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

167

3Ist of August, I864, he spent most of the afternoon with one of his
associates, the venerable Judge Christiancy. Judge Manning was in
his usual health, and after returning home spent the evening with his
family. About nine o'clock in the evening his elder daughter left the
room knowing nothing of any danger, and returning immediately, found
her father unconscious; he survived but a few moments, passing away
without previous warning and without pain. Thus passed away an
able and upright judge. On April 3, I889, an oil portrait of Judge
Manning was presented to the supreme court by his children. Judge
Campbell in accepting the portrait in behalf of the court said: 'Such
men when they die do not lose their influence, and I believe the time
never can come when the name of Chancellor Manning or Judge Manning, will be separated from the legal reforms of the state or from the
rules of justice that he did so much to establish. He was worthy of
veneration and his name and memory will always be cherished. We
accept the portrait with great pleasure, and it will be preserved on the
walls of the court room."
"At the October term, I833, at Pontiac, William Draper was admitted
to practice. He was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, February 12,
I780, and was educated at Harvard University. He studied law and
practiced his profession near Boston. Some of his early acquaintances
had removed to Pontiac, Michigan. Meeting them afterwards he decided to make a visit and came to Pontiac in the spring of 1833. Pleased
with the country and with the location of Pontiac, he decided to remain
and practice his profession here. Mr. Draper was a thoroughly equipped
lawyer, and at once entered into an extensive practice. At the time
he came to Michigan the question of the admission of Michigan as a
state was being agitated, which continued for several years. A convention
was held to adopt a constitution, and one was formed.
"Congress was in favor of releasing a portion of the southern boundary of Michigan to Ohio, and giving to Michigan the upper peninsula
in lieu of such territory. Among others Mr. Draper took an active
part against surrendering any territory to Ohio. When the convention
was called to meet at Ann Arbor to oppose the scheme, Mr. Draper was
elected one of the delegates from Oakland county, and he was selected
as the presiding officer of the convention. After Mr. Draper came to
Michigan he had a large practice for about twenty years. Part of this
time he was in partnership with his son Charles and his nephew, Rufus
Hosmer. About I850 his health began to fail and continued to fail
until I858, when, hoping for improvement, in July of that year he took
a trip to Mackinac, where he soon after died. He was a quaint, peculiar
man. He had his own notion of legal ethics, was a strict disciplinarian,
and could hardly tolerate some of the simple pleasantries of a country
bar, but his brother attorneys all respected him, and 'Father Draper,' as
he was called by almost all of his brethren, did not have an enemy among
them. During his later years he surrendered his practice and spent his
time with his fishing rod among the numerous lakes surrounding Pontiac.
"Morgan L. Drake was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, New York,
October I8, 18I3. He was educated in the common schools of that vicinity; lived in Perry, New York, studied law, and came to Michigan.

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