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

159

"If any one desires to preserve a lasting memento of this first court
of Oakland county, we are told that they can secure a chip from the logs
of that same old building, where they presently lie in the rear of that old
red house so long occupied by our townsman, Mr. Hendrickson.
"In July, I821, the first indictment was found against our old townsman, O. A., for keeping a tavern without license, and a fine of one dollar and costs was imposed upon the defendant, which the truthful
historian informs us was all spent at the bar, save the costs of one of
the judges, who had some conscientious scruples against ever letting a
good thing go.
"In I825 Elder Elkanah Comstock, was by the court authorized to
celebrate the rites of matrimony, and in I826, the Rev. W. Ruggles
was licensed to do likewise; whereupon we have no doubt that innumerable blessings resulted from the rights so conferred.
"In 1824 the first court was held in the old courthouse and by I830
the importance of the judiciary, or the convenience of suitors, had the
effect to induce the board of supervisors to order the court room to be
lathed and plastered. Judges Thompson, Bronson, Bagley, Weeks, LeRoy, Hunt, Moseley, Witherell, Chipman, Woodbridge, Sibley, Morrell,
Fletcher, Whipple, Eldredge, Green and Copeland, have there adorned
the bench, and all taken their appropriate part in dispensing justice to
the citizens of the county from that old building, which we leave with
no feelings of regret, except the severance of the ties that a quarter of a
century's practice therein has necessarily formed.
"Some of the most eminent men of the state who were never residents of the county, have, in the earlier days of our courts, there been
formally admitted to the bar, among whose names we find those of
William Woodbridge, William A. Fletcher, Solomon Sibley and Henry
Chipman-while the names of many no less prominent who have resided among us have there received their licenses and while eminent
names have adorned the legal profession all over the state, we claim
that the bar of Oakland county, according to its numbers, is second to
none in the state in legal attainments.
"From our own bar have gone forth editors, judges and members of
congress, and most of the offices of honor and trust in our state have
been at one time or other filled with some of our number.
"But though the labor, toil and close attention which the profession
of law requires, has taxed us many times severely, and has furnished its
vexations and annoyances, it has not failed to bring with it those pleasant incidents of which the profession is so fruitful. Some of these
being entirely original, we claim them all our own, and a few may not
be inappropriate in a review of these past events.
"Some twenty years ago when justice was making its way into the
county, a well known member of our bar had occasion to be called before a justice of the peace to attend to the cause and the interests of his
client in one of the towns of the county; and not precisely understanding the nature of his client's defense until the jury was empaneled and
the trial commenced, he was unfortunately placed in a quandary by
learning for the first time that the testimony of the defense must come
from the justice, and how to get at it was the all-important question.