History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

130

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

was previously a practicing attorney in New Jersey. He was an able,
though not a brilliant lawyer, conscientious and sound, and a most excellent solicitor in chancery. He held the position of chancellor of the
state by appointment of Governor Barry, from 1842 to 1846, and was
one of the judges of the supreme court of the state when his death,
which was very sudden, occurred. He was secretary of state from
I838 to I840, by appointment of Governor Woodbridge.
CHARLES DRAPER
Charles Draper, long the Nestor of the bar of Oakland county, was
admitted to the practice of his profession November 27, 1838. He and
Rufus Hosmer, both of whom read law with William Draper, were admitted at the same time. Mr. Draper was the first clerk of the courts
under the state constitution and held the position for two years, to 1838.
He was also prosecuting attorney and served the county in the state
senate. He was in partnership many years with his father, William
Draper, had an extensive and valuable library, and ranked high in his
profession in the state.
RUFUS HOSMER
Mr. Hosmer was a native of Massachusetts, where he was thoroughly
educated. He was a cousin of Mr. Charles Draper, and formed a partnership with the Wisners soon after his admission to the bar, and subsequently went to Detroit to assume charge of the Detroit Advertiser.
He was also state printer at Lansing for a time and was appointed
consul to the Netherlands, but died before going to his post of duty. He
was a brilliant genius, most companionable, and always ready for a
joke. The following good story is told at his expense: He was a very
indifferent scribe, and when the trial of his first case came on in the
circuit court, at the very term of his admission to the bar, Thomas J.
Drake, the opposing counsel, moved the court to quash the declaration
in the case, because it was drawn in a foreign language. The court,
being struck with the point, asked to see the paper, and on examination
granted the motion, giving the young lawyer twenty-four hours to file
a new declaration.
Mr. Hosmer was always full of fun, and, though a nephew of Mr.
William Draper, called him, as did many others, "Father Draper"; and
he used to relate with great gusto the following anecdote: One day
Hosmer and Mr. Draper were called to Farmington to attend a lawsuit,
and, in going to the same, Rufus drove. On coming to the top of a hill
of some considerable height, the old gray mare Mr. Draper drove for
many years struck a brisk trot, and the somewhat careless driver did
not strive to check her speed down the declivity; but on arriving at the
bottom a bridge which traversed a small creek was found to be unplanked. However, it was too late to stop, and the old mare cleared it
somehow, the wheels by the strangest fortuity squarely striking the
sleepers and passing in safety. Not a word was spoken until they arrived at the village when the condition of the bridge was commented