profession for which his genius best fitted him, and in that profession he won the highest honors. He had a firm will, imdomitable energy, and, in every inch of his being, was a pioneer. As a speaker he was earnest, impassioned, and had the rare talent of inspiring an audience with his own enthusiasm. He had an intuitive perception of the avenues for reaching the sympathies and feelings of his hearers. Here lay the source of his great success as an orator of his great power in swaying the multitude.

In height he was about five feet, ten, well proportioned, had a fine eye, light complexion, and a curly, bushy head of brown hair. There was a modest, unstudied ease about his manner, an air of bonhomie that won his way successfully among the masses, with whom he was always a great favorite. The humorous stories and anecdotes that he told with such riant effect, not only enlivened but strengthened his speeches. He could make them most powerful agents in carrying the crowd. His face had a natural reading, or, as the deaf man said of Garrick, "his face is a language." His conclusions were so striking, his descriptions so perfect, his objects so ludicrously exposed to view, that gravity was out of the question; it was Hogarth acting and describing, not drawing his pictures.

Bradley had all the elements of the orator; he was logical, argumentative, endowed with that regal faculty, the imagination, fluent speech, and, says Senator Stuart, "in wit and ridicule I never knew a man who equalled him." He was the orator of the pioneer epoch, the most eloquent one during the best days of the old democratic party in Michigan Thoroughly read as a lawyer, deeply versed in political lore, extensively acquainted with the varied topics of the day, and gifted with the power of improvisation as a public speaker, he had no equal among us in addressing a public gathering, espe cially a gathering of democrats.

I never listened to a man who was so perfect a master of the art of public speaking. It seemed to be a natural gift. Called out at any time, he came before the people and began his speech as readily as if his subject had been the study of a lifetime. He appeared never to want a word, or to recall one. They came as naturally as notes to a bird. He said the right thing to begin with, and every sentence he uttered seemed to come readily into its proper place, as an outgrowth from his subject, until they were all fashioned into that perfect thing of its kind, a full, rounded speech. His diction was easy, clear and sparkling as a New England trout stream. It was enlivened by wit, made keen or severe by ridicule, or widened out into broad sympathy with the masses, when, rising with the occasion, he wouid, in an eloquent appeal, carry the multitude to the highest pitch of enthusiasm.

Let it be known that "Ed. Bradley" was to speak in any part of the

4

county, and the people turned out en masse.

If the anecdotes and witty

things that abounded in his speeches were gathered together they would fill a volume. We have space only for a few. Who of the old residents will ever forget his story of "the old democrat in Ontario" who once voted the whig ticket, and the next day goaded by his sins, bought half a dozen sperm candles, took them home "to light them and sit up and hate himself by them.' In a suit tried before Judge Ransom at Marshall, a young lady sued a bachelor for breach of promise of marriage. Bradley defended the bachelor. The nature of the suit gave him a fine field for the display of his power of wit and drollery. Senator C. E. Stuart says that Bradley's speech at this time, was equal to the celebrated case of Charles Philips in the case of Blake, vs. Wilkins. Judge Ransom laughed at his sallies of wit till his sides shook, and the whole court room was convulsed with his wonderful power of humor and ridicule. The changes he rung on "Hepsey," the young lady's name, added an indescribable mirthfulness to the speech. Bradley won the suit; and, 'twas said, mainly by the effect of his ridicule and droll humor on court and jury. This case was one in which ridicule, or humor, could be used as a legitimate weapon, and perhaps was the only effectual one for the occasion. In such a field Bradley had no rival. There was not a member of the old bar who could so "steal away the technical heart of the stern judge, and weave seductive tales in the honest ears of sworn jurymen."

In 1844 the whigs had a mass meeting at Marshall. The next week Gordon, too full of whiggery to stay at home, came to Kalamazoo and made one of his most telling speeches. In it he gave a glowi ig description of the monster mass meeting of whigs at Marshall. This aroused the jealousy of the Kalamazoo democrats, and Bradley was sent for. He must come and answer Gordon. He came. The meeting was held in the old court house. Gen. H. H. Comstock presided. George Winslow sang his famous song "Old Roanoke," and Hiram Underwood, Kalamazoo's gifted singer, sang a rousing democratic ballad. As Bradley came forward he was greeted with thundering applause. He was never in finer spirits. As he began to speak we could see the gauda certaminis (the joy of battle) beaming from his face. Nothing could equal his speech in trenchant logic, ridicule and burlesque. It seemed that the thought most desired and the most fitting illustration came just as he wanted them. Quotations from scripture, Shakespeare, Jefferson, Tom Moore, or whatever author his memory could draw from, added strength, enlivened or gave point to his discourse. The whigs in the audience grew uneasy and alarmed as he proceeded. The shafts of logic and ridicule flew thick on every hand till whiggery, like a huge elephant bristling with them, staggered and fell. Gordon was answered. But the coup de

grace of his speech was his description of the great whig mass meeting at Marshall. We can only give the closing sentence: "Fellow citizens, I was there and saw the entire whig procession, and it was large! Why, counting all that were there, whigs, native Americans, old men, women and children, strangers and stragglers, I have seen funeral processions larger, but none ever so mournful!"

ABNER PRATT.

Abner Pratt was born in Springfield, Otsego county, N. Y., May 22, 1804; was admitted to the bar in Batavia, N. Y., and afterwards practiced at Rochester; removed to Marshall, Mich., in 1839; was member of state senate, 1844-48; associate justice of supreme court, 1850-52; circuit judge, 1852-58; chief justice, 1856; consul at Honolulu, 1858-62; member of state house of representatives, 1864. He died at Marshall, March 7, 1866. Abner Pratt held a prominent rank in the Calhoun county bar. He was a man of peculiar traits of character. His views, impulses, likes and dislikes were of the most decided kind and assumed the control of his conduct. He gave his whole energy to whatever principle or policy he espoused. This made him a bitter opponent or an unflinching friend. He could not do things by halves. He would have been a hypocrite to himself had he held in check opinions or views when their avowal was demanded. There was no compromise in him. He always had the courage of his opinions, and gave them without stint on every occasion. He probably never uttered a doubtful sentiment in his life, or took back one he had uttered. His power over the masses was great because they saw that his whole soul was in his work. As a speaker he was argumentative, and often vehement; while his severity of expression frequently detracted from the effect of his logic. When assailed he was acute in discovering the faults of his foe, and delighted in exposing them with bitterness. This made him dreaded as an enemy. As a judge on the bench he was prompt, decided, and fond of dispatch. He cleared the calendar of the Kalamazoo court for the first time since its organization. As he knew what work was he knew how to keep those crafty disciples of Coke and Littleton at their legitimate business. His perceptions of justice and equity in a given case were almost intuitive, and always very clear. It was often said that an off-hand decision of Judge Pratt was nearer right than the studied opinions of other judges. He was educated in the school where Lincoln, Douglas and Greeley graduated. Being a man of keen observation he had acquired that kind of learning that sharpens the wits. Abner Pratt had in him much that made up the character of Gen. Jackson. nerve, moral courage and faith in democracy, he and the hero of the Hermi

In temper, iron

tage were kith and kin. A self-made man, he was unencumbered by the formalities and stiffness often engendered by the training of the schools. He was ready equipped for almost any public occasion. Sarcasm was a trusty weapon in his armory, but invective-that "javelin of rhetoric"-was his keenest lance, "and those who would know how he gave it point" should have seen him fully aroused in debate before the bar, at the hustings, or in the halls of legislation.

While Pratt was examining a witness, in a trial at Marshall, Judge Miles presiding, he could get no definite answer. The question was repeated. The witness, who was a prominent member of the bar, did not remember. "Don't remember such and such facts?" "No." "Well by

exclaimed the exasperated lawyer.

I do!"

Pratt hated abolitionism as John Knox did popery, and always went armed to battle it on every occasion. Nothing daunted him in this controversy. If circumstances were in his way so much the worse for circumstances. Rev. Mr. Cleaveland preached this political heresy in Marshall. Pratt was aroused, and, like "old Put," seized his gun-so to speak-and started out after this abolition "wolf." He assailed him the first chance he had in getting before the public. Cleaveland came to Battle Creek and preached the "heresy" there. The excited democrat tracked him down to that place, and in one of his bitter pro-slavery onslaughts, assailed this disturber of the public peace again. In this fight Pratt gave no quarter. At such times, like Tristam Burgess, he had no humor "but an infernal sarcasm."

"Renze" Coe, of Climax, had sued Jim Pierce for sheep killed by his dog. The case was tried before Judge Pratt, without jury, at Kalamazoo. The judge objected to Coe's being sworn, as he was a party to the suit, the general law then not allowing either of the parties in a suit to testify. The plaintiff's lawyer claimed the law allowed Mr. Coe to testify. The judge said he knew of no such law. The lawyer then produced a special law that covered the case. Judge Pratt took the book, read the clause referred to, and replied: "That is the most damnable law on the statute books; it is a premium on perjury!" Then turning to Coe, he said, "You can swear if you want to, but I shall not believe a word that you say." Mr. Coe did not swear. Pratt read enough in the man's face to justify what he had said in regard to not believing him under oath.

In 1848 Pratt and Hughes were at Cassopolis looking up testimony in the "Kentucky slave case." Geo. B. Turner, of Cassopolis, was assisting them. Pratt, always an inveterate joker, had at this time played several severe ones on Hughes. One day Turner espied Dr. Lamborn in the streets. Dr. Isaac Lamborn was learned and erratic, and keen in analyzing character. Politi

cally he hated Pratt, although he had never met him. Turner seeing a "good thing" ahead, invited the doctor into the office. Pratt was lying on a lounge in the back part of the room taking his ease. "Now," said Turner, "Dr. Lamborn, I would like to hear your opinion concerning three prominent democrats of Michigan. First, what do you think of Judge Ransom?" Doctor-"What do I think of Epaphroditus Ransom? I will tell thee. He is not a great man; but I think him an honest one, and a good judge. In politics he is a mere boy." "What of Judge Felch?" "Alpheus Felch has proven himself to be an excellent judge. He is a man of culture, but too honest for a politician." Turner-"Now, doctor, what is your opinion of Abner Pratt, of Marshall?" Doctor-"Well, I will tell thee (raising his voice and accenting as only the doctor could), when Abner Pratt was born they were destitute of souls, and they gave him a gizzard." At this point Turner and Hughes became convulsed with laughter. The doctor looked first at them, then at the stranger on the lounge, who was getting red in the face, and seemed to ask what this boisterous merriment meant. At last Turner, sobering down, said: "Dr. Lamborn, permit me to introduce you to Abner Pratt, of Marshall." Then it was the doctor's time to get red in the face. But he proved equal to the emergency. Extending his hand to the judge, he remarked: "Abner Pratt, what I said of thee I only meant politically." The judge swore some, but the stern features finally relaxed, and he acknowledged "beat." During the rest of their stay in Cassop lis Hughes was master of the situation. This anecdote is given substantially as Geo. B. Turner gave it to the writer.

THOMAS B. CHURCH.

Thomas B. Church was born in Dighton, Bristol county, Mass., graduated at Trinity college, Hartford, Conn., studied law at Marshall, Mich., with Gordon and Woodruff, 1839-41, and was licensed to practice in the Kent county circuit court, at Grand Rapids, where he early removed and where he has since lived. He was elected a representative to our state legislature in '51 and '55. Mr. Church says: "I was not really a member of the Calhoun county bar; while in Marshall I acted as clerk and agent principally." But, as he first located in Marshall, and as he was so well known there, we give a sketch of him here. He, as I remember him, was tall and commanding in person, evincing the man of intellect and thought. He was known as a lover of books. Ilis attainments in science and literature are of a varied and extensive range. His public efforts, both at the bar and on the rostrum, have been marked by occasional exhibitions of extraordinary power, with passages of thrilling eloquence. Mr. Church has ever been a man of social and genial turn of mind,