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.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

131

upon calmly. After the trial was over the lawyers set out on their return, Mr. Draper taking the reins into his own hands. They stopped a
few minutes at Birmingham, and just as they were seated in the buggy,
Mr. Draper's hands, with a rein in each, planted on either knee and
ready for a start, a Spanish jack, confined in the yard alongside the
hotel, by which they were standing, put his head over the high board
fence that separated him from the rest of the world, and lifted up his
voice as only that animal can. Old "Gray" shot from her standing like
an arrow and tore down the pike on a swinging gallop, Mr. Draper sitting bold upright, his fists firmly pressed on his knees and Rufus clinging
for dear life to the buggy-seat. Down the long smooth pike sped the
gallant gray, not a word being spoken by the lawyers whom she carried. Past farmhouses the clattering vehicle dashed; dogs barked, children hurrahed, men stared and wondered what had got into Father
Draper. Dashing into Saginaw street with unchecked lope, the old
mare made straight for her wonted stable, nor stopped nor stumbled until she bumped her nose against the gate she had left a few hours before.
She gave a long breath and looked back, not at her drivers, but at her
followers; and Mr. Draper in solemn tones broke the silence that had
been maintained throughout the entire seven miles' drive. Said he:
"Rufus, what an awful noise that was!"
GEORGE W. WISNER
George W. Wisner came from New York City to Pontiac in July,
1835. He was formerly editor and had a half proprietary interest in
the New York Sun, which he disposed of in September of that year and
removed his family to Pontiac, where he at once commenced the study
of the law under William Draper, who was admitted in January, 1839,
to the practice of his profession. He and Alfred Treadway were in
partnership for a time and succeeding that partnership was one with his
brother Moses and Rufus Hosmer, which was a strong and successful
one. In 1837 he was a member of the first legislature of the state and
was prosecuting attorney for some years. Politically he was a Whig,
with anti-slavery leanings. In the fall of 1847, he purchased with Norman Rawson and H. H. Duncklee, the Detroit Advertiser, and managed the editorial columns so effectively that he was given the credit
of largely influencing the Whig triumph in that city in the spring of
I848. He died in September, I849, young in years but ripe in experience.
ALFRED H. HANSCOM
Alfred H. Hanscom, said to be the most eloquent advocate who
ever lifted up his voice in defense of innocence and the maintenance
of right at the Oakland bar, was admitted to the same in 1838. He was
a native of Rochester, New York, whence he came early to Macomb
county, and thence removed to Troy, in Oakland county. He was educated in the eastern schools, and in 1842 was speaker of the house of
representatives of the legislature of Michigan. He was the district
attorney of the county of Oakland for some years, and removed to On