Edward Thayer, another member of the Genesee County bar in the seventies, was a son of Artemus Thayer. He was one of the brightest young lawyers in the profession, with a fine legal mind, but died suddenly when was less than thirty years of age.

Henry R. Lovell for many years a prominent member of the Genesee county bar, was born in Sharon, Connecticut, in 1831. He was educated in several academic schools in the East and graduated from Union College, at Schenectady, new York, in 1853. He was principal for a time at Whitehall Academy, New York, and also of Seneca Collegiate Institute. Tiring of the schoolmaster 's life, he came to Michigan, arriving in Genesee County the day that Fort Sumter was fired upon. A little later he entered the law office of Col. William M. Fenton and was afterwards admitted to the bar. In 1867 he became a member of the constitutional convention at Lansing and was on the judiciary committee. He was at one time prosecuting attorney for Genesee county and was for a number of years, judge of probate. His death occurred in 1905.

John H. Hicok, one of the prominent attorneys of Genesee county during the eighties, was born in Homer, New York, in 1844. He received his academic education at Homer Academy and afterwards graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York. He was in the banking business with his father in Homer, but in 1879 he disposed of his interests and came to Flint, where he completed the study of law. He was admitted to the bar of Genesee county in 1879. He was a man of cultivated tastes, being a contributor to a number of literary magazines. He was appointed postmaster in 1797, but did not live to finish his term as he passed away in 1898.

Among the attorneys who practiced during the seventies was Clark Johnson, a native of Genesee county. His son, Ransom Johnson, was also admitted to the bar, and practiced for a number of years. His second son, Charles H. Johnson, was for many years a prominent member of the Genesee County bar, holding the office of prosecuting attorney for several terms; he was at one tine a partner of Judge C. H. Wisner. His death occurred in 1912.

Charles D. Long, who before his admission to the bar of Genesee County, had sacrificed an arm in the Civil War, was active in the legal profession and during his lifetime held various civil offices. He was elected tot he supreme bench in 1888 and continued the duties of his honored position until his death in 1902. A memorial to justice Long is found in the 131^st. Michigan Report on Page XXXVII, by the Hon. John J. Carton. Other memorial tributes were presented by George E. Taylor, of Flint, Justice Allen B. Morse and Devere Hall of Bay City, and by Justices Moore, Grant and Hooker.

Josiah Turner, who was judge of the old seventh judicial circuit, comprising Shaiwassee, Livingston, Genesee and Tuscola counties, was born in Addison County, Vermont, in 1811. He was admitted to the bar in 1833 and four years later moved to Michigan. He started for Howell, but had some difficulty in locating it, as it was at that time only a four corners, known as Livingston Center. He commenced the practice of law, his office being in a corner of the village tavern. In appearance he was a typical judge of the old school, his dress unique and his temper judicial. Judge Turner succeeded Judge Sanford M. Green, who resigned in 1857, and in his long residence of twenty-four years as judge of the circuit court, came almost to be regarded as a resident of Genesee county. When he retired in 1882 the lawyers of the Genesee county bar made him a gift of a very handsome horse and phaeton as a testimonial of their high regard. He subsequently became United States consul at Amhertsburg, Ontario. Judge Turner held precedence as one of representative lawyers and jurists of the state and his name merits an enduring place on the roster of the sturdy pioneers who aided in the civic and material betterment of the progress of Michigan. His death at the age of ninety-five, occurred in 1907 in Owosso, Michigan, where he had made his home in later years. His wife was a daughter of Dr. William Ellsworth, of Berkshire, Vermont, a member of the Connecticut family of Ellsworths, among whom was Oliver Ellsworth, formerly chief justice of the supreme court of the United States and minister to France.

George E. Taylor, for many years a practicing attorney of Genesee County, was born in Walled Lake, Michigan, in 1838. He came to Flint in 1872 and shortly afterward was admitted to the bar. He held the office of judge of probate for eight years and was actively engaged in the practice of his profession up until the time of his death, which occurred in 1893.

George H. Durand was appointed to the bench of the supreme court in October, 1892, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice Morse. Judge Durand was born in Cobelskill, New York, in 1838, and came to Michigan in 1858. He was an able and brilliant member of the Genesee County bar for many years, being elected to Congress in 1874 and serving for one term. Under President Cleveland's administration he was appointed special counsel of the United States in the prosecution of smugglers at Portland, Oregon, and made a flattering record for himself in that capacity, securing a number of convictions. He received the nomination for governor of the state of Michigan on the Democratic ticket in 1902, but was stricken, his death occurring in 1903. At a memorial session in his honor in the supreme court, on February 23, 1904, several members of the bar and bench eulogized his memory; the memorial address of John j. Carton was ordered published in the reports of the court, and may be found at page XXXV of Vol. 135, Michigan Reports. A memorial of the Genesee County Bar Association, signed by Charles H. Wisner, Clinton Roberts, George W. Cook, Everett L. Bray and John J. Carton, was also read and is also to be found in the same report at page XXXV et seq.

George M. Walker, son of Hon. Levi Walker, practiced at the bar of Genesee County for many years. He has succeeded his father as justice of the peace, which office he held for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Walker died in 1905.

Charles H. Wisner, son of Judge Moses Wisner, of Pontiac, was an able practitioner at the bar of Genesee County and was elected in 1893 as circuit judge, entering upon his office in January, 1894, in which capacity he served until his death in 1915. Judge Wisner possessed a knowledge of mechanics which almost stamped him as a genius and he was a man of versatile talents outside of his chosen profession. He superintended the building of the new county court house and also the Masonic Temple in Flint, and his services in this direction resulted in acquiring for Flint the two finest buildings were constructed in Genesee County.

The present incumbent of the office of judge of the circuit court is Mark W. Stephens, appointed by Governor Ferris to fill the vacancy caused the death of Judge Wisner in 1915. Judge Stevens was born in Linden, Genesee County, and since his residence in Flint has been identified prominently with all affairs of a civic and municipal nature. He is a man of wide experience as a practicing attorney and brings to the office, in addition to legal ability of high order, extreme courtesy and affability.

William R. Bates, a retired member of the Genesee County Bar, was admitted to practice in 1877. He was born in Cazenovia, New York, in 1845, and received his early education at the Cazenovia Seminary. Mr. Bates first came to Michigan as a student at the university in 1863, and in 1866 he settled in Flint, as a reporter on the Wolverine Citizen. Later he went to Chicago with the Daily Republican, remaining until that paper was sold to a syndicate and its name changed to the Inter-Ocean. Mr. Bates then returned to Michigan and was for several years engaged in lumbering on the Augres River. In 1871 he was appointed register of the United States land office at Saginaw. This position he resigned in 1876, returning to Flint, where he completed the study of law. After his admission to the bar, he was appointed special agent of the united States pension bureau by Secretary Z. Chandler, but resigned in 1879 to become secretary to united States senator Henry P. Baldwin. In 1882 he was appointed special agent of the United States treasury department, succeeding Gen. O. L. Spaulding, who was elected to Congress. In 1886-88 Mr. Bates served as secretary to the Republican state central committee with Senator James McMillan as chairman from 1888 to 1896 he was political secretary to Senator McMillan. Subsequently he served for eight years as United States marshal of the eastern district of Michigan. His wife was a daughter of Major Irving Belcher, who, with his two sons, was among the Civil War heroes of Genesee county, whose lives were sacrificed for the Union. During the winter of 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Bates celebrates their golden wedding anniversary at "The Oaks," the old Belcher homestead, one of the historic landmarks of the county.

THE GENESEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.

On the morning of November, 1897, at a meeting of the attorneys of Genesee County, a suggestion was made to the members of the bar to further the common interests of the profession and to give united action to such matters as might be of utility to the people of the county and the lawyers as officers of the courts of justice by forming an association. The result of this action was that a tentative organization was there made, with further adjournment to perfect the same. The avowed objects of the association were to promote social intercourse among the members of the profession and to advance the best interests of the commonwealth by improving the administration of justice.

On November 19, the temporary organization again convened and a permanent organization of the Genesee County Bar Association was perfected. A constitution of high ideals was adopted and officers elected. In June, 1915, the State Bar Association met at Flint, its members being the guests of the county association.