the bench in 1881. The court is now presided over by Judge Parrish, while Mr. Holmes has returned to the practice of law. Thomas B. Church, a lawyer, favorably known throughout the State as well as in the Grand River Valley, settled at Grand Rapids in 1842, and entered at once on the practice of law. Sylvester Granger was among the old settlers as well as a pioneer lawyer. He was admitted to the bar of Kent county, May 17, 1843, by Chief Justice Ransom. Chamberlain, Rood and Bement were among the lawyers of early times, and favorably known to the old settlers. Geo. Martin, one of the leading members of the bar of this county, and indeed of the State, settled at Grand Rapids in 1836. In the political chapter the gradual progress of this man is noted: his advance, step by step, from the position of County Judge to Circuit Judge, and finally to the Chief Justiceship of the Supreme Court of Michigan, is shown. His death was recorded in 1868. Epaphroditus Ransom, first Circuit Judge of Kent county, was a man of singular, yet brilliant parts. He settled at Kalamazoo at an early period in the history of that county. He was appointed Circuit Judge in 1836, and opened the first term of such court at Ionia the same year, holding the session in the house of Daniel Ball, then a resident of that burg. Subsequently he presided over the first courts of Kent and Ottawa counties, holding the session in a house next to Joel Guild and opposite Jefferson Morrison. James Arnott Davis, Associate Judge, was a lawyer who left New York, and settled in Kent with his friends. FRIMITIVE JUSTICE COURTS. The following sketches give a fair idea of the manner in which some old-time justices conducted law business. It is true that a few of them observed many of the rules of court as well as a certain dignity; yet it must be conceded their style was singularly primitive, and in keeping with the spirit of the time. George Coggeshall settled at the village of Kent in 1836, where he erected a frame house at the corner of Bridge and Kent streets. In this house he was accustomed to hear the complaints of his neighbors and give his extraordinary judgments. He was the first Justice of the Peace, known as the "old Kent Justice;" was at once original and peculiar. In a case brought before him, wherein T. B. Church was plaintiff's attorney and Julius C. Abel the defendant's, the plaintiff produced one Vanderpool as witness, who proved the case thoroughly. Abel, for the defense, produced three witnesses to impeach Vanderpool's testimony, but Coggeshall would not permit them to be sworn, saying, "I do not, nor does any one in this jury, believe a word that Vanderpool has stated." This wonderful ruling resulted in the dismission of the plaintiff's case. Mrs. Van Steele stole Burnett's linen and his daughters' underclothing. The case was proved, but to the surprise of the attorneys, the old Kent Justice said: "David Burnett, you take home your clothes, and these ladies may take their underclothes." Then he turned to Mrs. Van Steele and said: "As for you, I discharge you; but now, if you are ever caught in this scrape again, I will send you straight to Jackson. You must pay $10 costs!" Three years later the Dutch woman learned that the fine could not be imposed after her discharge. She submitted the matter to Solomon L. Withey, who advised her to sue Geo. Coggeshall for the amount. He paid the $10, saying he did not like to have anything to do with the Monroe street "conspirators" and pirates. He hated the residents of that portion of the village called Monroe street, had no confidence whatever in them, and was even inclined to oppose his judicial opinions to any of them who might seek justice in his court. During the trial of a case before the justice's court of Grandville, Lovell Moore, plaintiff's attorney, was subpoenaed, during the progress of the case, by John T. Holmes, attorney for the defendant, to prove the hand-writing of his own client. Moore took off his glasses, entered the witness-stand, and looked at the writing; but owing to bad sight could not say that it was plaintiff's, although he knew his writing well. Holmes was surprised and asked him the reason. "Why, 'Squire Holmes," he said, "I cannot see without spectacles; and you did not subpoena the spectacles." There was a nonsuit. THE BAR ASSOCIATION. This Association was organized Feb. 7, 1878, when a constitution and by-laws were adopted, with a preamble setting forth that "the Association is established to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law, to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice, to cultivate social intercourse among its members, and to establish a law library." The officers elected were D. Darwin Hughes, President; Edward Taggart, Vice President; Laurens W. Wolcott, Secretary; Roger W. Butterfield, Treasurer; John C. Fitzgerald, Edwin F. Uhl, Ebenezer S. Eggleston, Executive Committee. The first members of the association comprised D. Darwin Hughes, Henry Elmer Thompson, John W. Champlin, Lyman D. Norris, Lawrence P. Eddy, Laurens W. Wolcott, James Blair, Moses Taggart, Roger W. Ransom, Edward Taggart, James B.Wilson, John C. Fitzgerald, J. Kleinhaus, Willard Kingsley, Thomas J. O'Brien, Isaac H. Parrish, C. C. Rood, Albert Jennings, C. M. McLaren, Fred. A. Maynard, Elwin C. Allen, Edwin F. Uhl, H. B. Fallass, Ed. M. Adams, Hiram A. Fletcher, W. J. Stuart, E. F. Sweet, Omar H. Simonds, Sanford C. Hinsdale, H. H. Drury, Mitchell I. Smyley. In accordance with the article of the constitution, dealing with election of officers, the last Monday of November was set as the day of annual meeting. The first meeting was called for Nov. 25, adjourned to Dec. 2, 1878, and resulted in the choice of the following officers: John W. Champlin, President; Mitchell I. Smyley, Vice President; Edwin F. Sweet, Secretary; Moses Taggart, Treasurer; James Blair, Omar H. Simonds and Henry E. Thompson, Executive Committee. Sept. 11, 1879, the following gentlemen were admitted to membership: John W. Stone, Nathaniel A. Earle, Edward W. Withey, Geo. B Wanty, James R. Wylie, Samuel A. Kennedy, John M. Harris, Geo. W. Thompson, Henry J. Felker and Wm. M. Robinson. The third annual meeting was held Nov. 24, 1879, when D. Darwin Hughes was elected President; John C. Fitzgerald, VicePresident; James B. Willson, Secretary; Moses Taggart, Treasurer; Nathaniel A. Earle, Laurens W. Wolcott, and John W. Champlin, Executive Committee. Marsden C. Burch was admitted to membership March 10, 1880 Among members admitted since that period, are Wm. Wisner Taylor and G. Chase Godwin. The officers elected in 1879 were confirmed in their positions which they hold until November, 1881. The Association has now established a reading room in the United States building, where many of the leading law periodicals are filed. It is the purpose of the Association to establish a law library at an early date. Messrs. Jennings and Mc Laren, formerly members of the Association, have left the city. The honorary members, according to article VII. of the constitution, comprise the judges of the United States, District, Circuit, and City Courts during their term of office. The list includes the names of Solomon L. Withey, Birney Hoyt, Isaac Parrish and John T. Holmes. The amount of good effected by this Association cannot be overestimated. Its members must follow the line of conduct laid down, and thus ensure an observance of all those principles which bring honor to the profession and justice to the litigant. The Bar of Kent county, as reported in 1881, comprised the following named attorneys and counsellors at law: Powers, Reuben W Sweet, Edwin F Patten, John, jr Pettibone, Chas C Saunders, W G Wolf The Circuit Court is presided over by Hon. Birney Hoyt. The officers of the court are: Fred S. Clark, Clerk; Edward B. Moore, Deputy Clerk; Charles G. Godfroy, Deputy Clerk; Lincoln Bowen, File Clerk: Fred A. Maynard, Prosecuting Attorney; George P. Wanty, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney; Henry F. Walsh, Reporter; and James B. Willson and Lyman D. Follett, Circuit Court Commissioners. Solomon L. Withey is Judge of the United States District Court, and Isaac H. Parrish, Judge of the Superior Court of Grand Rapids. CHAPTER XI. POLITICAL HISTORY. Politics in Kent county do not convey the idea of the ignorance of party bigotry. There cannot, perhaps, be found within the county a creature of political fanaticism; although it is conceded that every freeholder is attached to one party or the other, that he never neglects to exercise his rights as a freeman, and is always faithful to principle, it cannot be said that he has indulged in any of the degraded deeds which are said to mark the fanatical, ignorant devotees of politics. The world has arrived at that stage where ignorance ceases to be bliss. Man essays to comprehend all things. So far as the Republic is concerned, he has almost formed a just conception of what it is, and the duties which it imposes on each citizen. He compares American freedom with European serfdom, and realizes the fact that here is the cradle of humanity's rights. Liberty is worth all that a nation is worth: liberty is worth all that life is worth. Take away freedom from the nation, and you degrade it; circumscribe, fetter, enchain the intellect, the will of a man, and he is no longer the image of his Creator. Debase his sentiment of patriotism, destroy his sense of personal freedom, and he becomes a serf without the higher instincts that ennoble and dignify the virtuous citizen. It is greatness of ideas, worthiness of sentiments, nobility of character, purity of examples, fidelity to true principles, that constitute the majesty of a nation. Mere space establishes no claim upon the soul. Therefore the people in seeking the freedom of their nation are not the idle worshipers of a soil which can give them nothing save a tomb; but are the devotees of a sentiment before which the enlightened mind reverently bows. But in what does liberty consist? Not in mighty cities; not in vast monuments of human skill, lofty towers, lengthy railroads, nor in great water-courses. These show the power of human intelligence, and the force of human will; but a despotism may build them all. Liberty is in the truth. Know the truth, says the great Master, and you shall be free. In their adherence to truth the people should be pre-eminent to ensure a safe future. The portion of the family which has founded itself upon the American continent owes much to itself and its adopted home. It owes to itself the duty of conserving the brightest traditions and virtues of the past, a full, free and hearty allegiance based upon conscience, and a sense of fealty to the protection which the rights of citizenship afford. With a more complete understanding of the economies, the laws of labor, of supply and demand, and a manly |