was born in Norfolk county, Canada, in 1856, of Scotch and English parents. He was educated in the public schools. In 1878 he entered the life-saving service and served as surfman at Ludington, Michigan. In 1884 he was appointed keeper, and in 1893 he and the crew were sent in charge of the life-saving station at the World's Fair, Chicago, to give exhibition drills. In 1895 he had charge of the life-saving exhibit at the Cotton States fair, Atlanta, Georgia. In 1897, on account of poor health, he left the service and went on a farm. Five years
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later was elected sheriff, serving two terms, after which he returned to the farm where he has since remained. He is married and has two children. Mr. Tufts is a Republican and was elected to the legislatures of 1911-12, 1913-14 and 1915-16. He was elected to the senate November 7, 1916, by a vote of 10,066 to 6,765 for Richard E. Southwick and 256 for E. L. Bunting.
HARRY CLARK WHITE,
Of Grand Rapids, senator from the sixteenth district, was born in Grand Rapids, June 24, 1870, of English-Scotch descent. He received a common school education, supple- mented by special courses in bookkeeping and music. For nearly twenty years he was church organist in various Grand Rapids churches. He is a practical printer and has conducted a successful business as printer, engraver and publisher for nearly thirty years. He was alderman from the tenth ward for six terms. Mr. White is married. He is a Democrat and was elected to the senate November 7, 1916, by a vote of 11,401 to 7,649 for George E. Ellis, 403 for Arthur Kirkpatrick and 142 for George Roelofs.
JAMES M. WILCOX,
Of Calumet, senator from the thirty-second district, comprising. the counties of Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon, was born in Wales, British Isles, July 22, 1850. In 1857 the family removed to a farm in Grant county, Wisconsin, remaining there until 1861, when they removed to Hancock, Michigan. At the age of eleven he began working in the old Quincy mill. Since 1863 Mr. Wilcox has been actively engaged in mining. In 1868 his father was made mining captain of the Schoolcraft mine (now the Centennial Copper Company) under whose employ he worked until twenty-one years of age, at which time he secured employment as timberman for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, where he remained for eighteen years, later being successively employed as superintendent of underground operations at the Wolverine, the Tower mine, Minnesota, the Cincinnati mine on the Mesaba range and at the Arcadian Copper Company. In 1901 he was made superintendent and managing director of the Mass Consolidated Mining Company, where he remained for ten years. Mr. Wilcox is married. He has held the office of supervisor of Greenland township, Ontonagon county, and also served as chairman of the board. He is a Republican and was a member of the legislature of 1913-14. He was elected to the senate November 7, 1916, by a vote of 11,707 to 2 for George Williams and 1 for John J. Strike.
FRANK LESLIE WILLISON,
Of Climax, senator from the sixth district, comprising the counties of Kalamazoo and St. Joseph, was born in Barry county, Michigan, August 18, 1861, of Scotch and Irish parentage. He was educated in the district schools and at Kalamazoo college. Lived and worked on the farm until twenty-five years of age, and later worked for nearly five years in a hardware store. For the past thirty years he has been engaged in the hardware and implement business. Mr. Willison is married. He is a Democrat and was elected to the senate November 7, 1916, by a vote of 10,384 to 9,505 for J. Mark Harvey, 311 for John S. McColl, 29 for Guy Lockwood, 16 for Victor E. McMillen and 1 for C. W. Huff.
JAMES C. WOOD,
Of Manistique, senator from the thirtieth senatorial district, comprising the counties of Chippewa, Delta, Luce, Mackinac, Menominee and Schoolcraft, was born at Hastings, Michigan, March 31, 1872, and received his education in the Jackson public schools and at Lake Forest University. After his school life at Jackson he spent four years as a clerk in the store of J. B. Branch & Company, at Coldwater, Michigan, and in 1893 entered the law department of Lake Forest University, from which he graduated
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in 1895. He entered the practice of law in connection with law clerkship at Chicago, Illinois, later associating with George W. Hayden at Ishpeming, Michigan, in practice of law, where he remained until Mr. Hayden's death in 1902. In November, 1902, he located at Manistique, where he has since practiced. He served as city attorney of Manistique for seven terms and was also prosecuting attorney of Schoolcraft county. Mr. Wood is married. He is a Republican and was elected to the senate of 1913-14 and 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 11,364 to 6,841 for Andrew Short.
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.
AARON AMON,
Of Remus, representative from Mecosta county, was born on a farm near Berlin, Canada, November 5, 1859, of German parents. At the age of five years he removed with his parents to Caledonia, Kent county, Michigan, where he received his education. In 1882 he located in the village of Remus and platted a portion of the village, where he now resides. Mr. Amon was married in 1884 and has three children. He held the office of supervisor of Wheatland township for twenty years, and was chairman of the board four years. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1915-16, and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 2,656 to 258 for Richard Landgraff.
ANDREW F. ANDERSON,
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Of Omena, representative from the Leelanau district, comprising the counties of Benzie and Leelanau, was born at Blekinge, Sweden, October 3, 1857. He came to America in 1869, and after a short stay at Chicago and Evanston, Illinois, he removed to Gales- burg, Ill. Clerked in a store and worked on farm and was railway newsboy out of Galesburg. In the fall of 1880 he came to Michigan. Clerked in a store at Suttons Bay until 1883, when he embarked in the mercantile and lumbering business at Omena. Mr. Anderson was married in 1883 to. Marit Bahle, of Suttons Bay, and has five sons,- Louis E., George C., Frank J., Oscar M. and Carl F. Fraternally he is a member of the F. & A. M., R. A. M., and I. O. O. F. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1914, and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 2,073 to 220 for George Barnard, 75 for Carl E. Peterson and 30 for Carl A. Peterson.
CHARLES OSCAR BLINN,
Of Caro, representative from Tuscola county, was born in Perrysburg, Ohio, July 20, 1857, and was educated in the Perrysburg public schools. He was married on December 13, 1876 to Carrie B. Loop, and they have three children. After his marriage Mr. Blinn was appointed by the board of public works of the state of Ohio to take charge of the Western Reserve Pike, this being his first political job. In 1886 he removed with his family to Michigan to take charge of the William Peters' stock farms, located at Columbiaville, Lapeer county, and East Dayton, Tuscola county. In 1905, Mr. Blinn was appointed deputy oil inspector, in which capacity he served five years, resigning before the expiration of his term to take charge of the oil business, in which he is now engaged. He has always been a Republican and served as sheriff of Tuscola county two terms. He was elected to the legislature November 7, 1916, by a vote of 4,697 to 2,124 for Robert J. Putnam.
ALBERT H. BOSCH,
Of Hudsonville, representative from the second district of Ottawa county, was born at Holland, Michigan, April 5, 1869, of Holland parentage. He received his early education in the public schools and afterwards took a business course. He taught school for
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fifteen years, afterwards engaging in farming. Since 1911, he has exclusively devoted his time to notary work and auctioneering; is at present secretary of the Jamestowil Cooperative Creamery Company; secretary-treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Ottawa and Allegan counties and township clerk of Jamestown. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 2,838 to 1,708 for James Chittick. .
BURNEY ESLIE BROWER,
Of Jackson, representative from the first district of Jackson county, was born on a farm in Ingham county, June 18, 1880, of Dutch-Irish descent and was educated in the district schools and Stockbridge high school from which he graduated in 1900. After his graduation he taught school three years and then entered Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, taking up literary and commercial work; later entering the law department of the same institution from which he graduated in 1906, the same year he entered Northwestern University Law School, Chicago, Illinois, graduating in 1907. Mr. Bower was admitted to the bar in 1907 and began the practice of law at Stockbridge, Michigan. In 1910 he removed to Jackson, where he has since been engaged in the practice. He was assistant prosecuting attorney of Jackson county in 1913-14. In 1905 he was married to Esther Gaylord Miller and has one daughter, Thelma Norrine. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 7, 1916, by a vote of 4,649 to 4,566 for Cleveland G. Parshall, 165 for Newton Thorp and 95 for Philander K. Bush.
THEODORE N. CHAPIN,
Of Bellaire, representative from Antrim county, was born at Grattan, Kent county, Michigan, December 10, 1862, of Welsh parentage. He was educated in the public schools of Green Bay, Wisconsin. At the age of fourteen he began working in the lumber woods, and in 1881 he removed to Bellaire, where he has since resided. He was married in 1883 to Vesta J. Hutchinson, of Bellaire, and has two sons and one daughter. Mr. Chapin has served as school director, school treasurer, justice of the peace and four years as sheriff of Antrim county. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1915-16, and relected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 1,304 to 1,010 for Frank M. Severance.
JACOB E. CHEW,
Of East Jordan, representative from the Charlevoix district, was born in Darke county, Ohio, September 25, 1863, and was educated in the public schools. He removed to Charlevoix county in 1879, and has resided there continuously since that time. He taught in the district schools for three years, and for ten years was engaged in the flour and grain business, and for the past fourteen years has been engaged in farming. He served five years o' ' board of supervisors, being chairman of the board one year, also a member of the . 'age board of East Jordan two years, school director for eight years, and justice of the peace eight years. He is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and Charlevoix gran HIe is a Republican and was elected to the legislature Nov- ember 7, 1916, by a vote of 2,031 to 1,023 for William J. Finucan, and 321 for G. Will Morehouse and 1 for E. Abbott.
CHARLES W. CLARK,
Of Dansville, representative from the second district of Ingham county, was born in Ingham county, Michigan, in 1862, of Anerican parents. He was educated in the rural schools and the Dansville high school. He has always lived on a farm until seven years ago, when he removed to Dansville. In 1904 he was appointed county drain commissioner by the board of supervisors and held the office for three years. He was elected supervisor in 1908 and has been reelected each succeeding year. He has been a
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director of the Farmers Bank of Mason for several years and also does quite an extensive business as auctioneer. Mr. Clark is married. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 3, 1914, and reelected November 7, 1916, without opposition.
A. WARD COPLEY,
Of Detroit, representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born in Cass county, Michigan, educated in the public schools, and graduated from the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan in 1892, and is now engaged in the practice of law at Detroit. He is of English descent, four generations back. His grandfather, Alexander Copley, was one of the pioneers of Cass county. His father, Hon. Alexander B. Copley, was representative in the state legislature for five terms. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislatures of 1909-10, 1911-12, 1913-14, and was again elected Noveniber 7, 1916, by a plurality of 16,200.
ALEXANDER COWAN,
Of North Street, representative from the first district of St. Clair county, was born at North Street, St. Clair county, Michigan, May 29, 1874, of Scotch parents. He was educated in the North Street schools and the State Normal College at Ypsilanti, after which he returned to Clyde township and engaged in general farming and stock feeding. Mr. Cowan is the youngest son of John and Isabella Cowan, pioneers of St. Clair county. He was married December 12, 1900, to Flora Beard and has two sons,-John J. and Frederick A. He served ten years as chairman of the school board and two years as treasurer of Clyde township. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislatures November 3, 1914, and reelected November 7, 1916, by a vote of 4,086 to 2,056 for James M. Sterling and 59 for William H. Miller.
SAMUEL E. CRAWFORD,
Of Ypsilanti, representative from the second district of Washtenaw county, was born on a farnı near North Branch, Michigan, June 15, 1876. He attended a district school, North Branch high school and graduated from the Michigan State Normal College at Ypsilanti. He was the founder of the weekly college paper now issued by the State Normal College. After graduating he entered the life insurance business, in which he is still interested, being at present Michigan manager of the National Life, U. S. A. He was married in 1906 to Miss Cora Wilson of Ypsilanti, and they have three children, Esther, Edward and Ruth. He is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Grotto, O. E. S. and K. of P. Mr. Crawford is a Republican and was elected to the legislature November 7, 1916, by a vote of 2,964 to 2,614 for Ennis R. Twist.
HENRY CROLL, JR.,
Of Beaverton, representative from the Clare district, comprising the counties of Clare, Gladwin and Roscommon, was born at Saginaw, Michigan, April 22, 1875, of German parentage. His education was acquired in the graded schools of Saginaw. He left school at the age of thirteen, beginning his active career in the office of W. L. Webber. He next obtained a position in the American Commercial and Savings Bank of Saginaw, where he remained eight years until the bank ceased business. He located at Beaverton eighteen years ago where he held the offices of aldermall, supervisor and school director. Mr. Croll was married in 1896 to Bessie L. Thompson, at Suffolk, Virginia, and they have one son, sixteen years of age. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislatures of 1913-14 and 1915-16, and reelected November 7, 1916, without opposition.
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CHARLES HERBERT CULVER, .
Of Detroit, representative from the first district of Wayne county, was born at Detroit, Michigan, February 5, 1870, of Scotch descent. He was educated in the Detroit public schools and the Detroit College of Law. At the age of fourteen he entered the Detroit police department where he did office work for nine years, during which time, he studied law and was admitted to the bar December 26, 1893. He practiced law until 1900, when ill-health compelled him to seek more active outside work. He spent five years in various commercial pursuits and in 1905 he again took up his residence in Detroit, where he devoted part of his time to the practice of law and founded the Little Stick, a weekly satirical newspaper devoted to practical reform through educa- tion. Mr. Culver is married and has one son. He is a Republican and was elected to the legislature of 1915-16 and reelected November 7, 1916, by a plurality of 15,940.
MILES S. CURTIS,
Of Battle Creek, representative from the second district of Calhoun county, was born in Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, April 1, 1852. His early education was acquired in the district schools, a select school, and the Grand River Institute at Austinberg. At the age of twenty-one years, he came to Michigan, and commenced the study of law at Jonesville, but shortly afterwards gave up the study to help his father conduct a farm purchased near Battle Creek. In 1879 he purchased a farm adjoining the city of Battle Creek, a part of which he still owns. Politically he is a Republican; was super- visor of his township in 1891-2, was elected to the legislature of 1895, and in 1898 was elected mayor of Battle Creek. Was postmaster at Battle Creek from 1906 to 1914. He was again elected to the legislature November 7, 1916 by a vote of 3,891 to 568 for B. M. Blumenberg, and 1 for George Fuller.
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