US Congressman. Born in Salem, Michigan, his family moved to Lansing, Michigan in 1859 and he attended local schools there before enrolling in the Michigan State College of Agriculture. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Navy, serving as an enlisted sailor from 1864 until 1867, when he was appointed as a Midshipman to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He resigned from Annapolis after only a year and returned to Michigan. He became a resident of Grand Rapids in 1873 and became a court stenographer, working at several municipal, state and federal courts while also studying law. He was admitted to the Michigan State Bar in 1878 and practiced law in Grand Rapids. He served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1885 to 1886, when he was elected as a Democrat to represent Michigan’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving a single term from 1887 to 1889. In 1888 he returned to his law practice, served as Chairman of the state Democratic convention in 1890, and he was again elected to the United States House of Representative, serving from March 4, 1891 until his death in office.

US Congressman. Born in Salem, Michigan, his family moved to Lansing, Michigan in 1859 and he attended local schools there before enrolling in the Michigan State College of Agriculture. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Navy, serving as an enlisted sailor from 1864 until 1867, when he was appointed as a Midshipman to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He resigned from Annapolis after only a year and returned to Michigan. He became a resident of Grand Rapids in 1873 and became a court stenographer, working at several municipal, state and federal courts while also studying law. He was admitted to the Michigan State Bar in 1878 and practiced law in Grand Rapids. He served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1885 to 1886, when he was elected as a Democrat to represent Michigan’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving a single term from 1887 to 1889. In 1888 he returned to his law practice, served as Chairman of the state Democratic convention in 1890, and he was again elected to the United States House of Representative, serving from March 4, 1891 until his death in office.

Bio by: Bill McKern