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.

176

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

session he removed to Pontiac, and entered into partnership with Governor Richardson. In 1844 an act was passed authorizing the revision of
the statutes of Michigan, by a person to be appointed by the judges of
the supreme court. Mr. Green, then a member of the senate, was selected
by them to perform the duty. From the time of the adjournment of the
legislature in 1844 Mr. Green labored assiduously in the performance of
his task, re-writing the entire body of the laws of Michigan, and had his
revision ready for submission to the legislature of I846. In 1845 he was
again elected to the senate. His revision was duly reported to the legislature and after a thorough examination by the proper committees, and the
house, it was passed by both houses, with only a few changes or amendments, and became the law of this state, known as Green's Revision, to
take effect January I, I847. Since that time there has been no revision
of the laws of Michigan; and that fact of itself, is the highest commendation that could be given to Mr. Green's labors. Soon after this Mr.
Green was elected circuit judge of the Oakland district and held the office
in the Oakland, Genesee and Bay county districts until very recent years.
His long judicial life, exceeding that of any other person, I believe, in
the state, has caused Judge Green to be more generally known than any
member of the bar. Some years ago Judge Green prepared a practice for
the circuit courts of this state, which has been in use for many years. As
a legal worker he has been excelled by but few persons, and in his ripe
old age, and after a long life of practical usefulness he passed away
August 12, I90o, aged 94 years.
"Hester L. Stevens was a practicing lawyer in Rochester, New York,
for many years. In 1845 he changed his residence and located in Pontiac, opening an office there and commenced the practice of his profession. Mr. Stevens was a man of great erudition both in law and general
literature. He was a thorough practitioner, and an eloquent man. Upon
his coming to Pontiac he at once obtained an excellent practice. His
suavity and courteous manners made him many warm friends. In I852
Mr. Stevens was elected to congress from the Oakland district. While
he was in congress there was a Washington birthday celebration held at
Mt. Vernon, and Mr. Stevens was selected as the orator for the occasion.
At the end of his congressional term, Mr. Stevens decided to continue
his legal practice in Washington, where he remained until his death in
I864.
"Another person who has held a most prominent part in the legal profession in Pontiac was Michael E. Crofoot. He was born March 14,
1822, in Montgomery county, New York. He was educated in the common schools, and at Temple Hill Academy, at Geneseo, New York. He
began his study of law with Gen. H. L. Stevens, in Rochester, New York,
in the spring of I843, and after Gen. Stevens moved to Pontiac in the
spring of 1845, he advised Mr. Crofoot to come to Pontiac which he did
in'the fall of 1845, and was admitted to the practice of law in the winter
of 1846. In 1848 he was elected probate judge, and reelected in 1852,
holding the office for eight years. In 1862 he was elected prosecuting
attorney, and was re-elected in 1864, holding that office for four years.
He took an active part in all educational matters; and in the building up,